franklin's spermophile. 



51 



"They are destructive to a number of crops, but particularly to corn, 

 which they dig- up after it is first planted in the spring. When the 

 animals are numerous this frequently necessitates replanting and 

 constant watching of the corn by the farmer who wishes to secure a 

 crop. They also destroy a considerable quantity of corn as it stands 

 in the shock in the fall and are said to eat peas and various 

 grains. It is claimed that they frequently kill young chickens and 

 ducks, though I was unable to procure definite data on the subject. It 

 is probable that a few such cases have been freely reported and are 

 less common than is generally believed." 



Habits. — Franklin's Spermophile is characteristic of prairies and open 

 country, is never found in heavy timber, and does not climb trees. 

 The places usually selected for their holes are among tall grass, weeds, 

 and scattered brush. Often they are found living along the edge of 

 timber that adjoins the prairie or in small groves. At Devils Lake, 

 N. Dak., they were most common in the straggling groves of small 

 trees a little back from the lake, and many of their burrows were placed 

 under logs and stumps or between the roots of trees. 



They frequently take up their abode near buildings, especially about 

 barns and sheds, and in many cases prove troublesome neighbors. In 

 the summer of 1887 I found them numerous at Browns Valley, on the 

 western boundary of Minnesota, especially among the buildings along 

 the edge of town. Some had holes under houses which were occupied, 

 and I saw one sitting up within 15 feet of an open door. A lot of manure 

 had been hauled out of town and piled on some waste land beyond the 

 city limits, and quite a colony had collected around it. They were dig- 

 ging in the manure and seemed to find some kind of food in it. 



In but few places are they as common as the smaller 'Striped Sper- 

 mophile^. tridecemlinea tus), though the two species range together over 

 a wide area. Their habits are quite similar and it is often difficult to 

 distinguish the voice of one from that of the other The note of Frank- 

 lin's Spermophile is somewhat heavier and has a slightly different 

 ring, but it is the same shrill, rapid chipper or trill: It is sharp and 

 ringing and may be heard for a considerable distance. 



Like all spermophiles they are frequently seen standing up on their 

 hind feet, straight and motionless. After watching several of them 

 quietly feeding for a time, I have attracted their attention by a slight 

 noise in order to see them rise quickly to an erect position. They seem 

 to stand as firmly on two feet as a person. Usually they run low and 

 go scudding through the grass, but if badly frightened will take long 

 high leaps, precisely like a gray squirrel. 



Appearance in spring. — In autumn Franklin's Spermophiles be- 

 come excessively fat and with the first cold weather disappear into their 

 holes and do not come out again until the following spring. The date of 

 their reappearance depends on the season as well as on the latitude of 

 the place, but in the States along our northern boundary it is usually 



