12 



SPERMOPHILES OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



•incorrect, the greater number were simple statements of fact that added 

 much new and original information to the previous knowledge of the 

 habits and distribution of North American mammals. A marked inter- 

 est in the subject was awakened throughout the country, and many 

 naturalists and others in position to observe the habits of mammals 

 contributed notes of especial interest. 



In July, 1888, and again in January, 1889, copies of the following cir- 

 cular were distributed throughout the Mississippi Valley, asking for spe- 

 cific information respecting the Striped Spermophile (Spermophilus tri- 

 decemlineatus), Franklin's Spermophile (Spermophilus franklini), and the 

 pocket gopher (Geomys bursar ius) with a view to procuring data from 

 which to map accurately the range of the several species and at the 

 same time to gain as much information as possible concerning their food 

 and all habits relating directly or indirectly to agriculture. 



[Circular on Gophers, No. 9.] 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy, 



Washington, D. C, , 188— . 



Mr. , 



Dear Sir: The Department of Agriculture wishes to secure enough information 

 concerning the range of the three species of Gophers which inhabit the Mississippi 

 Valley to enable it to map with precision the exact area occupied by each. Any 

 information relating to the subject, though not covered by the following questions, 

 will be thankfully received. 



*###•**# 



I. Is the Striped Gopher or Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) present 

 in your neighborhood? 



If so, is it destructive to farm crops? 

 Has it any beneficial traits? 



II. Is the Gray Gopher or Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus franklini) present in your 

 neighborhood? 



If so, is it destructive to farm crops? . 

 Has it any beneficial traits ? 



***#•#* 



[Washington, D. C, July 30, 1888.] 



The replies to this circular made it possible to map the range of these 

 animals with greater accuracy and detail than otherwise could have 

 been accomplished. Each locality from which specimens were ex- 

 amined was marked on a large map of the United States devoted to 

 the species. These maps formed the basis for the accompanying dis- 

 tribution maps. Between the positive localities a multitude of reports 

 of occurrence cover the ground, save in certain definite areas where for 

 some reason the species does not occur. In determining the extreme 

 limits of the range of each species, the localities from which it has been 

 reported are of material assistance as indicating areas from which speci- 

 mens should be obtained in order to settle beyond question the identity 

 of the species. All doubtful records have been discarded. 



