Fig. 24. Map showing California distribution of the golden-mantled and antelope groups of ground squirrels. The spots represent localities from which actual specimens have been examined.
the animals are to be seen scurrying across open spaces to their burrows, just in front of the mouths of which they almost invariably stop a moment before plunging out of sight, displaying then to full advantage their color pattern. If the observer traverses their domain quietly, he may suddenly discover individual squirrels intensely observing him from perches on the tops of boulders or logs. There they sit in unostentatious, hunched-over postures, blending so well with the background that they are often passed by altogether unnoticed. The element protecting them from observation most, at such times, seems to be their faculty for keeping absolutely still.
86
