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THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



not in numbers to warrant alarm. Natural enemies in so far as they 

 have persisted in these isolated spots seem to fare as before, but as a 

 rule for most of the state, natural control has passed. We gradually 

 find either more use for the natural enemy or a place of condemnation 

 for him so that the life of these assistants to our cause has been and 

 continues to be seriously jeopardized. 



When California was regarded as a land of riches by the Spaniards 

 it was also looked upon as a place to procure rare and valuable furs. 

 This period marked the inception of an unending slaughter of predatory 

 animals by the Russians and by the representatives of the Hudson Bay 

 Company. It is true, however, that they did not make quite the serious 

 inroads upon them in California as had been the case farther north 

 for as they penetrated the south fewer prime furs were to be obtained. 

 Further, it was not long before the value of range lands, resulting in 

 the establishment of a stock growing industry of enormous proportions 

 for California, was realized. In cattle and sheep the ground squirrel 

 found a more formidable competitor for natural forage than the deer 

 had been and, together with the depredations of natural enemies, a 

 lack of food might spell their extermination. But, on the other hand, 

 stock growers found the predatory animals. a source of great annoyance 

 and plans were consummated for the destruction of these animals which 

 resulted in serious diminution of their numbers in a remarkably short 

 time. Before going into the struggles of the settlers in combating 

 rodent pests, let us turn to the early mention of ground squirrels. 

 Except for Indian legends, of which there are many, the first information 

 necessarily must come from the European voyageurs. 



When Sir Francis Drake made his visit to the coast of California in 

 search of wealth, he and his companions noted the wild life which 

 abounded. Mention is made of deer that were seen "in herds," and 

 he mentions "a kind of cony" observed running about. After this 

 fashion his observations are stated: "And besides a multitude of a 

 strange kinde of Conies by farre exceeding them (the deer) in number; 

 their heads and bodies in which they resemble other Conies ; are but 

 small; his tayle like the tayle of a Rat, exceeding long; and his feet 

 like the pawes of a Want or Moale; under his chinne, on either side 

 he hath a bagge, into which he gathereth his meate when he hath filled 

 his belly abroade that he may with it either feed his young or feed him- 

 self e when he lists not to travaile from his burrough; the people eat 

 their bodies, and make great account of thier skinnes, for their kings 

 hollidaies coate was made of them." This interesting account shows 

 that the ground squirrel has long served as an article of food as well 

 as a means of protecting the body. 



In another narrative concerning the same voyage we find the follow- 

 ing note: "We found the whole country to bee a warren of a strange 

 kinde of Conies, their bodyes in bignes as be the Barbary Conies, their 

 heads as the heads of ours, the feet of a Want, and the taile of a rat 

 being of great length; under the chinne on either side a bagge," etc. 

 The narrators in either case were not naturalists, consequently we must 

 wait until a later date for the scientific description of the species that 

 have caused so much damage in California. We can, however, gather 

 sufficient suggestions from these words to assure ourselves that the 



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