Hoffman.] 98 [March 7, 



under a cluster of small bushes, or along-side of an old stump where 

 the soil is loose. 



2 1 . Spermophilus trideeem-lineatus var. pallidus Allen. 

 Striped Gopher. 



Not common. Found sometimes on the prairie west of the Agency. 



22. Cynomys ludovicianus Bd. Prairie Dog. Sho-sho'-na. 

 A large town or colony of these animals is located about eight 



miles northwest of the Agency. The nearest point to water is over 

 two miles, but this distance from water is common, as the burrows 

 are generally found in the most barren portions of the plains. The 

 area covered with deserted holes and. hillocks, in addition to that sec- 

 tion at present occupied, exceeds four square miles. I have yet to 

 find any instance where the burrowing owl (Sjjeoiyto cunicularia var. 

 liypogcea Coues) occupies any but the deserted burrows^ notwith- 

 standing numerous random assertions to the contrary. The same ap- 

 plies to the rattlesnake (Caudisona confluenta Say), except in case 

 where they are in search of the young prairie dogs for food. The 

 animals are very readily domesticated. The skins are much used 

 by the Indians for pouches, being often handsomely ornamented with 

 beads or porcupine quills. 



23. Castor canadensis Kuhl. Beaver. Chap'-pa. 



The only locality where this animal was observed was in Oak 

 Creek, one mile from the Agency. Skins are frequently obtained 

 from the Indians, who secure them at various points on the streams, 

 at from ten to fifty miles inland. The enlisted men had succeeded in 

 taming several, but experienced difficulty in keeping them in cap- 

 tivity. 



saccomyim;. 



■ 24. Dipodomys ordii Woodh. Jumping Rat. Si»'-te-shda'. 

 Genl. D. S. Stanley informs me that he has captured this animal 

 at Fort Sully, eighty miles south of Grand River. I have not ob- 

 served it at the latter place, although skins are frequently found 

 among the collections of pelts brought here by the Indians. They 

 may have obtained them further west, as I saw numbers of them in 

 the Valley of the Yellowstone. See also Prof. J. A. Allen's " Notes 

 on the Nat. Hist, of portions of Montana and Dakota"; (Proc. Bos- 

 ton Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. xvn, June, 1874, p. 12). 



