i6o The Mammals of Colorado 
In young specimens, though practically full grown, the stripes 
and spots look finer and narrower. Specimens from Divide, 
Teller County, 9,200 feet, are darker than Colorado Springs examples 
taken at same season (September). 
Distribution. — With its subspecies C. tridecemlineatiis has a 
range from the Saskatchewan on the north to northern Texas on the 
south, and from northeastern Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming to 
Michigan. The present subspecies inhabits the arid plains from 
Montana, Wyoming, and Nebraska to Texas. In Colorado it is 
found over most of the plains country of the eastern part of the 
State from the foot-hills east, and inhabits every county of that 
part of the State. It is found in the South Park, and has been 
taken at Twin Lakes, near Leadville. Its range in altitude carries 
it to above 9,000 feet. 
Habits. — This little spermophile is often seen darting 
through the grass or standing up erect and motionless on 
its hindquarters to observe the passer-by. It has a very 
characteristic note, which may be described as a rapid trill 
or trembling whistle long drawn out in a somewhat high 
key. It lives in burrows, some of which it may dig for itself, 
but it is often found occupying abandoned prairie-dog holes. 
The burrows constructed by itself usually descend rather 
steeply at first and then run along horizontally for some 
distance, those for winter nests or for nurseries being longer 
than others. 
Their food consists of roots, green stuff, and especially 
of seeds of all sorts, but they also relish beetles, grasshoppers, 
and other insects. They eat meat, and will devour mice 
caught in collector's traps, much to the disgust of the collector. 
In fact they appear to be quite omnivorous. The seeds are 
carried in their cheek pouches to their storehouses for winter 
use. In agricultural districts it does much damage by 
digging up freshly planted seeds, especially of corn and 
melons, and they also destroy ripe grain. 
The young are born in May or June and are from five to 
eleven in number. At first they are in a very embryonic state, 
