SPERMOPHILE. 55 



and afterwards the heads of grain as the kernels fill; and in this man 

 ner, and by throwing down the standing grain, spoils it for some dis- 

 tance around the burrow. Having a great predilection for burrowing 

 in ditch-banks, and in underdrains filled with brush, it often does seri- 

 ous injury in this way. 



"This species maybe destroyed in the same manner as the preceding, 

 though they are not so easily drowned out of their holes, especially 

 when they are in a bank or drain. They appear to leave their burrows 

 with less caution, and for a greater distance, than the others; and, be- 

 ing also less active, they are sometimes chased and killed with a stick. 

 They are probably more liable to the attacks of rapacious animals than 

 the others. I have known domestic cats to catch them when full 

 grown. 



" It is possible that the Striped Spermophile drives off this species, 

 as the two are not found occupying the same field." (Eeport Commis- 

 sioner of Patents for 1856, pp. 80-81.) 



FOOD. 



A large part of the food of Franklin's Spermophile consists of grain 

 and various seeds. Corn, wheat, oats, and rye are favorite foods, and 

 where the spermophiles are numerous farmers often sustain considerable 

 loss from their depredations, especially from the seed which they dig up 

 after it is planted. The amount of ripe grain eaten and carried to their 

 holes and stored for winter is of less consequence. In fields of small 

 grain, as wheat, barley, and oats, they do not usually cut down the 

 stalks, as do the smaller spermophiles, to get at the grain, but bend 

 them over. In this way they tangle and trample down much more than 

 they eat or carry away. The amount of damage depends on their 

 abundance. Where most numerous it is quite serious. Their fare is 

 extensive and by no means limited to grain or vegetable matter, as 

 shown by the contents of the stomachs examined. Grasshoppers, 

 crickets, beetles, and caterpillers are standard articles of diet, but ants 

 and various other insects are also eaten. 



Table showing food found in 29 stomachs of Franklin's Spermophile 

 (Spermophilus franklin i). 



ANIMAL. VEGETABLE. 



Beetles, large and small species (Cole- Grain (wheat and oats). 



optera). Seeds of basswood (Tilia). 



Larvae of beetles (Coleoptera). Strawberries. 



Caterpillars (larva? of Lepidoptera). Solanum berries. 



Grasshoppers and crickets (Orthop- Herbage, stems and leaves of plants, 



iera). among which only an Equisetum 



Ants. could be recognized. 



Roots. 



Chrysalis. 



Feathers of small bird. 

 Spermophile hair, probably their 

 own. 



