Page:Natural History of the Ground Squirrels of California.djvu/53

Rh 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 piñon. These were invariably perched upright on the summits of gray granite boulders. They were even then notably pale-colored, with beecheyi in mind (J. Grinnell, 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 numerous, 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 considerable 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, Riverside 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. Grinnell, 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, Riverside County, a one-third grown young one was secured May 16, 1908,