Chapter X: Part 10

The head and body are about 6-1/2 inches long and the tail is about 2 inches in length. The head is large with low, rounded ears and large eyes. The neck is distinctly constricted and the body is plump. Adults are "pot-bellied." The legs are short and the feet small. The tail is short, round at the base but bushy throughout the rest of its length. The pelage is short and rather harsh. In color the upper parts are yellowish gray flecked with tiny, pale dots. The underparts are buffy. The face, thighs and tail are reddish buff.

Ground squirrels occur in parts of Europe, Asia, and much of western North America. Howell (1938: 36-37) recognizes eight subgenera and thirty-one species in North America. Three subgenera occur in Washington, namely: _Citellus_, the spotted ground squirrels, represented by _Citellus townsendii_, _Citellus washingtoni_ and _Citellus columbianus_; _Otospermophilus_, the long-tailed ground squirrels, represented by _Citellus beecheyi_; and _Callospermophilus_, the striped ground squirrels, represented by _Citellus lateralis_ and _Citellus saturatus_.

All ground squirrels are diurnal and consequently are familiar to man. Most species bear local names and the striped or mantled ground squirrels are often mistaken for chipmunks. Some species are destructive to crops, especially grain. In addition they harbor sylvatic plague. Economically the genus _Citellus_ is of great importance in Washington.

All Washington ground squirrels live in burrows which they construct themselves. The life histories of the two striped species are less well known than those of the more economically important species. All species hibernate. The striped species disappear in October and reappear the following March. This can be called true hibernation. The long-tailed ground squirrels probably hibernate at high altitudes but aestivate in more arid localities. In Washington the Douglas ground squirrel occupies an area that is relatively temperate and humid. They may hibernate or aestivate, depending on local conditions, or they may remain active all year. The spotted ground squirrels disappear in midsummer and sleep (aestivate) until the following spring, for in their arid habitat the disappearance of green food in late summer and fall makes living conditions almost as unfavorable as in winter.

Townsend ground squirrels range from central Washington south to southern Nevada and from the Cascade Mountains east to eastern Idaho and central Utah. Five races are recognized, only one of which occurs in Washington, where it is confined to the Upper Sonoran Life-zone. It occupies the sagebrush area, being most common where the sage is in scattered clumps separated by grassy areas. Occasionally these squirrels occupy extensive grasslands where sage is scarce and in the Yakima area may enter pastures and fields. They live in colonies, often with more than ten separate burrows to the acre.

Burrows are dug in dusty ground, either near sage bushes or in openings among them. Well-worn trails lead from feeding places to openings of burrows. Mouths of burrows are usually situated on flat ground and are surrounded by a rim of excavated earth four to six inches high. If located on a slope, the excavated earth collects as a mound on the lower side, and serves as a look-out post for the squirrels. Burrows excavated by Scheffer are described by Howell (1938: 5). One reached a depth of 5-1/4 feet at a point where it branched 11 feet from the entrance. One branch led to the nest chamber three feet to the right of the main tunnel. The other reached a depth of six feet at a point 14 feet from the entrance, then turned upwards at a 70 degree angle and reached the surface through a partly obstructed entrance, 12 feet from the original entrance. The nest chamber was 6-1/2 inches in diameter and filled with a perfectly dry nest of fine grass, partly broken and shredded.

Food consists of soft green vegetation and seeds. Foods listed by Howell (1938: 5) include: _Sphaeralida munroana_, _Plantago purshii_, _Bromus tectorum_, _Agropyron pauciflorum_, _Oryzopsis hymenoides_, _Norta altissima_, _Artemisiae spinescens_, sunflower, alfalfa, wheat, barley, potato, beets, carrots, lettuce, and insects (grasshoppers, cicadas). In 1917, these squirrels were reported to have practically destroyed a ten-acre field of beets at White Swan, Yakima County.

Aestivation of older individuals begins in late May and the last young disappear in early June. The squirrels appear again in late January, before the snow has disappeared (Scheffer, 1941: 272).

The voice of the Townsend ground squirrel is a faint, high pitched "pe-eee-ep," of remarkable carrying power for so faint a sound, and extremely difficult to trace to its source. Scheffer (in Howell, _op. cit._, p. 6) mentions also a chirping sound and a chatter of alarm which I have not heard.

Five to seven embryos were found in specimens collected near Yakima. Scheffer (1941: 270) found the number of fetuses in 52 pregnant females from the Kennewick area to vary from 4 to 16 with an average of 8.6. Francis (1922: 5) reported tularemia in this species. They probably harbor also sylvatic plague.

=Citellus washingtoni= Howell

Washington ground squirrel; sage rat

_Citellus washingtoni washingtoni_ Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:69,
May 18, 1938.

_Citellus washingtoni loringi_ Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:71, May
18, 1938 (type from Douglas, Douglas County, Washington).

_Type._--Obtained at Touchet, Walla Walla County, Washington, by C.
P. Streator on May 18, 1891; type in United States National Museum.

_Distribution._--The Columbian Plateau and southward into Oregon,
ranging from Farmer (Howell, 1938: 71) and Moses Coulee (W. W. D.)
south to Wallula (M. V. Z.).

_Measurements._--Fifteen specimens from the vicinity of the type
locality average: total length 229.2; length of tail 50; hind foot
35.3. A male from 4 miles west of Pasco, Franklin County, weighed
201 grams.

_Remarks._--_Citellus w. loringi_ allegedly differs from typical
_washingtoni_ in smaller size. The specimens collected by us from
within the range of _loringi_ are as large as those from farther
south. _C. w. loringi_ is regarded as a synonym of _C. w.
washingtoni_.

_Description._--The Washington ground squirrel closely resembles the Townsend ground squirrel in size and appearance. It differs principally in color. The upper parts are brownish gray marked with distinct white spots, and the underparts are buffy. The face, thighs and tail are dull reddish.

This species is closely related to the Townsend ground squirrel but its habitat is more varied. It is most common in areas of low sage bushes surrounded by grasslands and on extensive grasslands, but occurs also in sandy places, wheat fields, and rocky hillsides. The animals live in colonies, in some places 50 or more individuals to the acre. They occur also as scattered individuals or small colonies in smaller areas of suitable habitat. For example, along the highway from Farmer, Douglas County, to Waterville, a distance of 15 miles, a band of natural grass, 50 feet or less in width, lies between the road and the extensive wheat fields beyond. This strip of natural cover possessed about one _Citellus_ to each 200 feet along most of its length. The squirrels were often seen sitting on rolls of wire drift fence, used to keep snow drifts from the road in winter but in summer rolled into bundles 3 feet in diameter and left standing at intervals of one each 100 feet. The squirrels had constructed their burrow entrances beneath these rolls and used the rolls as look-out posts. At my approach they would dodge into the rolls of wire and, unless scared, remained in the wire roll. By approaching carefully and overturning the rolls I was able to trap and capture a good series of living specimens.

Burrows, nests, habits, and food of this species seem identical to those of _townsendii_. Aestivation dates seem to be the same (Scheffer, 1941: 270-279). The hibernation of this species has been discussed in detail by Svhila (1939: 6-10). Food species listed by Scheffer at Wallula (Howell, 1938: 8) are identical to those of _townsendii_ at Kennewick, across the Columbia River (see account of _townsendii_).

Scheffer (1941: 270-279) examined 26 pregnant females of this species and found the fetuses to vary from 5 to 11 in number, with an average of 8.

=Citellus columbianus= (Ord)

Columbian ground squirrel

_Description._--The Columbian ground squirrel has the general body proportions, large head, large eyes, low, rounded ears, plump body and short tail of the Townsend ground squirrel, but is much larger. The head and body of an adult measure about 10 inches and the tail about 4 inches. The upper parts are grayish buff mottled with round white dots. The underparts and forefeet are pale ochraceous. The back of the head and neck are gray. The face, thighs and tail are reddish.

The Columbian ground squirrel occupies inland mountainous areas from central British Columbia to central Oregon and Idaho and from eastern Washington and Oregon to western Montana and southwestern Alberta. It is closely related to the arctic ground squirrels of the _Citellus parryii_ group, which are in turn related to the Siberian forms, _buxtoni_ and _stejnegeri_.

The habitat of the Columbian ground squirrel is varied but is usually more humid than that of the Townsend and Washington ground squirrels. The most arid of the lands occupied by them in Washington are the grasslands and wheat fields of the Poulouse country and the eastern border of the state. In northeastern Washington they live in meadows and grasslands in the valleys, in openings in the coniferous forest at higher altitudes and in parks and alpine meadows almost to timber-line on the mountains. Some individuals were in brushy places or even in forests, far from grassy clearings. Near Republic, Ferry County, a Columbian ground squirrel was killed as it ran along a log in dense larch woods. Its burrows were found in a tangle of brush and fallen logs. No clearings, meadow or grassland existed nearby. Narrow bands of cleared land beside roads and railroad tracks are extensively used by these squirrels. Where small meadows or pastures occur, this species lives in dense colonies. If grasslands are extensive it lives in loose colonies, often with considerable distances between individual burrow systems. In the mountains the squirrels are scattered or live in small groups.

Burrows of the Columbian ground squirrel are often constructed in the open. Mouths of burrows, especially if the animals are living in colonies, usually are marked by a large pile of excavated earth. If, however, there is some large object on the surface of the ground, such as a stone, stump, or log, the entrance to the burrow is located beside this. Such objects are often undermined and made to settle, eventually becoming buried. The squirrels live under houses, and the yards of abandoned ranch buildings are often infested with them.

The burrows of the Columbian ground squirrel have been described by Shaw (1919, 1924B, 1925, A, B, E, 1926) and Bailey (1918: 47). Two types of burrows are constructed, summer burrows and hibernation dens. Summer burrows are used year after year, perhaps by succeeding generations of squirrels. They vary considerably but usually are 3 or 4 inches in diameter and possess several entrances. The depth to which the burrow descends, as well as the number of forks and subsidiary burrows, depends to some extent on the whims of the individual squirrel and the length of time the burrow has been occupied. Usually the burrow reaches a depth of four feet and two or more branches are present. A turning-about chamber is present, not far from the entrance. Here a startled squirrel can turn about and watch the entrance and, if the alarm was false, the squirrel resumes its activities above ground. Nests are above the level of the main burrow system and thus are protected from flooding by rain or melting snow. Stored food and excrement are deposited in separate compartments. Escape entrances, concealed in grass and weeds, for use in case the burrow is invaded, are dug from beneath the surface of the ground and thus are unmarked by any telltale mound of earth.

Separate dens are used for aestivation. While the squirrel is in aestivation the entrances to the summer burrow are solidly plugged with tamped earth. Aestivation dens are short and may or may not communicate with the summer burrow. Shaw (1925B: 58) measured 50 such dens and found the aestivation cell to average 2 feet 6 inches beneath the surface with extreme depths of 6 inches and 4 feet 11 inches. Ordinarily a drainage burrow is dug beneath the level of the nest.

The time and length of aestivation is variable. Old males enter aestivation before the females and young, and emerge earlier in the spring. In the lowlands, as about Pullman, Whitman County, the squirrels begin to disappear in mid July. In the mountains of northeastern Washington they are active until late August. They emerge again in late February or early March. Shaw (1925B) mentions that food is occasionally stored in aestivation dens of male squirrels. This food is not eaten in the winter but in the spring, when the squirrels awaken.

The gestation period was determined by Shaw (1925C: 108) as 24 days. Two to five, rarely seven, young are born. The average litter is about 3.5. Mating occurs in late March and the young are born about the middle of April.

Most green vegetation occurring in its habitat is food for the Columbian ground squirrel. Bulbs, seeds, fruit, berries, grain, clover, alfalfa, and garden truck are eagerly eaten. The squirrels are especially fond of wheat and great damage results from their depredations. In northeastern Washington some wheat fields are almost entirely destroyed. Shaw (1925G) showed that one squirrel destroyed an average of more than 50 pounds of wheat in a season. When populations range as high as ten squirrels to the acre, little wheat is left.

In Montana the Columbian ground squirrel is a known reservoir of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Birdseye, 1912: 1-46) while sylvatic plague has been reported in this species in Oregon (Meyer, 1936: 965). Control of the Columbian ground squirrel by traps, poison, and shooting is only locally successful.

=Citellus columbianus columbianus= (Ord)

_Arctomys columbianus_ Ord, Guthrie's Geography, 2d American
Edition, 2:292 (description, p. 303), 1815.

_Spermophilus columbianus_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 5:39, July 30,
1891.

_Citellus columbianus_ Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 19:536,
October 10, 1903.

_Type._--None designated. Description based on Lewis and Clark's
account of animals taken by them between the forks of the
Clearwater and Kooskooskie rivers, Idaho.

_Racial characters._--Smaller size and paler color than in
_ruficaudus_.

_Measurements._--Five females from northeastern Washington
average: total length 346; length of tail 77; hind foot 48.6; ear
20.

_Distribution._--Northeastern Washington, from 15 mi. E. Tonasket
(W. W. D.) east to Pass Creek Pass (U. S. N. M.) and south to
Pullman (W. S. C.) along the eastern edge of the state.

=Citellus columbianus ruficaudus= Howell

_Citellus columbianus ruficaudus_ Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc.
Washington, 41:212, December 18, 1928.

_Type._--Obtained at Wallowa Lake, Wallowa County, Oregon, by G. G.
Cantwell on April 13, 1919; type in United States National Museum.

_Racial characters._--Similar to _Citellus columbianus
columbianus_ but tail redder, especially above, and red color
everywhere deeper.

_Distribution._--Restricted to the Blue Mountains of extreme
southeastern Washington.

_Remarks._--This is at best a slightly differentiated race and
upon further study, animals assigned to it may prove unworthy of
recognition as a distinct subspecies.

=Citellus beecheyi douglasii= (Richardson)

Beechey ground squirrel

_Arctomys? (Spermophilus?) douglasii_ Richardson, Fauna
Boreali-Americana, 1:172, 1829.

_Spermophilus douglasii_ F. Cuvier, Sup. a l'hist. natur. Buffon,
1:333, 1831.

[_Spermophilus grammurus_] var. _douglasii_ Allen, Proc. Boston
Soc. Nat. Hist., 16:293, 1874.

_Citellus v[ariegatus]. douglasii_ Elliot, Field Columb. Mus.
Publ. 76, zoöl. ser. 3:183, May, 1903.

_Citellus beecheyi douglasi_ Grinnell, Proc. California Acad.
Sci., 3 (ser. 4):345, August 28, 1913.

_Otospermophilus grammurus douglasii_ Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus.
Bull., 128:18, April 29, 1924.

_Citellus douglasii_ Taylor and Shaw, _Occ._ Papers Chas. R.
Conner Mus., no. 2:15, December, 1929.

_Citellus beecheyi douglasii_ Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:150, May
18, 1938.

_Type._--None. Description based on a hunter's skin from "Banks of
the Columbia," probably near The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon.

_Measurements._--A male and 6 females from Klickitat County,
average, respectively: total length 469, 480; length of tail 181,
198; hind foot 58, 62; ear 26, 26.

_Distribution._--The Columbia River Valley from Goldendale (W. W.
D.) west to the White Salmon River (W. W. D.).

_Remarks._--Ground squirrels have been common on the Oregon side of the Columbia River for a long time. The specimen upon which the description was based was presumably obtained there in the early 1800's. Yet the species did not become established in Washington until 100 years later, in about 1915.

The head is large with eyes and ears of moderate size. The body is rather stout; thicker than that of a tree squirrel but slimmer than that of the Columbian ground squirrel. Head and body are about 11 inches in length and the tail is about 7 inches long. The upper parts are dark brownish or blackish gray heavily marked with white spots. A triangular area at the shoulders is clear black outlined in whitish. The head and neck are grayish brown. The underparts are buffy. The tail is gray above and buffy beneath.

This species belongs to the subgenus _Otospermophilus_. Externally the species _beecheyi_ differs from _Citellus washingtoni_, _townsendii_, and _columbianus_, all of which belong to the subgenus _Citellus_, in possessing more slender limbs, a longer, thinner body, a rather bushy tail that is nearly two-thirds, rather than less than half, the length of the body, and larger, more prominent ears. The Beechey ground squirrel lacks also the hazel color of nose and thigh that is characteristic of the subgenus _Citellus_ in Washington.

_Citellus beecheyi_ ranges from the southern edge of the state of Washington southward through western Oregon and California into northern Lower California. It is a western coastal species and reaches eastward only as far as Nevada. A related species, _Citellus variegatus_, occurs farther inland, from Utah, Colorado, and Texas, southward to central Mexico. Eight subspecies of _Citellus beecheyi_ are recognized by Howell (1938), all but three of which are restricted to California.

At present the Beechey ground squirrel occupies a limited area of Washington, which it has invaded in recent years (Scheffer and Dalquest, 1939: 44). However, it is extending its range and may be expected eventually to occupy a considerable part of the state.

The habitat of this ground squirrel is varied. It occupies a more humid terrain than do most members of the genus. At the present time it is most common in grassy fields and rocky outcrops along the Columbia River. It is common also in the open oak groves on the hillsides back from the river valley and some individuals were seen near Guler, well up on the slopes of Mount Adams. As observed in Washington, its favored habitat is about rock outcrops and talus slides near extensive fields or grasslands. In California and Oregon, however, it occurs among other places, in scattered fields and meadows of the coniferous forests in the humid subdivision of the Transition Life-zone. The range of tolerance of the species is such that it might extend its range into much of western Washington, including the Puget Sound area. It may be expected to move northward through the eastern Cascades.

Because of its limited range and the short time of its establishment, the Beechey ground squirrel has been studied little in Washington. According to Howell (1938: 28), this race is less prolific and abundant than other members of the species. Of the Beechey ground squirrel, certainly the subspecies _C. b. douglasii_, is less common, locally and over wide areas, in its range in California and Oregon, than are the subspecies _C. b. beecheyi_ and _C. b. fisheri_ in California. In Washington, on the other hand, _douglasii_ is locally abundant, perhaps more so than elsewhere.

The habits of this race in California have been studied by Grinnell and Dixon (1919: 595-807). Burrows have been excavated near Eugene, Oregon, and the findings published (Edge, 1934: 189-193). Burrows were dug on sloping or well-drained ground. Mounds of earth at the entrances were usually inconspicuous but well-worn trails led to the burrows. The burrows entered the ground at an angle of 35° for about two feet, then flattened out horizontally for six feet or more. The burrows were from 1 to 4 feet deep, usually about 2 feet. Ordinary burrows had a single entrance but some older burrows had two or more. Burrows branched frequently. Nest chambers were of the shape of a flattened sphere 10 inches in diameter. Frequently more than one nest was found in a burrow, but only one was in use at a time. Some nests were infested with fleas. Nests frequently contained food. Most of the burrows observed by me had their entrances beside rocks or oak roots. In alfalfa fields near Bingen and Lyle, Klickitat County, the burrows were in open fields and the entrances were marked by large mounds of earth. In actual diameter the burrows seemed smaller than those of _Citellus columbianus_.

Aestivation and hibernation of the ground squirrels in the lower Columbia River Valley seem unnecessary, for the climate is temperate and humid. It is not established that _douglasii_ hibernates in other parts of its range where the climate is mild. Specimens shot at White Salmon in early March were lean and gave no evidence of having hibernated.

The Beechey ground squirrel is an excellent climber; I have seen individuals in oak trees on a number of occasions. They like to sit on fence posts and when alarmed descend head foremost, with speed and agility. In running on the ground their movements are more graceful than those of _Citellus columbianus_ but are unlike the flowing, bounding run of tree squirrels.

Near White Salmon and Lyle, these ground squirrels were eating burr clover (_Medicago_), grasses (_Bromus_), and alfalfa. In some places they do considerable damage to alfalfa fields. They probably eat acorns and are said to eat some insects.

In California the young are born in May and number five to seven.

No disease has been recorded for this subspecies but a related form in California (_Citellus b. beecheyi_) is known to harbor plague (Kellogg, 1935: 857) and tularemia (McCoy, 1911: 53-71).

=Citellus lateralis= (Say)

Golden-mantled ground squirrel

_Description._--The head and body measure about 6 inches and the tail about 4 inches. The head is large and rounded with eyes and ears of moderate size. The body is stouter than that of a chipmunk. The tail is long and well furred. Upper parts are buffy gray with one pale stripe bordered by two black stripes extending from shoulders to rump, and the underparts are buffy. The head and shoulders are tawny. The tail is buffy beneath and darker above.

Externally golden-mantled ground squirrels somewhat resemble chipmunks but actually are no more closely related to chipmunks than are other ground squirrels. They are larger than chipmunks and their stripes differ in that there is but one pale stripe on each side bordered with black stripes rather than two pale stripes, and in that the stripes end at the shoulders rather than continuing on to the face.

These ground squirrels are distributed in mountainous areas of western North America from central British Columbia south to central Arizona and New Mexico. A closely related species (_Citellus madrensis_) occupies a limited area in northern Mexico and another lives in the Cascades of Washington. There are two subspecies of _lateralis_ in Washington, each with a major part of its range outside of Washington.

This species inhabits mountain clearings, parks and talus slides, where it is most common about rocks, stumps, and logs. Its fondness for talus slides and outcrops has earned it the common name of "rock squirrel" in some places.

Entrances to burrows are usually beside a rock, stump, or root, or are concealed under talus slides. A burrow excavated by Hatt (1927) in Colorado was three inches in diameter at the entrance and uniformly two inches in diameter for the rest of its length. Most of the burrow was 8 inches beneath the surface. The tunnel branched twice and contained one pocket, probably a turning or passing chamber, in addition to the nest. "A runway surrounded the nest on three sides, from which there were four passages leading in. The nest cavity was 4 inches deep, the nest not filling the space available, but occurring more as a mat in the bottom of a cup."

The habits of this ground squirrel in Washington are little known. Since it occupies areas that are cold and under deep snow in winter, it probably hibernates. According to Howell (1938: 32) these animals become fat in the fall and must retire for the winter about the middle of September.

The food habits of these ground squirrels in Washington are little known. In the Pend Oreille Mountains, Pend Oreille County, I found them eating the fruit of the western raspberry (_Rubus leucodermis_). Howell lists, as food of this species, the seeds of yellow pine and douglas fir, serviceberries, other berries and seeds, grain, mushrooms, and several kinds of insects.

=Citellus lateralis tescorum= (Hollister)

_Callospermophilus lateralis tescorum_ Hollister, Smithsonian Misc.
Coll., 56 (no. 26):2, December 5, 1911.

_Citellus lateralis tescorum_ Elliot, Check-list Mamm. N. Amer.,
Supp., p. 29, 1917.

_Type._--Obtained at the head of Moose Pass Branch, Smoky River,
Alberta (near Moose Pass, British Columbia), 7,000 ft., by N.
Hollister on August 2, 1911; type in United States National Museum.

_Racial characters._--Large size, gray color.

_Measurements._--A female from Pass Creek Pass, Pend Oreille
County, measures: total length 257; length of tail 90; hind foot
40; ear 14.

_Distribution._--Known only from the Pend Oreille Mountains, Pend
Oreille County, at Pass Creek Pass (W. W. D.).

=Citellus lateralis connectens= (Howell)

_Callospermophilus chrysodeirus connectens_ Howell, Jour. Mamm.,
12:161, May 14, 1931.

_Citellus lateralis connectens_ Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:205,
May 18, 1938.

_Type._--Obtained at Homestead, Oregon, by H. H. Sheldon on June 1,
1916; type in United States National Museum.

_Racial Characters._--Similar to _C. l. tescorum_ but browner,
more buffy and less grayish, mantle brighter, size slightly
smaller.

_Measurements._--Seven males from northeastern Oregon average
(Howell, 1938: 206): total length 266; length of tail 92; hind
foot 41.7; ear 14.8 (dry). An adult female from Godman Springs,
Columbia County, measures: total length 257; length of tail 87;
hind foot 37; ear 14.

_Distribution._--The Blue Mountains of extreme southeastern
Washington.

_Remarks._--This race differs markedly from the subspecies that
occupies northeastern Washington, but differs but little from
_Citellus l. chrysodeirus_ of the Cascades of Oregon.

=Citellus saturatus= (Rhoads)

Golden-mantled ground squirrel

_Tamias lateralis saturatus_ Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia, 1895:43, April 9, 1895.

[_Spermophilus lateralis_] _saturatus_ Elliot, Field Columb. Mus.
Publ. 45, zoöl. ser., 2:83, 1901.

_Citellus lateralis saturatus_ Elliot, Field Columb. Mus. Publ.
105, zoöl. ser., 6:106, 1905.

_Callospermophilus lateralis saturatus_ Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus.
Bull., 79:316, December 31, 1912.

_Citellus saturatus_ Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:212, May 18, 1936.

_Type._--Obtained at Lake Keechelus, 3000 ft., Kittitas County,
Washington, by A. Rupert, in September, 1893; type in Academy of
Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

_Measurements._--Ten males from the Cascade Mountains average:
total length 305; length of tail 110.9; hind foot 46.5; ear 17
(dry). The weights of 3 males and 5 females average, respectively:
281 grams; 259.4 grams.

_Distribution._--The higher and eastern Cascade Mountains from
Barron (Howell, 1938: 213) and Bauerman Ridge (Howell, 1938: 213)
south to Cleveland (Howell, 1938: 213) and Goldendale (W. W. D.).

_Remarks._--The golden-mantled ground squirrel of the Cascades is similar to _Citellus lateralis_ but is larger and duller-colored. Head and body are about 8 inches in length and the tail is about 4-1/2 inches long. The upper parts are brownish gray with one pale and two dark stripes on each side. Head and shoulders are tawny. The underparts are dull buffy gray.

_Citellus saturatus_ occupies the Cascade Mountains of Washington and southern British Columbia. It inhabits talus slides and clearings. The rock embankment of the Great Northern Railroad between the Cascade Tunnel and Leavenworth, Chelan County, is a favored habitat and the population along the railroad probably averages one squirrel each hundred yards. To the east it extends well into the Transition Life-zone, being abundant in clearings in the open forest of yellow pine. In places its range nearly reaches the Upper Sonoran Life-zone. A few miles east of Leavenworth, Chelan County, we found this squirrel in chapparal and brush, principally composed of _Ceanothus creneatus_. Here the animals were unusually abundant and formed a colony almost as dense as colonies of _Citellus washingtoni_.

Entrances of burrows are usually placed beside rocks, stumps or logs. In the area near Leavenworth, mentioned above, entrances to burrows were in the open or among roots of bushes. The entrances to many burrows are doubtless concealed under talus slides. No complete records of excavations of burrows are available. One burrow, uncovered by road construction operations three miles east of Scenic, Chelan County, was dug in the earth-filled cleft of a great granite boulder. The cleft was 5 feet wide at the surface of the ground but narrowed until at a depth of six feet the stones were in contact. The cleft was at least 10 yards long. The burrow descended at an angle of 45 degrees, to a depth of three feet. Here the construction work had passed the cleft, but digging into the almost vertical wall uncovered the nest at the end of a horizontal tunnel two feet farther on. It was a matted cup of dry grass with two fresh, green fern fronds lying loose in the cup. Two divergent burrows emerged on opposite sides of the nest cavity, but a fall of the loose, gravelly soil prevented further observation. The body of the occupant, crushed and mangled by the steam-shovel scoop, was that of a small male.

In spite of their vivacious appearance, these squirrels are rather sedentary. When undisturbed they move leisurely over rocks and stumps, pausing often, and occasionally sitting on their hindquarters to gaze about for minutes at a time. They are good climbers and often ascend smooth-barked trees to heights of 20 feet or more. At the approach of danger they descend and enter the nearest burrow. In August these ground squirrels become exceedingly fat and by late September only a few may be seen, basking in the midday sun. These take alarm at the slightest excuse. All have usually gone into hibernation by October 15.

The food includes the berries of salal, huckleberry, mountain ash, and seeds of lupine. Near Liberty, Kittitas County, a squirrel killed by a car had its cheek pouches stuffed with garden peas. The source of its loot was doubtless the garden of a farmhouse 100 feet away. Numerous individuals are run over by cars, and on many occasions I have found other individuals eating the sun-dried flesh of their mates, parents, or young. These cannibals are often run over while so engaged, and it is not unusual to find two or three dead on a section of pavement 20 feet in length.

Economically this species is of little importance. Its principal enemies probably include hawks, weasels, martens, bobcats and coyotes.

=Sciurus griseus griseus= Ord

Western gray squirrel

_Sciurus griseus_ Ord, Jour. de phys., 87:152, 1818.

_Sciurus griseus griseus_ Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 128:222,
April 29, 1924.

_Type._--None. Described from a squirrel seen by Lewis and Clark.
Type locality, The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon.

_Measurements._--A female from midway between Satus Pass and
Goldendale, Klickitat County, measured: total length 560; length
of tail 264; hind foot 76; weight 897 grams.

_Distribution._--Southwestern Washington north to the glacial
prairies near Tacoma (W. W. D.); the Columbia River Valley of the
southern Cascades; the eastern edge of the Cascades north to Lake
Chelan (Taylor and Shaw, 1929: 18).

_Description._--This is the largest tree squirrel found in Washington. The head and body measure about 12 inches, and the tail about 11 inches. The body is long and slender. The fur is long and soft, that on the tail being exceptionally long. The upper parts are silvery gray and the underparts white.

The western gray squirrel is restricted to the region of the Pacific Coast and ranges from central Washington south to northern Lower California. Three subspecies are recognized, only one of which occurs in Washington. Like the red squirrels, the western gray squirrel is arboreal. Its favored habitat is the oak woods rather than coniferous forest. Its range in Washington is largely regulated by the distribution of oaks, especially the garry oak (_Quercus garryana_). Altitudinally it ranges from near sea level at Puget Sound to above 2,500 feet elevation in the eastern Cascade Mountains. It seems to be restricted to the Transition Life-zone.

The habits of the western gray squirrel are modified by its arboreal existence. Homes consist of holes in hollow trees or outside nests of sticks and twigs. It is extremely active in trees and travels from tree to tree on branches that seem scarcely strong enough to bear the weight of so large an animal. The oak woods in Washington are usually rather open and the trees more scattered than is the case in coniferous forests. Consequently gray squirrels must more often descend to the ground than Douglas and red squirrels. On the ground, western gray squirrels travel in smooth leaps each of two feet or more in length. The long tail is held out behind and "follows through" the animal's leaps in a remarkable way. The tip of the tail may be descending from the previous leap while the animal's fore parts are already at the height of a new jump. This results in a "flowing" movement that is extremely graceful. The squirrel may stop momentarily to dig in the ground or search for an acorn. At such times the tail is immediately switched up, over the back.

The western gray squirrel is able to drop unharmed for considerable distances. Near Fort Lewis, Pierce County, a gray squirrel was cornered in a tall fir tree and an agile friend volunteered to climb the tree. The squirrel ascended to the very topmost branches. When only a few feet separated them the squirrel leaped far out into the air. Its legs were stretched out stiffly, the tail was extended and the body slightly arched. It struck the ground with an audible thud and bounced fully 18 inches. At the height of its bounce, the squirrel's legs began moving rapidly, and it struck the ground the second time at a full run.

The principal food is acorns, although the seeds of the Douglas fir and probably other conifers are eaten. Four embryos were found by Victor B. Scheffer in a specimen from Klickitat County on March 20, 1939.

=Sciurus carolinensis hypophaeus= Merriam

Eastern gray squirrel

_Sciurus carolinensis hypophaeus_ Merriam, Science, 7:351, April
16, 1886.

_Type._--Obtained at Elk River, Sherburne County, Minnesota.

_Description._--Size large, slightly smaller than the western gray squirrel; color of upper parts less silvery, more reddish, especially on the dorsal area and top of the tail.

_Remarks._--The eastern gray squirrel was introduced at Woodland Park, Seattle, in 1925. The original stock (7 pairs) came from Minneapolis, Minnesota. It has spread through the nearby woods, around Green Lake, Cowan Park, and to the woods on the University of Washington Campus. Occasional individuals are found outside the city limits, but the species seems not to spread away from the city.

=Sciurus niger= Linnaeus subsp?

Fox squirrel

[_Sciurus_] _niger_ Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., 1 (10th ed.):64, 1758.

_Description._--Similar in size and appearance to the eastern gray squirrel but upper parts more reddish and underparts reddish orange rather than white.

_Remarks._--Occasional fox squirrels are encountered near Seattle where they have been introduced from the southeastern United States. The source and date of the introduction are unknown.

=Tamiasciurus hudsonicus= (Erxleben)

Red squirrel

_Description._--The head and body of the red squirrel measure about 7-3/4 inches, the tail about 5 inches. It may be recognized by its trim body, bushy tail and white underparts. The upper parts are reddish gray, reddest on the dorsal area. The red color of the center of the back extends to the tail. A black line separates the dark upper parts from the white underparts.

Red squirrels range over North America from the northern limit of tree growth south through the United States to Tennessee and North Carolina. A related species, _douglasii_, is found along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to California. The genus _Tamiasciurus_ differs from _Sciurus_ of Washington in lacking a penis bone or baculum. There are other fundamental differences in anatomy (see Mossman, Lawlah and Bradley, 1932: 89-155).

The habitat of the red squirrels is the coniferous forests from which they rarely stray. Zonally they range through the Transition and Canadian life-zones into the Hudsonian Life-zone. Red squirrels are arboreal and most of their habits are modified by arboreal existence. They are swift and agile climbers, able to travel from tree to tree on slender twigs or by leaping as much as ten feet to span the distance from one branch to another. They ascend and descend trees head first. They hang by their hind feet, high in the air, to clip the cones of conifers. If cornered in a tree they leap far out and, by extending the legs and tail stiffly, fall to the ground unharmed by leaps of fifty feet or more.

The homes of red squirrels are woodpecker holes or other holes in hollow trees. More rarely they build outside nests of twigs and branches, about two feet in diameter, or add onto old nests of crows or jays. Most nests and holes are some distance from the ground but some holes are between roots on the ground itself.

The food consists principally of the seeds of coniferous trees, especially Douglas fir and various species of pines. Cones are clipped when green or just before ripening and are either allowed to fall to the ground to be retrieved later or are at once carried to a favored feeding place to be consumed. Cones are held between the forepaws while the squirrel sits on its hind feet, tail curved up over its back, and rapidly clips the cone apart to get the seeds it contains. The cone is rotated between the paws and a steady stream of husks drops to the ground. Soon only the core is left and this too joins the husks on the ground. Favored feeding stations are used continually, perhaps by generation after generation of squirrels, and debris from thousands of cones accumulates in great piles.

Cones are stored. In the vicinity of a favored feeding place, at times virtually every hiding place is filled with green cones. Cones may be jammed into cracks or crevices in logs or stumps without effort at concealment or may be carefully covered with leaves or dry needles. Many are placed in craterlike pits dug in the ground. Most of these pits probably are later covered over but many are left open to the weather. Hollows in trees are probably also used for storage, as are holes dug into the piles of accumulated cone debris beneath feeding stations. Other food eaten by squirrels includes hazelnuts, berries, maple seeds, and mushrooms. A variety of fruits and seeds are doubtless eaten when opportunity offers.

Red squirrels do not hibernate. In the lowlands they are active all winter long but are noticeably shy and quiet. In the mountains they disappear after the snow falls but tracks may be seen in the snow about their dens and occasional individuals are seen. Specimens collected at this time are not fat, as would be the case if hibernation had been interrupted. Seemingly they stay close to their homes and feed on stored food.

The call of the red squirrel is harsher, more metallic, than that of the Douglas squirrel. The common call is a rolling "bur-r-r," starting loud but fading out entirely in a half minute. A lower-pitched "pauf" is uttered at intervals when the squirrel is going about its business. The danger cry is a loud "pee-ee," not unlike the call of a red-tailed hawk but less shrill. A low pitched "chauf-chauf-chauf," repeated at intervals of about two seconds, is occasionally given in the fall of the year.

=Tamiasciurus hudsonicus streatori= (Allen)

_Sciurus hudsonicus streatori_ Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.,
10:267, July 22, 1898.

_T[amiasciurus]. h[udsonicus]. streatori_ Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc.
Washington, 49:135, August 22, 1936.

_Type._--Obtained at Ducks, British Columbia; type in American
Museum of Natural History.

_Racial characters._--Similar to _richardsoni_ but smaller and
darker, redder above.

_Measurements._--Seven males from north-central Washington average:
total length 330; length of tail 129; hind foot 51; ear 23.

_Distribution._--Northeastern Washington. Marginal occurrences are
(from Taylor and Shaw, 1929: 17): Beaver Creek, Ruby Creek, and
head of Lake Chelan.

_Remarks._--This race reaches Washington from the interior of
British Columbia. Intergradation between _hudsonicus streatori_
and _h. richardsoni_ takes place over much of northeastern
Washington.

=Tamiasciurus hudsonicus richardsoni= (Bachman)

_Sciurus richardsoni_ Bachman, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, p. 100,
1838.

_Sciurus hudsonius Richardsoni_ True, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.,
7:595, 1884.

_Sciurus hudsonicus richardsoni_ Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat.
Hist., 10:265, July 22, 1898.

_Sciurus hudsonicus richardsoni_ Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
128:211, April 29, 1924.

_Tamiasciurus hudsonicus richardsoni_ Svihla and Svihla, Murrelet,
21:55, December 20, 1940.

_Type._--Obtained at the head of the Big Lost River, Custer
County, Idaho.

_Racial characters._--Color paler, especially on back.

_Measurements._--Four males and 4 females average, respectively:
total length 339, 339; length of tail 133, 131; hind foot 54, 51;
ear 24, 24; weight 256, 266.

_Distribution._--The Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington.

=Tamiasciurus douglasii douglasii= (Bachman)

Douglas squirrel

_Sciurus douglasii_ Bachman, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, p. 99,
1838.

_Sciurus hudsonius Douglasii_ True, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.,
7:595, 1884.

_Sciurus douglasii douglasii_ Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
128:212, April 29, 1924.

_Sciurus douglasii cascadensis_ Taylor and Shaw, Occ. Papers Chas.
R. Conner Mus., no. 2:18, December, 1929.

_Tamiasciurus douglasii_ Holdenried, Jour. Mamm., 21:406, November
14, 1940.

_Type._--Obtained near the mouth of the Columbia River by David
Douglas.

_Measurements._--Fifteen males and 10 females from the lowlands of
western Washington average, respectively: total length 317, 320;
length of tail 121, 126.7; hind foot 50, 49.4; ear 23.2, 22.6;
weight 204, 202 grams.

_Distribution._--From the eastern base of the Cascade Mountains
westward to the Pacific. Marginal occurrences are: Nooksack River
(Taylor and Shaw, 1929: 18), Lake Wenatchee (W. W. D.) and
Wenatchee (Taylor and Shaw, 1929: 18).

_Remarks._--Squirrels from the Puget Sound area are slightly less intensely colored than specimens from the ocean coast and the Olympic Mountains. Those from the higher and eastern Cascade Mountains are paler still. When, however, squirrels from the Cascades of Washington are compared with individuals of the race inhabiting the Cascades of Oregon, it is apparent that the Washington squirrels are nearest to _douglasii_. The pale tips of the hairs in the tail of the Oregon race are strikingly white while in Washington specimens they are orange or yellow.

The Douglas squirrel resembles the red squirrel in size and proportions but differs in being dusky olive (less reddish) on the upper parts and orange instead of white on the underparts.

Douglas squirrels range from southern British Columbia southward to Lower California. They are confined to the Pacific Coastal region. Although closely related to _Tamiasciurus hudsonicus_, no intergradation with that species has been found.

The rich coloration of the Douglas squirrel matches the background of the humid forests it inhabits. It occurs at sea level along the ocean coast, the shores of Puget Sound and on some islands in Puget Sound. It ranges through the Transition and Canadian life-zones well into the Hudsonian.

It makes its home in holes in trees or in nests constructed of conifer twigs, needles and bark. Old nests of birds may be modified and taken over, but most outside nests seem to have been made entirely by the squirrel. Nests are usually placed near the top of denser fir and cedar trees. Nests are hemispherical in shape, 12 inches or more in diameter, and open on top. The central cup, 4 inches in diameter, is lined with strips of inner bark of red cedar coiled but unshredded. Nests in holes are usually some distance from the ground, but the entrances to some are at ground level.

The habits of the Douglas squirrels vary with the season. In spring they are shy. They rarely call and are skillful in keeping branches or tree trunks between themselves and persons. In June and July they become bolder, calling more frequently and moving about more. In September and October they become exceptionally bold. They call almost incessantly from late morning until early afternoon, and spend considerable time on the ground.

The call notes of the Douglas squirrel are similar to those of the red squirrel but are softer, more slurred. The common call is the long, trilling "burr," loud at first and becoming gradually softer. On hot afternoons in late summer a barking "pauf" note is given. This sound is repeated several times at intervals of a minute or so. It has remarkable carrying power. The danger signal is a loud, explosive "pe-ee." Another common call is a short barking or chirping "bauf" with a musical, questioning sound. This is repeated at intervals of a few seconds when the presence of danger is suspected. At times it, rather than the loud danger signal, is given also when a person is sighted. A low chirping note is often given while the squirrel is busily at work. This is made while the squirrel is moving about. Other calls described are made from a standing or sitting position and are accompanied by a jerk or a flick of the tail.

The Douglas squirrel eats seeds of the Douglas fir, seeds of maple, hazelnuts, dogwood berries and mushrooms. The berries of forest shrubs, such as the red huckleberry, salal and Oregon grape, may also be eaten.

Two broods of young may be born in a year. The first is born in early June. Embryos found from June 11 to 28 varied in number from 6 to 8. A nursing female was taken as early as June 10, 1938, and one was taken as late as October 10, 1938.

Douglas squirrels commonly have a few fleas and 2 to 5 ticks at the bases of the ears. No lice, cases of mange, or serious infestations of parasites have been seen.

=Glaucomys sabrinus= (Shaw)

Northern flying squirrel

_Description._--The northern flying squirrel is slightly smaller than the red squirrel (_Tamiasciurus_). The head and body measure about 7 inches and the tail about 5 inches. The most distinctive feature is the loose fold of skin that stretches from the wrist of the foreleg to the ankle of the hind leg. The fur is extremely soft and plushlike. It is not separated into guard hair and underfur, and because all hairs are of approximately the same length, the fur appears extremely sleek. The fur of the tail is of the same texture as that on the body but is dorso-ventrally compressed. The eyes are large and dark. The color of the upper parts varies from reddish brown in some races to brownish gray in others. The underparts are buffy gray.

Flying squirrels range over the forested parts of North America from Guatemala to Alaska and northern Canada and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. A closely related genus (_Pteromys_) occurs in Europe. Two species are found in North America. The small _volans_ ranges in eastern United States, Mexico, and Guatemala, while the larger _sabrinus_ occurs in parts of the western United States, most of Canada, and central Alaska. Near the Great Lakes the two species occur in the same area, probably in different habitats.

Howell (1918: 16) recognized 18 subspecies of _sabrinus_, five of which were recorded in the state of Washington. One of these (_olympicus_) proves to be a synonym of an earlier-named subspecies but another form (_bangsi_), not recorded for Washington by Howell, has been found in the Blue Mountains in the southeastern corner of the state (Taylor and Shaw, 1929: 18).

Flying squirrels are strictly arboreal and occur only in woods and forests. They prefer areas where trees grow close together and to considerable heights. Older woods with dead stubs and hollow trees are preferred. They occasionally invade attics of cabins and other habitations of man. The old Forestry Building on the University of Washington Campus, later the home of the Washington State Museum, was inhabited by flying squirrels for many years. Several specimens preserved in the Museum prove the poor judgment of the animal in choosing a natural history museum as a home.

Relatively little is known of the detailed habits of _Glaucomys sabrinus_ although the life history of the eastern _Glaucomys volans_ has been described. Flying squirrels are active all winter, even in the high mountains. They are often caught in traps set for fur bearers and, where trapping is an important means of livelihood, they are serious pests. Flying squirrels do not actually fly but only glide through the air. The loose fold of fur between their limbs is stretched by extending the legs. With it the flying squirrel is able to sail 50 yards or more. The flat tail serves as a rudder and allows the squirrel to change direction while in flight. Glides end with an upward swoop, allowing the squirrel to alight, head upwards, on a tree trunk slightly lower than their starting point.

Unlike other members of the squirrel family, flying squirrels are completely nocturnal. They are seen in the daytime only when frightened from their retreats. Homes consist principally of old woodpecker holes or other cavities in trees. They are said to build outside nests, similar to those of tree squirrels, but I have found none of these in Washington. The animals can be frightened from their holes by pounding on the bases of trees in which their nests are situated. Certain holes seem to be preferred nesting places. Near Cottage Lake, King County, two flying squirrels were taken from a woodpecker hole in succeeding years. Cowan (1936B: 58) discovered remains of 14 nests of flying squirrels in a single hollow tree near Alta Lake, British Columbia. According to Cowan, hollow trees are used in winter but the young are born in outside nests of shredded bark and lichens. The young usually number 3 and are born in May and June.

Only once have I heard the voice of a flying squirrel. Near Dewey Lake, Yakima County, the squirrels were unusually abundant in the black hemlock and Douglas fir forests of the mountain sides. Here a birdlike twittering note caught my attention and occasional dark, sailing shapes were glimpsed against the clear sky. Eight traps set in the afternoon and visited at 11 p. m. held two flying squirrels. In the morning another was in a trap. Seemingly the squirrels are active most of the night.

The food consists principally of conifer seeds and probably other nuts, seeds, and fruit. They eat the meat bait of traps set for fur bearers and probably eat the eggs of birds.

=Glaucomys sabrinus oregonensis= (Bachman)

_Pteromys oregonensis_ Bachman, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
8:101, 1839.

_Sciuropterus alpinus oregonensis_ Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia, p. 324, June, 1897.

_Sciuropterus alpinus olympicus_ Elliot, Field Columb. Mus. Publ.
30, zoöl. ser., 1:225, February 1, 1899 (type from Happy Lake,
Clallam County, Washington).

_Glaucomys sabrinus oregonensis_ Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 44:44,
June 13, 1918.

_Glaucomys sabrinus olympicus_ Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 44:49, June
13, 1918.

_Type._--Obtained "in pine [= conifer] woods of the Columbia near
the sea" by J. K. Townsend in 1839. Probably near St. Helen,
Columbia County, Oregon (Rhoads, 1897:324).

_Racial characters._--Small size, rich color.

_Measurements._--A male from Cottage Lake, King County, measured:
total length 287; length of tail 125; hind foot 38. A female from
5 miles southeast of Sequim, Clallam County, measured: 303; 133;
41; ear 27. A male from Quilcene, Jefferson County, measured: 311;
140; 41.

_Distribution._--Western Washington west of the Cascade Mountains.
The locality records for flying squirrels in the northern Cascade
Mountains, given by Taylor and Shaw (1929: 18), when plotted on a
distribution map, show overlapping of ranges in this area. The
ranges of the three races involved have been drawn on the
accompanying map (fig. 92) on the basis of geographic probability
and are subject to revision because the specimens from this area
have not been examined.

Marginal records that may apply to _G. s. oregonensis_ are, from
Taylor and Shaw (1929: 18): Nooksack River, Rockport, North Bend
and Skamania.

_Remarks._--Of all the races occurring in Washington,
_oregonensis_ is the most distinct. _Glaucomys s. olympicus_
Elliot must be regarded as a synonym of _oregonensis_.

=Glaucomys sabrinus bangsi= (Rhoads)

_Sciuropterus alpinus bangsi_ Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia, p. 321, June, 1897.

_Glaucomys sabrinus bangsi_ Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 44:38, June
13, 1918.

_Type._--Obtained in Idaho County, Idaho, by Harbison and Bargamin
on March 8, 1897; type in Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.

_Racial characters._--Similar to _oregonensis_ but larger and
paler throughout.

_Measurements._--A female from Wildcat Spring, Columbia County,
measured: total length 333; length of tail 147; hind foot 45; ear
29; weight 151 grams.

_Distribution._--Found only in the Blue Mountains of extreme
southeastern Washington.

=Glaucomys sabrinus columbiensis= Howell

_Glaucomys sabrinus columbiensis_ Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc.
Washington, 28:111, May 27, 1915.

_Type._--Obtained at Okanogan, British Columbia, by Allan Brooks on
May 9, 1898; type in United States National Museum.

_Racial characters._--Larger than _oregonensis_ and paler. Similar
to _bangsi_ but paler, especially beneath, and less reddish above.

_Measurements._--Howell (1918: 46) gives the average of two
subadult topotypes as: total length 313; length of tail 143; hind
foot 42.

_Distribution._--Northeastern Washington, probably extending, from
records of Taylor and Shaw (1929: 18), west to Mazama and Stehekin
and east to Molson.

=Glaucomys sabrinus latipes= Howell

_Glaucomys sabrinus latipes_ Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
28:112, May 27, 1915.