THE GROUND SQUIRRELS OP CALIFORNIA. 



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in the cultivated fields in the irrigated sections, about Bakersfield and on 

 the rocky ridges of the Panamint Mountains. 



At Jackass Springs, in the Panamint Mountains, Inyo County, on 

 October 5, 1918, eight Fisher Ground Squirrels were counted in a three- 

 hour census in the belt of sagebrush and piilon. These were invariably 

 perched upright on the summits of gray granite boulders. They were 

 even then notably pale-colored, with beecheyi in mind (J. Grin- 

 nell, MS). 



At Mount Pinos, Ventura County, during the first week in July, 

 1904, Fisher Squirrels were present from the very summit (8,826 feet) 

 down. They were trapped among the rockpiles near the top, and on 

 the smooth slopes among the firs on the north side. Young were num- 

 erous, and quite unsuspicious, being run down with ease when caught 

 a little ways from their retreats (J. Grinnell, MS). 



Near Lone Pine in Owens Valley on June 16, 1917, Fisher Ground 

 Squirrels were found inhabiting the lower embankment of the Los 

 Angeles Aqueduct. At one point three miles south of Lone Pine, some 

 thirty squirrels were noted along the aqueduct in a distance of half a 

 mile. Other colonies were found along Lone Pine Creek at the edge 

 of an old orchard (A. C. Shelton, MS). 



In the region about Bakersfield Fisher Squirrels were found in con- 

 siderable numbers near the mouth of Caliente Creek east of Bakersfield 

 both in the wheat fields and on the adjoining plains covered with a low 

 growth of cactus. In the irrigated region southwest of that city the 

 squirrels were locally numerous on pasture land. 



The Fisher Ground Squirrel as far as we can see is indistinguishable 

 from the California Ground Squirrel in many particulars such as 

 behavior, voice and mannerisms. This statement applies also to the 

 general feeding and breeding habits of the form. Many incidents 

 bearing on such points as enemies and natural checks have been 

 recounted in our chapter relating to beecheyi, since they are for the 

 most part identical in the two races. 



Certain instances of behavior in the desert race seem worthy of 

 special mention. At Isabella, Kern County, on July 4, 1911, W. P. 

 Taylor (MS) states that it was a common thing to see the squirrels up 

 from the ground in guatemotes or willows. At Palm Springs, River- 

 side County, on February 4, 1916, two Fisher Squirrels were seen to 

 leap an irrigation ditch near town, a clear jump of about four feet 

 (H. S. Swarth, MS). Sometimes individuals of this species do not 

 hesitate to jump into water and swim, so as to escape from enemies. 

 At Onyx, Kern County, on June 19, 1911, a half-grown squirrel was 

 surprised on the bank of an irrigation ditch which was full of water. 

 The stream was six feet wide, with rapid current. Without the least 

 hesitation, the squirrel precipitated itself into the water and swam 

 across, reaching the opposite shore by a diagonal down-stream course. 

 It then quickly ran to a burrow, with the location of which it seemed 

 familiar and from which it is likely to have come originally and crossed 

 the ditch of its own accord for the purpose of foraging (J. Grin- 

 nell, MS). 



The time of birth of the young in this species varies with altitude, 

 more precisely zone, from April to late in June. At Cabezon, River- 

 side County, a one-third grown young one was secured May 16, 1908, 



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