franklin's spermophile. 



49 



Pacific coast regions.* The name Prairie Squirrel, while serving to 

 distinguish it from the arboreal squirrels, does not distinguish it from 

 the other species of prairie squirrels. Gopher, both from general use 

 and origin of the name, should be restricted to the pocket gophers 

 XGeomys and Thomomys). Let us drop all but Franklin's Spermophile, 

 which can be confounded with the name of no other animal. 



When numerous it is an exceedingly troublesome animal, destroying 

 much grain both by digging up the seed and by cutting and tangling 

 down the ripe grain, and occasionally feasting on small chickens from 

 the poultry yard. At the same time, it eats vast numbers of insects 

 of the species particularly injurious to crops, and in this way the good 

 it accomplishes may exceed the loss sustained from its depredations. 

 An examination of the contents of twenty-nine stomachs shows some- 

 thing of the character of the food selected and is decidedly favorable 

 evidence of the animal's usefulness. If by any means its depredations 

 can be prevented without destroying the animals it becomes the most 

 useful protector of farm products. Various means for preventing their 

 attacks on sprouting grain have been employed with some degree of suc- 

 cess. . Others more effectual may yet be devised. 



Range. — The species was first described by Sabine in 1822 from speci- 

 mens collected at Carlton House on the Saskatchewan River in Mani- 

 toba. From this point it ranges south over the Red River and Missis- 

 sippi valleys to central Missouri and southern Kansas, inhabiting the 

 prairie region from its eastern edge along the line of heavy timber west- 

 ward to central Kansas and the Dakotas. Its eastern limit corresponds 

 closely with that of the Striped Spermophile, but does not reach Michi- 

 gan, nor extend as far south as the range of that species. The bound- 

 ary of its distribution in Minnesota may be indicated by a line drawn 

 from the northwest corner of the State to St. Paul. In Wisconsin the 

 northernmost records come from Plover and Ripon, where it is rare; 

 only two records have been received from Indiana — Kentland and Earl 

 Park — both near the western boundary of the State. Its southern 

 limit is indicated by Bement and O'Fallon Depot, 111. ; Sedalia, Mo., 

 where it was said to occur formerly; and Erie and Kellogg, in south- 

 eastern Kansas. 



Franklin's Spermophile ranges west to Belvidere and Kearney in 

 southern Nebraska, and in the Dakotas is not known to pass west of 

 the Missouri River, except at Willow Creek a few miles west of Pierre, 

 S. Dak, Its western limit corresponds closely with the eastern limit 

 of the prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), the one occupying the moist 

 and fertile eastern prairies, the other the more arid western plains. 



*Within its range (as shown on the map), there is no animal closely resembling it 

 or that ueed be mistaken for it by even a careless observer. The Rock Squirrel- 

 (Spermophilus grammurus) of the Rocky Mountains and foothills has somewhat the 

 same general appearance, but when full grown is much larger, with longer tail and 

 ears. 



4032— No. 4 4 



