File:California ground squirrels - a bulletin dealing with life histories, habits and control of the ground squirrels of California - (by J. Grinnell, J, Dixon and others) (1918) (20326966890).jpg

English:
A brood of young, wild squirrels. The average brood for this species is five. This picture represents a vertical section showing the brood nest which is made of wild grass or grain straw and lined with finely shredded material of the same kind.

Title: California ground squirrels : a bulletin dealing with life histories, habits and control of the ground squirrels of California / (by J. Grinnell, J, Dixon and others)
Identifier: californiaground00cali (find matches)
Year: 1918 (1910s)
Authors: California. State Commission of Horticulture; Dixon, Joseph
Subjects:
Publisher: (Sacramento) : California State Printing Off.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
716 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. tarian of all the ground squirrels. With the opening of the season the squirrel lives largely upon green succulent vegetation. This diet continues through the season of active plant growth. When the vege- tation begins to ripen his attention is turned to the more fat-producing seed products of grain and plants, and by the time for the beginning of aestivation the animal has become enormously fat. Like many other rodents, an occasional feast of flesh appears to be necessary even though it be secured by cannibalistic methods.
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 39. A brood of young, wild squirrels. The average brood for this species is five. This picture represents a vertical section showing the brood nest which is made of wild grass or grain straw and lined with finely shredded material of the same kind. Stomach analysis made during these investigations from squirrels shot in the fields at various times of the day and different vegetation habitats and state geographic ranges show the following conditions: Of 43 stomachs examined, 100 per cent contained vegetable matter; 86 per cent contained vegetable matter entirely; 2 per cent contained traces of mammals; 13.9 per cent contained traces of insect remains. ESTIVATION AND HIBERNATION. In the preparation of this long period of inactivity, the squirrel has become enormously fat. Not only has he stored up enough of this fat reserve to carry him through his long night of seclusion and darkness, but past it, and the adverse conditions of spring, and well on into the breeding season. As the season of green vegetation gives way to one of parched dessi- cation, he instinctively seeks a place of seclusion, becomes timid and shy, and is seen only occasionally during the last two weeks of his activity. He avoids prolonged exposure to noonday heat, which is fatal to him now. He sleeps long intervals at a time, partakes very sparingly of food, and when his alimentary tract is largely free from 124

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