58 



SPERMOPHILES OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



KENNICOTT'S SPERMOPHILE. 



Speimophilus spilosoma obsoletus Kennicott. 



[Map 3, A.] 



Deseii,ption. — This is an obscurely marked, dull-colored, little spermophile with 

 ears hardly perceptible and short, slender tail. The lower parts are white or soiled 

 whitish, the sides yellowish white. The hack is ashy gray, usually covered irregu- 

 larly with obscure spots of whitish, bordered posteriorly by black. It is unlike any 

 other species near its known range, but resembles quite closely some of the forms 

 of Spermophilua spilosoma in western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. 



The following measurements are those of an average sized specimen selected from 

 tit teen adults: Total length from end of nose to end of tail vertebra?, 222 millimeters 

 (8tf inches); length of tail from base to tip of vertebrae, 62 millimeters (2£ inches); 

 hind foot, heel to tip of claw, 32 millimeters (1^ inches). 



This species was first described in 1863 by Robert Kennicott, from 

 specimens taken at O'Fallon's Bluff, on the Platte River, Nebr. Dr. 

 Allen calls it Kennicott's Spermophile, but so far as I have been able 

 to learn, no common name has been applied to it by people living 

 within its range. It is sometimes spoken of as the little Spotted Ground 

 Squirrel in contradistinction to the Striped Prairie Squirrel (SpermopM- 

 lus tridecemlineatus), as both species are found in the same localities. 



So far as our present knowledge goes, its range is limited to Ne- 

 braska, eastern Wyoming, and South Dakota south of the Black Hills. 

 In Nebraska it has been taken 50 miles west of Port Kearney, at 

 Valentine on the Niobrara River, and has been reported at Fort 

 Robinson. It has also been found on the South Fork of White River, 

 S. Dak.; at Fort Laramie, Wyo. ; and and at Sterling, Colo. The 

 sandhill region of western Nebraska seems to be the center of its 

 abundance. I have met with them at several points in Cherry County, 

 where they seem to be more common than the Striped Spermophile 

 and of nearly similar habits. 



They were so shy and quiet and their colors and markings blend so 

 perfectly with their surroundings that they are rarely seen, although 

 not difficult to catch in traps. They usually choose the light sandy 

 soil in which to make their burrows, a habit possessed in common by 

 the kangaroo rat (Perodipus ordii), which occurs in this locality and at 

 the unoccupied holes of which they are frequently caught. The habit 

 of the kangaroo rat of digging many more holes than it can occupy or 

 lias any apparent use for seems to be appreciated by this spermophile as 

 well as by a number of other species of small rodents, which appropriate 

 them instead of digging holes for themselves, although Kennicott's 

 Spermophile does construct a burrow for itself. 



We may infer that the young are born and cared for in the burrows 

 until old enough to be safely trusted above ground. They seem to be 

 brought forth later than the young of most spertnophiles. On June 20, 

 1888, I caught two females, each containing eight young that would 

 not have been born for some time. In the case of each of these 



