THE GROUND SQUIRRELS OP CALIFORNIA. 



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One individual was surprised eight feet above the ground in a tree 

 yucea, where he had doubtless been prospecting among the ripe pods 

 for the seeds. He ran down the yucca trunk head foremost, with clearly 

 audible noise of claws on rough bark. Even in this position the tail 

 was kept appressed to the rump and was flicked in fore-and-aft direction. 

 This ability to climb is not exceptional among individuals of this species, 

 and is quite consistent with the general agility of the animal. Near 

 Keeler, on the morning of September 25, 1917, six individuals were 

 seen severally in the tops of sarcobatus bushes evidently gathering the 

 small, fleshy leaves. At the distant approach of the observer each 

 scurried to the ground and each had altogether disappeared by the 

 time he had come up. At Onyx, Kern County, June 21, 1911, one was 

 seen perched on the top of a fencepost. At Carroll Creek, near Owens 

 Lake, September 8, 1911, several were seen at different times perched 

 bolt upright, picket-pin fashion, on isolated boulders out on the mesa. 



As a general thing Antelope Ground Squirrels do not have access to 

 water and they live for long periods without it. Like other typically 

 desert rodents, they can secure all the water needed in their systems by 

 chemical elaboration of their food materials. Yet that water is sought 

 for where available is shown by the following instances: When 

 camped at a spring near the head of Kelso Valley, Kern County, July 

 8, 1911, the senior author saw an "Ammo" come without hesitation to 

 the lowest hoofprints containing water below the spring and drink five 

 times ; each time about ten seconds were apparently occupied in lapping. 

 At intervals the animal looked around, vibrating his tail the while with 

 great rapidity. At least six other individuals came to drink during 

 that day, arriving through the brush from considerable distances. One 

 of these, observed closely, was seen to lap hurriedly and briefly eight 

 times. 



Some observations made at the same time and place bear further on 

 the behavior of this species of ground squirrel. When one is stalked 

 it will make a dash of ten feet or more to a near-by shrub or rock. If 

 the observer continues to advance the squirrel disappears down a hole 

 or under a bush, or else makes another similar dash and stops again. It 

 then either stands on all fours with its back humped up toward the 

 intruder and its head turned around so as to watch, or it stands 

 upright on its haunches, turning more toward the observer. In either 

 case the tail is held over the back and is wiggled, either antero- 

 posterior^ or laterally. The tip of the tail, at least, shows no constant 

 direction of movement. * ' When entering a burrow I saw one individual 

 drop his tail down behind him and trail it into the burrow instead of 

 carrying it over his back" (Storer, MS). Often when running an 

 "Ammo" will be seen to jump short distances, quite clearing the ground. 

 "I saw one in a tree yucca where I only came to detect his presence 

 by seeing the shadow of his wiggling tail" (Storer, MS). The animals 

 seem to be able to climb the prickly cactuses and yuccas without 

 sustaining any serious injury. 



The voice of the Antelope Squirrel is unique among the members of 

 its tribe. It is not a "bark" at all; nor is it a "squeak." It may be 

 described as a prolonged mellow rolling trill, weakening or falling in 

 inflection toward the end. The tone is maintained on about the same 

 moderately high pitch throughout, though an impression of lowering 



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