1379. ] Zoblogy. 709 
HABITS OF SPERMOPHILUS RICHARDSONI.—I have received the 
following interesting communication, which gives some new light 
upon the hibernation of this species—A//ot Coues, Washing- 
FOR DOC. 
Fort ELIIS, MONTANA, Sept 8th, 1879. 
Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C 
SIR :—So little has been written in regard to the so-called 
“gopher” (Spermophilus richardsoni), at least that I have seen, 
that a few facts which have come under my own observation 
may be welcome to you. 
I have always supposed that the gopher hibernated, but during. 
the winter of 1878-79, while stationed at Fort Custer, Montana, 
I often saw them in December, January and February, playing 
about on the snow, which had been trodden down for a few feet 
around the entrance of the burrows. Small zig-zag paths led. 
from hole to hole, showing that their sociability was continued 
during the winter. Some of the holes noticed had no foot-marks 
around them, being clean, circular openings in the snow, as if the 
gophers had burrowed up to the surface from below, and then 
found it too cold to come out. Those observed were seen when 
the day was bright and warm, usually about noon. When a new 
snow fell and covered the holes, the gophers remained inactive 
for some days, at least until the storm was over, and then came 
out to sun themselves. From some of the holes no gophers 
were seen during the winter, while from others they were noticed 
almost every pleasant day during that season. I have seen no 
young ones except in June and early in July; the smallest ever 
seen were noticed about the middle of last June, while I was 
walking a short distance from this post. I then saw them only a 
few yards off, a female with three young, gamboling in the sun, 
very much like young kittens. One was noticed running around 
after its own tail, as I have seen kittens doing. At my approach 
the old one disappeared in the burrow with the usual squeak and 
Suggestive flirt of the tail; the young ones stopped their play and 
regarded me with much interest, yet manifested no disposition to 
ever seen which showed no fear of man or dog. From their 
Size, not longer than four or five inches, I judged them to be 
about a month old. 
Regarding the distribution of the gopher, I may add that I 
_ have seen the animal in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Montana, , 
from the Platte to the Marias river. Very Respectfully, Pek 
2 - S.M Swicert, 1st Lieut. 2d Cavalry, — 
