HUNTING WITH A CAMERA. 



THE COLUMBIAN GROUND SQUIRREL, SPERMOPHILUS COLUMBIANUS 



(Ord). 



w. e. carlin. 



Although such an abundant species, the 

 history of this animal is but little known. 



Dr. Merriam, in his " Mammals of 

 Idaho," gives the following : 



" This spermophile is abundant in North- 

 western Idaho, and may inhabit the North- 

 ern part of the region traversed by our 

 party, but it goes into winter quarters so 

 early that it was not captured. It is com- 

 mon in the Clearwater region, living in 

 colonies in the prairies. I have specimens 

 from Moscow and Grangeville. Mr. Clay 

 McNamee writes, me from Moscow, Idaho : 

 ' These spermophiles live in colonies like 

 prairie dogs, and are very abundant in this 

 district. Many can be killed within the 

 city limits of Moscow in the spring. In 

 making their burrows some dirt is thrown 

 out, making a small mound, generally of a 

 circular form. The mounds range from 3 

 to 10 inches in height. The hole or burrow 

 generally goes straight down for 18 inches 

 or 2 feet. The animals, when disturbed, sit 

 up erect like a prairie dog, and watch a per- 

 son until within a few yards; then rush 

 into their holes, uttering a series of short 

 squeaks or whistles. When one is shot, 

 unless killed quite dead, it is almost sure to 

 get away. They hibernate during the win- 

 ter and fall. Nearly all disappear about the 

 15th of July, and remain until the next 

 spring. On account of this habit they are 

 called " seven sleepers," as they stay un- 

 derground about 7 months. They are very 

 fat when they go into winter quarters, and 

 are so poor when they come out in the 

 spring that they can hardly walk.' 



" This animal is the ' Burrowing Squir- 

 rel ' of Lewis and Clark, whose description 

 is as follows : 



' There is also a species of squirrel, evi- 

 dently distinct, which we have denominated 

 the burrowing squirrel. He inhabits these 

 plains, and somewhat resembles those found 

 on the Missouri ; he measures 1 foot and 5 

 inches in length, of which the tail com- 

 prises 2^/2 inches only ; the neck and legs 

 are short ; the ears are likewise short, ob- 

 tusely pointed, and lie close to the head, 

 with the aperture larger than will generally 

 be found among burrowing animals. The 

 eyes are of a moderate size, the pupil black, 

 and the iris of a dark sooty brown ; the 

 whiskers are full, long, and black ; the 

 teeth, and, indeed, the whole contour, re- 

 semble those of the squirrel ; each foot has 

 5 toes ; the 2 inner ones of the fore feet are 

 remarkably short, and are equipped with 



blunt nails ; the remaining toes on the 

 front feet are long, black, slightly curved, 

 and sharply pointed ; the hair of the tail is 

 thickly inserted on the sides only, which 

 gives it a flat appearance, and a long oval 

 form ; the tips of the hair forming the outer 

 edges of the tail are white, the other ex- 

 tremity of a fox red ; the under part of the 



COLUMBIAN GROUND SQUIRREL. 



tail resembles an iron gray ; the upper is of 

 a reddish brown ; the lower part of the 

 jaws, the under part of the neck, legs, and 

 feet, from the body and belly downward, 

 are of a light brick red ; the nose and eyes 

 are of a darker shade of the same color ; 

 the upper part of the head, neck, and body 

 is of a curious brown gray, with a slight 

 tinge of brick red ; the longer hairs of these 



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