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| -—s—«U S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
eee’. BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY
Bey 3 , HENRY W. HENSHAW, Chief
| NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA
Noi: 33
[Actual date of publication, August 17, 1911]
| A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF COLORADO
BY
MERRITT CARY
ASSISTANT BIOLOGIST, BIOLOGICAL SURVEY
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weer ARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY
HENRY W. HENSHAW, Chief
NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA
Ro. 33
[Actual date of publication, August 17, 1911]
A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF COLORADO
BY
WE ta bh CARY
ASSISTANT BIOLOGIST, BIOLOGICAL SURVEY
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1911
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:
Perera Or TERANSMIEFAL.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
BurEAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY,
Washington, D. C., February 21, 1911.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith for publication as
North American Fauna No. 33 a report on the results of a biological
survey of Colorado, by Merritt Cary. The report consists of three
sections. The first characterizes the five life zones which traverse
the State, defines their extent and limits, and discusses their agri-
cultural and economic possibilities. The second consists of a com-
plete list of the mammals of Colorado with brief notes on their habits,
distribution, and economic relations. The third is a list of the
principal trees and shrubs of Colorado observed by the assistants of
the Biological Survey during the progress of work in the State, with
annotations as to their distribution and abundance.
Respectfully,
Henry W. HENsHAw,
| Chief, Biological Survey.
Hon. JAMES WItson, 7
Secretary of Agriculture.
CONTENTS:
Page
evra eMC TA TET oo soca GS al win Gh wn Sn RS Sethe. ota oS coca eather e 9
Effect of physiographic and climatic features of Colorado on faunal and floral
Soi Cao uu a ah pl SS a ee ry 2 ge en A a 12
MUR Tee ormoney BONG. cits see peicin go Sc aga MMT etal a ee aw he ee
Great: Plains division of Upper Sonoran zone.......---.5.--.--------- 18
VIS vt I i i ares ee eee A ie 19
ePIC ec eae so te es ae ek = nl ad GDh Ste 20
ee ea eR ES a daar so nla oi Sie nn pale Oo 20
ees G aA CHIANS ees eee aly poise See on le ee - = 74h
Gtesteeacin division of Upper Sonoran zone............----2-..<....- 22
MiralemOM ME WVer CLAINALC : 6s. pte cin aces eee lee cites ee ee wale 22
Northwestern section—Colorado River drainage. ........-. ae De,
ESTE ult NG Sat esi ag ls EEE ae gs ee Ze,
PREC MIEN EGE See ve etme Ee reer oar a St 23
Ariss ee once = ase enc gee Re ee Be he stk rete eo a 23
Reprles and: batrachiams = e).> soe staccato ee oe 23
Southwestern section—Colorado River drainage. ............ 24
Tien gaat] LS) gah eae ll gh es Se ag eRe Ses ee eS 24
JesiMevexemn untae ornate ise ea at tae ng eae ae ae eo St at Se Os eed 24
TELE THIS SR) AEat a eirap OR ce a aan Seg URE we ee Se A oe 25
Fre pulleseid Datrachians 2) 25 Se Sees te eS 25
Eiton Gd enCerCinatN ae en. 25-525 a hee ne Se ke Ee 27
MMO OMOVON Elio s | techs. as 2 ets eta ke |) Ire 28
IS 2ST SI ge = SI a Ran SSI A ee cae 28
SRC CUNIMIMMENGG Seer s re aU a ig gee Tat Aes Ay oe pk Oe Pats Bg 29
LE" SUITS), Ges BEER a= heap Spe ete ge ev 29
Agricultural importance of Colorado Upper ae AMI @ZOWG SA ents See 29
“Rane Hen EOIN. oe cake AN ss aa Sale ee ee gee Sr 33
ho LESCNTOR EMIS cic See ge pee ri Sc 0 eer Oe I a 36
Pare uml mOInG See ts ress ase ST oe oe Us le ise Coe ee Fas 37
Hgts Tait Re ae ee A ieee 82 CNT on Hehe SS SS ES ec OS 38
epitlesamds oa machiams. -_ 2 oo sbee segs 2. Saw eee ee a oot 39
Agricultural importance of the Transition zone... -..-::38..-2----2-: 40)
go PSMNE EIST ZOHELS RS SSS SS I a ln ce Pi a ean 41
Tle SSTDTA DS NS oS ch Ee Ne eee EE PO Md a Re 44
LES PRSGINGE OTERCIS, 22S BN De eg Ane a Al oe ae Ne Me Soe A 44
1S TLS. 2 ce SY aS ag eo a oe ee en 45
TAGES. - 22 gees Jae See See eee ae a 45
HEROS STET EM, ZO UES So gS 0 I Sil a cg 45
eS S'. 2 2 be ced sgl QRS aR Seer ae are a Pa 48
eae REET Serre Pree oye PC ae SS os es oo Se ee Ro ae 48
PPS TIDE occ 2S ic 5 Ee Pe AQ
ASTD EIPOG Zone = ee ge a 49
TDS TPN Sag 2c a Pp eS a es ne 50
LEEK@ RT CEDD DeURG |S NS YE Sa Se a 50
Es eanticee Pen War as Ae te Re a a el See oe 51
Weenmntinion worm OlOlad Ohare & 2 2055 h2 5 lc ee ge ek eee ee ee bees 51
ememnatrecsandrsann OS Of. Colorado. #2 =. ..22.2.-i.-2 2.26.22 ne ble 212
ES BSL 2 aS Lt De Se ee a eee 247
5
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IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
Vilt:
TX.
XII.
ILLUSTRATIONS:
PLATES.
Page.
Map of Colorado showing life zones.....................--- Frontispiece.
Fig. 1.—Grand River Valley near De Beque, showing strip of Upper
Sonoran zone. Fig. 2.—Pocket of Upper Sonoran zone on southern
slope, at 7,500 feet. Near McCoy, Grand River Valley...........
Fig. 1.—Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) in lower Snake River
Valley, Routt County. Fig. 2——Bench bordering vailey of Ver-
milion Creek, northwestern Routt County. The shrubbery is
Atriplex conferiifolia and Grayia spinosa, with Juniperus mono-
sperma on bliis: . iS. fi eae ee Se ae ee
Fig. 1.—Spruce Tree Cliff Ruins, Navajo Canyon, Mesa Verde, with
juniper and pinyon forest in the rough canyon country of south-
western Colorado. Fig. 2.—Navajo Canyon. Characteristic view
in rough canyon region of southwestern Colorado, showing dense
growth of junipers and pinyons at 7,000 feet ......-.............-
Fig. 1—Farms in the lower White River Valley below Rangely, at
5,500 feet. Fig. 2—Fruit ranches in the McEImo Valley between
Mogutand McRimo, at:6,200 tect. 2 2. ee
Fig. 1.—Effect of slope exposure—y eles pines (Pinus scopulorum)
and firs (Abies concolor) growing at same elevation (9,000 feet) in
Wet Mountains east of Westcliffe. Fig. 2—Characteristic view
at upper edge of Transition zone. Undergrowth of small aspens
(Populus tremuloides) in forest of yellow pine (Pinus scopulorum),
ou Dolores ‘Plates. 5 eee eee eee
Fig. 1.—Dense chaparral of oak Gane gambeli) in western foothills
of West Elk Mountains, on head of Smith Fork of Gunnison River,
altitude 8,000 feet. Fig. 2—Yellow pines (Pinus scopulorum) near
Elkhorn, Larimer County, showing characteristic scattering growth
of the species on eastern foothills of Front Range-...-.......-...---
Fig. 1.—Lower part of Canadian zone forest of lodgepole pines (Pinus
murrayana) and aspens (Populus tremuloides), on North Park slope
of Medicine Bow Range. Fig. 2.—Forest of Engelmann spruce
(Picea engelmanni), in upper part of Canadian zone on summit of
Park Range; at 10000 teeta. 22 eae es Se
Fig. 1—Summer cattle range, Canadian zone meadow east of Laramie
River, 10,000 feet altitude. Fig. 2.—Canadian zone vegetation at
9,000 feet on open summit of Uncompahgre Plateau—Frasera, Del-
pluntum,- Geranium, and: TA puns: ae =) se eee ee
. Fig. 1.—Hudsonian zone on precipitous slopes of San Juan Moun-
tains, southwest of Ophir. Fig. 2.—Hudsonian zone forest on
Saguache Range near St. Elmo (timberline at about 12,000 feet)...
. Fig. i.—Foxtail pines (Pinus aristata) at timberline near St. Elmo,
Saguache Mountains, at 12,300 feet. Fig. 2—Ascending tongue of
Engelmann spruce at timberline on Front Range near Berthoud
Pass (northwest slope), ‘at. 11,600 feet 22252-2222 425 25
Fig. 1.—Grays Peak group from near Berthoud Pass, showing an
extensive area of Arctic-Alpine country. Fig. 2.—Arctic-Alpine
zone on the Saguache Range near St. Elmo........--.--..-- Eee
16
22
28
30
34
38
40
42
46
48
ILLUSTRATIONS.
TEXT FIGURES.
Map of Colorado showing routes and collecting localities of Merritt Cary.
. Map of distribution in Colorado of tuft-eared squirrels (Sciurus aberti
ME SEATe Cite Ue LETT CUES watt! Ska ele Re Pk kon ee.
. Map of distribution in Colorado of Fremont squirrel (Sciurus /remont) .
. Map of distribution in Colorado of Hopi, Say, and Las Animas chip-
munks (Hutamias hopiensis, EL. quadrivittatus, and L. ¢. animosus).. -
. Map of distribution in Colorado of golden-mantled ground squirrels
BemeU MO UNM DIITEO PLUG) ota an 9) = mint eas 3 ae in ai Hs wins YE wo oi
. Map of distribution in Colorado of antelope squirrel (Ammospermo-
RN MRE EEI ON IUCHIA) tee Bae win. = on ca' = oe tein em =m Apna is we le 2
. Map of distribution in Colorado of rock squirrel (Citellus v. grammurus) -
. Map of distribution in Colorado of Wyoming ground squirrel (Citellus
at oN se Eic 2a RRR RS Se eS See eee eee
. Map of distribution in Colorado of striped ground squirrels (Citellus t.
ROO OE ER DOUTAUS) 2 oie fa. 2 kde ao eee eae ioe ele tbe
. Map of distribution in Colorado of grasshopper mice (Onychomys 1.
brevicaudus and O. 1. pallescens) -hooc¢soo se céceueee es esos coac roscoe
. Map of distribution in Colorado of cliff mice (Peromyscus truei and P.
PES IIS) Sie Bae a A 2 Oh Dg er Ane
. Map of distribution in Colorado of harvest mice (Reithrodontomys)
Bem ea TED CSN Se 2 2 Ne ae ea ee sarees > Ela aap ek Ewen de =
. Map of distribution in Colorado of bushy-tailed woodrats (Neotoma c.
enizone oN cworolestes, and, Nc. rupicola)..2..-..20s-2-2-22--0-2--
. Map of distribution in Colorado of round-tailed woodrats (Neotoma
fallax, N. desertorum, N. floridana baileyi, N. albigula warreni, and
MRE ROT UIASCETIS ote on oS Pe ln eed So ee ee Y Se
. Photograph of nest of Neotoma desertorum on Atriplex flat near Rangely.
. Map of distribution in Colorado of Hayden and pygmy field mice ( Micro-
tus pauperrimus and M. ochrogaster haydent)...........-------.------
. Map of distribution in Colorado of yellow pocket gopher (Geomys
(QHESCENS rs so - 35-5 Pee aa gS Lo OE SLs 3 at ne ae ee
. Map of distribution in Colorado of chestnut-faced pocket gopher (Cra-
ECTS OB STU SIS) SARIS CRs ft Rs a ee OD
. Map of distribution in Colorado of pocket gophers of the genus
LUV TTOUDTS. 5 cy Ree Ne Re ES 7 aR Fee pn Se ee ete Dae ee
. Photograph of earth heaps of Colorado pocket gopher ( Thomomys fossor) -
. Map of distribution in Colorado of kangaroo rats (genus Perodipus).....
. Map of distribution in Colorado of pocket mice (Perognathus fasciatus
Si ePIC CCTOMPS bees 25 caee ih Ot os 3 ab elt. tee ee ve
. Map of distribution in Colorado of Baird pocket mouse (Perognathus
. Map of distribution in Colorado of jumping mice (Zapus princeps and
PEER BUSS Pea O. ee ct SL LSE SY es Sse dee
. Map of distribution in Colorado of black-tailed jack rabbits (Lepus
Canjormemmenanusand I. c.melanotts)....-2-.----.-..-2----+-~-=
. Map of distribution in Colorado of gray fox ( Urocyon c. scotti)..------- -
. Map of distribution in Colorado of dwarf weasel (Putorius streatori
leptus) and the black-footed ferret (P. nigripes)........------------
. Map of distribution in Colorado of marten ( Mustela caurina origenes) . .-
. Claw marks of black bear on aspen (Populus tremuloides). Lone Cone,
panieuatte Mountarms.at 105000 feet...-2::...-22.55..-2.-02--2.2-
. Map of distribution in Colorado of lodgepole pine (Pinus murrayana). - - -
Page.
10
65
70
72
82
85
87
89
91
100
104
109
112
115
119
122
129
130
132
135
139
144
146
149
156
Whi
184
189
ile?
214
ty
~
. Photograph of pocket of Douglas spruce (Pseudotsuga mucronata)
. Map of distribution in Colorado of common yucca ( Yucca glauca) . . - -
. Photograph of Yucca baccata in flower
. Photograph of Alpine willows in Arctic-Alpine zone. Front Range
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Photograph of forest of lodgepole pines (Pinus murrayana)......-.-.--
near Berthood Pass... eo a ee ee ee ee
. Photograph of desert vegetation (Atriplex nuttalli and Sarcobatus ver-
miculatus) in lower Grand River Valley north of Mack
. Map of distribution in Colorado of tree cactus (Opuntia arborescens) . - -
. Photograph of bilberry ( Vacciniwm oreophilum) in forest on Park Range.
. Photograph of desert sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) on plains near
Higho, North Park
August, 1911,
| No. 33. NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA.
A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF COLORADO.
By Merrirr Cary.
INTRODUCTION.
Colorado, because of its diverse and striking physical features,
_ presents an interesting field for natural-history investigations, and
has received more than ordinary attention from naturalists. Never-
| theless, prior to 1905 the distribution of mammals and birds had been
_ studied in detail over only a few small areas, chiefly on the eastern
slope of the main ranges, on the adjacent plains, and in the southern
} end of the San Luis Valley. Field work in the more accessible parts
of the State by several field naturalists of the Biological Survey had
_ accumulated important series of specimens and valuable data on
_ the fauna and flora. Many perplexing problems of geographical and
vertical distribution and relationships of species, however, remained
_ to be solved. Moreover, the intimate connection and correlation
_ between the natural life zones and crop zones of the country, as
pointed out by Dr. Merriam,’ made increasingly apparent the lack
of information respecting Colorado. The data on the. distribution
of species in Colorado available at the beginning of 1905 proved
| entirely inadequate for a detailed study of the life zones, although
the need of accurate delimitation of the zones constantly increases
as vast areas are opened to agriculture and horticulture through
_ modern methods of conserving and distributing the water supply.
_ Accordingly, in 1905, the writer was directed to undertake a
_ biological reconnoissance of certain of the least-known sections of
northern Colorado with a view to the completion of a detailed survey
of the State. Field operations were begun early in June of that
year. Preliminary work in the mountains of Boulder, Jefferson, and
_ Clear Creek Counties was followed by a wagon trip from Boulder
across the range to Middle Park by way of Rollins Pass; north over
the western end of the Rabbit Ear Mountains into North Park; thence
1 Life Zones and Crop Zones of the United States, by C. Hart Merriam, Bull. 10, Biological Survey, U.S.
Dept. Agric., 1898.
9
10 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 88.
west to Steamboat Springs, crossing the Park Range over Buffalo
Pass, and down the Bear River Valley as far as Axial Basin. Travel-
ing southward over the Danforth Hills to Meeker and across the
White River Plateau, the expedition finished its season’s work in the
Grand River Valley.
Field work was continued in northern Colorado in 1906. Again
outfitting at Boulder, I made a wagon trip of much greater length,
completely encircling the area covered in 1905.1. The route was
along the northern and western boundaries of the State, from Boulder
north to Fort Collins; west over the Medicine Bow Range to North
Park; across the northern end of the Park Range to Hahns Peak and
Che AS
RSCAANVD SUNCTION
RAILROAD SOURNEVS. -----==---WAGON AND PACH TRIPS, + COLLECTING LOCAL/TK
Fic. 1.—Map of Colorado showing routes and collecting localities of Merritt Cary, 1905, 1906, 1907,
and 1909.
Slater; down the Snake River Valley to the Escalante Hills and
northwest to Browns Park, on Green River; thence south to Rangely,
on White River, and over the Book Cliffs to Mack, in the Grand River
Valley; northeast in the valleys of Grand and Eagle Rivers to Wol-
cott; north to Egeria Park; east across the Gore Range to Middle Park;
and back to Boulder by way of Berthoud Pass and Black Hawk.
The field season of 1907 was devoted to a detailed study of zonal
conditions in all the important physiographic areas of southern Colo-
rado, including a trip into the little known La Sal Mountains along
1 The ready resource of my camp assistant, Mr. Walter Blanchard, of Boulder, contributed greatly to the
success of the wagon trips of both 1905 and 1906. Over much of the region traveling was arduous and on
some of the high mountain passes even dangerous.
il ee ee
1911.] INTRODUCTION, LE
the boundary of eastern Utah. Owing to the extent of territory
covered, the railroads were largely sitiliced for travel, but many side
trips were made by stage and pack train.
Knowledge was still lacking as to the distribution of a great many
plains species along the eastern edge of the State, and further work in
that region was deemed necessary. Consequently part of the field
season of 1909 was spent on the Arkansas Divide and on the plains
from Cheyenne Wells northwest to Sterling, Colorado, and Cheyenne,
Wyoming. ‘This trip, although of short duration, filled in an impor-
tant gap and yielded valuable distribution data.
In studying the life.zones of Colorado it has been necessary to
collect many mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants, illustrating
climatic variation, and to work out in detail the geographic and
vertical distribution of all characteristic zone species. In regions
devoted to agriculture and stock raising, the economic relations of
both mammals and birds have been carefully investigated. Valuable
information bearing on the past and present ranges and abundance of
the larger game mammals and carnivores has been acquired from
hunters, trappers, and sportsmen of wide experience in the State.
The present report is based chiefly on the field work prosecuted
during 1905, 1906, 1907, and 1909. It is primarily a characterization
of the several major distribution areas or life zones, and their geo-
graphical and vertical boundaries as here defined are believed to be
approximately correct and in sufficient detail for all practical pur-
poses. (See frontispiece.) In the course of three seasons’ work it
is obviously impossible to run continuous zone lines in a rough and
broken region like the mountainous two-thirds of Colorado. To
insure reasonable accuracy the zone limits have been checked up
both horizontally and vertically by crossing the important mountain
ranges, plateaus, and mesas at different latitudes; while abnormal
variations of zone level resulting from peculiar physiographic condi-
tions have received special attention.
The report on life zones is supplemented by a chapter on the dis-
tribution of trees and shrubs. Many notes on birds and reptiles are
incorporated in the sections of life zones to which the different species
belong.
The list of Colorado mammals, in addition to the results of the
four seasons’ investigations conducted by the writer, contains a large
amount of important unpublished data.collected prior to 1905 by the
following naturalists of the Biological Survey: Vernon Bailey, Dr.
A. K. Fisher, Edward A. Preble, Arthur H. Howell, J. Alden Loring,
and Clark P. Streator. Among the local naturalists whose work has
contributed materially to the completeness of the mammal report
should be mentioned E. R. Warren, of Colorado Springs, the author of
important publications on the mammals of Colorado.
12 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No, 33,
New species of mammals have been described from time to time
from the material collected by the Biological Survey in Colorado.
Among the mammals collected in southern Colorado in 1907 were
three new forms. Owing to unavoidable delay in the publication of
the present report, these have been characterized by Dr. Merriam in
the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington as follows:
Eutamias minimus caryi, Neotoma albigula warreni, and Thomomys
talpoides agrestis.’
In preparing the mammal report I have freely used the collection of
the Biological Survey and the private collection of Dr. C. Hart Mer-
riam, both in the United States National Museum. I am indebted to
Gerrit S. Miller, jr., curator of mammals in the National Museum, for
access to the collections under his charge. Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, of
the same institution, has identified the reptiles and batrachians. Dr.
J. N. Rose and his assistants have named many of the plants. —
EFFECT OF PHYSIOGRAPHIC AND CLIMATIC FEATURES OF
COLORADO ON FAUNAL AND FLORAL DISTRIBUTION.
Colorado is no exception to the rule that a region of varied climatic
and physiographic conditions possesses a correspondingly large and
varied fauna and flora. Thatitis surpassed by afew other States in
the variety of its animal and plant life is due, not so much to a lack of
varied physical conditions as to the absence of climatic extremes.
The comparatively rich fauna and flora of the State are largely due
to the great range of altitude in the mountains, since the high basal
plane lies entirely within the arid region. Colorado has neither the
extent of latitude nor the low, hot areas of great humidity or aridity
which contribute to the wonderfully rich fauna and flora of such States
as California and Texas. The extensive eastern plains, the Rocky
Mountain system traversing the central part, and the rough region of
alternating plateaus, desert valleys, and mesas on the western slope,
divide the State into three general topographic regions, each occupy-
ing approximately a third of its total area. Dissimilar physical and
climatic conditions still further divide these into smaller irregular
areas which differ considerably in their fauna and flora. Thus, on the
western slope, high mesas, clad with a scrubby and more or less
scattering forest. growth receiving moderate rainfall, alternate with
lower arid desert stretches (some with less than 10 inches of annual
rainfall) , while in the mountains are extensive belts of heavy forest with
much greater humidity (20 to 25 inches annual rainfall) and bare alpine
crests and summits above timberline having a truly arctic climate.
East of the mountains are found the fauna and flora peculiar to
the Great Plains region, with a slight admixture of Mississippi Valley
species in the river valleys along the eastern boundary of the State.
1 Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., X XI, pp. 143-144, June 9, 1908.
1911.] PHYSIOGRAPHIC AND CLIMATIC FEATURES. 13
The lower elevations on the western slope have a strong infusion
of desert species, characteristic of the Great Basin region. The
Rocky Mountain system has a complex fauna and flora—the foot-
hills, the open valleys and parks, the dense forests of the central
slopes, and the alpine summits, all having associations of mammals,
birds, and plants, which are more or less distinctive.
Altitudinal variation in Colorado has a pronounced effect upon
both temperature and moisture, and accounts for great extremes in
summer and winter temperatures in different sections, and also for
a wide range between night and day temperatures throughout the
year. At Grand Junction (4,500 feet) the winter and summer mean
temperatures are 29° and 75° F.; at Gunnison (7,600 feet) they are
11° and 59°; at Breckenridge (9,500 feet) they are 16° and 52°;
while along the summits of the main mountain ranges the tempera-
tures are still lower.
As temperature is a very important factor in the distribution of
life, Colorado’ is an exceptionally favorable field for illustrating
vertical distribution. In fact, the wide range of elevation, from
3,000 and 4,000 feet along the eastern boundary to considerably over
14,000 feet on the summits of the main ranges, furnishes favorable
conditions for characteristic species of five of the seven major life
zones of North America. Thus, in passing from the plains of eastern
Colorado to the summit of either the Front or Sangre de Cristo
Ranges, or from the warm desert valleys or sage plains of the western
counties eastward to the crest of the Continental Divide, the fol-
lowing life zones are successively traversed: (1) Upper Sonoran,
which includes all the basal plane of the State from which the moun-
tains rise; (2) Transition or yellow-pine zone, occupying the foothill
region; (3) Canadian, or zone of coniferous boreal forests, com-
prising the lodgepole pine, aspen, fir, and spruce belts of the middle
mountain slopes; (4) Hudsonian, or belt of dwarfed conifers |
extending to timberline; and (5) Arctic-Alpine zone, reaching from
timberline to the summits of the highest mountain peaks. With
the exception of the first named, all are included in full width, and
the lower border of the Upper Sonoran zone is nearly reached in some
of the low desert valleys of the southwest. Of the above zones the
Upper Sonoran and Transition alone are of agricultural importance.
Their adaptation to various crops is discussed under their respective
headings.
The Austral element (Upper Sonoran zone) occupies territory
ageregating nearly half the area of the State, or about twice as much
as the Boreal element (including Canadian, Hudsonian, and Arctic-
Alpine zones). The region of overlapping austral and boreal species
(Transition zone) is about equal in extent to that occupied by the
boreal zones.
14 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
On the eastern slope of the front ranges, as a result of the rela-
tively abrupt ascent from the base level of the plains, the several
life zones are usually restricted to horizontally narrow and _ well-
defined belts. West of the Continental Divide, however, they often
cover broad and extensive areas, as the incline of the country is more
gradual. There is, moreover, in consequence, a decided overlapping
of species for a considerable horizontal distance, rendering the zonal
limits less clearly defined than on the steeper slopes. The boundaries
of the zones in western Colorado are extremely irregular and sinuous,
owing to the broken and diversified character of the country, and
especially to the warm desert valleys which enter the State from
the west and deeply penetrate and parallel the westward extending
boreal plateaus and mountains.
The vertical breadth of the zones is much the same on both sides of
the Continental Divide. The zone levels, however, are a few hundred
feet higher on the warmer western slope, particularly in northern
Colorado. In southern Colorado the combined effects of lower lati-
tude and more elevated base level are noticeable in higher zone
levels, which are about the same on both sides of the Continental
Divide.
The vertical. boundaries assigned the several zones are necessarily
approximate, since various governing factors, chief among which are
slope exposure, steepness of slope, and deforestation, either force
species above their normal limits or restrict their limits below nor-
mal. On the border of each zone is a belt of varying vertical breadth
(usually from 400 to 800 feet) in which species of the two bordering
zones commingle. The following table gives the extreme vertical
limits of zones in Colorado:
Extreme vertical limits of zones in Colorado.
Northern Colorado. Southern Colorado. —
Zone.
Northeast ex- Southwest ex- | Northeast ex- Southwest ex-
posure. posure. posure. posure.
Feet. Feet. Feet. Feet :
Upper Sonoran’ 2-55 er eae eee 10) 5,600" | ee-5 = tO-6, UOT ees 10-6; 0008|) eee to 7,800
PRCATISI one, So ees 5,600 to 7,500 | 6,500 to 8,200 | 6,500to 8,000 7,800 to 9,000
Gartidiati ee ee ee 7,500 to 10,000 | 8,200to10,400 | 8,000 to 10,500 9,000 to 11,000
SISO Tess ee ae ee as ae 10,000 to 10,900 | 10,400 to 11,600 | 10,500 to 11,200 | 11,000 to 12,000
Aretic-Alpuie (225 ont Se tee 10,900 to..- ==. L600 to's = 1 200 t0ceee == 12,000 to:-- see
UPPER SONORAN ZONE.
The entire base level of Colorado, comprising territory aggregating
nearly half its area, or about 50,000 square miles, lies within the
Upper Sonoran or arid division of the Upper Austral zone. As it is
preeminently the agricultural zone of the State, it will be character-
ized in considerable detail. |
a
1911.] UPPER SONORAN ZONE. 15
East of the mountains the Upper Sonoran zone occupies a broad
and continuous area of nearly uniform width, comprising the plains
region, besides a stretch of rough and broken juniper country
south of the Arkansas River and a narrow strip along the eastern-
most flanks of the foothills up to the point where the junipers (Juni-
perus monosperma) and pinyons (Pinus edulis) give way to the
yellow pines of the Transition zone—at an elevation varying from
5,300 to 6,000 feet north of the Arkansas Divide, and from 6,200
to 7,300 feet farther south, according to the exposure and steepness
of the foothill slopes. The upper (western) boundary of the eastern
Colorado Upper Sonoran is tolerably regular from the Wyoming line
south to the Arkansas Divide, where it bends far eastward to skirt
this extensive Transition area. South of the Divide its regularity
is further broken by a long, narrow arm which penetrates the moun-
tains as far as Buena Vista, in the warm valley of the Arkansas,
and to a less degree by westward extensions in the valleys of the
Huerfano, Cucharas, and Las Animas Rivers still farther south.
The following localities in the eastern foothill region well indicate
the upper limit, of the Upper Sonoran zone: Livermore, Arkins
(2 miles west), Lyons, Boulder, Golden, Sedalia, Ramah (Arkansas
Divide), Pikeview, Manitou (Fountain Creek Valley), Buena Vista
(Arkansas Valley extension), Malachite (Huerfano Valley), La Veta
(Cucharas Valley), and Weston (luas Animas Valley).
In western and southern Colorado the Upper Sonoran element
occupies much smaller and extremely irregular areas. It is largely
confined to long and sinuous arms or tongues in the warm, semi-
desert river valleys, which penetrate deeply the boreal country of
the mountains and plateaus; but it also crosses some of the inter-
vening watersheds at their lowest elevations and everywhere occu-
pies the lowest slopes of mesas, plateaus, and ridges to an altitude
of about 6,500 feet, regularly reaching 7,500 or even 7,800 feet on
_ the steep southwestern slopes which many of the elevations present
to the hottest rays of the sun.
West of the Continental Divide the Upper Sonoran zone embraces
_ two regions of irregular outline separated in Colorado by the boreal
cap of the Book Cliffs, although connected along the Green River
Valley in Utah. The northern and smaller of these two areas is a
| southward extension of the Red Desert Upper Sonoran of Wyoming,
connecting across the divide south of Bear River with the White
River Valley extension of the Utah Upper Sonoran. Practically all
of Routt and Rio Blanco Counties below 6,500 feet is included within
this area. The northern half (western Routt County) is a region of
| extensive sage plains, while the rough region contiguous to the
White River drainage is for the most part clothed with pinyons and
junipers. The eastern and southern limits of this area are reached
16 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 83.
at or near the following localities: Dixon, Wyoming, Snake River
Valley; Fortification, Colorado, west base Elk Head Mountains; half
way between Hayden and Craig, Bear River Valley; north base
Williams River Mountains; Hamilton, Williams Fork of Bear River;
Axial, Axial Basin; north bases of Yampa and Wapiti Peaks; middle
southwestern slopes of Danforth and Gray Hills; and northern base -
of White River Plateau, east in a rapidly narrowing tongue to a
point on White River about 15 miles southeast of Meeker, where the
Upper Sonoran is restricted to a narrow strip of pinyons and junipers
occupying the warm southwestern slopes of the lowest hills bordering
the river on the north. Narrow tongues extend southward in the
valleys of Piceance and Bitter Creeks; thence the zone includes the
eastern and northern bases and lower western slopes of Cathedral
Bluffs, the northern bases of the Book Cliffs, and most of the valley
of Evacuation Creek. In extreme western Routt County the west-
ward continuity of the Upper Sonoran is interrupted by three arms
of high country which extend a short distance into the State from
Utah—the O-wi-yu-kuts Plateau and Diamond Peak on the north;
the eastern extension of the Uinta Mountains, terminating in Mount
Cullom, west of Green River; and, still farther south, the Yampa
Plateau. East of Green River it is still further broken by the sum-
mits and upper northern slopes of the Escalante Hills, which form a
Transition and Canadian zone island separated from the Uinta
Mountains on the west and the Yampa Plateau on the south by a
narrow tongue of Upper Sonoran zone extending through the Ladore
Canyon of Green River on its warm eastern side and along the north
side of the Yampa Canyon of Bear River.
South of the Book Cliffs the Upper Sonoran zone covers broad
belts in the lower desert valleys of the Grand, Gunnison, Dolores,
and San Juan Rivers and their chief tributaries. Over most of this —
region the pinyons, junipers, and other characteristic Upper Sonoran —
species of plants, birds, and mammals reach their limit of upward
dispersion at a little over 7,000 feet elevation, but the variation due
to slope exposure in a region so broken and incised is such as to
prevent exact delimitation. Thus on the exposed southern faces of
the Book Cliffs, from the Utah line east to the Little Book Cliffs, the
upper limit conforms closely to the 7,000-foot contour; while on the
remarkably bold and exposed slopes on the southwestern extremity
of Grand Mesa, north of Delta, and also on the Landsend Peak, the
most western point of the West Elk Mountains—unbroken slopes
which rise directly out of the desert to a great height—the belt
of junipers and pinyons can be traced to considerably over 8,000
feet, and probably occasionally reaches 8,500 feet. Looking north
from Delta (4,950 feet) in the bottom of the Gunnison Valley to the
bold southwest slope of Grand Mesa, a striking view is obtained of
Sincenias
North American Fauna No. 33, U.S. Dept. Agr. Biological Survey. PHATE TE
FIG. 1.—GRAND RIVER VALLEY NEAR DE BEQUE,
SHOWING STRIP OF UPPER SONORAN ZONE.
:
:
Fic. 2.—POCKET OF UPPER SONORAN ZONE ON SOUTHERN SLOPE, AT 7,500 FEET.
NEAR McCoy, GRAND RIVER VALLEY.
4911.4 UPPER SONORAN ZONE. 1 IF
perhaps the greatest vertical breadth of the Upper Sonoran zone visi-
ble at any point in the State. In contrast to the conditions on warm
exposed slopes is the cooling effect exerted by north and especially
_ northeast slopes and canyon sides, shaded during the greater part of
| the day, and also by mountain streams, which together create an
environment unfavorable for Upper Sonoran species above 6,000
‘feet. Examples of these conditions appear on the south side of
| Grand River below Glenwood Springs and also in the Grand Canyon
/a few miles above, where the Douglas spruces and other Transition
zone forms occupy the slopes to below 6,000 feet; in constrictions of
the Unaweep Canyon, which cuts through the Uncompahgre Plateau
| near its northern end; and in a great many other localities.
The Grand Valley Upper Sonoran enters Colorado from the Utah
| deserts in a broad belt and penetrates the high country in a long and
| sinuous tongue for over 150 miles in an east-northeast direction.
| Kast of Palisade, where the Little Book Cliffs and Grand Mesa ap-
proach each other, it is greatly narrowed, but again widens to include
|the valleys of Plateau and Roan Creeks. Between De Beque and
Newcastle it is confined to a strip 2 or 3 miles wide along Grand
River (see Pl. II, fig. 1), and east of Newcastle occupies a still nar-
rower strip along the north side of the valley to Glenwood Springs,
/ continuing up the Roaring Fork to Basalt. The continuity of the
Upper Sonoran in the Grand Valley is broken by the Transition
/environment obtaining through the entire length of the Grand
| Canyon, from Glenwood to Dotsero, but the zone is again encoun-
tered in dilute form on the warm southern slopes of the lowest hills
along the north side of Eagle River nearly to Wolcott. The Grand
Valley between Dotsero and McCoy was not explored, but a well-
defined Upper Sonoran pocket 4 or 5 miles in width was traversed
on the northern side of the river at McCoy. At this point both
_pinyons and junipers were growing on the warm southern slopes up
to 7,800 feet. (PI. II, fig. 2.) The Upper Sonoran belt in the Gunni-
son and Uncompahgre Valleys is uniformly broad, and covers a
| greater area than that in the Grand Valley, of which it is an offshoot.
| Its eastern and southern limits are marked by Somerset (North Fork
| of Gunnison River), near River Portal (Gunnison Canyon), between
Cedar Creek and Cerro Summit, and near Portland (Uncompahgre
| Valley).
Another extension of the Grand Valley Upper Sonoran follows
southeast along the Dolores River, widening in the San Miguel and
Paradox regions to include practically all the rough canyon country
_between the western escarpment of the Uncompahgre Plateau and
| the eastern flanks of the La Sal Mountains. Norwood is very near
the eastern limit of the Upper Sonoran in the San Miguel Valley, and
90432°—11——2
18 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
Lavender marks its upper edge on Disappointment Creek, south of
the San Miguel Mountains. South of the junction of the Disap-
pointment with the Dolores this area connects across an extensive
sage desert with a northward extension of the San Juan Upper
Sonoran area, which covers practically all the extensive desert
region lying west of Dolores River and south of the La Plata Moun-
tains. Continuing eastward in the San Juan drainage, arms of this
zone extend northward in the valleys of all northern affluents—
along the Rio Las Animas to Durango, along the Rio Pinos nearly
to Bayfield, and on the Rio Piedra to a point opposite the Piedra
Padre, while along the San Juan it reaches nearly to Trujillo.
The intermountain region is penetrated by the Upper Sonoran
zone only in the Rio Grande Valley. An arm of considerable breadth
enters this region from New Mexico along the Rio Grande, where it is
well characterized in a wide strip on each side of the river nearly as
far as Alamosa. In a dilute form the Upper Sonoran element
spreads over most of the open country as far as Del Norte, and north
over the level plains of the San Luis Park to a little beyond Moffat.
It includes also the belt of junipers and pinyons on the hot foothill
slopes of the San Juan and Garita Mountains on the west and on the
lower flanks of the Sangre de Cristo Range on the east side of San
Luis Valley to an elevation of 8,500 feet, or about 1,000 feet above
the mean level of the valley. The cold water in the many side streams
of San Luis Valley—the Conejos, La Jara, Alamosa, Saguache, San
Luis, Trinchera, Culebra, and the branches of the Rio Grande above
Alamosa—carries narrow strips of Transition zone far out into the
plain, and the immediate valleys of these streams can not be included
in the Sonoran area.
The Upper Sonoran zone includes within the- State two well-
marked subdivisions differing considerably in their physical charac-
teristics. These are the Great Plains region of eastern Colorado and
the Great Basin region of western Colorado including San Luis Val-
ley. Since each possesses a fauna and flora in a large degree peculiar
and distinctive, they will be treated as minor distribution areas.
GREAT PLAINS DIVISION OF THE UPPER SONORAN ZONE.
With the exception of Las Animas County and parts of Pueblo,
Otero, Bent, and Baca Counties, practically all of Colorado east
of the foothills is a vast undulating grassy plain which varies in
elevation from 3,000 and 4,000 feet along the eastern boundary to
between 5,000 and 6,000 feet where it approaches the foothills.
Throughout this region strips of sandy country alternate with areas
of firm soils. The chief rivers are the Platte and Arkansas, which,
with their many small tributary streams, drain most of the eastern
1911.] UPPER SONORAN ZONE. 19
part of the State through shallow valleys. A large number of these
tributaries indicated upon maps are dry most of the year, and only
a small proportion are perennial. Kock exposures are infrequent,
being found chiefly in the eastern tier of counties, where some of the
streams of the Republican River drainage, in seeking a lower level,
have worn through beds of sandstone; and in northeastern Weld
and northwestern Logan Counties. The plains are devoid of
natural tree growth, except along the watercourses, which are
usually fringed with cottonwoods, various species of willows, and
dense thickets of wild plum and cherry, with scattering clumps of
hackberry and box elder in the neighboring gulches and arroyos. <A
little sagebrush is found toward the north, in Weld and adjoining
counties, but over most of the region the limited shrubbery is con-
fined to the stream valleys. Range grasses in great variety grow
luxuriantly on the plains and form the dominant vegetation.
The fauna and flora of this region are essentially those of the
Great Plains, from Nebraska and South Dakota to the Panhandle of
Texas. The following associations of mammals, birds, plants, and
reptiles are more or less characteristic.
MAMMALS OF GREAT PLAINS.
Those mammals of the plains of eastern Colorado which are
restricted to the Upper Sonoran zone are the large spotted and
Kennicott spermophiles (Citellus spilosoma major and C. obsoletus) ;
pale grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster pallescens); white-
footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus tornillo'); harvest mouse (Rei-
throdontomys nebrascensis); wood rats (Neotoma cinerea rupicola,
N. floridana baileyi, and N. micropus canescens *); Hayden vole ( Micro-
tus ochrogaster haydenr); pocket gophers (Geomys lutescens and
Cratogeomys castanops *); kangaroo rat (Perodipus montanus richard-
soni); pocket mice (Perognathus flavescens, P. flavus, P. hispidus
paradoxus); black-tailed jack rabbit (Lepus californicus melanotis) ;
Bailey cottontail (Sylvilagus audubom baileyi); long-tailed skunk
(Mephitis mesomelas varians); prairie spotted skunk (Spilogale inter-
rupta); long-eared and hairy-lipped bats (Myotis evotis and M.
califormecus ciliolabrum).
Other mammals which have their center of abundance in the
Upper Sonoran zone, but are not entirely restricted to it, are the
antelope (Antilocapra americana); striped spermophile (C%tellus
tridecemlineatus pallidus); prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus);
white-footed mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus nebrascensis); coyote
(Canis nebracensis); swift fox (Vulpes velox); badger (Taxidea tazus) ;
1 In brush fringe along streams only. 2 Only in extreme southeast.
3 Only in southeastern counties.
20 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
black-footed ferret (Putorius nigripes); long-tailed weasel (Putorius
longicaudus); and the Say and brown bats (Jyotis subulatus and
Eptesicus fuscus).
BREEDING BIRDS OF GREAT PLAINS.
Among the characteristic Sonoran birds which breed on the plains
are the following: California cuckoo (Coecyzus americanus occiden-
talis); burrowing owl (Speotyto cunicularia hypugezea); Arkansas
kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis); Bullock oriole (Icterus bullocki);
western grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum bimaculatus) ;
western lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus strigatus); lazuli bunting
(Passerina amena); western blue grosbeak (Guiraca cerulea lazula) ;
Bell vireo (Vireo belli); long-tailed chat (Icterta virens longicauda) ;
catbird (Dumetella carolinensis); brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) ;
and western mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos leucopterus).
Other birds breeding commonly on the plains, which are not so
closely restricted to the Upper Sonoran zone, are: Upland plover
(Bartramia longicauda); long-billed curlew (Numenws americana) ;
mountain plover (Podasocys montanus); black-crowned night heron
(Nycticoraz n. nevius); bobwhite (Colinus virgimianus); ferruginous
rough-legged hawk (Archibuteo ferrugineus); mourning dove (Zenai-
dura macroura carolinensis); kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus); thick-
buled redwing (Agelaius pheniceus fortis); western meadowlark
(Sturnella neglecta); bronzed grackle (Quiscalus quiscula exneus);
lark bunting (Calamosjiza melanocorys); western vesper sparrow
(Poawcetes gramineus confinis); Brewer sparrow (Spizella breweri);
white-rumped shrike (Lanius ludovicianus exculitorides); western
yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas occidentalis); and yellow warbler
(Dendroica xstiwa).
PLANTS OF GREAT PLAINS.!
Aside from the trees and larger shrubs along streams, including
cottonwood (Populus occidentalis), several species of willows (Salix),
box elder (Acer negundo), hackberry (Celtis reticulata), buffalo berry
(Lepargyrea argentea), golden currant (fibes longiflorum), wild plum
(Prunus americana), chokecherry (Prunus melanocarpa), wolfberry
(Symphoricarpos occidentalis), sumac (Schmaltzia trilobata), and false
indigo (Amorpha angustifolia), the most conspicuous plants and
smaller shrubs of the plains region are:
1 Throughout this report, with a few exceptions, the botanical nomenclature used is that of Rydberg,
Flora of Colorado, Bull. 100, Colo. Agric. College Experiment Station, 1906.
1911.1] UPPER SONORAN ZONE. FL
Amor pha canescens. Ocenothera (several species).
Aragallus lamberti. Opuntia polyacantha.
Artemisia filifolia. Opuntia arborescens (Arkansas Valley and
Atriplex canescens (local). southward).
Asclepias (several species). Peritoma serrulatum.
Astragalus mollissimus. Petalostemon villosum.
Astragalus crassicar pus. Petalostemon oligophyllus.
Cactus missouriensis. Petalostemon purpureus.
Chrysothamnus plattensis. Plantago purshi.
Gaura coccinea. Psoralea lanceolata.
Gutierrezia sarothre. Psoralea hy pogea.
Glycyrrhiza lepidota. Psoralea tenuiflora.
Helianthus lenticularis. Prunus besseyt (in sandy country).
Ipomaea leptophylla. Touterea stricta.
Laciniaria punctata. Touterea nuda.
Leucocrinum montanum. Townsendia (several species).
Lithospermum linearvfolium. Ratibida columnaris.
Lupinus pusillus. Verbena hastata.
Malvastrum coccineum. Verbena bracteosa.
Meriolix serrulata. Yucca glauca.
The following list of conspicuous grasses of the Great Plains of
eastern Colorado is taken from a recent report of the Bureau of
Plant Industry:’
Agropyron smith. Koeleria cristata.
Andropogon furcatus. Muhlenbergia gracillima.
Andropogon halli. Muhlenbergia pungens.
Andropogon scoparius. Munroa squarrosa.
Aristida longiseta. Panicum virgatum.
Boutelowa curtipendula. Redfieldia flexuosa.
Bouteloua hirsuta. , Schedonnardus paniculatus.
Bouteloua oligostachya. Sitanion hystrix.
Buchloe dactyloides. Sporobolus cryptandrus.
Calamovilfa longifolia. Stipa comata.
Festuca octoflora.
REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS OF GREAT PLAINS.
Most of the reptiles of eastern Colorado are common to the semi-
arid part of the Great Plains. Aside from the rattlesnake (Crotalus
confiuentus), bull snake (Pituophis sayz), blue racer (Bascanion con-
strictor), and hog-nosed snake (Heterodon nasicus), lizards are the
most noticeable reptiles, particularly in sandy tracts. These com-
prise, among others, the horned toad (Phrynosoma ornatissimum),
sand swift (/olbrookia maculata), whip-tailed lizard (Cnemidophorus
gularis), and Sceloporus consobrinus. A large, beautifully colored
ring-necked lizard (probably Crotaphytus collaris) reaches the plains
of eastern Colorado in Baca County, in the extreme southeast,
+ Natural Vegetation as an Indicator of the Capabilities of Land for Crop Production in the Great Plains
Area. Bureau of Plant Industry Bull. 201, pp. 20-62, March 16, 1911.
22 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
where it is reported as not uncommon. A salamander (Ambystoma
tigrinum) from Loveland is in the Biological Survey collection.
GREAT Bastn Drvision oF Upper SonoRAN ZONE.
The Upper Sonoran area of Colorado lying in the drainage of the
Rio Grande and Colorado Rivers is an integral part of the Great Basin
region and differs from the Great Plains area in more arid climate
and more barren and deeply eroded surface. <A large proportion of
its plants and animals are Great Basin forms, either specifically or
subspecifically different from those of the Great Plains. Its open
areas are generally characterized by the bunch-lke growth of desert
shrubs commonly termed sagebrush, grease brush, and rabbit brush,
and the foothills and valley margins by a scrubby growth of junipers
and nut pines. This area is best considered under its local subdi-
visions.
COLORADO RIVER DRAINAGE.
The territory embracing the open reaches in the warm lower
valleys from Snake River south to the San Juan possesses a fauna
and flora characterized by a large number of Great Basin desert forms,
few of which show appreciable differentiation in passing through the
entire width of the western Colorado Upper Sonoran. Considered
locally, however, with respect to both faunal and physical character-
istics, the Colorado River drainage readily admits of division into
two minor distribution areas—the northwestern and southwestern
sections.
NORTHWESTERN SECTION—COLORADO RIVER DRAINAGE.
A broad expanse of undulating sandy plains and low watersheds
lying chiefly north of Bear River in west central Routt County is
characterized by a dense growth of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata).
With an average elevation of 6,000 feet, this region is higher than the
desert valleys to the south and has a mixture of Transition species
in its fauna and flora. Its plants and animals, unlike those of the
valleys of the Colorado drainage farther south, are partly derived
from the Great Plains. The trees and shrubs, consisting of scattered
cottonwoods, dense copses of willows, and thickets of buffalo berry,
are confined to the banks of watercourses. A sparse growth of
juniper covers the canyon sides and the steep faces of bluffs. The
region is drained by the Snake and Bear Rivers, which flow through
valleys of considerable depth—often through rugged canyons.
MAMMALS OF NORTHWESTERN SECTION—COLORADO RIVER DRAINAGE.
The following mammals characteristic of the Routt County sage
plains have reached that region from the west and north, and most
of them are absent from the southwestern valleys: The least chip-
munk (Eutamias minimus), Wortman ground squirrel (Callospermo-
North American Fauna No. 33, U.S. Dept. Agr. Biological Survey. PLATE III.
FiG. 1.—GREASEWOOD (SARCOBATUS VERMICULATUS)
IN LOWER SNAKE RIVER VALLEY, ROUTT COUNTY.
Fig. 2.—BENCH BORDERING VALLEY OF VERMILION CREEK, NORTHWESTERN ROUTT
COUNTY.
The shrubbery is Atriplex confertifolia and Grayia spinosa, with Juniperus monosperma on bluffs.
1911.] UPPER SONORAN ZONE. ; 93
philus lateralis wortman), little striped ground squirrel (C%tellus
tridecemlineatus parvus), Idaho grasshopper mouse (Onychomys
leucogaster brevicaudus), Red Desert pocket mouse (Perognathus
callistus), Green River pocket gopher (Thomomys clusvus ocius), and
Fort Yuma bat (Myotis yumanensis). Species derived from the
Great Plains region are Peromyscus maniculatus nebrascensis, Pero-
dipus montanus richardsom, Sylvilagus audubon baileyi, Canis
nebracensis, and Myotis californicus ciliolabrum. 'The long-eared bat
(Myotis evotis) occurs on the plains on both sides of the mountains.
Species which are common over this area but which regularly range
higher are: Lepus campestris townsendi, Oitellus elegans, Cynomys
leucurus, Neotoma cinerea orolestes, and the gray wolf and antelope.
BREEDING BIRDS OF NORTHWESTERN SECTION—COLORADO RIVER DRAINAGE.
The sage sparrow (Amphispiza nevadensis), Brewer sparrow
(Spizella brewert), and Bullock oriole (/cterus bullock’) are character-
istic Upper Sonoran breeders in the low areas of northwestern Colo-
rado, while the sage thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus), white-rumped
shrike (Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides), desert horned lark (Otocoris
alpestris leucolema), and San Diego redwing (Agelavus phaniceus
neutralis) breed commonly but nest also in the Transition zone.
The sage hen (Centrocercus urophasianus) is an occasional breeder,
although restricted mainly to the Transition zone during the summer.
Many Great Basin species of birds which are common breeders in
the valleys of southwestern Colorado are noticeably absent from the
northwestern valleys.
PLANTS OF NORTHWESTERN SECTION—COLORADO RIVER DRAINAGE.
Conspicuous shrubs and plants on the sandy sage plains of Routt
County are Artemisia tridentata, Opuntia polyacantha, Eurotia lanata,
and several species of Chrysothamnus and Hriogonum; on the adobe
soil of the first and second benches above the streams, Grayia spinosa,
Atriplex nuttalli, A. canescens, and A. confertifolia (Pl. II], fig. 2); on
the alkaline flats in the valley bottoms, Sarcobatus vermiculatus
(Pl. III, fig. 1), Dondia erecta, and, in damp places, Salicornia her-
bacea; on the rocky faces of bluffs, Juniperus monosperma, Kunzia
tridentata (mainly Transition), Ephedra antisyphylitica, Yucca
glauca; along streams, Populus acuminata, Lepargyrea argentea, Salix
amygdaloides, and others.
REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS OF NORTHWESTERN SECTION—COLORADO RIVER DRAINAGE.
Reptiles are few in number compared with those in the valleys
farther south. Rattlesnakes (Crotalus confluentus) and horned toads
(Phrynosoma ornatissimum) were the only reptiles noted on the sandy
sage plains in August, 1905, although the dainty mottled Sceloporus
94 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 83.
graciosus was collected among the rock ledges along the Bear River
bluffs near Maybell, and also on Snake River, 20 miles west of Baggs
Crossing. The leopard frog (Rana pipiens) is common in the streams
of this section, a specimen having been collected on Vermillion Creek,
near Ladore, September 3, 1906.
SOUTHWESTERN SECTION—COLORADO RIvER DRAINAGE.
Although traversed by such large perennial streams as the White,
Grand, Gunnison, Dolores, and San Juan, and their numerous tribu-
taries, this is, throughout, a region of great aridity, and presents the
only truly desert conditions found within the State. Although small
in area it is of great importance from both a biological and a hor-
ticultural standpoint. Most of the region is below 5,500 feet, the
Grand Valley below Grand Junction being under 4,500 feet. In the
extreme southwest, however, a few desert areas reach 6,000 feet.
The larger part of the soils are to be classed as adobe. In common
with all arid desert regions, the warm valleys of southwestern Colo-
rado, when brought under irrigation, are remarkably productive,
especially of fruit. ~ — |
MAMMALS OF SOUTHWESTERN SECTION—COLORADO RIVER DRAINAGE.
The most representative of the mammals are the antelope squirrel
(Ammospermophilus leucurus cinnamomeus), pale grasshopper mouse
(Onychomys leucogaster pallescens), golden-breasted canyon mouse
(Peromyscus crinitus auripectus), big-eared harvest mouse (feithro-
dontomys megalotis), desert wood rat (Neotoma desertorum),' golden
pocket gopher (Thomomys aureus), Moki kangaroo rat (Perodipus
longipes), Apache pocket mouse (Perognathus apache), cottontail
rabbit (Sylvilagus auduboni warren), Texas jack rabbit (Lepus
californicus texianus), cacomistle (Bassariscus astutus flavus), Arizona
skunk (Mephitis estor), Great Basin spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis
sazatilis), coyote (Canis estor), and the bats, Antrozous pallidus,
Myotis californicus, M. evotis, Piprstrellus hesperus, and Nyctinomus
MeELICONUS.
BREEDING BIRDS OF SOUTHWESTERN SECTION—COLORADO RIVER DRAINAGE.
A few of the most characteristic breeding birds are the California
quail (Lophortyx californicus ),? ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus
cinerascens), house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis), Arkansas
goldfinch (Astragalinus psaltria) , black-throated sparrow (Amphispiza
bilineata), western blue grosbeak (Guiraca cerulea lazgula), and canyon
wren (Catherpes mexicanus conspersus). Practically all the Upper
Sonoran birds found on the northwestern sage plains breed more
1 Taken in White River Valley only. 2 Introduced.
1911.] UPPER SONORAN ZONE. 95
or less commonly in the desert valleys, as do also a number of species
which are common to the Upper Sonoran areas on both sides of the
mountains.
PLANTS OF SOUTHWESTERN SECTION—COLORADO RIVER DRAINAGE.
This region is especially marked by a large number of Upper
Sonoran desert shrubs and plants, most of which extend into Col-
orado only a short distance on the west and southwest, being pecul-
iar to the desert areas of the southwestern United States. Important
among these are:
Berberis fremonti. Grayia spinosa.
Coleogyne ramosissima, Tycium pallidum.
Cowania mexicana. Opuntia whipplei.
Echinocactus whippleispinosior (McElmo). Rhamnus smithi.
Ephedra antisy phylitica. Yucca baccata.
Ephedra torreyana. Yucca harrimaniz.
Fraxinus anomala.
Other plants and shrubs of more general distribution in the Col-
orado Upper Sonoran which are found commonly in the south-
western desert valleys are:
Atriplex confertifolia. Opuntia camanchica.
Atriplex canescens. Opuntia rhodantha.
Atriplex nuttallr. Populus wishizen.
Dondia erecta. Populus acuminata.
Eurotia lanata. Sarcobatus vermiculatus.
Echinocereus paucispinus. Schmaltzia trilobata.
Lepargyrea argentea. Ximenesia exauriculata.
REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS OF SOUTHWESTERN SECTION—COLORADO RIVER DRAINAGE.
A. large variety of reptiles, especially lizards, characterize the
Upper Sonoran zone in the hot valleys and on the slopes of western
Colorado, and several lizards which reach their greatest abundance
in the Lower Sonoran zone of the southwest United States are rep-
resented. Probably all have reached this region from the south-
western deserts. Following are some of the most important reptiles,
with brief notes on their distribution: 1
Crotaphytus collaris baileyi.—This ring-necked lizard is abundant
in the McKlmo and Montezuma Valleys, east to a point 6 miles
north of Cortez, at 6,500 feet; also in the San Miguel region ranging
east to Coventry (6,500 feet); present in west Paradox Valley (west-
ern rim at 6,500 feet), Salt Canyon, and other branches of the canyon
of the lower Dolores River. Equally common on open deserts and
mm rocky pimyon country. I tock two specimens at McElmo, June
17, 1907, and one each at Coventry and Sinbad Valley, July 13 and
£7) 1907.
1 Many of the lizards of the desert valleys range up for some distance into the pinyon belt; but as no
Species appears to be restricted to the upper part of the zone, the present list will include notes bearing
on both these areas.
26 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
Uta stansburiana.—This little desert lizard has a general distribu-
tion from the Grand Valley southward, chiefly below 6,000 feet, but
rarely to 7,000 feet (Spruce Tree Cliff Ruins, Mesa Verde). It was
found in the following localities: Desert north of Mack; Plateau
Creek; Coventry; Paradox Valley; Salt Canyon; Dolores River Can-
yon; and McElmo. <A very abundant lizard, usually occurring among
rocks, but often on the open desert. The specimens are from Mack,
Plateau Creek, and De Beque, September 25 and 30 and October 1,
1906, and McElmo, June 18, 1907.
Uta ornata.—A rock-inhabiting species of delicate profile and slight
build, often scarcely discernible on account of its peculiarly pro-
tective colors and thin body. Present in most of the valleys from
Grand River south to the San Juan. Represented by six specimens
from Plateau Creek, September 30, 1906, and one each from Mesa
Verde (Spruce Tree Cliff Ruins, 7,000 feet), June 13, and Coventry,
July 29, 1907, and observed in Sinbad Valley and at McElmo and
Arboles. |
Sceloporus elongatus.—The large gray scaly rock lizard has a wide
distribution, north at least to Bear River, and ranging through the
entire width of the Upper Sonoran zone, and also a short distance
into the Transition zone. In eastern Colorado noted only at Arkins.
Found chiefly about rocks. Specimens from Arkins; Escalante Hills
(7,000 feet); Meeker; Rangely; Plateau Creek; and McKImo.
Sceloporus consobrinus.—A medium-sized species, inhabiting rock
ledges in the pinyon and juniper country up to 7,000 feet. Smaller
than the preceding species and not nearly so common. Specimens
are from Douglas Spring (Escalante Hills); La Veta; and Arboles.
Sceloporus graciosus.—A small graceful lizard, usually noted among
greasewood (Atriplex and Sarcobatus) in open valleys and desert
flats, chiefly below 5,500 feet. It was common at the following
localities: Escalante Hills; valleys of Texas and Evacuation Creeks
in extreme western Rio Blanco County; lower Grand Valley north
of Mack; Rifle; Coventry; and McEImo.
Phrynosoma ornatissumum.—Horned toads are common at McElmo
and on the desert north of Mack, Mesa County, and are reported
elsewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 feet.
Cnemidophorus tigris.—This large whip-tailed lizard ranges into
the State only in the lowest and hottest desert valleys, extending up
to about 5,500 feet. It is tolerably common in the lower McElmo
Valley, and abundant in West Paradox and Sinbad Valleys and also
in the Dolores River Canyon as far down as the mouth of West Creek,
frequenting sandy flats which are clothed with Atriplex and Sarco-
batus. It doubtless occurs also in the lowest part of the Grand Valley
near the Utah boundary, as J found it on Plateau Creek, 5 miles
east of Tunnel, Mesa County. Represented by two specimens from
1911.] UPPER SONORAN ZONE. 27
Plateau Creek September 30, 1906, and one from McElmo June 18,
1907. This species has its center of abundance in the arid Lower
Sonoran zone.
Cnemidophorus gularis.—A medium-sized species not uncommon
in the lowest valleys below 5,500 feet, in same situations as C. tigris.
I collected specimens at Grand Valley October 2, 1906, near McElmo
June 22, 1907, and at Hotchkiss August 8, 1907. It was observed
also in Salt Canyon and in the canyon of Dolores River near the
mouth of West Creek.
Bascanion teniatum.—This handsome and graceful snake enters
the State, so far as known, only in the Grand River Valley, where a
specimen was taken on Plateau Creek September 30, 1906, and another
at Morris, west of Rifle, August 13, 1907. The Plateau Creek indi-
vidual climbed bushes with great ease, while the one from Morris
was discovered among beds of prickly pear on a sandy knoll. Both
localities are below 5,300 feet.
Thamnophis elegans vagrans.—This garter snake was taken at
Meeker, Rio Blanco County, August 11, 1905.
Crotalus confluentus.—Rattlesnakes are not at all common, but are
reported in most localities.
Pituophis sayi.—A bull snake was taken on Dry Creek, 8 miles
west of Naturita, July 20, 1907.
Scaphiopus hammondi.—Numbers of these toads were caught in
my mousetraps among beds of prickly pear on a sandy knoll at
Morris, west of Rifle, August 15, 1907, at 5,200 feet.
Bufo lentiginosus woodhousei.—This toad was taken at Rangely
September 12, 1906, and also at Rifle August 15, 1907.
Chorophilus triserratus.—A specimen of this little frog was collected
at Rangely September 13, 1906, at 5,500 feet.
RIO GRANDE DRAINAGE.
The Upper Sonoran element which follows up the Rio Grande
Valley and in dilute form spreads over the level expanse of San Luis
Park is mainly characteristic of the arid valleys of western Colorado.
It includes among mammals Antilocapra, Eutamias minimus caryi,'
Citellus tridecemlineatus parvus, Onychomys leucogaster jpallescens,
Reithrodontomys montanus,t Thomomys aureus pervagus, Perodipus
montanus,? Perognathus flavus and P. apache, Sylvilagus audubona
warren, and Lepus californcus texianus (%). Among plants and
shrubs the various greasewoods (Sarcobatus and Atriplex), rabbit
brush (Chrysothamnus), and sages (Artemisia and Eurotia) predomi-
nate, while Gutierrezia, Grindelia, Helianthus, Ximenesia, Peritoma
(especially P. sonore), Yucca, and Opuntia are conspicuous genera
1 Restricted to San Luis Park and Rio Grande Valley, so far as known.
2San Luis Park, Rio Grande Valley, and intermountain valleys of northern New Mexico.
28 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No, 83
on the arid plains. The Rio Grande, Conejos, and other streams are
fringed in many places with thickets of Ribes longiflorum and
Schmaltzia trilobata, while willows and broad-leaved cottonwoods
are abundant.
JUNIPER AND PINYON BELT.
A belt of country clothed with juniper and pinyon, uniformly
rough and broken in configuration, marks the higher part of the
Upper Sonoran zone on the basal flanks of all the mountains in Colo-
rado except the Front Range.' These two species (Pinus edulis and
Juniperus monosperma *) form the characteristic tree growth on the
slopes between the yellow pine belt of the higher foothills and the
open plains or desert valleys at their bases. They also densely
clothe extensive areas partially removed from the main mountain
ranges, comprising in western Colorado practically all the lower
elevations and the rough country forming the watersheds between
the valleys (see Pl. IV), and east of the mountains a region of alter-
nating canyons and ridges extending from southeastern Pueblo and
eastern Huerfano Counties southeast to western Baca County. The
pinyons grow to a higher elevation than the junipers, extending a
short distance into the Transition zone. They occasionally reach
8,500 or 9,000 feet on hot slopes, as on the western side of the Sangre
a Cristo Range, the eastern side of the Arkansas Valley between
Salida and Beeaa Vista, and the bold southwest exposures of Grand
Mesa and Sierra Blanca. They are not found as low as the junipers,
however, and are usually absent from the rough areas below 5,500 feet.
Most of the mammals, birds, and plants of the juniper and pinyon
country in Colorado are more or less characteristic of this belt over
much of the Great Basin region. Few of the species are found on
the Great Plains, and the fauna and flora as a whole belong to the
Great Basin division of the Upper Sonoran zone.
MAMMALS OF JUNIPER AND PINYON BELT.
The following mammals répresent the Upper Sonoran element in
the juniper and pinyon belt in different parts of the State. On both
slopes of the mountains: Rock squirrel (Citellus variegatus gram-
murus), cliff mice (Peromyscus truei and P. boylei rowleyi), and gray
fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus scotti). In western Colorado only:
Hopi chipmunk (Eutamias hopiensis), golden-breasted canyon mouse
(Peromyscus crinitus auripectus), Arizona wood rat (Neotoma cinerea
arizonae), cacomistle (Bassariscus astutus flavus), Great Basin spotted
1 North of the Arkansas Divide the yellow pines of the Transition zone usually extend down to the edge
of the plains, the juniper belt being but slightly indicated on a few outlying ridges and talus slopes by a
very sparse growth.
2 A third, Juniperus scopulorum, is common in the upper part of this belt, but also extends up through
the Transition zone.
t
oe = a
‘
\
North American Fauna No, 33, U.S, Dept. Agr. Biological Survey. PLATE IV.
FiG. 1.—SPRUCE TREE CLIFF RUINS, NAVAJO CANYON, MESA VERDE, WITH JUNIPER
AND PINYON FOREST IN THE ROUGH CANYON COUNTRY OF SOUTHWESTERN
COLORADO.
en eee tl eee
Fig. 2.—NAVAJO CANYON, MESA VERDE.
Characteristic view in rough canyon region of southwestern Colorado, showing dense growth of
Junipers and pinyons at 7,000 feet. Scattering Dougias spruces are on cool slope at leit.
1911.) UPPER SONORAN ZONE. 99
skunk (Spilogale gracilis saxatilis), and Arizona skunk ( Mephitis
estor). In the Escalante Hills: Utah chipmunk (/utamias dorsalis
utahensis). In southeastern Colorado: Warren wood rat (Neotoma
albigula warren).
BREEDING BIRDS OF JUNIPER AND PINYON BELT.
Breeding birds of general distribution in this belt are the Wood-
house jay (Aphelocoma woodhousei), pinyon jay (Cyanocephalus
cyanocephalus), gray titmouse (Bxolophus inornatus griseus), lead-
colored bush tit (Psaltriparus plumbeus), western gnat catcher
(Polioptila cerulea obscura), and Baird wren (Thryomanes bewicki
bairdi). The canyon towhee (Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus), scaled quail
(Callipepla squamata), and the road runner (Geococcyx californianus)
are common breeders in the juniper country of southeastern Colorado,
but the quail and road runner breed also in the open valleys of the
region and in the Lower Sonoran zone.
PLANTS OF JUNIPER AND PINYON BELT.
The vegetation of the juniper belt shows a great preponderanee of
Upper Sonoran species.
Juniperus monosperma.
Juniperus utahensis (west Colorado).
Pinus edulis (also lower Transition).
Fendlera rupicola.
Philadelphus microphyllus.
Fallugia acuminata (San Luis Valley re-
gion).
Cowania mexicana (southwestern Colo-
rado).
Peraphyllum ramossissimum (also lower
Transition).
Cercocarpus parvifolius.
Atriplex canescens (locally common).
Schmaltzia trilobata.
Quercus (several species).
Conspicuous among them are:
Celtis reticulata (rare).
Ephedra antisyphylitica (west Colorado).
Ephedra torreyana (southwestern Colo-
rado).
Echinocereus aggregatus (southeastern Colo-
rado).
Echinocereus viridiflorus.
Cactus radiosus.
Opuntia arborescens (southeastern Colo-
rado).
Opuntia whipplei (southwestern Colo-
rado).
Yucca baccata (southern Colorado).
Yucca harrimanix (southwestern Colo-
rado).
AGRICULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF COLORADO UPPER SONORAN ZONE.
Although entirely within the arid region and embracing areas of
great aridity, the Upper Sonoran zone in Colorado is nevertheless of
great agricultural importance. It is the only zone which affords
suitable physical and temperature conditions for extensive and
varied agriculture. With a light and insufficient annual rainfall,
which varies from 15 or 20 inches on the eastern plains to less than
10 inches on some of the western desert tracts, and a remarkably
dry atmosphere (average relative humidity about 50 per cent), the
rich agricultural and fruit districts on both sides of the mountains
_have necessarily been developed largely by irrigation. It is true that
380 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 83.
a certain measure of success with corn, cane, and cereal crops is
attained through dry farming in many sections on the eastern plains
where no water for irrigation is available; and as the various systems
of soil culture come into more general use and are made more effective
in conserving rainfall, the hard and loam soil tracts should become
increasingly productive. The great agricultural wealth of the State
has been built up mainly, however, along the base of the foothills
and in the valleys of the larger streams, and this area of greatest
production will always be limited by the water supply.!
The distribution of Upper Sonoran crops is at present local;
and so dependent are many of the crops upon natural protection,
adequate water supply, and suitable soils, entirely aside from tem-
perature, that they can not be grown over the whole of a region so
varied as the Upper Sonoran of Colorado. The State is noted for
its thrifty, scattered agricultural communities, some of which have
become famous as producers of particular crops. Thus the produc-
tion of potatoes on the plains of the Greeley region is enormous, as
is also the yield of watermelons and cantaloupes at Rocky Ford, in
the warm Arkansas Valley, and of peaches in the hot desert valley
of Grand River near Grand Junction and Palisade. Sugar beets are
a staple crop in the Platte and Arkansas Valleys, where a number of
large sugar factories take care of the product, and they are grown
extensively in the Grand Valley below Grand Junction. The raising
of a great variety of vegetables on a large scale for canning is an
important industry fostered by the establishment of several canneries
in the region between Longmont and Fort Collins. Wheat and oats
are important crops east of the mountains, and yield heavily under
irrigation. Even the moderate yield now secured under dry farming
warrants a large acreage under improved methods of handling the
soil. Both of these cereals are successfully grown on moderate slopes
and benches bordering many of the desert valleys in western Colorado.
(See Pl. V, fig. 1.) A small acreage of corn is grown on the eastern
plains, but it 1s not a sure crop west of the mountains, owing to the
prevalence of cool nights during the growing season. Among the
hay and forage crops alfalfa easily takes the lead, yielding two cuttings
in the upper part of the zone, above 6,000 feet, and three or four in
the warmer parts.
The leading fruit districts lie at the eastern base of the foothills
and in the desert valleys of the western slope. The region from
Boulder north to Fort Collins is noted for apples and small fruits,
and most varieties of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants,
plums, and cherries thrive in this section. The Florence and Canon
City district, in the Arkansas Valley, also is a heavy producer of berry
1 Vitally essential to the agricultural interests of the State are the mountain forests. Many authorities
maintain that they induce precipitation; they also conserve moisture by holding the snows of winter, thus
insuring a regular supply of water in the streams well into the growing season.
North American Fauna No. 33, U. S. Dept. Agr. Biological Survey. PLATE V.
Fic. 1.—FARMS IN THE LOWER WHITE RIVER VALLEY
BELOW RANGELY, AT 5,500 FEET.
FiG. 2.—FRUIT RANCHES IN THE MCELMO VALLEY BETWEEN Mogul! AND McELmo,
AT 5,200 FEET.
1911.] UPPER SONORAN ZONE. 31
fruits and apples. The western desert valleys are peculiarly adapted
to a great variety of Upper Sonoran fruits, as apples, pears, peaches,
prunes, apricots, and nectarines, while even almonds and peanuts
have been successfully raised in a few of the warmer localities. (See
Pl. V, fig. 2.) Many hundred carloads of peaches, apples, and pears
are shipped annually from the lower Grand, Gunnison, and Uncom-
pahere Valleys, the chief shipping points being Fruita, Grand June-
tion, Palisade, Delta, Hotchkiss, Paonia, and Montrose. The adobe
soils which prevail in most of the desert tracts prove wonderfully
productive under irrigation, and the transformation wrought in a
few years by water is little short of marvelous.
At. present most of the eastern plains region and the sage plains
of Routt County are used for grazing, but all the hard and loam soil
tracts will doubtless eventually be brought under cultivation. The
extensive sandy areas, with their luxuriant growth of range grasses,
are well suited to grazing, but are also especially adapted to certain
crops... The short-grass plains which form the watershed between
the Arkansas and Cimarron Rivers, in the extreme southeast, are
arable throughout, and are being gradually reclaimed by dry-farming |
methods.
The intimate connection between the natural life zones and the
crop zones has already been referred to. The same isotherms which
limit the upward or northward dispersion of certain associations of
native plants, birds, and mammals are found to limit effectively the
successful production of certain fruits and other crops. The varie-
ties of fruits, cereals, and miscellaneous crops which have proved
best adapted to the Upper Sonoran zone in various parts of the
western United States have been listed by Merriam.? In this zone
the standard varieties of apples, plums, and cherries, the sugar beet,
most of the cereals, and many other fruits and vegetables, reach
their highest development and productiveness. It is not likely that
all the varieties listed will prove an unqualified success in the Upper
|Sonoran of Colorado, but the tables furnish valuable aid in selecting
suitable varieties. Presupposing suitable soil and water conditions,
any intelligent fruit grower or farmer with a fair knowledge of the
\distribution and character of the Upper Sonoran element should be
reasonably certain whether the proper temperature conditions for
ithe maturmg of particular fruits and crops are present in a given
locality. Such knowledge is of special value along the upper edge
of the zone, where, among the lower foothills and in regions of broken
‘configuration, agriculture and horticulture, following the line of
least resistance, are now very largely confined to the stream valleys.
These are frequently descending tongues of the Transition zone, and
i!
i
\
1 Natural Vegetation as an Indicator of the Capabilities of Land for Crop Production, Bureau of Plant
Industry Bull. 201, pp. 75-78, 1911.
2 Life Zones and Crop Zones, Bull. 10, Biological Survey, pp. 37-40,
32 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No. 88.
the cooling influence of the streams very often causes the entire
valley bottoms to be filled with Transition vegetation. From the
nature of the case most of the Upper Sonoran fruits and crops tested
in these valleys have proved either a total failure or only a partial
success, and after long experimentation have been replaced by the
hardier varieties of the Transition zone. Many of the experiments
might have succeeded had they been tried in the warm pockets or on
the moderately inclined slopes along the warm sides of the valleys,
and had the rainfall been utilized by cross furrowing and ditching.
These warm exposures are covered with Upper Sonoran vegetation,
are occasionally open, but more often clothed with scattering pinyons
and junipers, and in many cases, with a little clearing of rocks and
shrubbery, are quite capable of cultivation. Many ranchmen have
already discovered the advantages of such locations for fruit raising,
but along the bases of the mountains are considerable areas of such
land, still unreclaimed, which under present methods of conserving
and handling the water supply are capable of producing the finest
Upper Sonoran fruits.
Although the larger part of the open San Luis and Rio Grande
Valleys is included in the Upper Sonoran on the zone map, this region
is very nearly on the border line between the Upper Sonoran and
Transition zones, with a slight preponderance of Upper Sonoran
species. This area is generally considered too cold for Upper Sonoran
crops and fruits, and few have been grown thus far. This is not
strange, however, since the part reclaimed for agriculture is very
largely in valleys of streams, whose cooling effect precludes the suc-
cessful cultivation of any but the hardy vegetables and cereals of the
Transition zone. Warmer conditions are indicated on all the bor-
dering foothill slopes by a belt of junipers, pinyons, and other Upper
Sonoran vegetation, which extends from 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the
level of the valley and continues out into the open country for some
distance along the the warm sides of ridges. The warmest and most
protected slopes are at the base of the foothills, and many of
them are open and, with little clearing, suitable for cultivation.
That certain of the hardier Upper Sonoran fruits, particularly apples,
can be successfully grown on these warm, protected slopes, wherever
water is obtainable, seems highly probable, and the advantage of
fruit growing in an extensive isolated agricultural region like the
San Luis Valley is apparent.
An advantage of fruit raising in the foothills is the protection they
afford from the cold winds which sweep the plains in winter. An
i In various parts of the southwest the pinyon belt has proved especially adapted to apples. Perhaps
the best example within the State is in Montezuma Valley and the neighboring country, where in the
natural openings and clearings among the pinyons the very finest apples are grown. When water from
the several large ditches now under construction is available, apple growing will become one of the most
important industries of southwestern Colorado.
f
1911.] TRANSITION ZONE, 33
added advantage is that, owing to the altitudinal difference in the
progress of the season, fruit in the foothill districts often escapes
injury from a late spring frost which catches the fruit of the lower
country in full blossom. This was notably the case in 1907, when
late frosts were general over the fruit districts on both sides of the
mountains, greatly diminishing the crop.
The protection afforded in the foothill valleys of western Colorado
is especially favorable to peach growing. The lower edge of the
pinyon belt appears to limit the successful growing of peaches, nec-
tarines, tomatoes, and melons over most of the region, but under
favorable conditions peaches have been grown somewhat higher. In
eastern Colorado peach growing is not carried on to any great extent.
At Canon City the average is about two crops every five years. This
failure is not due to coldness of climate, for the mean temperature is
unusually high, but to long spells of warm weather in winter, which
cause the buds to start, whereupon a sudden cold snap freezes them.
The many long arms or extensions of the Upper Sonoran zone in
western Colorado have a special value in that, deeply penetrating
the high country of the Transition and Boreal zones, they enable the
cultivation of Sonoran fruits and crops to be carried far within
regions devoted to mining and stock raising, and thus render their
production more lucrative than elsewhere. An excellent example is
the narrow, semidesert Grand River Valley, between Grand Junction
and Glenwood Springs.
With the completion of the Gunnison Tunnel (through which
water from the Gunnison River is to reach 150,000 acres of desert
land in the Uncompahgre Valley) and many other private irriga-
tion projects of less scope, the ranchmen of western Colorado in
particular are rapidly awakening to the great possibilities of irrigation
and to the fact that fruit raising is far more remunerative, acre for .
acre, than ranching and hay raising.
TRANSITION ZONE.
In general this may be said to be the foothill zone of Colorado,
with its lower limit marked by the edge of the plains on the east and
by the approach to desert conditions along the western bases of the
mountains and plateaus. ~ It is a neutral distribution area of consid-
erable breadth lying between the Boreal (Canadian) and Austral
(Upper Sonoran) regions, and elements of both zones enter about
equally into its composition. Although a number of species of mam-
mals, birds, and plants are wholly or mainly restricted to the Transi-
tion zone and characterize it locally, it is best marked on the whole as
a region of overlapping boreal and austral species.!
1 See Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., VII, p. 31, 1892.
90432°—11——_3 -
34 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
In addition to occupying continuous belts in the broken foothill
country which flanks both sides of the main ranges, the Transition
zone covers large areas in North Park, the upper Bear River Valley,
the Wet Mountain Valley, Archuleta County south of the San Juan
Mountains, on the Arkansas Divide with the adjacent region border-
ing the South Platte, and elsewhere. Many outlying elevations in
western Colorado, chiefly secondary plateaus descending toward the
Colorado River, are capped with this zone. Among these are the
Mesa Verde, in Montezuma County, and the Yampa Plateau and
Escalante Hills in western Routt County. It covers also most of the
mountains west of the Ladore Canyon of Green River, forms a narrow
belt around the Canadian zone summit of the O-wi-yu-kuts Plateau,
occupies the summits of the higher eastward projecting flanks of the
La Sal Mountains in western Montrose County, and is present in
dilute form (indicated by pockets of Pseudotsuga) on the upper north-
east faces of the Rabbit Hills, in western Rio Blanco County. On
the east side of the mountains the only Transition zone island of
consequence is on the summit of the Mesa de Maya, in southern Las
Animas County. The total area in Colorado covered by the Tran-
sition zone is in the neighborhood of 25,000 square miles, or approxi-
mately one-fourth of the area of the State.
Warm slopes in various parts of the State having an unusual
exposure to the direct rays of the sun carry Transition species any-
where from 500 to 1,000 feet above the mean zone level. A few
examples are a southwest slope 1 mile northeast of Lake San Cris-
tobal, near Lake City, where scattering yellow pines are encountered
up to 10,000 feet; at Bath, on the summit of Trout Creek Pass, and
along the western slopes of the Trout Pass Hills, where the same tree
occurs regularly up to 9,500 feet and sparingly among the Douglas
firs for another 300 feet; and on the eastern slope of the Sangre de
Cristo Range in the Mosca Pass region, where the pines are common
at 9,500 feet. Transition zone vegetation is carried to an abnormal
elevation also on the remarkably exposed southwest slopes of Sierra
Blanca and Grand Mesa, and on Badito Peak, the southernmost point
of the Wet Mountains. (See Pl. VI, fig. 1.) .
An excellent illustration of warmer environmental conditions
created through deforestation, and a consequent upward extension of —
Transition zone species, is afforded on the mountains north of and
adjacent to Clear Creek, just east of Fall River. The southwest side
of a mountain between Fall River and Russell Gulch is clothed to
the summit, at 9,000 feet, with a dwarfed growth of Punus scopulorum,
intermixed with Pseudotsuga mucronata and Pinus flexilis, and such
shrubs as Acer glabrum and Cercocarpus parvifolvus. The upper 500
feet of this slope is said to have been forested with Pinus murrayana
in early days before mining activities exhausted the best forests of
North American Fauna No. 33, U. S, Dept. Agr. Biological Survey. PLATE VI.
FiG. 1.—EFFECT OF SLOPE EXPOSURE.
Yellow pines (Pinus scopulorum) and firs (Abies concolor) growing at same elevation (9,000 feet)
on hot and cold slopes in Wet Mountains east of Westcliffe.
| FiG. 2.—CHARACTERISTIC VIEW AT UPPER EDGE OF
TRANSITION ZONE.
Undergrowth of small aspens ( Populus tremuloides) in forest
| of yellow pine (Pinus scopulorum) on Dolores Plateau.
1911.] TRANSITION ZONE. 3D
the region, and many stumps still remain. At present the summit
and upper northern slopes of this mountain are clothed with a young
and dense growth of lodgepole pines, but they apparently can not
recover a foothold on the upper southwest slope, where they formerly
abounded. At no other point in northern Colorado was Pinus
scopulorum observed above 8,500 feet, and it reaches above 8,000
feet in only a few places. (PI. VI, fig. 2.)
' The Transition zone varies greatly over the State, not only in
respect to its vertical and horizontal breadth, but also in its charac-
terization, being sometimes strongly marked and again dilute and
ill-defined. It is most uniform in width along the eastern flanks of
the front ranges, where the chief irregularities are due to the eastward
extending Arkansas Divide and the deeply penetrating valley of the
Arkansas River. On the western slope ofthe Continental Divide the
Transition belt is extremely irregular in outline, because of the
many plateaus which project westward from the main ranges and the
intervening desert valleys. It completely fills the upper valleys and
skirts the lower valleys of the Snake, Bear, White, Grand, Gunnison,
Dolores, and San Juan Rivers, and their affluents. Two independent
arms of the Transition zone enter the State along its northern bound-
ary in the intermountain region—one along the North Platte, a
narrow tongue which widens to include practically all the extensive
sage plains of North Park at an average elevation of about 8,000 feet;
the other, a narrow strip of yellow pine and sage country in the
Laramie River region. Two belts of this zone likewise penetrate the
-intermountain region of Colorado from the south, occupy the foothills
of the San Juan and Culebra Ranges, skirt the great San Luis Valley,
and connect with the upper Arkansas Transition through a narrow
tongue across Poncha Pass. |
As already observed, the Transition zone varies greatly in breadth.
_ The variation in horizontal breadth, due entirely to difference in
slope incline, is well illustrated by the following examples: On steep
slopes such as are found north of Grand River near Glenwood Springs,
and between De Beque and Rifle, the aspens of the high Canadian
zone country are often less than half a mile from the junipers of the
warm Upper Sonoran valley; while on the western side of the Elk
Head Mountains, where the slope is very gradual, the Transition zone
merges almost insensibly into the Upper Sonoran sage plains, and has
a width of 8 or 10 miles or even more. Again, in a few instances, the
Transition element is almost lost or crowded out by an unusual
upward extension of Upper Sonoran zone. For example, on the
north side of the Grand River Valley at McCoy, Eagle County,
pinyons and junipers (Juniperus monosperma) follow up the warm
south slopes to 7,800 feet, while lodgepole pines and aspens clothe the
summits and northern slopes at 8,400 feet. The intervening 600 feet,
36 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
or upper part of the southern slopes, supports a scattering growth of
Pinus scopulorum, Pseudotsuga mucronata, Amelanchier alnifolia,
Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and other Transition species.
Narrow extensions or arms of the Transition zone penetrate the
mountains for a considerable distance on both sides of the main
ranges, following along the warm north sides of the valleys. Under
such conditions the upper limit of the yellow pines is very materially
lowered where they penetrate an extensive region of high altitude—
that is, the highest elevation at which the pines grow is considerably
less at the head of a valley where the surrounding environment is
uniformly boreal than on the slopes and ridges near the mouth of the
valley, where the bordering high country is much broken and incised
and thus permits a more general diffusion of warm air currents. This
difference in the upward extension of the pines amounts to nearly 500
feet in the Fountain Creek Valley. In the region about Manitou the
upper limit on warm slopes is approximately 9,000 feet, while at
Woodland Park, in the upper valley, it is about 8,500 feet.
MAMMALS OF COLORADO TRANSITION.
Both boreal and austral mammals are represented in the Transition
zone in Colorado, while only six species appear to be restricted to
it. These are two squirrels of the Sciurus aberti group, three
pocket gophers of the genus Thomomys, and a small brown bat,
Myotis lucifugus longicrus. Sciurus aberti ferreus inhabits the east-
ern foothills of the front ranges from Loveland and Arkins south
to the Mosca Pass region, and Sciurus aberti mimus occurs in the
stately yellow pine forests on the southern slopes of the San Juan and
La Plata Mountains. Thomomys clusius is found on the sage plains
of North Park, on the high grassy plateau in northeastern Weld
County, and on the western (higher) end of the Arkansas Divide.
Thomomys talpoides agrestis, an isolated mountain form of the
common Thomomys talpoides of the northern plains, is known only
from the San Luis Valley meadows. Another gopher, Thomomys
fulvus, appears to enter the State only on the Raton Mesa, in the
Trinidad region. Myotis l. longicrus is common in the Transition
zone at several points in western Colorado, and appears to be a
characteristic zone species.
The following mammals, while not entirely restricted to the Transi-
tion zone, have their center of abundance there, and characterize it
locally in various parts of the State: The Say chipmunk (Hutamias
quadrivittatus), in the foothills of the eastern and southern moun-
tains; Wyoming ground squirrel (Citellus elegans), on the high sage
plains of North Park and in northwestern Colorado; Estes Park cliff
mouse (Peromyscus nasutus) and Gale wood rat (Neotoma fallax), in
the eastern foothills of the front ranges; pygmy vole (Jhcrotus
1911.] TRANSITION ZONE. 37
pauperrimus), on the higher sage plains of North and Middle Parks
and in Routt County; white-tailed jack rabbit (Lepus campestris),
east of the Continental Divide, from North Park south to the Arkansas
Divide, and in San Luis Valley; Townsend jack rabbit (Lepus campes-
tris townsendr), of the higher open country west of the Continental
Divide; Rocky Mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttalli pinetis),
mountain coyote (Canis lestes), and mountain wildcat (Lynx winta),
found throughout the mountainous districts; and the northern plains
skunk (Mephitis hudsonica), which occurs on both slopes of the
northern mountains.
The following mammals of wider zonal range have been found in
this zone in various parts of the State:
MAMMALS COMMON TO TRANSITION AND UPPER SONORAN.
Antilocapra americana. Castor canadensis frondator.
Odocoileus virginianus macrourus. Canis occidentalis.
Onychomys brevicaudus. Spilogale tenuis.
Eptesicus fuscus.
MAMMALS COMMON TO TRANSITION AND CANADIAN.
Cervus canadensis. Microtus nanus.
Callospermophilus lateralis. Microtus pennsylvanicus modestus.
EHutamias amoenus operarius. Zapus princeps.
EHutamias minimus consobrinus. Vulpes macrourus.
Erethizon epixanthum. Ursus americanus.
MamMALs CoMMON TO TRANSITION, CANADIAN, AND UPPER SONORAN.
Odocotleus hemionus. Felis oregonensis hippolestes.
Cynomys gunnisont. Lutreola vison energumenos.
Cynomys leucurus. Putorius arizonensis.
Taxidea taxus.
BREEDING BIRDS OF COLORADO TRANSITION.
Birds which breed chiefly in the Transition zone in Colorado are
the sage hen (Centrocercus urophasianus),! saw-whet owl (Crypto-
glauxz acadica), sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter velox), Rocky Mountain
hairy woodpecker (Dryobates villosus monticola), Lewis woodpecker
(Asyndesmus leursr), Wright flycatcher (Hmpidonax wrightr), spurred
towhee (Pipilo maculatus montanus), green-tailed towhee (Oreospiza
chlorura), white-throated swift (Aeronautes melanoleucus), plumbeous
vireo (Lanwireo solitarius plumbeus), Macgillivray warbler (Oporornis
tolmiei), Rocky Mountain nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis nelsoni), pygmy
nuthatch (Sitta pygmxa), and chestnut-backed bluebird (Siaha
mexicana bairdi).2 Among the birds occupying restricted areas in the
Colorado Transition during the breeding season may be mentioned
1 Mainly in northwestern Colorado. 2 Southern Colorado.
38 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 88,
the Grace warbler (Dendroica graciz), acommon breeder in the yellow-
pine forests on the southern slopes of the San Juan Mountains.
Other birds conspicuous during the breeding season in the Transition
belt in different parts of the State are:
Bubo virginianus pallescens. Pica pica hudsonia.
Calamospiza melanocorys. Planesticus migratorius propinquus.
Colaptes cafer collaris. Poecetes gramineus confinis.
Dendragapus obscurus. Salpinctes obsoletus.
Dendroica auduboni. Sayornis saya.
Euphagus cyanocephalus. Sialia currucoides.
Falco sparverius phalena. Spizella breweri.
Myiochanes richardsoni. Spizella passerina arizone.
Oreoscoptes montanus. Sturnella neglecta.
Otocoris alpestris leucolema. Tachycineta thalassina lepida.
Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus. Troglodytes aédon parkmani.
Penthestes gambeli. - Vireosylva gilva swainsoni.
Phalxnoptilus nuttalli. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus.
Several genera of the Anatide and at least one genus of the Limi-
cole are found on Lake John, North Park, during the summer, and
doubtless breed there. These include Branta canadensis, Anas
platyrhynchos, Spatula clypeata, Querquedula discors, and Steganopus
tricolor. Other breeders in the same region are the coot (/ulica
americana) and the great blue heron (Ardea herodias).
PLANTS OF COLORADO TRANSITION.
In Colorado, as in most sections of the western United States, the
yellow pine (Pinus scopulorum) (see Pl. VII, fig. 2) is the character-
istic Transition tree, and the zone is practically coextensive with these
pines wherever they occur. Their distribution in the Colorado foot-
hills is quite general, except in the northwest, where a very sparse
and scattering growth occurs in a few widely separated localities.
Over much of western Colorado north of the San Juan Mountains
and Uncompahgre Plateau the Transition zone is a partially open
region, sage-covered slopes and parks alternating with brushy slopes
and ridges of chaparral, including such shrubs as oaks (Quercus gam-
beli (Pl. VII, fig. 1), Q. fendleri, and others), chokecherry (Prunus
melanocarpa), Juneberries (Amelanchier alnifotia, A. bakeri, and
others), and Ceanothus velutinus, Peraphyllum ramosissimum, Sym-
phoricarpos oreophilus, Kunzia tridentata, Cercocarpus parvifolius,
and in the Escalante Hills Cercocarpus ledifolius. The most promi-
nent forest tree in the Transition belt of northwestern Colorado is the
Douglas spruce (Pseudotsuga mucronata), which occurs chiefly on
sharp declivities and on the exposed crests of the plateaus above
7,000 feet.
North American Fauna No, 33, U.S. Dept. Agr. Biological Survey. PLATE VII.
Fic. 1.—DENSE CHAPARRAL OF OAK (QUERCUS GAM-
BELI) IN WESTERN FOOTHILLS OF WEST ELK MOUN-
TAINS, ON HEAD OF SMITH FORK OF GUNNISON
RIVER, ALTITUDE 8,000 FEET.
FiGg. 2.—YELLOW PINES (PINUS SCOPULORUM) NEAR
ELKHORN, LARIMER COUNTY, SHOWING CHARAC-
TERISTIC SCATTERING GROWTH OF THE SPECIES
ON EASTERN FOOTHILLS OF FRONT RANGE.
1911.] TRANSITION ZONE, 39
The vegetation of the sage plains of North Park, in addition to
| Artemisia tridentata, consists chiefly of Sarcobatus vermiculatus and
| Chrysothamnus, with Kunzia tridentata added in sandy strips of
country.
Along streams throughout the State this zone is best indicated by
the narrow-leaved cottonwood (Populus angustifolia). Some of the
shrubs found commonly in the neighborhood of streams are the
alder (Alnus tenuifolia), Rocky Mountain birch (Betula fontinalis),
dogwood (Swda stolonifera riparia), hazel (Corylus rostrata), haws
(Cratxgus saligna, C. wheeleri, and others), willow (Salix nuttall),
Distegia involucrata,s and Opulaster ramaleyi. Another willow
(Salix perrostrata) grows in dense clumps in bogs and around spring
holes. A large variety of shrubs and plants are characteristic of the
rocky slopes, among which are several species of June berry (Amelan-
chier), mountain holly (Cercocarpus parvifolius) ,? ninebark (Opulaster
monogynus), flowering raspberry (Oreobatus deliciosus), New Jersey
tea (Ceanothus pubescens), Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium), bear-
berry (Arctostaphylos uvaursi), currants (Ribes imebrians and Rf.
pumilum), Kunzia tridentata, Edwinia americana, and Holodiscus
dumosus. A large species of bearberry (Arctostaphylos pungens
platyphylla) forms a dense chaparral on the western slopes of the
Uncompahgre Plateau and on the opposite (eastern) slopes of the
La Sal Mountains, between 8,000 and 8,500 feet. The only cactuses
found with any regularity in the Colorado Transition are the little
Opuntia fragilis, which is common in the yellow pine forests near
Pagosa Springs and on the Uncompahgre Plateau, and was found
also along the North Fork of the Gunnison River above Somerset;
the unique snake cactus (chinocactus simpsoni), most abundant in
the Wet Mountain Valley and adjacent region, so called because of
the peculiar snake-like growth occasionally formed; and Echinocereus
viridiflorus, also of the Wet Mountain region. Cactus missouriensis
occurs occasionally in the yellow pine belt of the eastern foothills.
Chrysothamnus ‘elegans, C. bigelovi, and several other species of
rabbit brush are common and characteristic shrubs in the Wet
Mountain Valley and in all the open valleys and parks between
7,000 and 9,000 feet.
REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS OF COLORADO TRANSITION.
A few reptiles occur with more or less regularity in the Transition
zone, but it is doubtful whether any are restricted to it. Among the
lizards, the large gray rock lizard (Sceloporus elongatus) ? is found in
rocky situations along the lower edge of the zone in many parts of
western and southwestern Colorado. One of the whip-tailed lizards,
1 Also lower Canadian. 2 Also Upper Sonoran. 3 Most abundant in Upper Sonoran zone.
40 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No.93.
(Cnemidophorus gularis)* seen in the foothills near Golden in June, —
1905, was in a rank growth of grass on a yellow pine slope, at 6,500
feet. Horned toads (Phrynosoma ornatissimum) are tolerably com-
mon in the sandy yellow pine country on the northern end of the
Uncompahgre Plateau. In July, 1907, several were seen on the head
of Dominguez Creek, at 8,500 feet, and one individual was collected.
Another, not over a third grown, was taken in late September, 1906,
at the same elevation on the chaparral-covered summit of the Book
Cliffs at Baxter Pass near the Utah boundary. A garter snake
(Thamnophis elegans vagrans)? is not uncommon in the pine belt and
is found also in the lake region of North Park. A specimen taken at
Higho, North Park, in August, 1906, was crawling through the sage-
brush at some distance from water. Another was collected along
Snake River east of Slater, Routt County, in August, 1906, at a little
over 7,000 feet. The little green snake (Liopeltis vernalis) was taken
but once, on the bank of the Rio Pifcs, a few miles below Vallecito, |
June 6, 1907. A small frog (Chorophilus triseriatus) was secured on
Snake River, about 10 miles east of Slater, August 21, 1906. Edward
A. Preble collected the larva of a salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
in Estes Park in 1895.
AGRICULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF THE TRANSITION ZONE.
The rough and broken character of much of the Transition area in
Colorado precludes agriculture on an extensive scale, although the
climatic conditions are favorable for many of the hardier vegetables,
cereals, and fruits. The most important of its natural resources are
the yellow pine forests, which in some localities are very extensive.
The few areas of any size which are sufficiently open for cuitivation
are North Park, the Wet Mountain Valley, San Luis Valley, and the
western (higher) end of the Arkansas Divide, together with certain
of the larger foothill valleys. Of these, the first two are devoted
largely to ranching and hay raising, the Arkansas Divide to grazing,
and the San Luis Valley alone to extensive agriculture. Wheat,
oats, and rye are the leading cereals raised in the Colorado Transition,
while timothy is an important hay crop. A great deal of alfalfa is
grown along the lower edge of the zone, where it usually yields two
cuttings. Higher up it is not a success. Potatoes and Canada field
peas are important crops in the San Luis Valley. <A great variety of
vegetables are grown in the San Luis Valley, and also in the stream
valleys of the higher foothills over the State, where a good market is
furnished by the neighboring mining camps. Comparatively little
fruit is raised, but with a proper selection of hardy varieties horticul-
ture might be made an important industry in the protected foothill
1 Most abundant in Upper Sonoran zone. 2 Also in lower Canadian zone.
North American Fauna No. 33, U.S. Dept. Agr. Biological Survey. PLATE VIII.
FiG. 1.—LOWER PART OF CANADIAN ZONE FOREST OF
LODGEPOLE PINES (PINUS MURRAYANA) AND ASPENS
(POPULUS TREMULOIDES) ON NORTH PARK SLOPE
OF MEDICINE BOW RANGE.
Fic. 2.—ForREST OF ENGELMANN SPRUCE (PICEA ENGELMANNI) IN UPPER PART OF
CANADIAN ZONE, ON SUMMIT OF PARK RANGE, AT 10,000 FEET.
1911.] CANADIAN ZONE. 41
| valleys wherever water is available for irrigation. A variety of berry
| fruits, such as June berries, strawberries, raspberries, currants, and
| gooseberries, are native to the Transition zone in Colorado.
The Transition zone is suited to the growth of practically all the
vegetables, including the cabbage, lettuce, turnip, radish, potato, beet
(both table and sugar), pea, bean, onion, carrot, parsnip, and early
sweet corn; all hardy cereals; and the hardier varieties of apples,
cherries, and small fruits. The crab apple reaches its best develop-
ment in this zone.!
CANADIAN ZONE.
This, the more extensive of the boreal zones, occupies the middle
slopes on the main ranges and extensive areas in the mountain parks,
and caps all of the higher western plateaus, thus including the larger
part of the coniferous forests of the State. Broadly speaking, the
| Canadian zone is characterized in the mountains of Colorado by
| extensive forest belts of aspens (Populus tremuloides), lodgepole pines
(Pinus murrayana), and the lower, heaviest part of the Engelmann
| spruce belt (see Pl. VIII, fig.2). White firs (Abies concolor) are added
| to these in the southern mountains. On the western plateaus it is
| marked by either a mixed forest of aspens and Engelmann spruces,
| or else a partially open country of grassy parks and aspen groves.
| In the park region of central Colorado considerable areas of open
| grass land are in this zone.
Chief among the elevated areas in western Colorado extensively
| capped with Canadian zone are the White River, Book, and Uncom-
pahgre Plateaus; Grand, Battlement, Lone, and Blue Mesas; the
Danforth and Huntsmans Hills; and the Cathedral Bluffs. The
Gore, Elk Head, Rabbit Ear, Williams River, and West Elk Moun-
} tains are largely or wholly Canadian, while perhaps the largest areas
# of this zone are found in the Middle, Egeria, and South Park regions.
| Small Canadian zone islands cap the summits and upper northern
_ slopes of many small outlying peaks and plateaus, especially in western
_ and southern Colorado. Among these may be mentioned Diamond
and Zenobia Peaks, Mount Cullom, and Yampa and O-wi-yu-kuts
| Plateaus, all in extreme western Routt County; Ute Peak, the
highest point in the Sierra el Late, in Montezuma County; isolated
table mountains south of the San Miguel and San Juan Mountains,
and peaks between the upper forks of the South Platte; and Raton
) Mesa, southeast of Trinidad.
In the mountains of the northern half of the State the lodgepole
pine and aspen forests are regularly entered at between 7,500 and
8,000 feet, and continue up to a little over 10,000 feet. (See Pl.
1 Some of the varieties of cereals and fruits which have proved adapted:to the Transition zone (arid sub-
division) in Idaho, eastern Washington, and Utah, are listed by Merriam in Life Zones and Crop Zones,
)| Bull. No. 10, Biological Survey, pp. 25-27, 1898.
49 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 83.
VIII, fig. 1.) Passing south to the latitude of Colorado Springs, the
Canadian zone level is raised 500 to 1,000 feet, and continues high
over most of the southern mountains, with the vertical breadth about
as In the north. The vertical boundaries are subject to great local
variation, according to physiographic conditions, entirely apart
from the regular elevation and depression due to slope exposure.
Striking examples are the upper Arkansas Valley and Gunnison
regions, on opposite sides of the Continental Divide. On the moun-
tain slopes bordering the upper Arkansas from the Royal Gorge to
Buena Vista and beyond, Canadian zone species are seldom encoun-
tered much below 8,500 or 9,000 feet, even on cold exposures, and
along the east side of the valley in the vicinity of Trout Creek Pass
they are crowded on warm slopes above 9,500 feet. Over much of
the upper Gunnison country lodgepole pines and aspens grow regu-
larly as low as 8,000 feet on cold exposures and 8,500 feet on warmer
slopes. The comparatively low elevation reached in the Gunnison
country is undoubtedly due to the influence of the great mass of
boreal country which practically surrounds the region.. The unusu-
ally high temperature and consequent high zone levels which pre-
vail in the upper Arkansas region are probably due to several factors.
The southward trend of this narrow valley admits the hottest rays
of the sun, which shine with great directness upon very abrupt
bordering slopes; while the region to the east and south is neither
so high nor so extensively boreal as that which surrounds the Gun-
nison country. The western slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Range
and the eastern slopes of the Cochetopa Hills and Garita Mountains,
bordering the northern two-thirds of the San Luis Valley, and the
eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Range near Mosca and Sand
Hill Passes, are other notable examples of abnormally high zone levels,
where on warm slopes the Canadian element is often forced above
9,500 feet. This is probably the result of the high, 7,500-foot base
level of San Luis Valley. South from Mosca Pass along the eastern
slope of the range the lower boundary of the Canadian zone gradually
drops to about 8,000 feet, which level is uniformly maintained on the
slopes of the high Culebra Range west of Trinidad. The low 6,000-
foot base level of the Trinidad plains would account for low zone
levels on the Culebras.
The effect of slope exposure on zone level is well shown along the
lower edge of the Canadian zone, both on individual slopes and on
opposite sides of mountain ranges, especially on those which rise
abruptly with few flanking foothills. On the high narrow Sangre de
Cristo Range the difference in mean elevation between the east and
west slopes amounts to fully 500 feet, and it is nearly as great on
some of the other ranges. Throughout the mountains, cool shaded
north and northeast slopes and gulches carry the aspens, lodgepole
North American Fauna No. 33, U. S. Dept. Agr. Biological Survey.
FiG. 1.—SUMMER CATTLE RANGE, CANADIAN ZONE
MEADOW EAST OF LARAMIE RIVER, 10,000 FEET
ALTITUDE.
Fig. 2.—CANADIAN ZONE VEGETATION AT 9,000 FEET
ON OPEN SUMMIT OF UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU—
FRASERA, DELPHINIUM, GERANIUM, AND LUPINUS.
PLATE
1911.] CANADIAN ZONE. 43
pines, firs, and other Canadian zone vegetation to a low elevation.
Some of the cold streams on the eastern slope of the Front Range
_earry quite pronounced tongues of Canadian zone as low as 7,000 feet.
These consist of thickets of aspens, a scattering fringe of blue spruces
| (Picea parryana), and occasionally an Engelmann spruce. These
descending boreal tongues are ‘invariably embraced by warm slopes
clothed in different parts of the State with yellow pines, oaks, sage-
_brush, and other Transition zone vegetation. At Honnold, Routt
County, lodgepole pines and dense thickets of scrubby aspens crowd
|} down the steep northern faces of the Elk Head Mountains to the
‘bank of Snake River, at 7,000 feet, alternating with ascending
tongues of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) on all the warm Transi-
tion slopes up to 7,500 or even 8,000 feet.
The boreal forest belts are best shown on sharply inclined slopes,
like the steep north side of the Clear Creek Valley between Silver
‘Plume and Graymont, where in summer a_ beautiful tricolored
‘appearance is presented, due to the three shades of green of the
aspen, lodgepole pine, and Engelmann spruce forest. The slopes
up to 10,500 feet are densely clothed with the first two trees in about
equal abundance, and present a patched appearance, thickets and
ascending tongues of the light-green aspens being scattered through
the more uniformly distributed, dark, yellowish-green pines. (See PI.
VIII, fig. 1.) Joining the upper edge of this forest is a regular and
well-marked belt of greenish-black Engelmann spruces, while still
higher up the slope may be seen the straggling growth of foxtail pines
(Pinus aristata) of the timberline region—of the same hue as the
Engelmann spruces, but distinguishable by their ragged appearance.
| In Colorado extensive forests cover a very large percentage of the
total area occupied by the Canadian zone, which is poorly adapted to
crops. The only open land at all suited to agriculture is found along
the lower edge, between 8,000 and 9,000 feet, and comprises narrow
strips along the streams in the larger mountain valleys and parks
and on the western plateaus. At present this agricultural land is
largely utilized for wild hay and timothy. As most of the park and
plateau region supports a luxuriant growth of grasses, affording an
excellent summer range for cattle (see Pl. IX, fig. 1), there would
probably be no economic advantage in cultivating the hardy cereals
‘grown in the warmer part of this zone in various sections of the
United States and Canada. A very limited acreage of rye, oats,
and wheat is grown in Middle Park and elsewhere in the mountains,
but as yet their culture is scarcely beyond the experimental stage.
The hardier vegetables also, as beets, parsnips, lettuce, turnips,
potatoes, cabbages, and carrots, are raised successfully along the
wer edge of the zone. The fact that wild strawberries, raspberries,
urrants, and blueberries grow in profusion in this zone strongly
44 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 88,
suggests that cultivated varieties might do well in favored spots.
The roughness of much of the region in this zone precludes the possi-
bility of extensive agriculture even under favorable climatic condi-
tions. The chief resource of the Canadian zone, however, is its tim-
ber, especially the extensive forests of lodgepole pines. On some of
the northern mountains, as the Park and Medicine Bow Ranges,
where mining operations have made the least inroad on the forests,
these pines grow very closely and to maximum size, many of the
trees reaching a diameter of 2 feet or more. With their remarkably
uniform straight growth and close stand, these pines form a beau-
tiful and stately forest and yield valuable lumber. (See fig. 31.)
MAMMALS OF COLORADO CANADIAN ZONE.
The following boreal mammals have their center of abundance in
the Canadian zone of Colorado, and rarely range much lower, although —
most of them extend up into the Hudsonian zone: Fremont chick-
aree (Sciurus fremonti), woodchuck (Marmota engelhardtr), Rocky
Mountain red-backed mouse (Lvotomys gapperi galei), Preble phe-
nacomys (Phenacomys prebler), mountain phenacomys (Phenacomys
- orophilus), Rocky Mountain field mouse (Microtus mordaz), tawny.
white-footed mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus) , snowshoe rabbit
(Lepus bairdi), Colorado pocket gopher (Thomomys fossor), black
bear (Ursus americanus), western fox (Vulpes macrourus), Rocky
Mountain jumping mouse (Zapus princeps), dwarf weasel (Putorius
streatori leptus), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), marten (Mustela
caurina origenes), wolverine (Gulo luscus), shrews (Sorex vagrans
dobsoni, S. tenellus nanus, S. obscurus, and S. personatus), water
shrew (Neosorex palustris navigator), and silver-haired bat (Lasionye-
teris noctivagans).
BREEDING BIRDS OF COLORADO CANADIAN ZONE.
The following birds appear to be very commonly found in the
Canadian zone in Colorado during the breeding season: Rocky Moun-
tain jay (Perisoreus canadensis capitalis), olive-sided flycatcher
(Nuttallornis borealis), Alpine three-toed woodpecker (Picoides ameri-
canus dorsalis), Lincoln sparrow (Melospiza lineolni), Dendragapus
obscurus, Cyanocitta stelleri diademata, Loxia curvirostra manor,
Sphyrapicus thyroideus, S. varius nuchalis, Spinus pinus, Junco
phzonotus caniceps, Iridoprocne bicolor, Sitta canadensis, Cinclus
mexicanus unicolor, Myadestes townsendi, Hylocichla guttata audubom,
Dendroica auduboni, and Carpodacus cassini. Some of the above
species breed more or less commonly from the foothill region nearly —
to timberline, but their center of abundance during the breeding
season is in the Canadian zone, between 8,000 and 10,000 feet.
North American Fauna No. 33, U.S. Dept. Agr. Biological Survey PLATE X.
Fla.
1.—HUDSONIAN ZONE, SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, SOUTHWEST OF OPHIR.
FIG. 2.—HUDSONIAN ZONE FOREST ON SAGUACHE RANGE NEAR ST. ELMO Cj 2,000 FEET.) a
*
_
= ,
«> i
“ « .
-
~
.
-
.
-
= ’
“ ‘
3
,
1911.] HUDSONIAN ZONE. 45
PLANTS OF COLORADO CANADIAN ZONE.
The coniferous forest of the Canadian zone is composed chiefly of
~ lodgepole pines in the northern two-thirds of the State and of white
firs in the southern third; but it includes also the heaviest and lowest
part of the Engelmann spruce belt and a scattering growth of balsam
' firs (Abies lasiocarpa) along its upper edge; and in the lower third
a fringe of blue spruce along the streams, more or less Rocky Moun-
i tain white pine (Pinus flexilis), especially in the southern mountains,
~ and an admixture of Douglas spruce along its lower edge throughout
the State. The aspen (Populus tremuloides) marks this zone in all
_ the mountainous sections.
— The most characteristic shrubs and plants are the Canadian buffalo
a _ berry (Lepargyrea canadensis) on dry slopes, chiefly of the Front,
Fe Park, and Saguache Ranges; alder (Alnus tenwifolia), and w ese
‘ (Salix geyertana and others), which fringe the cold streams and bogs
- between 10,000 and 11,000 feet; AiderWiee ries (Sambucus melanocar pa
and 8. repoueine ys); blueberry (Vaccmmum caespitosum); currant
i (Ribes wolft); mountain juniper (Juniperus siburica); mountain maple
| (Acer glabrum); columbine (Aquilegia cerulea); twinflower (Linnea
americana); Pachystima myrsinites; Rubacer parviflorus; Viburnum
pauciflorum; Viola canadensis neomexicana; Frasera speciosa (see
Pl: IX, fig. 2); Oytherea bulbosa; Actza viridiflora; Dasiphora fruti-
cosa; Rosa manca; and several species of Pyrola, E’pilobvum, Castil-
Teja, and Delphinium. The little dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa)
_ forms a conspicuous fringe along cold streams and bogs in the upper
part of the zone in many of the mountain ranges.
REPTILES OF COLORADO CANADIAN ZONE
The only reptile observed in this zone is a garter snake (Thamno-
plas elegans vagrans), collected in a cold bog near Pearl, North Park,
mn August, 1906, at an altitude of a little over 8,000 feet. It is not
known, however, that this snake occurs regularly in the Canadian
zone. It is not uncommon over the State in the Transition zone.
HUDSONIAN ZONE.
On all the higher mountains of Colorado a dark, somber-colored
forest belt of varying width is prominent just below timberline.
Traced along the upper slopes of the main ranges this belt is seen to
be heaviest and broadest in gulches and basins, while on jutting
shoulders and exposed ridges of steep incline it often contracts to a
narrow black line. (See Pl. X, fig. 1.) This is the upper forest of
Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanni) and balsam fir (Abies lasio-
carpa), and marks in a general way the limits of the Hudsonian zone.
Tt is a neutral or transition area combining both Arctic-Alpine and
Canadian zone elements. Very few species are restricted to it, and
it is therefore not so well characterized as either bordering zone.
46 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 88. —
Especially is this lack of character manifest along the lower edge of
the zone, where in the heavy forests on slopes of moderate incline
Hudsonian conditions merge almost insensibly into those of the
Canadian zone. Well-defined belts of the Hudsonian zone are found
only on such mountain ranges as are sufficiently high to afford alpine
conditions on their summits and highest spurs, as the Front, Park,
Saguache (see Pl. X, fig. 2) and Sangre de Cristo Ranges, and the
San Juan Mountains. The lower stretches of the above ranges and
many connecting and outlying mountains with a near approach to
timberline conditions on their highest elevations are capped with
this zone. In dilute form it may be traced also along the crests of
some of the outlying ridges and spurs which do not reach timberline.
The vertical width of the Hudsonian zone on the Colorado moun-
tains is not far from 1,000 feet. It narrows to 600 feet in places, and
again widens to as much as 1,200 feet, and in extreme cases to 1,500
feet. The lower boundary is seldom clearly defined, being usually |
on steep slopes at between 10,500 feet and 10,800 feet on warm
exposures, and several hundred feet lower on cool slopes and espe- |
cially in gulches. The upper part of the Hudsonian belt is well indi-
cated by timberline conditions. On normal warm slopes the spruces
and firs begin to dwarf at a little over 11,000 feet. They rapidly |
become stunted and much dwarfed, then semiprostrate, and finally |
as dense prostrate mats from 1 to 3 feet in height and often many
feet in diameter, crowd far up the exposed ridges in narrow ascending —
tongues, giving place to the bare Alpine slopes at a mean elevation -
of about 11,500 feet, but on the warmest slopes from 11,800 feet to
12,300 feet. !
The upper limit of this zone (timberline) is the best marked of all J
zonal boundaries. It is very sinuous, and affords perhaps the most
striking example of one zone lapping past another. Traced along
the upper slopes of a mountain range, it is seen regularly to dip —
down several hundred feet to skirt the lower edges of basins and —
gulches occupied by descending arms of the Arctic-Alpine zone; and
again to reach far above its normal elevation on the exposed crests
of the bordering ridges. In this manner tongues of Arctic-Alpine
and Hudsonian zone regularly lap past each other at timberline for
a vertical distance of 400 or 500 feet and in extreme cases for twice 7
that distance, or about the width of the zone. (See Pl. XI, fig. 2.) |
The following are a few of the limits of the Hudsonian zone in -
different parts of the State that will serve to illustrate the range of ©
variation as to vertical position: Rollins Pass, Front Range (east 7
slope), 10,000 to 10,900 feet; near Fremont Pass (east slope), 11,000 ©
to 11,600 feet; St. Elmo, Sao niehe Range (southwest slope), 10,800 ~
to 12,300 feet; Ophir, Sai Juan Mountains (north slope), 10,500 to —
11,500 feet; C einen Divide, southeast of Lake oe (northwest —
ene 10, 800 to 12,000 feet. a
North American Fauna No. 33, U.S. Dept. Agr. Biological Survey. PLATE Xl.
Fia@. 1.—FOXTAIL PINES (PINUS ARISTATA) AT TIMBER-
LINE NEAR ST. ELMO, SAGUACHE MOUNTAINS, AT
(2 Ss00°REED-
Fig. 2.—ASCENDING TONGUE OF ENGELMANN SPRUCE
AT TIMBERLINE ON FRONT RANGE NEAR BERTHOUD
Pass (NORTHWEST SLOPE), AT 11,600 FEET.
v
1911.] HUDSONIAN ZONE. 47
The Engelmann spruce predominates in the Hudsonian forest belt
throughout Colorado, and in certain sections is the only tree present.
Usually, however, thickets of balsam fir are scattered through the
spruce forest in bogs and on cool slopes, and occasionally the firs
form a dense growth, as on the eastern slope of the Front Range in
the vicinity of Rollins Pass, on the western slope of the same range
above Arrow and Idlewild, and west of Alpine Pass on the Saguache
Range: Both the spruce and fir extend up to extreme timberline.
They reach their maximum size, and the former its densest growth,
along the upper edge of the Canadian zone. Above 11,000 feet
dwarfed growth is the rule, but there are marked exceptions. In
crossing the two high ridges which form the divide between the Lake
Fork of the Gunnison and Cebolla Creek, southeast of Lake City, at
elevations of 11,350 and 11,550 feet, respectively, I found the spruce
belt continuous and heavy, the trees averaging from 60 to 80 feet in
height. On a southwest slope in the Saguache Mountains north of
St. Elmo, at an altitude of 11,700 feet, Engelmann spruces were
_ growing commonly to a height of 30 or 40 feet.
On the Front Range south of James Peak, throughout the length
of the Saguache Range, and on the Sangre de Cristo Range south at
least to Crestone Peak, another tree occupies much of the timberline
region to the partial exclusion of the spruce and fir This is the
foxtail pine (Pinus aristata), which crowds up the warm sides and
along the crests of exposed gravelly ridges in a ragged, one-sided,
wind-beaten growth from 5 to 15 feet in height. This pine appears
to be local in its distribution, being present on some mountains
and entirely absent on neighboring peaks of the same range. It
is largely confined to the front ranges south of the latitude of Den-
ver and was not noted on the mountains of western and extreme
northern Colorado. It is the characteristic timberline tree on the
mountains bordering South Park on the west, and also on that part
of the Saguache Range known as the University Range—from Salida
north to Buena Vista. Warm south and southwest slopes are
chiefly occupied by the foxtail pines. Timberline.on the cool sides of
the mountains is usually formed by spruces and firs. But at St.
Elmo, where foxtail pines form the highest recorded timberline in the
=
‘State (12,300 feet), the gnarled and twisted, often nearly prostrate,
trunks of the uppermost of these evidence in a most striking manner
the stern contest for existence waged against a rigorous and adverse
climate. (See Pl. XI, fig. 1.)
Although characteristic of the Hudsonian zone, the Engelmann
spruce, balsam fir, and foxtail pine are by no means restricted to
it. The spruce forms regularly a heavy growth and the fir a scatter-
ing growth along the upper edge of the Canadian zone, while the pine
occurs sparingly on exposed gravelly points and ridges as low as 9,500
feet, particularly in the South Park region.
pe
or
NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, (No. 33,
q
The mossy floor of the Hudsonian forest is saturated with moisture
throughout the summer from the melting snows of the higher slopes,
and cold bogs abound. Flowering plants grow in profusion, although
the number of species is not large—the flora being mostly a mixture
of overlapping Arctic-Alpine and Canadian zone species.
The Hudsonian and Arctic-Alpine regions are not only the sources,
but also the conservers, of much of the water supply, so vitally
essential to successful agriculture throughout the State, and the
importance of the regions in this regard’ can scarcely be overesti-
mated. The forests of Engelmann spruce and balsam fir, although
yielding lumber of very inferior quality, are used extensively for
mining timbers in the higher mountains.
MAMMALS OF COLORADO HUDSONIAN ZONE.
Among mammals, no species appears to be restricted to the Hud-
sonian, but the Sn marmot, and mountain sheep are characteristic
of the timberline region.
The following are found in greater or less abundance, as either
residents or stragglers:
Callospermophilus lateralis.
Canis lestes.
Cervus canadensis.
Erethizon epixanthum.
Eutamias amenus operarius.
Eutamias minimus consobrinus.
Evotomys gapperi galet.
Felis oregonensis hippolestes.
Gulo luscus.
Lepus bairdi.
Lepus campestris townsend.
Lynx canadensis.
Lyne uinta.
Marmota engethardtt.
Microtus mordaz.
Microtus nanus.
Mustela caurina origenes.
Neotoma cinerea orolestes.
Ochotona saxatilis.
Odocoileus hemionus.
Ovis canadensis.
Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus.
Putorius arizonensis.
Putorius streatori leptus.
Sciurus fremontt.
Sorex obscurus.
Thomomys fossor.
Ursus americanus.
Ursus horribilis.
Vulpes macrourus.
BREEDING BIRDS OF COLORADO HUDSONIAN ZONE.
The following birds are restricted mainly in their breeding range to
the Hudsonian zone: Pinicola enucleator montana, Certhia familiares
montana, and Regulus satrapa.
The following birds occur commonly in summer in Hudsonian and
Canadian zones, some of them breeding early in a lower zone:
Picoides americanus dorsalis.
Nucifraga columbiana.
Perisoreus canadensis capitalis.
Myadestes townsend.
Zonotrichia leucophrys.
Junco phezonotus caniceps.
Spinus pinus,
Wilsonia pusilla pileolata.
Regulus calendula.
Hylocichla guttata auduboni.
Planesticus migratorius propinguus.
Sialia currucoides.
Colaptes cafer collaris.
ui %
North American Fauna No. 33, U. S. Dept. Agr. Biological Survey. PLATE XII.
Fia. 1.—GRAYS PEAK GROUP FROM NEAR BERTHOUD PASS, SHOWING AN EXTENSIVE
| AREA OF ARCTIC-ALPINE COUNTRY.
Fig. 2.—ARCTIC-ALPINE ZONE ON THE SAGUACHE RANGE NEAR ST. ELMo.
1911.) ARCTIC-ALPINE ZONE. 49
PLANTS OF COLORADO HUDSONIAN ZONE.
The distribution of the Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanni),
balsam fir (Abies lasiocarpa), and foxtail pine (Pinus aristata) in the
Hudsonian zone has already been discussed in detail. Conspicuous
plants and shrubs of the timberline region are: Caltha leptosepala,
Trollius albiflorus, Ranunculus unguiculatus, Erysimum radicum,
Sedum stenopetalum, Polemonium (several species), Trifolium (several
species), Androsace (several species), Clementsia rhodantha, Rhodiola
polygama and LF. integrifolia, Mertensia alpina and other species,
Epilobum, Vaccanmum erythrococcum, Kalmia microphylla, Betula
glandulosa, Salia glaucops, S. pseudolapponum, S. chlorophylla, and
S. saximontana.
ARCTIC-ALPINE ZONE.
Truly arctic conditions characterize this zone, which occupies the
summits of the highest peaks and the crests of all the higher moun-
tains above the limit of tree growth. Small areas are found on the
Park Range from Buck Mountain and Mount Zirkel south nearly to
Buffalo Pass; on the southern half of the Medicine Bow Range; on
the higher eastern end of the Rabbit Ear Mountains; and on the
Vasquez, Williams, and Gore Mountains of the Middle Park region.
A belt which is continuous, or-at most is broken only by narrow gaps
dipping to timberline or a trifle below, extends from Longs Peak
south along the crest of the Front Range to Grays Peak (see Pl. XII,
fie. 1) and the Leadville region. Extensive areas of the Arctic-Alpine
zone are found on the mountains of southern Colorado, especially on
the San Juan Mountains, and on the Saguache (see Pl. XII, fig. 2),
Sanere de Cristo, and Culebra Ranges. The La Plata, San Miguel,
Elk, Tarryall, and Wet Mountains, and the Kenosha Range all have
many summits reaching far above timberline. Small islands of the
Arctic-Alpine zone also cap many of the more or less isolated peaks
of the Gunnison country, Pikes Peak, and a few of the highest eleva-
| tions at the eastern end of the White River Plateau known collec-
_ tively as the Flat Top Peaks.
The altitude of extreme timberline, which marks the lower bound-
ary of the Arctic-Alpine zone, varies over the State according to slope,
exposure, and latitude from a trifle under 11,000 feet to 12,300 feet.
It is lowest in the northern mountains and in the San Juans,! where
the mean elevation is 11,500 feet and the extremes are 10,900 feet
(east side of Rollins Pass and south of Ophir), and 11,800 feet (moun-
tains southeast of Lake City); and highest on the Front and Saguache
Ranges west of South Park and the Arkansas Valley, with a mean
1 The reason for the low average timberline elevations in the San Juan Mountains is the lowness of the
base level (5,000 feet), where their latitude and their proximity to a hot desert region on the west would
lead us to expect a high timberline.
90432°—11——4
50 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33,
elevation of nearly 11,800 feet, and extremes of 11,000 feet and 12,300
feet (north of St. Elmo). Under normal conditions the Arctic-Alpine
zone usually dips lowest in basins and gulches with northeast expo-
sures, Where it is often embraced for 500 feet or more by ascending
tongues of the Hudsonian zone, which follow up the bordering ridges.
The exceptional cases, where timberline is lowest on west or south-
west slopes, will usually be found to be due to unnatural conditions.
Thus at Boreas Pass, in the mountains west of South Park, timber-
line is below 11,600 feet on a southwest slope of slide rock, while on
the northeast slope opposite, with favorable soil conditions, it. reaches
11,900 or 12,000 feet. In approximating the elevation of normal
timberline due allowance must always be made for the effects of
rock slides and avalanches, which, viewed from a distance, appear to
be descending tongues of Arctic-Alpine zone reaching far below tim-
berline. These slides, by carrying away the soil and leaving in its
place great masses of slide rock, create conditions unsuitable for tree
erowth, yet do not remove the climatic barrier which prevents the
downward dispersion of Alpine species. )
The Arctic-Alpine area is a bare and bleak region covered with snow
for the greater part of the year, and with more or less remaining on
the ground in summer. Naturally the variety of life is here reduced
to a minimum.
MAMMALS OF COLORADO ARCTIC-ALPINE ZONE.
No mammals are restricted to the Arctic-Alpine area in Colorado.
The following species range at times to considerably above timber-
line in different parts of the mountains: Mountain sheep (Ovvs
canadensis), grizzly bear (Ursus horribilis), coyote (Canis lestes),
marten (Mustela caurina origenes), western fox (Vulpes macrourus),
porcupine (EHrethizon epixanthum), snowshoe rabbit (Lepus bairdn),
two chipmunks (Hutamias amenus operarius and FE. minvmus conso-
brinus), marmot (Marmota engelhardti), Colorado pocket gopher
(Thomomys fossor), pika (Ochotona saxatilis), and two field mice (M- —
crotus mordax and M. nanus). Of these the marmot, pika, pocket
gopher, and field mice apparently live in this bleak region throughout
the year.
BREEDING BIRDS OF COLORADO ARCTIC-ALPINE ZONE.
Three species of birds are restricted to the Alpine zone during the
breeding season. These are the white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus
leucurus), the pipit (Anthus rubescens), and the brown-capped rosy
finch (Leucosticte australis), none of which are known to breed much
below 12,000 feet. ‘The pileolated warbler ( Wilsonia pusilla puleolata)
and the white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) breed regu-
ae a ee
ew, +
1911.) MAMMALS. 51
larly in the thickets of alpine willows for 500 feet above timberline,
but their breeding range also extends down through the Hudsonian
zone. Other birds observed as stragglers above timberline are Buteo
borealis calurus, Chordeiles virginianus henryi, Corvus corax sinuatus,
Junco phxonotus caniceps, and a humming bird (probably Selasphorus
platycercus).
PLANTS OF COLORADO ARCTIC-ALPINE ZONE.
The only shrubs able to withstand the rigorous climate on the
wind-swept slopes of this region are several species of alpine willows,
among which are Salix petrophila, S. chlorophylla, and S. glaucops,
with its smooth variety glabrata. Dense thickets of these willows
from a few inches to 3 feet in height occur from timberline to 13,000
feet, chiefly in ascending tongues through alpine bogs on the slopes
of gulches and basins (see fig. 35); while S. petrophala, at least, is met
with sparingly on the highest summits, at 14,000 feet. Some of the
plants characteristic of the region above timberline are Silene acaulis,
Saxifraga debilis, Leptasea austromontana, Micranthes rhombordea,
Rhodiola polygama, Clementsia rhodantha, Mertensia alpina, Myosotis
alpestris, Pedicularis grenlandica, Polemomum confertum, Polygonum
vwiparum, Swertia palustris, Sieversia turbinata, Phlox condensata,
Besseya alpina, Trifolium nanum, Thlaspi purpurascens, and Macro-
nema discoideum. Most of the vegetation present above 13,000 feet
consists of mosses and lichens.
MAMMALS OF COLORADO.
The following list is believed to include all species of mammals
known to occur in Colorado, and aims to furnish accurate knowledge
of their geographical and vertical distribution within the State. As
already stated, it is based primarily upon investigations conducted
in Colorado by the writer during the field seasons of 1905, 1906, 1907,
and 1909. In addition, the data secured by other members of the
Biological Survey during the past 20 years have been incorporated,
and all important articles bearmg on the subject, both old and recent,
have been freely quoted.
The first accurate information regarding Colorado mammals was
obtained on Maj. Long’s expedition in 1820. Several species new to
science were obtained within the State, and were described by Thomas
Say in the Report of Long’s Expedition to the Rocky Mountains,
v. 2, 1823.
In the summer of 1871 Dr. J. A. Allen spent four weeks in Park
County, securing data which later formed the basis of an important
1 As indicative of the arctic environment of this region, note the occurrence of Pedicularis grenlandica,
Myosotis alpestris, and Polygonum viviparum—species which are abundant in Greenland and Alaska.
52 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33,
paper on the mammals of the South Park region, published in the
Bulletin of the Essex Institute, VI, pp. 53-58, 1874.
Many Colorado mammals collected in the course of the United
States Geographical Surveys West of the One Hundredth Meridian
are recorded by Coues and Yarrow in v. 5 (Zoology) of the Report of
the Survey, 1875. Other articles and notes of less scope pertaining to
the subject, which have appeared from time to time in various pub-
lications, need not be detailed. Four important recent publications
on Colorado mammals, however, often quoted in the present report,
are here cited in full to avoid frequent repetition of the complete
reference. |
ALLEN, J. A. List of Mammals Collected by Mr. Charles P. Rowley in the San Juan
Region of Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, with Descriptions of New Species.
<Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., V, pp. 69-84, 1893.
WarRREN, Epwarp R. The Mammals of Colorado. <Colorado College Publica-
tions, gen. ser. no. 19, Science ser. no. 46, XI, pp. 225-274, 1906.
WarREN, Epwarp R. Further Notes on the Mammals of Colorado. <Colorado
College Publications, gen. ser. 33, Engineering ser. 1, No. 4, pp. 59-90, 1908.
WaRREN, Epwarp R. The Mammalsof Colorado. Pp.300, with maps and numerous
text figures. New York and London, 1910.
Didelphis virginiana Kerr. Virginia Opossum.
An apparently authentic instance of the occurrence of the
opossum in Colorado was given me by Mr. George Heckler, a ranchman
living in Shell Rock Canyon, in the northwest corner of Baca County.
Mr. D. A. Rhinehart, of Lamar, who was familiar with the opossum
farther east, afterwards verified Mr. Heckler’s statement.
Mr. Heckler states that during the winter of 1903-4 he was hauling
supplies from Las Animas to the sheep camps in southern Bent and
Las Animas Counties, and one stormy evening camped in an old cabin
among the cottonwoods near the head of Caddoa Creek, some 12 miles
north of Gaume’s ranch. Soon after kindling a fire in the fireplace,
he saw a peculiar animal skulk in at the open door, and knocked it
over with a stick of wood. After examining it and noting that it was
an animal with which he was unacquainted, Mr. Heckler left it lying
near the door, apparently dead. Happening to glance in its direction
a little later, however, he saw the eyes slyly open for a look around,
and the tales of ‘‘playing ’possum”’ which he had read came to his
mind. Mr. Heckler kept the animal alive and gave it to a gentleman
residing a few miles north of Springfield, where Mr. Rhinehart saw it
soon after its capture.
The opossum is known to occur commonly in west-central Kansas,
in western Oklahoma, and along certain of the streams on the Texas
Panhandle. The individual captured on Caddoa Creek was probably
a straggler, as careful inquiry in the Arkansas Valley and elsewhere in
the region elicited no information respecting the presence of opossums.
It may have reached the head of Caddoa Creek either by way of the
1911.] MAMMALS. 58
Arkansas, which is heavily fringed with cottonwoods from middle
Kansas westward, or from the southeast, through the valley of the
Cimarron River. Either route is a logical one for Didelphis to follow
westward. Caddoa Creek is a southern affluent of the Arkansas River
and has a scattering fringe of cottonwoods along most of its length.
The region at the head of Caddoa Creek is wild and unsettled, and the
cabin where the opossum was captured is the only one in many miles.
Cervus canadensis Erxleben. Elk; Wapiti.
The elk is now exterminated over much of its former range in
Colorado, and the few bands which remain in the wildest parts of the
western plateaus and mountains are small and widely scattered. The
huge piles of antlers at many of the ranches in the northern mountains
are a mute testimony to the former abundance of this noble animal.
Estimates in 1898 placed the number of elk in Colorado at 7,000; in
1902 at 3,000. In 1909 their numbers were reduced to considerably
less, and were divided about equally between northern and southern
Colorado.! Conservative estimates of the number in Routt and Rio
Blanco Counties varied from 200 or 300 to twice that number. Mr.
Andrew R. Hodges, a well-known game warden with wide experience
in the elk range, thinks there were fully 400 and possibly 500 elk in
the mountains of Gunnison County up to 1909. In addition there are
known to be small bands in the San Juan and La Plata Mountains
and elsewhere.
In 1905, when I began work in Colorado, a few elk were still found in
the Rabbit Ear Mountains, ranging on both their north and south
slopes near the heads of Troublesome Creek (Middle Park) and
Arapahoe Creek (North Park). A small band was said to range the
Vasquez Mountains, and also on the headwaters of the Williams Fork
of Grand River, while several other bands were reported on the White
River Plateau, southeast of Meeker, probably at one time the best elk
range in the State. In August, 1905, I found the nearly complete
skeleton: of a large bull elk in a narrow box canyon along the East
Fork of Rifle Creek, 20 miles northeast of Rifle, and saw many
mounted heads in Meeker, Newcastle, and Glenwood Springs. Mr.
A. G. Wallahan, of Lay, reported that, unless they had been killed
since 1904, a fair number of elk still remained in the Flat Top country
at the eastern end of the Williams River Mountains.
In 1906 I learned of a few elk in the Danforth Hills (Morthwest of
Meeker), in the mountains west of Green River, and along the crest of
the Book Cliffs. A small band reported on the head of Elk River, on
the western slope of the Park Range, is said to cross occasionally to
the neighboring Elk Head Mountains. A mounted head at Baggs
Crossing, Wyoming, belonged to a large bull elk which a trapper
1 Careful estimates made by the Forest Service officers in the spring of 1911 show a total of about 2,100.
54 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No, 38.
named Criss shot in the region between Sunny Peak and the Vermillion
Bluffs in 1902. During the winter of 1905-6 two elk were seen at the
Sand Springs, west of Sunny Peak, Routt County. Apparently none
remain on the Medicine Bow and Front Ranges, or on the divide east
of Laramie River, since I could get no definite information regarding
their presence in that region in 1906. Dr. A. K. Fisher learned of a
few on the south side of Longs Peak in 1894.
In 1907, 12 or 15 elk were reported in the Cochetopa Hills west of
Saguache, and forest rangers estimated that there were nearly 100
remaining on the San Juan Mountains. These are much scattered,
and are usually encountered singly or in twos or threes. One of the
largest bands, consisting of about a dozen individuals, is said to range
near the summit of the San Juans south of Wagon Wheel Gap. The
same year fully 50 elk were reported in the La Plata Mountains, their
favorite range being on the head of Hermosa Creek, northwest of
Durango. Warren states that a few elk remain in Delta and Pitkin
Counties... They must have been at one time very abundant in the
West Elk Mountains, as at Cebolla, in 1907, I saw large piles of antlers
in front of the hotel.
Allen says that elk were becoming rare in Park County in 1871;?
and Brewer, writing of South Park at the same period, records but
three individuals observed by his party. Trippe has recorded elk
from the higher parts of Clear Creek County.*
Forest Supervisor H. N. Wheeler thinks the region on the head a
Hermosa Creek, in the Montezuma National Forest, would be an
ideal location for a national game preserve, with special reference to
elk, since so many are living in that region. State and national pride
should demand that this noble game animal, which formerly ranged
the Colorado mountains by thousands, be given the protection which
only a game preserve can afford. The close season on elk in Colorado
extends to November 1, 1924 (amendment of 1909). It has hitherto
been very difficult, however, to obtain in the wildest mountain dis-
tricts a strict enforcement of the game laws.
Mr. Barrett Littlefield, of Slater, Routt County, had about 100
elk in captivity on his ranch on the northern slope of the Elk Head
Mountains, a short distance south of that point, in 1906, and had
raised calves and steer elk for a number of years, readily selling the
dressed meat for 20 cents a pound at the nearest railroad point,
Rawlins, Wyoming. The steer elk are said to weigh from 500 to
600 pounds when well grown. Gray wolves have killed a number of
elk from Mr. Littlefield’s herd during the past few years.
! Mammals of Colorado, Colo. College Pub., Sci. ser. no. 46, XI, p. 236, 1906.
2 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 56, 1874.
2 Am. Nat., V, p. 220, 1871.
4 See Coues, Birds of the Northwest, p. 224, 1874.
1911.1 MAMMALS. 55
Odocoileus virginianus macrourus (Rafinesque). White-tailed Deer.
The white-tailed deer is at present uncommon, being largely
restricted to the foothills and eastern slopes of the front ranges, where
it occurs sparingly across the entire width of the State. A very few
have been killed on the mountain slopes bordering the San Luis Val-
ley, but it appears to be absent from other sections west of the main
ranges. In early days this deer was found pretty generally over the
plains region of eastern Colorado, where it frequented the thickets
and cottonwood growth which fringed the Platte, Cache la Poudre,
Boulder, Arkansas, and other streams. |
In 1905 Mr. Walter Blanchard informed me of a pair of white-tailed
deer which had been on his ranch 5 miles west of Boulder for a num-
ber of years, and he has several times seen fawns. I saw deer tracks
in the gulches in that vicinity several times during June, 1905. Near
the summit of Floyd Hill, in the eastern edge of Clear Creek County,
a fine large buck jumped from a dense thicket of dwarfed aspens
directly in front of me, June 23, 1905. Settlers in that vicinity report
small numbers of deer in the heavy forests several miles south of Clear
Creek. <A few white-tailed deer were reported in the yellow-pine belt
west of Arkins, Larimer County, and in the Laramie River region.
Mr. T. J. McKenna, of the Stevens mill, on Mount McClellan, states
_ that this deer formerly occurred in the Grays Peak region, but that
none have been seen recently. A specimen from the Cache la Poudre
River was in the collection of mammals which Mrs. M. A. Maxwell
exhibited at the International Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876.
White-tailed deer were reported at a number of localities in southern
Colorado in 1907. <A few are said to have been killed in the Wet
Mountains east of Westcliffe during recent years. Mr. J. W. Frey,
of Salida, considers the species of rare occurrence in that vicinity,
but states that a few have heen seen recently in Pleasant Valley, on
the east side of the Sangre de Cristo Range. This deer is reported
rare at both La Veta and Bradford, in western Huerfano County, but
several have been killed on the San Luis Valley slope of the Sangre de
Cristo Range, in the vicinity of the Mosca and Medano Passes, within
the past 10 years, according to the cowboys of the Medano Springs
ranch. There is a skull in the National Museum from Rio Grande
County, on the western side of the San Luis Valley.
Most of the hunters with whom I conversed had never seen the
white-tailed deer in the juniper country of Las Animas and Baca
Counties, but Mr. D. A. Rhinehart, of Lamar, stated that a very few
were killed there in early times. The species was formerly common
among the cottonwoods and willows along the Arkansas River, but
apparently none remain. A ranchman living at Prowers Station,
west of Lamar, is said to have a few in captivity, but I was unable to
learn where they were secured. Warren gives the following data:
56 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA.. (No. 33.
“OC. E, Aiken says there are a few in the foothills west of Monument,
El Paso County, unless recently killed off. Dr. W. H. Bergtold tells
me it is still found near Trinidad and southward, and also in parts of
the Arkansas Valley, between Pueblo and the State line.’’' Trippe
says “* Cervus leucurus’’ was formerly common in Clear Creek County.’
Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque). Mule Deer.
The mule deer has a much more general distribution in Colorado
than O. macrourus, and ranges from the lowest foothills occasionally
to timberline. It is found in every county west of the Continental
Divide, being probably most abundant in Routt and Rio Blanco
Counties. East of the main ranges a few are left in the rough juniper
country of Las Animas and Baca Counties, in the higher parts of El
Paso, Teller, and Jefferson Counties, and in 1907 they were reported
tolerably common in the foothills of Custer and Huerfano Counties.
Mr. Edward A. Preble reported a few mule deer in the Estes Park
region in 1895, but I heard of none in the foothills of Boulder and
Larimer Counties in 1906. Apparently none remain on the plains
east of the mountains, where they were common in early times.
Abundant signs of deer were noted on all the mountains and plateaus
west of the Front and Medicine Bow Ranges in August and Septem-
ber, 1905 and 1906. The aspen forests on the Rabbit Ear Mountains,
White River Plateau, and in the Hahns Peak country were especially
frequented by them, and large piles of antlers were seen at ranches
throughout the region. The Flat Top country of the Williams
River Mountains, west of Egeria Park, was said in 1906 to be the best
deer country in the State. All the many hunting parties which I
met returning from this region or the White River Plateau early in
October of that year had been successful.
Mr. A. G. Wallahan, of Lay, Routt County, states that prior to
1900 large herds aggregating many hundreds of mule deer passed his
ranch on the Lay game trail each fall in regular migration from their
summer home in the Elk Head and Willams River Mountains to
the winter range in the rough juniper and pinyon country bordering
the lower Snake and Bear Rivers. Since 1900 their numbers have
been greatly depleted, and during the winter of 1904-5 Mr. Wallahan
saw only 17 in the vicinity of his ranch. These semiannual migra- —
tions performed by the mule deer from high to low country in the
fall, and back again to the mountains in the spring, are now scarcely
perceptible in most sections where 5 or 10 years ago they were impor-
tant events.
In 1907 this deer was reported as tolerably common in the San
Juan and La Plata Mountains, in Archuleta, La Plata, and Monte-
zuma Counties. Formerly there was a regular movement down into
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 237, 1906. 2 See Coues, Birds of the Northwest, p. 224, 1874.
1911.1 MAMMALS, 57
the pinyon country on the Indian reservation along the southern
border of the State, but during the past few years the Ute, Navajo,
and Apache Indians have been ruthlessly slaughtering deer, and the
greater number now remain throughout the year in the high country,
where they are comparatively safe. Forest Ranger I. I. Chapson
states that at present coyotes are the worst enemies of deer in the
San Juan Mountains north of Pagosa Springs, as they kill a great
many fawns in summer and numbers of adults in winter, when the
snow crust impedes the deer’s progress, but is strong enough to bear
the weight of the coyotes. Mr. Chapson has often found the car-
casses of deer thus killed, and states that the coyotes, usually hunt-
ing in bands of five or six, first hamstring the deer, after which they
easily kill it. Mountain lions also kill a large number in the San
Juan and La Plata Mountains.
During the same season (1907) deer were reported common at
various other points. On the Uncompahgre Plateau tracks were
seen in abundance, both in the sandy yellow pine country at the
head of Dominguez Creek and in the trails leading through the aspen
groves along the crest of the plateau near Uncompahgre Butte. In
the Coventry region a good many deer were inhabiting the pinyon
country during July, and tracks were common also in the aspen
country on Lone Cone. Before sunrise July 24 I saw a doe browsing
in the willow brush in the bottom of the Naturita Canyon, near Coy-
entry. Mule deer were quite common late in June in the oak and
aspen thickets of the Lone Mesa region, where they were feeding
extensively on acorns. During the winter they are said to range
chiefly in the yellow pine country on the Dolores Plateau. Just
before sunset June 26, as I was crossing a ridge on the southwest
flank of Beaver Mountain, southeast of Lone Mesa, my eye was
arrested by a beautiful sight. Standing in a small grassy opening
among the dense oak chaparral a hundred feet below me and in the
shade of the ridge, with head thrown back over his shoulders, nose
pointing exactly in my direction, and every sense alert, stood a large,
sleek-coated, 4-point buck. I stopped in plain sight and silently
watched the old fellow for fully five minutes, and he apparently
regarded me with equal interest. His curiosity was fully satisfied,
however, the moment I quietly and slowly concealed myself among
the oak brush, and lowering his head he loped off through the
chaparral.
Deer were reported as more abundant than usual on the mountains
bordering the San Luis and upper Arkansas Valleys, and nearly all
the hunters outfitting at Buena Vista, Salida, and Saguache during
the open season of 1907 met with success. A locomotive on the
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, running light, killed a fine buck
November 8, in Browns Canyon, 6 or 8 miles north of Salida. On
58 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 83.
the western slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Range the mule deer is
said to be usually found in the pinyon belt between 8,000 and 9,000
feet, although occasionally met with at timberline in summer and
early fall. I was informed that deer were scarce in 1907 on the head
of Smiths Fork, in the West Elk Mountains, and this was the case
also in western Montezuma County.
Allen found mule deer, “‘ Cervus macrotis,’ common near timberline
in Park County in 1871;' while Trippe recorded the species as for-
merly common in Clear Creek County.
The Colorado game law in force during 1907 and 1908 allowed the
killing of one deer “with or without horns” by any person during the
open season. This inclusion of deer without horns worked incal-
culable injury to the deer of Colorado during the two years it was
operative, as a great many does and fawns were killed by unscrupu-
lous hunters and particularly by novices. The pernicious results
were not fully manifest in 1908, when it was estimated a total of
about 2,500 deer were killed during the open season, but reports show
that a great scarcity of deer throughout the mountains marked the
season of 1909.
Antilocapra americana (Ord). Antelope.
Antelope are now comparatively scarce even in the thinly settled
parts of the eastern plains region, and few remain on the sage plains
of North Park and Routt County, where formerly there were thou-—
sands. A small number are still present in San Luis Valley. Most
of the antelope of eastern Colorado are now in three areas—on the
plains of western Baca and southern Otero, Bent, and Prowers Coun-
ties; on the Arkansas Divide; and in northwestern Logan and north-
eastern Weld Counties.
That this most graceful game mammal is doomed to early extinc-
tion in many sections seems probable despite the protection afforded
by law, but the increase in numbers during the past few years, both
on the Arkansas Divide and in northeastern Weld County, is very
perceptible. The decrease of antelope in the State at large during
the past. 10 years, however, has been very great. In 1898 the State
game warden placed the number at 25,000, while in 1908 the game
commissioner estimated not.over 2,000. A conservative estimate
based on data collected by the Biological Survey would be not over
1,200 in 1909. Many cowboys and even ranchmen in the outlying
districts kill antelope whenever they can. It is gratifying, however,
to find that many large ranch owners have the public interests and
the preservation of game sufficiently at heart to afford this fine
mammal rigid protection on the ranges under their control.
1 Bull. Essex Inst., V1, p. 56, 1874. 2 See Coues, Birds of the Northwest, p. 224, 1874.
1911.] MAMMALS. 59
Mr. A. G. Wallahan, of Lay, the well-known photographer of big
game, estimated in 1905 that 300 would fully cover the number of
antelope remaining in Routt County. He reported a band of about
30 on the Iron Springs Divide, east of Godiva Ridge, and another
larger band near Junction Mountain, between the Snake and Bear
Rivers. In 1906 I was informed by Mr. John Criss, of Baggs Crossing,
Wyoming, a trapper of many years’ experience in Routt County, that
only a few hundred antelope are left in that region; whereas as re-
cently as 1898, immense herds, aggregating thousands of individuals,
wintered there. During the summer the antelope were scattered over
the sage plains in small bands. Mr. Criss thinks that persistent
hunting in that region drove most of the antelope northward to the
Wyoming plains. In 1906 antelope were reported in small numbers
in North Park; on the sage flats bordering Muddy Creek, in north-
western Middle Park; on the divide between the Snake and Green
Rivers, north of the Escalante Hills; and in the parks on the O-wi-
yu-kuts Plateau. In August, 1906, I saw the tracks of small bands
at the eastern end of Godiva Ridge (Routt County) and near Higho
(North Park), while five or six were watering at Elk Springs, 8 miles
south of Lily. I saw none in Mesa County, and Warren states, on the
authority of Mr. W. P. Ela, of Grand Junction, that but two or three
have been killed in that region during the past 20 years.’
-_ Numerous data on the distribution of antelope in the San Luis
Valley and in other parts of southern Colorado were gathered during
the summer of 1907. None appear to remain in Montezuma County,
and hunters in that region state that few were ever found there.
Mr. George J. Ashbaugh, living in the McElmo Canyon, told me
that the last antelope seen by him were three or four on the water-
shed between Yellow Jacket and McElmo Creeks about 1897. A
conservative estimate of the number of antelope in the San Luis
Valley would be from 50 to 75. The cowboys of the Medano Springs
_ ranch, who range the eastern side of the valley from Crestone south
to Garland, state that there are about 30 or 40 in that region, the
largest band, consisting of about 25, being found on the Luis Maria
Baca grant, south of Crestone. Others are scattered over the plains
from the west base of Sierra Blanca north to the northern end of
the sand dunes, west of the Medano Pass. Antelope are reported
between Garland and San Luis, at the west base of the Culebra
Range, and Vernon Bailey heard of a few in the unsettled region
between Antonito and the Rio Grande in 1904. Mr. C. H. Auld,
of Colorado Springs, reports seeing an antelope from the train be-
tween La Jara and Antonito September 18, 1907.
An antelope is said to have been killed, in the fall of 1907, within
sight of Salida, presumably on the extensive flats in the Arkansas
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 237, 1906.
60 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, (No, 33.
Valley northwest of that pomt. This appears to be the only recent
record in the upper Arkansas Valley. Antelope were not uncom-
mon in South Park in 1871, according to Allen.!| They were formerly
abundant in the Wet Mountain Valley, but none have been seen
in that region for several years.
Conservative estimates made by residents of Baca County in
the fall of 1907 placed the number of antelope in that region at
between 50 and 100. The majority were said to range on the level
short-grass plains of western Baca County, just east of the rough
juniper country. Very few are reported in eastern Baca County,
which is well settled. Prof. D. E. Lantz reports possibly 12 ante-
lope on the plains north of Higbee, in southeastern Otero County, in
1910.
Antelope were reported by Mr. C. P. Streator as common on the
high plains of the Arkansas ‘Divide near Flagler and Limon in 1894,
and Prof. Lantz says their numbers were increasing near Hugo in
1905, owing to rigid protection. In May, 1909, I saw a band of
fully 20 from a Rock Island train about 10 miles east of Limon, and
in crossing the Arkansas watershed from Cheyenne Wells northwest
to Seibert I saw several small bands. One band of nearly 200 is
sail to have been seen near Agate, on the northern slope of the
Arkansas Divide, northwest of Limon, in December, 1908. Several
antelope were run over by trains in that vicinity the same winter,
which was one of excessive snowfall. This was due to the fact that,
in feeding along the railroad right of way, which was kept fairly
clear of snow, the antelope heccnne quite unsuspicious and accus-
tomed to passing trains.
In driving from Sterling nee erst to Grover early in June, 1909,
several snel bands of antelope were encountered on the flats bordem
ing Horsetail Creek south of the Chimney Cliffs, while on the undu-
lating grassy plateau northwest of Pawnee Buttes, where the antelope
seemed most numerous, 19 were counted in the course of a short
morning’s drive. From observations made during the winter of
1908-9 residents variously estimate at from 200 to 300 the antelope
in the region between the Burlington Railroad from Cheyenne to
Sterling and the Nebraska boundary. A point 10 miles west of the
Platte River at Iliff indicates the present eastern limit of range in
winter, while the summer range is still more restricted.
A very few antelope are fon in Yuma County, according to Mr.
W. E. Wolfe, of Wray. Mr. H. G. Smith, of Denver, states that
they were last seen in Denver County in the late seventies.
Bison bison (Linn.). Buffalo; American Bison.
The buffalo was formerly present over much of the State, even rang-
ing in summer to timberline in certain sections of the mountains,
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 56, 1874.
1911.] MAMMALS. 61
as is proved by the bleached and weathered skulls occasionally
found at that elevation. While most numerous on the plains east
of the mountains, they nevertheless must have been common in the
larger mountain parks, especially on the sage plains of North Park,
where the bleached skulls, now rapidly disintegrating after more
than 20 years’ exposure, may still be seen in considerable numbers.
A favorite range of the buffalo was the extensive region of sage
plains in western Routt County, where in sections least frequented
by range cattle the deeply worn trails can still be distinguished.
Few, if any, well-preserved skulls can be found at the present time.
On my trips in North Park and in Routt County in 1905 and 1906
I met with only one skull at all complete, and in this case the teeth
were lacking. This skull was found embedded in a bog north of
Higho, North Park, and had been little exposed to the weather.
In most of the skulls found the nasals and horn sheaths, as well as
the teeth, are missing.
The South Park plains were much frequented by buffalo in early
times, and nearly all the travelers passing through the region men-
tioned them. They were by no means confined to the open grassy
plains of the park, since Brewer records skulls found on the bordering
mountain slopes as high as 11,000 feet in both openings and forests.1
The same writer states that the mountain animals were unlike the
buffalo of the eastern plains, being smaller, with longer, shaggier,
and blacker hair.? Allen mentions bleached skulls found far above
timberline on Mount Lincoln, by Mr. Bennett and others on the
“extremest sources’’ of the Platte River.* Warren records a skull
which he found in the mountains near Irwin, Gunnison County, at
nearly 11,000 feet, and states that he has seen skulls at other locali-
ties in the West Elk Mountains.‘
The data at hand respecting the time of the buffalo’s disappear-
ance in most sections of the mountains are scanty. According to
Brewer (1. c.) it was abundant in South Park previous to 1862, and a
few were shot in 1867, while he ‘‘heard of none in 1869.” Allen
(l. c.) states that a small band was seen along the Platte River in
South Park in June, 1871, while Coues and Yarrow, writing of the
South Park region, state that a few were seen and two were killed in
1873.2. Mounted specimens in the Maxwell collection of Colorado
mammals exhibited at the Philadelphia Exposition in 1876 were shot
in September, 1873, near Mount Whiteley, Middle Park, according
to Coues, who also states that a small band of buffalo still lingered
in North Park in 1876.6 The last buffalo in the Pikes Peak region
1 Am. Nat., V, p. 221, 1871.
2 In this connection, see Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 55, 1874.
3 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 55, 1874.
4 Mammals of Colorado, p. 239, 1906.
5 Explorations W. of 100th Meridian, V, p. 67, 1875.
6 Dartt, On the Plains and among the Peaks, p. 221, 1879.
62 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, (No. 33.
seems to have been a bull, killed in 1879 near the Seven Lakes, and
mounted by Mr. C. EK. Aiken, of Colorado Springs, as recorded by
Warren (I. c.). The famous and somewhat mythical ‘Lost Park
Herd” appears on good authority to have lived in the fastness of
its mountain retreat in comparative safety for many years after its
fellows in other sections of the mountains had been exterminated.
The remnant of this herd—two bulls, one cow, and one calf—were all
killed in February, 1897, in Lost Park, near Bison Peak, Park County.!
The last buffaloin Routt County appears to have been one killed by
Ute Indians at Cedar Springs, 6 miles west of Craig, in 1884.
The buffalo of the plains east of the mountains appear to have
made their last stand in Baca County, in the extreme southeast,
where one was killed near Springfield as late as 1889. This is the
same year that the remnant of the Texas herd, driven to the north-
west corner of the Panhandle, was estimated by Dr. W. T. Hornaday
at 25.3 As the Baca County plains are practically a northern con-
tinuation of the Llano Estacado, and but a short distance north of
the Panhandle, it seems altogether likely that the buffalo killed in
Baca County, a cow heavy with calf, had strayed from the Texas
herd, as the animals remaining on the eastern Colorado plains had
been exterminated several years before.
Ovis canadensis Shaw. Mountain Sheep; Bighorn.
A few bands of mountain sheep live on nearly all the high moun-
tain ranges of Colorado. On the main ranges they are usually seen —
at or near timberline and seldom below the Canadian zone. On the
plateaus and in the rough country of western and southwestern
Colorado, however, they occur at much lower elevations.
Mountain sheep show a gratifying increase during the past few
years over the State at large. Although they have been protected
by law in Colorado since 1885, the marked increase at the present
time is the result both of a more efficient game-warden service and
of local protection afforded by an aroused public sentiment. A
danger which threatens mountain sheep in Colorado, as well as in
other Western States, is the introduction of scab from domestic
sheep allowed to graze on the higher mountain slopes. An instance
is given by Warren, as follows:
C. F. Frey tells me they suffer much from scab in the West Elk Mountains, and that
a party told him in 1902, at one place near the head of Sapinero Creek, 75 head were
counted which had died of scab. Domestic sheep have been run in that locality, and
the wild sheep doubtless contracted it from them.*
In the northern ranges mountain sheep were tolerably common in
1905 and 1906. Lumbermen at Fraser, Middle Park, reported two
1 See American Field, p. 273, Mar. 19, 1910.
2 Felger, Univ. of Colo. Studies, VII, No. 2, p. 143, 1910.
3 Extermination of the American Bison, Rept. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1889.
4 Mammals of Colorado, p. 238, 1906. ;
1911.] MAMMALS, 63
bands, each numbering about 20, in the neighboring mountains. One
of these bands is found on the Front Range, west of Berthoud Pass,
and thence north on the Vasquez Mountains to Vasquez Peak; the
other is usually seen near Arapahoe Peak, but ranges along the crest
of the Front Range from James Peak as far north as Longs Peak,
The sheep reported in the vicinity of Silver Plume and Graymont
doubtless belong to one of these bands. Another large band was said
to be found on the Medicine Bow Range between Lulu Pass and
‘Clarks Peak. At Spicer, North Park, I saw the heads and capes of
two fine rams which had been killed near Clarks Peak in the spring
of 1905. These heads measured between the horn tips 15 and 15}
inches, respectively. This band is stated to range near timberline
even in winter. <A few sheep are still found in the mountains near
Estes Park, but they are more common on the western slope of the
range. A band of about 30 was seen by Nelson in the summer of
1883 on the summit of the range west of Estes Park. They were
reported in 1905 as tolerably common on the Park Range between
Buffalo Pass and Mount Zirkel. Other small bands were reported
in the Elk Head Mountains and near Pyramid Peak in the Williams
River Mountains. Mr. John Criss, of Baggs Crossing, Wyoming, states
that one or two sheep have been killed in the rough country north
of Snake River, in the vicinity of Sunny Peak, since 1900. A very
few were also reported on Junction Mountain (between Snake and
Bear Rivers), and on Zenobia Peak and Mount Cullom, near the.
Ladore Canyon of Green River. In 1902 Dall De Weese estimated
their number as probably 700 in the State. A large ram was killed
among the Snake River bluffs north of Lily during the winter of
1905-6.
On October 16, 1906, while far above timberline in the mountains
south of James Peak, and on the edge of a small lake in a deep basin
surrounded by rather precipitous walls, the crashing of a number
of loosened rocks on the slope opposite broke the deepsilence. No
‘sheep were visible on the rocky ledges far above, but upon climbing
the steep slope I discovered the fresh tracks of a large ram and a ewe -
in the snow on the crest of the divide at 13,000 feet.
In 1907 sheep were reported on most of the mountain ranges of
southern Colorado, and seemed to be on the increase. The sharp,
jagged peaks and ridges of the high and narrow Sangre de Cristo
Range afford a fine home for them, and they are said to be found
along its entire length, being in greatest numbers in the Sierra Blanca
group at the southern end. Cowboys riding for the Medano Springs
ranch often meet with sheep among the pinyons along the lower
western slopes of the Sangre de Cristos between Mosca Pass and the |
southwest flank of Sierra Blanca. A very few are reported also on
West Spanish Peak, south of La Veta, and on Pikes Peak. Forest
-
—— ee
64 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33.
Ranger E. E. Chapson, of Pagosa Springs, says that a good many
sheep are killed by snowslides in the San Juan Mountains north of
that point. In one instance he discovered the carcasses of three or
four sheep which apparently had been so closely shut in by a snow-
slide as to be at the mercy of a band of coyotes. The snow crust was
sulliciently strong to bear the light-footed coyotes, but too weak to
support the heavy-bodied sheep, and unmistakable signs in the
snow showed that the sheep had been killed and partly eaten. Mr.
J. P. Galloway, of Norwood, states that sheep are often seen on.
Dolores Mountain, but seldom range west across the valley to Lone
Cone, the westernmost peak of the San Miguel Mountains. Some
years ago a band of about 20 crossed to the Cone, but soon returned
to the more extensive range on Dolores and neighboring mountains.
Mountain sheep are not at all uncommon in the rough Upper
Sonoran country of extreme western Montrose and Mesa Counties.
Most of the region on both sides of the Dolores River below Paradox
Valley is very precipitous and quite inaccessible, affording an excel-
lent sheep range. Most of the sheep in this region live on the east
side of the Dolores, between Sait Canyon and the mouth of West
Creek, chiefly on the very broken southwest face of the Uncompahgre —
Plateau. A very few are reported among the rocky ridges just
below the steep northern rim of West Paradox Valley, and Mr.
William Boren, of Norwood, informed me of a lone ram which has
been seen several times on the rocky points along the east side of the
Dolores Canyon, just south of Paradox Valley. Sheep are said to
be tolerably common in the West Elk Mountains, and occasionally
range down to the cliffs along the Gunnison, southwest of Crawford,
during the winter.
Brewer found sheep common on the mountains surrounding South
Park in 1871, and states that they were particularly abundant above
timberline on the highest peaks.t
[Sciurus niger rufiventer Geoffroy. Western Fox Squurel.
Fox squirrels are not indigenous to Colorado, but have been intro-
duced at Greeley, where they are increasing in a gratifying manner,
and also, according to Young, at Denver.’]
Sciurus aberti ferreus True. Northern Tuft-eared Squirrel.
Sciurus aberti concolor True, Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., XVII, p. 241, 1894. Type
from foothills west of Loveland, Larimer County, Colorado. (Not of Blyth.)
Sciurus aberti ferreus True, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XIII, p. 183, 1900.
This interesting form of Sciurus aberti has a much interrupted range
in the yellow pine belt of the eastern foothills, between 6,000 and
8,000 feet in northern Colorado, and chiefly between 7,000 and 9,500
feet farther south. Judging from the meager data at hand its range
1Am. Nat., V, pp. 220-221, 187L 2 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 406, 1908.
3
1911.] MAMMALS, 65
was formerly continuous or nearly so, but now it is largely restricted
to the higher foothills west of Loveland, eastern Park and southern
Jefferson Counties, the Arkansas Divide between Monument and
EKastonville, and the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Range
between the Medano and Mosca Passes. (See fig. 2.)
Although the species is commonly reported by hunters and ranch-
men in the foothills of southern Larimer County, my experience in
the pine belt west of Arkins (practically the type locality) in July,
1906, leads me to believe that it is now uncommon, if not rare, in
that section. Several days were spent among the heavy forests of
yellow pines between 6,000 and 7,500 feet in a systematic search for
ee
ef
oh
Arie
CUMM/SO,
NS screus ABERTI (011405. Willis, §. A. FERREUS.
Fig. 2.—Distribution in Colorado of tuft-eared squirrels (Sciurus aberti mimus and S. a. ferreus).
these squirrels, but not a single one was seen or heard. One inform-
ant stated that the squirrels come down into the valleys in the autumn
and feed extensively upon the wild plums. In October, 1894, Mr.
C. P. Streator collected two squirrels 12 miles west of Loveland, but
found the animals scarce. He attributed this scarcity to a shortage
in the crop of pine cones, upon which the squirrels are said to feed.
In the fall and winter months of 1894, 1895, and 1896 Mr. R. S.
Weldon collected 12 specimens 3 miles northwest of Arkins and 1 at
Bellevue. Possibly this squirrel lives at a higher elevation in sum-
mer than in winter, but there are no data on this pomt. The type
90432°—11——5
66 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No. 33.
and one topotype in the National Museum were collected west of
Loveland by Mr. W. G. Smith.
In 1905 Mr. Edward Allensby, living in the South Boulder Canyon,
14 miles southwest of Boulder, reported a few of these squirrels in
the pine forests of that vicinity, stating that they were usually observed
during the winter months. Mr. Walter Blanchard, of Boulder, saw
a melanistic specimen which was killed near Sugar Loaf Mountain, 10
miles west of Boulder, about 1903. Mr. T. J. McKenna, of Denver,
states that many years ago, while located at Jamestown, Boulder
County, a few black squirrels were found in that vicinity. In 1894
Streator learned of five squirrels which had been killed in the vicinity
of Gold Hill. :
This squirrel was reported at a number of localities in southern
Colorado in 1907, where it seems to be more common than farther
north. It was said to be not at all uncommon in the pine forests of
eastern Park County between 8,000 and 8,500 feet, especially on
Craigs Creek and along the North Fork of the Platte near Bailey.
Prof. D. E. Lantz found it common among the pines at Cascade in
July, 1910. Mr. J. W. Frey reports a very few in the Arkansas Hills
east of Salida, and Mr. C. E. Aiken, of Colorado Springs, has a summer ~
skin from the Cripple Creek region, which is gray with a trace of red-
dish in the middle of dorsum, thus greatly resembling S. a. mimus
in faded pelage. Scwurus ferreus has been seen on the San Luis
Valley side of the Sangre de Cristo Range, according to cowboys of
the Medano Springs ranch, Mr. William King having seen a few gray
individuals among the pines at the west end of Mosca Pass, and
others reporting it from Medano Pass. The species is quite generally
distributed along the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristos north at
least to Westcliffe, and it is said to occur also in the Wet Mountains.
In the region around Bradford, in the northwestern corner of Huer-
fano County, this squirrel is said to be tolerably common, both on
the slopes east of Medano Pass and in the pine-clad gulches of Prom-
ontory Bluffs, the vertical range here being from 8,000 to 9,500 feet.
The inclement weather prevailing in this region during mid-November
doubtless accounted for the inactivity of squirrels, as none were seen,
but signs of their presence were found in large nests of pine needles
in the upper branches of pines and also in fresh cuttings scattered
here and there over the forest floor.
The species reaches its greatest abundance in the yellow pine
forest on the Arkansas Divide between Eastonville and Monument.
In the forest southwest of Eastonville the squirrels were active during
the bright crisp days of early December. The forest floor for a con-
siderable radius around the nest trees was generously sprinkled with
fresh green cuttings of branch tips, pieces of gnawed bark, and freshly
peeled twigs, while a few of the upper limbs of the trees were gnawed
"
1911.] MAMMALS. 67
and peeled in places, much as if by porcupines. The squirrels them-
selves were very quiet and shy and were seldom observed, and not
a single sound was heard which could be attributed to them. I
hunted carefully for the larger part of a day before catching sight of
one, and then secured two fine brown males, two black males, and
one black female. These specimens are in beautiful long and silky
winter peiage, and the ear tufts are of maximum length. The fur of
melanistic specimens is of fine quality, and were the squirrels numerous
it would undoubtedly be in great demand.
The nests are nearly always constructed of pine needles and lined
with strips of the inner bark of the pine. In the Eastonville region
I found S. ferreus living entirely in open nests, but near Bradford it
is said often to take up its abode in hollow pines and even in hollow
cottonwoods (Populus angustifolia).
This squirrel is one of the most striking examples of extreme mel-
anism among mammals. Of the 24 specimens in the Biological Sur-
vey and National Museum collections, including the type, 19 are
melanistic (either black or dark brown) and 5 are gray. A man who
had hunted in the Estes Park region for a great many years informed
Streator in 1894 that out of nearly 100 of these squirrels which he
had seen or killed only 1 was gray. This ratio is, of course, much
too high, but it is certain that melanistic individuals preponderate in
most sections. Near Eastonville I saw no squirrels in the gray phase,
nor could I learn of any having been seen there. Mr. C. E. Aiken
states, however, that in a batch of nearly 150 skins of S. ferreus
which he purchased many years ago.from the region between Monu-
ment and Eastonville, the black phase was most common and the
brown phase next, while there were a very few gray skins. An odd
skull, which I secured at Bailey, belonged to a black squirrel. On
the slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Range the gray phase seems to be
more common than elsewhere, and no black squirrels were reported
from the Mosca and Medano Passes.
Sciurus aberti mimus Merriam. Tuft-eared Squirrel.
So far as known, this large, handsome squirrel occurs in Colorado
only in the extensive yellow pine forests which clothe the lower
slopes of the San Juan and La Plata Mountains, in Conejos, Archu-
leta, La Plata, Montezuma, and Dolores Counties, in the Transition
zone. (See fic. 2.) The center of abundance appears to be the
Pagosa Springs region, Archuleta County, between 7,000 and 7,500
feet.
Tuft-eared squirrels are commonly reported from the upper valley
of the Los Pifios and along Vallecito Creek, in northeastern La Plata
County, and are found sparingly to the lower edge of the pine belt a
few miles north of Bayfield, but are said never to range down into
the pinyon country. The species has been recorded from Florida,
6S NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
La Plata County, by Allen.|| One was noted at 8,200 feet in the
upper edge of the yellow pine belt on the southwest slope of Pagosa
Peak. Mr. Steve Elkins, of Mancos, states that a few of these
squirrels inhabit the pine forests at the western base of the La Plata
Mountains, and their range extends a short distance out on the
Dolores Plateau, northeast of Dolores. In crossing this plateau
between Dolores and the Lone Mesa late in June, 1907, I saw no signs
of squirrels, but learned from Forest Ranger James Lowell that they
are present in small numbers. The Dolores Plateau appears to mark
the northern limit of the range, as none were found in the yellow pine
forests which clothe much of the San Miguel Plateau, the northern
slopes of the San Miguel Mountains, and the Uncompahgre Plateau.
Vernon Bailey says this squirrel was reported to him as common in
the eastern foothills of the San Juan Mountains, 10 miles west of
Antonito, Conejos County, in August, 1904. This is the only record
of its occurrence in Colorado east of the Continental Divide. On
the east side of the San Luis Valley, and along the eastern slopes of
the front ranges, this form is replaced by S. a. ferreus.
This squirrel is characteristic of the stately yellow pine forests near
Pagosa Springs and in the open vistas can be seen at a considerable
distance. It is often first detected on the ground, moving about
among the pine cones which carpet the forest floor in many places.
When alarmed, it lopes leisurely up to the base of a pine, usually the
nest tree, which it seems reluctant to climb, barking and scolding at
the intruder until approached somewhat closely. When thoroughly
frightened, it betakes itself to.the higher branches, and its claws
make a very audible sound on the dry bark. When seated motion-
less on an exposed limb far up in a big pine, this squirrel presents an
odd appearance, due to its long hairy ear tufts. Once safely within
the confines of the nest tree it will occasionally scamper part way
down the trunk in a daring fashion, chattering excitedly. In
climbing up or down a tree it spreads its feet far apart and by its flat
appearance reminds one strongly of a flying squirrel.
The nest tree—usually a large dead pine with a hollow sufficiently
large for the squirrels’ home—is generally located in the heaviest
forest, and very few of the animals live in small timber or along the
outskirts of the forest. A few nests, composed largely of dry pine
needles, were seen in the upper branches of large pines, but most of
the squirrels appeared to be living in hollow trees. A stomach
examined at Pagosa Springs contained a mass of finely masticated
green material which could not be identified with certainty, but
probably consisted of the inner bark of the terminal branches of the
yellow pine. One squirrel was seen gnawing the bark from a good-sized
limb, apparently feeding. The many freshly cut tips of terminal
1 Bull. Am, Mus. Nat. Hist., V, p. 83, 1893.
1911.] MAMMALS, 69
branches beneath the pines in the neighborhood of the nest trees attest
to the squirrels’ activities.
In the silence of the vast forest reaches, the calls of this squirrel
are at times the only sounds which reach the ear. During rainy or
inclement weather, however, the squirrels are inactive and the calls
rarely heard. The soft bark, sometimes sounding like wuh, wuh,
wuh, and again like chuck, chuck, chuck, is usually repeated three
or four times at short intervals, and each call is accompanied by a
jerk of the tail. These squirrels are occasionally kept in confinement
and are said to make desirable pets.
In a series of four males and two females collected a few miles west
of Pagosa Springs, May 29, 1907, two were only about two-thirds
grown. Fully half the squirrels noted here during the last week in
May were immature, easily distinguishable on a tree by a dark-
colored area in the middle of the dorsum. In adults this area is
generally reddish.
Sciurus fremonti Aud. and Bach. Fremont Squirrel; Chickaree.
Sciurus fremonti Audubon and Bachman, Quad. N. Am., III, p. 237, 1853. Type
from ‘‘ Rocky Mountains’’ (probably from the Park region of central Colo-
rado).!
The Fremont squirrel lives in the coniferous forests throughout
the mountains of Colorado, and ranges from the upper edge of the
yellow pine belt to timberline. (See fig. 3.) It is typical in the
Canadian zone of the main ranges, but on the western plateaus
becomes slightly reddish on the rump and upper surface of the tail,
as shown by a large series of specimens from various localities. This
squirrel is usually common wherever found, and its lively, cheering
chatter is one of the few sounds which break the silence of the high
mountain forests. On the main ranges it occurs chiefly in the forests
of lodgepole pine and Engelmann spruce, but in the southern moun-
tains is perhaps more common in the forests of white fir (Abies
concolor), while on the western plateaus it frequents the more open
erowth of Douglas spruce on the summits and upper northern slopes.
In the Escalante Hills this squirrel is reported to come down among
the yellow pines, at 7,000 feet, during the winter, and in a great many
sections I have found it along the extreme upper edge of the Transi-
tion zone, at 8,500 feet, where pockets of balsam and aspen are scat-
tered among the yellow pines. I shot one individual in the Upper
Sonoran zone, at 6,000 feet, on Tabeguache Creek, 8 miles north of
a
Nucla, Montrose County. It was in almost the last yellow pine found
1So considered by Dr. J. A. Allen, who treats the matter in detail in Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., X, pp.
289-290, 1898. Dr. Allen’s conclusion that the type specimen of fremonti (in the collection of the Phila-
deiphia Academy of Natural Sciences) was not collected near South Pass, Wyo., as had been previously
supposed, is confirmed by specimens in the Biological Survey collection. Large series of squirrels from
the Wind River Mountains, near South Pass, and also from the Green, Ferris, and Laramie Mountains to
the east and south, are quite distinct from fremonti, being referable to the northern S. hudsonicus group.
ar ee ae ar
70 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 83.
along the creek, at a point where the canyon sides were clothed with
junipers and pinyons, but really within a short distance of the
Canadian zone forests.
Like the common northern red squirrel, which it greatly resembles
in all respects except color, S. fremonti feeds chiefly upon pine and
spruce cones, which are hoarded in large caches at the bases of trees,
beneath logs, and among rocks. I have never found it living in a
hollow tree, although it may do so occasionally. The nests of pine
or spruce needles and fine strips of bark are usually constructed in
the fork of a branch well out from the main trunk, at from 20 to 40
feet above the ground, and in the densest forest. I have found the
nests occupied by the squirrels in both summer and winter. This
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Fic. 3.—Distribution in Colorado of Fremont squirrel (Sciurus fremonti).
squirrel is not at all shy, and may be coaxed to within a few feet by
making a nondescript “‘screeping’”’ noise. One seen by Mr. Morris M.
Green, near Almont, in August, 1909, was laboriously ascending a
tree, carrying a large cantaloupe rind, which had been left by a
camper. In some localities it is called the little gray squirrel, which
is, of course, a misnomer, as it is subgenerically different from the
gray squirrels and its color is olive brown.
(?) Sciurus fremonti neomexicanus Allen. New Mexico Chickaree.
It is not certain that neomezxicanus occurs within the State, but
it has been taken at Costilla Pass and Bear Canyon, New Mexico,
both localities within a few miles of the Colorado boundary. A. H.
.™
a
1911.] MAMMALS. Tt
Howell thinks that a squirrel which he saw among the pinyons near
Trinidad in September, 1903, was this reddish form of S. fremonti;
while others seen by Mr. J. H. Gaut on the Conejos River, 12 miles
west of Antonito, may have been neomexicanus. Unfortunately,
there are no specimens from along the southern edge of the State,
and the identity of the squirrels found in the southern San Juan and
Culebra Mountains can be decided only by future investigations.
Eutamias quadrivittatus (Say). Say Chipmunk.
Sciurus quadrivittatus Say, in Long’s Exped. Rocky Mts., II, p. 45, 1823. Type
from Arkansas River, about 26 miles below Canon City, Colorado.
This large chipmunk, the four-lined squirrel of Say, was described
from a specimen taken by Maj. Long’s party at a point on the Arkan-
sas River about 30 miles below the place where the river leaves the
mountains, July 17 or 18, 1820. This point, as Dr. Merriam has
already shown,’ was probably about 26 miles below Canon City.
The species has its center of abundance in the yellow pine belt of the
Transition zone in the eastern foothill region, where it ranges nearly
across the State from north to south. In Larimer County its known
range is restricted to the lower eastern slopes of the Medicine Bow
Mountains south of Arkins. Farther south, /. quadrivittatus has a
wide distribution within its zonal limits, and is occasionally taken
in the Canadian and Upper Sonoran zones. In the southern tier of
counties it extends east to the western edge of Baca County? and
west to La Plata County. The western limits may be roughly indi-
cated by Florida and Bayfield, La Plata County; Silverton; Sapinero;
St. Elmo, Saguache Mountains; near McCoy, Eagle County; Grand
Lake; and Medicine Bow Range. (See fig. 4.) <A large series of
specimens from Canon City (near the type locality) and from a great
many localities over the range of this species are in the Biological
Survey collection.
West of the Front and Saguache Ranges I have taken this species
at only one locality, Sapinero, in the valley of the Gunnison, at 7,300
feet, but it has been collected at Sulphur Springs, Grand Lake, near
Sheephorn Pass, and near McCoy, as recorded by Warren.? In
extreme southern Colorado guadrivitiatus is found in the foothills bor-
dering the San Luis Valley and is common west of the Continental
Divide, being especially numerous in the yellow pine forests of
Archuleta and La Plata Counties, on the southern slope of the San
Juans. In this region it is not uncommon in the pinyon belt, as at
Arboles and south of Bayfield, and was not seen above 7,500 or 8,000
feet north of Pagosa Springs or in the Vallecito region. This
1 Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XVIII, p. 163, 1905.
* The Baca County chipmunks have been recently separated as a pale race by E. R. Warren (Proc. Biol.
Soe. Wash., X XII, p. 105, 1909).
3 Further Notes on the Mammals of Colorado, Colo. College Pub., gen. ser. no. 33, p. 68, 1908.
eel tas
72 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 83,
chipmunk has, however, been taken at Silverton (9,000 feet). West
of the La Plata Mountains, and apparently west of their southern
extension, it is replaced by the Hopi chipmunk (E. hopiensis). The
limits of these two species along the San Juan River have not been
ascertained, but it is quite possible the ranges meet, as at McCoy,
on the upper Grand River. :
At Sapimero, in mid-October, 1907, 2. m. consobrinus was the only
chipmunk seen alive, but October 15 three specimens of quadriviitatus
got into my mousetraps along the rocky ledges of a gulch extending
from the Gunnison River up through the sagebrush slopes southwest
of the town. The species doubtless reaches the Gunnison region
South
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Fig, 4.—Distribution in Colorado of Hopi, Say, and Las Animas chipmunks ( Eutamias hopicnsis, E. quad-
rivittatus, and E. 4. animosus).
from San Luis Valley by way of Cochetopa Pass, rather than across
the high Saguache Range, since at St. Elmo, on the east side of this
range, it was not observed in the Hudsonian and Arctic-Alpine zones,
although tolerably common in the Chalk Creek Valley, at 10,000 feet.
In the Upper Arkansas Valley it is abundant to a short distance
above Buena Vista. At Como, in South Park, several were seen on
the timbered ridges at 10,000 feet, one being noted in the upper
branches of a foxtail pine (Pinus aristata).
E. quadrivittatus is the largest and best known of the Colorado —
chipmunks, and is the one commonly seen along the eastern base of
the foothills. At several localities, notably at Colorado.Springs and —
1911.] MAMMALS. 73
Boulder, the ranges of this, species and the smaller operarius of the
boreal zones overlap for a vertical distance of nearly 3,000 feet. The
two chipmunks are easily confused in life, as the coloration is very
similar, but quadrivittatus is considerably larger and slightly brighter
in color. Like most chipmunks, this species is out in greatest abun-
dance during the early morning hours or late in the afternoon, and may
be seen frisking about the rocks and stumps of trees on the sides of
canyons or along fences or busily feeding in the thickets of wild cherry
and June berry so abundant in the canyon bottoms. It is usually
shy, and when surprised hastily takes refuge among the rocks, utter-
ing high-pitched, chippering notes. The ordinary note, however, is
a soft chuck, chuck, usually uttered when the animal is at a distance
from the observer and either sitting on the summit of a large rock
far up the canyon side or on a tree stump in the silence of the yellow
pine forest.
The food consists chiefly of seeds of various weeds and grasses and
of Cercocarpus parvifolius, the fruit of the prickly pear (Opuntia),
and also juniper berries, currants, wild cherries, and June berries.
In autumn this chipmunk gathers a winter’s supply of food, hoards
it in crevices and under rocks, and goes into at least partial hiberna-
tion over most of its range, according to the length and severity of
the winter. It is often out in mild winter weather.
Eutamias quadrivittatus animosus Warren. Las Animas Chipmunk.
Eutamias quadrivittatus animosus Warren, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XXII, pp.
105-106, June 25, 1909. Type from Irwin’s ranch, Las Animas County,
Colorado.
The range of this large pale race of HL. quadrwittatus is imperfectly
known. Warren based his description upon three specimens, all
taken by himself in the rough Upper Sonoran juniper country of
northwestern Baca and northeastern Las Animas Counties, at eleva-
tions of about 5,000 feet. The first specimen he secured in the
spring of 1905, at Gaume’s ranch, Shell Rock Canyon, in the north-
west corner of Baca County. No more specimens were known until
April, 1909, when Warren made another trip to the region and col-
lected two more at Irwin’s ranch, in Las Animas County, some 12
miles west of Gaume’s ranch. (See fig. 4.)
In late November, 1907, I made a trip to Gaume’s ranch, but failed
to see any chipmunks, as they were already in hibernation. They
were reported to be common, however, in the juniper country of that
section. Although the two localities at which specimens have been
taken are close together, it seems probable that this pale chipmunk
will be found to occupy most, if not all, of the rough juniper and
pinyon country of Las Animas and western Baca Counties, locally
known as The Cedars. It is reasonably certain that animosus is
confined to the Upper Sonoran area east of the foothills. Chipmunks
%
74 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, (No. 88.
which T saw at Walsenburg were fully as dark as typical quadrivittatus,
while Trinidad specimens more nearly agree with those from Archu-
leta and La Plata Counties in being more brightly colored than
typical specimens and having the white dorsal stripes wider and purer
white.
Eutamias hopiensis Merriam. Hopi Chipmunk.
This handsome species is represented from Colorado by a series of
specimens from White River, near Angora; Rangely, 20 miles south-
west; Evacuation Creek, north base of Book Plateau; Rifle; Dotsero,
Grand River Canyon; McCoy; Somerset; Coventry ; Uranium, Sinbad
Valley; and Spruce Tree Cliff Ruins, Mesa Verde.
I first met with the Hopi chipmunk among the rocky bluffs at the
ford of White River, near Angora, September 12, 1906. At this point
fully a dozen were actively engaged in carrying oats from a stack
along the river and storing them in caches among the rocky ledges
near by. Numbers were seen among the White River bluffs as far
west as Rangely, and thence the range is continuous across the rough
juniper country to Dragon Junction, Utah, and southeast in the
valley of Evacuation Creek to the north base of the Book Plateau,
at 7,000 feet. This chipmunk doubtless occurs in all of the country
between the Book Plateau and White River and west of Cathedral
Bluffs. On the Book Plateau it was again found on the southern
slope near Atchee, at 7,000 feet, which is very near the upper limit
of junipers and pinyons. Thence it ranges south to Grand River and
northeast in the Grand Valley uninterruptedly to the western end
of Gore Canyon. It appears not to extend through this rugged gorge,
however, as it was not found at Kremmling, Middle Park. It is
very abundant in the lower valley of Plateau Creek, and occurs
sparingly on the warm juniper slopes north of the Eagle River Valley
nearly to Wolcott, where the Transition zone country proves an
effective barrier to its eastward extension.
South of Grand River the Hopi chipmunk reaches its eastern limit
at the following localities: Basalt, at the junction of the Frying Pan
and Roaring Fork Rivers; Somerset, on the North Fork of the Gunni-
son; Crawford, on the Smith Fork of the Gunnison; pinyon slopes
north of Dallas Creek, 5 miles west of Ridgway; Placerville,’ on the
San Miguel River; Cortez, in the Montezuma Valley; and the Spruce
Tree Cliff Ruins, at the head of Navajo Canyon, which breaks to the ,
south from the Mesa Verde into the canyon of Mancos River, a tribu-
tary of the San Juan. It was not found in the Durango region or at
Arboles, and apparently does not follow the San Juan Valley east
of the low divide extending south from the La Plata Mountains.
In the warm’ valleys and canyons of western Mesa, Montrose, and
1 Warren, Further Notes on the Mammals of Colorado, p. 68, 1908.
ee eo
1911.1 MAMMALS, 15
San Miguel Counties hopiensis is abundant up to 7,000 feet, and was
noted at the following localities: Coventry; Naturita Valley, 3 miles
east of Naturita; Tabeguache Canyon, north of Nucla; west rim of
West Paradox Valley up to the lower edge of the yellow pines, at 7,000
feet; Sinbad Valley and surrounding rim; Salt Canyon; Dolores
Canyon to mouth of West Creek; and 4 miles up the valley of West
Creek. It apparently does not extend through the northern end of
the Uncompahgre Plateau in the Unaweep Canyon; and since at all
other points the Canadian zone cap of this plateau is an effectual
barrier, it must reach the Uncompahgre Valley, on the east side of
the plateau, from the north, through the Grand and Gunnison
Valleys.
The Hopi chipmunk is common in western and southern Montezuma
County, where I have seen it in the McElmo Canyon at Ashbaugh’s
ranch and Moqui, and in the southern borders of the Mesa Verde.
At the head of Navajo Canyon these chipmunks were abundant
the middle of June. They frequented the cliffs along the warm
side of the canyon during the early morning hours, and were usually
seen running along the rocky ledges in the bright sunlight in family
groups of four or five, the young being from half to two-thirds grown.
About 9 o’clock the chipmunks usually disappeared and were not again
seen until the following morning. A nursing female in worn pelage
and a male in bright fresh summer coat were collected at this point.
Eutamias hopiensis was described from Keam Canyon, Painted Des-
ert, Arizona, and is known also from Bluff City, Utah, and a num-
ber of localities in the San Juan Valley of northwestern New Mexico.
Its range has not been worked out in detail, but is known to be in the
desert canyons and pinyon and juniper country bordering the Colorado
River and its tributaries from northern Arizona and northwestern
New Mexico north to northwestern Colorado, mainly in the Upper
Sonoran zone. It occurs in Colorado at few points above 7,000 feet.
As far as known the ranges of . hopiensis and quadrivittatus meet
at only one point in Colorado (see fig. 4). E. R. Warren collected
both species in May, 1907, at Yarmany Creek, near McCoy, Eagle
County, at an elevation of 6,900 feet,t and the specimens, which I
have examined, show no evidence of intergradation. The two species
occur in close proximity elsewhere. I have taken F. quadrivittatus
at Sapinero and have seen hopiensis at Crawford.
In size and general appearance the Hopi chipmunk resembles £.
quadrivittatus of the eastern foothills, but its movements are more
deliberate and its colors much brighter and richer. The long tail
is carried more nearly horizontally, even when the animal is running.
This striking habit, together with the graceful downward curve of
the tail near the tip, serves to distinguish it, even at a distance, from
1 Further Notes on the Mammals of Colorado, p. 68, 1908.
76 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 88.
the small £. consobrinus, with which it commingles in the higher parts
of its range. In the juniper country south of White River its habit
of leaping up a tree when alarmed and hiding on the opposite side
of a branch may cause it to be confused with the gray utahensis,
which is found in similar country in the Escalante Hills. The Hopi
chipmunks appear equally at home among the hot rocks in the pre-
cipitous canyons and in the dense juniper and pinyon growth which
clothes the bordering mesas. They feed extensively upon the berries
of Juniperus monosperma throughout their range.
Eutamias amcenus operarius Merriam. Colorado Chipmunk.
Eutamias amenus operarius Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XVIII, p. 164,
June 29, 1905. Type from Gold Hill, Boulder County, Colorado.
This chipmunk was formerly confounded with quadrivittatus, with
which it occurs at many points in the eastern foothills of Colorado;
but while the two are nearly alike in coloration, operarius is decidedly
smaller, and its short, round skull and short nasals indicate affinities
with a different group. The rump is usually ashy gray, while that of
qguadrivittatus is olivaceous. From consobrinus of the western moun-
tains operarius may be distinguished by its more robust skull, although
in summer pelage the two are sometimes almost indistinguishable
externally. It is the highest ranging chipmunk in the State, occurring
regularly far above timberline along the crest of the front ranges.
It is found also as low as 6,500 feet at several localities in the eastern
foothills, and E. R. Warren has recently shown me specimens taken
by Robert B. Rockwell along the South Platte, 3 miles south of Little-
ton, at about 5,300 feet.
Although most abundant on the higher slopes of the front ranges,
operarius.is common in the mountains bordering the San Luis Valley
and extends westward in the San Juan Mountains to Silverton and
Lake City, where fairly typical specimens have been taken. <A June
specimen from the southeast base of Lone Mesa, west of the La Plata
Mountains, seems referable to operarwus, although the only other
chipmunk taken at that locality is nearer consobrinus. A very
brightly colored July specimen taken in the yellow pine country
at the head of Dominguez Creek, on the Uncompahgre Plateau, is
intermediate, resembling consobrinus externally. EH. operarvus was
abundant in the high La Sal Mountains, Utah, west of the Paradox
Valley, in July, 1907, at 11,000 feet, and was seen considerably above
timberline. The chipmunks of the La Sal Mountains are entirely
isolated from those of the Colorado mountains by a broad belt of
Upper Sonoran desert country occupied, so far as known, by only
EL. homensis.
The extent of country over which the ranges of operarius and
consobrinus overlap has not been worked out with precision. Both
1911.] MAMMALS. 1c
forms have been taken at Canadian Creek, at the west base of the
Medicine Bow Range in North Park; at Coulter, Middle Park; and at
Lone Mesa (9,000 feet), west of the La Plata Mountains. Chip-
munks from Sapinero are typical consobrinus, while others from Lake
City, 35 miles south, are operarwus. Specimens collected above
timberline on the Saguache Mountains at St. Elmo are, strangely
enough, consobrinus, indicating that operarius is not found on the
_ west side of the Arkansas Valley. Chipmunks taken by Warren on
the head of Eagle River (near Tennessee Pass) are intermediate but
nearest operarvus.
Average measurements of five skulls of adult male topotypes of
E. operarvus are as follows: Occipito-nasal length, 32; basilar length,
24.6; zygomatic breadth, 18. Average of four skulls of adult male
consobrinus from Canadian Creek, North Park: Occipito-nasal length,
31; basilar length, 23.5; zygomatic breadth, 17.2.
There are specimens of operarius in the Biological Survey collection
from the following localities: Gold Hill, type locality; Estes Park;
Longs Peak; Boulder, 5 miles west; Nederland; Golden; Idaho
Springs; Cascade; Mount Kelso; Elkhorn; Livermore; Berthoud Pass;
Canadian Creek; Coulter; Como; Lone Mesa; La Sal Mountains, Utah;
Silverton; Lake City; Hermit; Cumbres; Antonito; and Fort Garland.
Warren has specimens from Colorado Springs; Florissant; Tarryall
Creek; Salida; Boreas Pass, 11,470 feet; Breckenridge; Poncha Pass;
Herard; Querida; Crestone; and Tercio, Las Animas County.
Eutamias minimus (Bachman). Least Chipmunk.
Chipmunks from the Snake River Valley and the adjacent sage
plains and from the Browns Park region along Green River agree
well with typical /. minimus from Green River, Wyoming. In the
region between Bear River and the Danforth Hills, minimus grades
into the dark form consobrinus of the high mountainous country on
the south and east. Four August and September specimens from
Snake River (20 miles west of Baggs Crossing), Sunny Peak, and
Ladore are typical minimus. Others from Lay, Axial Basin, and
Lily show an approach. to consobrinus.
The least chipmunk is one of the most characteristic mammals of
the sage plains and appears not to range at any point much above
6,000 feet. During the latter part of August, 1906, numbers were
observed in the Snake River Valley near Sunny Peak, Routt County.
Some were in dry arroyos or on the level sage plain, but the majority
were busily engaged in gathering a winter’s supply of buffalo berries
(Lepargyrea argentea), which were fully ripe in the dense thickets
along the river. Near Ladore, in the Green River Valley, this chip-
munk was often seen in the tops of Sarcobatus bushes. On the north
slopes of the Escalante Hills it ranges up to the edge of the junipers
and pinyons inhabited by the large gray Hutamias utahensis, but
é
—_
ee ee
"2 ae we
ee Oa aaa FI SS
a ee
78 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No. 88.
apparently does not enter the timber growth. This chipmunk may
often be seen in the top of a sagebush, but unlike EF. consobrinus is
very wild and difficult to capture. When running, it holds its tail
at right angles to the back. The tail then appears very long, but
this may be partly due to the small size of the body.
Eutamias minimus caryi Merriam. San Luis Chipmunk.
Eutamias minimus caryi Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., X XI, p. 143, June 9,
1908. Type from Medano ranch, San Luis Valley, Colorado.
So far as known, this handsome ashy gray chipmunk is restricted
to the eastern and northern central parts of San Luis Valley, where
it inhabits the open Sarcobatus and Chrysothamnus plains. The
original series of specimens from the Medano Springs ranch, east of
the San Luis Lakes, consists of 8 males and 5 females collected Octo-
ber 24-29, 1907. In the summer of 1909 Warren found it at Moffat,
Hooper, Mosca, and Crestone, thus considerably extending the
known range. Chipmunks reported from the greasewood plains be-
tween Moffat and Saguache are doubtless the same form, and sug-
gest a very general dispersion over the central part of the valley.
At the time of my stage trip between these two points, November 6,
1907, the chipmunks had apparently retired to winter quarters.
I heard of none at Alamosa or at any point in the open valley south of
Mosca.
This chipmunk strongly resembles /. minimus of the Routt County
sage plains, its nearest relative, as regards both wariness and appear-
ance. When the animal is running, the tail is carried at a right angle
to the back, and appears much longer in proportion to the body than
measurements show it to be. At the Medano ranch these chipmunks
were usually seen among the low sandy hummocks and ridges bor-
dering the meadows, where the chico brush or chaparral of Sarcobatus
vermiculaius, Chrysothamnus paiens, and Atriplex occidentalis reaches
its maximum growth, often from 6 to 8 feet in height, and affords
suitable homes and retreats among the gnarled and many branched
roots and basal stems which the drifting sands have left partially ex-
posed. Most of my specimens were shot, but a few were caught in|
mousetraps. The chipmunks were out chiefly during the forenoon,
and any time after sunrise on bright mornings could be seen in the
tops of the chico brush busily storing the seeds in their cheek pouches,
afterwards descending and caching them in the burrows, which were
usually in the sand at the bases of the shrubs. One usually noted
my approach at a distance of fully 50 yards, and, after hastily climb-
ing to the top of a tall bush for a good look, would descend to the
ground, sometimes silently, and again uttering excited, high-pitched
notes. When the little fellow next appeared above the level of the
chico it was generally in a tall bush fully 30 yards farther on. This
maneuvering would be kept up for some time until a very large bush
a
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1911.1 MAMMALS. 79
would conveniently intervene and afford sufficient cover to approach
within range. The chipmunks were silent for the most part, and the
alarm notes were heard only a few times. The notes are not loud,
but are very high pitched, and quite unlike those of quadrimttatus
and operarws of the foothills and mountains on both sides of the
valley. The size, coloration, and habits’ readily distinguish this
chipmunk from either of the above forms. Cowboys at the Me-
dano ranch state that, in addition to the chico seeds, these chipmunks
are very fond of the large roundish seeds of a honey plant (Peritoma
sonore), locally known as skunk weed, which grows rankly on the
dry sandy ridges extending through the meadows.
Eutamias caryi is characterized as follows (from original descrip-
fon, |.:c.):
“ Characters.
| Similar to minimus but paler and grayer. In fall
| pelage (late October) pale gray, most marked on neck and rump,
| and almost as clear on inner pair of light stripes; outer pair of white
| stripes purer white than in minimus; pale face stripes whitish, in
striking contrast with the alternating dark stripes.
‘“ Measurements.—Type: Total length, 194; tail vertebra, 87; hind
foot, 30. Average of 10 specimens from type locality: Total length,
194; tail vertebre, 89; hind foot, 30.2.” |
Eutamias minimus consobrinus (Allen). Wasatch Chipmunk.
This is the small, brightly colored chipmunk so abundant in the
Canadian and Transition zones on the mountains and plateaus west
of the Front and Medicine Bow Ranges and north of Grand River.
It is present also on some of the plateaus and mesas of the south-
western counties, where it frequents the oak chaparral, ranging at
least as far south as the Mesa Verde and Ute Peak. In eastern
| Middle and North Parks and on the western slope of the La Plata
Mountains its range meets and slightly overlaps that of operarius
/ and, as noted under operarwus, both forms have been taken together
at several localities. On some of the western plateaus consobrinus
ranges a short distance into the pinyon belt of the Upper Sonoran
zone, where over small areas in the Grand, White, and North
Gunnison Valleys, and in the San Miguel region, it commingles with
the large Hopi chipmunk (£. hopiensis). Toward the north, on the
sage plains of Routt County, it grades into minimus. Its center of
abundance is in the heavy forests of the Canadian zone, but it is
common on the high sage plains of North Park, and even ranges into
the greasewood in some of the warm Upper Sonoran valleys in the
extreme western part of the State. It is especially numerous in the
Gunnison region, on the White River Plateau, and in the mountains
bordering North and Middle Parks, except on the east side.
FE. consobrinus generally remains below the Hudsonian zone and,
broadly speaking, it is not such a high ranging form as operarius,
eS
3S UE oon Spr east Fae ree SE A I a IE OA IE
80 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
Near St. Elmo, in the Saguache Mountains, however, it was tolerably |
common at timberline October 9, 1907, while down in the Chalk |
Creek Valley at St. Elmo (10,000 feet) none were noted. Most of |
the chipmunks seen were running actively over the snow banks in —
the ragged growth of foxtail pines (Pinus aristata) just below tim-
berline. Seen at a distance on the bright snow banks, with their
tails held erect, these chipmunks are striking little objects. Three
specimens were shot at an altitude of 12,000 feet.
The sharp notes of this chipmunk are characteristic sounds in the
depths of the aspen and spruce forests. Deserted cabins are espe-
cially frequented by them, and near a camp the chipmunks soon
become tame and unsuspecting. In the latter part of September,
1906, from 20 to 30 could often be counted within sight of our camp
at Baxter Pass, at 8,000 feet, on the Book Plateau, where they were
busily gathering acorns. They were rarely observed during the
middle of the day, being out chiefly in the early morning hours.
In the high country the food consists largely of wild cherries, June
berries, and snowberries (Symphoricarpos oreophilus). In the White
River Valley in September they were feeding extensively upon buffalo
berries (Lepargyrea argentea).
A large series of specimens from the following localities indicates
the range of consobrinus in Colorado: Coulter; Sulphur Springs;
Kremmling; Mount Whiteley; Arapahoe Pass; Canadian Creek;
Pearl; Elk Head Mountains; Meeker; White River Plateau; Rangely;
Evacuation Creek; Baxter Pass, Book Plateau; Gypsum; Sapinero;
Somerset; Mesa Verde; and Lone Mesa.
Allen has recorded (as Tamas quadrivittatus) a series of 16 chip-
munks collected by W. W. Granger at Three Forks (forks of Snake
River, near Honnold) in 1895.1. Specimens in the Biological Survey
collection from 5 miles south of Honnold are consobrinus, and that —
Mr. Granger’s series is referable to the same form is indicated by the
small hind foot measurements given—29.5 to 30.7.
Eutamias dorsalis utahensis Merriam. Utah Chipmunk.
Fifteen specimens of this handsome gray chipmunk were collected
in the dense juniper and pinyon growth on the northern slopes of
the Escalante Hills, at Douglas Spring, early in September, 1906, but —
it was not taken elsewhere in western Colorado, although much of ©
the region seems favorable for it. These chipmunks were abundant
in the heavy growth of junipers and pinyons between 6,000 and
6,500 feet, and were found also in rocky ledges among the scattered
yellow pines on the summits at 7,000 feet. Warren collected this
species on Cross Mountain, east of Snake River, a few miles northeast —
of Lily, in 1907. This locality is some 20 miles east of Douglas Spring.
1 Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., VIII, p. 256, 1896.
1911.1 MAM MATS, S]
‘ It is reported also from the eastern end of Yampa Canyon, a few
miles west of Lily.
Hutamias utahensis was described from Ogden, Utah, and has not
been previously taken. much east of Provo in that State. It is an
Upper Sonoran form and probably ranges eastward along the southern
foothills of the Uinta Mountains, entering Colorado in the region of
the Yampa Plateau, south of Bear River. Future work in northeast-
ern Utah will determine whether there is continuity of range or the
Colorado colony is entirely isolated.
These chipmunks at Douglas Spring were remarkably wild, and
it required much perseverance to secure my series of specimens, all
of which were shot. The favorite feeding time was in the early
morning and again just before sunset, when they were usually in the
tops of junipers busily feasting upon the berries. I seldom man-
aged to approach nearer than 30 yards without alarming them.
‘When frightened they uttered a series of high-pitched notes, and
alter a hasty descent to the ground fled precipitately, rarely stopping
within sight. The bushy tail is very prominent and gives the animal
the appearance of a small squirrel, and this resemblance is heightened
by the ease and rapidity with which it climbs trees and keeps on the
opposite side from the observer. The seeds of the juniper berry
appear to be the chief food, and they filled the cheek pouches of the
specimens collected. Several caches of these berries were found in
the hollow branches of junipers in which the chipmunks appeared
to be living.
Callospermophilus lateralis (Say). Say Ground Squirrel.
S[ciurus| lateralis Say, in Long’s Exped. Rocky Mts., II, p. 46, 1823. Type from
Arkansas River (a few miles below present site of Canon City), Colorado.
The Say ground squirrel is a common and characteristic mammal
_ throughout the mountains of Colorado in the Transition and Cana-
} dian zones. It is found from the eastern bases of the foothills to
| timberline and west of the main ranges occurs on all the timbered
hills and plateaus to the Utah boundary. The Biological Survey
| collection is rich im specimens of this species from a great many
| localities over its range. (. lateralis is replaced in the rocky canyons
and juniper country along Bear and Snake Rivers by a pale form,
| C. Ll. wortmani. Specimens from the- Transition zone summits of
_ the Escalante Hills, in extreme western Routt County, are nearest
| lateralis. Others from the White River Valley near Rangely are
noticeably paler than typical specimens from the eastern foothills
and approach wortmani. (See fig. 5.)
In the foothills near Boulder C. lateralis is most abundant in the
| yellow pine belt between 5,500 and 8,500 feet, but in crossing the
| Mountains from Fort Collins to North Park it was first noted in the
fae 90432°— 11-6
q
|
82 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No, 38,
lower edge of the lodgepole pine belt a few miles northeast of Bald
Mountain at 8,500 feet. From this point it was common across the
Laramie Divide, Laramie Valley, and Medicine Bow Range to the
edge of the sage plains of North Park. At Arapahoe Pass (Rabbit
Ear Mountains), and on the White River Plateau, southeast of
Meeker, lateralis was common in the aspen and lodgepole pine forests
at 9,000 feet, and was especially numerous about clearings and
among the charred stumps and logs in fire-swept tracts. Farther
west, on the Book Plateau, it was common on the open rocky south
slope as far down as Carbonera, at the edge of the Grand Valley, and
LW Y COLORADO SPRINGS
WS 642.405 PERMOPHILUS Lb. WORTMAM. Yi C. LATERALIS:
Fic. 5.—Distribution in Colorado of golden-mantled ground squirrels (genus Callospermophilus).
was also observed in the valley of Evacuation Creek at the north base —
of the plateau. 7
In the southern part of the State the Say ground squirrel is most ~
abundant in the Transition zone—in the extensive yellow pine for-_
ests at the southern base of the San Juan Mountains from Pagosa —
Springs west to Vallecito; on the Dolores and Uncompahgre Pla-
teaus; and at the north base of the San Miguel Mountains, south of —
Norwood. It has a wide zonal range, however, from the lower edge ~
of the pines to timberline, and at Mancos, at least, is abundant in the —
upper edge of the pinyon country. One was noted on a pinyon-clad” |
slope a few miles west of Ridgway, Ouray County. » }
1911.) MAMMALS, 83
This ground squirrel usually lives in rocky ledges and among piles
of bowlders, but in the heavy forests often digs its own burrow or
takes up its abode in a hollow log or deserted cabin. In the sandy
yellow pine country at the head of Dominguez Creek on the Uncom-
pahgre Plateau it appeared to be living entirely in burrows, and in
some places in the higher parts of its range it uses so constantly the
tunnels of the mountain pocket gopher (Thomomys fossor) that it is
continually getting into traps set for gophers. Near Cochetopa Pass
Loring once found one living in a burrow which it had excavated in
the earth roof of a cabin. It is fond of sunning itself in exposed
situations during the warmer part of the day, and may often be seen
sitting upright and motionless on a point of rocks, tree stump, or
ridge pole of a cabin. The animals are rarely observed on cloudy
days, and they do not come out so early in the morning as the chip-
munks do, but await the warming rays of the sun. Several families
of this species were living in the slide rock near the Stevens Mill,
at timberline on Mount McClellan, in June, 1905. Each morning
during my stay, at about 9 o’clock, they were busily feeding, in com-
pany with chipmunks and white-throated sparrows, on the oats left
in the trail in front of the mill by the ore teams. At Estes Park, in
August, 1894, Dr. A. K. Fisher found this species feeding extensively
upon currants (bes cereum). In southern Colorado acorns form a
part of its food. Warren states that near Querida it has been seen
to kill a young bluebird in a nest in the bank of a gulch, apparently
with the intention of eating it. |
Near Georgetown, June 25, 1905, I saw a female and two young
about a third grown romping among some loose rocks on the bank of
Clear Creek. When the old squirrel first saw me she ran to the
little ones and pushed them back into a hole among the rocks with
her forefeet. As soon as she had left them the youngsters came out
and began playing again. The mother returned and again pushed
them into their safe retreat, appearing much excited at my presence.
This was continued for a number of times, until I tired of watching
| the performance. Near Vallecito, June 5, 1907, the young were half
or two-thirds grown, and two weeks later a great many young of
about the same age were seen north of Dolores.
These ground squirrels go into winter quarters during October—at
‘the higher elevations early in the month. At McCoy, on Grand
River, I noted only one, October 9, 1906, and on my return through
Middle Park and over Berthoud Pass, from October 12 to 18, saw
none. In 1907 the latest records were: One at St. Elmo (10,500),
October 10; one at Sapinero (7,300 feet), October 16; and one east
of Lake San Cristobal, San Juan Mountains (9,500 feet), October 18.
1 Warren writes me that he shot one at Colorado Springs Noy. 11, 1909, which is an unusually late
tecord,
=
RO, WEES ET eT ET
r
a
S4 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33,
be
Streator found the species had hibernated at Gold Thill, October 27,
1894; while Warren states that it had disappeared for the winter at
Crested Butte before October 8, 1905.'. They are said to come out
in spring before the snow is gone. On this point Warren observes:
‘While it disappears, in the Elk Mountains at least, with the first
snowstorms in early October, it comes out in the spring before the
snow is gone. I have known it to tunnel through 3 feet of snow to
get to the surface. A specimen taken early in April under such
circumstances was very fat.’’ ?
Callospermophilus lateralis wortmani (Allen). Wortman Ground
Squirrel.
This pale form, described from Kinney ranch, Sweetwater County,
Wyoming, inhabits the rough bad-land region which borders the lower
Snake and Bear Rivers in western Routt County, and, so far as known,
is restricted to this low arid Upper Sonoran country and the adjoin-
ing desert areas of Wyoming. (See fig. 5.) Specimens from the
plateaus and mountains to the east, south, and west, in the Transi-
tion zone, are referable to C. lateralis; but, as noted under that |
species, specimens from near Rangely, in the Upper Sonoran area
of the White River Valley, although referred to C. lateralis, are paler
and approach the present form.
A specimen of C. wortmani from the northern edge of Routt
County, 20 miles southwest of Baggs Crossing, Wyoming, August 26,
1906, was taken in a trap set for wood rats among the scattering
junipers which clothed the steep southern face of a rocky bluff on
the north side of Snake River. This was the only one seen on my
journey down the Snake River Valley in 1906, and the animals ap-
peared to be rare. Another very pale individual, which appeared —
to be this form, was seen a few days later, however, among the bluffs _
on the north side of Bear River, near the mouth of Sand Creek, a
few miles below Maybeil. Near Lily, at the confluence of the Snake
and Bear Rivers, this squirrel was said to be abundant. Several
specimens from the Snake River bluffs, 7 miles north of Lily, collected
by Warren in the summer of 1907 and sent to the Biological Surve y
for identification, are clearly referable to wortmani. Warren says —
the animals were tolerably common at this point, but I saw none
while encamped at the same piace the previous year. ;
Ammospermophilus leucurus cinnamomeus (Merriam). Antelope —
Squirrel.
The antelope squirrel is found in the warm desert areas of weste a |
and southwestern Colorado below 6,000 feet, chiefly in the valle ie |
of the streams tributary to the Colorado and Green Rivers. There -
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 241, 1906, 2 Ibid, pp. 240-241, 1906,
1911.] MAMMALS. 85
are specimens at hand from White River, 20 miles east of Rangely;
Rangely; Fruita; Grand Junction; Hotchkiss; Coventry, 6,400 feet;
and Ashbaugh’s ranch, near McElmo. The northward dispersion is
limited by the Yampa Plateau, between White and Bear Rivers.
(See fig. 6.)
In 1906 antelope squirrels were first met with in the White River
Valley at the ford east of Angora, and from this point to the Utah
boundary they were common among rock ledges along the river. In
crossing the country between White and Grand Rivers we saw them
until we were 10 miles southwest of Rangely, and not again until
we reached Carboner'a, at the southern base of the Book Cliffs. On
the desert between Carbonera and Mack, and thence up the Grand
©, LADVILL:
a
Gy,
BERAVD JUNCTION
(CUNNMISO,
Fic. 6.—Distribution in Colorado of antelope squirrel (A mmospermophilus leucurus cinnamomeus).
River Valley to Palisade, the antelope squirrel is an abundant and
| characteristic mammal. It was not noted at any point in the White
and Grand Valleys above 5,500 feet.
Kast of the Uncompahgre Plateau the species ranges over a con-
| siderable area in the Gunnison and Uncompahgre Valleys. Mr. C. H.
Smith, of Coventry, states that he has seen several at the eastern
|base of the plateau, southwest of Montrose. In the valley of the
North Fork of Gunnison River it occurs east to Hotchkiss and
. probably to Paonia. In August, 1907, I found these squirrels
tolerably common on the open rocky slopes north of the river at
‘Hotchkiss, but did not see any near Crawford, at the base of the West
86 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33.
Elk Mountains. Askin in the National Museum, collected by Capt.
James Stevenson September 18, 1873, labeled “BIk Mts.,”’ probably
came from some point at their western base.
The antelope squirrel is rather generally distributed in the warm
valleys of southwestern Colorado. In Montezuma County it was not
found at Mancos, but a single individual was seen on an Atriplex flat
at the north base of Mesa Verde, a little west of Point Lookout, —
which appears to be the eastern limit. It is abundant along McElmo
Creek, both among the rocky ledges in the canyon and on the lower
bordering mesas. In the region of the lower San Miguel and Dolores
Rivers the species is restricted to the hottest valleys and slopes, and
was noted as follows: Naturita west to Dry Creek; Salt Canyon,
outlet of Sinbad Valley; canyon of Dolores River, Salt Canyon to
mouth of West Creek; and- West Creek Valley to 4 miles above
mouth. It does not extend through the Unaweep Canyon to con-
nect with its range in the Gunnison Valley. Mr. William Boren, of
Norwood, says antelope squirrels are common in Dry Creek Basin in”
Gypsum Valley, and on lower Disappointment Creek in western
San Miguel County. The above localities indicate a general distri-—
bution below 6,000 feet.
Antelope squirrels frequent sandy arroyos and are striking objects
as they frisk about in the morning sunshine with the pure white
under surface of the upraised tail showing prominertly. They are
easily alarmed and retreat precipitately to the burrows, which are
usually in the sandy bank of a dry desert wash or beneath sage or
Atriplex bushes. In a few moments the animal may be watching the
intruder from the mouth of a burrow or from behind a pile of rocks,
but it disappears at the slightest noise or movement. At Fruita,
Mesa County, several were living in the cemetery, and one or two
burrows were found beside gravestones. None of the squirrels’
uttered a sound while under my observation, but one which J. Alden
Loring heard near Grand Junction had a note described as ‘‘loud, |
shrill, and rattling, and gradually dying out like a policeman’s whis- |
tle.” Mr. Loring states that the antelope squirrel has from four to |
six young in a litter. Mr. George J. Ashbaugh and other ranchmen q |
between Moqui and McElmo, Montezuma County, state that antelope — |
squirrels do much damage in the spring by digging up newly planted |
corn. During my stay at Mr. Ashbaugh’s ranch, June 18-23, 1907, — |
the young were about two-thirds grown, and ace a nuisance by —
getting into traps placed at the mouths of Perodipus burrows on the 4
small sandy flats at the base of the rocky canyon walls. The species — ff
is more or less active in winter, as Mr. C. H. Smith, of Coventry, has
taken it in January.
|
1911.1 MAMMALS, 87
Citellus variegatus grammurus (Say). Rock Squirrel.
Sciurus grammurus Say, in Long’s Exped. Rocky Mts., II, p. 72, 1823. Type
from Purgatory River, near mouth of Chacuaco Creek, Las Animas County,
Colorado.
The large gray rock squirrel is common among the rock ledges of
the eastern foothills, and also throughout the warm valleys of southern
and southwestern Colorado north to the southern base of the Book
Cliffs mainly in the Upper Sonoran zone. East of the mountains it is
not known to extend north to the Wyoming line, but is found in the
foothills west of Fort Collins. Along the eastern slope of the moun-
tains it occurs regularly in open, rocky situations up to 7,000 feet,
103°
Arkqns2aZ3.
Y A \*)
ty pa
NANAAS
XZ
\
Yj
SOOT,
2
SAN
Fig. 7.— Distribution in Colorado of rock squirrel ( Citellus variegatus grammurus).
and toward the south is occasionally found to 8,000 feet. In the
Grand River Valley the upper limit appears to be at 6,500 feet, a little
below the upper edge of the juniper and pinyon belt. In some of the
southwestern valleys, however, it ranges considerably higher, and on
the southwestern slopes of the Uncompahgre Plateau extends well
into the yellow pine belt wherever suitable rocky ledges occur. (See
no. 7.)
The Biological Survey has specimens of grammurus from Higbee,
| Otero County, which are practically topotypes. Specimens from
| both eastern and western slopes are fairly typical, those from western
Colorado not differing sufficiently to be referred to C. v. utah, described
by Dr. Merriam from Ogden, Utah. Rock squirrels which I saw in
-
~thy
a)
Ss NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33.
the Grand River Canyon above Glenwood Springs in October, 1906, —
appeared quite reddish on the back, however, in this respect suggest-_
ing the Utah form.
Rock squirrels nearly always live in rocky situations, the ledges
and bowlder-strewn sides of canyons, the bare rocky slopes along the
base of the foothills, and the rim rock of outlying mesas and buttes
being especially frequented. In the pinyon country near Bayfield,
La Plata County, their burrows were often found along the margins
of fields in a nearly level country. As a rule, however, the burrows
are located beneath bowlders at the base of a rocky canyon rim or in
rock slhdes. Rock squirrels are quite shy and wary, and when one
is surprised in the bottom of a canyon, as is often the case, it invari-
ably runs up the slope and takes refuge among the rocks above. If
the observer remains perfectly quiet, he may at length detect the
animal peering silently over the top of a large bowlder, but it gener-
ally vanishes at the slightest noise or motion. I watched one of
these squirrels dusting itself near Bayfield. Apparently it was
unaware of my presence and at intervals would run to a dusty spot
in a path, throw the dust up with its fore feet, turn on its back, and
wriggle and squirm along the ground in the greatest enjoyment.
This performance was repeated a number of times, when suddenly
the little fellow spied me and raced off through the brush.
The food of rock squirrels consists chiefly of pinyon nuts, acorns,
and juniper berries, and consequently over much of their range the
animals do little damage. In some sections, however, they are
reputed to show a fondness for young chickens. Rock squirrels are
abundant in the McElImo Valley, Montezuma County. Mr. George
J. Ashbaugh states that they destroy many apricots on the trees for
the sake of the seeds, of which they are especially fond;! they eat
holes in cantaloupes and watermelons on the vines in search of the ©
seeds, which they carry into the rocks to be eaten at leisure; and they
also dig up and eat much newly planted corn.
While at Ashbaugh’s ranch in June, 1907, I often heard the sharp —
alarm notes of rock squirrels in the orchard back of the house. Near -
Coventry in July they were feeding extensively upon pinyon nuts. —
In Grand Valley, near Glenwood Springs, in October, 1906, numbers —
were seen in the tops of large pinyons busily feasting upon the nuts,
and so common is this habit in that section that the animals are
locally known as gray tree squirrels. | ;
There are few data at hand on the breeding of C. grammurus. An
old female collected by Loring at Lyons, May 28, 1893, was heavy
with three large fetuses; while the young squirrels were about half
grown at Ashbaugh’s ranch, June 19, 1907. }
1 Warren (The Mammals of Colorado, p. 163, 1910) states that a rock squirrel which was killed at Ash=
baugh’s ranch in the fruit season had 50 or more apricot pits in its pouches,
1911.1 MAMMALS. §9
Citellus elegans (Kennicott). Wyoming Ground Squirrel.
This large gray ground squirrel is common in the mountain parks
and on the sage plains of the northwestern part of the State. It does
not appear to range south of the valley of Grand River, and it occurs
east of the main ranges only in the Laramie River country. (See
fig. 8.) It is abundant in Middle and North Parks, ranging across the
Rabbit Kar Mountains at Arapahoe Pass (9,000 feet), and doubtless
at other points where there is sufficient open country. In crossing
the Medicine Bow Mountains west of Glendevey I did not meet with
this squirrel, and assume that its range extends from North Park
around the north end of the Medicine Bows into the Laramie Valley.
105°
AS
atherd
ASS
LAS
©, EADVILL:
2
OLORADO SPRINGS
PUEBLO
Fic. 8.—Distribution in Colorado of Wyoming ground squirrel ( Citellus elegans).
| A specimen in the National Museum from Cameron Pass, at 10,000
; feet, was probably taken on the North Park side. The species was
| observed in the small parks along the heads of watercourses on the
| high forested divide east of the Laramie River as high as 10,300 feet,
jand extends east to Log Cabin and Fish Creek,! Larimer County,
| which points are near its eastern limits. In Routt County it is
\found everywhere except in the higher Elk Head and Williams River
| Mountains, the Escalante Hills, the Yampa and O-wi-yu-kuts Plateaus,
and the higher western slope of the Park Range. Several of these
| ground squirrels were observed about 10 miles northwest of Hahns
|
1 Bailey, Spermophiles of Mississippi Valley, Bull. No. 4, Biological Survey, p. 60, 1893.
ea
90 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 83,
Peak, which appears to be near its eastern limit in the Snake River
country. It ranges to the headwaters of Bear River; in Egeria Park,
thence south to MeCoy, on Grand River, and south across the Pindy :
Divide to Wolcott. The heavily Forested Gore Range, east of Egeria
Park, apparently proves a barrier , although the species is common
in the parks on its western slope 8 miles east of Toponas. In the |
Eagle River Valley I found C. elegans tolerably common from Gypsum
to Wolcott, and Warren reports it present to a point 3 miles east of
Minturn, while in the valley of White River it occurs from Buford
west as far as Rangely. From Meeker the range is north across the —
Danforth Hills to Axial Basin, south in the valley of the Piceance to
Rio Blanco,’ and from Angora north to Lily, on Bear River.
The sage flats in Middle and North Parks are densely populated
with these ground squirrels, and ranchmen consider them very —
injurious to the cattle range and to small grain. Judging from my
own observations the damage inflicted is by no means slight, and
when the large territory inhabited by them is considered, it must be-
very considerable. During July I often saw numbers in the rye
fields eating the green stalks, and not a vestige of grass remained near
their burrows. Ranchmen in the Snake River Valley between
Honnold and Slater claim that this species destroys fully a third of the’
rye crop, pulling down the stalks to get at the heads, and the appear-
ance of the small fields in August, 1906, fully sustained their state-
ment. In the summer of 1904 a 5-acre field of oats on Little Bear
Creek, a tributary of Fortification Creek, is said to have been utterly
ruined by ground squirrels. In North Park I often saw them in the
hay nieadows, whither they resort in the early morning, busily engaged |
in pulling down and eating the tall grass stems. |
This species hibernates very early in the autumn. In 1905 none
were observed at Lay August 3, and Mr. A. G. Wallahan informed me
that they retired to winter quarters about the middle of July, although
in the lower Snake River country they usually remain active until
about August 1. August 17,1906, a few were out near Honnold, but
the majority were already in hibernation. An immature specimen”
was taken in a trap set in the underground tunnel of a pocket gopher
near Baggs Crossing August 24, but none were noted above ground. A
very few wereseen near ivieeiae August 12,1905. At Sulphur Springs,
Middle Park, Warren found these squirrels running about in fresh snow
on stormy days in April, and they probably come out of hibernation
somewhat earlier at the lower elevations. I noted a great many bur-
rows which had been opened by badgers, which appear to feed
extensively upon this species—a fact well worth noting by farmers
and stockmen.
i apeeenG in U.S. National Museum.
x
S
MAMMALS. 9]
Citellus tridecemlineatus pallidus (Allen). Pale Striped Ground
Squirrel.
This is the common striped ground squirrel of the plains, but it
is found also in some of the mountain parks on the eastern slope
of the mountains at an elevation of over 9,000 feet. It occurs also
sparingly in North Park. It is replaced on the sage plains and in
the mountain parks west of the Continental Divide, and also in the
San Luis Valley, by another form of the same group—the little
C. t. parvus. (See fig. 9.) Specimens from Loveland, Sterling,
Pawnee Buttes, Tuttle, Eureka Hill (Cheyenne County), Las Animas,
107° 105°
= ae a eer ae
_ \ Ci
) ~ \\
= Vy,
* YY
LEADVILLE.
CUMM/SO,
Uy
MBL, Y
105°
WY 6.7: 2AVUs. Yl CT. PALLIDUS.
Fic. 9.—Distribution in Colorado of striped ground squirrels ( Citellus t. parvus and C. t. pallidus).
at}.
and other localities indicate a general distribution over the plains
of eastern Colorado.
At Golden the pale striped ground squirrel is common both on
the plains and in the parks of the foothills at 7,300 feet. One was
found dead in the trail near Elkhorn, in the foothills of Larimer
County, at 7,500 feet. In North Park small numbers were occu-
pying an isolated strip of sandy country east of Canadian Creek,
at the west base of the Medicine Bow Range. C. pallidus has
doubtless reached this region from the north, as the Medicine Bow
Range is an effective barrier on the east. It was not observed on
the sage plains of central and western North Park. It is common
4 the Wet Mountain and Huerfano Valleys, and near La Veta in
g° NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [Nox 88.
the Cucharas Valley; and on August 23, 1907, I found it abundant
and active on the high grassy plains of South Park near Como, at
an elevation of 9,800 feet. It is reported also from the upper Arkan-
sas Valley near Buena Vista, but I did not find any at Salida. The
National Museum has a specimen from Twin Lakes. The species
probably reaches the upper Arkansas Valley from South Park
through some of the open mountain passes.
Over most of its range this ground squirrel is injurious to truck
gardens and grain fields. Its worst habit is that of digging up newly
planted corn and eating the kernels. Near Valmont, Boulder
County, in June, 1905, it was reported very injurious. Because
of its depredations several farmers were obliged to plant their sweet
corn a second time. In this section it was living in burrows along
the grassy margins of gardens and cultivated fields.
Citellus tridecemlineatus parvus (Allen). Little: Striped Ground
Squirrel.
This ground squirrel, the smallest member of the group, has its
center of abundance in the semidesert areas of western Routt and
Rio Blanco Counties. (See fig. 9.) This region was traversed so
late in the summer, in both 1905 and 1906, that most of the squir-
rels were already hibernating; therefore their numbers could not be
ascertained. The few observed were living in deserted burrows of
white-tailed prairie dogs, with the exception of three in the White
River Valley, which were occupying small burrows apparently exca-
vated by themselves. The squirrels collected were sluggish in their
movements and extremely fat, which indicated that they were ready
for hibernation. They were usually sitting at the mouths of the
burrows enjoying the warm autumn sunshine, but near Rangely
one was seen in the top of a Sarcobatus bush. At Mud Springs, on
the White River Plateau at 9,000 feet, C. parvus was occupying
deserted burrows of Thomomys fossor. Two adults and two young
were observed in a park at this point August 18, 1905. This squirrel
is reported as common in Lily Park, at the confluence of the Snake
and Bear Rivers; in Browns Park, near the Utah boundary; and
on the Iron Springs Divide, between the Snake and Bear Rivers.
In the Snake River Valley it is found as far east as the mouth of
Four-mile Creek, where one was seen August 22, 1906. Warren
states that he saw it at Big Beaver Creek, Rio Blanco County, in
1907.1 During my investigations six specimens were collected,
as follows: Axial Basin, August 8, 1905; Mud Springs, White River
Plateau, August 18, 1905; Escalante (7 miles west), August 31,
1906; and Rangely, September 13 and 17, 1906.
This little ground squirrel is the form occurring over most, if not
all, of the San Luis Valley. Loring found it not uncommon at
1 Further Notes on the Mammals of Colorado, p. 71, 1908.
1911.] MAMMALS, Q3
Fort Garland in July, 1892, and collected three specimens, while
Mr. J. H. Gaut secured two at Antonito, Conejos County, August
30 and 31, 1904. Bailey has observed this ground squirrel at La
Jara, and it was reported to me as abundant at the Medano Springs
ranch, near the San Luis Lakes, in 1907. While in the San Luis
Valley in 1909 Warren found it at Mosca, San Luis Lakes, and at
Moffat.
Nothing is known of the distribution of C. parvus in the region
between the White River Plateau and the San Luis Valley aside
from a specimen in the U. 5S. National Museum labeled “ Elk Mts.,”
collected by Capt. Stevenson September 6, 1873.
Citellus obsoletus (Kennicott). Kennicott Ground Squirrel.
This is the small grayish ground squirrel inhabiting the sandy areas
on the plains north of the Arkansas Divide. It does not appear to be
present on the higher plains, being found principally in the valleys of
the Platte and Republican Rivers and their tributaries. The western
limits of range have not been ascertained. A specimen in the Colo-
rado Historical and Natural History Society collection was taken at
~Sand Creek, near Denver, and the Biological Survey has the species
from Greeley. Specimens from Hugo, Tuttle, Wray, Sterling, Avalo,
and Greeley are referable to C. obsoletus, although there is consider-
able variation. Specimens from Wray and Tuttle have the coloration
of obsoletus, but in size approach major. The Sterling series agrees
best with specimens of obsoletus from Cherry County, Nebr. (assumed
to be typical), i small size and in coloration, most of the specimens
having the characteristic coal-black edgings of the indistinct spots on
posterior part of dorsum.
Like most other forms of spotted ground squirrels, C. obsoletus is
largely restricted to sandy country. In starting northwest across the
plains from Cheyenne Wells in 1909, I first saw the species on the level
plain a few miles northwest of that point May 10. No others were
found until I reached the South Fork of Republican River, where an
adult male was shot 5 miles east of Tuttle May 18. The following
day another was collected on the hard soil divide 2 miles south of
Wray, and one was noted in the sand 2 miles east of the same point.
Mr. W. E. Wolfe, of Wray, informed me that in the valley east of the
town these squirrels are more numerous than the striped ground
squirrels. May 24 a spotted ground squirrel was seen in the sand
hills midway between Wray and Yuma. I saw none in crossing the
hard soil watershed between Yuma and Sterling. The species was
encountered 6 miles southeast of Sterling May 28, one being trapped
in a gravelly arroyo just below the bluffs, and others were taken in
the sand along the east side of the Platte at Sterling a day or so later.
The only one found northwest of Sterling was dug out of its burrow
ia
:
f
f
i
i
Oe, srrengt: a
=
c
Q4 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33
on a hard soil flat along Horsetail Creek, 13 miles east of Avalo, June
3. Prof. Lantz found these ground squirrels common south of the
Big Sandy near Hugo. <A burrow which he dug out in sandy soil
was 12 feet in length, but at no place more than 18 inches below
the surface. This burrow had three entrances and terminated in a
small round chamber which contained a slight nest of grass, in which,
instead of a squirrel, a large bull snake was coiled.
Citellus spilosoma major (Merriam). Large Spotted Ground Squirrel.
Spotted ground squirrels from the Arkansas Valley and southward,
though not typical, are referred to this form. Specimens from Las
Animas and La Junta (18 miles south) in the Biological Survey col-
lection agree in size with typical major from Albuquerque, New Mex-
ico, but are grayer. Others collected by Warren at Lamar and at
Monon, Baca County, are best referred to this form. These are said
to be the common ground squirrels in the Arkansas Valley at Pueblo.
Spotted ground squirrels from the Arkansas Divide and northward
are nearest obsoletus, indicating that the two forms may intergrade
in southern Colorado. Prof. D. E. Lantz, who collected specimens
south of La Junta, thinks this form comes out of hibernation about
April 20.
Cynomys ludovicianus (Ord). Prairie Dog.
This is the large brown prairie dog of the eastern plains of Colorado.
There is probably not a county east of the foothills in which it is not
present in considerable numbers, and colonies are found in some of
the broader foothill valleys to an elevation of 6,000 feet. The western
limit of range may be roughly indicated by Livermore, Larimer
County; Lyons; Boulder; Rockvale, Fremont County ;? Badito, Huer- —
fano County; and Trinidad.
At several points in southern Colorado the range of this species
almost meets that. of the smaller C. gunnisom, but usually the two
species are separated by a vertical distance of from 1,000 to 2 ,000
feet—ludovicianus occupy ing the valleys and the flat tops of the
lowest mesas, while gunnisoni lives in the parks of the highest foot 4
hills and in the mountains. Near Badito colonies of both species
are found within a mile or so of each other—ludovicianus occupying
the flat along Huerfano River, and gunnison: the open parks among
the pinyons on the first benches south of the river and only a few
hundred feet above it. At Gardner, 12 miles above Badito, gunm-
soni is found in the Huerfano Valley.
Prairie dogs are especially abundant along the Santa Fe Railroad
between Trinidad and La Junta, and in Baca County in the extreme
southeast corner of the State. In 1909 I found them common on the
1 Warren, Mammals of Colorado, p. 242, 1906.
2 Field Col. Mus, Pub. 115, Zool. ser., VIII, p. 181, 1907,
-
1911] MAMMALS. 95
eastern end of the Arkansas Divide near Cheyenne Wells, and again
- from a point 15 miles northwest of Sterling west to Grover. Their
numbers are decreasing in Yuma County and elsewhere, owing to
rapid settlement. Numerous grass-grown mounds between Yuma
and Sterling indicate that formerly the animals were abundant,
but in 1909 I saw very few inhabited colonies in this section. In the
thinly settled grazing country dog towns often cover large areas of
excellent cattle range and are thus a source of loss to stockmen.
In 1892 Dr. A. K. Fisher found this species abundant at Trinidad
in open places among the pinyons on the table mountains, and
reports that at Las Animas nine prairie dogs were drowned out of a
single burrow. In 1905 Prof. Lantz reported a colony at Byers in
which albinos are common, stating that ‘a dozen pure white speci-
mens can sometimes be seen at a time.” Near Higbee, Otero County,
Prof. Lantz reports that all the females had apparently given birth
to young before April 12,1910. Insix instances the number of young
was six; in two instances it was four.
Seo @.
~
aye or
es REBECA EPPA RS Rets
Pt ee
in
pid GR tapeligat it MRR
Cynomys gunnisoni (Baird). Gunnison Prairie Dog.
Spermophilus gunnisoni Baird, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., VII, p. 334, 1855.
Type from Cochetopa Pass, Saguache County, Colorado.
The type of Cynomys gunnisoni was collected by F. Kreuzfeldt on
Capt. E. G. Beckwith’s expedition in 1853. The species is consider-
~ ably smaller than C. ludovicianus, with very short ears and tail, the
latter bordered and tipped with mie: Like C. leucurus of Sip tie
“western Colorado, it does not seem to be of marked gregarious habits,
the burrows being scattered here and there over valleys, mesas, and
even steep slopes. It is more of a mountain animal than either of
the above species, but is equally at home in the Upper Sonoran,
Transition, and even lower Canadian zones.
This is the prairie dog so abundant in South Park, in parts of the
upper Arkansas, San Luis, and Rio Grande Valleys, and in the open
country and valleys south and west of the San Juan and La Plata
Mountains and the Uncompahgre Plateau. It crosses the Cochetopa
| Pass into the Gunnison country and ranges as far west as the Black
Mesa. The northern and western limits are indicated by localities
as follows: Como (South Park), Twin Lakes, Leadville, near Crested
Butte) Black Mesa, Cerro Ridge, and the ‘nein sue Plateau.
‘The ranges of gunnisoni and ne do not seem to meet at any
point, although separated by only a very narrow strip of country in
the eeerron region. C. gunnison is known to inhabit the lower
western parts of eeieaas: Dolores, San Micuel, and Montrose Coun-
‘ties, and doubtless extends westward some tielonet into eastern Utah,
possibly in that region also approaching the range of OC. leucurus.
1 Further Notes on the Mammals of Colorado, p. 71, 1908.
96 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. — (No. &
Prairie dogs are reported abundant on the extensive sage flats and
deserts south of the La Sal Mountains, but the species is not known.
In crossing the Continental Divide between Lake City and Creede,
C. gunnisoni was not noted south of Lake City, but was again seen
on the flats just below Lake Santa Maria, at 9,400 feet, and it may
occur still farther up the Rio Grande Valley. The range is continuous
across the Poncha Pass, between the San Luis and Arkansas Valleys, —
and also across Trout Creek Pass, between the Arkansas Valley and
South Park. To the east this species is common in the small moun-
tain parks near Divide, Teller County, at 9,500 feet, and extends
down the Fountain Creek Canyon to Cascade. It follows the Arkan-
sas River down to Texas Creek and thence extends south across the —
Wet Mountain Valley to the Huerfano, and down this valley to Badito.
It occupies the divide between the Huerfano and Cucharas Rivers, —
and from near La Veta apparently follows southeast around the
Spanish Peaks, as it is again met with on the parks and plateaus of
the Trinidad region. In open sections like South Park, it reaches —
its upper limit at between 9,500 and 10,000 feet, but the vertical
range is governed entirely by the character of the country. Thus on
the southern slopes of the San Juan Mountains in Archuleta and La _
Plata Counties, where there is an extensive area of yellow pine forest
between 7,000 and 8,500 feet, prairie dogs are not found so high,
along the Rio Pinos occurring only as far up as Vallecito, at about
8,000 feet.
As the higher part of its range is a region of very limited agricul-
ture and supports an abundance of wild grasses, this species can not
there be considered very injurious, but in some of the low irrigated _
valleys of the southwestern counties it is very destructive to grain |
and alfalfa fields. On the South Park plains, just east of Como, in
August, 1907, the heads of prairie dogs could be seen sticking out of
the tall grass in all directions, but grass was so abundant that they —
were making no visible impression upon it. The greatest damage
caused by prairie dogs was reported from Coventry, the McElmo |
Valley, and near Bayfield. At the last two localities the ranchmen |
successfully drown them out of all the low ground which can be-
reached with ditch water; but on the neighboring benches and mesas, —
than hold their own, as comparatively few ranchmen take the trouble
to poison those left on high ground. Several ranchmen at Bayfield |
have for several years kept their land clear of prairie dogs by the use
of carbon bisulphide or wheat soaked in strychnine, but a lack of
Z
g
1911.] MAMMALS, 97
valley, but that they have gradually worked northward with the
cultivation of the land. According to Mr. C. G. Bates, of Bayfield,
a peculiar disease killed the larger part of the prairie dogs on Florida
River some years ago. The affection is said to have caused excessive
weakness, and in its later stages loss of hair.
This species appears to hibernate throughout the winter. It was
out in abundance at Divide, and also on the South Park plains
between Howbert and Hartsel, October 5, 1907, and all of the ani-
mals appeared fat, sleek, and well furred. At Sapinero two were seen
out of their burrows October 16, but none thereafter, although I was
in good prairie-dog country until mid-November.
Cynomys leucurus Merriam. White-tailed Prairie Dog.
This handsome species replaces C. ludowcianus and gunnisoni on
the sage plains of northwestern Colorado, where it occupies much of
the open country west of the Park and Gore Ranges and north of the
lower Gunnison Valley. It occurs also in North Park, but I did not
find it in Laramie Valley, east of the Medicine Bow Range, nor. does
it range across the Rabbit Kar Mountains into Middle Park and Blue
‘River Valley. In Snake River Valley it is found east to Honnold,
‘and in White River Valley it is common as far up as the mouth of
“South Fork. Prairie dogs occur throughout the Bear River
‘region, and follow this stream to its headwaters in Egeria Park;
‘thence, sparingly, south across the divide to McCoy on Grand River,
and again across Piney Divide to Wolcott, on Eagle River, and west
in the Grand Valley to Gypsum. They do not extend through the
Grand Canyon above Glenwood, nor do they pass around it, and they
are absent. from the Grand Valley between Glenwood and Grand
Junction. On the desert areas between Grand Junction and the
Utah boundary, prairie dogs are common, doubtless coming in from
the west, where the range is probably continuous around the west-
ern end of the Book Cliffs in Utah. They range from the Axial
Basin south across the lowest passes of the Danforth Hills to the
White River Valley at Meeker, but apparently do not cross the
White River Plateau or its western extension, the Book Plateau, at
‘any point in the State.
- Instead of extending northeast from Grand Junction in the nar-
tow Grand Valley, C. lewcurus ranges to the southeast in the broad
Gunnison and Uncompahgre Valleys, and occurs over a wide area
between the Grand Mesa and Uncompahgre Plateau. In the Uncom-
Ppahgre Valley it was noted south to a point on Dallas Creek, a few
iles west of Ridgway. East of Montrose it was abundant along
railroad at Cedar Creek, and a few were seen almost to the sum-
t of Cerro Ridge, between Cedar Creek and Cimarron. None were
bserved at Cimarron, and the divide between the Cimarron and
» 90432°—11—__-7
— 2
98 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. > pestiiall
Uncompahgre Rivers appears to mark the eastern limit of range in
this region. The species extends east along the North Fork of the
Gunnison to Hotchkiss and Paonia, and was abundant at the west
base of the West Elk Mountains, between Hotchkiss and Crawford.
The majority observed in this section were on the dry adobe flats,
where the only vegetation worthy of mention was the prostrate,
scrubby, desert-growing Atriplex nuttalli and a sparse growth of
Dondia (probably D. moquini) in damp alkaline spots.
C. leucurus is not unlike gunnisoni in size and general coloration,
but may be readily distinguished from the latter by its white tail
and by the broad dusky patch which covers the eye and extends down
over the cheek. It is not extensively, colonial, the burrows being
scattered here and there over the sage plains. The burrows are
apparently occupied for many years, and the ejected earth accumu-
lates into very large mounds, often as much as 3 feet in height and
8 or 10 feet in diameter. These prairie dogs are not very shy and
often sit at the mouth of the burrow until approached within a rod.
The usual note is a peculiar querulous cry, very unlike the short,
sharp bark of ludovicianus. Chattering alarm notes also are occa-
sionally heard as one walks through a colony.
Wherever white-tailed prairie dogs live in the neighborhood of —
cultivated ground they are very injurious to green crops. Loring
states that in the vicinity of Grand Junction the burrows are usually ©
in the dry banks of irrigating ditches, and the prairie dogs inflict
considerable damage on the adjacent truck farms by eating cabbages,
cantaloupes, and other crops. While eating, they sit erect on their
hind legs, but if disturbed run to the burrows, carrying the food in
their mouths. They destroy considerable areas of range grasses and
feed extensively in alfaifa fields and hay meadows in the river valleys
throughout their range. |
Marmota engelhardti Allen. Engelhardt Woodchuck; Marmot.
The Colorado marmots are tentatively referred to this species,
which was described from Beaver Mountains, Utah. The scanty
material at hand is insufficient for accurate comparison, and definite
conclusions are impossible in view of the present condition of the |
group. 4 |
The marmot is one of the most characteristic mammals of the
mountains, and occurs from 6,000 feet in the foothills to the rock
summits of the highest peaks, at over 14,000 feet. It has, therefore,
a vertical range of about 8,000 feet. Marmots are much more abun-
dant above than below 8,000 feet, and are especially numerous in
the slide rock near timberline. They are reported present on the |
summit of Grays Peak, at an elevation of 14,341 feet, and have been —
observed also on the summit of Longs Peak, 100 feet lower. The —
clear, shrill whistle of the marmot is one of the few sounds that break |
1911.) | MAMMALS. 99
the silence of the high altitudes, and the large reddish-brown animals
may often be seen sunning themselves on the warm, flat surfaces of
rocks during the middle of the day. In the Hahns Peak region
marmots were abundant, and were usually seen around abandoned
prospect holes and mining shafts, while at Arkins, Larimer County,
one was living in an old sandstone quarry. On the Bear River
meadows east of Hayden, Routt County, in August, 1905, I saw a
marmot run into its burrow beneath a pile of brush, while a week
later four were observed feeding on grass in a meadow along Good
Spring Creek, on the north slope of the Danforth Hills. I have
found marmects more or less common at Coulter; Mount Whiteley;
McIntyre Creek, Medicine Bow Mountains; Elk Head Mountains;
Mount Kelso; near Boulder; Sapinero; and Georgetown. They are
reported common in the following localities: St. Elmo; Lone Cone;
Pagosa Springs; La Plata Mountains, northeast of Mancos; San Juan
Mountains, north of Vallecito; Silverton; Cochetopa Pass; Estes
Park; and Longs Peak.
_ In Park County, in 1871, Allen found the marmot abundant from
the Platte Valley to above timberline, and states that black speci-
mens occur frequently in that region.’
Epimys norvegicus (Erxleben). Norway Rat; Wharf Rat.
There is very little information available on the distribution in
Colorado of this noxious species, which is usually known as barn rat
or house rat. Doubtless by this time it has reached most of the
larger towns at least, as Warren says it is found in Denver, Colorado
‘Springs, Pueblo, and Greeley ;? and in 1905 I was informed that it was
common in the Boulder warehouses. Rats are uncommon away from
towns, and I have met very few ranchmen whose buildings are
infested with them. Mr.C.H.Smith, of Coventry, Montrose County,
reports avery few on his ranch, so they are probably more or less com-
“mon over the western part of the State, although Warren did not hear
of them at Grand Junction. Near Valmont, Boulder County, I caught
}a large Norway rat in a trap set at a ground squirrel burrow in a
| prairie dog town, a quarter of a mile from the nearest farm.
‘Mus musculus Linneus. House Mouse.
| Lhave not seen the common house mouse in the higher mountains,
jand have no information regarding its presence above the Transition
zone. It is tolerably common in cultivated districts on the plains,
lin towns, and around farm buildings, and even in fields and meadows,
‘but is not such a pest as in the older settled States. House mice are
by no means restricted to the vicinity of railroads, for I have found
(them in sparsely settled districts 40 or 50 miles from the nearest rail-
road. At Ashbaugh’s ranch, near McElmo, Montezuma County, one
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 57, 1874. 2 Maminals of Colorado, p. 244, 1906.
100 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 83,
was taken in a tule marsh along McElmo Creek, and I have elsewhere
observed that marshes are much frequented by this species. A
house mouse was killed in one of the buildings at Gaume’s ranch,
northwestern Baca County, a region where ranches are many miles
apart. Another was caught in the barn at the Medano Springs ranch,
near the San Luis Lakes. Prof. Lantz found them abundant near
Higbee, in southeastern Otero County. White-footed mice of several —
species take the place of house mice over much of the timbered and
canyon country, and in many places are associated with the latter
about buildings and sheds. ,
Onychomys leucogaster pallescens Merriam. Pale Grasshopper Mouse.
~
The large pale grasshopper mouse is generally distributed over 4
the Upper Sonoran plains and deserts on both sides of the Con- |
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Fic. 10.—Distribution in Colorado of grasshopper mice (Onychomys 1. brevicaudus and O. Ll. pallescens).
tinental Divide, except in the northwest corner of the State, |
where the smaller 0. brevicaudus replaces it. (See fig. 10.) Speci- ,
mens from the southwestern desert region and also from the San |
Luis Valley are larger and paler than those from the northeastern
plains, where an approach to O. leucogaster is suggested by the |
darker color. q
This species apparently occupies a considerable area in western |~
Montezuma, Dolores, San Miguel, Montrose, and Mesa Counties, | —
but its range is imperfectly worked out. The distribution in the lower |
i
1911.1 MAMMATS. 101
Grand River Valley appears to be limited, the only specimens thus
far taken coming from Fruita, and the Uncompahgre Plateau must
certainly separate the Grand Valley range from the more extensive
area occupied farther south. The Book Cliffs limit its northward
dispersion and separate it from brevicaudus. In the San Luis Valley
it undoubtedly occurs throughout the Upper Sonoran zone. The
grasshopper mice of the Upper Arkansas Valley above the Grand
Canyon would appear to be separated from those of the eastern
plains by the Royal Gorge, but nothing is known of the distribution
in this section aside from the specimens taken on the sandy slopes
along the east side of the Arkansas Valley just above Salida. Warren
has taken O. pallescens in the Wet Mountain Valley. It may have
reached this high mountain valley from either the Arkansas Valley
on the north or the Huerfano Valley on the south.
Grasshopper mice are nocturnal. They especially frequent sandy
areas, and are often taken in traps set at the burrows of kangaroo
rats, ground squirrels, and pocket mice. Their carnivorous propensity
is one of the chief obstacles the collector meets in trapping the rarer
desert mice, and often after nights of trapping without success he
is chagrined to find in one of his traps the partly devoured and
mangled remains of a rare pocket mouse. Sometimes in regions
where grasshopper mice are plentiful, a miscellaneous catch of
other species will be almost ruined by them. Much of the food of
grasshopper mice consists of soft-bodied insects, such as grass-
hoppers and crickets. The name scorpion mice, sometimes applied
to these rodents, is due to a marked fondness for scorpions, which prob-
ably form part of their food in Colorado, particularly m the south-
west. Vegetable food also is eaten. At the Medano Springs ranch,
near the San Luis Lakes, these mice proved a nuisance by eating
carrots, potatoes, and cabbages in a vegetable cellar.
Because of the nature of their food, grasshopper mice decompose
much more rapidly than mice which feed chiefly on seeds and vege-
table matter.
The pale grasshopper mouse is represented in the Biological Survey
collection by a large series of specimens from Loveland, Pawnee
Buttes, Sterling, Greeley, Golden, Hugo, Limon, Loco, Canon City,
Salida, Burlington, Las Animas, La Junta (18 miles south), Gaume’s
ranch (Baca County), Antonito, Medano Springs ranch, and Conejos
River, in eastern and southern Colorado; and others from Fruita,
Coventry, and Naturita, in the southwestern part of the State. I
have taken immature specimens at Arkins, in the foothills of Larimer
County, and at Ashbaugh’s ranch, near McEKlmo, Montezuma County.
A skull in the Merriam collection is from Roggen, Weld County.
Specimens from additional localities, Springfield and Monon (Baca
County), Moffat, Hooper, San Luis Lakes, Crestone, and Westcliffe,
are in the Warren collection.
102 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
Onychomys leucogaster brevicaudus Merriam. Idaho Grasshopper
Mouse.
This small species apparently does not range south of Bear River,
in northwestern Colorado. (See fig. 10.) On the sage plains of —
North Park it occurs as high as 8,500 feet in the upper part of the —
Transition zone, but in the region between Snake and Bear Rivers, —
in western Routt County, it inhabits a much lower altitude. It is
usually met with in sandy strips of country, but at no point is it
abundant, being always greatly outnumbered by white-footed mice.
This species is represented by a series of eight specimens from Cana-
dian Creek, east of Walden, North Park; Snake River, south of
Sunny Peak, Routt County; and Bear River, south of Lay. |
Allen records a specimen from Three Forks (forks of Snake River),
in northeastern Routt County.'| Warren mentions specimens taken —
of
by himself at Craig, and on Snake River 7 miles north of Lily.
Peromyscus leucopus tornillo Mearns. Texas White-footed Mouse.
This form represents P. leucopus in the arid region from the Rio |
Grande at El Paso, Texas, north to the Arkansas Valley. Animmature —
pair collected in the brushy bottom along the Arkansas River at
Canon City by Loring, and specimens taken by Warren at Lamar, and
in Baca County at Monon, Springfield, and Gaume’s ranch, indicate
the known distribution of this form within the State. Much work |
remains to be done in working out the distribution of this and many |
other small mammals on the eastern plains. Judging from its habits —
farther south, it should be found in the brushy stream bottoms of
most of the region lying south of the Arkansas Valley and east of the
foothills, particularly in the piles of drift and rubbish left after |
freshets. Regarding its habits nm Baca County, Warren says: ‘The
specimens taken in Baca County were mostly found among the sand-
stone bluffs along the water courses, although a few were taken about
some ranch buildings.” °
Peromyscus maniculatus nebrascensis (Mearns). Nebraska White-
footed Mouse.
This is the common white-footed mouse of the Upper Sonoran
plains region of both eastern and northwestern Colorado, as shown
by series of specimens from a great many localities. It is found also
in the sandy strip of country along the eastern side of San Luis Vailey.
Along the edge of the foothills and the higher western plateaus it
grades into the dark reddish P. rufinus of the mountains. Like that
form, it inhabits all conceivable situations, but it is normally more
‘1 Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., VIII, p. 253, 1896.
2 Further Notes on the Mammals of Colorado, p. 72, 1908.
Mammals of Colorado, p. 245, 1906.
re
3
,™
1911.] MAMMALS. 103
abundant, and sometimes becomes exceedingly numerous despite
coyotes, hawks, and owls. Such was the case on the sage plains of
western Routt and Rio Blanco Counties in 1906; also at the Medano
Springs ranch, in the San Luis Valley, in October, 1907, where in a
single night 38 were caught in 1 acre by 60 traps, and their excessive
numbers all but prevented my securing topotypes of Leithrodontomys
montanus. On several occasions two were taken in a small trap at
one setting. In the Green River Valley near Ladore white-focoted
mice were often seen in the dusk darting about the bases of cotton-
wood trees. They were everywhere a great nuisance, gnawing har-
ness, foraging in our provisions, and, above all, depleting our much-
needed supply of oats.. In the rocky juniper and pinyon country of
western Colorado this race is found over considerable areas with two
other forms of white-footed mice, P. truer and auripectus, but every-
where outnumbers them.
Peromyscus maniculatus luteus Osgood. Yellow White-footed Mouse.
Five specimens in the collection of the Colorado Agricultural Col-
lege have been identified by W. H. Osgood as P. m. luteus. They
were collected in Spring Canyon, 4 miles southwest of Fort Collins.
Others taken by Warren at Wray, Yuma County, seem referable to
this beautiful yellowish species. There are specimens from Haigler,
Nebraska, just east of the Colorado line, in the Biological Survey col-
lection. Future collecting will doubtless show that luteus is present
over much of the sandy area of the northeastern counties.
Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus (Merriam). Tawny White-footed
Mouse.
The wide range of this form in the Colorado mountains is shown
by a large series of specimens. The center of abundance is in the
boreal zones on the main ranges. In the foothills east of the front
ranges, and on the slopes of the plateaus in northwestern Colorado,
it shades off almost imperceptibly into the pale form nebrascensis of
the Upper Sonoran plains and valleys. Specimens from Estes Park,
Boulder, Gold Hill, and Nederland show a decided approach to P.
nebrascensis. P.m.rufinus is almost omnipresent in the mountains
and lives indiscriminately under logs and brush piles in the heavy
forests, among rocks, in cabins along streams, in mountain bogs, and
among the sagebrush in mountain parks. In the southwest it occurs
at lower elevations and inhabits semidesert areas. In the sand hills
at the west base of the Medicine Bow Range, in North Park, this
mouse was abundant among the Chrysothamnus bushes.
These mice were very numerous in the sandy flats along the eastern
side of the Arkansas Valley just north of Salida, in November, 1907.
Nearly all trapped at this point were in soiled pelage, the dorsal fur
being of a dark olive-greenish cast, while the underparts were heavily
104 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 88.
tinged with dirty plumbeous. Mr. J. W. Frey, of Salida, accounts
for this soiling by the statement that the prevailing westerly winds
carry the smoke of the Salida smelter to the east side of the valley,
where much of the time it hangs in a dense pall, soiling the vegetation
and, indirectly, the mice which come in contact with it. Kangaroo
rats living on the same sand flats were somewhat smoke-soiled, but
not to the same extent.
P.m.rufinus appears to beas strictly nocturnal as the other deermice.
In the little cabin on the edge of the cliffs just above the Spruce Tree
Cliff Ruins, at the head of Navajo Canyon, on the Mesa Verde, I
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Fic. 11.—Distribution in Colorado of cliff mice (Peromyscus truci and P. nasutus).
heard these mice squeaking about midnight of June 13. A faint
squeak in one end of the cabin elicited answers from other parts of q
the building, and the noise was kept up for some time. |
Peromyscus truei (Shufeldt). True Cliff Mouse.
This large-eared species has a wide distribution in the warmer parts -
of western Colorado, where in common with many other Upper |
Sonoran mammals its range is practically coextensive with the —
juniper and pinyon belt. (See fig. 11.) It has been taken also in
the juniper country of the southeastern corner of the State, and
Warren has it from Salida and Parkdale, in the upper Arkansas Val-
ley. Over much of its range in northwestern Colorado this species ;
1911:] MAMMALS, 105
and the smaller-eared nebrascensis occur together, and in the south-
west it is usually associated with P. auripectus and rowley?.
The True cliff mouse almost always lives in the cliffs and rocky
ledges along canyons or in hollow junipers and pinyons. In the
dense juniper growth at the northern base of the Escalante Hills it
was very abundant and was taken in traps placed in and around
hollow junipers.
In the Grand River Valley it ranges east to McCoy, Eagle County.
Although taken in Montezuma County, both on the Mesa Verde and
in the McElmo Canyon, it does not appear to be so common there as
auripectus. At Coventry it was abundant in rocky ledges among the
pinyons and along the cliffs bordering Naturita Creek, where it was
associated with both rowley: and auripectus. Most of those taken at
this point in July, 1907, were from half to two-thirds grown.
I found P. truei common in the rocky canyons and juniper country
near Gaume’s ranch in northwestern Baca County, and also collected
aspecimen in the rocky ledges at Rhinehart’s Stage Station, on the
plains of southern Prowers County, 20 miles south of Lamar. Prof.
Lantz has taken it in southeastern Otero County, 18 miles south of La
Junta.
Although this species almost invariably inhabits the Upper Sonoran
_ zone, I have taken it once in the aspen forest in the Canadian zone.
This was at the Club ranch, near Uncompahgre Butte, at the extreme
head of Mesa Creek, at. nearly 9,000 feet. An adult female was
caught in a trap set beneath a log lying in a boggy aspen thicket
July 17, 1907. ‘There was none of the normal environment of truei—
rocky pinyon or juniper slopes—within a mile or within.a vertical dis-
tance of fully 1,500 feet, and this individual must have reached this
high elevation from the lower country by following up one of the
numerous canyons heading on the upper western slopes of the
Uncompahgre Plateau.
In September, 1906, a favorable opportunity was afforded for
_ observing these interesting mice on White River a few miles west of
Rangely. My tent was pitched in a dense Lepargyrea thicket, and a
sack of oats proved a great attraction to white-footed mice. All
night long they were darting noisily over the tarpaulin, climbing the
tent walls, and investigating the provisions. In the early morning
numbers of both P. true and nebrascensis were seen running about, all
intent upon transferring a winter’s supply of oats from the sack to
their nests in the thicket. I observed that one of the large-eared
mice, meeting an individual of the other species, invariably retreated
precipitately, and gained the oat sack only by the exercise of great
caution. The True cliff mouse presents a most peculiar and striking
appearance in life with its large protruding eyes and immense ears.
It is remarkably agile and takes long leaps with the greatest ease.
106 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, (No. 83.
Peromyscus nasutus (Allen). Estes Park Cliff Mouse.
Vesperimus nasutus Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., III, p. 299, 1891. Type
from Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado.
This large plumbeous species has been taken at a number of locali-
ties in the eastern foothills of Colorado, but its range has not been
satisfactorily worked out. (See fig. 11.) While it has been found as
high as 8,400 feet, its center of abundance appears to be in rocky
situations along the lowest edge of the foothills. It has not been
taken in Wyoming, but is common in many places in the foothills of
the New Mexico mountains. It belongs to the large-eared group of
white-footed mice and bears a close resemblance to P. true. It may
be distinguished from the latter species, however, by its somewhat
smaller ears and grayer or more plumbeous coloration, while the
skull is a little larger and has longer nasals and much smaller audital
bullae.
At Estes Park (the type locality), Edward A. Preble secured speci-
mens in a rocky gulch near the summit of a hill bordering the park, |
at 8,400 feet. Dr. Fisher found the species eommon in crevices in
the rocky rims of the table mountains near Trinidad. Other mem-
bers of the Biological Survey have taken it at Boulder, Gold Hill, and |
Canon City. Warren reports it as common in the vicinity of Colorado
Springs, ‘‘both in the foothills and in the bluffs to the north and east —
of the city.” !
Peromyscus boylei rowleyi (Allen). Rowley Cliff Mouse.
Specimens of this large long-tailed species from Arboles, Mesa |
Verde, and Coventry in the Biological Survey collection, and others
from Cortez, Salida, and Irwin’s ranch (Las Animas County), identi-
fied for Warren, represent all the information available on its dis-—
tribution within the State. Noland’s ranch, Utah (the type locality), ”
is situated on the San Juan River within a few miles of the Colorado
line. The Rowley cliff mouse is an Upper Sonoran species inhabiting
rock ledges and cliffs in the juniper belt and probably occurs over ~
most of the lower country in southwestern Colorado. It probably
reaches Salida, in the upper Arkansas Valley, from the south and —
east, since Warren found it in the juniper country of northeastern
Las Animas County. There are no specimens from the San Luis”
Valley, and hence it seems unlikely that it has reached the upper
Arkansas region over the Poncha Pass. q
At Coventry, Montrose County, where a small series representing
both sexes was collected in July, 1907, I found P. rowleyi and P. trued
about equally abundant in some low rocky ledges in a dense growth |}
of pinyons. A long line of traps placed along the high and nearly |
naked cliffs bordering Naturita Creek yielded fewer specimens of
rowleyi and more of truei. Most of the cliff mice taken at this season”
1Mammials of Colorado, p. 247, 1906.
Py
1911.1 MAMMALS. 107
were half or two-thirds grown. Near the Spruce Tree Cliff Ruins, on
Mesa Verde, at an elevation of 7,000 feet, an adult male rowleyi was
trapped in a Microtus runway among the fallen leaves in an oak
thicket. Tracks of a large cliff mouse were abundant in the fine
chalk-like dust among all the cliff ruins examined on the Mesa Verde,
but, as I had no time for careful trapping, it was impossible to deter-
mine which of the two species, truer or rowleyi, Was more abundant.
The Rowley cliff mouse was not taken at Ashbaugh’s ranch, in the
lower McEImo Canyon, but is doubtless present there, since Warren
has two specimens from Cortez, near the head of McElmo Canyon.
Arboles appears to be near the eastern limit of dispersion in the
valley of the San Juan. Traps placed among the dry rock ledges on
the north side of the San Juan at this point, June 7, 1907, yielded
two immature specimens and one adult.
Peromyscus crinitus auripectus (Allen). Golden-breasted Canyon
Mouse.
The type locality of this beautiful mouse is Bluff City, Utah, on
the San Juan River, 40 miles west of the Colorado line. It inhabits
the rock ledges and cliffs in much of the rough canyon and mesa
country of western and southwestern Colorado, in the Upper Sonoran
zone, becoming increasingly numerous toward the extreme south-
west. It ranges northeast in the Grand River Valley to the Grand
Canyon, east of Glenwood Springs, but was not found on the lower
White River or at any point north of the Book Cliffs, and this high
escarpment doubtless forms the northern boundary of its habitat.
This mouse is usually associated with P. truei, but does not range
so high. It appears to be restricted to the warmest valleys below
6,500 feet.
I first met with the golden-breasted mouse in the canyon of Plateau
Creek, 5 miles east of Tunnel, Mesa County, where a female was
trapped among the rocky ledges. It was again found at three widely
separated localities in Montezuma and Montrose Counties. A speci-
men was secured among the Spruce Tree Cliff Ruins on Mesa Verde,
and five specimens, representing both sexes, were collected in the
rock ledges and cliffs bordermg McElmo Creek at Ashbaugh’s ranch,
20 miles west of Cortez. At Coventry, Montrose County, P. auri-
pectus is greatly exceeded in numbers by both true: and rowleyi. I
trapped a single specimen at this point in the rocky cliffs north of
Naturita Creek. Mr. C. H. Smith, of Coventry, has collected a
number of the golden-breasted mice among the same cliffs and does
not consider them at all rare. Warren has this species from Grand
Junction. Thus far it has not been found at any point in the Gun-
nison Valley, but this is doubtless owing to lack of careful collecting
in that region.
108 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 88.
Reithrodontomys montanus (Baird). Mountain Harvest Mouse.
Reithrodon montanus Baird, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 335, 1855. “‘ Vicinity
of the Rocky Mountains, lat. 38°.’ Type locality restricted by Allen (Bull.
Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., VII, p. 125, 1895) to ‘‘upper part of the San Luis Valley.’’
The type specimen of this interesting little harvest mouse in the
National Museum was collected by F. Kreuzfeldt on Capt. E. G.
Beckwith’s expedition to the Pacific coast in August, 1853, and
until recently remained unique. The exact locality is indeterminate,
but from the itinerary appears to have been on the east side of the
San Luis Valley about one-third the distance between old Fort-
Massachusetts (near Fort Garland) and Cochetopa Pass—probably
not far from the San Luis Lakes.
Vernon Bailey collected a harvest mouse at Del Norte in Septem-
ber, 1903, but it was so immature as to throw little additional light
on the status of Baird’s montanus. The Del Norte specimen was
trapped ‘‘under a bunch of Sarcobatus at the edge of an alfalfa
field.”’ )
Considerable areas of swamp land and wet meadows in various
parts of the San Luis Valley furnish an ideal environment for harvest
mice. When in the region, in October, 1907, in quest of specimens
of montanus, I visited the Medano Springs ranch, 15 miles northeast
of Mosca and a short distance northeast of the San Luis Lakes, as
this seemed very near where the type specimen must have been
taken. Here the extensive hay meadows and marshes along Medano
Creek appeared well suited to harvest mice; but after trapping care-
fully for a week in wet situations without success and taking mean-
while one adult and three young in the rank grass beneath Sarco-
batus bushes on higher ground, I decided that montanus must be
sought in dry situations. Accordingly, during the first week in
November, all the traps were placed in a grassy weed patch on a
broad sand ridge extending through the meadows and _ perhaps
6 feet above their level. Most of the specimens collected at this
time were caught in traps placed in the dense growth of grass beneath
the bushes of rabbit brush (Chrysothamnus patens), which occupied _
one end of the sand ridge. A very few were taken among the scat- —
tering dry stalks of Peritoma sonore. The series of 13 males and
7 females collected contains only 4 or 5 adults. Doubtless many
more of this species would have been taken had the majority of the
traps not been filled each night with voles and white-footed mice, —
which were exceedingly numerous in both wet and dry situations.
This is probably an isolated intermountain species. Its known | |
range is indicated by Del Norte, Medano ranch, and Crestone, Warren
having taken it at the last-named place in early October, 1909. —
(See fig. 12.) |
: sy
1911.] MAMMALS,
A. H. Howell, of the Biological Survey, who has in preparation a
revision of the genus eithrodontomys, has compared with related
forms the topotype series of . montanus from Medano Springs
ranch. The following characterization is from his manuscript:
“(feneral characters.—Size small (about the size of humilis); ears
and tail short; colors pale.
“Color.—(Fresh winter pelage, October and November). Pinkish
buff, clearest on sides and face, much mixed with blackish on dorsal
surface. Black hairs, most pronounced on hinder back. Kars much
as in megalotis, usually clothed on inner surface with ochraceous
buff hairs (a little darker than body hairs), sometimes, though not
5 109° 107°
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Boe Rives
begs
5 white
)
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River
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is ct ALAND /UNCTION
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: IININ| 2 27eGazors. WSS 4. Wow AWS. Gi 8. OY CHE! NEGRASCENSIS
Fig. 12.—Distribution in Colorado of harvest mice (Reithrodontomys) except R. albescens.
always, with a distinct blackish area on lower margin. Tail dis-
tinctly bicolor—grayish brown above, white beneath. Compared
_ with megalotis, the general tone is paler and less brownish; dorsal
area more distinct from color of sides; sides pinkish buff instead of
‘ochraceous buff; tail grayer (less brownish).
“Cranial characters.—Skull about the same size as that of humilis,
but with narrower rostrum and interorbital region; zygomata nar-
rowing anteriorly; nasals longer; molars heavier. Compared with
megalotis the resemblance is very close; montanus averages smaller,
with narrower and relatively higher brain case.
“ Measurements.— Average of 10 specimens from Medano Springs
i Total length, 126 (118-139); tail vertebra, 58 (51-64);
110 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, (No. 38.
hind foot, 17 (16-17.5). Average of three skulls: Occipito-nasal —
length, 20.2; breadth of brain case, 9.4: length of nasals, 7.9.”
R. montanus is a small, short-tailed species related to R. albescens
and &. griseus, and, like these, frequents dry grassy situations.
Compared with &. megalotis, it may be distinguished by its smaller
size, paler coloration, and shorter ears and tail. From the pale
grayish form albescens of the Nebraska sand hills, montanus differs
in darker (less gray) coloration, and somewhat larger ears, while the
skull is relatively longer and narrower and the rostrum lenges ee
in albescens
ae montanus albescens Cary. Pallid Harvest Mouse.
Four specimens of harvest mice from Loveland in the Miller col-
lection seem referable to R. m. albescens, although somewhat inter-
mediate in characters between albescens and griseus. The relative
abundance and distribution of harvest mice on the plains of eastern
and northeastern Colorado will not be known until more thorough
collecting is done. Possibly albescens or some other form of the
short-tailed group occurs with &. nebrascensis over much of the plains
region, as in western Kansas and Nebraska.
Reithrodontomys dychei nebrascensis Allen. Nebraska Harvest
Mouse.
The Nebraska harvest mouse doubtless occurs over most of the
plains region east of the foothills in the northern two-thirds of the
State. (See fig. 12.) There are specimens from Denver, Golden,
Valmont, Boulder (5 miles west), Loveland, Greeley, and Canon City,
but none have been taken on the plains south of the Arkansas Divide.
The species is usually taken in wet meadows, in alfalfa fields, or
along the grassy margins of irrigation ditches, but may be found
also in smaller numbers on dry uplands where there is a sufficiently
heavy growth of grass and weeds. Harvest mice range a short
distance into the foothills, along some of the streams, following the
widest and warmest valleys. I trapped one specimen at Blanch-
ard’s ranch, on Middle Boulder Creek, 5 miles west of Boulder.
It was taken in a grassy swale along the stream at 5,600 feet, in the
Transition zone. At Wray one was seen in a tangle of willow brush
in the boggy bed of a canyon, where in moving about in the brush
it often wrapped its tail around a twig by way of assistance.
Reithrodontomys megalotis (Baird). Big-eared Harvest Mouse.
This large-eared desert harvest mouse ranges into the State from the
west and southwest, following the low Upper Sonoran valleys. It
is not known to occur north of the Grand River Valley. (See fig. 12.)
At Arboles, in southwestern Archuleta County, near the New Mexico _
boundary, a female was taken in a trap set in the short grass beneath
a dense growth of willows and buffalo berry (Lepargyrea argentea) on
1911.) MAMMALS, a AL
the bank of the San Juan River. Two males taken from six traps set
in a tule marsh along McEIlmo Creek at Ashbaugh’s ranch, Montezuma
County, during the night of June 19, 1907, indicate that harvest mice
are tolerably common in that locality. I collected one at Hotchkiss
August 9, beneath a low rocky ledge bordering a smal! tule marsh
along the North Gunnison River. This specimen was nearly eaten
up by other mice, but the skin of back and rump which I preserved
is grayish and does not at all resemble the usual fulvous summer
pelage of megalotis. This species is not by any means restricted to
marshes and damp situations, as was shown by two specimens trapped
among beds of Opuntia on a high sand knoll in the Grand Valley near
Morris, 7 miles west of Rifle, August 13 and 14. These specimens,
a male and a female, are gray, like the Hotchkiss example. The
female contained six fetuses. A series of 25 specimens taken by
' Howell at Grand Junction early in November, 1895, are in early
winter pelage; while another individual which Preble secured at the
same locality August 25, 1895, is in the bright fulvous summer coat.
Warren has a specimen from Cortez, Montezuma County.
-Neotoma cinerea orolestes Merriam. Colorado Bushy-tailed Wood
Rat.
Neotoma orolestes Merriam, Proc Biol. Soc. Wash., IX, p. 128, July 2, 1894.
Type from Saguache Valley (20 miles west of Saguache), Colorado.
Bushy-tailed wood rats are common throughout the mountains and
also in the rough juniper and pinyon country of western Routt and
Rio Blanco Counties. On the eastern slopes of the main ranges they
rarely occur below 6,000 feet, and are largely replaced in the lower
foothills by the smaller round-tailed N. fallax. They have been
found from an elevation of only 4,500 feet at Grand Junction to tim-
berline on Mount McClellan and near Silverton, thus having a verti-
cal range of approximately 6,000 feet. (See fig. 13.) Specimens
from the lower arid western portions of Routt and Rio Blanco Counties
are usually much paler than those from the main mountain ranges.
In 1905 and 1906 I observed JN. orolestes in all the mountainous coun-
try traversed. It was least common in the Middle and North Park
region, where a few stick nests were noted in the cliffs along Grand
River and in the Rabbit Ear Mountains, and one rat was seen in an
old cabin near Fraser. In the rough country bordering the lower
Snake and Bear Rivers the favorite homes of this species are in hollow
junipers, which are often completely filled with sticks, cactus pads,
bones, and other nest material. In this region the rats live also
among the rocky bluffs, in hollow cottonwoods along the streams, in
the adobe banks of arroyos, and occasionally in thickets of buffalo
berry. One nest noted on Snake River was in a buffalo berry bush
fully 10 feet above the ground. The few old cabins which I entered
| im the Snake River Valley below Baggs Crossing were inhabited by
112 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, | (No. 83,
numbers of rats, in addition to two or three species of bats and innu-
merable white-footed mice. The cupboard, stoves, shelves, and
bunks were filled with trash carried in by the rats, and an immense
pile of rubbish had been piled up in a corner of one of the cabins.
I often saw wood rats running about in the cabins during the day-
time, and on Bear River shot one among the rocks at midday. At
one of our Snake River camps wood rats were very abundant and
all night long could be heard climbing the tent walls, investigating
our supplies, and running back and forth across our blankets. One
was bold enough to nip my companion’s ear. .
107°
NZ:
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Y
== WLO7OMA C. ARIZONAE YU), .C. OROLESTES WY 1%. 6. ZUA/COLA.
Fic. 13.—Distribution in Colorado of bushy-tailed wood rats ( Neotoma c. arizon#, N.c. orolestes, and N.C. |
rupicola). 5 |
j
Supposed nests of JV. orolestes were seen at Sapinero, Somerset, and 4 |
on the Uncompahgre Plateau in 1907, and the species was reported —
at St. Elmo, in northwestern Huerfano County, and at many other —
localities. Bailey reports it common in the canyon of Conejos River, |
west of Antonito. It is represented in the Biological Survey collec- _
tion by specimens from a wide range of localities in the Colorado |
mountains. |
In its propensity for carrying rubbish into deserted cabins this |
species resembles other members of the genus, and it also shares with |
them the habit of hiding in its nest all manner of portable articles —
which attract its fancy. The industry of these rats is remarkable,
1911.1] MAMMALS, 113
and a pair can accomplish a surprising amount of work in one night.
On the lower Snake River a stick nest of considerable size was built
near the oat sack in our camp wagon while we slept, and a wood rat
was found early the next morning domiciled therein.
The nests are found in a variety of situations. In the mountains
they are usually placed in cracks and crevices of rocky ledges and
cliffs or in deserted cabins. Miners at the Stevens Mill, at timberline
on Mount McClellan, reported a few rats living in the mine several
hundred feet from the entrance, and stated that the animals often
passed them on the ladders.
Neotoma cinerea arizene Merriam. Arizona Bushy-tailed Wood Rat.
Bushy-tailed wood rats from Ashbaugh’s ranch (near McEImo),
Montezuma County, and from Coventry, Montrose County, are refer-
able to this small southwestern species. Warren has taken it at
Cortez, Montezuma County, and at Bedrock, Montrose County, and
it appears to be the species so common among the cliff ruins on Mesa
Verde. Itis mainly Upper Sonoran in distribution, and probably does
not occur north of the San Miguel Valley (see fig. 13), since JN.
orolestes is the species found in the Grand Valley at Grand Junction.
Intergradation between arizone and orolestes probably takes place
in the region of the Uncompahgre Plateau, but there are no speci-
mens to decide this point.
The Arizona wood rat is uncommon at Coventry, being greatly
outnumbered by the little gray round-tailed NV. fallax in the cliffs
alone Naturita Creek. In the cliffs at Ashbaugh’s ranch, also, I
found both species occurring together, but here the bushy-tailed
rats were more numerous. The nests of the two are apparently
indistinguishable, and both species were taken in traps set at the
same nest. One of the yellowish bushy-tailed rats was seen running
along a rocky ledge about 4 o’clock one afternoon. Its course led
from one sheltering rock to another and obliged it to cross short
intervening spaces of sunlight. The rat took advantage of all the
shadows and dark recesses, and when forced to cross a bright open
space its movements were so quick that the eye could scarcely follow.
Other rats were dimly seen moving about in nests far back under
rocks.
Many wood rat tracks which I saw in the fine dust of the Spruce
Tree Cliff Ruins (see Pl. IV, fig. 1) on Mesa Verde, as well as fresh
stick nests found in the neighboring rock ledges, indicated an abun-
dance of the animals at this point—doubtless both fallax and ari-
zone being present. Large piles of well-preserved rat excrement
found in many of the rooms among the ruins were apparently as old
as the ruins themselves, being blackened with the same smoke which
begrimed the interior of the rooms and caverns centuries ago.
90432°—11——_8
114 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, (No. 83.
Neotoma cinerea rupicola Allen. Pallid Bushy-tailed Wood Rat.
Eight specimens from Pawnee Buttes and the Chimney Cliffs (30
miles northwest of Sterling) agree closely with topotypes of JN.
rupicola from Corral Draw, Big Bad Lands, South Dakota. This
interesting series greatly extends the known range of the species and
gives the first record for Colorado. (See fig. 13.)
Near the Chimney Chffs two nursing females, an adult male in
badly worn pelage, and two young about quarter grown, were col- —
lected June 4 to 8 , 1909, on the talus slopes and rocky buttes 3 in the
open valley a nal or so south of the cliffs. The rats probably in- —
habit all the buttes scattered here and there over the upper drainage —
of Horsetail Creek east to within 15 miles of Sterling. They appear —
to be uncommon, however, among the precipitous white badland —
cliffs which form the northern boundary of the Horsetail Valley. —
This may be because there are fewer natural crevices and recesses
for nesting sites in the soft white rock of the badland formation.
Rat nests were numerous beneath the bowlders and rock ledgeson the _
buttes in the valley, as they were also in similar situations at Pawnee
Buttes, some 25 or 30 miles southwest. The species appeared in- A |
active at both localities, however, and I found it difficult to secure —
specimens. The two nursing females from the Chimney Cliffs are in 4
fresh light yellowish summer pelage, while all the males taken are in
worn paul faded whitish winter pelage.
N. rupicola is the palest known member of the genus. It is a small q
form of the bushy-tailed group, inhabiting the rough areas of badland _
bluffs and buttes from western South Dakota south to northeastern _
Colorado, in the Upper Sonoran zone. I secured it in the bluffs along
Laramie River at Uva, Wyoming, and it occurs also in the rocky ©
bluff region of extreme western Nebraska.
Neotoma floridana baileyi Merriam. Bailey Wood Rat.
This is the only representative of the Neotoma floridana group im
Colorado. It enters the State from the east, in the valleys of the
Republican and Arkansas Rivers and tributary streams, and ranges
westward along the Arkansas to Pueblo and farther north to Flagler
and Wray. (See fig. 14.) It is restricted to the Upper Sonoran zone.
At Olney, in December, 1894, Mr. C. P. Streator found this wood
rat abundant in thickets of tree cactus (Opuntia arborescens) and —
collected a series of 12 specimens. He was informed by stockmen —
that a few are found 10 miles north of Arlington, Kiowa County,
and also along the Arkansas River south of Chivington. Concerning
the distribution of N. baileys in the Arkansas Valley, Mr. Streator
reports that it ‘‘evidently occurs wherever there are rocks, tree —
cactus, or hollow trees.’ He found it common also in the cliffs
bordering the valley of the South Fork of the Republican River near
A
1911.1] MAMMALS, TAS
Flagler. It is abundant in the sandstone ledges bordering the South
Fork Valley in the vicinity of Tuttle, where I captured specimens,
and found the nests composed of sticks, dried cow manure, bones,
and rubbish of all sorts, with cactus and yucca spines for protection.
Prof. D. E. Lantz reports pack rats common in hollow cottonwoods
along the Big Sandy near Hugo, and I found old nests among the
rocks on the northern face of Cedar Point, northwest of Limon.
This should be the form represented at both the above localities.
At Wray, where I secured specimens, this rat was inhabiting sand-
A,
G Wy WS
SUAS
cS QLORADO SPRING,
+,
SS
VEE fRAND JUNCTION
y
RMON
AAAARAAI
ANARAAN AS
Yj
YLN.FALLAX. SE885/V. DESERTORUM. 3 SVE BAILEV. = N.AWARREM. \|||||]] 472 CAVESCEWS.
_ Tig. 14.—Distribution in Colorado of round-tailed wood rats ( Neotoma fallax, N.desertorum, N. f. baileyi,
N. a. warreni, and N. m. canescens).
stone ledges along the valley, much as at Tuttle. There is a specimen
from Pueblo, and the rats are reported by Mr. H. W. Nash as com-
mon at that peint.1 The American Museum of Natural History has
a specimen from Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas River, collected by
Capt. P. M. Thorne February 4, 1885. This specimen has been
recorded as N. campestris.”
Neotoma f. baileyi is a large, long-tailed, gray form of the round-
tailed group, and quite unlike any of the other Colorado species.
Neotoma micropus canescens Allen. Hoary Wood Rat.
The hoary wood rat has been found only in the southeast corner of
the State, in southeastern Otero County and in Baca County, this
—__
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 247, 1906.
' 2 Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., VI, p. 322, 1894.
116 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 83.
being the northern known limit. (See fig. 14.) A specimen taken
by Warren at Monon, and sent to the Biological Survey for identi-
fication, proves referable to this form. Mr. Warren found this wood
rat also at Springfield, and states that he found it living chiefly
among rocks, but that some were living in the buildings of an
unoccupied ranch. Near Higbee, Otero County, where Prof. Lantz
secured a specimen in April, 1910, these rats were living among
rocks and in hollow junipers on the mesas and in clumps of tree cactus
(Opuntia arborescens) in the open Purgatory Valley. On the deserts
of western Texas and over the greater part of its range the species
lives in open country, the nests being usually in bunches of cactus
or other spiny shrubbery.
Neotoma albigula warreni Merriam. Warren Wood Rat.
Neotoma albigula warreni Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XXI, pp. 143-144,
June 9, 1908. Type from Gaume’s ranch, northwest corner of Baca County,
Colorado.
This medium-sized wood rat closely resembles NV. m. canescens in its
eray coloration, but its relationships are with albigula. It inhabits
the rough juniper country of southeastern Colorado, and also occurs
in northeastern New Mexico, where it doubtless grades into UN.
albigula. It is abundant in Shell Rock Canyon, in extreme north-
western Baca County, and Warren found it at Irwin’s ranch, in eastern
Las Animas County. It may be the species inhabiting the rock
ledges at Rhinehart’s stage station, 20 miles south of Lamar, in~
southern Prowers County, but no specimens were taken at that point.
Doubtless it occurs throughout the juniper country of western Baca
and eastern Las Animas Counties. (See fig. 14.) |
At Gaume’s ranch, in Shell Rock Canyon, I found these wood rats —
living among rocks along the canyon walls or in hollow junipers on
the upper rims of canyons, and occasionally in large stick houses
reared against the bases of junipers in the dense growth well back
from the canyon rims. Whether among the rocks or in the
junipers, the nests were fortified with a varied assortment of spines
and thorns, the sharp spiny bundles of the tree cactus (Opuntia
arborescens) always predominating. The stick houses averaged about
2 feet in height and often contained-several bushels of dead juniper
branches. Judging from the signs observed at the nest entrances,
the rats were subsisting largely at this time of year (November) upon
the berries of Juniperus monosperma. ,
According to Mr. E. J. Gaume, these rats seldom take up their
abode in abandoned houses as do the ‘‘short-tailed blue rats’”’ (un-
doubtedly referring to NV. m. canescens) of eastern Baca County. Re-
garding the habits of this species at Gaume’s ranch, Warren says: ‘‘It
did not seem to breed as early as N. micropus [.N. m. canescens] at
Monon, for half-grown young of the latter species were taken the Ist
Ped
a
>
Ve
1911.] MAMMALS. 1t7
of May, while the present species was apparently Just beginning to
breed after the middle of the same month.” !
Neotoma fallax Merriam. Gale Wood Rat.
Neotoma fallax Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., IX, p. 123, July 2, 1894. Type
from near Gold Hill, Boulder County, Colorado.
The type specimen of this small gray round-tailed wood rat was
taken by the late Mr. Denis Gale on a tributary of Boulder Creek,
near Gold Hill, at the extreme upper limit of the range of the animal.
Other specimens in the Biological Survey collection are from the
following localities, chiefly in the lower eastern foothills: Boulder;
Arkins; Loveland; Canon City; Trinidad; Fisher Peak; Martinsen,
Las Animas County; Arboles; near McElmo; and Coventry. Spe-
cimens from Colorado Springs, Spring Canyon (near Fort Collins),
and Grand Junction have been sent to the Biological Survey for
identification. Other localities from which Warren has specimens are
Cortez, Salida, Van Andert’s Spring (on Little Fountain Creek, south-
west of Colorado Springs), and Howard.
N. fallax is common among the eastern foothills north across the
State as far as Fort Collins. It occurs from the lowest outlying
talus slopes at the edge of the plains to an altitude of about 7,500 feet,
mainly in the Transition zone. (See fig. 14.) In the Canadian
zone it is replaced by the larger bushy-tailed JV. orolestes. The two
species occur together at a number of localities (including the type
locality of N. fallax) between 6,000 and 7,000 feet; and at Blan-
chard’s ranch, 5 miles west of Boulder, both have been taken at
5,800 feet. Throughout this region of vertical overlapping of ranges
(about 2,000 feet), however, fallax is the commoner species. Warren
has taken both species at Grand Junction, below 5,000 feet.
From Trinidad this species probably extends south in the Upper
Sonoran and Transition zones around the southern ends of the Culebra
and San Juan Ranges, thus reaching southwestern Colorado from
the south, rather than from the east through the lowest mountain
passes. At Pagosa Springs, Arboles, and Bayfield it inhabits rock
ledges—at Pagosa Springs in gulches in the yellow-pine forest and
at the last two localities down among the pinyons. It is also com-
mon with N. arizone in the cliffs along McElmo Creek at Ashbaugh’s
ranch, Montezuma County, and on Naturita Creek at Coventry, at
the last locality being occasionally found about ranch buildings.
This seems to be the species commonly known in the lower parts of
western Mesa, Montrose, and San Miguel Counties as the sleek-tailed
rat. Fresh nests were found beneath the rocky ledges on Dry Creek,
west of Naturita, and others in the Sinbad Valley, near Uranium.
A very few nests seen in the bluffs along the North Gunnison River
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 248, 1906.
i
a
- t<
-—s)
— ee Le i
: “ un Ke
118 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 88.
near Hotchkiss appeared to belong to fallax rather than to orolestes
It is not known from the San Luis Valley, but careful collecting on
the lower slopes of the bordering mountains may prove its presence
in that region.
In its habits fallax does not differ materially from the other wood
rats. It is equally at home in deserted mines, prospect holes, cabins,
and among rocks; while a talus slope seems peculiarly attractive to
it. The type specimen was taken in a stamp mill. Near Canon
City Bailey found several nests in hollow junipers, and in south-
western Colorado I have often seen nests in junipers and in pinyons.
The piles of sticks, stones, and other trash accumulated by these rats
among the rocks and on talus slopes are not so large asin old cabins.
The stove in a cabin which I entered near Gold Hill was completely
filled with sticks and rubbish, while the nest in the oven was com-
posed of softer materials. Among the varied assortment of nest
materials used by this wood rat may be mentioned juniper branches,
sticks, stones, bones, dried horse dung, pads of prickly pear cactus
(Opuntia), and the branches of a variety of thorny and spiny plants,
such as roses, haws (Cratzgus), Ceanothus fendleri, and yuccas. The
inner nest is often composed of the soft inner bark of the juniper. At
Walsenburg and Badito, in Huerfano County, and also in the bluffs
along the San Juan River at Arboles, these rats often construct their
nests entirely of the spiny branches of tree cactuses (Opuntia arbores-
cens and O. whipplei).
A female wood rat which I surprised in her nest among the rafters
of a cabin near Boulder, July 23, 1906, glided away lke a shadow in
the semidarkness, with two young about quarter grown clinging to
her teats. Her movements were rapid but perfectly noiseless. A
female collected by Loring at Loveland contained three small fetuses
May 1, while an immature individual from near McElmo, June 18,
is about two-thirds grown. Acorns, pinyon nuts, and juniper berries
are the chief food of fallax in southern Colorado, judging from the
quantities found in and around some of the nests.
This wood rat appears to be chiefly nocturnal, but as we rode down
the bed of a dry desert arroyo north of Nucla, Montrose County, on
a hot day in July, one was seen dodging about among the bordering
rocks at midday.
Neotoma desertorum Merriam. Desert Wood Rat.
The small desert wood rat reaches Colorado in the extreme lower
White River Valley, in the vicinity of Rangely (see fig. 14), where it
meets the range of the larger, bushy-tailed N. orolestes. A number
of the nests of desertorum were found on the first bench south of White
River, 5 miles west of Rangely, at 5,300 feet, where four of the rats
were collected September 15 and 16, 1906. These nests, or houses,
were 2 or 3 feet in height, and were constructed of dried cow manure
WH,
q
Lt
1911.) MAMMALS. 119
and the pads of prickly pear. Scattered here and there over the
cactus flat they looked curiously like muskrat houses on a marsh.
(See fig. 15.) The rats were trapped at the entrances to the nests,
of which there were usually two above ground, and often a third
opening beneath a bush a yard or so distant. The largest of the
houses were in thickets of Atriplex confertifolia, but the smaller struc-
tures were reared in bunches of Opuntia. Specimens of NV. desertorum
and orolestes were taken within a few feet of each other, the latter
species living in the banks of the dry arroyos which border the flat
occupied by the small desertorum.
I did not find the species in the desert areas of southwestern Colo-
rado in 1907, although much of the region seems suitable.
Phenacomys_ oro-
philus Merriam.
Mountain Phen-
acomys.
An adult female
Phenacomys which
Warren collected
December 11,1906,
at Lake Moraine, El
Paso County, and
forwarded to the
Biological Survey
for identification,
proves referable to
P. orophilus of the
northern Rocky
Mountains, and is
quite distinct from P. preblei, taken on Longs Peak. The Lake
Moraine specimen differs from the type of preblez in its larger size,
more robust skull, and particularly in its much grayer pelage. The
fur is full and long and of a beautiful frosted gray color, while the feet
and tail are almost white. The measurements are: Total length, 140;
tail vertebrae, 30; hind foot, 18. Warren secured this specimen near
Ruxton Creek, at 10,250 feet, ‘‘in a hole near creek bank.” An imper-
Fig. 15.—Nest of Neotoma desertorum oun Atriplex flat near Rangely.
fect skull in the National Museum which belongs to an alcoholic speci-
men (No. 59691,-Fairplay, Park Co., July 11, 1873) is large and robust
as compared with the skull of the type of P. preblei, and accords well
with the Lake Moraine specimen. The skin has lost its color value
through long immersion in alcohol. The altitude of Fairplay is about
9,900 feet.
Little is known of the habits of these interesting short-tailed mice.
They appear to be very rare in Colorado and restricted to the moun-
120 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
tains above 9,000 feet. At present they are known only from the
higher eastern slopes of the Front Range, in the Canadian zone.
Phenacomys preblei Merriam. Preble Phenacomys.
Phenacomys preblet Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XI, p. 45, March 16, 1897.
Type from Lilie Mountain, near Longs Peak, Colorado.
The type of this small pale ochraceous species, an adult male, has
until recently remained unique. It was collected August 12, 1895,
by Mr. Edward A. Preble on Lilie Mountain (known also as Twin
Peak), not far from Longs Peak. Preble states that the exact local-
ity was on a southwest slope of the mountain not far from Lamb’s
ranch, at an elevation of approximately 9,000 feet. The specimen
was taken in a trap set for white-footed mice among fallen logs on a
dry slope supporting scanty vegetation. This slope had been cov-
ered by trees, most of which had fallen.
Another specimen, an adult female, from North Boulder Creek,
near Nederland, has been recorded recently by Mr. R. T. Young,! who
secured it on the Silver Lake trail September 19, 1900, at an elevation
of between 9,000 and 10,000 feet. This specimen, which is in the
Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, I have been permitted
to examine through the courtesy of Mr. Witmer Stone. It is a well-
made skin and has a perfect skull, which is more robust than the skull
of the type of P. preblei, with the interorbital ridges well developed
(inclosing a median sulcus). The skin measurements are: Total
length, 143; tail, 33; and hind foot, 18; as compared with 130-30-17
of the type of P. preblei (a male), and 146—38-19 of the type of P.
orophilus (afemale). In coloration the Nederland specimen is nearest
P. preblei, it being much too yellowish for orophilus, with the back
and sides strongly suffused with ochraceous.
Evotomys gapperi galei Merriam. Rocky Mountain Red-backed
Mouse.
Evotomys galei Merriam, N. Am. Fauna No. 4, p. 23, pl. II, fig. 3, 1890. Type
from Ward, Boulder County, Colorado (9,500 feet).
In Colorado red-backed mice are restricted to the boreal forests of
the high mountains. Their center of abundance is in the lodgepole
pine forest belt of the Canadian zone, but they range up to at least
11,000 feet, in the Hudsonian zone, well within the Engelmann spruce
belt. Cold, mossy, heavily forested slopes having a great deal of
fallen timber are most frequented by red-backed mice, which live
beneath the rotten logs and brush piles. They seem to be largely
nocturnal, although one July afternoon I saw one running along
under a log at Petersons Lake, west of Eldora, Boulder County. In
most parts of the mountains they are difficult to trap owing to the
greater abundance of field mice and white-footed mice, which get
1 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 406, 1908.
1911.] MAMMALS. | a |
into the traps early in the night. For this reason it is often impos-
sible to judge whether red-backed mice are common or rare, but it
seems certain that in most sections they are greatly outnumbered
by other species. At the type locality, however, Preble found them
abundant and caught nothing else in his traps.
During the field seasons of 1905 and 1906 eleven specimens were
taken at four widely separated localities in northern Colorado. In
July, 1905, five were trapped beneath fallen logs in dry lodgepole pine
forest at Coulter, Middle Park (8,500 feet); three more were caught
August 16 in a thicket of balsam (Abies lasiocarpa) in the aspen forest
on the White River Plateau, 25 miles southeast of Meeker, at the same
altitude; August 10, 1906, an immature male was secured in a bog
near Pearl, in the northern end of North Park; and in late September
three others were captured in the Douglas spruce forest at Baxter
Pass, on the summit of the Book Plateau, within a few miles of the
Utah boundary. In October, 1907, I found Lvotomys tolerably
common in mossy spruce woods and thickets near St. Elmo in the
Saguache Mountains, at 10,000 feet. Most of the individuals trapped
at this point were half or two-thirds grown. Other specimens are
from Gold Hill, Longs Peak, Lake City, and Silverton.
The type of /. galer, which is in the Merriam collection, was taken
by Mr. Denis Gale at Ward, July 13, 1889. The National Museum
has specimens from the Silver Lake trail, near Nederland, Boulder
County; and others labeled Twin Lakes and Del Norte.1. Warren
records this species from Crested Butte and Irwin, Gunnison County;
Divide, Teller County; Lake Moraine, and mountains near Colorado
Springs, El Paso County.’
Microtus pennsylvanicus modestus (Baird). Saguache Meadow Mouse.
Arvicola modesta Baird, Mamm. N. Am., p. 535, 1857. Type from ‘‘Sawatch
Pass, Rocky Mountains’”’ (Cochetopa Pass, Cochetopa Ells, Colorado).
This large, dark meadow mouse is common on the plains at the
eastern base of the foothills and in the San Luis Valley region of
southern Colorado, but is apparently rare in the northern mountains.
Small colonies are found in marshes at Golden and Valmont, and at
Medano Springs ranch, near the San Luis Lakes, the species was
extremely abundant, not only in marshes and wet meadows, but
also on grassy uplands and wherever any cover was afforded. A
small colony of meadow mice found in an alkaline marsh near the
mouth of Four-mile Creek, Routt County, and others reported in
the McElmo Valley, in western Montezuma County, may have been
of this species, but no specimens were secured at either locality.
In August, 1892, Loring collected a large series of topotypes at
Tevebaugh’s ranch, 9 miles south of Cochetopa Pass, where he found
1 Probably from some point in mountains near Del Norte.
2 Mammals of Colorado, p. 249, 1906.
122 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, | [No. 88,
well-beaten runways ramifying through the tall grass near a creek.
Six, seven, and even eight young were found by Loring in single
nests, which were composed of fine dried grass and were said to
resemble the nest of the ovenbird. Bailey found this meadow
mouse very abundant in both dry and wet meadows along the Rio
Grande at Del Norte, where it was doing slight damage in clover and
alfalfa fields. At Wray,! in May, 1909, these meadow mice were
feeding extensively upon the blossoms and leaves of the false Solo-
mon’s seal (Vagnera stellata), and fragments of the blossoms of a
species of Senecio were also found scattered along the runways.
: SS Se ee eee =
aS Se NN YY
SREY \SEN Yi
FOS S ty
SS
NSS
.
°LEADVILLE
ty
Lop ey J
WS "Wer07Us (LAGURUS) PAUPERRIMUS. Ut, MUICROTUS OCHROGASTER HAYDEN.
Fic. 16.—Distribution in Colorado of Hayden and pygmy field mice (Microtus pawperrimus and M. ochro-
gaster haydeni).
In addition to the series mentioned above, the Biological Survey
has specimens of J. modestus from Denver, Loveland, Antonito,
and Fort Garland. A specimen in the National Museum is from
Twin Lakes; some from Fort Collins have been identified for 58.
Arthur Johnson; and Warren has others from Colorado Springs,
Westcliffe, and Divide. The species is recorded from Estes Park.?
Microtus ochrogaster haydeni (Baird). Upland Mouse.
The upland mouse has been taken in Colorado at only a few locali-
ties along the eastern base of the foothills, and at Wray and Tuttle,
1 Several specimens collected in the cool canyon bogs at Wray are abnormally dark, but can be matched
by a few specimens from elsewhere in the range of modestus.
2 Mammals of Colorado, p. 250, 1906.
=
>
1911.] MAMMALS, 123
near the eastern border. (See fig. 16.) It is doubtless present, how-
ever, over most of the dry uplands and prairies east of the moun-
tains and north of the Arkansas Valley. Unlike M. modestus, which
inhabits damp meadows and marshes almost exclusively, haydenz is
usually, though not always, found on high grassy plains. On my
trip across the plains from Cheyenne Wells to Sterling in 1909, I col-
lected a young individual at Wray in a cold bog inhabited by a large
colony of modestus; while at Tuttle four upland mice were taken in a
marsh along the South Fork of the Republican River, and signs of them
were seen on a grassy flat on the dry upland 8 miles south of Seibert.
Other localities from which the Biological Survey has specimens are
Loveland, Canon City, and Fort Collins. The species is reported
from Greeley.
Microtus mordax (Merriam). Rocky Mountain Field Mouse.
This- large, long-tailed field mouse has been taken from an eleva-
tion of 4,600 feet (Grand Junction) to considerably over 12,000 feet
(Mount Kelso), and thus has the widest vertical range among the
Colorado species of Microtus. It is abundant throughout the Cana-
dian and Hudsonian zones of the mountains, and follows down cold
streams in places through the Transition zone. It is of little eco-
nomic importance, owing to the very. limited agriculture carried on
within its range.
This species is fond of forests and of cool, damp situations where
the vegetation is rank. On Mount Kelso, near Grays Peak, several
large colonies were discovered in dense thickets of alpine willows
(Salix chlorophylla and S. glaucops) considerably above timberline.
Most of my specimens were taken under logs in heavy forests or in
cold mountain bogs grown up with willows. In many localities the
field mice were so abundant that all the traps would be thrown by
them during the early evening hours, and thus my chances for the
rarer mammals were spoiled. I found a small coiony at Rangely in
a marsh bordering White River at 5,300 feet, and another on a small
tributary of the San Miguel River near Coventry at about 5,500 feet.
This species is represented in the Biological Survey collection by speci-
mens from a wide range of localities in the mountainous parts of the
State.
_ Microtus nanus (Merriam). Dwarf Field Mouse.
In Colorado this small field mouse is largely an inhabitant of the
boreal zones and is common far above timberline on some of the
mountain ranges. It is especially numerous in the high mountain
parks of the northern two-thirds of the State, in dry, grassy sage-
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 251, 1906.
2 Warren (The Mammals of Colorado, p. 100, 1910) states that he has seen a specimen from the Summit
House on Pikes Peak, at 14,147 feet.
,
124 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, (No. 33.
brush country. It does not appear to enter the surrounding forests
to any extent, but occasionally may be taken along streams and in
mountain meadows. I found several large colonies on the Front
Range just south of James Peak, at an elevation of 12,500 feet,
in October, 1906. An interminable labyrinth of runways extended
through the moss in copses of an alpine willow (Salix glaucops), and
many of the field mice could be seen darting from cover to cover.
This species was very abundant in the spruce belt on Mount Kelso,
at about 11,000 feet, and in places the mossy slope was almost honey-
combed by the burrows. It was impossible to catch pocket gophers
(Thomomys fossor) on Mount Kelso because of these mice, which used
the gopher tunnels and were continually getting into the traps.
AM. nanus is found as low as 6,000 feet in the meadows along White
River, east of Meeker, and also near Coventry, Montrose County.
In the last locality it is very abundant in the irrigated alfalfa fields,
where it is considered very injurious. In the Hahns Peak region
and in the parks on the western slope of the Gore Range these field
mice were frequently observed in their runways in the daytime. At
Coulter, Middle Park, I often watched them feeding on grass among
the willows before the tent in the middle of the forenoon, and they
seemed quite oblivious of my presence. On the grassy plains east
of Como, South Park, this field mouse was using the abandoned
burrows and tunnels of Thomomys fossor to a large extent.
Mr. Morris M. Green writes of a colony which he observed at Al-
mont (8,000 feet), Gunnison County, in August, 1909: ‘‘There was
a small colony of these animals in a little marsh, supporting a luxuri-
ant growth of young cottonwoods, spearmint, and succulent, tender
swamp grasses. Their runways in several places had little piles of
tender grass stalks, cut to a length of 2 or 3 inches, which the little
animals could doubtless manipulate easily in their paws. Two
adults and three half-grown young were trapped. One runway led
to a ball-shaped nest of dead grass under a dead log. The nest had
not been frequented lately, and was doubtless a winter abode.”’
There are specimens from other localities as follows: Arrowhead, —
Mount Whiteley, Arapahoe Pass, Rabbit Ear Mountains, Estes Park,
Cochetopa Pass, and Ruby Lake. Bailey records the species from
Twin River and Twin Lakes.’ Specimens taken by Warren at Crested
Butte and Irwin, Gunnison County, have been identified by the Bio-
logical Survey.
Microtus (Lagurus) pauperrimus (Cooper). Pygmy Field Mouse.
In July, 1905, while traveling across the sage plains of eastern
North Park, I detected evidences of a small species of Jherotus
(presumably a Lagurus) and later secured three specimens in the
sand hills at the west base of the Medicine Bow Range, east of Walden.
1N. Am. Fauna, No. 17, p. 31, 1900.
1911.] MAMMALS. 125
In 1906 an adult female was secured at the same locality; six speci-
mens were collected at Elk Springs, 8 miles south of Lily, Routt
County; eight were taken near Toponas, in Kgeria Park; and the
bleached anterior part of a skull was found in the nest of a wood
rat near Douglas Spring, at the north base of the Escalante Hills.
The above specimens compared with typical M. pawperrimus from
northeastern Oregon show no differences.
This small, gray, short-tailed field mouse appears to have a some-
what interrupted distribution in northwestern Colorado. (See fig.
16.) Although much of western Routt County consists of sandy
sagebrush country, well suited to the species, it was found in but two
localities. In the sand hills east of Walden, North Park, the run-
ways of these field mice were beneath the prostrate lowest branches
of large clumps of Chrysothamnus, and that this is the chief food
plant was attested by the many neat little piles of the smaller stems
and leaves, cut into short lengths, here and there along the runways.
At Elk Springs, on the watershed between Bear and White Rivers,
a large colony occupied the grassy swale in which the springs are
located, and extended for a considerable distance into the surround-
ing sandy sage plain. This colony probably numbered many hun-
dreds, and the numerous runways ramifying in all directions formed
a perfect network. The small colony near Toponas was located
on the sage plain at the west base of the Gore Range, at an altitude
of 8,000 feet, and was apparently subsisting largely upon range
erasses. The members of this colony were very active during the
early evening hours. In less than ten minutes, just aiter sunset
one frosty October evening, three entered traps within a few feet
of where I stood. Warren has taken this species at Hot Sulphur,
in Middle Park. It has probably reached the open sage parks of
Grand County from North Park, as the Gore Range would seem
to be an effectual barrier on the west.
Allen has recorded this mouse from Kinney ranch, Sweetwater
County, Wyoming,! which locality is within 30 miles of the Colorade
boundary.
Fiber zibethicus osoyoosensis Lord. Rocky Mountain Muskrat.
Muskrats are reported in most of the streams of central and west-
ern Colorado below 9,000 feet, but I have found them common
only in the marshes and lakes of the intermountain parks. In
the chain of bogs and sloughs in the low meadows along Tomichi
Creek, between Gunnison and Parlin, in October, 1907, muskrats
were living in tule houses, and the many open trails ramifying
through the moss and other vegetation on the surface of the ponds
were evidence of their abundance. Muskrats were abundant in
1 Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., VIII, p. 248, 1896.
a
es, Sod tw
i a, pe ig
a 2 — >
see -
ey a =
SM see
rr _
C= 4
126 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 88.
the San Luis Valley, especially in the San Luis Lakes. They were
common in marshes along Grand River, in Middle Park, where I
collected three specimens; two were taken near Hebron on the
upper waters of the Platte, in North Park; and two more in a small
tributary of the San Miguel River, near Coventry. Other specimens
in the Biological Survey collection are from Tevebaugh’s ranch, near
Cochetopa Pass, secured by Loring in 1892.
Fiber zibethicus cinnamominus Hollister. Great Plains Muskrat.
The muskrats of the eastern Colorado plains are referable to the
pale reddish plains form /. 2. cinnamominus, recently described
from Kansas.1. They are smaller and paler and have smaller skulls
and teeth than the mountain form of central and western Colorado,
I. 2. osoyoosensis. Specimens from the eastern foothills are con-
sidered by Hollister to be cinnamominus;? others from Middle and
North Park localities he refers to osoyoosensis.2 Ihave no records —
of muskrats above 9,500 feet, and thus the high front ranges appear _
to be an effective barrier between the two forms in Colorado. |
On the plains scores of muskrat houses may often be seen on a
single marsh or lake. This is especially noticeable at Barr and —
other points in the lake region northeast of Denver. Although
muskrats are present in most of the streams on the plains, their —
numbers are small compared with those inhabiting lakes and marshes,
They are very troublesome in irrigated sections, as they are con-
tinually burrowing in the banks of ditches and reservoirs, often |
causing serious leaks.
This form is represented in the Biological Survey collection by
specimens which I secured at Wray, Yuma County, and a female
which contained eight small fetuses, taken by Loring in a small
snow-fed lake at 9,500 feet, near Ward, Boulder County, June 8, 1893.
Castor canadensis frondator Mearns. Broad-tailed Beaver.
The identity of the Colorado beaver can not at present be deter-
mined, as no satisfactory specimens are available for study. Prob-
ably the beaver of the southern and western parts of the State is
frondator, but those from the higher mountains in northern Colorado
may prove referable to canadensis. Skulls from Lake Moraine and
Crested Butte, sent to the Biological Survey for identification by
Warren, are referred to frondator.
Very few beavers remain in the streams of the eastern plains
region, where they were abundant in early times. Mr. A. E. Beards-
ley reports a few in the Platte River, 20 miles east of Greeley, accord-
ing to Warren.t’ Throughout the mountainous parts of the State
1 Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., X XIII, pp. 125-126, Sept. 2, 1910.
2N. Am. Fauna No. 32, p. 31, 1911.
2Ibid., p. 26, 1911.
4 Mammals of Colorado, p. 244, 1906.
1911.) MAMMALS. 17
they are holding their own very well and in many sections appear to
be increasing. This is due far more to the protection afforded them
by ranchmen than to protective laws, which are often disregarded
by trappers in the unsettled sections.
In 1905 and 1906 beavers were reported in fair numbers on the head-
waters of the Laramie River, the streams of Middle and North Parks,
and on the upper Snake, Bear, and White Rivers and their affluents.
They were said to be common also in the Ladore Canyon of Green
River and in the Yampa Canyon of Bear River, many being trapped
each winter. At Blanchard’s ranch, 5 miles west of Boulder, in June,
1905, I found an aspen sapling freshly cut by a beaver, but was
told that very few of the animals remained on Middle Boulder Creek.
A thriving colony is located on Beaver Creek, a few miles above its
junction with the South Boulder. When I visited this colony in
October, 1906, it was being carefully protected by ranchmen. It
extended along the creek for several miles, and all the dams were in
good repair. A great many holes were discovered under the banks,
and the majority appeared to be inhabited. Only one beaver lodge
of recent construction was observed, and two or three dilapidated
structures were in neighboring ponds. It was evident that the
members of this colony were largely bank beavers.
In 1907 a few beavers were reported in the Cucharas River, a mile
or two east of La Veta, and others in the same stream 4 miles south of
La Veta. They were said to have formerly been abundant. Forest
Ranger E. HE. Chapson says a colony of four or five are living in the
San Juan River on his ranch, 12 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs,
but that beavers are uncommon on the upper waters of the San Juan.
They have always been scarce in the streams heading on the western
slopes of the La Plata Mountains, according to Mr. Steve Elkins, of
Mancos, but were more common in some of the deep box canyons
along the Dolores River, south of Paradox Valley. A few are still
found on the lower Dolores, although a great many have been caught
during the past 5 or 10 years. Along the Los Pinos, from Vallecito
_ down nearly to Ignacio, beavers were reported as quite common,
_ but I did not get an opportunity to examine any of their colonies,
two or three of which. are said to be located within a few miles of
Bayfield. The beavers on this stream are trapped to a considerable
extent despite protective laws. Mr. E. G. Bates, of Bayfield, con-
siders them a nuisance in the lower Los Pinos Valley, as they are
continually throwing dams across the large irrigation ditches, thus
flooding much land and preventing the proper utilization of the
water.
In 1892 Loring found beaver signs on Sangre de Cristo Creek,
Costilla County, but reported that none of the animals were left in
the vicinity of Fort Garland. In 1893 he found a large colony of
12 ‘NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
(os)
beavers on Fall River, in Estes Park, counting 10 dams in a distance
of 2 miles. Bailey reported a protected colony on the Alamosa
River in 1904, and saw beaver work in the canyon of Conejos River,
west of Antonito.
Allen reported beavers common in 1871 on the South Platte and
its tributaries, in Park County,’ and again in 1892 on the Florida,
Animas, Mancos, and San Juan Rivers of southwestern Colorado.?
In 1895 a colony of 8 or 10 beavers was living in a tule marsh within
a stone’s throw of the Union Station at Pueblo.* The Fur Trade
Review (p. 242, 1901) quotes the Denver Times as stating that D. D.
Finch, a ranchman living near Trinidad, found it necessary to apply
to the State game commissioner for a permit to kill a number of
beavers which had established themselves in the creek on his ranch.
It is stated that the beavers cut down many of his fruit trees and
dammed the creek so that it flooded the first floor of his house.
Warren mentions a colony in Grand River, below Grand Junction,‘
and writes that in 1909, while passing through Hardscrabble Canyon,
in the Wet Mountains, he saw considerable beaver work.
The habits of the beaver are too well known to require extended
description. The quaking aspen is the tree most used by beavers
in the Colorado mountains, both in the construction of dams and for
food. The engineering skill in controlling water by means of dams
displayed by a large colony of beavers on the Slate River at Crested
Butte has been described in an extremely interesting article by
Warren.? The work of beaver colonies on the Grand and White
Rivers has been described by Barber.’ The results of a close study
of the work of a colony of beavers in the South Platte River near
Littleton is given by Rockwell in the Denver Post of August 9, 1908.
Geomys lutescens Merriam. Yellow Pocket Gopher.
This interesting pocket gopher, the only representative of the
genus in Colorado, has a wide range over the plains of the eastern
half of the State. (See fig. 17.) It is very abundant in some sec-
tions and uncommon in others, the abundance and scarcity appar-
ently depending largely upon the nature of the soil. It is most
abundant in sandy areas, where the soft soil favors tunneling.
This species is the most injurious of the Colorado pocket gophers.
It seriously damages the alfalfa crop by eating the roots, while the
numerous mounds of earth thrown up by the animals in alfalfa
fields and meadows also dull the mowing machine sickles and cause
great loss of time to ranchmen during the haying season. At Wray,
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 56, 1874. 4 Mammals of Colorado, p. 244, 1906.
2 Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., V, p. 81, 1893. 6 Proc. Wash. Acad. Sci., pp. 429-438, 1904.
See Forest and Stream, pp. 43-44, 1895. 6 Am, Nat., XI, pp. 371-372, 1877.
1911.] MAMMALS, 129
Yuma County, this gopher is reported very destructive to orchards
planted in sandy soil, as it cuts the roots of a great many young
trees and frequently kills even those of large size.
On the western end of the Arkansas Divide, in northern Weld
County, and perhaps elsewhere along the eastern base of the foot-
hills, G. lutescens occupies considerable territory adjacent to the
range of Thomomys clusius. Both gophers were taken on the grassy
plateau north of the Chimney Cliffs in northwestern Logan County
within 2 miles of the Nebraska boundary at 5,100 feet. Geomys is
prevalent on the Arkansas Divide as far west as Eureka Hill, while
Thomomys is the gopher found south of Seibert. Over a wide area
103°
WN
N
LOO
GY
OOS
“
\
Y
Fig. 17.— Distribution in Colorado of yellow pocket gopher (Geomys lutescens).
on the southeastern plains G. lutescens occurs with Cratogeomys
| castanops. In the vicinity of Lamar it is abundant in sandy country,
| while Cratogeomys is largely restricted to hard-soil flats. Streator
found lutescens common in sandy river bottoms at both Pueblo
and Limon.
There are specimens of (. lutescens from Loveland, Valmont,
Sterling, Avalo, Seibert, Pueblo, Limon, Burlington, Hugo, Kit
Carson, Twin Buttes, Chivington, and Las Animas. Other localities
represented in the Warren collection are Monon (Baca County)
| and Colorado Springs. A specimen collected at Denver by Mr.
_ W. D. Hollister has been identified by the Biological Survey.
90432°—11 9
130 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
Cratogeomys castanops (Baird). Chestnut-faced Pocket Gopher.
Pseudostoma castanops Baird, Rept. Stansbury’s Exped. to Great Salt Lake, p.
318, 1852. Type from near Bents Fort, Colorado (near present site of Las
Animas).
The large chestnut-faced gopher has not been taken much north
of the type locality, and the Arkansas Valley marks in a general
way the northern limit of its range. (See fig. 18.) Mr. C. E. Aiken,
of Colorado Springs, has a mounted specimen taken near the reser-
voirs several miles north of Lamar, but the species appears not to
reach Arlington and Chivington on the line of the Missouri Pacific
Railroad. From this latitude (about 38° 15’) the species ranges
southward to Chihuahua, Mexico. .
i ae
n é
Aig
e |e AND JUNCTION
e yy
LEADV/LL
CUMM/SO,
i Ul
——————
107°
Fic. 18.—Distribution in Colorado of chestnut-faced pocket gopher ( Crategeomys castanops).
The type specimen in the United States National Museum was”
collected on the “prairie road to Bents Fort,” which would be near
the present site of Las Animas, whence the Biological Survey has a
series of topotypes. Other specimens are from Olney and from ~
La Junta (18 miles south). Warren has the species from the follow- |
ing localities: Lamar; Monon, Baca County; Irwin’s ranch, Las
Animas County; and 3 miles west of Pueblo.
(. castanops may be distinguished at once from the yellow pocket
gopher (Geomys lutescens), which is found with it over most of south-
eastern Colorado, by its much larger size and unisulcate upper
incisors. It is usually found on hard-soil flats, while G. lutescens
prefers sandy strips of country and soft soils, The characteristi¢
;
/
\
1911.] MAMMALS. 1B wh
large flat earth heaps of Cratogeomys were seen in abundance on the
high plains from Lamar south to Springfield, in Baca County, and
thence northwest to Gaume’s ranch, in Shell Rock Canyon, and
north to Caddoa Station, Bent County. This gopher came under
my observation in a cattle and sheep grazing region where there
is little land under cultivation and where it is not the pest that it is
in agricultural sections.
Thomomys talpoides agrestis Merriam. San Luis Pocket Gopher.
Thomomys talpoides agrestis Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., X XI, p. 144, June
9, 1908. Type from Medano ranch, San Luis Valley, Colorado.
This large pale gopher was found in abundance in the hay meadows
bordering Medano Creek at the Medano Springs ranch, near the San
Luis Lakes, in October, 1907. The piles of earth thrown up average
larger than those of any other species of Thomomys found in Colorado,
a few being noted fully 4 feet in diameter and a foot high, and they
are so numerous as to give a dotted appearance to the closely mown
meadows. These large earth heaps prove a great hindrance in
harvesting hay, as they clog and dull the mowing machine sickles very
rapidly. A white, frosted appearance is presented by many of the
gopher hills which have been thrown up by animals tunneling in
extensive alkaline deposits, but over most of the meadows the piles
are of rich black loam. While most abundant on low ground at
Medano ranch, a few gophers inhabit the low, sandy, cactus-covered
hummocks which surround the marshes and meadows. I found
them very difficult to catch, as they nearly always covered my steel
traps with earth and stopped up the tunnels for some distance from
the traps.
In traveling northeast from Mosca to the Medano ranch we detected
no signs of gophers until we reached the meadow lands southeast
of the San Luis Lakes. The characteristic large hills were not seen
near Hooper nor in staging from Moffat northwest to Saguache,
but were tolerably common in the alkaline soil along the railroad
near Moffat and to a point 12 miles north of there. In 1909 Warren
secured specimens of 7’. agrestis at Crestone, at the western base of
the Sangre de Cristo Range, and others on Mosca Creek. The species
thus appears to have a restricted range in the northeastern part of the
open San Luis Valley (see fig. 19), but the limits and area of its dis-
persion are as yet unknown, as are also its food habits. Large
sandy areas in the valley appear to be entirely uninhabited by pocket
gophers. It is highly interesting to find in the large intermountain
San Luis Valley a gopher with relationships nearest talpoides of the
northern Great Plains. Careful collecting in the Rio Grande Valley
of northern New Mexico and on the high mountain barriers on the
east and north sides of San Luis Valley make it reasonably certain
that agrestis is entirely isolated.
oo
Loe NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No. 83,
The following characterization will serve to distinguish agrestis
(from original description, |. ¢.):
‘*Characters.—Size and general characters much as in talpoides,
but color very different—pale drab as in ocius instead of dark brown
as in talpoides; skull also different. i
‘*Color.—Upperparts uniform drab, sometimes with a pale reddish _
(dull ochraceous) cast on top of head and neck; ear spots conspicu- —
ously dusky; underparts soiled whitish, the plumbeous underfur
showing through.
“Cranial characters—Skull similar to talpoides, but averaging —
longer and narrower; zygomata less spreading; nasals less regular,
7C.OCIUS. “27 FOSSOR. FABER 7. A. PERVAGUS. WS 7 czesvus.
FH 7 Aureus. INN 7 74220085 AGRESTIS: BBE 7 FUL VIS.
Fic. 19.—Distribution in Colorado of pocket gophers (genus Thomomys).
less truncate posteriorly, less straight on outer side—tending to spread _
outward on posterior third; premaxille longer and broader poste- |
riorly; maxillary root of zygomata longer and broader and swollen to |
articulation with jugal so that the jugal part of arch is abruptly and
conspicuously narrower; bullz slightly more swollen. é
‘“ Measurements.—Type: Total length, 220; tail vertebrae, 57;
hind foot, 30. Average of 4 females from type locality: Total length,
212: tail vertebre, 55; hind foot, 29.”
Thomomys clusius Coues. Coues Pocket Gopher.
This species extends into North Park from the north, and east of
the mountains is common on the high plains of northeastern ‘_
1911.] MAMMALS. 133
and northwestern Logan Counties. Toward the south it is again
~ common on the higher western end of the Arkansas Divide, from a
point 8 miles south of Seibert west to the base of the mountains near
Colorado Springs. (See fig. 19.) The distribution on the plains
between the Arkansas Divide and northeastern Weld County is
unknown, there being no specimens from the intervening region.
Specimens from the lower foothills of Jefferson, Boulder, and Larimer
Counties are apparently intermediate in some respects between
T. clusvus and fossor of the higher mountains, which indicates a
probable continuity of range on the plains at the eastern base of the
foothills from the Wyoming boundary south to the Arkansas Divide.
Throughout its range 7. clusvus is mainly an inhabitant of high plains
and open foothill country in the Transition zone.
This gopher was found sparingly in the sand hills east of Canadian
Creek, North Park, at the west base of the Medicine Bow Mountains.
In July it was feeding largely upon a species of lupine (Lupinus
alpestris?), and large caches of the stems and leaves of this plant
were found in some of the burrows. North Park specimens accord
well with typical clusius from Bridgers Pass, Wyoming. This gopher is
apparently rare in North Park, since it was found at no other point.
The Coues gopher is the dominant species on the high plains of
northeastern Weld and northwestern Logan Counties. At Chimney
Canyon, some 30 miles northwest of Sterling, where I collected five
specimens on the grassy plateau which forms the summit of the
Chimney Cliffs, at 5,100 feet elevation, Geomys also was sparingly
present. Thomomys was the only gopher found at Pawnee Buttes,
some 30 miles southwest of Chimney Canyon, and thence westward
and northward to the Wyoming boundary north of Grover. It is prob-
ably the dominant gopher over all the high grassy watershed between
Horsetail and Lodge Pole Creeks, including a small area in extreme
western Nebraska.
~ On the Arkansas Divide the eastern limit of its range appears to be
8 miles south of Seibert, where a specimen was taken from a small
colony in hard soil on the north slope, at about 4,500 feet. From
| this point the species has a continuous range westward on this high
watershed to the base of the foothills. Streator found it abundant
at Limon and Flagler, and Warren states that it is tolerably common
| on the plains at Colorado Springs, occurring there with Geomys
| lutescens.1
Thomomys clusius ocius Merriam. Green River Pocket Gopher.
| On the sage plains of western Routt and Rio Blanco Counties this
pale grayish form is the only pocket gopher present. It is abundant
in the lower valleys of the Snake, Bear, and White Rivers, and in
Browns Park, on Green River. On the watersheds between these
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 252, 1906.
134 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No, 33.
valleys, however, it occurs only in scattered colonies, usually in
sandy strips of country. At no point was this gopher found much
above 6,000 feet. Baggs Crossing appears to be the eastern limit of
its range in the Snake River Valley, while the boreal-capped escarp-
ment of the Book Plateau forms an effective barrier to its southward
dispersion, (See fig. 19.) In all the high mountainous country on
the south and east of its range T. ocius is replaced by T. fossor. The
ranges of the two do not appear to meet, however, and there is a
region of varying width in which no gophers were found.
Gopher hills were abundant on the divide southwest of Rangely,
and a few were seen near the Utah boundary in the valleys of Texas
and Evacuation Creeks. A specimen taken on Bear River, south of
Lay, August 8, and another from Snake River (15 miles northeast of
Sunny Peak), August 24, are in short reddish summer pelage. Sep-
tember specimens from Ladore, Lily, Elk Springs (8 miles south of
Lily), and Rangely are in the full grayish winter coat. . The anterior
part of a bleached skull was found in a wood-rat nest at Douglas
Spring, at the north base of the Escalante Hills.
In the river valleys, where ocius is most abundant, ranchmen do
not consider it very injurious, since it prefers sandy and waste soil
and greasewood flats to meadow land and alfalfa fields.
Thomomys fossor Allen. Colorado Pocket Gopher.
Thomomys fossor Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., V, p. 51, 1893. Type from
Florida, La Plata County, Colorado.
The general distribution of this dark-brown, medium-sized species
in the Colorado mountains is indicated by specimens from a wide
range of localities. It is the only gopher found in the higher moun-
tains and occurs regularly from 7,000 feet to 13,000 feet, both in
heavy forests and on the open slopes far above timberline. It is
common as low as 7,000 feet in the yellow pine forests of Archu-
leta, La Plata, and other southwestern counties, but at few points
does it range much below the Canadian zone. (See fig. 19.) The
greatest numbers are found in the aspen belt of the Canadian zone,
where the numerous fresh hills of earth thrown out each night attest
to the great activity of the animals in the rich black soil. (See fig.
20.) The lower limits of range are roughly indicated by Florida,
Pagosa Springs, Sapinero, Hayden, Meeker, Elkhorn (Larimer
County), and foothills near Boulder and Golden. Gophers from the
lower eastern foothills of the Front and Medicine Bow Ranges are
not typical, and they show an approach toward clusius of the higher
plains.
Ranchmen in the foothill valleys and mountain parks suffer con-
siderable loss through the depredations of these animals, and every
year a large acreage of alfalfa is killed by gophers cutting the roots
just beneath the surface of the ground. In the spring of. 1905 Mrs.
1911.] MAMMALS, 135
Blanchard, living 5 miles west of Boulder, discovered,.3 inches below
the surface, a cavity in which a gopher had a store of nearly 50
tiger-lily balls, evidently gathered the previous fall. The cavity
was nearly full and the bulbs were scattered through loose earth,
which had been thoroughly worked over. A tunnel led directly foe
the cache to the flower bed a rod or so distant. Near Golden this
gopher is said to make itself a nuisance by burrowing in the banks
of irrigation ditches and reservoirs, and this is probably true in other
sections along the lower edge of its range. The numerous hills of
earth and stones thrown up in hay meadows and grain fields dull the
sickles of mowing and harvesting machines.
As an offset to the
injury inflicted upon
agricultural inter-
ests along the lower
edge of its range, T.
fossor 1s an impor-
tant agentin thecon-
servation of forests
and moisture in the
higher mountains,
where it is most
abundant. The thor-
ough and continual
working and enrich-
ing which the soil re-
ceives through the
activities of gophers
is highly beneficial
to forest growth, and
at the same time a
large amount of
moist ure wh ich Fic. 20.—Earth heaps of Colorado pocket gopher ( Thomomys fossor)
wo ul d othe rwise run on Book Plateau, at 8,000 feet.
off the mountain slopes is retained in the numerous burrows and
underground tunnels which might properly be termed natural water
traps.
On the higher open mountain slopes, particularly above timber-
line, one often sees peculiar long serpentine ridges of earth, some-
times dry and hard packed, but more often partially disintegrated
through the action of moisture. These are formed by gophers during
the winter when snow covers the ground to a considerable depth.
The loose earth thrown out is packed into the ramifying tunnels
which the animal has made through the snow on the surface of the
ground.
136 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33,
Thomomys fulvus (Woodhouse). Fulvous Pocket Gopher.
A female from Fisher Peak, southeast of Trinidad, is referable to
this species. It was collected September 15, 1903, at an elevation of
8,000 feet, by Mr. A. H. Howell, who states that gophers were toler-
ably common in the parks on the upper slopes of Fisher Peak, in the
Transition zone. This gopher probably reaches Colorado only in the
Trinidad region (see fig. 19), although it has been taken at a number
of points in the foothills of northern New Mexico just south of the
Colorado line.
Thomomys aureus Allen. Golden Pocket Gopher.
The golden pocket gopher is found in the low valleys of south-
western Colorado from the lower Grand River Valley southward in
the Upper Sonoran zone. In a general way it occupies the valleys
and lower flats south and west of the San Juan and La Plata Moun-
tains and the Uncompahgre Plateau (see fig. 19), but as it has been
taken at Grand Junction, it may cover a considerable area in the
lower Gunnison Valley. In 1907, however, I saw no signs of pocket
gophers at any point in either the Gunnison or Uncompahgre Valley.
Gophers seem to be absent or very scarce in the Grand Valley also, as
in following along Grand River from the Utah line to Rifle, a dis-
tance of 100 miles, I neither saw nor heard of any.
There are in the Biological Survey collection specimens of JT.
aureus from Arboles; Bayfield; Mesa Verde, northern end, 8,100 feet;
Ashbaugh’s ranch, near McElmo; Coventry; and Grand Junction.
The Grand Junction specimen, taken November 7, 1895, by Mr.
A. H. Howell, is an adult female in beautiful golden gray winter
pelage. The others from Colorado are all June and July specimens,
a June male from Arboles being darker than typical aureus.
At Bayfield, Ashbaugh’s ranch, and Coventry these gophers are
abundant, and are reported to be very injurious in grain and alfalfa
fields. They are stated to be very destructive also to young orchards
near Bayfield, as they cut off the roots of the trees. They reach
their upper limit along the Los Pinos in the pinyon country near
Bayfield at 6,500 feet, all the yellow pine belt north of that poimt
being occupied by TJ. fossor. Along the San Juan River they are
found as far east as Arboles, where they are common in sandy soil
along the railroad track. In the Coventry region these gophers are
very numerous on the cultivated flats between the San Miguel River
and Naturita Creek, extending up to about 6,500 feet. They are
a great nuisance in oe irrigated section, minnie - in the banks of
ditches and reservoirs and causing numerous and often serious leaks.
In the arid desert region along the lower San Miguel and Dolores
Rivers gophers are very scarce, the only signs noted being at the
Dolores River crossing in Paradox Valley and at Uranium in Sinbad
1911.] MAMMALS. 137
Valley, and these workings were not fresh. They are a pest at
Ashbaugh’s ranch in the valley of McElmo Creek, but apparently
do not inhabit the bordering mesas. Many ranchmen keep a number
of cats purposely for killing gophers, and a great many of the animals
are drowned out when the fields are irrigated. Mr. George J. Ash-
baugh attributes to pocket gophers the holes which he occasionally
finds eaten into watermelons from beneath.
Gopher mounds were abundant on the northern end of Mesa Verde,
between 7,500 and 8,100 feet, in the Transition zone, and a specimen
collected June 14 at 8,100 feet is referred to aureus. This seems to
be the only Colorado record for this species in the Transition zene.
The workings were in soft soil, either among sagebrush, or in the
small grassy parks scattered here and there among the dense chap-
arral of oak and June berry. No signs of gophers were found among
the pinyons on the southern end of Mesa Verde below 7,500 feet.
Gopher hills seen in alfalfa fields just west of Mancos, and also in the
bottom of the Dolores Canyon, 2 miles east of Dolores, were the char-
acteristic large earth mounds of aureus.
Thomomys aureus pervagus Merriam. Espanola Pocket Gopher..
This large species is the most richly colored of the Colorado pocket
gophers. It was described from Espanola, Santa Fe County, N. Mex.,
and is known to range north as far as Salida, in the lower end of
the upper Arkansas Valley. The distribution between these two
points has not been worked out in detail, but specimens from the
Huerfano Valley at Gardner and from Antonito and the Conejos
River Canyon, 10 miles west of Antonito, indicate a range in the
foothill valleys along the east sides of both the Sangre de Cristo and
San Juan Ranges, chiefly in the Upper Sonoran zone. (See fig. 19.)
It is impossible to state from present knowledge how this species
has reached the upper Arkansas Valley, or whether, indeed, continuity
of range exists. It.is reasonably certain, however, that it does not.
eross the 9,000-foot Poncha Pass from the San Luis Valley, as the
Poncha Pass region, which is practically in the Canadian zone, is
occupied by T. fossor. The characteristic large hills of 7. pervagus
were seen in abundance on the sandy flats in widenings of the Arkansas
Canyon from Salida down to Texas Creek Station; but the Grand
Canyon of the Arkansas, beginning a few miles below Texas Creek
and culminating in the stupendous chasm of the Royal Gorge, must
certainly separate pervagus from the gophers inhabiting the Upper
Sonoran country around Canon City, at the lower end of the canyon.
It remains to determine the species occurring in the Arkansas Valley
near Canon City, and thence south along the eastern base of the Wet
| Mountains, but logically it should be pervagus, as this is the gopher’
abundant in the Huerfano Valley from Badito west to Gardner.
138 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33
Apparently, also, this is the form whose large hills were so common
in the Cucharas Valley from Walsenburg up to La Veta, and between
Trinidad and Weston in the upper Las Animas Valley. In going
from Texas Creek to Westcliffe and thence overland south to Gardner,
the small hills of fossor were the only signs of gophers noted, and
these were found chiefly in the high Wet Mountain Valley. Over a
wide strip of mixed yellow pine and pinyon country south of the
Arkansas River at Texas Creek, and also on the southern slopes of
the divide connecting the Wet Mountains with the Sangre de Cristo
Range, no gophers appear to be present.
In the San Luis Valley, 7. pervagus is known only about its southern
end. Just how far north it extends along the eastern base of the San
Juan Range is not known. The large gopher hills which Bailey
found abundant along the Rio Grande at Del Norte may have been
either pervagus or the pale 7. agrestis described from Medano Springs
ranch, near the San Luis Lakes, the range of which also is very imper-
fectly known. I saw no gopher work near Saguache.
Throughout its range 7. pervagus revels in the rich mellow soil of
the stream valleys, or occupies the sand flats along the lower border-
ing slopes, as in the Arkansas Valley above Salida. In the Cucharas,
Huerfano, and Las Animas Valleys these gophers frequent alfalfa
fields, throwing out the rich brown or reddish soil in large hills, often
3 feet or more in diameter, which must prove a great hindrance in
harvesting the crop, aside from the serious injury which the animals
inflict upon the alfalfa itself by eating the roots, of which they are
very fond.
The Salida specimens were collected at Sand Park, the sandy east-
ern slope of the Arkansas Valley a mile north of the town. The gopher
hills were common in this strip of country, both along the embank-
ments of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad near the river, at a little
over 7,000 feet, and up to the lower edge of the pinyons 400 or 500
feet higher, but they were not noted in the adjoining adobe soil.
They were usually thrown up among the bunches of prickly pear
(Opuntia polyacantha) or beneath Chrysothamnus and-Atriplex bushes.
One of these shrubs at least, Atriplex canescens, forms a part of the
animal’s food, as in one of the underground tunnels was a cache of its
stems and leaves.
Specimens from Salida and Gardner, taken in early November, are
in beautiful full reddish-brown winter pelage, with a considerable
coal black area on chin, lips, and throat. An immature Gardner
specimen has the sides of the throat strongly suffused with reddish-
orange, and this suffusion is more or less indicated in all the adults.
1911.] MAMMATS, 139
- Perodipus montanus (Baird). San Luis Kangaroo Rat.
Dipodomys montanus Baird, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., VII, p. 334, 1855.
Type from old Fort Massachusetts (near Garland), Colorado.
This peculiar Upper Sonoran mammal inhabits the sandy areas in
the San Luis Valley (see fig. 21), and thence extends south into the
high valleys and parks of northern New Mexico. It is one of the
highest ranging species of the genus, in the San Luis Valley occurring
up to.7,900 feet and possibly a little higher, and throughout its range
it is restricted to the mountain valleys. The type of montanus, in
the National Museum, was collected in 1853 by F. Kreuzfeldt, on Capt.
Beckwith’s expedition. In addition to a large series of topotypes
ype
YY
ean"
© EADV/LI:
(| == RAND SUNCTION Wy ty
LLZ Cy
Ww
39
Ke <P
SC
og’
S
SX
GUNNISO: )
Fig. 21,—Distribution in Colurado of kangaroo rats (genus Perodipus).
from Fort Garland, the Biological Survey has specimens from Anto-
nito; Conejos River, 10 miles west of Antonito; and Medano Springs
ranch, near the San Luis Lakes. Warren has taken the species at
Crestone.
The characteristic burrows are tolerably common along the rail-
road at Moffat, and thence northwest to a point 6 miles southeast of
Saguache, and kangaroo rats are said to be occasionally plowed out
in the fields at Saguache. In going north from Moffat the burrows
were often noted in the gravelly soil along the railroad near the hot
springs, but the only signs of kangaroo rats seen farther north were
two fresh burrows in sandy soil a mile south of Villa Grove, at an
140 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No: 88,
elevation of 7,900 feet—a point doubtless very near the northern
limit of the species. The high Poncha Pass country effectually sepa-
rates montanus from P. richardsoni of the upper Arkansas Valley.
At Fort Garland Loring found this species abundant in a cultivated
field, but absent from the sagebrush country. Bailey reported it
very common in the Rio Grande Valley at Alamosa and Del Norte
and in the Conejos River Canyon. A specimen taken on Conejos
River had its cheek pouches filled with the heads of gramma grass.
Del Norte is apparently very near the western limit of montanus along
the Rio Grande, as I saw no signs above that point.
Kangaroo rats are stated to have been very numerous at Mosca
some years ago when only small! areas were under cultivation. At
that time they were very injurious to crops, digging up large quanti-
ties of newly planted grain and caching it in their burrows along the
sandy margins of the fields, and also feeding extensively on tender
green stems of wheat. Of late years the rats have been largely
driven out of the central part of the San Luis Valley by extensive cul-
tivation and urigation, and now are gathered in the sandy unculti-
vated parts, particularly in the sandhills along the western base of
the Sangre de Cristo Range from Garland north to Crestone. Accord-
ing to cowboys they are so numerous in the Luis Maria Baca grant,
south of Crestone, that their burrows and tunnels completely under-
mine the sandy ground in many places and make riding difficult and
even dangerous.
At the Medano ranch kangaroo rats were found chiefly in the sandy
hummocks just southeast of the headquarters. The burrows were
usually beneath Sarcobatus or Atriplex bushes, or in beds of prickly
pear (Opuntia), and more rarely under the large rabbit brush (Chryso-
thamnus patens). As with other species of kangaroo rats, there are
usually from three to six entrances to a nest, each entering the
ground at an angle of less than 45 degrees, sometimes nearly hori-
zontally, and usually from different directions. Kangaroo rats are
nocturnal as a rule, but I caught one individual in a trap during the
daytime at the Medano ranch, and early one morning before sunrise ~
saw another dart into its burrow, leaving a tiny cloud of dust behind.
Perodipus montanus richardsoni (Allen). Richardson Kangaroo Rat.
This interesting species is represented by a large series of speci-
mens, chiefly from east of the mountains on the plains, where it is
generally distributed. It occurs also over parts of the sandy sage
plains of northwestern Colorado, in Routt County, reaching that —
region from the Wyoming plains on the north. (See fig. 21.) It —
follows some of the warm Upper Sonoran valleys into the eastern
foothills of the front ranges, the upper limits being indicated by
Arkins, Larimer County; Twin Lakes; Salida; 8 miles west of Gard-
ner, Huerfano County; and La Veta.
a
1911.] MAMMALS. 141
In northwestern Colorado kangaroo rats occur sparingly in the
sandy bottoms along Bear River south of Lay; and also near the
Wyoming boundary, a few miles southwest of Baggs Crossing. In
the lower valley of Snake River and throughout the sandy sage
plains north of Bear River they were found in abundance. At no
point were they noted much above 6,000 feet. The greatest num-
bers were found on the east side of Snake River, near Sunny Peak.
Here a large colony occupied a sandy strip of country abounding in
blow-outs, and the burrows were either in the banks of these or be-
neath bushes of Atriplex confertifolia or Grayia spinosa. Specimens
from northwestern Colorado are referable to P. richardsoni, although
they average a little smaller than the typical form and have weaker
maxillary arches—in these two respects approaching P. montanus
of the San Luis Valley.
During a trip from Cheyenne Wells northwest across the plains to
Sterling and Grover I found kangaroo rats generally distributed in
all sections having sandy and soft soils. Our night camp, June 2,
some 20 mules northwest of Sterling, was near an old sod corral, the
sides of which had tumbled down and partially disintegrated. The
soil here was soft and easily excavated and had attracted hundreds
of: kangaroo rats, whose burrows fairly honeycombed the ground.
A small number of traps put out here secured 12 specimens.
Kangaroo rats are abundant at Gardner, in the Huerfano Valley,
both on sandy flats along the river and on the low adjoining benches.
The burrows at this point were usually beneath chico brush (Atriplex
canescens), and after a 2-inch snowfall during the night of November
18 I saw the peculiar round tracks made by a few which had come
out of their burrows during the night and skipped about on the fresh
snow. The leaps taken when running are long, often 3 or 4 feet.
Kangaroo rats are reported along Muddy Creek, 8 miles west of
Gardner. In the Cucharas Valley they are common at Walsenburg,
and a very few burrows were found at La Veta.
In November, 1907, I found kangaroo rats exceedingly numerous
on the gently inclined sandy slopes lying along the east side of the
Arkansas River, just north. of Salida; and I saw from the train near
Howard and Cotopaxi, farther down the river, burrows which I attrib-
uted to thisspecies. Mr.J.W. Frey states that the rats are found north
to Browns Canyon, 7 miles above Salida, and west to Poncha Springs.
Kangaroo rats were most abundant at Salida among the Chryso-
thamnus bushes, Russian thistles, and in beds of Opuntia polyacantha,
on the upper sand slopes just below the edge of the pinyons, between
7,100 and 7,400 feet. The Salida series is not typical P. richardsoni,
but is much nearer to that species than to montanus of the San Luis
Valley. A Twin Lakes specimen recorded by Coues and Yarrow!
1Expl. W. of 100th Mer., V, p. 109, 1875.
142 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No, 33.
as ‘‘Dipodomys phillipsi ordi”? was collected by Dr. J. T. Rothrock
in August, 1873, and if correctly labeled is an important record
because of the high elevation. The Royal Gorge, and in fact much
of the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas, would seem to prevent con-
tinuity of range from the plains; but it is evident that the kangaroo
rats of the upper Arkansas Valley reached that region by way of
the Arkansas drainage area, apart from all physiographic considera-
tions, since their relationship is clearly with richardsoni.
The typical home of the kangaroo rat is in sandy river bottoms or
on the numerous sand ridges scattered here and there over the
plains. It is seldom found living in hard soils, but often takes up
its abode in cultivated fields. The more or less horizontal burrows
are excavated beneath bunches of prickly pear, yucca, and sage-
brush, or in the banks of ‘blow-outs and railroad embankments.
The animals are nocturnal and most active during the latter part
of the night. During the day the burrows are often closed from
within, but early in the morning they are usually found open, with a
quantity of freshly ejected sand at the entrances. Their food con-
sists of various seeds, and the stems of grass and wheat are often
found in the capacious external cheek pouches. The pouches of a
specimen collected at Salida early in November contained about
equal quantities of the leaves of Atriplex canescens and the seeds of
a species of Chrysothamnus.
Perodipus longipes (Merriam). Moki Kangaroo Rat.
Kangaroo rats from Fruita, Grand Junction, Hotchkiss, and Ash-
baugh’s ranch (McElImo Valley), show no departure from typical P.
longipes from the Painted Desert, Arizona. Others from Coventry and
Naturita in the San Miguel region, at a somewhat higher elevation,
average darker than typical specimens, but, as they accord well in
other essentials, are not considered separable.
The Moki kangaroo rat is acreature of the sandy desert areas of the
southwest and is normally restricted to the lowest and warmest parts
of the Upper Sonoran zone. It reaches Colorado along the Colorado
River Valley, the northern limit of range being marked by the Book
Cliffs (see fig. 21), which separate it from P. richardsoni of the northern
plains.
By reason of the extensive cultivation of the lower Grand Valley
during recent years, kangaroo rats now occupy less ground than for-
merly. They are found chiefly in the narrow strip of rough unculti-
vated country lying at the southern base of the Book Cliffs, and on
the desert northwest of Mack. In the arid valley of West Salt Creek,
between Mack and Carbonera, the characteristic burrows were often
noted in the banks of arroyos and on sand flats. In a large colony
on the sandy plain 3 miles northwest of Fruita, the entrances to the
burrows were usually in large bunches of prickly pear (Opuntia),
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1911.] | MAMMALS, 1S
but were occasionally beneath bushes of Atriplex confertifolia. During
the time this colony was under my observation, toward the end of
September, the animals seemed inactive, and very few piles of fresh
earth were noted at the burrows. No signs of kangaroo rats were
seen in the Grand Valley above Grand Junction, and they probably
do not occur east of Palisade, where the valley narrows into a more or
less continuous canyon. They extend southeast in the Gunnison
Valley for some distance, apparently reaching their eastern limit near
Hotchkiss, on the North Gunnison River, where I collected an imma-
ture specimen in August. Burrows were often seen on the arid waste
between Rogers Mesa and Delta, but none were noted in the Montrose
region.
Kangaroo rats are reported abundant on the lower San Juan River,
and they extend as far east as Moqui in the McElmo Valley. In
June I found a few burrows on sandy flats along McElmo Creek at
Ashbaugh’s ranch, midway between Moqui and McElmo, but the
animals were inactive here or else the burrows were deserted. Warren
has taken the species at Ashbaugh’s ranch.
Near Coventry, at 6,800 feet, scattered colonies of kangaroo rats
are found in the rather hard clayey soil on the sagebrush flats, and
the rats become increasingly numerous toward the west, as the ele-
vation becomes lower, the soil sandy, and the region more desertlike.
At Dry Creek, 5 miles west of Naturita, and thence down the East
Paradox Valley and across the Dolores River to the head of West
Paradox Valley, they are very numerous on the sandy flats and hum-
mocks. On my return trip from the La Sal Mountains through the
Sinbad Valley and thence down the Dolores River to the mouth of
West Creek, however, no signs of kangaroo rats were seen, although
much of the region is suitable for them. North of San Miguel River
they are found at Nucla and nearly to Tabeguache Creek.
The burrows of this species average somewhat larger than those of
P. richardsom, although the animals themselves are of nearly the
same size. The deserted burrows are often used by cottontails
(Sylvilagus a. warrent) in the lower San Miguel region, and occasionally
both animals are found living in the same colony.
Perognathus hispidus paradoxus Merriam. Kansas Pocket Mouse.
This large pocket mouse occurs sparingly on the plains of eastern
Colorado, from the base of the foothills in Boulder and Jefferson
Counties east and southeast to Baca County, in the extreme south-
eastern corner of the State. It has been taken at a few widely
separated localities over this region in the Upper Sonoran zone.
Specimens were collected at Sterling by Dr. A. K. Fisher, who
reports the species as tolerably common at that locality. Another
was secured at Hugo by Prof. Lantz, who found it common along
a(%
144 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33,
Big Sandy Creek. In the Merriam collection there is a specimen from —
Boulder County, collected in 1889 by the late Denis Gale, of Gold —
Hill, at 5,500 feet. The precise locality is not given on the label,
but was probably at the base of the foothills not far from Boulder.
I noted several of the characteristic auger-hole burrows of this pocket
mouse on the lowest foothill slopes a mile southwest of Golden, and
found the species common in southern Prowers and Baca Counties.
Specimens from Monon, Baca County, are recorded by Warren.!
WEY |
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Fic. 22.Distribution in Colorado of pocket mice (Perojnathus fasciatus and P. apache groups).
Perognathus fasciatus infraluteus Thomas. Bufl-bellied Pocket —
Mouse. 4
Perognathus infraluteus Thomas, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, XI, p. 406,
May, 1893. Type from Loveland, Larimer County, Colorado. q
Known only from the type locality, from which place the Bio- |
logical Survey has a series of 10 specimens, collected in October, —
1894, by Mr. Clark P. Streator. The type specimen in the British —
Museum was taken by Mr. W. G. Smith April 4, 1892. (See fig. 22.)
The Loveland animal appears to be geographically separated from
its near relative, P. fasciatus of the northern plains, from which it
is distinguishable by the strong buffy suffusion on the underparts
in marked contrast to the pure white underparts of P. fasciatus.
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1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 253, 1906,
1911.] MAMMALS, 145
Perognathus flavescens Merriam. Plains Pocket Mouse.
All the records for this pocket mouse are from the plains region
north of the Arkansas Valley, where it appears to occur only in sandy
strips of country, being most abundant in the northeastern counties.
(See fig. 22.) It has not been taken in the southeast, where P.
flavus replaces it. At Sterling Dr. A. K. Fisher found it common in
sunflower patches on sandy soil, and Loring found it at Greeley
occupying sandy strips of country with P. flavus and living in bur-
rows beneath Opuntia and yuccas. Specimens were secured by
Streator on the sandy bottoms along the Arkansas River at Pueblo
in December, when the animals were gathering their winter’s supply
of seeds. At Tuttle I trapped a specimen beneath a yucca in a
sand blow-out on the north side of the valley of the South Fork of
the Republican River. A specimen from Boulder County was
found by the late Mr. Denis Gale in the nest of a long-eared owl
(Asio wilsomianus), at 5,500 feet, May 12, 1890. This record proves
that the range of this pocket mouse extends at least to the eastern
base of the foothills, and the animal may be found even in some of
the warm foothill valleys. Warren has taken specimens at Colorado
Springs, but thinks the species is uncommon at that point.
Perognathus flavus Baird. Baird Pocket Mouse.
This beautiful little pocket mouse is common on the Upper Sonoran
plains of eastern and southern Colorado between 4,000 and 7,500
feet elevation, the highest altitude being reached in the San Luis
Valley. (See fig. 23.) At a number of localities on the northeastern
plains it is associated with P. flavescens. The burrows of the two
species are not readily distinguished, but those of flavus average
smaller. A large series from eastern plains localities are typical
flavus, but specimens from Ashbaugh’s ranch, Montezuma County,
are considerably darker, and approach P. f. bimaculatus.
At Antonito and along the Conejos River, Bailey found this species
abundant on the sandy sage plains, and [ found it inhabiting similar
areas at the Medano Springs ranch, near the San Luis Lakes, and also
in weed patches and dry meadows. Most of the older gopher hills
near the Medano ranch had been tunneled more or less by pocket
mice, but I seldom found the burrows inhabited. These tunnels
usually entered the soft dirt of the gopher hill from one side, passing
horizontally through, and often connected with other horizontal
tunnels. One such burrow was inhabited by an immature pocket
mouse, which I caught in my hands. The hole reached a depth of
12 inches in the soft earth, ending in a small chamber 1 by 2 inches,
in which were stored a few grass seeds. Although pocket mice are
usually nocturnal, I caught one in a trap at the Medano ranch in the
daytime, and also saw another individual running in the grass near _
90432°—11——10
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146 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No. 38,
the same burrow at 2 p. m. on a bright day. They appear to be
inactive on damp or rainy nights.
At Ashbaugh’s ranch two specimens were trapped beneath Atriplex
bushes on sandy flats. Mr, Ashbaugh thinks this is the little pinkish
mouse which does so much damage in the McElmo Valley at corn-
planting time by enlarging the hole left by the corn planter and
taking out the kernels; and also in the autumn, when it eats much
grain beneath the shocks.
Near Greeley Loring found P. flavus abundant over a sandy strip
of country, living among clumps of yucca and prickly pear. Streator
collected a series of specimens in sunflower patches on waste land
Fic. 23.—Distribution in Colorado of Baird pocket mouse (Perognathus flavus).
near Loveland in October, baiting his traps almost exclusively with
sunflower seeds, which appeared to be the chief food of these mice at
the time. Prof. Lantz found a large store of sunflower seeds in a
burrow which he dug out in southeastern Otero County in April, 1910.
He observes that the tail of this species is to some extent prehensile.
In the case of several which he carried alive in his hand, the tail at
times clasped a finger. In Shell Rock Canyon, northwestern Baca
County, I usually found the burrows beneath tree cactus (Opuntia
arborescens) in the sandy bed of the canyon or on the adjoiming
benches.
There are specimens from Burlington, and Streator reported this
species at Olney and Flagler. I saw numerous signs of small pocket
1911.1 MAMMALS. 147
mice at Gardner and Walsenburg among bunches of prickly pear
(Opuntia polyacantha) on the sandy benches bordering the Huerfano
and Cucharas Valleys. Warren has specimens from Colorado
Springs, Lamar, Springfield, and Texas Creek between Rito and
Hillside. A specimen in the collection of the Colorado Agricultural
College, taken by Mr. S. Arthur Johnson in Spring Canyon, 4 miles
southwest of Fort Collins, has been identified by the Biological
Survey.
The distribution of P. flavus in the upper Arkansas Valley has not
been worked out. It may occur in the sand as far up as Buena
Vista, since it is common on the sandy slopes just above Salida.
This region is doubtless reached by way of the Arkansas drainage
area, although the Royal Gorge must prevent continuity of range in
the immediate river valley.
Perognathus apache Merriam. Apache Pocket Mouse.
Kight specimens from Rifle, Fruita, Coventry, and Medano Springs
ranch (San Luis Valley) are provisionally treated as P. apache,
although none of them are quite typical. All are darker than typical
P. apache, in this respect tending toward P. a. melanotis. The
Coventry specimen in particular is very richly colored, like melanotis,
but is larger, as are also three specimens from Bedrock, Montrose
County, identified for Warren. It is probable that the Coventry and
Bedrock specimens could be safely referred to melanotis, but, since
dark, richly colored specimens are of irregular occurrence throughout
the range of apache, it seems best to include all Colorado specimens
under this species. (See fig. 22.) A specimen from the Grand River
Valiey near Rifle is very large for apache, but is equaled in size by one
| from Espanola, New Mexico. More material from southern and
southwestern Colorado is needed before the status and distribution
i of the apache group of pocket mice within the State can be satis-
| factorily determined.
) Little is known concerning the habits of these handsome, medium-
| sized pocket mice. In the lower Grand River Valley in 1906 I found
| them among the prickly pears on the sandy desert north of Fruita,
| and also on a sandy piece of waste land near Morris, 7 miles west of
Rifle. A fair-sized colony was occupying a sandy knoll near Morris,
and the many freshly ejected sand piles showed its members to be
active. However, when IJ again visited the locality the following
year, | noted very few signs. The distribution in the Grand Valley
appears to be very local, as no signs of pocket mice were seen between
Fruita and Rifle.
In the region of the lower San Miguel and Dolores Rivers the
characteristic burrows of pocket mice were noted on a sandy sage
flat near Uranium, in the Sinbad Valley. The extreme abundance of
. white-footed mice at this point prevented my taking specimens, but
148 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 38.
the large size of the sand heaps thrown out from the burrows pointed
to apache rather than to the small P. flavus. As is usual with pocket
mice, the entrances to the burrows were closed during the daytime.
In early November, specimens of apache were caught in traps set
for harvest mice in a sandy weed patch on the Medano ranch, near
the San Luis Lakes. They were taken beneath bushes of Chrysotham-
nus patens, but no burrows were found attributable to the species.
One specimen got into a trap between 9 a. m. and 4 p. m. on a bright t
4
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day. This individual evidently had been out foraging, as each of
its cheek pouches contained nearly a thimbleful of the seeds of a
honey plant (Peritoma sonore). These seeds numbered 164, and
averaged about the size of No. 4 shot.
(?) Perognathus callistus Osgood. Red Desert Pocket Mouse.
While encamped on Snake River, southeast of Sunny Peak, Routt —
County, in August, 1906, numerous signs of a medium-sized pocket —
mouse were found on the first bench south of the river valley.
Characteristic small heaps of dry earth had been recently ejected |
from most of the burrows, which were usually beneath bunches of
prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha). Uowever, a large number of
traps kept out for several nights failed to yield a specimen, owing ~
chiefly to the abundance of white-footed mice, which were continually ;
getting into the traps during the early evening hours. Signs of —
pocket mice were not observed elsewhere in northwestern Colorado,
or at any point north of the Grand River Valley, although much of
the region seems well suited to their needs.
The type locality of P. callistus is Kinney ranch, Wyoming, 40
miles northwest of Sunny Peak. The character of the country at
both localities is similar, and it seems reasonable to treat the Snake
River pocket mice as of this species. (See fig. 22.)
Zapus hudsonius campestris Preble. Prairie Jumping Mouse.
This Great Plains representative of the common northern jumping |
mouse enters Colorado along the South Platte Valley. (See fig. 24.)
Thus far it has been found in this State only on the plains at the
eastern base of the foothills. In July, 1895, Preble trapped two
specimens in a dense growth of weeds along an irrigating ditch at
Loveland. One in the Merriam collection was taken at Denver by
A. W. Anthony, September 13, 1885. Warren says it is reported
from Greeley by A. E. Beardsley.’
Zapus princeps Allen. Rocky Mountain Jumping Mouse.
Zapus princeps Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., V, p. 71, 1893. Type from
Florida, La Plata County, Colorado.
In the Colorado mountains this large jumping mouse is chiefly an ~
inhabitant of the Canadian zone, but it also follows down some of the
streams into the Transition zone. It frequents the dense growth of
1 Mammals of Colorado, p, 254, 1906.
1911.] MAMMALS, 149
Heracleum. lanatum and other rank vegetation bordering cold moun-
tain bogs and streams, but is also occasionally taken beneath logs in
heavy forest. The species has a wide distribution in the mountainous
parts (see fig. 24), but is nowhere abundant. Bailey says it is found
in some of the marshes of the San Luis Valley. Near Del Norte he
noted long lengths of grass stems which had recently been cut by
jumping mice, while a specimen from east of Antonito was taken
“in the grassy woods along the Conejos River, where most of the
plants are Transition zone species which follow the river bottoms
down into Upper Sonoran zone.”’ Ranchmen near Meeker, Rio
CRANDIUNCHIO
sigs Gye
Ulli. ZAPUS PRINCES. WS 24405 1. CAMPESTRIS:
Fig, 24.—Distribution in Colorado of jumping mice (genus Zapus).
Blanco County, state that during the haying season jumping mice
are often seen in the meadows bordering White River. The vertical
distribution of this species is indicated by specimens from Meeker
(6,000 feet) and Arapahoe Pass (over 9,000 feet).
Erethizon epixanthum Brandt. Yellow-haired Porcupine.
Yellow-haired porcupines are more or less abundant throughout
the mountains, but are most often seen in the coniferous forests of
the Canadian zone. They occur regularly to timberline, and in the
Grays Peak region are said to be found occasionally among the
rocks far above the limit of trees. They are reported sparingly from
the yellow pine belt of the eastern and southern foothills, and even
150 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 88.
extend down into the juniper and pinyon country in some of the
southwestern counties.
Porcupines are reported to be common in the following localities:
Middle and North Parks; Elk Head Mountains; White River Plateau;
St. Elmo, Saguache Mountains; San Miguel Mountains; ‘Lake City; ;
San Juan Mountains, north of Pagosa Springs and Vallecito; La
Plata Mountains, northeast of Mancos; and Culebra Mountains, near
La Veta. I saw parts of a skin, but recently removed, at Highbridge,
on Berthoud Pass, in October, 1906, and a dead porcupine was found
in the trail east of Lake San Cristobal in the San Juan Mountains at
10,000 feet, while I have found quills in a mountain rat’s nest near
Mount Whiteley in northwestern Middle Park. In the foothills
west of Antonito, Conejos County, Bailey saw numerous Douglas
spruces and pinyons which had been partly divested of bark by
porcupines, and also found a great many porcupine pellets in caverns
beneath the broken lava rock; while farther north in the San Luis
Valley two or three porcupines are said to have been killed by cow-
boys in the open valley on the Medano Springs ranch, near the San
Luis Lakes.
The food of porcupines consists largely of the bark of coniferous
trees, and the lodgepole pine seems to be preferred to firs and spruces.
Occasionally such large areas of bark are gnawed from a tree that it
dies. A porcupine was seen in an Engelmann spruce on Lone Cone,
at an elevation of 11,000 feet, July 27, 1907, and I saw many spruces
between 10,000 and 11,000 feet from which the bark had been partially
stripped between 20 and 30 feet above the ground. Most of the
yellow pines seen along the railroad in the valley a mile south of
Vance Junction, San Miguel County, July 1, showed evidences of
porcupine work in large sections divested of bark, on both the main
trunks and the larger branches. The injury thus inflicted upon the
coniferous forests throughout the mountains must be considerable.
The animals feed to a small extent, at least, upon the aspen, since
in 1905 I saw a number of these trees, both in the Rabbit Ear Moun-
tains and on the White River Plateau, from which the bark had been
onawed at a height of 10 or 12 feet. |
Owing to their sluggish movements, porcupines fall an easy prey
to some of the larger predaceous mammals. On this point Warren
remarks: ‘‘In spite of its protecting quills, it is eaten by coyotes,
mountain lions, and bobcats, though possibly only in winter when
other food is scarce, that being the only season when the writer has
found remains of the animal so killed.
Trippe records the porcupine as an inhabitant of Clear Creek County
in the early days;? while Allen says it was common from foothills to
1 Mammals of Cojorado, p. 254, 1906. 2 See Coues, Birds of the Northwest, p. 225, 1874.
1911.] MAMMALS, 151
timberline in Park County in 1871, and also reports it from the
regions bordering the headwaters of the Arkansas and Del Norte
[Rio Grande] Rivers.!
Ochotona saxatilis Bangs. Rock Cony; Pika.
Ochotona saxatilis Bangs, Proc. N. Eng. Zool. Club, I, p. 41, 1899. Type from near
timberline, Snowy Range, Park County, Colorado.
The peculiar little rock cony is one of the characteristic mammals
in the timberline region of the high mountain ranges. It is most
abundant in the rock slides at or near timberline, but has been
found also near the summits of the highest peaks, and on some of
the western plateaus as low as 8,500 feet.
Conies are very abundant at 12,000 feet in the Grays Peak region
and on Rollins Pass, and a little lower on Berthoud Pass. I heard
of a small colony in slide rock near Arapahoe Pass, in the Rabbit Ear
Mountains, at 9,000 feet. Frank Hayes, a taxidermist of Glenwood
Springs, secured several specimens in rock slides near the head of
Noname Creek, Garfield County, at an elevation of only 8,500 feet.
Warren mentions seeing conies as low as 9,300 feet near Crested
Butte.2. They were reported from the San Juan Mountains, north of
Pagosa Springs and Vallecito; La Plata Mountains, northeast of
Mancos; Saguache Mountains, near St. Elmo; Lone Cone, San Miguel
Mountains; and on the Sierra Blanca group. Prof. Lantz found them
abundant on Pikes Peak between 12,000 and 13,500 feet.
The habits of conies are most interesting. As far as my observation
goes, they live entirely in slide rock, usually on steep slopes, but near
Silverton Loring found their characteristic haystacks in the crevices
of lumber and slab piles near an abandoned sawmill; while Mr. D.
Costello, of Gardner, tells of a cony which took up its abode beneath
the floor of a cabin in the mountains north of Crested Butte. The
haystacks of these industrious little animals, comprising their winter
food, are composed of many species of grasses and weeds, cut and
gathered in summer, and ailowed to dry among the rocks. Thistles
are found in most of the stacks, and seem to be a favorite food.
Well-worn runways lead from one stack to another and extend to
neighboring rock slides. Conies are usually quite shy and would
be seldom observed were it not for the odd, complaining notes which
they utter continually when alarmed. The grayish color of the
animal closely matches the duli-colored rocks in which tt is found,
and the notes often appear to come from a distant pile of rocks when
in reality the motionless animal is within a few feet; or, again, the
reverse may be true.
There are specimens from Mount Kelso; Longs Peak; Bald Moun-
tain, 5 miles west of Ward; Sand Mountain, near Hahns Peak; Lake
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, pp. 57 and 66, 1874. 3 See under Putorius streatori leptus, p. 188.
2 Mammals of Colorado, p. 254, 1906.
‘ay
152 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 83.
City; Cumbres; and Silverton. The type and a large topotype series
of QO. saxatilis were collected by an expedition of the Museum of
Comparative Zoology on the Snowy Range near Montgomery, Park
County, in 1871. Mr. E. Thompson Seton has collected the species
on Pagoda Peak, in eastern Rio Blanco County.
Lepus campestris Bachman. White-tailed Jack Rabbit.
This fine species is rather generally distributed over the eastern
plains, except south of the Arkansas River, where it appears to be
absent in some sections and sparingly present in others. It occurs
also in considerable numbers in the mountain parks on the eastern
slope of the mountains, to an elevation of 10,000 feet, but not west
of the Continental Divide, being replaced there by the grayer form,
L. c.townsendi. tis far more abundant in northern than in southern
Colorado. At no point is it more numerous than in North Park, and
in this region and the San Luis Valley I found it far more abundant
than on the plains east of the mountains.
The white-tailed jack rabbits of the eastern plains are typical L. cam-
pestris, but those of the higher elevations are less yellowish and more
grayish, showing an approach toward townsendi. This departure is
well indicated in specimens from the immediate eastern slopes of the
Continental Divide, as in the upper Arkansas Valley and in the
northern and western parts of the San Luis Valley. Two females
which Warren collected at 12,000 feet on the summit of Boreas Pass
in early August are very gray, and are clearly referable to townsend1;
while a male which I collected August 22 at Como, on the grassy
South Park plains just below the eastern end of the Boreas Pass, at
9,800 feet, is nearest the campestris type.
In North Park white-tailed jack rabbits were very abundant in
1905. Early one morning in July, in a half hour’s ride along Grizzly
Creek near Hebron, I counted 19, most of which were feeding in
alfalfa fields on the bottoms. Formerly jack rabbits were so numer-
ous and so destructive to crops in the San Luis Valley that prize
hunts were held each year and many thousands were killed. They
are still found throughout the valley, but are common only in
the sandy strip of country lying along the west base of the Sangre
de Cristo Range. At the Medano Springs ranch, near the San Luis
Lakes, I found them abundant in October, 1907, and shot six speci-
mens among the Sarcobatus and Chrysothamnus bushes on the sand
ridges. All of these, as well as others examined at the Medano ranch,
had the upper central area of the tail heavily shaded with plumbeous,
but the cowboys report that a lighter colored rabbit with the tail en-
tirely white is occasionally killed in that region.
White-tailed jack rabbits are said to be not uncommon near West-
cliffe, in the Wet Mountain Valley, and a few are reported near Brad-
1911.1] MAMMALS. 153
ford and La Veta, in western Huerfano County. One was collected
December 5, 1907, in the dense yellow pine forest west of Kastonville.
In some sections on the plains this species is becoming scarce of late
years, and the numbers are rapidly decreasing throughout the plains
region as the country becomes more settled. This is well illustrated
by the fact that in May and June, 1909, I saw only one individual in
the course of a wagon trip of over 300 miles, from Cheyenne Wells
northwest to the Wyoming line, north of Grover. At certain locali-
ties L. melanotis appears to be replacing campestris. I saw a white-
tailed jack rabbit just west of Fort Collins in 1906, and heard of a few
at Wray, Yuma County, in December, 1907, although the predominant
species at the last locality is melanotis. L. campestris was said in 1907
to occur very rarely along the east edge of Baca County, but I was
unable to verify the report. In 1909 I saw one on the Arkansas
Divide near Resolis. Among the eastern foothills of the Front Range
it ranges as high as Estes Park and Gold Hill.
Allen found this species common in the parks of Park County in
1871,' while Trippe recorded it as common in Clear Creek County.’
Lepus campestris townsendi Bachman. Western White-tailed Jack
Rabbit.
This is the western gray form of the white-tailed jack rabbit, and
in Colorado, at least, is more an inhabitant of the mountains than its
eastern relative. Though not unlike L. campestris, and scarcely dis-
tinguishable in the field, L. townsendi is much grayer, and a blackish
or plumbeous area on the upper central part of the tail is almost
always well indicated. It replaces L. campestris in the mountains
west of the Continental Divide, and may occur regularly along its
crest, since it has been taken at extreme timberline on Boreas Pass,
at 12,000 feet. Specimens from just east of the Rocky Mountain
watershed, in South Park and the upper Arkansas and San Luis
_ Valleys, are best referred to campestris, though evidently intergrades.?
This rabbit oécurs sparingly in the sagebrush country at Norwood
and Coventry between 6,500 and 7,000 feet, but Mr. C. H. Smith says
that at both localities it is outnumbered fully 10 to 1 by the black-
tailed species L. c. texianus. During July, 1907, I saw only one at
Coventry, but another was seen at the west base of Lone Cone, in the
San Miguel Mountains, July 26. This was in a grassy opening among
the dense oak chaparral at about 9,000 feet. Mr. J. P. Galloway, of
Norwood, states that white-tailed jack rabbits are not uncommon on
the lower slopes of Lone Cone. Tracks of jack rabbits were seen in
the sandy, yellow pine country near the head of Dominguez Creek,
on the Uncompahgre Plateau, at 8,500 feet, July 15. The form
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 58, 1874. 3 See Nelson, N. Am. Fauna No. 29, p. 81, 1909.
2 See Coues, Birds of the Northwest, p. 225, 1874.
aa
4
154 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 38.
represented on this plateau is undoubtedly L. townsendi, as the region
is too high for terianus.
The white-tailed jack rabbits inhabiting the sage plains of western
Routt County probably reach that region from the Wyoming plains
on the north. As no specimens from that region are at hand, it can
not be stated with certainty whether they are townsendi or campes- —
tris. From geographical considerations alone they might be referred
equally well to either. In 1906 one was noted in the Snake River
Valley west of Baggs Crossing, and tracks were noticed south of Sunny
Peak. Another rabbit was seen at Douglas Spring at the northern
base of the Escalante Hills, and the species was reported present
throughout the Snake and Bear River region. Rabbits reported from
the White River Valley above Meeker,! Egeria Park, and on the Gore —
Range, and others seen in Middle Park, can be referred without much
question to L. townsendi.
Warren gives the following data regarding this form in the higher
mountains: ‘‘Two females killed near Boreas Pass, in Summit County,
each contained fcetuses, one four, the other five; one lot would
probably have been born within a day or two, the other in about a
week. This was on the 5th day of August. It seems very late in
the season for young to be born at such high altitude, where winter
sets in so early, one might say in mid-October frequently, and these
rabbits are reported to live in these high regions the year round.
Mr. H. L. Curtiss writes me he has seen them in winter on’ Fairview
Mountain, near Pitkin, Gunnison County, at 12,000 feet.”? Warren
told me that the Boreas Pass specimens were jumped from beneath _
the dwarfed and matted Engelmann spruces at extreme timberline
on Baldy Mountain, and that other hunters had found this rabbit in
similar situations along the crest of the Front Range, where the ani-
mals obtain in the stunted and matted conifers protection from the
icy winds which sweep the bleak and inhospitable summits. In the
high mountain districts both townsendi and campestris assume a
beautiful whitish winter coat, but do not become as white as the
snowshoe rabbit (L. bairdt).
Lepus bairdi Hayden. Rocky Mountain Snowshoe Rabbit.
The large furry-footed snowshoe rabbits are found throughout the
higher mountains from the lower edge of the Canadian zone at 8,500
feet to considerably above timberline. Along the lower edge of their
range they meet the mountain cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus n. pinetis),
but above 9,000 or 9,500 feet L. bairdi is often the only rabbit present.
I have seen very few of these rabbits on my trips through the moun-
tains, but the tracks of their large furry feet and the well-worn trails
in the snow which wind in and out of the dense willow copses in the
1 Felger. Univ. of Colo. Studies, VII, p. 144, 1910.
2 Further Notes on Mammals of Colo., p. 79, 1908.
1911.] MAMMALS. 155
geulches just below timberline show that considerable numbers are
present in most sections.
Snowshoe rabbits are adepts at hiding in the cover of forest vege-
tation and easily escape notice. In the gloaming of an August
evening one was discovered feeding in the willows which fringed a
spring on the White River Plateau, 25 miles southeast of Meeker, at
8,500 feet, and it allowed a close approach before hopping uncon-
cernedly into a denser thicket. Another got into a trap set under a
cabin near Coulter, Middle Park, in the middle of October. The
weather was cold and wintry, but this specimen had just begun to
assume the white winter pelage on the legs and flanks. LLuumbermen
at Fraser, Middle Park, report snowshoe rabbits abundant, and often
find them living under log piles and brush heaps. While following
a logging trail near Fraser I discovered the remains of a rabbit which
had been captured by a bobcat during the previous night. Bobcats
and coyotes living in the higher mountains feed quite extensively
upon this species, and on Berthoud Pass their tracks were often seen
in the snow where they had been hunting rabbits among the willow
copses near timberline. In June, 1905, rabbit signs were abundant
among the alpine willows far above timberline on Mount Kelso, near
Grays Peak. The species is said to be common in the forests of the
Gore Range, east of Toponas; at Hahns Peak; in the San Juan
Mountainsy north of Pagosa Springs and Vallecito; on Lone Cone,
San Miguel Mountains; and on Veta Pass. I found it very rare in
the Saguache Mountains, near St. Elmo, Chaffee County. Accord-
ing to Preble it was tolerably common on Longs Peak in August,
1894, while Loring secured a fine series of 28 specimens at Silverton
in the latter part of October, 1893. The majority of the Silverton
specimens were collected in underbrush in the canyon, but a few were
taken on the mountain sides near timberline. All were changing
from brown summer pelage to the white winter coat, and Loring
states that the white pelage was farthest advanced on individuals
taken near timberline. Allen says snowshoe rabbits were reported
as common in the timbered parts of Park County in 1871.1
Lepus californicus melanotis Mearns. Kansas Jack Rabbit.
Over the entire plains region of eastern Colorado black-tailed jack
rabbits are found in varying abundance. (See fig. 25.) Formerly
they were outnumbered by L. campestris in many sections on the
northern plains, but the reverse is now true. They become increas-
ingly numerous toward the south, where campestris is rare or absent.
In Huerfano County, and doubtless elsewhere, they follow some of
the widest valleys into the foothills, and may be found occasionally
among the junipers and pinyons as high as 7,500 feet. The species
seems to prefer open grassy plains to the foothill valleys grown up
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 58, 1874.
156 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No, 33.
with Atriplex and Chrysothamnus and is most abundant at some
distance from the mountains.
Although present in much smaller numbers than formerly, black-
tailed jack rabbits are still sufficiently numerous in certain sections,
particularly in the rich agricultural region lying along the Arkansas
River, to injure seriously such crops as alfalfa, grains, eabbages, and
sugar beets. In early days jack rabbits were extremely abundant
in the Arkansas Valley, and for a number of years annual hunts were’
organized at Lamar to lessen the pest. Many thousand jack rabbits
were sometimes killed in a single hunt.!
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Fic. 25.—Distribution in Colorado of black-tailed jack rabbits (Lepus californicus terianus and L. c.
melanotis).
In driving from Cheyenne Wells northwest across the plains to
Cheyenne, Wyoming, in May and June, 1909, I found these jack rab-
bits common only in the sandy bunch grass country of Yuma County.
Elsewhere they appeared to be greatly reduced in numbers. A very
few were seen on the eastern end of the Arkansas Divide, and farther
west at River Bend and Ramah, while two immature individuals
were encountered near Pawnee Buttes, in northeastern Weld County.
Prof. Lantz found them abundant in the Purgatory Valley south of
La Junta in April, 1910.
1 For details of the Lamar rabbit hunts see Jack Rabbits of the United States, -by T. S. Palmer, Bull.
No. 8, Biological Survey, pp. 63-64, 1897.
1911.] MAMMALS, 157
Lepus californicus texianus Waterhouse. Texas Jack Rabbit.
The black-tailed jack rabbits inhabiting the Upper Sonoran desert
valleys of western and southwestern Colorado (see fig. 25) are refer-
able to the Texas form, although intermediate in coloration between
texianus and melanotis.'. In some sections they are abundant, in
others very scarce, and their local abundance varies much from year
to year, as in other parts of their range.
In the summer of 1907 I found jack rabbits common at Bayfield,
La Plata County, and at Coventry, Montrose County. Small num-
bers were reported also on Mesa Verde, in McElmo Valley; near
Mancos and Dolores in Montezuma County; and between Naturita
and Paradox in western Montrose County. Early in June the
rabbits were quite common along the lower edge of the pinyons and
in the adjoining open sagebrush valleys and slopes southwest of
Bayfield, at 6,500 feet. During the heat of the day they were
usually resting quietly in the shade of the pinyons, but in the early
morning and toward sundown could be seen actively moving about
in the open, either nibbling at the short grass in the openings among
the sagebrush or more often feeding in the grain and alfalfa fields.
Several ranchmen southwest of Bayfield have small patches of grain in
the openings along the lower edge of the pinyons, and these suffer
most from the depredations of jack rabbits. One forenoon at 10 I
surprised an entire family of rabbits eagerly feeding in one of these
small isolated fields of young grain among the pinyons. This
family, consisting of two adults and three or four young about two-
thirds grown, had been levying heavy tribute upon the tender grain
shoots, and the field was in a fair way to be entirely destroyed. A
very little time and effort spent by the owner of this piece of grain
in shooting jack rabbits would in all probability have saved it. Mr.
I. G. Bates, of Bayfield, states that a diet of young alfalfa produces
the same bloating effect on jack rabbits as on cattle and usually
results fatally. No rabbits thus affected have come under my obser-
vation, unless it be in the case of a much bloated individual which I
found lying dead in the sagebrush a short distance from a large alfalfa
field near Coventry. In the Bayfield region jack rabbits are said to
be very injurious to orchards in winter, when green food is scarce
and the animals are forced to subsist by browsing and by eating the
tender bark of young trees.
Black-tailed jack rabbits are not common in eastern Montezuma
County, but toward the Utah boundary and thence west to the
Abajo (Blue) Mountains in eastern Utah, their numbers are said to
increase rapidly. I saw a single individual on a flat in the McElmo
Canyon, near Moqui, June 22. North of the Montezuma Valley
1 See Nelson, N. Am. Fauna No. 29, p. 145, 1909,
158 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No, 33.
texianus follows the pinyon and sagebrush country around the western
ends of the Dolores and San Miguel Plateaus, chiefly west of the
Dolores River, and reaches the San Miguel and Naturita Valleys
through the Paradox Valley and Dry Creek Basin. It ranges east-
ward along San Miguel River to Coventry and Norwood and follows
Naturita Creek nearly to its head at the northwest base of Lone
Cone, where I saw one in a grassy opening in the oak chaparral at
8,500 feet, July 27, 1907. At the last three localities the range of
this species overlaps that of the white-tailed L. c. townsendi, texianus
being the common form in the lower elevations at Coventry and
Norwood, and townsendi predominating up around the base of Lone
Cone, in the Transition zone. I saw no jack rabbits while crossing _
the Paradox Valley on my way to the La Sal Mountains in July, but
tracks were common in East Paradox Valley. Mr. C. H. Smith, of
Coventry, reports them very injurious to growing grain, alfalfa, and
vegetables, especially cabbages. Most of the cultivated land there
is surrounded by a dense growth of sagebrush, which affords the
rabbits effective concealment during the day and ample protection,
as I can testify after several days of hunting with poor success.
A few black-tailed jack rabbits are reported in the desert areas of
the lower Grand River Valley between Grand Junction and the
Utah boundary. They are said to occur in small numbers near
Douglas Spring, at the north base of the Escalante Hills, in western
Routt County, but this report lacks verification. Mr.J.H.Gautsawa
black-tailed jack rabbit east of Antonito, in the Rio Grande Valley,
in September, 1904, but as it was not secured its species can not be
determined. On geographic grounds it should be texianus.
Sylvilagus floridanus similis Nelson. Nebraska Cottontail.
This small gray form of the small-eared floridanus group of cotton-
tail rabbits comes into the State from the northeast, along the valleys
of the South Platte and Republican Rivers and their tributaries, and —
ranges to the eastern base of the foothills, as indicated by the follow- —
ing localities at which specimens have been collected: Arvada, Jef-
ferson County; Littleton; Barr; Orchard, Morgan County; Masters, —
Weld County; Dry Willow Creek, Yuma County; and Sterling. Mr.
W. L. Burnett states that a specimen has been taken near Loveland.
Little is known of the habits of this cottontail in Colorado aside
from the fact that most of the specimens have been taken in brushy
thickets along watercourses, just as farther east. S. a. baileyi occurs”
on the plains on both sides of the Platte from the base of the foothills
to the Nebraska line; so similis doubtless inhabits the wild plum
thickets and the willow and cottonwood fringe along the river banks.
Cottontails were very scarce at Wray in December, 1907, but I -
saw a few tracks in the dense plum and hackberry thickets in the —
|
|
|
|
1911.) MAMMALS, 159
gulches south of Chief Creek, where similis should be found. <A
skull, however, found at a hole beneath a rocky ledge along one of
the gulches had the characteristic large audital bulle of baileyi.
S. similis can be distinguished readily from baileyi by its much
smaller and shorter ears and small audital bulle. The only other
Colorado cottontail which shares these characters is S. pinetis, a
species restricted to the mountains. At Sterling, in June, 1909, I
found this cottontail restricted to the immediate valley of the Platte,
where one was occasionally jumped in the dense thickets of wild
cherry and snowberry along the river. ‘They were very wild, and
the only one collected was a nursing female shot in an alfalfa meadow
along the roadside June 2.
Sylvilagus nuttalli pinetis (Allen). Rocky Mountain Cottontail.
This is the cottontail of the mountain districts of Colorado, where
it is generally distributed, mainly in the Transition zone. It is most
abundant in the yellow pine forests of the eastern foothills of the
front ranges, but is often found along the lower edge of the aspen
belt. In the Pikes Peak region it occurs as high as 11,500 feet.!
It is common on some of the pinyon-clad ridges and mesas of western
Colorado as low as 6,000 feet along the upper edge of the Upper
Sonoran zone; and has been taken on the higher sage plains of Routt
County with baileyr. The favorite abode of the mountain cottontail
is on the cool north slopes in the upper part of the pine belt, where
it finds abundant cover in the creeping juniper (Juniperus sibirica)
and in dense thickets of aspens, as well as in and among fallen logs.
Ledges of rock and hollow logs are favorite retreats. This cotton-
tail, ike grangeri, belongs to the short-eared nuttalli group, and can
not be easily confused with the long-eared cottontails, baileyi and
warreni, of the surrounding Upper Sonoran plains and valleys. The
rich dark winter pelage of pinetis is usually strongly tinged with
vinaceous.
Sylvilagus nuttalli grangeri (Allen). Black Hills Cottontail.
K. W. Nelson, in his recently published monograph of the rabbits
of North America,’ refers to this form specimens of cottontails from
the Escalante Hills and Lay, in western Routt County, and from
Meeker. This is a northern member of the nuttalli group closely
related to pinetis, with which it intergrades in southern Wyoming.
S. a. baileyi, a member of the long-eared auduboni group, is also found
over much of western Routt County. The cottontail rabbits of north-
western Colorado are not typical of any race, but appear to be inter-
erades—grangeri, pinetis, and possibly baileyr, being involved. A
specimen I shot on the sage plains near Lay in August, 1905, seems
to be intermediate between baileyi and grangeri. The cottontails of
1 Warren, The Mammals of Colorado, p. 49, 1919. 2N. Am. Fauna No. 29, p. 207, 1909.
1
nit
-
160 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33.
the northwestern sage plains thus present a most perplexing problem.
To quote Mr. Nelson (1. ¢., p. 206): ‘‘One specimen in the Biological
Survey collection (No. 139098) from Lay, Colorado, is indistinguish-
able in external characters from three specimens of S. a. baileyi from
the same place, but its skull is that of grangeri, to which it has been
referred. Several other specimens of cottontails, some baileyi and
some grangeri, from northwestern Colorado are extremely puzzling,
and much more material from there and elsewhere in this State is
needed before the relationships and ranges of the several cottontails
can be satisfactorily determined.”
In the Escalante Hills I found the short-eared cottontails in small
numbers at the edge of the yellow pines at about 7,000 feet, and
others were seen down among the dense pinyon and juniper growth
on the northern slopes.
Sylvilagus auduboni baileyi (Merriam). Plains Cottontail.
The common long-eared cottontails of the eastern plains of Colo-
rado are baileyi, the only other form occurring there being the short-
eared similis, which inhabits the brush patches and fringe along the
South Platte and other streams of the northeastern counties. These
two cottontails are quite unlike, and besides their structural differ-
ences have dissimilar habits. Thus bailey: inhabits the open grassy
plains, where it lives in abandoned prairie dog and badger holes, or |
else takes up its abode in the rock ledges and bluffs bordering the
valleys; while similis, so far as known, does not dwell in the open
but in dense thickets along streams and in the bottoms of connecting
gulches. The plains cottontail has a wide range from Montana south
to the edge of the Llano Estacado of northern Texas. It occupies
practically all the plains of Wyoming, extending south in northwest-
ern Colorado on the sage plains and in the valleys of Routt and Rio”
Blanco Counties, where the high escarpment of the Book Cliffs and
the White River Plateau separates it from warrent of the Grand Val-
ley and southward. The range of baileyi meets that of the mountain
cottontail (S. pinetis) at Meeker, Craig, and other points along the
bases of the Elk Head Mountains and of the White River Plateau,
as well as on the slopes of the higher divides between the river valleys.
This species follows up the drainage of the Arkansas Valley to Salida,
and probably occurs on the extensive Upper Sonoran flats farther up
the valley, but in other sections is not known to penetrate the eastern
foothills for any distance.
Throughout its range the plains cottontail is preeminently an in-
habitant of the semiarid Upper Sonoran plains, where it lives in holes
along the steep-cut banks of dry arroyos, in the deserted burrows of —
prairie dogs and badgers, and often in holes beneath sagebrush, Air |
plex, or prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha) on the open plain. In ©
i
ae
1911.] MAMMALS, 161
rough and broken regions, as along the Snake, Bear, and White Riv-
ers, and in the juniper country of Baca and Las Animas Counties, it
lives chiefly along the rocky rims of canyons.
In August, 1905, cottontails were abundant in the Bear River Val-
ley south of Lay. In the evening and early morning, and often at
midday, numbers usually fed on the small grassy flats between the
river and the base of the bluffs. They were quite wild, despite their
abundance, and when alarmed scampered up the arroyos and dry
rocky slopes in all directions to their retreats in the ledges far above
the river. Sometimes fully 20 individuals, adults and young, were
in sight at once.
In traveling down the Snake River Valley in August, 1906, few
cottontails were observed as compared with the great numbers seen
on Bear River in 1905, and Mr. John Criss, of Baggs Crossing, Wyo-
ming, informed me that a disease which he termed cholera had been
thinning out their numbers very perceptibly throughout the region.
In common with other rabbits baileyi is subject to a periodical disease,
as yet very little understood, which invariably follows excessive
abundance. This disease seems to be nature’s check to abnormal
increase, and did it not prevail, at least among the plains cottontails,
much of the cattle range in the vicinity of streams and gulches would
undoubtedly be ruined. As it is, the injury to the range is very con-
siderable when the rabbits reach their maximum numbers, as on Bear
River in 1905, and again on McElmo Creek and along the lower San
Juan River in 1907, where S. a. warrent was so abundant that scarcely
a spear of grass remained in the vicinity of the streams.
This species is fairly free from parasites and grubs and, except in
the years when it is suffering from disease, is excellent food. On the
sage plains of Routt County young cottontails were an important
item on our bill of fare, and they were well-flavored and tender.
_ Sylvilagus auduboni warreni Nelson. Colorado Cottontail.
Sylvilagus auduboni warrent Nelson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XX, p. 83, July 22,
1907. Type from Coventry, Montrose County, Colorado.
This is the cottontail of the warm Upper Sonoran valleys and
lowest mesas of southwestern Colorado south of Grand River Valley.
The cottontails of the open plains of the San Luis Valley, although
not typical, are referable to this form and, especiaily toward the
northern end of the valley, approach baileyi in general paleness of
coloration. The ranges of these two closely related forms appear
to meet in this region, warrena doubtless extending around the
southern end of the San Juan Mountains in New Mexico and then
north into the San Luis Valley, while baileyz probably reaches the
region from the south and east by following around the southern
end of the Culebra Range. Under the circumstances it seems best
90432°—11——_11
162 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33,
to refer all of the San Luis Valley cottontails to warreni, since this
type predominates. The northern boundary of the dispersion of
warrent is marked by the White River and Book Plateaus, the cot-
tontails found in the Grand Valley as far east as Rifle being fairly
typical, while those occurring in the White River Valley from Meeker
west are baileyi.
This form, like the other long-eared cottontails, is an inhabitant
of sage plains, Sarcobatus valleys, and Atriplex flats, and is often
found also among the rocks and pinyons. Cottontails were uncom-
mon in the Grand Valley in both 1906 and 1907. Near Rifle, several
were seen in the greasewood along arroyos and irrigation ditches,
and north of Fruita, Mesa County, the rabbits were often started
from their forms beneath Atriplex confertifolia on the open desert,
or from the dense thickets of Chrysothamnus along the irrigation
ditches. They invariably took refuge in the deserted burrows of |
badgers and white-tailed prairie dogs, in which apparently they
were living. They were abundant at Hotchkiss in August, 1907,
and one seen just east of Crawford, at the west base of the West
Elk Mountains, was probably this form. At Coventry I found
them abundant during July, both among the pinyons and out in
the sagebrush, and collected several topotypes. On my trip to the
La Sal Mountains they were seen in abundance in the Dry Creek
and Paradox Valleys, but were scarce in Sinbad Valley and thence
down the Dolores River to the mouth of West Creek. My camp
assistant shot 11 young cottontails from the tent while cooking —
supper at our Dry Creek camp, 3 miles west of Naturita, July 19,
and there seemed to be fully as many more among the rocks and —
sagebrush after his fusillade.
These rabbits were very abundant in the McElmo and San Juan
Valleys in June, 1907, where they were reported quite injurious. —
Ranchmen stated that their numbers near Bluff City, Utah, were so
great that nearly all the range grasses in the vicinity of canyons had
been eaten by them before the middle of June. Mr. George J. Ash-
baugh, who lives in the McElmo Canyon west of Moqui, says the |
cottontails are very injurious to his fruit trees during the winter. |)
On the Mesa Verde these rabbits are scarce, only two being seen
among the pinyons at 7,000 feet. They were fairly common at Bay- |
field, La Plata County, early in June, and a single individual noted
in a willow copse along the San Juan River at Arboles may have
been this form. 5
The type of this interesting cottontail, a female in winter pelage,
of ear from notch, in dried skin, 70. It was collected at Coventry
by Mr. C. H. Smith, January 4, 1907, and is in the Biological Survey
—
1911.] MAMMALS, 163
“Similar to bailey in size, length of ears, and abundant pelage,
but darker colored with more distinct gray rump patch and darker
rufous on nape and legs.” Its distribution is given as ‘‘south-
western Colorado and adjacent parts of Utah, New Mexico, and
Arizona.”
Felis oregonensis hippolestes Merriam. Cougar; Mountain Lion.
The mountain lion was formerly present over at least all the rough
parts of the State, and in early times it was occasionally seen even
well out on the plains along the more heavily brush-fringed streams.
At present it is becoming rare east of the Continental Divide, although
holding its own fairly well in the rough canyon and mesa country
of the west and southwest. It is now most numerous in the pinyon
country of Montezuma and Dolores Counties, and in western Rio
Blanco and Routt Counties, the latter region being to-day perhaps
the best lion country in the United States.
Probably I. hippolestes is the only form represented in Colorado,
but a skin from Montezuma County, in the possession of Mr. Steve
Elkins, of Mancos, is considerably paler and less reddish than lions
from the Meeker region. Unfortunately there are no skulls or skins
from extreme southwestern Colorado available for study. A series
of 12 skulls from Meeker in the Biological Survey collection, collected
by Mr. Theodore Roosevelt in January and February, 1901, have
been referred to IP’. hippolestes.'
In some of the southern and western counties mountain lions are
sufficiently numerous to be very destructive to stock, especially
young colts. Near Lily Park, in western Routt County, calves aiso
are said to be often killed by lions. Through Mr. James Lowell, of
Dolores, a forest ranger, I learned that 16 colts had been killed by
/ mountain lions in that region during the spring of 1907—11 in the
| yellow pine country between Plateau and Beaver Creeks, 20 miles
north of Dolores, and 5 in the high aspen and spruce country on Bear
Creek, an affluent of the Dolores River, about 20 miles east of Dolores.
In addition to colts and calves, the lions prey much upon wandering
| bands of sheep in the yellow pine forests of Archuleta County.
Among game mammais deer appear to suffer most from mountain
lions, and that they form the chief prey is evident from the fact that
|the lions move up into the mountains or down into the low country
)with the migration of the deer. Mr. E. E. Chapson, a forest ranger
jin the San Juan National Forest, thinks the lions and coyotes are the
|most important factors in the destruction of deer in the San Juan
Mountains. The lion tracks seen in winter are almost invariably
4
164 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, (No. 33. _
states that lions are very destructive to deer in the Montezuma’
National Forest. Mr. J. P. Galloway, of Norwood, relates that a
lion, the track of which he followed several years ago on Wild Steer
Mesa, south of East Paradox Valley, had dragged the carcass of a
freshly killed deer to a secluded rocky place among the pinyons and
left it covered with a pile of pinyon needles and cones fully 4 feet
high. This habit of caching carcasses for future consumption has
been noted by a number of Colorado hunters.
Mountain lions are much hunted with dogs in the regions of their
greatest abundance, as in the Keystone country northwest of Meeker —
and in the Mancos region. When pursued by dogs, they are readily
treed, usually after a short dash, seeking refuge among the upper
branches of pinyons or junipers, where they are at the mercy of the
hunters. The Meeker region has long been a famous lion country,
and it was here that Roosevelt had his well-known hunt in the winter
of 1901, bringing out a fine series of specimens, besides gathering
important data on the habits of the species.
Although most abundant in the broken rocky pinyon and juni-
per country on the lower western slope of the Continental Divide, —
lions are nevertheless found occasionally above timberline. On the |
Saguache Mountains, 2 miles north of St. Elmo, I followed the track _
of a medium-sized lion through the snow for-some distance, October
9, 1907. It was first crossed at 12,000 feet, and as far as followed,
kept along the high wind-swept crests of the mountams above
timberline.
Mountain lions were reported in varying numbers at the followin
localities in the northern mountains in 1905 and 1906:
Gore Range and mountains surrounding Middle Park: Small
numbers reported.
Park Range (headwaters of Grand Encampment River): Reported
by lumbermen as not at all uncommon. Tracks seen in the trail
near the tie camps August 13, 1906.
Snake River region (Baggs Crossing to Escalante): Formerly com-
mon, but none remain. Mostly poisoned by professional wolf
trappers some years ago, when there was a large bounty on wolves |
in this region.?
Browns Park: Fair numbers reported in mountains south of Green |
River, near Mount Cullom. |
Escalante Hills: Three killed on south slope, 10 miles west of Lily, —
in the winter of 1905-6.
Lily Park: Reported common in surrounding pinyon country M
winter.
1 This suggests that a liberal use of poison in a region where lions are troublesome would be the best
means of reducing their numbers. Old trappers and wolf hunters state that lions readily eat of poisoned
carcasses.
1911.] MAMMALS. 165
Rangely (lower White River): Not uncommon. Several killed
each winter.
Book Plateau (near Baxter Pass): Reported as occasional in winter.
The following data on the abundance of lions in southern Colorado
were secured in 1907:
Culebra Range (south of La Veta): Reported not uncommon in
wilder parts, but none recently killed. One killed on Cucharas
River several years ago.
Sangre de Cristo Range (Sierra Blanca group): Reported rare.
Track seen on Sierra Blanca winter of 1906-7.
Sangre de Cristo Range (head Huerfano River): A few reported.
Cochetopa Hills (near Saguache): Said to be scarce.
Mancos region: Three killed by Mr. Steve Elkins during past year.
I saw a young lion’s track in Navajo Canyon, on the Mesa Verde,
June 13.
Sierra el Late: A few reported around Ute Peak.
_Lower San Miguel and Dolores Rivers: Becoming scarce.
Lone Cone (San Miguel Mountains): Has never been common.
Coventry: Scarce. Several have been killed along the San Miguel
River, but none recently.
Uncompahgre Plateau: Rare.
Vallecito: Occasionally met with.
Over much of the eastern slope mountain lions are very rare, where
they were formerly common. Allen says, regarding its former presence
in Park County: “Not uncommon. Its cry was once heard near
our camp at Montgomery.” * ‘Trippe? records it as an early inhabit-
ant of Clear Creek County. It was reported from Estes Park during
the early nineties of last century. Coues mentions two mounted
specimens in the collection of Colorado mammals exhibited at the
Philadelphia Exposition in 1876 by Mrs. M. A. Maxwell, stating that
“one was killed near Boulder by poisoning the carcass of a young
_ horse which the panther had destroyed.” *
Lynx canadensis Kerr. Canada Lynx.
The Canada lynx inhabits the Canadian zone forests of the higher
mountains in Colorado, but in most sections its numbers are rapidly
decreasing. The scattering records at hand indicate a former gen-
eral distribution over the central and northern mountainous parts of
the State, while a few are still left in the San Juan and La Plata
Mountains of the southwest. At present the animal occurs chiefly in
the heavy forests of the Park and Gore Ranges, the Rabbit Ear and
Vasquez Mountains, and in southern Pitkin and Eagle Counties. It
is said seldom to wander below 8,000 feet, even in the heaviest snows
of winter.
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 53, 1874.
2 See Coues, Birds of the Northwest, p. 224, 1874.
3 Dartt, On the Plains and Among the Peaks, p. 218, 1879.
# A lynx reported to have been killed at Bayfield (6,500 feet) is an exception.
-done in that section. Dr. Kerneghan, of Steamboat Springs, has
‘three fine lynx skins which were taken on the west slope of the Park —
166 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 38.
In 1905 lynxes were reported to be tolerably common in the moun-
tains surrounding Middle Park. Alpert & Co., of Kremmling, pur-
chased several skins taken in the winter of 1904—5 in the Williams
Mountains, near the headwaters of the Willams Fork of Grand
River; and Mr. Fred Selak, a fur buyer living near Coulter, annually —
handles a small number of skins from both the Grand Lake region
and the Rabbit Ear Mountains. Lynxes are said to leave the higher
mountains in February and March and come down into the forested
country of the Grand Lake region, following the downward move-
ment of the grouse and ptarmigan. The North Park slope of the
Rabbit Ear Mountains is very good lynx country, and Mr. W. H.
Graham, of Spicer, informed me that he and his brother usually trap
from 10 to 15 each winter near the head of Arapahoe Creek. On
the Medicine Bow Range and in the lodgepole pine forests east of |
the Laramie River lynxes are said to be uncommon. A few are
reported by lumbermen on the Park Range along the headwaters of
the Grand Encampment River, but little trapping appears to be—
Range during recent years, and states that in the winter of 1904-5
he saw tracks of a lynx in the aspen thickets on a mountain 2 miles
south of Steamboat Springs at about 7,500 feet. Mr. J. R. Carron, —
storekeeper at Columbine, near Hahns Peak, usually buys two or
three skins each year, but in 1906 none were brought in. A lynx ~
taken in the Elk Head Mountains in the winter of 1905-6 was sold
to Mr. Robert McIntosh, of Slater. According to Mr. A. G. Walla- |
han, a few are still found in the Williams River Mountains. Mr.
Dall DeWeese, of Canon City, has a mounted specimen from the —
South Fork of White River, where he says lynxes were not at all a,
uncommon some years ago. Mr. Frank Hayes, a taxidermist of
Glenwood Springs, states that in the winter of 1903-4 he saw a lynx a
track at Mud Springs, on White River Plateau, and in 1905 purchased
five skins which had been taken the preceding winter near Mount —
Jackson, at the northern end of the Saguache Range. While located _
at Aspen just previous to 1900, Mr. Hayes purchased six or eight
lynx skins each winter, taken in the three following regions: Jtalian
Mountain and Taylor Park, which are on the headwaters of Taylor
River; region about Snow Mass Peak; and Independence Pass, at the
head of the Roaring Fork of Grand River.
A very few lynxes were reported in 1907 in the mountains north
of Pagosa Springs, and Mr. Don C. Coulson, of Bayfield, has handled
a few skins from the high country in the Vallecito region, and also
one skin which was taken in the winter of 1905 on a ranch adjoining
the town of Bayfield (6,500 feet). Mounted specimens seen at Sil-
verton and Ouray were doubtless killed in the neighboring moun-
1911.1 MAMMALS. 167
tains, but I could learn nothing definite concerning their history.
Apparently this lynx is more numerous in the La Plata Mountains
than in the San Juans. Mr. Steve Elkins, of Mancos, has trapped
several in the spruce belt, and states that his hounds occasionally
tree one while following a bear trail. This species is known as the
snowshoe lynx in the La Plata Mountains.
A winter skin from Grand Lake, in northeastern Middle Park, is in
the Biological Survey collection.
On the occurrence of Lynx canadensis in Park County, Allen says:
“Represented as common. Saw skins of this species in the posses-
sion of hunters, taken in the vicinity of Mount Lincoln.” Warren
mentions a skin which Mr. C. E. Aiken, of Colorado Springs, received
from Beulah, and which is supposed to have come from either the
Wet Mountains or the Sangre de Cristo Range.?
Lynx baileyi Merriam. Plateau Wildcat.
The bobeats of the lower parts of southern and eastern Colorado
are referable to L. baileyi. The few Colorado specimens. at hand do
not permit an accurate outline of the distribution, but this wildcat
appears to be most abundant in the Upper Sonoran zone. Along the
eastern slope the species ranges a short distance into the foothills,
and in the southwest is found commonly over an extensive area of
rocky pinyon and juniper country. Bobcats are rare or entirely
absent over much of the plains region east of the mountsins, where
the brush fringe and the few rocky ledges and bluffs along some of
the streams furnish the only suitable environment. A few have been
killed in the rocky canyons along Chief Creek, near Wray, Yuma
County, during recent years, and in May, i909, I saw tracks of a
bobeat among the sandstone ledges near Tuttle, on the South Fork —
of Republican River. The,animals have never been common in
the Chimney Cliffs, northwest of Sterling, according to residents.
The extensive juniper country in western Baca, Las Animas, and
southern Otero and Bent Counties, however, is an ideal habitat, and
bobeats are abundant throughout that region. They are reported
common in the lower foothills from Fort Collins and Arkins south to
Gardner, La Veta, and Trinidad, and in the southwest I have seen
tracks at Arboles, Bayfield, on the Mesa Verde, near McElmo, East
Paradox Valley, Sinbad Valley, south of Grand Valley, Plateau
Creek, and on the desert north of Mack, lower Grand River Valley?
Bobcats reported from the cottonwood-fringed streams along the east
side of the San Luis Valley are probably baileyi, as a specimen has
been taken on Conejos River at the southern end of the valley.
Bobeats prey much upon rabbits, wood rats, and other small cliff-
dwelling mammals, and in the open valleys sometimes subsist to a
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 53, 1874. ' 8 Some of the above notes may refer to L. uinta.
2 Mammals of Colorado, p. 258, 1906.
168 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No, 38.
large extent upon prairie dogs and pocket gophers. Locally they are
probably to be considered useful animals, the balance in their favor
being due to the destruction of so many noxious rodents. On the
other hand, wherever poultry is within reach they commit serious
depredations, and near Pagosa Springs they are said to be very
destructive to sheep.
Lynx uinta Merriam. Mountain Wildcat.
Although represented by specimens chiefly from the northwestern
part of the State, this appears to be the species of the higher foothills
and mountains generally, where it replaces baileyi of the lower foot-
hills and canyons. It is a more robust animal than baileyi, with the
cranium proportionally larger, and in size approaches L. canadensis,
with which species it occurs at some of the higher elevations.
Bobcats are abundant in the rough pinyon and juniper country
of Routt, Rio Blanco, and Garfield Counties. In 1906 the greatest
numbers were reported northwest of Meeker and west of Snake
River between Baggs Crossing and Escalante. Dogs are often used
in hunting bobcats in the Meeker region, as the animals are readily
treed after a short run. A series of skulls from near Meeker was
collected by Mr. Theodore Roosevelt in 1901 and added to the Bio-
logical Survey collection.
Cottontails and snowshoe rabbits probably form most of the food
of this species. Just below timberline in the Saguache Mountains
near St. Elmo, and in other localities ranging between 10,000 and
11,000 feet elevation, I have followed the tracks of bobcats in the
snow as they crossed and recrossed the dense willow copses in the
trails of snowshoe rabbits, which they had evidently been hunting.
In the lower part of its range, as in western Routt County, prairie
dogs are next in importance on the summer bill of fare.
While walking along the railroad track near Rogers Mesa, in the
North Gunnison Valley, in October, 1907, I had an excellent oppor-
tunity to watch the method by which the bobcat hunts prairie dogs.
i was just emerging from a deep cut when I saw a large reddish bobcat
at a distance of not over 40 feet. It was sneaking through the
scattering greasewood bushes flat upon its belly, its short tail twitch-
ing nervously, and the excited chattering of prairie dogs on a neigh-
boring flat showed that its approach had been noted by the alert
animals. One large old prairie dog in particular, apparently the
cat’s intended victim, was seated at its burrow on the edge of the
town, chattering in a bantering manner and appearing less frightened
than the rest. The burrow was within leaping distance (about 10
feet) of the edge of the greasewood, and in making its approach the
cat took advantage of every bush, stopping in the cover of each for
a few moments. When it reached the last bush and was gathering
1911.] MAMMALS, 169
itself for the final leap, the old prairie dog disappeared, but only just
in time, as in another moment the cat landed on the rim of the bur-
row. Rapid, nervous jerks of the tail showed the cat’s disappoint-
ment as it glared about in different directions. Up to this time my
presence had not been noted, and not until I had thrown several
stones did the cat see me, whereupon it bounded away across the
dog town in long leaps. The section men working along the railroad
stated that they often saw a cat near this colony, and it doubtless
had its den in the neighboring rock ledges along the North Gunnison
River, living easily on the fat denizens of the town.
On September 7, 1906, I saw two bobcats in the Sarcobatus brush
along Snake River, a mile north of Lily, and tracks were often seen
in the dry sandy beds of arroyos in the valleys of northwestern
Colorado.
Canis occidentalis Richardson. Gray Wolf.
Gray wolves were formerly abundant over practically the entire
State, except possibly the highest mountains, and were especially
numerous on the eastern plains, where large bands preyed upon the
buffalo. From this habit of hanging on the flanks of the large herds,
they were generally known as buffalo wolves. The mountain animals
are said to average much darker than those of the plains. Unfor-
tunately there are no specimens available from the mountains to
settle this peint, but it is unlikely that two forms occur in the State.
Wolves are still found in considerable numbers in North Park and
in Routt and Rio Blanco Counties, where they kill a great many
range cattle. A few are probably found throughout the mountains
west of the main ranges, and small numbers are still present over
the more unsettled parts of the eastern plains region, particularly in
Baca and eastern Las Animas Counties, in the extreme southeast,
where, in 1907 and in 1910, they were said to be common and to kill
a great many sheep.
In 1906 wolves were common over most of Routt County, notwith-
standing the bounty of $15 authorized by the local stock associa-
tion, the additional $10 offered by the county, and the efforts of
several professional wolf trappers employed by the association.
The heaviest losses of stock were at that time incurred on the Iron
Springs Divide and south of the Elk Head Mountains, although
wolves were reported as unusually abundant in Browns Park on
Green River. In the latter region the stock association hired three
or four trappers to reduce their numbers, and about-fifty were killed
during the winter of 1905-6, the majority being trapped. Mr. John
Criss, a trapper of many years’ experience in the Snake River coun-
try, informed me that the wolves have been so persistently hunted,
frapped, and poisoned that they will now rarely come to a scent of
d
:
4
:
a
170 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 38.
any description and seldom to a baited trap, while poisoning is unsuc- |
cessful. He has had the best success with traps set blind and placed.
in trails or near water holes in the badland country, several miles
back from the Snake River Valley. A method of fastening wolf
traps, used successfully by Mr. Criss in cold weather, seems wort
of mention. The trap is securely chained to a bush or stake at the
edge of a steep-walled gully or wash so that the wolf in its struggles —
to escape will leap over the edge and hang half suspended and
helpless, unable to regain the top of the bank. Wolves thus trapped
in severe weather usually freeze to death in a few hours.
An impression prevails among stockmen in northwestern Colorado
that wolves retire to the mountains to whelp, but I find no evidence to
support this theory.t. In Dixon, Wyoming, I saw a nearly adult black |
wolf in captivity, which had been captured as a cub in a den among
the Snake River bluffs, 20 miles west of Baggs Crossing, in the spring
of 1905. This individual was kept in a large cage in the back yard of
its owner in Dixon. A boy of 3 years was petting and stroking its
head through the bars, and the wolf’s every movement betokened its
pleasure in the companionship of the little fellow. All playfulness
immediately left it, however, on the approach of a man, when the ~
wild, untamable wolf nature was revealed in bared fangs, curling
lips, and glaring eyes. The mother of this wolf was gray, as was_
also one of the three cubs captured in the den. According to trappers
both black and white wolves occur, but white ones are said to be
extremely rare.
In the Lily Park region, on the lower Bear River, Mr. F. C. Barnes
states that wolves were numerous until 1902, but during the two years
following a trapper named Snyder killed 61. Since that time few
cattle have been killed in that section by wolves. In 1905 wolves were _
reported in considerable numbers in the White River country, partic-
ularly in the valley of the Piceance, but were scarce near Rangely
in 1906. During the winter of 1904-5, 7 were killed out of a band of —
nearly 25 which was ranging in North Park, but in 1906 wolves
were reported scarce in that region. I often saw wolf tracks in the
trail as we traveled through the parks on the divide east of the Lara-_
mie River, in August, 1906, and the animals were then said to be very _
troublesome in that section. Tracks were observed as high as 10,000 _
feet. Wolves are of rare occurrence in Middle Park, but two are said H |
to have been seen on the stage road near Coulter during the winter of
1903-4, and another near Grand Lake the following winter. One of a
band of three which ranged on the head of Willow Creek, in the’ |
northern part of Middle Park, was killed early in the summer of 1906.
In Egeria Park and o on the Gore Range wolves are s reported as of rare
1On this point, see Bailey, Wolves in Relation to Stock, eae and the National Forest Reser
Bull. 72, U. S. Forest Service, 1907.
1911.] MAMMALS. ea
occurrence. They were uncommon over most of southern Co-orado
in 1907, particularly in the San Luis Valley, the Pagosa Springs
region, and in Montezuma County, where they are considered very
rare. According to Mr. Steve Elkins, of Mancos, none have been
reported in that region since the winter of 1904—5, when four or five
were seen between Cortez and Mancos. In the region contiguous to
the upper waters of the Vallecito and Los Pinos, in northeastern La
Plata County, they are said to be increasing during the past few years,
but no serious damage is reported. Forest Supervisor EK. W. Shaw,
of Durango, states that a band of 12 was seen near Vallecito in the
winter of 1906-7. A few wolves were reported from the western part
of San Miguel and Montrose Counties, a large male having been
killed in the Dry Creek Basin in the winter of 1906-7, and a female
with four whelps was stated to be ranging the same region in the
summer of 1907. According to Warren, wolves were reported in
the fall of 1906 to be increasing on the Black Mesa, south of the West
Elk Mountains.1
Dr. A. K. Fisher reported wolves as common near Las Animas in
1892 and in the Estes Park region in 1894, and according to Streator,
numbers were to be found the same year on the Republican River,
north of Burlington, and in the vicinity of Olney. Prof. Lantz reports
that a band of three was often seen in the vicinity of Hugo during the
winter of 1904-5. The rough canyon country of Las Animas, Baca,
and southern Otero and Bent Counties was in early days resorted to
by large numbers of wolves for breeding purposes, and many still
breed in that region. |
Ranchmen sine in northwestern Logan and northeastern Weld
Counties stated in the summer of 1909 that wolves were very scarce
in that section, only one being known to inhabit the Horsetail Basin
south of the Chimney Cliffs. This is said to be a female, and is sup-
posed to be the mother of eight whelps which were dug out of a den in
the rough country on the head of Deadman Creek, 20 miles northeast
of Avalo, in the spring of 1909. In the spring of 1908 a litter of six or
seven was dug out in the same canyon, two of which were taken alive
to Nebraska, and another one was kept on a ranch north of Sterling
until it became vicious, when it was killed. In 1908 a cowboy named
Frank Jordan is stated to have roped an old male wolf on the open
plains in the same vicinity.
Allen states that “Canis lupus’? was comparatively scarce in Park
County in 1871, although formerly abundant there.2 As ‘Cam
occidentalis”’ ieppe records the wolf as an eu inhabitant of Clear
Creek County.
1 Further Notes on Mammals of Colorado, p. 82, 1908.
2 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 54, 1874.
3 See Coues, Birds of the Northwest, p. 224, 1874.
172 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No, 88.
Canis lestes Merriam. Mountain Coyote.
This large, dark, richly colored species occurs more or less abun-
dantly throughout the mountains, ranging from the lower foothills to
above timberline. Its habits are not unlike those of the coyotes of
the plains and valleys, but its prey is somewhat different, consisting
chiefly of dusky grouse, cottontails (Sylvilagus n. pinetis), and snow-
shoe rabbits, and including also many deer and fawns. A small band
of these coyotes hunting together has even been known to kill several
mountain sheep which had been shut into a small pocket by an
avalanche. Fawns are of course preyed upon in summer and early
fall, but the adult deer only in winter when the crust will sustain the
coyotes but not the deer. [am informed by forest rangers who have
seen coyotes pursuing deer in this manner that a band of five or six
will overtake a deer and hamstring it very quickly on a weak crust of
snow. Many calves also are killed by coyotes in the mountain parks,
and in certain localities it is almost impossible to raise chickens and
turkeys because of their depredations.
At the Medano Springs ranch, in the San Luis Valley, coyotes
were unusually abundant and destructive in October, 1907. Num-
bers were seen each morning on the broad hay meadows west and
north of the ranch buildings, where they mixed freely with, the cattle,
and evinced little fear of man unless he carried a gun. Several were
noted lying quietly on the tops of haystacks, from which, they could
detect anyone approaching. During the day one was in almost every
extensive weed patch or growth of rank marsh grass, ready to pick
up the turkeys and chickens which strayed too far from, the ranch
buildings. On the meadows near Saguache coyotes have been seen
catching meadow mice and playing with them lke a cat. In the
yellow pine forests of Archuleta County coyotes are very destructive
to sheep, notwithstanding the night fires kept burning by the Mexican
herders.
On the Saguache Mountains near St. Elmo I saw many fresh coyote
tracks in the snow above 11,000 feet, October 9, 1907. One track
followed a high ridge above timberline, at 12,500 feet. I have noted
tracks also on the summit of Berthoud Pass, and coyotes are commonly
reported on Grays Peak and in other sections of the high mountains.
Canis nebracensis Merriam. Plains Coyote.
The coyotes of the eastern plains region are referable to C. nebracen-
sis, the type of which is from Johnstown, Nebraska, and specimens
from the sage plains of North Park and Routt County seem nearest
this species. This light-colored coyote inhabits the lower levels,
being replaced in the higher foothills and mountains by C. lestes, a
much darker animal.
1 See note under Ovis canadensis, p. 64.
1911.] MAMMALS. 173
On my trips through the northern parts of the State I found coyotes
most numerous on the extensive sage plains bordering the Snake and
Bear Rivers, in Routt County, although they are abundant in North
Park and at many points east of the mountains, especially in the
Wray region and northwest of Sterling. Wherever found in any
numbers in settled districts, coyotes kill a great many sheep, young
calves and pigs, and much poultry. They are heartily hated by
stockmen and farmers alike, who never lose an opportunity to kill
them. The stock association in Routt County was offering a bounty
of $1 on coyotes in 1906, but most of the professional wolf trappers
claimed that this was not sufficient remuneration, and hence coyotes
were increasing rapidly at that time. A few trappers, however, were
at work on coyotes in the Snake River region in 1906. Mr. John
Criss, of Baggs Crossing, Wyoming, who makes his winter head-
quarters near Sunny Peak, is said to trap and poison about 200 coy-
otes each winter. While I was traveling down the Snake River
Valley coyotes were numerous and bold, and were heard at all hours of
the day and night.
Coyotes partly compensate for the damage to live stock and poultry
by catching great numbers of noxious rodents, such as pocket gophers,
prairie dogs, ground squirrels, rabbits, and mice—particularly meadow
mice, of which they appear very fond. One noted in a hay meadow
near Lake John in the western part of North Park, August 9, was
so busy hunting for meadow mice in the rank grass that it appeared
oblivious of the presence of eight teams at work in the field and did
not become alarmed until my companion shot at it.
Mr. W. O. Potter, of Avalo, states that once on the plains of north-
eastern Weld County he saw an eagle flying heavily with a captured
prairie dog, and under the eagle a coyote following along with the
apparent intention of pouncing on the quarry when the eagle became
wearied and alighted to eat it.
Canis estor Merriam. San Juan Coyote.
Doubtless all the coyotes inhabiting the warm Upper Sonoran
deserts and valleys of southwestern Colorado should be referred to
C. estor, which was described from Noland’s ranch, San Juan River,
Utah. The Book Cliffs appear to separate this small pale desert
species from C. nebracensis of the Routt County sage plains.
Coyotes are abundant near Mancos, on the Mesa Verde, in the
McKEImo Valley, in the region of the lower San Miguel and Dolores
Rivers, and in the lower Grand Valley. The chief damage appears to
be to sheep and poultry, although in the McElmo Valley they are
said to eat a great many watermelons and cantaloupes on the vines.
A coyote seen near McKImo June 20 was small and light-colored, and
im all the lower valleys the small pale coyotes are distinguished
locally from the large dark animals of the mountains,
174 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 38.
Vulpes macrourus Baird. Western Fox.
This species, which is larger and darker than the eastern red fox
(V. fulvus), is common in the Colorado mountains. It is subject to
a wide range of color variation, covering the red, cross, silver-gray,
and very rarely the black phase. The proportion of dark individuals
is much greater than with fulvus. This fox is found at the present
time chiefly in the forest belt of the higher mountains, above 8,000
feet. Its distribution in this region is general, and in some sections
considerable numbers are present. I have no data respecting its
range on the plains in early days, but, judging from its former occur-
rence on the plains of Nebraska and Wyoming, it was probably present
sparingly over eastern Colorado. In the canyon country in parts of
southwestern Colorado this fox is fairiy common as low as 6,000 feet.
The species yields a fur of considerable value and is extensively
trapped in winter. |
In 1905-6 it was reported as tolerably common in the Rabbit Ear,
Williams, and Williams River Mountains, on the Front, Park, and
Medicine Bow Ranges, and on the White River Plateau. Small
numbers were reported on the Gore Range and in the mountains
around Mount Cullom and Zenobia Peak, in western Routt County.
The red or tawny phase appears to predominate in the Elk Head
Mountaims, since in a series of 17 skins handled by Mr. Robert
McIntosh, of Slater, in 1906, 15 were red and only 2 were of the cross
phase. Mr. L. Wallace, of Granby, Middle Park, states that the ma-
jority of skins taken in the Grand Lake region are cross foxes. Ac-
cording to Warren, four out of six foxes killed near Crested Butte,
Gunnison County, were of the cross phase.!. Foxes were reported in
small numbers in the mountains of Clear Creek County in 1905. At
the Stevens Mill, on Mount McClellan, I learned of a young fox
which had been captured in the spring by Italian miners on Grays
Peak, at about 12,000 feet, and kept in confinement for a time.
Skins which Loring saw at Grand Junction in 1893 probably came from
the Grand Mesa region, and during the same year he reported foxes
from Estes Park.
In the southern and southwestern mountains this fox appears to
have fully as wide a distribution as father north. In the San Juan
Mountains north of Pagosa Springs and Vallecito the cross phase is
most common, according to the best-informed hunters and trappers.
There are a few silver-grays, and very rarely a black fox is seen.
Cross foxes are said to predominate also in the Saguache Mountains
near St. Elmo, and a black fox has been seen near Tin Cup. Foxes
are reported in small numbers from the Cochetopa Hills, La Plata
Mountains, near Lone Cone in the San Miguel Mountains, and the
Uncompahgre Plateau. Mr. Case, a trapper, is said to have taken’
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 259, 1906.
1911.) MAMMALS. 175
19 foxes along the Dolores River Canyon between the mouths of
Disappointment and Paradox Creeks during the winter of 1906-7.
Of these, several were cross foxes, while 2 were graded by the furrier
as silver-cross and brought $50 apiece. The western canyon country
seems to be especially frequented by foxes, although the altitude is:
low. Both silver-gray and red foxes are reported sparingly from the
mountains on each side of the Wet Mountain Valley, and a black fox
is said to have been seen at the eastern base of the Sangre de Cristo
Range, west of Westcliffe, many years ago. Mr. KE. W. Scott, of La
Veta, has seen a fox skin from Veta Pass, and several silver foxes are
stated to have been trapped on Sierra Blanca during recent years.
At Ward, Boulder County, in June, 1893, Loring found a fox den
among the rocks on a mountain side, and collected the female, whose
fur was badly worn, and four half-grown young. Scattered around this
den was a varied assortment of bones Gnecluding a fish bone), chicken
wings, bird feathers, and a pair of old buckskin gloves. Each time
the den was approached, the old fox barked and ran away a few rods
in an attempt to lure the intruder from its vicinity.
Allen states that in a series of 40 winter skins which he examined at
Montgomery, Park County, in 1871, nearly half were cross and one
individual was black.1| The only published color description of the
black phase of V. macrourus relating to a Colorado specimen appears
to be that given by Coues and Yarrow of a melanistic skin from Los
Pinos (now Bayfield), La Plata County, as follows:?
“A specimen, which we are inclined to refer to this species on
account of its great size and especially large tail, is jet black all over,
with a pure white tip to the tail; one of the finest examples of complete
melanism we have seen. The purity of the black is only interrupted
by a slight gray grizzle on the face and rump.”
Warren has published the description of a dark silver skin from
Cumbres Pass, Conejos County, in the Colorado Museum of Natural
_ History.* Coues says there were many specimens of this fox in Mrs.
M. A. Maxwell’s mounted collection of Colorado mammals which was
on exhibition in Washington during the winter of 1876-77.‘
Vulpes velox (Say). Kit Fox; Swift.
[Canis] velox Say, Long’s Exped. to Rocky Mts., I, p. 487, 1823. Type from South
Platte River (in Logan County?), Colorado.
The small swift or kit fox was formerly common over the plains of
eastern Colorado, but has become rare in most sections. In 1892
Dr. A. K. Fisher says it was reported tolerably common in the
vicinity of Sterling (near type locality), and Mr. Edward A. Preble
states that it was considered very rare in the region about Love-
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 54, 1874.
2 Expl. W. of 100th Mer., V, p. 55, 1875.
3 The Mammals of Colorado, p. 238, 1910.
4 Dartt, On the Plains and Among the Peaks, p. 219, 1879.
x
-
176 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No. 38.
land in 1895. On the plains of Boulder County very few, if any,
remain at the present time. The only record for this region in
recent years appears to be that of two which were killed on the
farm of Mr. Samuel Hays, 3 miles northeast of Boulder, in 1903.
Mr. W. H. Graham, of Spicer, says he has met with this fox but once
during a long residence in North Park. In 1893 he shot two near
their den, which was on an open sandy slope near Arapahoe Creek,
in the southern part of the park. Prof. Lantz found a dead swift
on the prairie near Cheyenne Wells in 1903, and was informed that
they were not uncommon in thatregion. In 1907 swifts were reported
as common on the plains of Baca County and also in southern Bent
and Prowers Counties. In all probability they are now more com-
mon in southeastern Colorado than elsewhere in the State. A few
were reported in 1909 on the eastern end of the Arkansas Divide and
near Tuttle on the South Fork of the Republican River. There is
said to be a colony of them near Keota, southwest of Pawnee Buttes,
in northeastern Weld County.
Urocyon cinereoargenteus scotti Mearns. Gray Fox.
The range of the gray fox in Colorado is in the juniper and pinyon
foothills on both sides of the mountains, chiefly in the Upper Sonoran
zone. On the east side of the mountains it is known from Loveland
and the Estes Park region, the foothills from the Arkansas Valley
southward, and the rough country of Las Animas, southern Bent,
and western Baca Counties. (See fig. 26.) It is more’ common in
the rough pinyon country of western and especially of southwestern
Colorado, where it ranges north sparingly to the Escalante Hills in
western Routt County. Specimens examined from both sides of
the mountains are referable to this form.
Most of my notes are from west of the mountains. Mr. A. G.
Wallahan, of Lay, reports seeing two skins of gray foxes in Lily
Park in March, 1905, and Mr. F. C. Barnes, of Lily, killed one near
there the following winter. Members of a railroad surveying party
working in the Yampa Canyon of Bear River during the winter of
1904-5 are reported to have killed several gray foxes. In the Esca-
lante Hills, north of Bear River, as well as in the southwestern
counties, the animal is known as the pinyon fox. Ranchmen report
an occasional gray fox at Rangely, in the White River Valley, and
also at Mack, in the lower Grand River Valley. A few are said to
have been killed near Rifle during the past few years, and at Grand
Junction in 1893 Loring saw the skin of one which had been killed
in Mesa County. |
The gray fox reaches its greatest abundance in the region from
Montezuma County north to the San Miguel River. Mr. Steve
Elkins states that in the Mancos region they are usually found in the
pinyon belt, but occasionally also among the yellow pines at the
5
1911.] MAMMALS, PTT
west base of La Plata Mountains. He often hunts foxes with dogs
and kills a good many in this manner. A ranchman living on McEImo
Creek, in western Montezuma County, is said to have caught 15 gray
foxes in one winter. JI found a den near McElmo in June, 1907, which
had apparently just been vacated by a family of foxes. It was in
loose shaly earth near the summit of a bare hill in plain view of a
house and near a traveled road. There were a number of entrances
to this den several rods apart, and the ranchman living near by stated
that he often saw the old fox and three young ones frisking about
during the day. This fox is reported as common in the pinyon
country bordering the lower San Miguel and Dolores Rivers, and Mr.
Vy
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Fig. 26.—Distribution in Colorado of gray fox ( Urocyon c. scotti).
C. H. Smith, of Coventry, traps a number each winter along the
Naturita Canyon just back of hisranch. In the Uncompahgre Valley
near Montrose these foxes are termed swifts. A mounted specimen
which I saw at Montrose was killed within 3 miles of that pomt and
a number of skins and rugs seen in stores there indicate that gray
foxes are common in that section.
Mr. J. W. Frey, of Salida, has a mounted specimen taken in that
vicinity and says a number have been killed in the pinyon hills
bordering the upper Arkansas Valley during recent years. In
Huerfano County gray foxes are found in the pinyon country at both
Gardner and La Veta, and Mr. E. W. Scott, of La Veta, has a mounted
specimen from the upper Cucharas Valley. A mounted specimen
90432°—11——-12
178 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 38.
seen at Butfalo, Jefferson County, was probably killed in the neigh-
boring hills. In 1904 Bailey reported a few gray foxes among the
lava buttes east of Antonito, in the southern end of the San Luis
Valley, but I could learn of none in the northern and central part of
the valley in 1907. Loring saw two gray foxes among the rocks in
Estes Park in 1893 and shot one of them.
Mephitis hudsonica Richardson. Northern Plains Skunk.
This species, the largest of the Colorado skunks, comes into the
State from the north and inhabits chiefly the higher mountainous
sections. It is not known to occur south of Colorado Springs and
Salida. Unfortunately the specimens examined represent very few
localities, and therefore the distribution can not be accurately given.
At Arkins, Larimer County, judging from a large series of skulls, M.
hudsonica and the long-tailed skunk of the plains, JZ m. varians,
occur in about equal abundance, apparently without intergradation. |
The ranges of the two species may overlap over a considerable area
along the lower eastern foothills, smce Warren has taken both at
Colorado Springs. A series ot 19 skulls from Arkins and 1 skull from
Spicer, North Park, in the Biological Survey collection, are referable
to hudsonica. Specimens in the Warren collection from Colorado
Springs and Salida are doubtfully referred to this species, although
they are by no means typical.
All the records of skunks secured in the mountains of northern and
central Colorado are tentatively referred to hudsonica. In 1905 and
1906 I noted tracks near Coulter, on Grand River above Kremmling, —
and along the upper Snake River at Honnold. A den was found among
the rocks on the north slope of the Elk Head Mountains, southeast
of Slater, and the remains of a skunk were seen at Hayden, on the
upper Bear River. Skunks were reported in Middle, North, and
Egeria Parks, and in the vicinity of Meeker and Glenwood Springs. —
In 1893 Loring found skunks common in Estes Park, where they .
were said to kill much poultry. |
Allen found skunks common in Park County in 1871, and says they — ;
range above timberline in that section.’
Mephitis mesomelas varians Gray. Long-tailed Skunk.
The long-tailed skunk is found on the eastern plains, and also enters
the State from the south in the Rio Grande Valley. It occurs at a
few points along the edge of the foothills with M. hudsonica, as
already stated, but over the lower eastern part of the State appears
to be the only large skunk present. The skunks reported at Brad- 4
ford, Gardner, and La Veta, in the foothills of Huerfano County, and _
also along the pinyon-clad foothills bordering the San Luis Valley,
are doubtless M. varians. This species can be readily distinguished —
1 See Howell, N. Am. Fauna No. 20, p. 25, 1901. 2 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 54, 1874.
1911.) MAMMALS. 179
from M. hudsonica by its smaller size, relatively longer tail, and by
the usual absence of the pencil of white hairs at the tip of the tail.
In addition to a large series of odd skulls and several skins from
Arkins, Larimer County, the Biological Survey has specimens of
varians taken at Loveland, Sterling, Canon City, Chivington, and
Antonito. The Merriam collection contains a female from Boulder
County. Howell records a specimen from Conrow (Chaffee County),
and two from Costilla County.!. A skull in the National Museum
from Cripple Creek may have been taken in the low Oil Creek Valley
west of that point, as varians is not known to occur at the higher
elevations or much above the upper edge of the Upper Sonoran zone.
Specimens from Colorado Springs and from Gaume’s ranch and
Springfield, Baca County, have been identified by the Biological
Survey for Warren, and he has recently recorded the species from
Wray, Yuma County.
The food of skunks consists chiefly of insects and the smaller
rodents. Near Higbee, Otero County, Prof. Lantz found them feeding
extensively upon the larve of tiger beetles (Cicindela), which they
dug out of the sand on the banks of Purgatory River.
Mephitis mesomelas estor Merriam. Arizona Skunk.
The large skunks reported in the warm southwestern valleys, from
Grand River southward, are probably M. m. estor, since three speci-
mens from the pinyon country around Coventry are referable to this
form. Although very generally reported, the large skunks appear
to be less common in most sections of the southwest than the small
spotted species (Spilogale). Tracks of skunks were seen along Pla-
teau Creek, near Tunnel, Mesa County; in the mud along McElmo
Creek, Montezuma County; and along an irrigation ditch at Nucla,
western Montrose County. Loring saw the tracks of a skunk at
Silverton.
The distribution and relationships of the skunks of western Colo-
rado are imperfectly known, and additional specimens from many
localities in this region are greatly desired. It is not likely that estor
occurs north of the Book Cliffs. The skunks of the Routt County
sage plains are probably M. hudsonica, but there are no specimens
at hand from that region.
| Spilogale interrupta (Rafinesque). Prairie Spotted Skunk.
This handsome dark species of spotted skunk ranges a short dis-
| tance into the central eastern part of the plams region of Colorado,
| the only Colorado specimen known being one taken at Wray, Yuma
County, by Warren, and identified by the Biological Survey. While
at Wray in December, 1907, I was informed that small numbers of
1N. Am, Fauna No. 20, p. 32, 1901. 2 Further Notes on Mammals of Colorado, p. 83, 1908.
a
.
180 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No. 88,
spotted skunks frequented the sandstone bluffs along the south side
of the Chief Creek Valley.
Prof. Lantz states that spotted skunks are reported common in
the vicinity of Hugo, Lincoln County. The specific identity of the
Hugo animal is uncertain, since there are no specimens available
from that section, and since S. tenuis, the species found along the
eastern foothills, probably ranges a short distance out on the plains
in the region of the Arkansas Divide. The prairie spotted skunk
may be distinguished from the other forms occurring in the State,
S. tenuis and S. g. saxatilis, by its larger size and darker coloration,
the white spots and bars being at a minimum. The tail also is usu-
ally wholly black except the white tip.
Spilogale tenuis Howell. Rocky Mountain Spotted Skunk.
Spilogale tenuis Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XV, p. 241, Dec. 16, 1902. Type
from Arkins, Larimer County, Colorado.
Little is known regarding the range of this species, all the infor-
mation at hand indicating a scattering distribution in both the Tran-
sition and Upper Sonoran zones among the lower foothills at the
eastern base of the mountains. Most of the records are from north
of the Arkansas Divide, in Larimer, Boulder, Jefferson, and Douglas
Counties. It has been collected in northeastern New Mexico, how-~
ever, and no doubt ranges across the entire width of Colorado along
the eastern foothills.
In June, 1905, I saw the tracks in a dry gulch a mile or two south-
west of Golden, while at Arkins (the type locality) the animals were
reported tolerably common in the valleys below 6,000 feet. Mr.
Berry, a ranchman, is said to have killed one a mile southwest of
Arkins in July, 1906. Mr. Vernon Bailey caught one among the
rocks in the foothills 2 miles west of Boulder in October, 1903, but
it escaped. Several specimens have been collected at Boulder by
Mr. R. T. Young.! Warren records a specimen from Sedalia, Doug-
las County, in the collection of Colorado College,? and has an imma-
ture specimen from Colorado Springs in his own collection. A speci-
men from Estes Park is in the American Museum of Natural History,
and one from Loveland is in the National Museum. |
In 1907 I was informed by Mr. William King, of the Medano
Springs ranch, near the San Luis Lakes, that he has seen a number
of spotted Sone among the foothills on the San Luis Valley side of
the Sangre de Cristo Range, near Mosca Pass. The species may have
crossed the mountains through this low pass, as it is reported present
in the Muddy and Huerfano Valleys, on the east side of the range.
In the rough juniper country of Las Animas and western Baca Coun-
ties, in the extreme southeast, spotted skunks are reported much
more common than Mephitis.
2 Pood. ead Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 406, 1908. 2 Further Notes on Mammals of Colorado, p. 83, 1908.
1911.] MAMMALS. 181
Spilogale gracilis saxatilis Merriam. Great Basin Spotted Skunk.
The small spotted skunks of the warm Upper Sonoran valleys west
of the Continental Divide are referable to saxatilis, although speci-
mens from Coventry, in western Montrose County, are not typical.
Over most of their range Mephitis occurs with them but in smaller
numbers. The spotted skunks are much more active and agile than
the large ones and readily climb pinyons and junipers. Rock ledges
along canyons are much frequented by them.
None were collected in northwestern Colorado during 1905 and 1906,
but they were reported as occurring in all the valleys entering the State
from the west. According to Mr. John Criss, a wolf trapper with head-
quarters at Bages Crossing, Wyoming, the spotted skunk is tolerably
common on the lower Snake River, where it is the only skunk present.
It occasionally gets into his wolf traps in winter, and he has trapped
it as far east as the old Edwards sheep camp, 35 miles below Baggs
Crossing. Spotted skunks are reported common at Escalante, Routt
County; and in Lily Park, at the confluence of the Snake and Bear
Rivers, ranchmen often fd them beneath houses and in cellars. At
Rangely, in the valley of White River, they are said greatly to out-
number the large striped skunks. They are reported also from the
upper White River country, according to Felger.1_ The range of saz-
atilis probably extends in the Grand Valley as far east as Glenwood
Springs. I occasionally heard of it west of Rifle, Garfield County,
and Mr. Fred Baker, a taxidermist of Glenwood Springs, reports that
he has handled several skins taken during the past few years in the
Grand Valley east of Newcastle.
In 1907 spotted skunks were reported a as common and reacts out-
numbering Mephitis in the Mancos and McEImo Valleys (Montezuma
County), in the region of the lower Dolores and San Miguel Rivers,
and at Coventry. A few were reported also in the vicinity of Bay-
field, La Plata County. At Ashbaugh’s ranch, in the McElmo
Canyon, a female got into a small trap which I had baited with a
piece of potato and set among the rocks for wood rats. Mr. C. H.
Smith has caught a number of these skunks in the pinyons back of
his ranch at Coventry, one being taken in a tree trap set for gray
foxes 3 feet up on the trunk of a large pinyon standing on the upper
rim of Naturita Canyon. A male in the Biological Survey collection
was taken by Howell among rocks 2 miles south of Grand Junction.
Taxidea taxus (Schreber). Badger.
The badger is one of the most widely distributed mammals in the
State, occurring throughout the plains and deserts of the lower parts,
and in the mountains ranging with more or less regularity nearly to
timberline. Two forms may be present, there being a possibility of
* Univ. of Colo. Studies, VII, No. 2, p. 145, 1910.
a
*
a
182 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 88.
T. berlandier’ in extreme southern and southwestern Colorado, but
this can not be determined from the scanty material now available.
The numerous holes which badgers are continually digging on the
plains in search of their rodent prey make horseback riding in certain
sections somewhat hazardous. Aside from this, however, badgers
are most beneficial mammals, since their food consists chiefly of
prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and other noxious rodents, which they
secure by digging down to the nests. On the sage plains and in the
mountain parks of northwestern Colorado the badger feeds exten-
sively upon the white-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus), the
Wyoming ground squirrel (Citellus. elegans), and pocket gophers
(Thomomys). Badgers are voracious, and one animal will open up a
large number of burrows in a night.
In 1905 and 1906 badgers- were abundant in Middle, North, and
Egeria Parks and in the valleys of the Bear, Snake, Green, White,Grand,
and Eagle Rivers. A specimen shot among the White River bluffs,
20 miles east of Meeker, was running up the steep side of a canyon.
One was found dead in the trail near the head of Grand Encampment
River, on the Park Range, at an elevation of 10,000 feet. Warren
mentions that he killed a specimen in Gunnison County at about
11,500 feet.t. In 1907 badgers were reported common in southern
and southwestern Colorado, where they prey largely upon prairie
dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni). Lorimg secured a specimen near Coch-
etopa Pass, and Bailey reports them common in the Rio Grande
Valley near Antonito. The burrows are common on the South Park
plains east of Como, at 9,800 feet. Other members of the Biological
Survey have found badgers common at Sterling, Loveland, Estes
Park, Las Animas, Burlington, and Olney.
Lutra canadensis (Schreber). Otter.
Otters seem to have been always rare in the State, although the
reason is not apparent. The country is well watered, and nearly all
the lakes and streams are well stocked with fish and should offer a
satisfactory habitat. My notes refer for the most part to western
Colorado, and the otter of that region may be the southwestern form
described by Rhoads as L. canadensis sonora. This can not be con-
firmed at present, as there are no specimens available.
During the winter of 1902-3 four otters were trapped on Snake
River within a few miles of Slater, Routt County, by two trappers,
Messrs. James Coates and James Parsons, living at Slater. In 1905
Mr. A. G. Wallahan, of Lay, Routt County, reported a few still
present in the Yampa Canyon on Bear River.
Warren thinks the rarity of otters in mountain streams may be due
to the ‘‘freezing of their sources of supply” in winter.? There are,
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 261, 1906. 2 Ibid, p. 265, 1906.
1911.] MAMMALS. 183
however, many fine lakes throughout the mountains well stocked
with fish and furnishing a most favorable environment for otters.
The following records are given by Warren (I. ¢c.): ‘‘Grand Junction
and Big Dolores River, a few (Dr. E. F. Eldredge); Platte River,
east of Greeley, one specimen (A. E. Beardsley); Julesburg, occasional
(H. G. Smith).”” In a more recent publication Warren gives the
following data: ‘‘Mr. Henry Lehman, of Grand Lake, tells me there
are a few otter in the Grand River, in Grand County. Herman W.
- Nash writes me that friends of his saw two in the Gunnison River, near
Sapinero, in August last.'. Felger records this species from the White
River Valley on the authority of-Ball.2 Trippe records the otter
from Clear Creek County;* and Coues mentions a specimen from
Boulder County, which he saw in the collection of Mrs. M. A. Maxwell.4
A skull in the National Museum is from Pueblo.
Lutreola vison energumenos (Bangs). Mink.
Minks occur in varying abundance on nearly all the larger streams
of Colorado, and in the unsettled parts the skins bring considerable
revenue to trappers. They are more abundant in the mountains
than on the plains, and are especially common in Middle and North
Parks, where their fondness for poultry makes chicken raising
most unsatisfactory on many ranches near streams. The minks of
the higher mountains yield a rich dark fur of good quality, but the
plains animal is said to be considerably paler and consequently less
valuable. As no specimens of minks from the eastern part of the
plains region are at hand, it is not certain that they are of the same
form as the mountain animal, but specimens from along the eastern
base of the foothills are identical with those from the higher moun-
tains.
A female which I collected on Boulder Creek, 5 miles west of
Boulder, in June, is very dark, the fur being full and heavy, even at
that late date. Other dark minks were observed on McIntyre
Creek, Larimer County, and in the Elk Head Mountains, during
August, and I saw two rich dark skins from the upper Los Pifios in
a store at Bayfield. Mink tracks were observed on Snake River,
at Honnold; on Bear River, at Hayden and Lily; on White River,
at Meeker and Rangely; on Grand River, at Glenwood Springs,
Kremmling, and Hot Sulphur; on Plateau Creek, near Tunnel; on
Good Spring Creek, near Axial; and on Green River, near Ladore.
Minks were reported abundant on the Cucharas River at La Veta
and on the San Juan River at Pagosa Springs. Specimens from
Loveland, Cochetopa Pass, Pagosa Springs, and Arkins (Larimer
1 Further notes on Mammals of Colorado, p. 84, 1908.
2 Uniy. of Colo. Studies, VII, No. 2, p. 146, 1910.
3 See Coues, Birds of the Northwest, p. 224, 1874.
4 Fur-bearing Animals, p. 312 (footnote), 1877.
Ber
184 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No. 83.
County) are in the Biological Survey collection. Others in the
Warren collection from Crested Butte and Colorado Springs have
been examined by the Biological Survey.
In 1871 Allen found minks common along the streams of Park
County as high as 10,000 feet.!
Putorius nigripes Aud. and Bach. Black-footed Ferret.
This rare and little known mammal has been recorded from a
number of localities on the plains of eastern Colorado (see fig. 27),
but here, as elsewhere over its range, its numbers are small. Usually
105°
NS
103
Wl: PUTORIUS STREATORI LEPTUS. SE 2702/05 NIGRIPES.
Fic. 27.—Distribution in Colorado of dwarf weasel (Putorius streatori leptus) and black-footed ferret
(P. nigripes).
it is found in prairie-dog towns, where it takes up its abode in an
abandoned burrow, and from this convenient base preys upon the
defenseless inhabitants of the colony. These ferrets are most
beneficial mammals, because their prey consists largely of prairie dogs. © |
In December, 1894, black-footed ferrets were reported to Streator
as present, but rare, at three points in the Arkansas Valley: Olney, ~ |
Otero County; Arlington; and Chivington, Kiowa County. Prof.
D. E. Lantz heard of a very few in the region about Hugo in 1905,
where they are known as prairie-dog ferrets. In 1907 I heard of S |
this species in the dog towns of Baca and southern Prowers Counties, __
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 54, 1874.
1911.] MAMMALS. 185
and it seems to be more generally known in that region than in other
sections on the plains. I did not hear of ferrets in the prairie-dog
country of northwestern Colorado, but Warren records two mounted
specimens at Meeker, said to have been taken near there, and men-
tions a specimen from the Laramie River, 12 miles south of the
Wyoming boundary, in the University Museum at Boulder.’
Two specimens in the Warren collection indicate a most remarkable
vertical range for this plains mammal. Warren says: “One speci-
men in my collection came from Divide, Teller County, at an ele-
vation of 9,800 feet, another was found dead in Lake Moraine, El
Paso County, altitude 10,250 feet. It is a mystery how the animal
came there, and when skinned there were no marks on its body to
indicate the cause of death. In the spring of 1904 C. KE. Aiken
mounted one which came from near Clyde Station, El Paso County,
altitude 9,440 feet.’”’ ?
Others have been recorded by Coues,? as follows: A specimen
taken in the Cache la Poudre Valley by Dr. Law and brought to
Washington by Dr. Hayden; another reported by Dr. Hayden as
having been kept in confinement at Greeley for a considerable period;
and two or three specimens procured by Mrs. M. A Maxwell in the
vicinity of Denver and forming a part of her exhibit of Colorado
mammals at the Philadelphia Exposition. All the above ferrets
were taken in prairie-dog towns, and one of Mrs. Maxwell’s speci-
mens had been drowned out of a prairie-dog hole and captured alive.
This individual was kept in confinement for some time. “It became
quite tame, readily submitting to be handled, though it was furious
when first caught. It was kept in a wire cage and fed on beef.
When irritated it hissed and spat like an angry cat. It used to hide
by covering itself over with the material of which its nest was com-
posed, but at times, especially at might, it was very active and
restless.”’ 4
Putorius longicauda (Bonaparte). Long-tailed Weasel.
The large long-tailed weasel of the plains should be present over
practically all of the State east of the mountains, but until thorough
collecting is done there, its abundance and distribution can not be
indicated. It is not known from the mountains of Colorado. Weasels
from the lower edge of the foothills are referable to the slightly
smaller P. arizonensis, so it is quite probable that P. longicauda is
restricted to the plains well out from the mountains. It probably
occurs over a considerable area in western Routt County, since a male
in the Warren collection from the sage plains at Lay, examined by
the Biological Survey, is referable to this species. Another Colorado
specimen of P. longicauda examined by the Biological Survey was
1 The Mammals of Colorado, p. 194, 1910. 3 Fur-bearing Animals, pp. 150-151, 1877.
2Tbid., p. 264, 1906. 4 Dartt, On the Plains and Among the Peaks, p. 220, 1879.
a OGLE OE OOS ET ee
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i
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'
186 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 38.
taken at Wray, Yuma County, and is in the collection of the Colorado
Historical and Natural History Society in Denver. Weasels reported
present in Baca County are undoubtedly of the long-tailed species.
Warren, on the authority of A. E. Beardsley,' records P. longicauda
from Platte River and Greeley.
Putorius arizonensis Mearns. Mountain Weasel.
This weasel is tolerably common in the mountainous parts of the
State, and replaces P. longicauda of the plains from the eastern base
of the foothills westward. It has a wide vertical range and occurs on
both slopes of the Continental Divide from 5,000 feet to timberline.
The only other weasel found in the Colorado mountains is the much
smaller P. s. leptus.
In 1905and 1906 fourspecimens were collected at Steamboat Springs;
Meeker; Higho, North Park; and Tunnel, Mesa County. Another
weasel, which was not secured, ran across the trail in front of us at
Boulder Falls, on Middle Boulder Creek, and took refuge in a pile of
rocks. Mr. Frank Hayes, a taxidermist of Glenwood Springs, showed
me several skins from the head of Noname Creek, Garfield County.
Large weasels which can without much question be referred to this
species were reported in Middle and North Parks; Escalante Hills;
valleys of the Green, White, and Grand Rivers; Medano Springs
ranch; Westcliffe; Bradford; Gardner; La Veta; Pagosa Springs;
Rogers Mesa, near Hotchkiss; Placerville; and Lone Cone, San Miguel
Mountains. The lumbermen at Fraser, in eastern Middle Park,
report that a great many weasels live among the log piles, where
they prey upon chipmunks. Mr. T. J. McKenna, of the Stevens Mill,
at timberline on Mount McClellan, states that large weasels are
common and tame about the mill and often come into the cabins
during the heavy snows of winter. Mr. Edward A. Preble saw one
at timberline on Longs Peak in 1895. There are two white winter
specimens from Coventry. Warren has taken P. arizonensis at
Colorado Springs, and states that one was killed at Crested Butte,’
while another specimen which he sent to the Biological Survey
for identification came from Sapinero. A winter specimen from
Semper, Jefferson County, has been identified for Mr. W. D. Hol-
lister, of Denver, and another from the San Luis Valley (between
Monte Vista and Del Norte, November 24, 1903) for the Colorado
Historical and Natural History Society. The last specimen is a male
in nearly full winter pelage, and measures: Total length, 425; tail
vertebre, 155; hind foot, 46.5.
This weasel frequents the piles of large bowlders and débris in
canyon bottoms and along mountain streams, where it preys chiefly
upon mice, chipmunks, and Say spermophiles. When surprised in
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 264, 1906. 2Tbid., p. 265, 1906.
1911.] MAMMALS. 187
the open, it immediately seeks refuge among the nearest rocks, but
once in this safe retreat its curiosity overcomes its fear, and it is
seldom out of sight for more than a moment. It frisks in and out
among the rocks, stopping now and then to crane its long neck at the
observer, and even stands erect on its hind legs to get a better view
of the object of its curiosity. Occasionally it is found at a distance
from rocks. At Steamboat Springs I shot one as it ran past my
camp among the alders on the bank of Bear River, and one of two
specimens from near Cochetopa Pass was shot by Loring on a fence
rail in a cultivated field. One seen by Prof. Lantz near Edlowe,
Teller County, took refuge in a prairie-dog burrow. <A weasel shot
among the White River bluffs east of Meeker was carrying a large
Callospermophilus in its mouth.
This is doubtless the weasel noted by Allen in Park County in 1871
and recorded as P. ermineus,'! and also the species recorded by Coues
as P. longicauda from the ‘‘mountains of Colorado.”’? A summer
skin from Fort Garland, recorded by Coues and Yarrow as P. longi-
cauda,? is not available for examination, but may be referred to
arizonensis on geographic grounds.
Putorius streatori leptus Merriam. Dwarf Weasel.
Putorius streatori leptus Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XVI, p. 76, 1903. Type
from Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado.
The meager data bearing on this beautiful little weasel indicate
a general distribution in the higher mountains over the State. (See
fie. 27.) Very little seems to be known of its habits. Judging
from verbal descriptions this is the small weasel which occasionally
proves such a nuisance to trappers in the heavy forests on the higher
mountain ranges by getting into marten traps in winter.
I saw a mounted specimen in winter pelage at Steamboat Springs
in 1905, but beyond the fact that it was killed in the neighboring
mountains the proprietor could tell nothing of its history. At Glen-
wood Springs, in August, 1907, Mr. William Cross, a taxidermist,
told me that he had recently seen one of these diminutive weasels in
brown summer pelage peering from beneath the sidewalk, but failed to
secure it. Mr. Cross showed me a winter skin which he had obtained
from a trapper in the Glenwood region. Mr..Anton Stark, agent
of the Colorado & Southern Railroad at St. Elmo, in the Saguache
Mountains, reports the dwarf weasel as not uncommon thereabouts.
One which he captured in winter and kept in confinement became
so tame that it was finally allowed its freedom, but remained about
the house for some time and proved an expert mouser.
Mr. D. Costello, of Gardner, Huerfano County, relates an incident
which occurred many years ago while he was prospecting in the
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 54, 1874. 3 Explorations W. of 100th Meridian, V, p. 59, 1875.
2 Fur-bearing Animals, p. 141, 1877.
188 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33.
mountains of northern Gunnison County, back of Crested Butte.
Soon after locating in a cabin adjacent to a large rock slide just
below timberline he discovered that a cony was occupying a large
grass nest beneath the cabin floor. It often appeared in the cabin,
coming up through a broken board in the floor, and in time became
very friendly. Finally a day came when the cony did not make
its usual appearance, but a tiny weasel was seen at the hole in the
broken board, peering in all directions and craning its long slim
little neck with the bold curiosity so characteristic of the larger |
weasels. Fearing for the welfare of the cony, Mr. Costello killed
the tiny cutthroat, but apparently too late, as he saw no more of
his interesting companion. It seems probable that the cony is
often preyed upon by this weasel, as the same rock slide often harbors
both animals. P. leptus is only about 6 inches in length, exclusive
of the short black-tipped tail of 1 or 2 inches, and the body is little
larger around than that of a small mouse.
Mr. Walter Blanchard has presented the Biological Survey with |
a brown summer specimen of P. leptus, which was killed on his
ranch 5 miles west of Boulder in June, 1902. The type specimen
from Silverton, in beautiful white winter pelage, was shot by Loring
October 20, 1893, as it was peering from under a log. Another
immature specimen from the same locality was caught in a trap
set in the underground tunnel of a pocket gopher (Thomomys fossor),
which suggests that this gopher may form part of the weasel’s bill ©
of fare. Another specimen in the Biological Survey collection —
was obtained at Crested Butte February 17, 1902, by Warren,
who gives the following observations on this species: “About Crested
Butte, judging from the tracks one sees after a fresh fall of snow,
it is quite common. It often burrows under the surface of the
light snow, and runs beneath for quite a distance, then reappears
on top, having been hunting down a mouse.”’! Recently P. leptus
has been recorded from Coventry, Montrose County.2 A male
winter specimen from Larimer County is in the collection of the —
State Agricultural College at Fort Collms. One from Boulder County, —
in the Field Museum of Natural History, is recorded by Elliot.2 A
specimen from near Boulder in the mounted collection of Colorado
mammals, exhibited by Mrs. M. A. Maxwell in Washington in 1876-77, ~
has been recorded by Coues as ‘‘the least weasel, Putorius vulgaris,” * :
and was very likely the present form.
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 264, 1906.
2Warren, The Mammals of Colorado, p. 198, 1910.
2 Field Col. Mus. Pub., 115, VIII, p. 449, 1907.
4Dartt, On the Plains and Among the Peaks, p. 220, 1879.
’ 1911.) MAMMALS, 189
Own a take
Mustela caurina origenes Rhoads. Rocky Mountain Marten.
Mustela caurina origenes Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 458, 1902.
Type from Marvine Mountain, Garfield County, Colorado.
In the dense forests of lodgepole pine and spruce which clothe
the upper slopes of the higher mountain ranges of northern Colorado
the marten is still present in considerable numbers. It appears
to be uncommon on all the southern ranges except the San Juan
Mountains, where from a point northeast of Pagosa Springs west
to Silverton and Telluride it is reported in good numbers. Martens
are rarely observed below 8,000 or 8,500 feet, or the lower edge of the
Canadian zone forest belt. They range regularly to timberline, how-
ever, and have been seen 1,500 feet above timberline near Silverton.
7
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Fig. 28.—Distribution in Colorado of marten ( Mustela caurina origenes).
Throughout their range (see fig. 28) martens are hunted and
trapped extensively, and consequently are not nearly so abundant
as formerly. Ski are often used in hunting them in winter, when
snow covers the mountains to a depth of several feet, and when
pursued in this manner the animals quickly take refuge in trees,
where they are easily shot. Hunting martens on ski is said to be
very exciting sport, and at times hazardous, owing to the roughness
of the country. This is a favorite method of hunting in Middle
Park and in the San Juan Mountains. Most of the martens secured,
| however, are taken in either steel traps or deadfalls. Although
Colorado martens are somewhat paler than those farther north,
_ they nevertheless yield a valuable fur.
190 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 83,
Most of my information on the present distribution and abundance
of martens relates to the northern half of the State. During the
period from 1900 to 1905 the followimg were considered the best
regions for martens: The mountain ranges surrounding Middle and
North Parks; the Williams River Mountains and the eastern part of
the White River Plateau, west of Egeria Park; and the mountains
south of Aspen, Pitkin County. Mr. Fred N. Selak, of Coulter,
Middle Park, informed me in 1905 that he handled from 25 to 30
marten skins each year, taken chiefly in the Rabbit Ear and Williams
Mountains and along the western slope of the Front Range near
Arapahoe Peak. Alpert & Co., of Kremmling, receive a few skins
each year from the Gore Mountains. Mr. W. H. Graham, of Spicer,
North Park, states that he usually traps between 10 and 20 martens
each winter in the Rabbit Ear Mountains, near the head of Arapahoe
Creek. The animals are reported common on the Park Range but
very rare on the Medicine Bow Range. Many trappers market the
fur in Denver. A conservative estimate of the annual catch in the
Middle and North Park region would be 100 skins.
In August, 1905, Mr. Frank Hayes, a taxidermist of Glenwood
Springs, showed me skins of four martens trapped the previous
winter at Bennett’s Well, on the head of Noname Creek, 8 miles north-
east of that pomt. He had also purchased a number of skins taken
on Divide Creek, south of Newcastle, and at Mud Springs, on the
White River Plateau. Mr. Hayes was located at Aspen about 1900,
and handled between 40 and 50 marten skins each year, nearly all of
which came from near the Montezuma mine, on the east slope of Hay-
den Peak. Two other fur buyers were located in Aspen at the same
time, and Mr. Hayes estimates that fully 100 skins were marketed there
annually. This region is probably at present the best marten country
in Colorado. Mr. Robert McIntosh, of Slater, received 10 marten
skins from the Elk Head Mountains during the winter of 1905-6.
Martens are reported rare on the high timbered divide east of Laramie
River and on the headwaters of Grand Encampment River.
Mr. Steve Elkins, of Mancos, reports a few in the spruce belt of the La
Plata Mountains, and I am informed they are tolerably common in the
extensive forests of Engelmann spruce on the mountains west of Rico.
They seem to have been always rare on the Sangre de Cristo Range.
Mr. E. W. Scott, of La Veta, has the skin of a marten killed in the
spruce belt on East Spanish Peak in the winter of 1904-5, and states
that he has seen three other marten skins from the same mountain.
Mr. T. J. McKenna, of Denver, states that 30 years ago he trapped a
great many martens near the Tin Cup mine, and on the headwaters
of the Cimarron River, in Gunnison County. Skins which Loring
saw at Grand Junction in 1893 probably came from the Grand Mesa
country.
1911.1 MAMMALS. 191
The type and one topotype of M. origenes in the National Museum
were collected in Garfield County, near Mount Marvine, in Septem-
ber, 1901, by Mr. E. Thompson Seton. The skulls may be readily dis-
tinguished from those of JZ. americana by the small, flattened, rec-
tangular bull and the peculiar saddle-shaped upper posterior molar.
(?) Mustela pennanti irxleben. Fisher.
In his list of the mammals of Park County, Allen records the fisher
as ‘“‘more or less common.’’! JI have made careful inquiry of old
hunters and trappers throughout the heavily forested region of the
northern Colorado mountains and have yet to meet one who is
familiar with the fisher or who has even heard of the animal within
the State. Warren does not record it and it seems probable that
Allen’s record was based on erroneous information.
Gulo luscus (Linneus). Wolverene.
In the high Canadian zone forests of the wilder parts of the moun-
tains the wolverene is still occasionally seen. While never common
in the State, it was formerly of general occurrence. At present it
appears to be restricted largely to the San Juan and La Plata Moun-
tains, the mountains of northern Gunnison County, and the ranges
surrounding North and Middle Parks.
Mr. W. H. Graham, of Spicer, North Park, states that wolverenes
are occasionally reported from the Rabbit Ear Mountains, but that
very few have been killed during recent years. He saw a track on
the head of Arapahoe Creek during the winter of 1904-5, and in the
fall of 1903 saw a wolverene which a trapper caught on Owl Mountain,
in southeastern North Park. The wolverene was considered very
rare in Middle Park in 1905. Mr. Fred Selak, of Coulter, reported
that one was killed in the fall of 1903 near the head of Ranch Creek,
on the western slope of the Front Range. Two skins, which were
purchased by Alpert & Co., of Kremmling, in 1903, were said to
have been trapped the previous winter in the heavy forests on the
head of the Williams Fork of Grand River. Mr. T. J. McKenna, of
Denver, states that while at the Tin Cup mine, in Union Park, Gun-
nison County, in the summer of 1883, he saw a wolverene which
had been killed in that vicinity. He says it was not at all rare in
the mountains of Gunnison County 25 or 30 years ago.
Mr. Wood Galloway, of Norwood, states that for many years his
father had a wolverene skin, taken in Antelope Park, Mineral County,
and says the animals were not at all uncommon in that section 30
years ago. A wolverene shot at the east base of Pagosa Peak in the
winter of 1905 was mounted and on exhibition in Pagosa Springs
until 1907, when it was sent to Denver with a miscellaneous mounted
collection. Mr. H. N. Wheeler, formerly supervisor of the Monte-
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 54, 1874.
192 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No, 38.
zuma National Forest, has a wolverene skin said to have been taken
in the spruce belt near Calico Mountain, west of Rico, in 1905, and
through other sources I learn that these animals are of occasional
occurrence in the La Plata Mountains. One is said to have been killed
near the Silver Picket mine, on Mount Wilson, in the San Miguel
Mountains, about 1895, and according to Mr. D. Costello, of Gardner,
one was killed on the head of Huerfano River many years ago.
Allen says the wolverene was not uncommon in Park County in
1871, and he saw the skin of one taken near Montgomery;! while it
formerly occurred in Clear Creek County, according to Trippe.?
Coues mentions a specimen in the collection of Colorado mammals
exhibited by Mrs. M. A. Maxwell at the Philadelphia Exposition.
It was caught in a steel trap in the mountains near Boulder.? In
an interesting general account of the wolverene Mr. C. A. Cooper
describes his capture of an old male in the heavy forest on the summit
of Gore Pass, between Middle and Egeria Parks, during the winter
of 1883, and also mentions four beautifully marked wolverene skins
which he examined at Trappers Lake, Garfield County, in the winter __
of 1889, while a companion of Cooper’s reported seeing a wolverene
in Rock Creek Canyon, Egeria Park, in 1888.° Warren records a
wolverene taken near Irwin, Gunnison County, about 1890, and
states that he saw fresh tracks in the snow near Irwin in October,
1905, at an elevation of 11,000 feet:© A specimen in the Carter
collection in the Colorado Museum of Natural History was taken
near Breckenridge, Summit County.
Bassariscus astutus flavus Rhoads. Civet Cat; Cacomistle.
The data at hand bearing on this handsome and interesting animal
are rather meager and unsatisfactory, and probably do not well
indicate its distribution and abundance in Colorado. The species
appears to be restricted to the Upper Sonoran zone, and with a single ~
exception all the records are from the rough canyon country in the
lower southwestern part of the State from the Grand River Valley
southward. |
The civet cat is tolerably common on Mesa Verde and thence north
to the southern base of the Uncompahgre Plateau. In June, 1907,
I saw its small, round, cat-like tracks in the dust beneath many of
the overhanging rock ledges along Navajo Canyon, 25 miles south-
west of Mancos; while among the Spruce Tree Cliff Ruins at the
head of this canyon, and particularly in the darkest recesses of the
cavern behind the ruins, the footprints of civet cats, leading here
1 Bull. Essex Inst., VI, p. 54, 1874.
2 See Coues, Birds of the Northwest, p. 224, 1874.
Dartt, On the Plains and Among the Peaks, p. 219, 1879.
4 Big Game of North America, pp. 479-501, 1890.
5 Tbid., p. 492, 1890.
6 Mammals of Colorado, p. 262, 1906.
1911.] MAMMALS, . 193
and there among the numerous smaller tracks of cliff mice and wood
rats, were plainly discerned in the thick layer of fine rock dust.
However, none came to meat-baited traps which I scattered along
the ledges. Mr. Steve Elkins, of Mancos, states that he has seen a
civet cat which was killed in Mancos Canyon. This species is not
reported in McElmo Canyon, and seems to be little known to the
hunters of Montezuma County, but this is not strange, since it is
nocturnal, and in hunting for cliff mice and wood rats rarely leaves
the caves and deeper recesses in the rocky walls of canyons. A
mounted specimen which I saw in Durango probably came from
either Montezuma County or southern La Plata County.
The civet cat is more generally known in the region bordering the
lower San Miguel and Dolores Rivers. Mr. Henry Huff, an Indian
living at Norwood, who trapped in the Dry Creek Basin, in western
San Miguel County, during the winter of 1906-7, states that the
‘‘ring-tails’’ are not at all uncommon among the ledges of that region.
A fine adult civet cat caught by him and an immature individual
taken the same winter in the canyon of San Miguel River, a few miles
north of Coventry, are in the Warren collection. Civet cats are
reported from the Tabeguache Canyon, north of the San Miguel, and
Mr. J. P. Galloway, of Norwood, informed me of five which were killed
some years ago at the Sunrise copper mine in West Paradox Valley.
There are three Mesa County records of civet cats. In June, 1893,
Loring saw a skin in a fur buyer’s store at Grand Junction which was
said to have been taken the previous fall about 4 miles from that place.
A specimen which the National Museum obtained from Conductor
Tuttle of the Colorado Midland Railway, was caught by a trapper in
Mesa County a few years ago, and was mounted by Mr. C. E. Aiken,
of Colorado Springs. The history of this specimen is given by Dr.
W. W. Arnold in Outdoor Life.t Warren records Bassariscus from
Delta on the authority of A. EK. Beardsley? An animal answering
its description was reported to Mr. C. KE. Aiken from Beaver Creek,
Fremont County, some 25 miles south of Colorado Springs, in 1904.
Procyon lotor (Linnzus). Raccoon.
The data on the distribution and abundance of the raccoon within
the State are somewhat limited and probably do not indicate the
extent of its range. It is tolerably common on the eastern plains,
along some of the larger foothill streams, and in the extreme south
from the San Luis Valley west to La Plata County. According to
Warren, the animal has been taken in Grand County, west of the Front
Range.* It has not been found in the lower northwestern part of the
State. Whether the raccoons which reach the southern counties from
the south and southwest, along the Rio Grande and the San Juan River
i
1 Outdoor Life, p. 933, Nov., 1905. 3 Further Notes on Mammals of Colorado, p. 83, 1908.
2 Mammals of Colorado, p. 260, 1906.
90432°—11——13
194 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 83.
and tributary streams, are distinct from those east of the mountains
is not certain, as no specimens are available for comparison. It
seems probable, however, on geographic grounds, that the raccoons
occurring west and south of the San Juan Mountains, in Archuleta
and La Plata Counties, are P. mexicanus. The raccoons which were
reported in 1907 from the San Luis Lakes and the cottonwood-fringed
streams at the western base of the Sangre de Cristo Range may have
reached the San Luis Valley from the east by crossing over the low
Mosca Pass from the head of the Huerfano River.
Raccoons are stated to be common at a number of points on the
plains east of the mountains, and probably occur along all the larger
streams, which are well fringed with cottonwoods, and follow them
some distance into the foothills. There is a skull from the foothills
near Arkins, Larimer County, and the distribution in the foothills is
further indicated by reports from Gardner and La Veta, Huerfano
County. A specimen in the Warren collection from the mouth of
the Platte Canyon, Douglas County, has been examined by the Bio-
logical Survey. Raccoons are said to be tolerably common in the
marshes and along streams in the Loveland region. Loring, who
secured a specimen at Loveland in 1897, states that he captured it in
a cat-tail marsh which was bordered by a fringe of cottonwoods, and
he thinks the animals were living in holes in the banks at that point,
rather than in hollow trees. At Las Animas in July, 1892, Dr. A. K.
Fisher noted along the Arkansas River and on the banks of irrigation
ditches a great many tracks made by raccoons searching for frogs:
Prof. D. E. Lantz reported a few raccoons on Big Sandy Creek, near
Hugo, in 1905. Warren says they are found at Watervale, in south
central Las Animas County.
In May, 1909, raccoons were abundant among the sandstone
ledges along the South Fork of the Republican River at Tuttle and
in similar situations at Wray, while many tracks were seen on sand-
bars in the South Platte River 2 miles northeast of Sterling. Several
_dens were located among the rocks near Tuttle, at one of which;
within 50 yards of our camp, a large, dark-colored female raccoon
was trapped. Dismal howls and barks, not unlike those of a dog,
advised us of her capture one night about 10 o’clock. The raccoons
at Tuttle were feeding extensively upon grasshoppers, and the excre-
ment found near the dens consisted very largely of the remains of
those insects.
Raccoons are said to follow up the Los Pifios as far as Bayfield,
La Plata County, and are found in small numbers along the San
Juan River to Pagosa Springs, but I was informed at both localities
that prior to 10 or 15 years ago none were present. At Arboles I saw
tracks in a dry arroyo extending north from the San Juan River.
1 The Mammals of Colorado, p. 219, 1910.
1911.] MAMMALS. 195
Ursus americanus Pallas. Black Bear.
The black bear is still tolerably common in the wilder parts of the
mountains, especially in the ranges surrounding North, Middle, and
Egeria Parks, and in the Elk, Saguache, San Juan, and La Plata
Mountains, where the forests are most extensive. It is dichromatic,
as in other parts of the Rocky Mountains, and the numerous skins
examined and the statements of hunters and trappers indicate that
black, brown, and cinnamon animals frequently occur in the same
localities. The typical black phase is least common in the southern
mountains and at the lower elevations, but is more frequent in the
northern part of the State.
In a series of nine very large skins which I examined in the store
of Fred Selak, near Coulter, Middle Park, five were brown and four
black. They had been purchased from a trapper living in the
Vasquez Mountains, near the headwaters of the Williams Fork of
Grand River. Most of them had been taken in large log traps, and
as a consequence had mutilated their claws by their efforts to escape.
A number of bears are killed each spring in the lodgepole pine and
spruce forests on the mountain ranges bordering Middle Park, and
skins from this section brought about $25 each in 1905-6. In the
aspen forests on the White River Plateau, and near Arapahoe Pass,
in the Rabbit Kar Mountains, many of the larger trees were badly
scarred to a height of 8 feet or more by the claw marks of bears. In
October, 1906, I saw the tracks of a medium-sized bear in the snow
above timberline near Berthoud Pass. Bears were reported in vary-
ing numbers in 1905-6 on the Medicine Bow, Park, and Gore Ranges,
Elk Head and Williams River Mountains, Danforth Hills, and
Mount Cullom, west of Green River. Tracks are said to have been
seen among the pinyons near Douglas Spring, in the Escalante Hills,
in the winter of 1905-6. At Glenwood Springs I saw many skins
from the high country south of Grand River and others from the
White River Plateau.
Bears are now becoming scarce on the eastern slopes of the Front
Range. In 1893 Loring reported them common in the Estes Park
region, one trapper having killed 14 in three years; but the animals
are stated to be rare at present in the higher parts of Clear Creek
County (Floyd Hill and Grays Peak).
Bears were not considered uncommon in the mountains of southern
| Colorado in 1907, being reported in greatest numbers in the Cochetopa
Hills, in the San Juan Mountains north of Pagosa Springs and Valle-
eito, in the La Plata Mountains northeast of Mancos, and in the
| San Miguel Mountains from Mount Wilson west to Lone Cone.
| They occur more or less commonly the entire length of the Sangre de
Cristo and Culebra Ranges, particularly on the more heavily forested
| eastern slopes, and also in the West Elk Mountains and on the
196 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33.
Uncompahgre Plateau. They are rare in the rough parts of Las
Animas County. Prof. Lantz heard of one which was killed 20 miles
south of Higbee about 1908.
In the Pagosa Springs region, as elsewhere, bears are usually found
in the aspen and spruce belt, but they decisional come down from
these elevations into the yellow pine forests and kill many sheep.
The winter dens are left about May 1, or sometimes earlier, and, as
sufficient snow for tracking remains in the higher country for an-
other month, May is considered an excellent time for bear hunting.
Most of the hunting is done with hounds, and large packs of bear dogs
are owned at both Pagosa Springs and Mancos, which are probably
the best two outfitting points for bear hunts in the southern moun-
tains. A number of hunting parties were located in the mountains
north of Pagosa Springs at the time of my visit, late in May, 1907.
A large black bear was killed on Pagosa Peak May 30, and a little
earlier in the same month an old female and cub were killed on
Middle Mancos River, 10 miles east of Mancos. A brown cub was
roped at the Evans sawmill, near Vallecito, a few days before I
reached there, June 5. Mr. Steve Elkins, of Mancos, one of the most —
successful bear hunters in southwestern Colorado, states that the
largest black bear which he has killed in the La Plata Mountains —
weighed very nearly 500 pounds.
In the San Miguel region bears appear to occur regularly at a lower
altitude than elsewhere in Colorado, and are not uncommon
down into the pinyon country. One is said to have been killed
within a mile of Placerville in the spring of 1907, while in the well-
‘ settled country between Coventry and Norwood a large brown bear
was seen at the carcass of a cow in an open field a few days before
my arrival, July 1. The animals are occasionally seen along Naturita _
Creek near Coventry. In the pinyon country of western San Miguel
and Montrose Counties the cinnamon phase prevails, and very light _
colored individuals are not uncommon. Mr. Henry Huff, an Indian 2 |
living at Norwood, showed me the skin of a remarkably light colored q
| yearling cub w et he had captured in the Dry Creek Basin by crawl-_
; ing into the den after killing the mother, an old cinnamon, and thane
i other cub. This skin was a pale creamy She ae white throughoull ed
i, with the exception of the face and nose, which were very light brown. _
Bear signs were abundant in the aspen belt on Lone Cone late i in
a July. A great many of the aspens were scratched and clawed, many
of the marks being recent. Two trees showed plainly “aes the
animals had climbed to the upper branches—sure evidence that they |
were not grizzlies. The claw marks on these trees were very distinct
to a height of 30 feet or more. (See fig. 29.) Other bear signs—
chiefly overturned logs and rocks where the animals had been search-
ing for ants and beetles—were abundant on Lone Cone, and indicated
that the region was one of bruin’s favorite ranges.
Bs te
-
1911.] MAMMALS, 197
The Biological Survey has a series of 10 bear skulls which Mr.
Theodore Roosevelt secured on Divide Creek, Garfield County, in
April, 1905; also three from Pagosa Springs, taken in the summer of
1907. Skulls in the National Museum were collected by Mr. E.
Thompson Seton in the Rifle region and near Mount Marvine. Allen
found black and cinnamon bears in about equal numbers in Park
County in 1871.’ Coues and Yarrow mention a specimen obtained
by Lieut. Marshall at Pagosa Springs in 1874.’
Ursus horribilis Ord. Grizzly Bear; Silver-tip.
At present orizzly bears are uncommon, if not rare, in the northern
mountains, but are
occasionally seen in
the wilder moun-
tains of southern
Colorado, particu-
larly in the San
Juan, La Plata, and
San Miguel Ranges.
Many of the data
respecting the eriz-
zly (or silver-tip, as
it is generally known
to hunters) within
the State, past and
present, are unsat-
isfactory and some-
what conflicting,
many of the reports
undoubtedly refer-
ring to black bears,
or more often to
large cinnamon
bears.
In 1905-6 the best
informed hunters Fic. 29.—Claw marks of black bear on aspen (Populus tremuloides),
Aad trappers nal ale Lone Cone, San Miguel Mountains, at 10,000 feet.
northern mountains considered the grizzly rare. The reports which
follow seem to refer beyond question to this species. A very large
old silver-tip was reported in the region about Strawberry and Grand
Lakes, in northeastern Middle Park, in 1905. This old fellow is said
to have ranged that part of the western slope of the Front Range
for a number of years, and is well known to the hunters of the region
as Old Saddleback—so called because of an area of light-colored fur
at
4
+
%
RECA
mamingeaereenaon Seni gen
eet ka ed
; re tt
ae hath a , °
See nen neon enegees
a» - "
ie iL “
fest pee
4
1 Buil. Essex Inst., VI, p. 54, 1874. 2 Explorations W. of 100th Meridian, p. 67, 1875.
198 NQRTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33.
near the middle of the back.!| Another very large bear was reported
the same year from Mount Baker, at the eastern end of the Rabbit
Ear Mountains, and according to well-informed hunters a few silver-
tips were yet to be found in the vicinity of Pyramid Peak, in the
mountains west of Egeria Park. The skin of a two-thirds-grown
silver-tip killed near Sleepy Cap, Williams River Mountains, in
October, 1890, by Mr. Oscar Lampton, of Montrose, has front claws
3 inches in length, following the curve. Lumbermen at the tie
camps on the headwaters of Grand Encampment River, at the
northern end of the Park Range, stated that a large silver-tip often
came about the camps during the spring of 1906. Mr. William Cross,
the Glenwood Springs taxidermist, showed me a photograph of the
skin of a very large silver-tip killed in October, 1906, on the northern
side of the Book Plateau, in extreme western Garfield County, by
Mr. Harry Payne Whitney, of New Haven, Connecticut. This bear,
judging from the photograph, was a remarkably large one, and the
claws on the forefeet were very long and regular. The longest fore
claw (measured by Mr. Cross) was exactly 44 inches along the curve.
The skull in Mr. Cross’s shop was very large and massive and indi-
cated an old animal. Mr. Cross stated that at least two silver-tips
have been killed in the mountains near Gypsum during recent years—
a large individual in the spring of 1903 on the head of Gypsum Creek
by Mr. Muckey; and another bear, nearly grown, in the same region
in the spring of 1907 by Mr. Jake Borah, the veteran Meeker hunter.
I have no data respecting the recent occurrence of this bear along —
the eastern slopes of the Front Range, and it appears to be now
extremely rare or entirely absent. In the early seventies of last
century grizzlies were not uncommon along the higher crests of the
Front and Saguache Ranges. Brewer mentions six which he saw
above 13,000 feet in the mountains in close proximity to Grays Peak
and near Mount Yale, and says: ‘‘Judging from the few seen and
from skins examined in Denver, Aves are smaller than those of Cali-_
fornia, the hair not so long and shaggy, the color more silvery, or
truly grizzled.’’?
In the summer of 1907 considerable information was secured on
the present range and abundance of the silver-tip in the southern —
mountains. Small numbers are found in the San Juan Mountains —
north of Pagosa Springs and Vallecito, and according to Forest Ranger
E. E. Chapson, an average of one or two had been killed north of
Pagosa Springs each spring until 1907, when none were killed.
Silver-tips kill a number of cattle in the southern foothills of the
San Juan some years, one having killed four head in the country —
to the west of Pagosa Peak in May, 1907. This is doubtless the same __
1 Doubtless an extreme of the ordi inary grizzling or si! ver tipping of the hairs, which i is normally r heavia P
on the saddle and between the shoulders.
2 Am. Nat., V, p. 221, 1871.
1911.] MAMMALS. 199
individual which was reported as killing cattle on the middle fork of
Piedra River a few weeks later. Ilenshaw states that grizzlies were
quite common in the higher San Juan Mountains as late as 1873. As
far as could be learned, the silver-tip has a higher range than the black
bear, and is rarely met with as low as the yellow pine belt.
Mr. Steve Elkins, of Mancos, states that the silver-tip is encoun-
tered rather often in the La Plata Mountains and that he has
killed several during the past 10 years. Among these and other skins
from the La Plata region examined by Mr. Elkins, much individual
color variation was exhibited, some being a faded dirty yellowish,
with the hair long and shaggy, while others were dark clove brown
or blackish, with hair well silvered at the tip—sleek, short-haired, and
beautiful animals. The skin of a large silver-tip which was trapped
on West Dolores River in the spring of 1906 is owned by Mr. Harry
Pyle, of Dolores.
A silver-tip was shot on North Mesa, just west across the Naturita
Valley from Lone Cone, San Miguel Mountains, October 2, 1905, by
Mr. Oscar Lampton, of Montrose. In Montrose Mr. Lampton showed
me the skin of this bear in the form of a beautiful full-head rug with
the skull inside. It was a good-sized animal with the longest fore
claws measuring 4 inches, but the unworn teeth indicated that it was
young. The foreclaws on the skin of a large old cinnamon bear from
the Uncompahgre Plateau, 15 miles west of Montrose, are markedly
smaller and shorter than those of the smaller of Mr. Lampton’s two
silver-tips (from the Williams River Mountains). The silver-tips are
both in good fur and agree precisely in color, being a uniform grizzled
black-brown on the back; the legs, a rich dark shade of the same
color without the grizzling; face, plain brown; nose, clay brown;
claws, black.
Mr. Henry Huff, an Indian, and Mr. J. P. Galloway, both of Nor-
wood, killed a very large old male silver-tip among the Engelmann
spruces just below timberline on the west slope of Lone Cone, San
Micuel Mountains, May 26, 1907, after a long chase from the lower
north slope of the mountain. A female bear seen at the same time
escaped, and is said still to range the Lone Cone country. The snow
was reported to have been 8 feet deep where the old male was dis-
patched, and hence it was with some misgivings that we set out on
July 27 to secure the skull. The Indian led us straight to the spot,
however, in a dense spruce thicket where the down timber was heaviest.
The snow had but recently melted, and the immense carcass had
settled across a large log. Mr. Galloway estimated the weight of the
bear when killed at between 800 and 1,000 pounds, and states that
the skin at the time of its removal from the body was so heavy that
he and his companion had great difficulty in packing it upon a horse.
The stomach of this bear, examined on the day it was killed, contained
ws
i
200 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, (No, 33.
nothing but a double handful of ants and the larvee of wood-boring
beetles. Fortunately, the skin was at a near-by ranch at the time
of my visit to Lone Cone, and I measured and photographed it.
The pelt was in prime condition, with a uniformly short, dense pelage,
shortest on the back between the shoulders, where the hair averaged
about 3¢ inches in length, and longest on the sides of the upper fore-
legs, where it averaged 6} inches. The Indian aptly likened the flaps
of long shaggy hair on the upper forelegs to a cowboy’s chaps, and
said the resemblance in life was most striking. The fur was a dark,
rich clove brown at base throughout, shading into plain brownish
black on sides and on fore and hind legs; ears and face, dark brown;
nose, clay brown; dorsal area, from rump to between ears, a beautiful
silvery clove brown, brightest between shoulders, owing to greater
length of silvered area at tips of hairs. The ears were comparatively
short, but could not be accurately measured on the dried skin. The
following skin measurements indicate the large size of this bear,
although they are probably somewhat exaggerated on account of
stretching: Distance between tips of fcre claws, outstretched skin,
964 inches; length from tip of tail to end of nose, outstretched skin,
87 inches; longest fore claw, along curve, 44 inches; across angle
(straight), 34 inches; hind claws (badly worn), under 1 inch. Mr.
Galloway’s flesh measurements of hind foot were: Heel to tip of claws,
124 inches; across base of toes to edge of hair on side, 74 inches. The
old age of this bear was indicated by the much-worn teeth and hind
claws. One of the massive upper incisors was a mere stub, having
been broken off for some time. Several rifle balls had penetrated
the posterior part of the skull and badly shattered it, but the anterior
part was in good condition.
Mr. E. R. Warren, of Colorado Springs, has in his collection the
skull of a medium-sized silver-tip which was killed some years ago
in the Dry Creek Basin, west of the San Miguel Mountains, by Mr.
Jack Watson, of Norwood. The Dry Creek Basin is Upper Sonoran
country, the altitude being not over 6,000 feet—an unusually low
elevation for the silver-tip. .
While on Lone Cone, July 27, I photographed a large aspen which
plainly showed fairly fresh claw marks of a large bear, apparently a
silver-tip, to a height of 13 feet. Several other aspens on the upper
slopes of Lone Cone were claw-marked by silver-tips, but most of
the scratching was old.
Grizzlies are becoming very scarce on the Sangre de Cristo and
Culebra Ranges, but are still occasionally encountered among the
Cochetopa Hills west of Saguache. A large individual is said to have
been taken in a trap on the head of Trinchera Creek in the spring of
1907 by Mr. George Wheeler, of Fort Garland. That the grizzly
was occasionally met with east of the mountains in early times is
1911.] MAMMALS. 201
shown by an account of a bear which killed Lewis Dawson, a mem-
ber of Jacob Fowler’s party, at the mouth of Purgatory River in 1821.’
The National Museum has the skin and skull of a grizzly killed
near Twin Lakes July 28, 1876; a skull from Burro Mountain, near
Elwood, in the San Juan Mountains; and two skulls of bears killed
on Miller Creek, in the Glenwood Springs region, in either 1896 or
1897. The Biological Survey has skulls from Pagosa Springs and
Lone Cone, and Coues and Yarrow mention a skin secured near
Pagosa Springs in 1874 by Lieut. Marshall.’
Scalopus aquaticus intermedius (Klliot). Plains Mole.
Moles enter the northeastern part of the State from the plains.
Thus far they are known only from Yuma County, but very likely
occur throughout the sand hill region from the Arickaree Valley
north at least to Holyoke. I found them abundant at Wray in
December, 1907, in the valley along Chief Creek, and especially
numerous in the young apple orchard of Mr. W. E. Wolfe, a mile east
of the town. The loose sandy loam soil of this orchard of several
acres was furrowed with a network of moie runways. Notwithstand-
ing the great abundance of moles on his ranch, Mr. Wolfe has detected
no injurious effects from their presence, and considers that they
confer a benefit by thoroughly working over the surface soil in search
of worms. A male was trapped in Mr. Wolfe’s orchard December
13, when the ground was partially frozen and covered with a 3-inch
fall of snow, which is good evidence that moles are active in loose
soil during winter weather. I again visited Mr. Wolfe’s orchard in
May, 1909, but found only one fresh mole runway. Several older
runways seen, however, indicated that the animals either were
inactive or were working at a considerable depth. In driving from
Wray to Yuma I saw mole runways in the sand at two points, 5 and
12 miles, respectively, west of Wray. At Yuma a small colony was
working in soft soil on the embankment along the Burlington Rail-
road a mile east of town. No signs of moles were seen in driving
northwest from Yuma to Sterling.
The Wray specimen agrees very closely with topotypes of S. a.
intermedius from Alva, Oklahoma, in small size, pale coloration, and
particularly in small size of skull. The skull of this specimen meas-
ures: Total length, 33.9; mastoid breadth, 17.4; palatal length, 15.
Skin measurements are: Total length, 145; tail vertebrae, 28; hind
moot, 23.
An alcoholic specimen from Dry Willow Creek, 12 miles southeast
of Wray, in the collection of the Colorado Historical and Natural
History Society, has been recorded by Warren.®
1 Journal of Jacob Fowler. New York, 1898.
2 Explorations W. of 100th Meridian, V, p. 66, 1875.
3 Further Notes on Mammals of Colorado, p. 84, 1908.
202 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No. 33,
Sorex personatus I. Geoff. St. Hilaire. Masked Shrew.
This species is apparently far less common and widely distributed
in the Colorado mountains than S. obsecurus, although at one point—
St. Elmo, at 10,000 feet in the Saguache Mountains—it was the
more common of the two. I have found it at only two localities in
the mountains of northern Colorado—an adult male being taken at
9,000 feet on Arapahoe Pass, Rabbit Ear Mountains, in a damp,
mossy place on a cold north slope; and a female being trapped in a
cold bog near Pearl, in the northern end of North Park, at 8,500 feet.
At St. Elmo, in October, 1907, eight specimens of S. personatus were —
taken in three nights’ trapping, chiefly beneath mossy rotten logs
in the damp thickets of Engelmann spruce along Chalk Creek. The
above specimens are in all respects typical S. personatus, but one
from Loveland, at the eastern base of the foothills, shows an 1 approach
to the paler and erayer plains form S. p. hanidens: }
Several specimens of S. personatus taken by Mr. R. T. ees in the
vicinity of Boulder, and at Buchanan Pass, Boulder County, are in the -
National Museum. Others from Irwin, Gunnison County, at 10,700 —
feet; Lake Moraine, El Paso County, at 10,250 feet; and Mud Springs,
on the White River Plateau, at 8,850 feet, are in the Warren collec- |
tion. Warren states that he has recently identified specimens from —
the Summit House on Pikes Peak, 14,147 feet altitude. A specimen ~
from Marvine Lodge, Rio Blanco County, is recorded by Felger.?
Sorex obscurus Merriam. Rocky Mountain Shrew.
This is the common shrew of the high Colorado mountains in the —
Canadian and Hudsonian zones. Specimens from timberline on
Longs Peak and Mount McClellan indicate its upper limits, while on—
cold slopes and along streams, where the conditions are semiboreal, I
have taken it as low as 5,800 feet, and it has recently been recorded
from Boulder (5,400 feet).* It is usually trapped in mountain bogs —
and beneath moss-covered rotten logs in spruce and aspen forests. In _
a grassy mountain park near Gore Pass, between Egeria and Middle
Parks, one was secured in a runway of Microtus nanus, at some dis-
tance from the forest; while Loring trapped a specimen in a cabin —
near Silverton. Three of these shrews got into my traps set among |
rank vegetation in an aspen bog near Uncompahgre Butte, on the
Uncompahgre Plateau, at 9,000 feet, July 17, 1907. At St. Elmo, in ©
the Saguache Mountains, at 10,000 feet, I collected two specimens in —
October in the damp spruce thickets along Chalk Creek. This shrew
was not so common as S. personatus at this point. The mountain —
shrew is chiefly nocturnal, but Loring caught one at Gold Hill during
the daytime, and one afternoon at Baxter Pass, on the Book Plateau,
1 The Mammals of Colorado, p. 263, 1910. Young, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 407, 1908.
2 Univ. of Colo. Studies, VII, No. 2, p. 146, 1910.
1911.] . MAMMALS. 203
I saw one running about under a spruce log. Specimens of this spe-
cies from a great many Colorado localities are in the Biological Survey
collection.
Sorex vagrans dobsoni Merriam. Dobson Shrew.
A specimen of the little Dobson shrew from Lake Moraine, El Paso
County, which Warren sent to the Biological Survey for determina-
tion in 1905, is the only Colorado record. It was collected at an
altitude of 10,250 feet.
Sorex tenellus nanus Merriam. Dwarf Shrew.
Sorex tenellus nanus Merriam, N. Am. Fauna No. 10, p. 81, 1895. Type from Estes
Park, Larimer County, Colorado.
This little shrew must be very rare, as not one was captured in my
three seasons’ work on all the higher mountain ranges of the State.
In addition to the type, an adult female taken in Estes Park
August 3, 1895, by Mr. Edward A. Preble, the Biological Survey has a
skull from Westcliffe, Custer County. <A third specimen from Colo-
rado, in the Warren collection, has been identified by the Biological
Survey. It was collected on Bear Creek, in the mountains near
Colorado Springs.
Neosorex palustris navigator Baird. White-bellied Water Shrew.
In the Colorado mountains the large water shrew is found chiefly
between 7,500 and 10,500 feet, in the Canadian zone, but I have
taken it at 6,400 feet, and it has been reported once from as iow as
6,000 feet. The scattered localities at which specimens have been
taken indicate a general distribution over the mountainous sections.
The species is always found near water, and is usually taken in traps
set in the moss at the edge of mountain streamlets, or in the dense
vegetation of cold bogs or mountain meadows. Little is known of
its habits.
At St. Elmo, in the Saguache Mountains, I found these shrews
common along some small streams tributary to Chalk Creek, in
October, 1907. Three out of four specimens collected at this point
were taken in traps placed on moss-covered rocks behind a small
waterfall, where the vegetation was saturated by the dashing spray.
Mr. J. W. Frey, of Salida, reports water shrews as common on a
small stream heading on the east slope of Round Mountain, at the
northern end of the Sangre de Cristo Range; and they are reported
from the head of Muddy Creek, in northwestern Huerfano County.
In a long line of traps set along Maverick Creek, 2 miles northeast of
Coventry, the night of July 4, I secured three water shrews, all being
taken in traps beneath waterfalis. The elevation is 6,400 feet, excep-
tionally low for this shrew, and the pinyon and juniper clad bluffs
bordering the Maverick gave anything but a boreal environment to
this species, which is so closely associated with cold dashing mountain
:
204 - NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 83.
streams, mossy rocks, and towering spruces. At Coventry I was
informed water shrews are occasionally seen at the Stephens ranch,
in the western end of West Paradox Valley, at a little under 6,000 feet.
There are a number of cold springs, bordered with a dense growth of -
water cress at this point, which is at the eastern base of the La Sal
Mountains.
Specimens in the Biological Survey collection are from Gold Hill;
Elkhorn, Larimer County; Cochetopa Pass; St. Elmo; Almont; Her-
mit; Rico; and Coventry. Loring saw the skin of one of these shrews
at Silverton. The National Museum has specimens from Black Hawk;
Middle Park; Mount Elbert; and old Fort Massachusetts, near Fort
Garland. Others from Crested Butte and Lake Moraine are in the
Warren collection.
Corynorhinus macrotis pallescens Miller. Big-eared Bat.
Very little information is at hand regarding the range of the big-
eared bat in Colorado. ‘Thus far it appears to have been taken at only
five localities, all of them along the eastern base of the foothills. A
specimen in the «ollection of the Colorado Agricultural College,
secured at Fort Collins by Mr. S. Arthur Johnson, has been identified
by the Biological Survey. Miller records another specimen from
Larimer County,’ and Mr. A. E. Beardsley has taken two of these bats
at Trinidad, aecording to Warren.? More recently Mr. R. T. Young
has recorded a specimen collected in Boulder Canyon, at an approxi-
mate elevation of 7,000 feet.* Junius Henderson, curator of the
museum of the University of Colorado, Boulder, informs me of the
capture of a specimen in a tunnel at Crisman, Fourmile Canyon,
Boulder County, at an altitude of 7,000 feet, by John J. Blanchard,
November 1, 1909.
Nyctinomus mexicanus Saussure. Free-tailed Bat.
Four males of this austral species from Newcastle, Garfield County, —
have been identified for Warren, who states that he secured them
along with a number of brown bats (/’ptesicus fuscus), July 16, 1907,
‘“Dbehind a sheet-iron shutter on a building where they had gone for
shelter during the day.’’* The elevation of Newcastle is 5,374 feet.
Nyctinomus has not been taken elsewhere within the State, or
indeed anywhere in the neighboring parts of New Mexico, Arizona,
and Utah. The Newcastle record is therefore a very great northward
extension of known range for the Rocky Mountain region. The animal
must reach this point from the southwest through the warm Grand
Valley extension of the Colorado River Sonoran area; and it is note-
worthy that this Lower Sonoran species should be found near the
extreme upper edge of a narrow tongue of the Upper Sonoran zone,
1N. Am. Fauna No. 13, p. 53, 1897. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 407, 1908.
2Mammials of Colorado, p. 267, 1906. 4 Further Notes on Mammals of Colorado, p. 85, 1908.
1911.] MAMMALS. 205
surrounded on all sides except the west by broad belts of boreal
country. The occurrence of the free-tailed bat at Newcastle sug-
gests that it may be found in the lowest and warmest valleys of the
southwestern counties, particularly in the Grand Valley between
Grand Junction and the Utah boundary, which is the lowest and
most truly desert-like part of the Upper Sonoran area in western
Colorado. Hitherto the northern known limit of range in the Colo-
rado Valley has been Grand Falls, Arizona, in the valley of the Little
Colorado.
Nyctinomus depressus Ward. ‘T'acubaya Free-tailed Bat.
Through Mr. E. R. Warren, of Colorado Springs, the Biological
Survey has examined a Colorado specimen of this large free-tailed
bat. Dr. S. M. Bradbury, of Grand Junction, who owns the speci-
men, says it was killed by some boys at Grand Junction about 1900.
Warren has already placed this specimen on record.1
The type locality of N. depressus is Tacubaya, Federal District,
Mexico. A few individuals have been captured in the desert areas
of the southwestern United States, but the Grand Junction record
extends the known range of the species far to the east and north.
Antrozous pallidus (LeConte). Pale Bat.
The pale bat occurs in several of the lowest and warmest Upper
Sonoran valleys of extreme southwestern Colorado, but has not been
reported from north of the Grand River Valley. An extreme record
is that of a National Museum specimen taken at Pueblo, east of the
mountains, since the species is largely restricted to the desert regions
of the Southwest.
An excellent opportunity for observing this species was afforded
at Ashbaugh’s ranch, in the McElmo Canyon, 20 miles west of Cortez,
in June, 1907. At dusk each evening numbers of these large bats
appeared about the cliffs immediately north of the ranch, coursing
in great circles above the upper rim rock in quest of insect prey.
The large size, rapid sailing flight, and slow wing beats made these
bats most conspicuous in contrast with the hosts of small Myotis and
Pipistrellus which darted about in the gloaming in jerky, erratic
flieht. The majority of the pale bats flew so high as to be out of gun
range from the base of the cliffs, but I managed to shoot two females
on the evening of June 21. These bats were rarely observed about
the ranch buildings, and invariably appeared first over the cliffs in
the early twilight. Although none were seen actually emerging from
the cliffs, the numerous cracks and crevices doubtless formed their
retreat during the day.
In the deep canyon of Tabeguache Creek, north of Nucla, Montrose
County, six or eight pale bats flew about the cliffs at a considerable
1 Mammals of Colorado, p. 268, 1906.
206 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (No. 88.° |
height above our camp in the gathering twilight, July 19. They
appeared in companies of two and three and coursed about with
characteristic steady, rapid flight. I have observed this species at
the following two points in the Grand River Valley, a single individual
at each locality: In the rock-walled canyon of Plateau Creek, 5 miles
east of Tunnel, Mesa County, September 30, 1906; and among the
cliffs along Grand River, 7 miles west of Rifle, August 14, 1907.
Neither bat was collected, but identification was reasonably positive.
A large light-colored bat, apparently Antrozous, is commonly reported
from the Grand River Valley near Crevasse, Mesa County, where it is
said to live in ranch buildings.
The first recorded instance of the capture of Antrozous in Colorado
is that given by Coues and Yarrow of a specimen taken at Pueblo by
W. D. Wheeler in October, 1874, and deposited in the United States
National Museum.!| Dr. F. W. True informs me that this specimen,
which appears to have been mummified, was destroyed about 1905,
but that the skull is preserved. |
Myotis subulatus (Say). Say Bat.
Vespertilio subulatus Say, Long’s Exped. to Rocky Mts., II, p. 65, 1823. Type
from Arkansas River, near La Junta, Otero County, Colorado.
Warren records two specimens of the Say bat from Colorado
Springs.2. These and the type appear to be the only Colorado speci- _
mens of this widely distributed species known at the present time.
The species should be present over much of eastern Colorado.
Myotis lucifugus longicrus (True). Long-legged Bat.
This western form of the little brown bat is not uncommon in west-_
ern and southern Colorado. One shot at Steamboat Springs as it
was flying over Bear River at dusk August 1, 1905, is lighter colored
than normal M. longicrus. 'Two others in grayish pelage were se-
cured on the White River meadows, a few miles east of Meeker,
August 12. At the last locality large numbers of these bats were
flying over White River late in the evening. A dark female was
collected at Coventry August 1, 1907, in my bedroom at 2 a. m.
This form is also represented in the Biological Survey collection by a
specimen from Grand Junction, collected June 23, 1893, by Mr. J.
Alden Loring; and another collected on Conejos River, west of An-
tonito, by Mr. James H. Gaut, September 4, 1904.
Three specimens from the eastern part of the San Luis Valley have
been identified recently for Warren. Two were collected above
Herard, in Madenos Canyon, Saguache County, at an elevation of
8,700 feet, July 12, 1909. A third, from the Medano Springs ranch,
east of Mosca, June 22, 1909, has distinct whitish edgings to the
1 Explorations W. of 100th Meridian, V, p. 85, 1875. 2 Mammals of Colorado, p. 267, 1906.
it.) MAMMALS. 207
uropatagium, and is altogether paler than normal longicrus. Young
records a mutilated skin in the collection of the Academy of Natural
Sciences, Philadelphia,’ from Eldora, in the high foothills of Boulder
County.
Myotis evotis (H. Allen). Long-eared Bat.
The long-eared bat has been taken on both sides of the mountains
in the Upper Sonoran zone, and a specimen recently recorded by
Mr. R. T. Young from an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet, in the Steam-
boat Springs region,’ shows that the species occasionally ranges into
the Transition zone.
A series of 11 specimens was collected at the old L7 ranch, a few
miles southeast of Sunny Peak, Routt County, in August, 1906.
The bats had their abode in the deserted ranch house, and numbers
could be seen flying in and out of the open doorway at dusk. I se-
cured the specimens by entering the house after nightfall with a
candle. Some were caught with an insect net, while others were
knocked down with a hat. The above series presents considerable
color variation, due largely to age. Three are immature and in gray
pelage, but the majority are light yellowish brown. In 1907 this
species was tolerably common at Ashbaugh’s ranch, in the McElmo
Canyon, Montezuma County, from June 20 to 23, where two were
caught in the house after dark. One which flew into a house at Do-
lores the evening of June 27, | captured with my hand. At Coventry
this was the most abundant bat about the ranch buildings in July.
Five were caught in a house after dark July 24 as they flew in at
the open window, attracted by the light. I have not taken this
bat about rocky ledges and ciiffs, and it appears to frequent mainly
houses and outbuildings. Nearly all the above specimens are females.
Specimens from Loveland have been recorded by Milier.?
Myotis yumanensis (H. Allen). Fort Yuma Bat.
This pale southwestern species is at present known in Colorado
only from western Routt County, but eventuaily may be found at
other points along the western border of the State, mn the Upper
Sonoran zone. It is represented by two females from Snake River,
south of Sunny Peak, August 28, 1906; and a male from near Lily,
at the confluence of the Snake and Bear Rivers, September 9, 1906.
I secured these bats in deserted ranch buildings after nightfall,
where they were not at all common, being greatly outnumbered by
M. evotis.
The above specimens accord well in color with typical ywmanensis
from Fort Yuma, California, but have a somewhat longer forearm
and foot.
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 408, 1908. 2N. Am. Fauna No. 13, p. 80, 1897.
208 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. TNo. 83.
Myotis californicus (Aud. and Bach.). Little California Bat.
This small bat has been taken thus far at several widely separated
localities in southern and western Colorado, and east of the moun-
tains is known from two points in the Arkansas Valley and from
Boulder Canyon. Its zonal distribution appears to be mainly Upper
Sonoran.
In the McElmo Canyon, Montezuma County, it was apparently
common in June, 1907, and I shot two at dusk as they were flying
about the rocky cliffs north of Ashbaugh’s ranch and caught another
by lamplight in the house after dark. Another was captured in a
house in the Grand Valley near Morris, 7 miles west of Rifle, August
14. An adult male from the San Luis Valley, 7 miles east of Anto- —
nito, Conejos County (8,000 feet), September 1, 1904, was taken by —
Mr. James H. Gaut. Smal bats which I saw at Pagosa Springs
May 28, 1907, and at the Paradox crossing of Dolores River July 7
were probably J. californicus. Specimens in the Warren collection —
from Bedrock (Montrose County), Salida, and Van Andert’s Spring
on Little Fountain Creek (El Paso County) have been examined by
the Biological Survey.
Specimens of Jf. californicus from the highest elevations—Salida, —
Van Andert’s Spring, Antonito, and Rifle—are almost as dark as typical
californicus. Others from Ashbaugh’s ranch and Bedrock, in the low
desert valleys of southwestern Colorado, are considerably paler, agree-_
ing precisely in coloration with specimens in the Biological Survey
collection from the deserts of Arizona and Nevada. They are not as_
pale, however, as M. c. ciliolabrum. |
Since the above was written Mr. Junius Henderson has written to
me as follows: “Two specimens of Myotis californicus were taken in
Marchioness Tunnel, Boulder Canyon, altitude 6,200 feet, by John J.
Blanchard, December 22, 1909, thus making a winter record. I did
not see these two bats until some ten minutes, perhaps, after he took
them, when one of them was squealing viciously, but the other was
quiet. In the warm cabin the former soon began to fly about the
room. Supposing the winter habits of the animals here to be well
known, Blanchard made no particular examination of them when he
found them, but says he believes they were dormant, which is my
impression from the condition of one of them when it reached me.
The further fact that this tunnel, unlike some, does not seem to be
infested with insects or other food for bats would tend to confirm the
‘ idea of hibernation. Possibly the temperature may give you some
light on that subject. At the breast of the tunnel, where the bats
were taken, about 350 feet back into the mountain, the temperature —
was soon after measured and found to be 46° F.” |
1911.] MAMMALS, 209
Myotis californicus ciliolabrum (Merriam). lHairy-lipped Bat.
The only western Colorado specimens of this small pale form of
M. califormcus appear to be two females from the old L7 ranch on
Snake River, a few miles southeast of Sunny Peak, Routt County,
taken August 28 and 29, 1906. Both the above bats I secured in the
deserted ranch buildings after nightfall. This form was uncommon
at that locality, being greatly outnumbered by MM. evotis. In June,
1909, I found the hairy-lipped bat abundant in the badland cliffs at
Chimney Canyon, some 30 miles northwest of Sterling. It appeared
to be the common bat at this point, outnumbering Lptesicus, the
only other bat seen, fully 10 to 1. Two were shot as they issued from
the cliffs at dusk to feed on insects in the bottom of the canyon.
Pipistrellus hesperus (H. Allen). Western Bat.
These diminutive black-eared bats—the smallest species found in
the State—inhabit the Upper Sonoran zone in the western and south-
western valleys. So far as my observations go, they live only about
cliffs and in rock-walled canyons, where soon after sunset they issue
in large numbers from the rocky ledges, and with rapid, erratic flight
dart about in their nightly quest for insects, appearing in the gloaming
like large moths. Aside from its small size, P. hesperus in flight may
be easily distinguished by the very narrow wings.
In the lower McE!mo Canyon, Montezuma County, I found this the
most numerous species in June, 1907, and it was common also in the
canyon of Tabeguache Creek, north of Nucla, Montrose County, in
July. One was seen flitting about the cliffs on Grand River, 7 miles
west of Rifle, August 14. At early dawn, October 1, 1906, a very
small bat, which I took to be this species, flew over our camp beneath
the steep cliffs in the canyon of Plateau Creek, 5 miles east of Tunnel,
Mesa County.
There are seven Colorado specimens of P. hesperus in the Biological
Survey collection, all females: One each from Ashbaugh’s ranch (near
McElmo), June 21, and Tabeguache Creek, July 19, 1907; four from
Grand Junction, June 22 and 23, 1893; and another from Rifle, August
25, 1908. Warren has this bat from Bedrock, Montrose County.
b Eptesicus fuscus (Beauvois). Brown Bat.
The common brown bat has a wide distribution and probably
occurs over the whole State, except in the higher mountains above
the Transition zone. One was shot near Steamboat Springs, Routt
County, in August, 1905, as it was flying over Bear River; while
later in the same month another was secured on White River, a few
miles east of Meeker, Rio Blanco County. Bats which appeared to
be fuscus were seen flying in McElmo Canyon, Montezuma County,
in June, 1907, and others over the Dolores River in Paradox Valley,
July 7.
90432°—11——14
210 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, No. 33.
This bat has been recorded by Miller from Loveland,! and by Allen —
from Florida, La Plata County.?. According to Warren, Mr. A. E.
Beardsley reports it common at Greeley.’ More recently Warren
mentions taking a specimen at Douglas Spring, Routt County, 1
at Colorado Springs, and 21 at Newcastle, and says: ‘‘Only one of
the brown bats [Newcastle series] was a male, all the rest being —
females, one of the latter having a small young one attached to a
teat. This was on July 16, 1907. The Douglas Spring specimen,
taken June 26, contained a single good-sized embryo.’ £. fuscus
has also been taken in Boulder Canyon, at about 7,000 feet, according
to Young.’ All the above localities are in the Upper Sonoran zone
or in the Transition zone. : |
Considerable color variation is shown by specimens of F. fuscus
from different parts of Colorado, some being as dark as normal and
others much paler. A specimen in the Biological Survey collection |
from the Chimney Bluffs, some 30 miles northwest of Sterling (June
7, 1909), is the only one examined, however, which shows a near
approach to the extremely pale coloration of F. f. pallidus. Although
nearly as pale as pallidus, this specimen has the measurements of
fuscus, to which it is referred. Another specimen from Steamboat
Springs has the dark coloration of fuscus, but in large size approaches —
pallidus. 7
Eptesicus fuscus pallidus Young. Pale Brown Bat.
Eptesicus pallidus Young, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 408, 1908. Type from —
Boulder, Colorado.
The exact status of this peculiar large pale bat will not be known
until much additional material is received from the plains region of
eastern Colorado. The type from Boulder in the National Museum
is larger than fuscus, and is very pale. It measures: Total length,
127; tail, 50; hind foot, 12. Other specimens from Boulder, the
measurements of which are given in the original description (1. ¢.),
are nearly as large as the type. The skull of the type is like that of
fuscus, only larger, being about the size of £. miradorensis. The type
of pallidus can be closely matched in size by a dark specimen of
fuscus from Steamboat Springs, and in pallid coloration by a smaller
individual from the Chimney Cliffs, northwest of Sterling. .
Mr. Junius Henderson, curator of the museum of the University
of Colorado at Boulder, writes me of the recent capture of three
additional specimens of E. f. pallidus at Boulder. Warren, who has
examined these bats, says that they are paler than his specimens of
E. fuscus and agree in measurements with the type of pallidus. .
1N. Am. Fauna No. 13, p. 98, 1897. 4 Further Notes on Mammals of Colorado, p. 85, 1908. 2
2 Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., V, p. 83, 1893.» Proc. Acad, Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 409, 1908 (footnote).
2 Mammals of Colorado, p. 268, 1906, j
1911.] MAMMALS, DF
Lasionycteris noctivagans (LeConte). Silver-haired Bat.
During the breeding season the silver-haired bat is probably
restricted largely to the Canadian zone in Colorado, as it is elsewhere
in North America, but specimens taken in both the Transition and
the Upper Sonoran zones indicate that at certain seasons it performs
vertical migrations of some extent.
One evening in August, 1905, while encamped at the Widows Corral,
on the White River Plateau, 25 miles southeast of Meeker, I obtained
frequent glimpses of a small bat flitting about in the aspen forest.
It flew so near the ground that its course was very difficult to follow
in the fast-gathering twilight, but 1t was shot and proved to be a
specimen of the silver-haired bat. This locality is in the Canadian
zone, at 8,500 feet. The Biological Survey has a specimen of this
bat from Rifle, Garfield County, collected by Loring in 1893; while a
specimen taken by Dr. Elhott Coues in North Park at 10,000 feet,
September 16, 1876, is in the National Museum.
Warren has specimens from Green Mountain Falls, Newcastle, and
Salida, and records the: species from Glen Eyrie (near Colorado
Springs) and Greeley.!
Mr. Junius Henderson informs me by letter of the capture of a
specimen at Boulder June 6, 1909.
I did not meet with this bat in southern Colorado, but it has been
recorded from Florida, La Plata County, where Charles P. Rowley
collected two specimens in 1892.?
Nycteris cinereus (Beauvois). Hoary Bat.
The large hoary bat has been taken only a few times in the State,
-and consequently its local distribution is not well known. The
normal breeding range is in the Canadian zone, and therefore it ma y
be expected to breed in the mountains. Thus far, however, speci-
mens have been collected only in the eastern foothills and along their
immediate eastern bases and in the lower valley of Grand River. A
/ mounted specimen owned by Dr. 8S. M. Bradbury, of Grand Junction,
taken at that locality, has been examined, and there is a specimen
in the Merriam collection from Boulder County, secured by the late
Mr. Denis Gale September 16, 1889. Miller records three specimens
from Larimer County.* Warren quotes the statement of Mr. A. E.
Beardsley that this bat is ‘‘frequent at Greeley,’ + and states in a
recent letter that it has been taken at Salida and Boulder.
Nycteris borealis (Miiller). Red Bat.
Biological Survey coliectors have not met with this species in
Colorado, although it should be found over the eastern plains region.
The only record seems to be that of Mr. A. E. Beardsley, who says
the red bat is rare at Greeley.®
1 The Mammals of Colorado, p. 277, 1910. 4 Mammals of Colorado, p. 268, 1906.
_ #Altlen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., V, p..83, 1893. ® Warren, Mammals oz Colorado, p. 268, 1906.
3 N. Am. Fauna No. 13, p. 114, 1897.
i
sw
212 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 38.
PRINCIPAL TREES AND SHRUBS OF COLORADO.
The explorations of the Biological Survey in Colorado have resulted
in the accumulation of valuable notes on the distribution of many
species of plants, and those relating to the trees and shrubs are brought
together in the following briefly annotated list. No attempt is made
to give a complete list of Colorado trees and shrubs, and the species
included are chiefly those whose known ranges in the State have been
considerably extended by the work of the Biological Survey. Several
of these apparently have not been recorded previously from the
State. Most of the specimens collected have been identified by the
botanists of the United States National Museum.
The nomenclature followed is mainly that of Dr. Rydberg in his
Flora of Colorado (Bull. 100, Colo. Agr. Exper. Station, 1906). Dis-
tribution notes relative to a number of species of restricted range are
taken from this publication and, to avoid repetition, are unaccom-
panied by references. .
Pinus aristata. Foxtail Pine.
The foxtail pine is a characteristic timberline tree on parts of the
Front, Kenosha, Saguache, and Sangre de Cristo Ranges, but was not
observed on the mountains of western or extreme northern Colorado.
On the Sangre de Cristo Range the southern limit appears to be near
Crestone Peak, but I again encountered it on the high Culebra Range
southwest of La Veta. On the Saguache Range it was found south
to a point northwest of Villa Grove, and scattering trees were observed
at timberline on the San Juan Mountains northeast of Pagosa Springs.
None of these pines were seen on the Front Range north of James
Peak. Foxtail pines are most abundant on the Saguache Range near
St. Elmo and in the Grays Peak region. A straggling and dwarfed
growth fringes the exposed ridges on both sides of Clear Creek Valley
above Silver Plume, between 11,000 and 11,500 feet. |
Although largely confined to the timberline region between 11,000 -
and 12,000 feet, and perhaps more nearly restricted to the Hudsonian
zone than any other tree in the State, the foxtail pine is occasionally
found on bare exposed ridges as low as 9,500 feet. Near Como it is
common on many of the ridges bordering South Park at 10,000 feet.
Between Clyde Station and Cheyenne Mountain on the Cripple Creek
Short Line Railway the species forms a considerable forest. At this
point the pines are very regular in shape, few are branched near the
base, and many are 30 feet high. In the timberline region the trees
are usually under 15 feet in height, dwarfed and ragged, and the
majority are much branched. (See Pl. XI, fig. 1.) At a distance
they greatly resemble a ragged growth of juniper (Juniperus mono-
sperma), and are in marked contrast to the more symmetrical Engel-
mann spruces, which usually share the bleak timberline slopes with
—_.
1911.) TREES AND SHRUBS. 218
them. Foxtail pines usually grow on slopes having warm south or
west exposures and very rarely on cool slopes. This species forms the
highest recorded timberline in the State (12,300 feet), near St. Elmo,
on the Saguache Range.
Pinus flexilis. Rocky Mountain White Pine.
This small, bushy, much branched pine has a general but very scat-
tering distribution in the mountains of northern Colorado, at eleva-
tions between 7,000 and 10,000 feet. Like the foxtail pine of the
timberline regions, which it greatly resembles, P. flerilis usually grows
along the crest of bare, outlying, gravelly ridges, and owing to its
wind-swept location usually grows straggling and one-sided. It is
most abundant on the open mountain slopes east of Fall River, Clear
Creek County, on the ridges of the South Park region, and on the
mountains east of Laramie River, but was noted at other localities as
. follows: McIntyre Creek, east slope of Medicine Bow Range; outly-
ing ridges north of Higho and east of Canadian Creek, North Park;
Hahns Peak (8,500 feet); bluffs north of Snake River, 8 miles east of
Slater; Grand River Canyon, east of Glenwood Springs; Empire;
canyon on Grand River, west of Hot Sulphur; and valley of South
Boulder Creek. The species does not attain its maximum size in
northern Colorado, and no trees more than 30 feet high were observed.
P. flexilis was found at but few localities in the southern mountains
in 1907. Groves of considerable extent are on the partially open
slopes at the head of Wahatoye Creek, between the Spanish Peaks
and the Culebra Range, at about 9,000 feet elevation, and the species
is common throughout the La Veta region. A much larger growth is
_ attained here than farther north, many of the trees reaching a height
-of 50 feet. This pine is not uncommon at Pagosa Springs, between
Needleton and Silverton, on the Rio Grande bluffs below Wagon Wheel
Gap, and at Divide.
Pinus scopulorum. Rocky Mountain Yellow Pine.
)
The yellow pine is a characteristic tree in the foothills of all parts
| except northwestern Colorado. The eastern foothills of the Medicine
Bow and Front Ranges are clothed with a scattering growth from
their bases to the lower edge of the lodgepole pines at 8,000 or 9,000
feet, the heaviest forests being west of Loveland, on the western end
of the Arkansas Divide, and in the South Platte region. Farther
south there is a good stand on the Wet Mountains, becoming heaviest
in northwestern Huerfano County and continuing southward in a
well-defined belt along the eastern foothills of the Sangre de Cristo
and Culebra Ranges. On the lower mountain slopes bordermg San
Luis Valley the pines are restricted to narrow interrupted belts, which
“converge at its northern end and connect over Poncha Pass with the
pine country along the Upper Arkansas.
214 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33, ;
West of the Continental Divide, P. scopulorwm is largely restricted
to the region south of the Grand and Gunnison Rivers. Stately
forests of great extent occupy the southern and western slopes of the
San Juan, La Plata, and San Miguel Mountains, and the eastern slopes
of the La Sal Mountains, ranging between 6,500 and 8,500 feet, and a
moderately heavy growth extends to the northwestern end of the
Uncompahgre Plateau. In the Gunnison country yellow pines are
very local and scattering, except in the valley of the Lake Fork, where
they are tolerably common. In northwestern Colorado they are
rarely seen, and occur in widely separated areas of small extent as
follows: Medicine Bow Mountains, east of Canadian Creek, North
Fic. 30.—Distribution in Colorado of lodgepole pine (Pinus murrayana).
Park, lowest outlying spurs, 8,800 feet; north slope of Elk Head
Mountains, 20 miles southeast of Slater, rocky exposed ridges, 7,800
feet; Grand River Canyon to 6 miles west of Glenwood Springs;
southwest slope 8 miles north of McCoy, Eagle County, 7,800 feet;
and on the summits and northern slopes of the Escalante Hills, in
western Routt County, where there is a tolerably heavy growth
between 6,400 and 7,500 feet. |
In the eastern and northern mountains the yellow pines seldom
attain large size, and in rocky situations they are often quite scrubby.
In the southwest, however, particularly in Archuleta County, there
are as large trees and handsome forests as can be found in any of the ~
Rocky Mountain States. Lumbermen have exhausted some of the
1911.] TREES AND SHRUBS. 215
best pine forests of southwestern Colorado, but there still remain
large areas, and fortunately these are now largely included in the San
Juan and Montezuma National Forests. .
Pinus murrayana. Lodgepole Pine.
A broad belt of magnificent lodgepole pine forest with a vertical
breadth averaging 2,000 feet occupies the middle slopes of the high
mountain ranges of northern Colorado between 8,000 and 10,000 feet.
(See fig. 30.) This forest clothes the summits of the Laramie Divide
and of the lower parts of the Medicine Bow, Park, and Gore Ranges.
Farther south this pine covers an extensive area on the Saguache
Range and on the mountains of the Gunnison country. The southern
limit is reached on the Continental Divide at the head of the Saguache
River. On the Sangre de Cristo Range a narrow belt extends south
along the eastern
slope as far as Cres-
tone Peak, but the
species appears to be
entirely absent from
the western slope of
the same range. <A
few of these pines are
found on the summit
of Veta Pass—the
southernmost point
at which the species
is known to occur
within the State.
The heaviest and
purest forests of
lodgepole pines were
traversed on the high
Fig. 31.—Forest of lodgepole pines (Pinus murrayana), eastern slope of
aN Park Range, west of Pearl, at 10,000 feet.
divide east of Lara- ~
-mie Riverand on the Park and Gore Ranges, at an elevation of about
9,500 feet. (See fig. 31.) On most of the ranges, however, the pines
are mixed with aspens below 9,500 feet and with Engelmann spruces
above 10,000 feet.
To the west P. murrayana is the common forest tree in the Elk
Head Mountains and in the region bordering Egeria Park, but on the
White River Plateau it does not extend far west of the South Fork of
White River. A scattering erowth is reported on Diamond Peak
and Mount Cullom, on opposite sides of Green River in extreme
northwestern Routt County. The lowest elevation reached within
the State appears to be on the northern slope of the Elk Head Moun-
tains near Honnold, where narrow tongues descend to the bank of
216 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33.
Snake River at 7,000 feet. The extreme upper limit on the Boreas
Pass is on a southwest slope at a little over 11,000 feet. This pine
appears to be absent from the mountains of southwestern Colorado.
The lodgepole pine is very largely restricted to the Canadian zone.
In the mountain districts of central Colorado much of the best growth
has been used for mining timbers, and farther north lumbering opera-
tions have depleted large tracts. At present a young and dense
growth covers much of these areas, which are practically all included
in National Forests.
Pinus edulis. Pinyon; Nut Pine.
The pinyon is found in abundance in the rough country of western
and southern Colorado at elevations varying from 5,000 to 7,500
feet. It clothes the rocky slopes and bluffs bordering the river
valleys and forms a dense growth on most of the rough intervening
watersheds and mesas. In the mountains of the San Luis Valley —
region the pinyon belt reaches an elevation of 9,000 feet on warm
slopes.
This small pine is fully as common in the Upper Sonoran zone as
Juniperus monosperma, and marks this zone over extensive areas.
In many localities, however, it enters the lower edge of the Transition
zone, where it commingles to a certain extent with yellow pines and
Douglas spruces. It is nearly always associated with the juniper —
(Juniperus monosperma) below 7,000 feet.
A very dense growth of pinyon covers the Mesa Verde and prac-
tically all the broken country from Montezuma County north to
Mesa County. A heavy and continuous belt is found on the lowest —
flanks of all the mountains from the San Juans north to the Book —
Cliffs, and in the Grand River Valley the species extends eastward
as far as McCoy, Eagle County. North of the Book Cliffs the distri-
bution is more restricted, as follows: Evacuation Creek Valley up
to 7,000 feet on north slope of the Book Cliffs; heavy growth in —
Pinyon Valley and on the Rabbit Hills; divide between Bear and
White Rivers, south of Lily, to 6,000 feet; Escalante Hills, dense
growth on north slopes at 6,400 to 7,000 feet; scattering growth |
southwest slope of Cross Mountain, and also on south slope of O-wi-
yu-kuts Plateau. Pinyons are found on most of the mesas and
ridges of the San Luis Valley region, and form heavy belts on the
lower bordering mountain slopes north as far as Villa Grove. On
the eastern slope of the mountains they occur regularly north to — 4
Manitou, and follow up the warm Arkansas Valley to considerably
above Buena Vista, the growth being especially dense and extensive
on the head of Huerfano River and in the adjacent country. The-
species reaches its eastern limit in Colorado, and probably in the
United States, in Las Animas County, where a considerable growth
%
‘
> |
1011.) TREES AND SHRUBS. 217
is found on Mesa de Maya and on other high points in that rough
region.
Picea engelmanni. Hngelmann Spruce; White Spruce.
The stately Engelmann spruce forms a heavy forest belt just
below timberline on all the higher mountain ranges, and in a dwarfed
state is common at timberline. At this elevation it occurs in pros-
trate mats 1 to 3 feet in height and often 8 or 10 feet in diameter.
Its greatest development is reached along the upper edge of the
Canadian zone, where the spruce forest is either pure or mixed with
balsam firs, many of the trees being 3 or 4 feet in diameter and 100
feet in height.
The heaviest spruce forests were on the Park, Medicine Bow, and
Saguache Ranges, in the San Juan Mountains, and on both slopes
of the Front Range from Rollins Pass south to Berthoud Pass. A
moderate growth of Engelmann spruce is found on the Uncompahgre
and White River Plateaus, on Grand Mesa, and on other high plateaus
of western Colorado.
The upper limit of the Engelmann spruce varies with timberline
from 11,000 to 12,000 feet. The vertical width of the belt depends
much upon the steepness of slope, averaging between 1,000 and 1,500
feet on gradual slopes, but often narrowing to 500 feet, as is the
case just below timberline on a steep southwest exposure south of
Berthoud Pass. Below 10,000 feet P. engelmanm occurs only in
damp situations on cold slopes and in descending: tongues along
streams, usually embraced by heavy forests of lodgepole pine or
aspen. It is found as low as 8,200 feet along Pass Creek, on the |
eastern slope of the Park Range; while on the mountains east of
Laramie River it occurs at 8,500 feet. Scattering trees occur on
Middle Boulder Creek, 5 miles west of Boulder, at 6,000 feet, but
this low elevation is abnormal.
Picea parryana. Blue Spruce.
The blue spruce has a very scattering distribution in the lower
part of the Canadian zone on both slopes of the main ranges. In
northern Colorado in 1905 and 1906 small clumps and single trees were
noted here and there along streams at elevations of from 7,000 to 8,500
feet, as follows: West of Log Cabin, Larimer County, 7,500 feet;
Nederland,. 8,200 feet; South Boulder Creek; northeast base of Floyd
Hill; Empire; Idaho Springs; Fall River, Clear Creek County; south
slope of Park Range; north of Hahns Peak, 8,500 feet; Snake River
bluffs; Honnold to 8 miles east of Slater; north slope of Piney Divide,
south of McCoy, 7,500 to 8,000 feet; Pass Creek, northwest of Kremm-
ling; Eagle River, Dotsero to Wolcott; and canyon of the Grand east
of Glenwood Springs. In the mountains of southern Colorado the
218 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 33. _
blue spruce has a general distribution between 8,500 and 9,500 feet,
being much more common than farther north.
This species is apparently never found away from the immediate
vicinity of streams,' all the trees that I have observed growing either
on the banks of watercourses or on the nearest benches. It proba-
bly belongs to the Canadian zone, but in common with many other
boreal species finds a suitable environment in the cool conditions
which obtain along streams well down into the Transition zone.
The characteristic scattering distribution of the blue spruce along
watercourses is best seen along Eagle River between Wolcott and
Dotsero, on the Frying Pan River, and on the many streams of Clear
Creek County.
Pseudotsuga mucronata. Douglas Spruce; Red Fir.
The Douglas spruce is of comparatively small size in Colorado.
The largest trees are found along watercourses, where a height of 100 —
feet and a diameter of 3 or 4 feet are occasionally attained. The
average growth, however, is less than a third of these dimensions,
especially among the eastern foothills. 3
The species has a general distribution in the mountain districts, —
being most abundant on the eastern slopes of the Medicine Bow and
Front Ranges and on the plateaus and higher mesas of western Colo-
rado. It is mainly a Transition zone tree, but occurs commonly In —
the lower Canadian zone also, particularly in the western mountains. —
On the eastern slopes of the main ranges the Douglas spruce is
occasionally found along streams as low as 5,800 feet. In the upper —
part of the yellow pine belt it occupies most of the steep north slopes —
between 6,000 and 8,000 feet. Near Fall River, in Clear Creek
County, it extends up southwest slopes to the 9,000-foot summits”
of hills, whose northeast exposures are clothed with lodgepole pines —
and aspens. The Douglas spruce thus occupies a position interme-
diate between the yellow and lodgepole pine belts east of the Conti-
nental Divide. Over most of western Colorado it is found just above -
the pinyon belt, largely replacing the yellow pine in the Transition —
zone, and with the aspen clothing the Canadian zone summits and —
upper northern slopes of the plateaus and higher mesas. (See fig.
32.) On the crest of the Uncompahgre Plateau and elsewhere it —
grows at an elevation of over 10,000 feet.
The following localities indicate the distribution of Pseudotsuga
in northwestern Colorado: North slope of Piney Divide, south of —
McCoy, 7,000 to 8,000 feet; south slopes of mountains north of
McCoy, 8,000 to 8,500 feet; mountains south of Eagle; canyon of the
Grand above Glenwood Springs; Battlement Mesa; Great Hog Back;
1 At Saguache and elsewhere these handsome spruces grace many dooryards, where they have been e
planted. As an ornamental tree the blue spruce has few equals. ;
4911.1 TREES AND SHRUBS. 219
southern slopes of White River Plateau; Grand Mesa; high country
on both sides of Grand River between Glenwood Springs and Grand
Junction, at elevations ranging from above 6,000 feet on cold slopes
to 7,000 or 8,000 feet on warm slopes; Book Cliffs, heavy growth on
north slope near Baxter Pass, 7,000 to 8,500 feet; hills bordering
Evacuation Creek Valley; sparse growth on northeast upper slopes
of Rabbit Hills; and Zenobia Peak, scattering growth reported. In
southwestern Colorado I observed the species as follows: Southern
slopes of La Plata Mountains between Durango and Mancos in the
Canadian zone; upper slopes of Ute Peak; steep upper rims of Sinbad
Fig. 32.—Pocket of Douglas spruce (Pseudotsuga mucronata) on northern escarpment of Mesa Verde,
7,500 to 8,000 feet.
and West Paradox Valleys (cool exposures); Unaweep Canyon;
Cimarron; Vernal Mesa; West Elk Mountains east of Crawford;
Roaring Fork of Grand River, Basalt to Aspen; Sapinero; and Lake
City.
Abies lasiocarpa. Balsam Fir.
The balsam fir is found throughout the Hudsonian zone and
along the upper edge of the Canadian zone. ‘It is not so uniformly
distributed as the Engelmann spruce and does not form as extensive
forests. Occasionally, however, its growth is heavy, as on the west-
ern slope of the Front Range in the vicinity of Rollins Pass and on
the west side of the Saguache Range below Alpine Tunnel, where
extensive forests were traversed between 10,000 and 11,000 feet.
220 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, {No. 33,
In a dwarfed state this fir often extends up to extreme timberline
with the Engelmann spruce. Its characteristic growth is in clumps
and thickets scattered here and there through the spruce forest,
and the smooth, light-colored trunks of the firs are very conspicuous
among the dark spruces. Occasionally the species is encountered
as low as 8,500 feet, and on the eastern slope of the Park Range
northwest of Kremmling I found it growing along streams at 8,200
feet. It formed heavy thickets at 10,000 feet on the divide east of
the Laramie River, and also on the Medicine Bow Range; and on
the northern part of the Park Range it was common both on the
Buffalo Pass and on the headwaters of Grand Encampment River.
On the White River Plateau it was growing in dense thickets in the
aspen forests between 8,500 and 9,000 feet, chiefly on northern
exposures.
This tree appears to have fully as wide a range in southern as in
northern Colorado, but the growth is smaller and more scattered
toward the south. The species was observed in southern Colorado
on the summit of the Uncompahgre Plateau, at Rico and Ophir,
from Needleton to Silverton, and between Vance Junction and
Sawpit.
Abies poneatar White Fir.
The white fir is found in the southern mountains, where it is
usually common between 8,500 and 10,000 feet, in the lower Canadian
zone. It does not occur far north of Colorado Springs on the eastern
slope, and Ouray marks the northern limit west of the Continental
Divide. The white fir forms considerable forests in the Wet Moun-
tains and on the southern slopes of the San Juan Mountains north
of Pagosa Springs, but usually the growth is somewhat scattering,
and is restricted either to the vicinity of streams or to cool exposures,
where the firs mingle with aspens. The largest trees observed were —
at 9,000 feet on the southwest slope of Pagosa Peak, where a height
of 75 feet was not uncommon.
The white fir was noted at the following localities: Wet Mountains,
east of Westcliffe, 9,000 feet; mountains between Canon City and
Cripple Creek, above 8,500 feet; northern exposures on eastern slope
of Sangre de Cristo Range near Sand Hill Pass, 9,000 to 9,500 feet;
head of Wahatoye Creek, 9,000 feet; upper northern slope of Fisher
Peak, south of Trinidad; mountains near Saguache; Animas Canyon,
near Silverton; and lower mountain slopes surrounding Ouray.
Juniperus scopulorum. Rocky Mountain Juniper.
This juniper is common in the Upper Sonoran and Transition
zones throughout the mountains, and also often forms the only
coniferous growth in gulches and on rocky ridges and buttes on the
higher plains of northeastern Colorado. It has an extreme vertical
1911.] TREES AND SHRUBS. pai dd §
range within the State from 4,500 to 10,000 feet, and is most abun-
dant inthe higher foothills between 6,000 and 8,000 feet. I observed
it at the following localities: Boulder; Golden; Platte Canyon Sta-
tion; Pawnee Buttes; Bailey; Colorado Springs; La Veta; hills
north of Canon City; Promontory Bluffs; bluffs east of Grover;
Buena Vista; St. Elmo; Weston; Chimney Cliffs, northwestern
Logan County; Book Plateau, sparingly above 7,500 feet; Glen-
wood Springs; Wolcott; McCoy; Ohio City; Gunnison; Sapinero;
Lake City; Lone Cone; Beaver Mountain, Dolores County; Man-
cos; Mesa Verde, north escarpment; and Pagosa Springs.
Juniperus monosperma. Juniper.
This is the most abundant juniper in the State, and is a charac-
teristic Upper Sonoran species. It forms a well-defined belt cover-
ing most of the lowest foothill slopes of western and southern Colo-
rado and is prominent on the eastern foothills from the Arkansas
Valley southward. A heavy growth covers a large area of rough
canyon country in Las Animas and western Baca Counties, and
many outlying ridges and buttes in Otero County are clothed with
junipers. The species reaches a large size and dense stand on the
Escalante Hills and other low elevations of western Routt County,
and is abundant on Mesa Verde, in Montezuma County.
The vertical position of J. monosperma is immediately below the
pinyon belt, although scattermg junipers occur with the pinyons as
high as 7,500 feet in southern Colorado. It is most abundant
between 5,000 and 7,000 feet on arid slopes. The resinous one-
seeded berries of this juniper are much used as food by chipmunks,
wood rats, and other small rodents.
During my explorations in Colorado I have observed the species
as follows: Slater; bluffs bordering lower Snake River Valley;
Godiva Ridge; Cross Mountain; Escalante Hills; O-wi-yu-kuts
Plateau, southern slopes; Vermilion Blufis; watershed between Bear
-and White Rivers south of Lily; 5 miles southwest of Rangely to
base of Rabbit Hills; northern and southern slopes of Book Plateau
below 7,500 feet; hills south of Mack, Mesa County; lower slopes of
Grand Mesa; northeast slope of Little Book Cliffs; De Beque to
Glenwood Springs; bluffs along north side of Eagle River from
Dotsero nearly to Wolcott; McCoy; Basalt; Somerset; Ridgway;
Coventry; Placerville; western Montrose and San Miguel Counties;
Mesa Verde; McElmo Valley; Salida; Canon City; Walsenburg;
Pueblo; and Gaume’s ranch, northwestern Baca County.
Juniperus sibirica. Low Mountain Juniper.
This beautiful procumbent shrub is conspicuous among the under-
growth of the forests in the Canadian and upper Transition zones,
where it is almost omnipresent. It reaches its greatest abundance
992 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33. _
along the upper edge of the yellow pine belt at 8,500 or 9,000 feet.
I have found it particularly common in the higher eastern foothills of —
the Front Range; on the forested ridges near Como, South Park; in |
the Wet Mountains east of Westcliffe; on the Sangre de Cristo Range ©
in western Huerfano County; and at St. Elmo, Saguache Range,
10,000 feet.
Juniperus prostrata. Creeping Juniper.
The creeping juniper or savin appears to be uncommon in the
Colorado mountains. I collected it on Lone Mesa, Dolores County, —
at 9,200 feet, June 26, 1907; and saw dense patches of it on open —
rocky ridges along Pass Creek, northwest of Kremmling, Middle
Park, in October, 1906. Rydberg records it from North Cheyenne
Canyon, Parlin, and Owl Canyon.
Ephedra antisyphylitica. Joint Fir.
The joint fir is a characteristic shrub on the warm saeke Upper —
Sonoran slopes of western Colorado, extending eastward with the ©
junipers and pinyons for some distance into the mountains along the
warm north sides of the river valleys. £. antisyphylitica is the com-
mon species of widest range, but two other forms are present in the —
southwestern valleys.
T have observed this joint fir at the following localities: Escalante ©
Hills, 7,000 feet; White River bluffs east of Rangely; pinyon country
southwest of Rangely; juniper-covered hills at north base of the Book —
Cliffs; Glenwood Springs; Basalt; Mesa Verde; McElmo; lower San
Miguel and Dolores River regions (omnipresent below 7,000 feet);
Placerville; and Coventry.
Ephedra torreyana.
I have taken this species only on the warm juniper slopes “eae the
north side of North Gunnison River at Somerset, 6,000 feet. It is
recorded by Rydberg from Deer Run, Mesa County.
Yucca glauca. Yucca.
This yucca is one of the most characteristic Upper Sonoran plants
in the State, being almost omnipresent below 6,000 feet, and extend-
ing often to 8,000 feet on exceptionally warm slopes in the foothills.
It occurs in abundance on both sides of the mountains (see fig. 30) am
but the densest growth is on the eastern plains, particularly in the
southeastern counties. The tal! spikes of greenish white flowers are
very prominent on the plains during June. |
Following are some of the localities at which Yucca glauca’ was |
observed on my trips over the State: Gaume’s ranch, northwest —
Baca County; Limon; Cheyenne Wells; Tuttle; Wray; Sterling; |~
Pawnee Buttes; Grover; east of Boulder; near Fort Collins; Bailey; q
Gardner; La Veta; Buena Vista; Wet Mountain bhp: Poncha Pass,
1911.] TREES AND SHRUBS. , OOS
summit; Salida; Cascade; Pueblo to Walsenburg; Saguache and San
Luis Valleys generally; Gunnison; Hotchkiss; Montrose region;
Placerville; McElmo Valley; lower Dolores River region up to 7,000
feet; Unaweep Canyon; Rifle; De Beque; Plateau Creek; and hills
between Carbonera and Mack.
Yucca harrimanie. Harriman Yucca,
Locally common at several points in the juniper belt of southwestern
Colorado below 7,000 feet. J found it in 1907 near Ridgway; on the
slopes of Cerro Ridge east of Montrose; and on the rocky slopes along
105°
VOM: YUNCTION ~
i’
Fic. 33.—Distribution in Colorado of common yucca ( Yucca glauca).
_ the west side of Sinbad Valley. Rydberg records the species from
| Cimarron and Durango.
Yucca baccata. Spanish Bayonet.
This large-leaved yucca is a characteristic Upper Sonoran plant in
‘parts of southwestern Colorado, growing chiefly among rocks on
warm juniper slopes and in the lowest valleys. It was flowering on
| Mesa Verde at 7,000 feet June 13, 1907, the spikes of large greenish
white flowers dotting the rocky rims of Navajo Canyon just above
| the Spruce Tree Cliff Ruins. (See fig. 34.) I observed this yucca at
| Arboles; Bayfield; McElmo; Coventry; on slopes bordering Paradox
| and Sinbad Valleys; and along the canyon of Dolores River between
| Salt Canyon and the mouth of West Creek. There appears to be
994 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
only one Colorado record for Y. baceata east of the mountains—
Rydberg recording it from Trinidad.
Populus tremuloides. Aspen; Poplar.
Extensive aspen forests clothe the summits and northern slopes
of nearly all the western plateaus and mountains between 8,000 and
10,000 feet, but on the eastern slope of the main ranges the trees are
usually small, and form dense thickets rather than open forests.
This boreal poplar is restricted to the Canadian zone, the center of
abundance being at about 9,000 feet. Small thickets sometimes
occur on cold northeast slopes as low as 7,000 feet, while on warm
southern slopes a dwarfed growth usually extends to at least 10,500
Fic. 34.— Yucca baccata in flower, Navajo Canyon, Mesa Verde.
feet. The best aspen forests were encountered on the White River,
Book, and Uncompahgre Plateaus, and on the north slope of the
tabbit Ear Mountains near Arapahoe Pass, where trees fully 2 feet
in diameter and 50 feet in height were not at all uncommon. On the
crest of the Uncompahgre Plateau, near its northern end, beautiful
aspen groves alternate with reaches of open grassy country, the
coniferous element so common elsewhere being very largely absent.
The aspen forest is often tolerably clear of large undergrowth, but
is mixed here and there with thickets of balsam firs or lodgepole
pines. Throughout the mountains are areas which formerly sup-
ported coniferous forests, but have been devastated by forest fires.
1911.] TREES AND SHRUBS. 995
These are now mostly covered with a young growth of aspens, which
seem to secure a foothold much more quickly than any of the conifers.
Populus angustifolia. Narrow-leaf Cottonwood.
There is scarcely a foothill stream in the State which is not fringed
with more or less of these cottonwoods. It is a characteristic Transi-
tion zone species, with a vertical range from 5,500 to about 9,000 feet.
Its vertical position is intermediate between the aspen of the Canadian
zone and the broad-leaved cottonwoods of the Upper Sonoran zone.
It attains its largest size along the lower edge of its range at the base
of the foothills, where it often mingles for a short distance with the
broad-leaved species. Scattered clumps of large size are found the
entire length of the Snake River Valley, in northwestern Colorado.
Populus occidentalis. Broad-leaf Cottonwood.
This is the cottonwood which fringes most of the streams on the
eastern plains, the heaviest and largest growth being found along
the Platte and Arkansas Rivers and on many of the streams near
the base of the foothills from Denver north to Fort Collins. The
erowth is particularly large in the Arkansas Valley between Las
Animas and the Kansas boundary. Itis found on only a few streams
in the foothills, but near Livermore, Larimer County, I found it up
to 6,000 feet along Lone Pine Creek, and a single tree was growing
on Middle Boulder Creek at 5,800 feet. On -the dry plains of Baca
County the beds of the streams, few of which are perennial, are
fringed by a gnarled and stunted growth of cottonwoods.
Populus wislizeni. Southwestern Cottonwood.
This is the predominant broad-leaved cottonwood of southwestern
Colorado, where it occurs along most of the watercourses below 6,000
feet. I found it common at Arboles; Grand Junction; along McElmo
Creek; on San Miguel River below Naturita; Dolores River between
Paradox Valley and the mouth of West Creek; Smith Fork below
Crawford; and North Gunnison River to 5 miles below Somerset;
and it was probably the species growing along the Rio Grande at
Alamosa. East of the mountains it is found on the plains at Colorado
Springs, according to Rydberg.
Populus acuminata. Smooth-bark Cottonwood.
During my explorations in Colorado I observed this cottonwood
only in the Upper Sonoran stream valleys of the northwestern
counties from the Wyoming boundary south to Mesa County, as
follows: Scattering fringe along Snake River for 8 miles above Lily;
dense growth of large size on Green River from Browns Park to
northern end of Ladore Canyon; lower Vermilion Creek, western
Routt County; scattering fringe along White River from Utah
90432°—11——15 |
f
2°6 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
boundary east to Angora; Plateau Creek, Mesa County; and Dolores
River, at the mouth of West Creek (growing with P. wislizeni).
This cottonwood occurs east of the mountains, as Rydberg records
it from Fort Collins, Denver, and Walsenburg.
Salix amygdaloides. Peach-leaved Willow.
A common willow along streams in the Upper Sonoran zone on
both sides of the mountains. Observed at Boulder; Livermore; on
Green River near Ladore; and in the lower valleys of Snake and
White Rivers.
Salix perrostrata.
Taken in June, 1905, in the foothills near Golden, where small
clumps were growing In bogs on the higher slopes between 6,500
and 7,500 feet in the upper Transition zone.
Salix nuttalli. Nuttall Willow.
Scattered clumps were growing with S. perrostrata, between 6,500
and 7,500 feet, around springs and in bogs among the foothills near
Golden. Willows noted in September, 1906, at springs on the north-
ern slope of the Book Plateau, between 7,500 and 8,000 feet, were
probably S. nuttalli.
Salix geyeriana.
Dense thickets of this low willow fringe most of the streams and
bogs in Middle and Egeria Parks and near Hahns Peak. It was
the prevailing species near Coulter in Middle Park and at the eastern
end of the Elk Head Mountains near Columbine. It was not observed
in the mountains of southern Colorado.
Salix glaucops.
This is perhaps the most abundant alpine willow in the mountains.
(See fig. 35.) In June, 1905, I found dense copses on the higher
slopes of Mount Kelso between 11,000 and 12,500 feet, and in 1906 it
was common on the streams of Egeria Park and the Gore Range.
The usual growth of this willow varies from about 4 feet in the lower
part of its range in the Canadian zone to 2 feet or even less above
timberline. The glabrous-leaved form (S. g. glabrata) is common
in bogs on the alpine slopes of Mount Kelso.
Salix chlorophylla.
I have found this alpine willow only on Mount Kelso, where it
grows on the boggy slopes between 11,000 and 12,500 feet in dense
copses from 2 to 4 feet high. It was more abundant above than
below timberline.
Betula fontinalis. Rocky Mountain Birch.
This handsome birch forms a conspicuous fringe along foothill
streams throughout the State, and often extends out on the plains
1911.) TREES AND SHRUBS. oF
for some distance. It is usually associated with narrow-leaved
cottonwoods and willows, and I have seen it only near stream banks.
In July, 1907, I found several large clumps fully 20 feet in height on
Dolores River near the mouth of West Creek, at 5,000 feet. The
species occurs regularly up to 8,000 and occasionally to 9,000 feet
through the entire width of the Transition zone. I did not observe
it in the Canadian zone.
I found B. fontinalis common at the following localities: Streams
of Routt County; North Park; Plateau Creek; Bailey; Lake George;
St. Elmo; Frying Pan River, Basalt to Peachblow; head of Smith
Fork, West Elk Mountains; Unaweep Canyon; Placerville; Durango;
Rico; Mancos; Bay-
field; and La Veta.
Betula glandulosa.
Dwarf Birch.
The habitat of the
dwarf birch is along
the borders. of cold
bogs and streams in
the higher moun-
tains, between 9,000
and 11,000 feet, in
the upper Canadian
and lower Hudson-
ian zones. It has
been found on prac-
tically all the higher
mountain ranges of
the State. The nor-
mal growth is from
3 to 5 feet high, but
in the Hudsonian
zone at about 11,000 “Fic. 35.—Alpine willows in Arctic-Alpine zone, Front Range, near Ber-
; thoud Pass.
feet the species is
dwarfed, rarely exceeding 2 feet. It was particularly abundant in
1906 in the mountain meadows -on the Park Range and on the
mountains east of Laramie River, where a low, dense growth fringed
most of the bogs between 9,000 and 10,000 feet. I saw it on Grand
River, 5 miles east of Hot Sulphur; on the San Juan Mountains near
Ophir, at 10,500 feet; and southeast of Lake City, 9,000 to 11,000
feet. The leaves were falling near Lake City, October 18, 1907.
Alnus tenuifolia. Alder.
Alders form a dense fringe along cold streams throughout the’
Colorado mountains. They are most abundant in the Canadian
—
————————=— CC Che
— + ie
cael
——
928 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
zone up to 10,000 feet, but occur regularly as low as 7,000 feet and
occasionally to 6,000 feet. The species attains its maximum size
along the smaller streams flowing from the Medicine Bow Mountains
into North Park, a tributary of Canadian Creek being fringed with
alders fully 20 feet in height.
The following localities at which I have noted alders indicate a
wide and uniform distribution: Log Cabin, Larimer County; North
Park; Hahns Peak; Snake River, Honnold to 10 miles above Slater;
Gore Mountains; Fraser River, Middle Park; Smith Fork of Gunni-
son River, West Elk Mountains; Frying Pan River; Gunnison;
Crested Butte; Pitkin; Sapinero, Lake Fork of Gunnison River;
Wagon Wheel Gap; Poncha Pass; Creede; Manitou; Bailey, South
Platte River; Lake George; Buena Vista; St. Elmo; Lone Cone;
Unaweep Canyon; Rico; Silverton; Bayfield; Pagosa Springs; Pagosa
Junction ;-La Veta; and Las Animas River, Segundo to Weston.
Corylus rostrata. Beaked Hazelnut.
Small thickets of hazel are common on Middle Boulder Creek, at
Blanchard’s ranch, 5 miles west of Boulder, at an elevation of nearly
6,000 feet. I did not observe the beaked hazel elsewhere in Colorado,
but Rydberg records it from other points in the eastern foothills
from North Cheyenne Canyon north to Larimer County.
Celtis reticulata. Hackberry.
The hackberry has a scattering distribution in the Upper Sonoran
zone on both sides of the mountains, being most common on the
eastern plains in gulches leading back from stream valleys. Small
clumps are found in most of the canyons of the lowest eastern ‘foot-
hills from Boulder north to Fort Collins. I have not found it above
5,500 or 6,000 feet. Its growth in Colorado is uniformly scrubby,
and only occasionally does it attain the statureof a tree. Hack-
berries are common on the bare foothill slopes near Platte Canyon
Station, at Golden, Boulder, Arkins, and at a point 8 miles west of
Fort Collins. Several large clumps grow in Shell Rock Canyon, north-
western Baca County. At Wray, Yuma County, the species is very
common in the gulches leading back from Chief Creek Valley. |
Few hackberries were met with in western Colorado. Scattering
trees grow on the slopes along Plateau Creek, 5 miles east of Tunnel,
Mesa County, and others on West Creek, near its junction with Dolores
River, in southwestern Mesa County.
Atriplex canescens. Orache; Gray Saltbush.
This species has a wide range in the Upper Sonoran zone on both
sides of the mountains, but is most abundant in western and southern
Colorado. I have not observed it much above 7,000 feet. It is a
characteristic shrub in the warmer valleys of the eastern foothills
south of the Arkansas Valley, where it is locally termed “‘chico brush,”
1911.] TREES AND SHRUBS: 229
It often grows to a height of several feet on sandy or alkaline flats in
the bottoms of valleys. Pocket gophers appear to feed extensively
upon its leaves, which I have often found in their tunnels.
It was noted at the following localities: Lily Park; Midland Basin,
Routt County; southwest of Rangely; Escalante Hills; desert north
of Mack; Hotchkiss; Montrose; Paradox Valley; Dolores River, near
mouth of West Creek; McElmo Valley; Medano Springs ranch, San
Luis Valley; Salida; Gardner; La Veta; Limon; and 30 miles northwest
of Sterling.
Atriplex confertifolia. Round-leaved Saltbush.
The round-leaved saltbush is a characteristic Upper Sonoran shrub
of the desert stretches of western Colorado, growing principally upon
dry alkaline flats, but often on sandy areas. Occasionally it forms
a dense growth like sagebrush, as on the plains of extreme western
Routt County, be-
tween the Escalante
Hills and Vermilion
Bluffs. (See Pl. III,
fie: 2.) I observed
the species at locali-
ties asfollows: Lower
> Snake River Valley
| east to Baggs Cross-
| ing; plains north of
| Escalante Hills;
| Browns Park; Lily
| Park; Midland Basin;
Maybell ; badlands Fic. 36.— Desert vegetation (Atriplex nuttalli and Sarcobatus ver miculatus)
near Ran g ely; Evac- in lower Grand River Valley, north of Mack, at 4,500 feet.
uation Creek Valley; desert north of Mack; southern slopes of Book
Cliffs to Atchee, 7,000 feet; Plateau Creek; Fruita; De Beque; New-
castle; Hotchkiss; Montrose; Paradox Valley; and McElmo Valley
| east to north base of Mesa Verde at Pomt Lookout. This species
| occurs also east of the mountains, as Rydberg records it from Denver
and Pueblo.
: | Atriplex nuttalli. Saltbush.
: This small shrub, often called salt sage, is a characteristic Upper
_ Sonoran species, found chiefly on alkaline flats in the desert valleys of
| | western Colorado. In some of the dry desert basins it forms the
| | principal shrubby vegetation, although it is of small size and usually
| more or less prostrate. It is the most conspicuous shrub in Midland
Basin, western Routt County; on the desert north of Mack (see fig.
36); and on the alkaline stretch of country between Hotchkiss and
the West Elk Mountains. I found it abundant in Browns Park:
La Ee
230 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No. 38.
along Snake River west of Baggs Crossing; southwest of Rangely;
and in McElmo and Uncompahgre Valleys.
Grayia spinosa. Common Grayia.
This low, spiny, mealy shrub is a characteristic plant in the sandy
and alkaline Upper Sonoran tracts of northwestern Colorado, where it
grows in profusion in river valleys and on the lowest bordering
benches up to a little over 6,000 feet. Together with Atriplex con-
fertifolia, it forms the principal shrubby growth in some of the river
valleys of western Routt and Rio Blanco Counties (see PI. ITI, fig. 2).
I found it common in the Snake River Valley from 20 miles west of
Baggs Crossing to Lily; on the flats between the Escalante Hills
and Browns Park; m Midland Basin; in White River Valley from
Angora westward to the Utah boundary; on rocky slopes along Bear
River at Maybell; on the desert north of Mack, Mesa County; at
Rifle, Hotchkiss, and Somerset. In the Browns Park region the leaves
had “ie all fallen by the 1st of September.
Grayia brandegei.
The shrubby growth observed on the tops of low mesas along the
McElmo Valley near Moqui was probably G@. brandegei, recorded by
Rydberg from the McElmo Valley.
Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Greasewood.
The zonal range of the greasewood is mainly Upper Sonoran. Its
wide range over the lower parts of the State is well indicated by the
following localities at which it was observed during my explorations:
North Park j in alkaline situations; Snake River V miley to 5 miles east
of Slater at 6,800 feet; Bear River Valley east to Craig and Steamboat
Springs; Browns Park (very rank growth, sometimes 12 feet in
height); Lily Park; Midland Basin; Rangely; Texas Creek; Evacua-
tion Creek; north of Atchee, southern slope Book Plateau, to 7,500
feet; desert north of Mack (see fig. 36); Plateau Creek; De Beque;
Rifle; Dotsero to Eagle; Kremmling and Muddy Creek Valley, Mid-
dle Park; Hotchkiss; Montrose region; Dallas Creek near Ridgway;
lower valleys of San Miguel and Dolores Rivers; McElmo Valley;
Montezuma Valley east to north base of Mesa Verde at Point Lookout;
Bayfield; Salida; Gardner; San Luis Valley generally—Alamosa,
Saguache, Hooper, Villa Grove, Mosca, and Medano ranch.
Berberis fendleri. Barberry.
In Colorado the barberry appears to be confined to dry rocky slopes
and ridges in the region south and west of the San Juan and La
Plata Mountains. I found a scattering growth on rocky ridges in
the yellow pine forest at Pagosa Springs (7,000 feet), and later met
with the species on dry, open slopes at Durango. Rydberg records
B. fendleri from Dare, Arboles, Mancos, a Mancos Canyon.
FY TRL Brees
Sete om
n
Pa AS Meo
“ee
-
1911.] TREES AND SHRUBS. 231
Odostemon aquifolium. Oregon Grape.
The Oregon grape has a wide distribution in the Colorado moun-
tains from the foothills to about 10,000 feet. I found it most abun-
dant on cool, shaded slopes in the upper part of the yellow pine belt,
where with Arctostaphylos it forms the characteristic lower under-
erowth. The ripe clusters of bluish berries remain on the shrubs for
some timein the autumn. The Oregon grape is abundant at Boulder;
Coulter, Middle Park; Floyd Hill; Honnold; northern slopes of Elk
TfTead Mountains; northern slopes and summit of Escalante Hills,
7,000 feet; canyon of the Grand above Glenwood Springs; Unaweep
Canyon; Cerro Ridge; Somerset; West Elk Mountains, head of Smith
Fork; Sapinero; Dolores; Mesa Verde; Bayfield; Pagosa Springs;
Wet Mountains east of Westcliffe; and hills near La Veta.
Odostemon fremonti.
In August, 1907, I found this large prickly-leaved shrub abundant
along the Smith Fork of Gunnison River, at the western base of West
Elk Mountains, a few miles east of Crawford, Delta County. At this
point it was growing among junipers and pinyons on the warm rocky
slopes near the stream. Many of the shrubs were 6 or 8 feet in height.
Rydberg records O. fremonti from Smith Fork Canyon, and it is not
known to occur elsewhere in the State.
Edwinia americana.
I have not observed this species west of the Continental Divide,
but it is a conspicuous shrub on cliffs and rock ledges on the eastern
slope across the State from north to south, chiefly in the Transition
zone. It was in full bloom in the foothills west of Boulder June 10,
1905, and the white-flowered cymes were very handsome. It is par-
ticularly common in the hills along the South Platte near Bailey,
and between Manitou and Woodland Park.
Fendlera rupicola.
In Colorado this low shrub is confined to the southwestern coun-
ties, where it is tolerably common on dry slopes and low mesas in the
Upper Sonoran and lower Transition zones. It was abundant on
the pinyon slopes along the Los Pinos at Bayfield, La Plata County —
(6,500 feet), and a few of the shrubs were in flower June 5, 1907. It
was common in July, 1907, on the low benches along Dolores River
between Salt Canyon and the mouth of West Creek, at 5,500 feet, and
I noted it for some distance up the valley of West Creek. Ryd-
berg records the species from Durango, Mancos, Cerro Summit,
Dolores, Hotchkiss, and Los Pinos.
Ribes cereum. Red Currant.
This is a common currant on dry rocky slopes up to at least 10,000
feet, but is most abundant in the yellow pine belt. Observed at
Pt
232 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, [No, 33.
Boulder; Golden; Pawnee Buttes, northeastern Weld County;
Bailey; Manitou; Buena Vista; Como; St. Elmo; Thomasville;
Wagon Wheel Gap; Coulter; Escalante Hills; and Pagosa Junction.
Ribes wolfi.
This high-ranging currant is not uncommon in the Canadian and
Hudsonian zones, growing even on rocky slopes to a short distance
above timberline. It was not observed at any point below 8,000 feet.
The black viscid berries were still on the bushes on the summit of the
Book Plateau September 22, 1906. It is a common shrub on Lone
Cone, San Miguel Mountains; at Thomasville; and on McClellan
Mountain between 11,000 and 12,000 feet.
Ribes longiflorum. Golden Currant.
The zonal range of this flowering currant is mainly Upper Sonoran.
Its yellow bloom was conspicuous at Boulder June 8, 1905, and along
the San Juan River at Pagosa Springs May 27, 1907. This currant
was observed also at Golden and at Wray. Vernon Bailey reports it
common along streams in the southern end of San Luis Valley.
Opulaster intermedius. Nine bark.
In early June, 1905, I found this handsome flowering shrub in full
bloom on Middle Boulder Creek at 5,800 feet, in the Transition zone.
Rydberg records it from other points in the eastern foothills of the
Front Range.
Opulaster monogynus.
Common in June, 1905, in the foothills near Boulder and Golden
between 6,500 and 7,500 feet. This species does not grow along
streams like O. intermedius, but on dry rocky slopes. Rydberg gives
O. monogynus a wide distribution in the eastern and central mountain
districts.
Rubacer parviflorus. Salmonberry.
The large-leaved salmonberry is conspicuous on cool forested slopes
in the Canadian zone throughout the mountains of western and
central Colorado, but is uncommon east of the Continental Divide.
The large juicy red fruit has a delicious flavor and is usually ripe by
the end of August. Salmonberries were found in great abundance
on the western slopes of the Park Range east of Steamboat Springs;
near Hahns Peak, 8,000 to 8,500 feet; on the Book Plateau; on Lone
Cone; and at Thomasville.
Oreobatus deliciosus. [alse Raspberry.
This is a characteristic shrub in the eastern foothills up to 9,000 or
10,000 feet, but was not observed in the western mountains. In the
foothills west of Boulder the large showy white flowers were out June 6,
1905, and the species was flowering at Georgetown June 20. It is
1911.] TREES AND SHRUBS. 233
particularly abundant in the yellow pine belt at Bailey and on the
slopes near Buena Vista. The dark purplish fruit of this shrub is
inedible.
Rubus strigosus. Red Raspberry.
Red raspberries were fully ripe on cool north slopes in the yellow
pine belt near Arkins July 26, 1906. At this locality they were grow-
ing in profusion at 6,000 feet. The species is common at Ophir, St.
Elmo, Thomasville, and on the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo
Range in western Huerfano County. It is usually found in slide rock
or in areas which have been swept by forest fires.
Dasiphora fruticosa. Shrubby Cinquefoil.
The shrubby cinquefoil is one of the most showy flowering shrubs
in mountain meadows and. on open slopes between 8,000 and 11,000
feet. It occurs in greatest abundance in wet meadows in the high
mountain parks at 9,000 or 10,000 feet in the Canadian zone. The
large yellow flowers dotted the upper slopes of Mount McClellan
between 10,500 and 11,000 feet during the middle of June, 1905, and
the species was flowering at 10,000 feet on the South Park plains at
Como as late as August 21, 1907. Above 11,000 feet Dasiphora oc-
curs in a dwarfed state not over a foot high—about half its normal
growth. It is an abundant shrub near Pearl, in northwestern North
Park, at 8,700 feet, where it was flowering August 8, 1906. I observed
the species on the White River and Uncompahgre Plateaus; at Divide,
Teller County; in Slate River Valley between Almont and Crested
Butte; and in the meadows along the headwaters of Cebolla Creek,
southeast of Lake City, up to 11,000 feet.
Holodiscus dumosus.
This handsome flowering shrub is conspicuous among rocks in the
foothill districts up to 9,000 feet on both slopes of the mountains.
The species occurs mainly in the Transition zone. It was in flower
July 12, 1905, in the canyon along Grand River just west of Hot
Sulphur. I have found it common in the canyon of the Grand
above Glenwood Springs; in Unaweep Canyon; on the Uncompahgre
Plateau, head of Dominguez Creek; at Ouray; Buena Vista; and in
the Wet Mountains east of Westcliffe, 9,500 feet.
Kunzia tridentata.
This species is generally distributed over the mountainous sec-
tions of the State from 6,000 to 9,500 feet. It is usually present
on dry open hills and was not observed in heavy forests. It forms
dense thickets in the sand dunes along the western base of the Medi-
cine Bow Range in North Park, and in the sandy yellow pine country
on the head of Dominguez Creek, at the northern end of Uncompah-
gre Plateau. At a little distance this species bears a close resemblance
234 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
to sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), but is darker green and seldom
grows to a height of more than 2 feet. It is usually in full bloom by
the Ist of July.
K. tridentata was observed at the following localities: Nederland;
Elkhorn, Larimer County; bare hillsides along Snake River at Slater; 7
Canadian Creek, North Park; Coulter, Middle Park; river bluffs near —
Baggs Crossing; watershed between Snake and Bear Rivers; O-wi-yu-
kuts Plateau; Escalante Hills; Book Plateau (a little on 8,500 foot
summit at Columbine); canyon of the Grand above Glenwood Springs;
Somerset; Dillon; Sapinero; Arboles; East Paradox Valley (rare);
and Une paionhers Plateau.
Cowania mexicana. Cliff Rose.
The handsome cliff rose is restricted in Colorado to the warm
valleys and lower mesas of the southwestern counties, where it has
an irregular distribution from the Mesa Verde north to Unaweep
Canyon. The growth is usually from 4 to 6 feet. The species forms
the most conspicuous shrubbery on the warm open rocky slopes along
the north side of Unaweep Canyon, at the northern end of the Uncom-_
pahgre Piateau, where it occurs up to 7,000 feet. By the end of
July, 1907, it had ceased blooming in Unaweep Canyon and also on
the lower slopes of Salt Canyon, between Sinbad Valley and Dolores
River, at 5,500 feet. Cliff roses were a mass of yellow bloom June
13, 1907, along the rocky rims of Navajo Canyon, Mesa Verde, at
7,000 feet. Here they were growing commonly among junipers and
pinyons, often on rocks where there was scarcely any soil. |
Cercocarpus parvifolius. Mountain Holly.
The mountain holly is almost omnipresent on the warmer foothill ©
slopes from the lowest edge of the pinyon belt to the upper edge of —
the yellow pine belt, on both slopes of the mountains. It formsa
dense growth, covering many of the open slopes along the lowest edge
of the foothills, and it is common on the higher rocky ridges on the |
plains of northeastern Colorado at a little over 5,000 feet. |
The following localities show the wide range of C. parvifolius: —
Livermore; Pawnee Buttes, Weld County; Platte Canyon Station; —
Bailey; Salida; Golden; Boulder; Manitou; Eastonville; Walsen-
burg; Gardner; Trinidad; Slater; Godiva Rides: Escalante Hills; —
O-wi-yu-kuts Plateau; south of Sie southwest of Roscoe Plateau
Creek; De Beque; Meeker; West Elk Mountains east of Crawford;
Somerset; Cerro Summit; Ouray; Placerville; Naturita; Sinbad —
Valley, above 6,000 feet; Dolores; Ute Peak, lower slopes; Mancos; —
Mesa Verde; Arboles; Bayfield; and Wagon Wheel Gap.
Cercocarpus ledifolius. Mountain Mahogany.
The mountain mahogany was noted on the 7,000-foot crest of the
Escalante Hills near Douglas Spring, in western Routt County, where —
a=
+
Pus
a4 2
1911.] - TREES AND SHRUBS. 235
I found it growing commonly on rocky ridges among the yellow -
pines in September, 1906. Apparently it does not occur elsewhere
in Colorado.
Rosa manca. Kose.
This handsome rose grows in profusion in openings along the crest
of the Uncompahgre Plateau at about 9,000 feet. The bushes were
a mass of pink bloom near Uncompahgre Butte July 16, 1907.
A great variety of wild roses grow in the Colorado mountains up to
10,000 feet, and are in flower nearly all summer. Since few speci-
mens were collected, 1 am unable to correlate my notes with the vari-
ous species and can give no data of consequence on their distribution.
Amelanchier bakeri. June Berry.
This June berry was collected on West Creek, near its junction with
Dolores River, in western Mesa County. [!t is a common shrub in
the Unaweep Canyon and also on the summit and upper siones of
Mesa Verde, where it forms a dense chaparral. This is probably
the species so abundant over most of the mesas from western Mon-
tezuma County north to Mesa County, in the Transition zone.
Amelanchier oreophila.
An Amelanchier which I collected on Lone Mesa, Dolores County,
in June, 1907, proves to belong to this species. Scattering shrubs of
small size were growing among the oak chaparral on the dry upper
slopes at 9,400 feet, in the lower Canadian zone. I did not collect it
elsewhere, but Rydberg gives it a wide range on the western slope.
Amelanchier alnifolia. Common June Berry.
As few specimens of June berries were preserved, the distribution
data given below doubtless refers to several species. A. alnifolia is,
however, the widest ranging species in the State. June berries are
abundant on the dry, partially open Transition slopes throughout the
mountains, and on many of the western mesas they often form a
dense chaparral. Some years they bear an abundance of fruit, but
usually it is rather scanty and of poor quality. The berries are
eagerly eaten by birds and chipmunks. I observed the shrubs in
abundance at the following localities: Hahns Peak, below 8,500 feet;
slopes along Snake River between Honnold and Baggs Crossing;
Godiva Ridge; O-wi-yu-Kuts Plateau; Escalante Hills, above 6,400
feet; south of Lily; southwest of Rangely; Book Plateau, every-
where above 6,500 feet; Plateau Creek; south of De Beque; canyon
of the Grand above Glenwood Springs; bluffs between Dotsero and
Wolcott; summit of Piney Divide, 8,500 feet; Transition slopes.
bordermg Sinbad Valley; Lone Cone; Dolores; Mancos; Durango;
Bayfield; Pagosa Springs; Pagosa Junction; and La Veta.
236 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
Peraphyllum ramosissimum. Dwarf Apple.
I found this shrub in great abundance on dry open hillsides south
and west of the San Juan and La Plata Mountains, chiefly between
6,500 and 7,500 feet. The dry slopes along the Los Pinos at Bay-
field were covered with a mass of its pale roseate blossoms the first
week in June, 1907, and it was in flower up to the middle of the
month on the Mesa Verde. It was noted as follows: South slope
of Book Plateau above Atchee, 8,000 feet; Newcastle; East Fork
of Rifle Creek; canyon of the Grand above Glenwood Springs; Basalt;
Somerset; rocky slopes near Hotchkiss; Montrose region above
7,000 feet; north base of Lone Cone at 7,000 feet; Sinbad Valley —
rim above 6,000 feet; Dolores; McElmo Valley; Arboles; and Bay- —
field.
Prunus americana. Wild Plum.
This species occurs sparingly in gulches on the eastern plains and
at the eastern base of the foothills in the Upper Sonoran zone. Thick-
ets of wild plum were observed at Wray; Gaume’s ranch, north-
western Baca County; Arkins; and Boulder. Rydberg records the
species from a number of localities extending across the State from
north to south at the base of the foothills.
Prunus pennsylvanica. Red Cherry.
Rydberg gives the red cherry a wide range in the eastern foothills
of the Front Range up to 9,500 feet. I found it common in the foot- |
hills at Boulder and Manitou.
Prunus melanocarpa. Chokecherry.
This species appears from my observations to be the common
wild cherry of the mountains, particularly in western Colorado.
The growth is uniformly scrubby, often forming a dense chaparral
on the Transition zone summits and upper slopes of plateaus and
mesas in the western counties. It is sparingly present in gulches
on the eastern plains. The following are localities at which P.
melanocarpa was observed: Northern slopes Elk Head Mountains, |
7,800 feet; Slater to Baggs Crossing; White River below Angora;
Book Plateau, dense chaparral 7,000 feet to summit; Glenwood .
Springs; summit of Piney Divide, 8,000 feet; Pitkin; Somerset;
lower slopes of Lone Cone; Uncompahgre Plateau; Placerville;
Ouray; Vernal Mesa; West Elk Mountains east of Crawford; Frying
Pan River, Basalt to Thomasville; Dolores; Mancos; Hermosa;
Arboles; Pagosa Springs; Sterling; Wray; and Tuttle.
Robinia neomexicana. Locust.
A very few of these locusts were observed on the rocky banks of
Grand River near Tunnel, Mesa County, at about 5,000 feet. Re-
corded by Rydberg from Denver, Walsenburg, La Veta, and Trinidad.
1911.1 TREES AND SHRUBS. 937
Rhus rydbergi. Poison Ivy.
The poison ivy is common in canyons on the eastern plains and
also in the lower eastern foothills of the Front Range. It was
observed at Tuttle; Wray; Pawnee Buttes; in gulches along the
southern escarpment of the Chimney Cliffs, 30 miles northwest
of Sterling; in the foothills at Boulder and Golden; and it was col-
lected in Navajo Canyon, Mesa Verde, southwest Colorado.
Schmaltzia glabra. Sumac.
This sumac I have found sparingly up to 6,000 feet in the foothills
west of Boulder and Golden, and also near Livermore and Platte
Canyon Station. Its brilliant reddish autumnal foliage was very
conspicuous on the slopes along Middle Boulder Creek October 20,
1906, when the leaves had just commenced to fall.
Schmaltzia trilobata. Skunk Bush.
The zonal range of this sumac is mainly Upper Sonoran, and it is
equally abundant on both sides of the mountains. In the foothills
it usually grows on the warm sides of canyons and along streams.
In the warm desert valleys of western Colorado it is often found
| with sagebrush in the open, but also forms a good growth along
watercourses, where it sometimes attains a height of 8 or 10 feet.
Kast of the mountains this sumac occurs chiefly in gulches in the
| rougher parts of the plains.
| &. trilobata was observed as follows: Tuttle; Wray; bluffs east of
| Sterling; Chimney Cliffs; Pawnee Buttes; Gaume’s ranch, north-
| western Baca County; Livermore, dry slopes up to 6,500 feet; Boulder;
| Golden; Platte Canyon Station; Segundo; Buena Vista, up to 8,500
| feet; bluffs along Snake River below Baggs Crossing; Plateau Creek;
| Basalt; Hotchkiss; Naturita; Sinbad Valley; West Creek; McElmo;
_ and Pagosa Springs.
_Pachystima myrsinites.
| This little evergreen shrub is abundant throughout the moun-
| tains, growing in dense clumps in wooded gulches and on shaded
| north slopes between 6,000 and 9,000 feet. It was found in abun-
| dance at the following localities: Northern slopes of Elk Head
| Mountains at 7,800 feet; Park Range up to 9,000 feet; canyon of the
| Grand above Glenwood Springs; summit of Escalante Hills; Book
| Plateau, 8,000 feet; Navajo Canyon, 7,000 feet; and northern escarp-
ment of Mesa Verde.
| Acer glabrum. Mountain Maple.
| The mountain maple is common and widely distributed in the
| mountains of Colorado, growing in greatest profusion on damp
shaded slopes between 5,500 and 9,000 feet and forming dense
clumps on the borders of streams and bogs. The bright yellow
238 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
autumnal foliage gives a brilliant coloring to the mountain slopes
in late September. The average height is not over 8 feet, although
12 feet is sometimes attained. I have found this species especially
common among.the eastern gulches of the Front Range and on_-
both slopes of the Saguache Range. It occurs on the northern
slope of the Book Cliffs and is abundant at Aspen and in most of the
mountains of southern Colorado.
Acer negundo. Box Elder.
Box elders are common trees on most of the streams of the eastern ;
plains and scattered clumps are often met with on foothill streams :
to elevations of 7,000 or 8,000 feet on both sides of the mountains. ; :
The zonal eebaear is mealy Upper Sonoran. In my trips over
the State I have found box elders at the following localities: Snake —
River, from 5 miles east of Slater to Baggs Crossing; southern slopes —
of Book Cliffs near Atchee at 7,500 feet; Rifle Creek; canyon of i
Plateau Creek; canyon of the Gemnd above eon) mee Frying |
Pan River, Basalt to Peachblow; Ouray; Unaweep Canyon; Wray;
Platte i on Station; Las ane River, Segundo to Weston; and
Shell Rock Canyon, nota etee Baca County. ;
Rhamnus smithi. Buckthorn. q
This species is known apparently from only two localities in the —
State. It was abundant and in flower May 27 on the banks of San —
Juan River at Pagosa Springs (7,000 feet), and was again encoun-_
tered in the hot canyon of Dolores River between Salt Canyon and ©
the mouth of West Creek at about 5,000 feet. Dense spreading
thickets of buckthorn, often 10 or 12 feet high, frmged Dolores River
for most of this distance and extended eastward in the West Creek —
Valley to an elevation of 5,500 feet. The black-green foliage of
R. smitht was in marked contrast to the predominant gray-green
desert vegetation along the Dolores and on the bordering canyon |
sides. The fruit of this shrub had nearly all turned to a rich pur- —
plish black, July 13, 1907, but some was still green or only partially
colored. This species he been recorded — Pagosa Springs by
Rydberg.
Ceanothus velutinus. Mountain Balm.
This shrub forms a dense chaparral about 2 feet in height on the —
central slopes of most of the mountain ranges of northern Colorado, |
extending south to Thomasville on the western slope of the Saguache —
Range. I did not see it on any ofthe mountains of southern Colorado. —
The rankest growth was observed in the Middle Park region, on the
Park Range, and on the hills around Steamboat Springs, where in ~
places the dense thickets were well-nigh impassable. The species is |
occasionally found as low as 6,500 feet, but usually grows between —
/
i.
1911.] TREES AND SHRUBS. 239
7,500 and 9,500 feet. It is most abundant on dry, partially open
slopes which have been burned over by forest fires. The oval bright
green leaves are remarkably shiny and glabrous, giving a peculiar
brilliance to this chaparral on a bright day.
Other points where I observed C. velutinus are: Northern slopes of
Elk Head Mountains; bluffs along Snake River, 10 miles east of
Slater; Escalante Hills, 7,000 feet; watershed between Bear and
White Rivers, north of Midland Basin, 6,500 feet; juniper slopes at
McCoy,7,000 feet; northern slopes of Piney Divide, 8,000 feet; Coul-
ter, Middle Park; northern slopes of Book Plateau; and Dillon.
Ceanothus pubescens.
This is a common shrub on dry rocky slopes in the eastern foothills
of the front ranges, chiefly in the Transition zone. I found it abun-
dant also in sandy yellow pine forest near the head of Dominguez
Creek on the Uncompahgre Plateau, at 8,000 feet. It is common in
the foothills near Boulder and La Veta.
Ceanothus fendleri.
This species is common in the Transition zone over most of the
State, according to the range given by Rydberg. I have met with it
only in the southwest on the summit of Lone Mesa, 9,400 feet, and
on the open gravelly benches along McElmo Creek in western Mon-
tezuma County, 5,500 feet.
Cactus missouriensis. Ball Cactus.
The common ball cactus is abundant on the high plains from the
Arkansas Divide near Cheyenne Wells northwest to Weld and Logan
Counties. I have found it common on the South Park plains near
Como up to 10,000 feet, in the yellow pine belt at Bailey, and on the
sage plains of western Routt County.
Cactus radiosus.
This ball cactus is tolerably common among rocks in the pinyon
belt at Coventry, in western Montrose County, where I collected
specimens in July, 1907, at an elevation of 6,500 feet.
Echinocactus simpsoni. Snake Cactus.
This peculiar cactus is found chiefly at the higher elevations. In
November, 1907, I found it common in Wet Mountain Valley; in the
Wet Mountains east of Westcliffe between 9,000 and 9,500 feet; and
on the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Range near Mosca Pass—
both in yellow pine forest and in the open.
Echinocereus viridiflorus. Cereus.
This greenish flowered cereus is abundant in the eastern foothills
of the front ranges across the State from north to south. It ascends
Ce gE em
240 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
to at least 9,000 feet in the Wet Mountains east of Westcliffe, where
in November, 1907, I found it in rocky soil among the yellow pines.
It was common at Walsenburg, 7,000 feet; and at Gaume’s ranch,
in Shell Rock Canyon, northwestern Baca County, it was abundant
among rocks at 4,600 feet. The species was not observed in western
Colorado.
Echinocereus paucispinus.
This cereus is not uncommon in the rocky pinyon and juniper
country of southwestern Colorado, chiefly below 7,500 feet. It was
taken north of Dolores at 7,500 feet, and was very common at Coy-
entry. It is recorded from Durango by Rydberg.
Opuntia polyacantha. Prickly Pear.
This is an Upper Sonoran species, occasionally growing to 7,000
feet on warm slopes in the foothill valleys. It is of general occurrence
on the plains east of the mountains, where it 1s the common prickly
pear, and-it is present on the sage plains of Routt County. The yel-
low flowers usually dot the plains during the first two weeks in June.
It is common at Slater; Snake River Valley; Maybell; Boulder; Fort
Collins; Sterling; Pawnee Buttes; Platte Canyon Station; Limon;
Wray; Cheyenne Wells; Pueblo; Walsenburg; Salida; and Gaume’s
ranch, northwestern Baca County.
Opuntia rhodantha.
This handsome red-flowered prickly pear is abundant in the warm
valleys of extreme southwestern Colorado. At McElmo it was in
bloom during the middle of June, 1907. Rydberg records it from
Grand Junction and Boulder.
Opuntia camanchica.
A large-jointed species, chiefly of southwestern Colorado—McEImo,
Cortez, Dolores, Coventry, and Paradox Valley. It was in flower in
McElmo Valley June 15 to 22, 1907. Rydberg records it from
Colorado Springs.
Opuntia fragilis.
This small-jointed species is not uncommon in the foothill districts
between 6,000 and 8,500 feet, in the Transition zone. It was growing
in rocky situations in the yellow pine forest near Pagosa Springs, and
also on the northern end of the Uncompahgre Plateau, and was
occasionally noted on the high plains near Pawnee Buttes, in north-
eastern Weld County. It was observed on rocky juniper slopes along
the head of Smith Fork, West Elk Mountains; at Somerset; Buena
Vista; Plateau Creek, Mesa County; and Unaweep Canyon. Ryd-
berg records it from Denver and Boulder.
ae
1911.] TREES AND SHRUBS. 241
Opuntia arborescens. Tree Cactus.
The tree cactus is a characteristic Upper Sonoran species from the
Arkansas Valley southward (see fig. 37), and over much of south-
eastern Colorado is the most prominent shrub on the level plains.
It extends some distance into the foothills along the warmest slopes
of the valleys, reaching its western limit in the Arkansas Valley at a
point 5 miles east of Salida, and in the Huerfano Valley a short
distance above Gardner. It reaches at Fountain its northern limit
along Fountain Creek, and it occurs near Trinidad in the Las Animas
Valley, and at Walsenburg in the Cucharas Valley. It is particularly
abundant in the canyons of Las Animas and western Baca Counties.
DENVER
‘i
“N
©, FADVILL:
CUMM/SO,
Fic. 37.—Distribution in Colorado of tree cactus (Opuntia arborescens).
Lepargyrea argentea. Buffalo Berry.
Dense thickets of buffalo berry are present along many of the
streams of the plains on both sides of the Continental Divide, and
the species extends into the foothills along some of the watercourses
te an elevation of from 6,000 to 7,000 feet. The zonal distribution
is mainly Upper Sonoran. Sandy river banks are especially suited
to the growth of the buffalo berry. The brilliant scarlet clusters of
berries are usually ripe by the middle or end of August, and are
eagerly eaten by sage thrashers and many other birds. In late
August, 1907, chipmunks (Hutamias minimus) were feeding exten-
90432°—11——16
942 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
sively upon the ripe buffalo berries in the Snake River Valley. We
found the berries when cooked and used as sauce a welcome addition
to our camp fare, but uncooked they are extremely acid. Observed
at La Porte; Snake River Valley, Slater to Lily; Browns Park; White
River Valley, Angora to Rangely; Dotsero to Eagle; Newcastle;
Dallas Creek, near Ridgway; Basalt; Hotchkiss; near Montrose; Natu-
rita; Pagosa Junction; Arboles; and along most of the streams on
the eastern plains.
Lepargyrea canadensis. Canadian Buffalo Berry.
This is a characteristic Canadian zone shrub in the mountains of
northern and central Colorado, becoming less common toward the
south. It is conspicuous in the undergrowth of the dry lodgepole
pine forests of the central mountain slopes between 8,000 and 10,000
feet, but I have not observed it much lower. Above 10,000 feet it
becomes decumbent, often not more than a foot high, and 1s of rare
occurrence above 11,000 feet. The bright red berries of this buffalo
berry have an attractive appearance, but are unpalatable and very
bitter. They are ripe by the 1st of August, and usually remain on
the bushes durmg most of that month. The leathery leaves had
nearly all fallen at St. Elmo, in the Saguache Range, at 10,000 feet,
October 9, 1907.
‘I found L. canadensis at the following localities: Eight thousand
five hundred to ten thousand feet on the Medicine Bow and Laramie
Mountains; Park Range, west of Pearl, 9,000 to 10,000 feet; Ophir, to
10,500 feet; Culebra Range, near La Veta; Thomasville; Floyd Hill;
Como; Dillon; and St. Elmo. Rydberg mentions its occurrence in the
southwestern mountains—near Ouray and on Bear Creek Divide in
the West La Plata Mountains.
Svida stolonifera riparia. Red-osier Dogwood.
The dogwood or cornel is a prominent shrub along streams in the
Transition zone nearly throughout the mountains, and its clusters
of white berries are very conspicuous in autumn. Rydberg records
another species (S. interior) from several points in the foothills,
but in my trips through the mountains I have met with only the
present species. I observed the cornel on Plateau Creek, east of — |
Tunnel; along White River at Meeker; on the upper reaches of
Smith Fork, in the West Elk Mountains; along streams heading in ©
Book Cliffs, above 7,500 feet; and on most of the streams on the — :
eastern slopes of the Front Range.
Arctostaphylos uvaursi. Red Bearherry.
This handsome bearberry is one of the most widely distributed
mountain shrubs in Colorado, growing on practically all the ranges
from 6,000 to 10,000 feet. It grows luxuriantly on dry shaded
slopes beneath lodgepole and yellow pine forest, and the trailing
1911.) TREES AND SHRUBS. 243
mats of rich dark green are usually very dense and of considerable
extent.
I found the red bearberry abundant at Thomasville; Dillon;
Como; St. Elmo; Escalante Hills, summit at 7,000 feet; Wet
Mountains, east of Westcliffe; Bradford, Huerfano County; foot-
hills west of Boulder; Coulter, Middle Park; Divide; and in the
yellow pine forest on the Arkansas Divide at Eastonville.
Arctostaphylos pungens platyphylla. Manzanita.
The manzanita is found on the dry slopes of the Uncompahgre
Plateau and on the eastern slopes of the La Sal Mountains in western
Montrose County. It appears not to have been recorded previously
from the State.
In July, 1907, I noted a scattering growth on the head of Dominguez -
Creek, at the northern end of the Uncompahgre Plateau, and in
descending the steep southwestern escarpment north of Tabeguache
Creek a dense chaparral of this manzanita was traversed on the
rocky slopes immediately below the aspen belt, at about 8,000 feet.
I found it a common undershrub in the yellow pine forest just above
the western rim of West Paradox Valley, between 7,000 and 8,000
feet. The species came under my observation only in the Transition
zone and appears to grow principally on dry, partially open slopes.
Vaccinium cespitosum. Huckleberry; Blueberry.
This blueberry is common from Yankee Doodle Lake (10,500
feet) to timberline on Rollins Pass; at Ophir (10,500 feet) to timber-
line; and on the upper slopes of Lone Cone. It is most abundant
on the mossy floor of the Canadian zone forests.
Vaccinium oreophilum. Bilberry.
The bilberry forms low, dense carpets 8 or 10 inches high in the
lodgepole pine and Engelmann spruce forests between 8,000 and
11,000 feet, and is particularly abundant on the Front, Park, and
Gore Ranges. (See fig. 38.) I found it on Mount McClellan and
near Berthoud Pass at 11,000 feet altitude.
Vaccinium erythrococcum. Small-leaved Bilberry.
This diminutive small-leaved bilberry occurs on Mount McClellan
between 11,000 feet and timberline, and was observed on Berthoud
Pass, Buffalo Pass, and on the Park Range along the headwaters
of Grand Encampment River. Rydberg records it from a number
of localities on the Front, Saguache, Park, and Sangre de Cristo
Ranges.
Fraxinus anomala. Ash.
This small Sonoran species I saw only in the warmer parts of
southwestern Colorado, where it was observed at several localities
from Mesa County south to Montezuma County at elevations varying
2.
944 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 33.
from 5,000 to 5,500 feet. It usually grows to a height of from 6 to
10 feet, and single trees or small clumps are scattered here and there
in gulches and on the warm rocky slopes in canyons. It was observed
in the following places: Slopes bordering McElmo Valley, between
Moqui and McElmo; Salt Canyon, the outlet of Sinbad Valley;
canyon of Dolores River down to the mouth of West Creek; western
(lower) part of Unaweep Canyon; and lower slopes bordering West
Paradox Valley. Rydberg records this species from Grand Junction,
Deer River, and between Hotchkiss and Smith Fork.
Lycium pallidum. Matrimony Vine.
This species is restricted in Colorado, so far as known, to the low
arid Upper Sonoran stretches of the extreme southwest. I found a
~_ scattering growth in
the partially open
sage and pinyon coun-
try between Bayfield
and Ignacio, La Plata
County. It is re
corded by Rydberg
from McElmo Creek
and San Juan Valley.
UY Coal
~ oe ” x
lo ete
= Se fis
°C yO sy
“-
,
Seth
le ae
‘ - A
Lexy
roe foe
eS
*\
oN SE
ate cate OO aie
Sambucus micro-
botrys. Elder.
This elderberry is
abundant in the Ca-
nadian zone forest
throughout the
mountains between
8,000 and 10,500 feet.
I have seldom ob-
served it in the Tran-
sition zone, but occa-
4
i
5
:
fi
&
Fia. 38.— Vaccinium oreophilum on the floor of lodgepole pine forest, SLONA lly it occurs
Park Range, west of North Park, 10,000 feet. nearl vy to timberline.
The red berries are usually ripe by the middle of August or the first
of September. S. microbotrys is abundant on both slopes of the Front
tange; at Pearl, North Park; Buffalo Pass, Park Range; summit of
Continental Divide; north of Hahns Peak; Arapahoe Pass, Rabbit
Ear Mountains; Thomasville; Dillon; St. Elmo; headwaters of Cebolla
Creek southeast of Lake City; and Lone Cone.
Sambucus melanocarpa.
This is a lower ranging species than S. microbotrys, and grows more
in the open and chiefly in the Transition zone. I met with it only in ©
1911.] TREES AND SHRUBS. 945
western Colorado, but Rydberg records it from several points in the
eastern foothills of the Front Range. It was noted as follows: West-
ern slope of Continental Divide north of Halhns Peak, 9,000 feet;
Hahns Peak; Escalante Iills, 6,400 to 7,000 feet; and Uncompahgre
Plateau, 8,000 feet. It was growing in profusion on the rocky north-
ern slopes and along the crest of the Escalante Hills, where the black
berries were fully ripe September 3, 1906.
Viburnum pauciflorum. [ew-flowered Viburnum.
This small viburnum was observed only at Arapahoe Pass, Rabbit
Kar Mountains, at an elevation of 9,000 feet. Rydberg records it
from Grand Lake, Minnehaha, and Clear Creek.
Linnea americana. ‘T'winflower.
The twinflower occurs on the higher slopes of the front ranges
nearly across the State, according to Rydberg. I collected it at
10,000 feet near Idlewild on the Middle Park slope of the Front Range,
and observed it near Mount Whiteley in northwestern Middle Park,
at about 8,500 feet—both localities being in the Canadian zone.
Near Idlewild this small trailmg vine was abundant on mossy slopes
in the damp Engelmann spruce forest.
Symphoricarpos occidentalis. Wolfberry.
The wolfberry is a very abundant shrub on the banks of the South
Platte River near Sterling, where it forms dense thickets about 2
feet high. I found it also at Golden. Rydberg records it from a
number of localities along the eastern base of the foothills.
Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Snowberry.
A dense scrubby growth of this small-leaved snowberry covers
many open mountain slopes in the Transition zone, particularly in
western Colorado. It is rarely found in forests or damp situations,
but grows rampant on dry, rocky hillsides and mesas. It occurs
in abundance in the following localities: Hahns Peak region below
8,500 feet; Escalante Hills; divide between Bear and White Rivers;
southwest of Rangely; Book Plateau above 6,500 feet; canyon of
the Grand above Glenwood Springs; Mount Whiteley; West Elk
Mountains east of Crawford; Vernal Mesa; Somerset; Uncompahgre
Plateau; Lone Cone; and Ute Peak. -
Distegia involucrata. Involucred Fly Honeysuckle.
Throughout the mountains this honeysuckle is a common and
conspicuous undershrub in the forests of the middle slopes. It usu-
ally grows in damp situations and is particularly common along
streams, where it reaches its rankest growth. I have found it as
low as 7,000 feet along cold streams in various parts of the moun-
tains, and it was common at 10,500 feet on the upper reaches of
Cebolla Creek in the San Juan Mountains southeast of Lake City.
The dark purplish or blackish berries usually fall in late August.
246 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 83.
Artemisia tridentata. Sagebrush.
The common sagebrush is almost omnipresent on the higher plains
of western Colorado and also in most of the higher mountain parks
up to 10,000 feet, but was not noted on the plains east of the moun-
tains. It grows on an average about 2 feet high, but under favor-
able conditions attains a height of 6 feet or more. The rankest
erowth I have observed was on the banks of sandy arroyos near Lay,
Routt County, where many of the shrubs were 8 or 10 feet in height.
A. tridentata is abundant at the following localities: Glendevey, Lara-
mie Valley; Livermore; North Park plains (see fig. 39); Hahns Peak
to Slater; Snake River Valley; Iron Springs Divide; Lily Park; south-
west of Rangely; Plateau Creek; De Beque to Glenwood and Dot-
sero, Grand River Valley; Wolcott; Piney Divide; McCoy; Egeria
Park; parks in Gore Mountains; Middle Park; Roaring Fork Valley
Fic. 39.—Desert sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) on plains near Higho, North Park. (Park Range in the
distance. )
to Aspen; Uncompahgre Plateau; Lone Cone; Lone Mesa; Naturita;
Coventry; Cerro Ridge; Somerset; Sapinero; Gunnison; Creede;
Poncha Pass; Buena Vista; Leadville; Hotchkiss; Saguache; Bay-
field; Arboles; and McElmo.
Artemisia cana.
This sage occurs in Colorado at a somewhat higher average eleva-
tion than A. tridentata, although at many points the two species
grow together. It was found in abundance at Coulter, Middle Park;
near Toponas, Egeria Park; on the Uncompahgre Plateau; and on
the lower slopes of Lone Cone, in the San Miguel Mountains. Ryd-
berg records it from Breckenridge; Marshall Pass; Hayden Flats,
Routt County; Hebron, North Park; and Timnath.
INDEX.
[Synonyms in italics; pages containing the principal reference to a species in bold-faced figures.}
Abies concolor, 41, 220.
lasiocorpa, 45, 49, 121, 219-220.
Accipiter velox, 37.
Acer glabrum, 34, 45, 237.
negundo, 20, 238.
Acknowledgments, 11-12.
Acta viridiflora, 45.
Aeronautes melanoleucus, 37.
Agelaius phoeniceus fortis, 20.
phoeniceus neutralis, 23.
Agriculture, Canadian zone, 43.
Transition zone, 40-41.
Upper Sonoran zone, 29-33.
Agropyron smithi, 21.
Alder, 39, 45, 227-228.
Alnus tenuifolia, 39, 45, 227-228.
Ambystoma tigrinum, 22, 40.
Amelanchier alnifolia, 36, 38, 235.
bakeri, 38, 235.
oreophila, 235.
Ammodramus savannarum bimaculatus, 20.
Ammospermophilus leucurus cinnamomeus, 24,
84-86.
Amorpha angustifolia, 20.
Amphispiza bilineata, 24.
nevadensis, 23.
Anas platyrhynchos, 38.
Andropogon fureatus, 21.
halli, 21.
seoparius, 21.
Androsace, 49.
Antelope, 19, 23, 58-60.
Anthus rubescens, 50.
Antilocapra, 27.
americana, 19, 37, 58-60.
Antrozous pallidus, 24, 205-206.
Aphelocoma woodhousei, 29.
Apple, dwarf, 236.
Aquilegia ceerulea, 45.
Aragallus lamberti, 21.
Archibuteo ferrugineus, 20.
Arctostaphylos pungens platyphylla, 39, 243.
uvaursi, 39, 242-248.
Ardea herodias, 38.
Aristeda longiseta, 21.
Artemisia, 27.
_cana, 246.
filifolia, 21.
tridentata, 22, 23, 39, 48, 234, 246.
Asclepias, 21.
Ash, 248-244.
Asio wilsonianus, 145.
Aspen, 35, 41, 45, 224-225.
Astragalinus psaltria, 24.
Astragalus crassicarpus, 21.
mollissimus, 21.
Asyndesmus lewisi, 37.
Atriplex, 27, 86, 140, 160.
canescens, 21, 23, 25, 29, 138, 141, 228
confertifolia, 23, 25, 119, 141, 143, 162, 2
nuttalli, 23, 25, 98, 229-230.
occidentalis, 78.
Badger, 19, 90, 162, 181-182.
Beolophus inornatus griseus, 29.
Balm, mountain, 238-239.
Balsam, 45, 47, 48, 49, 121, 219-220.
Barberry, 230.
Bartramia longicauda, 20.
Bascanion constrictor, 21.
teeniatum, 27.
Bassariscus astutus flavus, 24, 28, 192-193.
Bat, 24.
big-eared, 204.
brown, 20, 209-210.
Fort Yuma, 23, 207.
free-tailed, 204-205.
hairy-lipped, 19, 209.
hoary, 211.
little California, 208.
long-eared, 19, 23, 207.
long-legged, 206-207.
pale, 205-206.
pale brown, 210.
red, 211.
Say, 20, 206.
silver-haired, 44, 211.
small brown, 36.
Tacubaya free-tailed, 205.
western, 209.
Batrachians, Transition, 39.
Upper Sonoran, 21, 23, 25.
Bayonet, Spanish, 223-224.
Bear, black, 44, 195-196.
grizzly, 50, 197-201.
silver-tip, 197-201.
Bearberry, 39.
red, 242-943.
Beaver, broad-tailed, 126-128.
Beetle, tiger, 179.
Berberis aquifolium, 39.
fendleri, 230.
fremonti, 25.
Berry, bilberry, 248.
blueberry, 45, 248.
buffalo, 20, 22, 45, 77, 80, 110, 111, 241-242.
Canadian buffalo, 45, 242.
huckleberry, 248.
June, 38, 39, 80, 235.
small-leafed bilberry, 248.
snowberry, 80, 245.
wolfberry, 20, 245.
247
22
22
9
9
248
Besseya alpina, 51.
Betula glandulosa, 45, 49, 227.
fontinalis, 39, 226-227.
Bighorn, 62-64.
Bilberry, 248.
small-leaved, 248.
Birch, dwarf, 45, 227.
Rocky Mountain, 39, 226-227.
Bird list, Canadian zone, 44.
Hudsonian zone, 48.
Transition zone, 37, 38.
Upper Sonoran zone, 20, 23, 24, 29.
Bison, American, 60-62.
Bison bison, 60-62.
Blueberry, 45, 248.
Bluebird, chestnut-backed, 37.
Blue grosbeak, 20, 24.
Branta canadensis, 38.
Brewer sparrow, 20, 23.
Brown thrasher, 20.
Brush, chico, 78, 141.
rabbit, 27, 39, 108, 140.
Bobwhite, 20.
Bouteloua oligostachya, 21.
Box elder, 20.
Bubo virginianus pallescens, 38.
Buchloe dactyloides, 21.
Buckthorn, 288.
Buffalo, 60-62.
Buffalo berry, 20, 22, 45, 77, 80, 110, 111, 241-242.
Canadian, 45, 242.
Bufo lentiginosus woodhousei, 27.
Bullock oriole, 20, 23.
Bull snake, 21, 27, 94.
Bunting, lark, 20.
lazuli, 20.
Bush tit, lead-colored, 29.
Bushy-tailed wood rat, Arizona, 1138.
Colorado, 111-113.
pallid, 114.
Buteo borealis calurus, 51.
Cacomistle, 24, 28, 192-193.
Cactus, 39.
ball, 239.
prickly pear, 118.
snake, 39, 239.
tree, 116, 146, 241.
Cactus missouriensis, 21, 39, 239.
radiosus, 29, 239.
Calamospiza melanocorys, 20, 38.
Calamovilfa longifolia, 21.
Callospermophilus lateralis, 37, 48, 81-84.
lateralis wortmani, 22, 84.
Caltha leptosepala, 49. |
Canadian zone, 41-45. ©
Cani occidentalis, 171.
Canis estor, 24, 173.
lestes, 37, 48, 50, 172.
lwpus, 171.
nebracensis, 19, 23.
occidentalis, 37, 169-171.
velox, 175.
Canyon mouse, golden-breasted, 24, 107.
Carpodacus cassini, 44.
mexicanus frontalis, 24.
Castilleja, 45.
INDEX,
Castor canadensis frondator, 37, 126-128.
Catbird, 20.
Catherpes mexicanus conspersus, 24.
Ceanothus feadleri, 118, 289.
pubescens, 39, 239.
velutinus, 38, 288-239.
Celtis reticulata, 20, 29, 228.
Centrocercus urophasianus, 28, 37.
Cercocarpus ledifolius, 38, 284-235.
parvifolius, 29, 34, 38, 78, 284.
Cereus, 239-240.
Certhia familiaris montana, 48.
Cervus canadensis, 37, 48, 53-54.
leucurus, 56.
macrotis, 58.
Chat, long-tailed, 20.
Cherry, chokecherry, 20, 38, 236.
red, 236.
wild, 80.
Chickaree, 69-70.
Fremont, 44.
New Mexico, 70-71.
Chico brush, 78, 141.
Chipmunk, 50.
Colorado, 76-78.
Hopi, 28, 74-76.
Las Animas, 73-74.
least, 22, 77-78.
San Luis, 78-79.
Say, 36, 71-73.
Utah, 29, 80-81.
Wasatch, 79-80.
Chokecherry, 20, 38, 236.
Chondestes grammacus strigatus, 20.
Chordeiles virginianus henryi, 51.
Chorophilus triseriatus, 27, 40.
Chrysothamnus, 23, 39, 125, 138, 141, 162.
bigelovi, 39.
elegans, 39.
patens, 78, 108, 140, 148.
plattensis, 21.
Cicindela, 179.
Cinclus mexicanus unicolor, 44.
Citellus elegans, 23, 36, 89-90, 182.
obsoletus, 19, 93-94.
spilosoma major, 19, 94.
tridecemlineatus pallidus, 19, 91-92.
tridecemlineatus parvus, 23, 27, 92-938.
variegatus grammurus, 28, 87-88.
Civet cat, 192-193.
Clementsia rhodantha, 49, 51.
Cliff mouse, Estes Park, 106.
Rowley, 106-107.
True, 104-105.
Cnemidophorus gularis, 21, 27, 40.
tigris, 26.
Coccyzus americanus occidentalis, 20.
Colaptes cafer collaris, 38, 48.
Coleogyne ramosissima, 25.
Colinus virginianus, 20.
Co:umbine, 45,
Cony, rock, 151-152.
Coot, 38.
Corvus corax sinuatus, 51.
Corylus rostrata, 39, 228.
Corynorhinus macrotis pallescens, 204.
Cottontail, Bailey, 19.
Cottontail, Black Iills, 159-160.
Colorado, 161-163.
Nebraska, 158-159.
plains, 160-161.
rabbit, 24.
Rocky Mountain, 37, 159.
Cottonwood, 20.
broad-leaf, 225.
narrow-leaf, 39, 225.
smooth-bark, 225-226.
southwestern, 225.
Cougar, 163-165.
Cowania mexicana, 25, 29, 234.
Coyote, 19, 24, 50, 64.
mountain, 37, 172.
San Juan, 173.
Cratzegus, 118.
saligna, 39.
wheeleri, 39.
Cratogeomys castanops, 19, 129, 130-131.
Crops, Canadian zone, 43.
Transition zone, 40-41.
Upper Sonoran zone, 29-33.
Crotalus confluentis, 21, 23, 27.
Crotaphytus collaris, 21.
collaris baileyi, 25.
Cryptoglaux acadica, 37.
Cuckoo, California, 20.
Curlew, long-billed, 20.
Currant, 39, 45, 83.
red, 231-282.
golden, 20, 232.
Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus, 29.
Cyanocitta stelleri diademata, 44.
Cynomys gunnisoni, 37, 95-97, 182.
leucurus, 23, 37, 97-98, 182.
ludovicianus, 19, 94-95.
Cytherea bulbosa, 45.
Dasiphora fruticosa, 45, 238.
Deer, mule, 56-58.
white-tailed, 55-56.
Delphinium, 45.
Dendragapus obscurus, 38, 44.
Dendroica estiva, 20.
auduboni, 38, 44.
gracie, 38.
Didelphis virginiana, 52-58.
Dipodomys montanus, 139..
phillipsi ordi, 142.
Distegia involucrata, 39, 245.
- Dogwood, 39.
red-osier, 242.
Dondia erecta, 23, 25.
moquini, 98.
Dove, mourning, 20.
Dryobates villosus monticola, 37.
Dumetella carolinensis, 20.
Echinocactus simpsoni, 39, 289.
whipplei spinosior, 25.
Echinocereus aggregatus, 29.
paucispinus, 25, 240.
viridiflorus, 29, 39, 239-240.
Edwinia americana, 39, 231.
Elder, 244.
box, 288.
INDEX. 249
Elderberry, 45.
ilk, 53-54.
Empidonax wrighti, 37.
Ephedra antisyphilitica, 23, 25, 29, 222.
torreyana, 25, 29, 222.
Epilobium, 45, 49.
Epimys norvegicus, 99.
Eptesicus fuscus, 20, 37, 204, 209-210.
fuscus pallidus, 210.
Srethizon epixanthum, 37, 48, 50, 149-151.
{riogonum, 23.
{rysimum radicum, 49.
Suphagus cyanocephalus, 38.
Surotia, 27.
lanata, 23, 25.
Kutamias amoenus operarius, 37, 48, 50, 76-78.
dorsalis utahensis, 29, 80-81.
hopiensis, 28, 72, 74-76, 79.
minimus, 22, 77-78, 241.
minimus caryi, 12, 27, 78-79.
minimus consobrinus, 37; 48, 50,72, 79-80.
quadrivittatus, 36, 71-73.
quadrivittatus animosus, 73-74.
Evotomys gapperi galei, 44, 48, 120-121.
ee
Falco sparverius phalzena, 38.
Fallugia acuminata, 29.
False indigo, 20.
Felis oregonensis hippolestes, 37, 48, 163-165.
Fendlera rupicola, 29, 231.
Ferret, black-footed, 20, 184-185.
Festuca octoflora, 21.
Fiber zibethicus cinnamomeus, 126.
zibethicus osoyoosensis, 125-126.
Field mouse, dwarf, 123-124.
pygmy, 124-125.
Rocky Mountain, 44, 123.
Finch, brown-capped rosy, 50.
“house, 24.
Fir, balsam, 45, 47, 48, 49, 121, 219-220.
joint, 222.
red, 218-219.
white, 41, 220.
Fisher, 191.
Flycatcher, olive-sided, 44.
Wright, 37.
Fly honeysuckle, involucred, 245.
Food of Ammospermophilus leucurus cinnamom-
eus, 86.
Asio wilsonianus, 145.
Bassariscus astutus flavus, 193.
bobeat, 150, 155.
Callospermophilus lateralis, 83.
Canis occidentalis, 169.
Canis lestes, 172, 173.
Citellus elegans, 90.
Citellus tridecemlineatus pallidus, 92.
Citellus variegatus grammurus, 88.
coyote, 64, 103, 150, 155.
Cynomys gunnisoni, 96.
Cynomys leucurus, 98.
eagle, 173.
Erethizon epixanthum, 150.
Eutamias dorsalis utahensis, 81.
Eutamias hopiensis, 76.
Eutamias minimus, 78, 241.
Eutamias minimus caryi, 78, 79.
250
Food of Eutamias minimus consobrinus, 80,
Eutamias quadrivittatus, 73.
Felis oregonensis hippolestes, 163, 164, 165.
Geomys lutescens, 129,
Lepus californicus melanotis, 155-156.
Lepus californicus texianus, 157.
Lepus campestris, 152.
Lynx baileyi, 167, 168.
Lynx canadensis, 166.
Lynx uinta, 168, 169.
Mephitis hudsonica, 178.
Mephitis mesomelas varians, 179.
Microtus nanus, 124.
Microtus pauperrimus, 125.
Microtus pennsylvanicus modestus, 122.
mountain lion, 150.
Neotoma albigula warreni, 116.
Neotoma fallax, 118.
Ochotona saxatilis, 151.
Onychomys leucogaster pallescens, 101.
Perodipus montanus, 140.
Peromyscus truei, 105.
Procyon lotor, 194. ;
Putorius arizonensis, 186, 187.
Putorius nigripes, 184.
Putorius streatori leptus, 187, 188.
sage thrasher, 241.
Seiurus aberti ferreus, 65, 66.
Sciurus aberti mimus, 68.
Sciurus fremonti, 70.
Sylvilagus auduboni warreni, 162.
Taxidea taxus, 182.
Thomomys aureus, 137.
Thomomys aureus pervagus, 138.
Thomomys clusius, 133.
Thomomys fossor, 135.
Ursus americanus, 196.
Ursus horribilis, 198, 200.
wolf, 54.
Fox, gray, 28, 176-178.
kit, 175-176.
swift, 19, 175-176.
western, 44, 50,174-175.
Fox squirrel, western, 64.
Frasera speciosa, 45.
Fraxinus anomala, 25, 243-244.
Frog, 27,40.
leopard, 24.
Fulica americana, 38.
Gaura coccinea, 21.
Geococcyx californianus, 29.
Geomys lutescens, 19, 128-129, 133.
Geothlypis trichas occidentalis, 20.
Gnatcatcher, western, 29:
Goldfinch, Arkansas, 24.
Gopher, chestnut-faced pocket, 130-131.
Colorado pocket, 44, 50, 134-135.
Coues pocket, 132-133.
Espanola pocket, 137-138.
fulvous pocket, 136.
golden pocket, 24, 136-137.
Green River pocket, 23, 133-134.
mountain pocket, 83.
pocket, 19, 124, 182.
San Luis pocket, 131-132.
yellow pocket, 128-129.
INDEX,
Grackle, bronzed, 20,
jrape, Oregon, 39, 231,
Grasses of Great Plains, 21,
Grasshopper mouse, 19,
Idaho, 23, 101,
pale, 19, 24, 100-101.
Grasshopper sparrow, 20.
Grayia, common, 230.
Grayia brandegei, 230.
spinosa, 23, 25,141,230.
Greasewood, 27,230.
Grindelia, 27.
Grosbeak, western blue, 20, 24.
Ground squirrel, golden-mantled, 82.
Kennicott, 93-94.
large spotted, 94.
little striped, 23, 92-93.
pale striped, 91-92.
Say, 81-S4.
striped, 23.
Wortman, 22, 84.
Wyoming, 36, 89-90, 182.
Guiraca czrulea lazula, 20, 24.
Gulo luscus, 44, 48, 191-192.
Gutierrezia, 27.
lepidota, 21.
Hackberry, 20, 228.
Harvest mouse, 19.
big-eared, 24, 110-111.
mountain, 108-110.
Nebraska, 110.
pallid, 110.
Haw, 39, 118.
Hawk, ferruginous rough-legged, 20.
sharp-shinned, 37.
Hayden vole, 19.
Hazel, 39.
Hazelnut, beaked, 228.
Helianthus, 27.
lenticularis, 21.
Heracleum lanatum, 149.
Heron, black-crowned night, 20.
great blue, 38. ef
Heterodon nasicus, 21.
Holly, mountain, 39, 234.
Honey plant, 148.
Honeysuckle, involucred fly, 245.
Holodiscus dumosus, 39, 233.
Horned lark, desert, 23.
Horned toad, 21, 23, 40.
House finch, 24.
Huckleberry, 243.
Hudsenian zone, 45-49.
Hylocichla guttata auduboni, 44, 48.
Icterus bullocki, 20, 23.
Icteria virens longicauda, 20.
Indigo, false, 20.
Ipomza leptophylla, 21.
Iridoprocne bicolor, 44.
Ivy, poison, 237.
Jack rabbit, black-tailed, 19
Kansas, 155-156.
Texas, 24, 157-158.
Townsend, 37.
western white-tailed, 153-154.
white-tailed, 37, 152-153.
ad
INDEX.
Jay, pinyon, 29.
Rocky Mountain, 44.
W oodhouse, 29.
Junco phzonotus caniceps, 44, 48, 51.
June berry, 38, 39, 80, 235.
Juniper, 15, 22, 28, 35, 81, 160, 216, 221.
creeping, 159, 222.
low mountain, 221+222.
mountain, 45.
Rocky Mountain, 220-221.
Juniperus monosperma, 15, 23, 28, 29, 35, 116, 212,
216, 221.
prostrata, 222.
scopulorum, 28, 220-221.
sibirica, 45, 159, 221-222.
utahensis, 29.
Jumping mouse, prairie, 148.
Rocky Mountain, 44, 148-149.
Kalmia microphylla, 49.
Kangaroo rat, 19, 104.
Moki, 24.
Richardson, 140-142.
San Luis, 139-140.
Kennicott spermophile, 19. .
Kingbird, 20.
Arkansas, 20.
Koeleria cristata, 21.
Kunzia tridentata, 23, 38, 39, 233-234.
Laciniaria punctata, 21.
Lagopus leucurus, 50.
Lagurus, 124-125.
Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides, 20, 23.
Lanivireo solitarius plumbeus, 37.
Lark, desert horned, 23.
Lark bunting, 20.
Lark sparrow, 20.
Lasionycteris noctivagans, 44, 211.
Lazuli bunting, 20.
Lepargyrea argentea, 20, 23, 25, 77, 80, 110, 241-242.
canadensis, 45, 242,
Leptasea austromontana, 51.
Lepus bardii, 44, 48, 50, 154-155.
californicus melanotis, 19, 155-156.
ealifornicus texianus, .24, 27, 157-158.
campestris, 37, 1562-158.
campestris townsendi, 23, 37, 48, 158-154.
Leucocrinum montanum, 21.
Leucosticte australis, 50.
Life zone, 13, 31.
Canadian, 41-45.
Hudsonian, 45-49.
Transition, 33-41.
Upper Sonoran, 14-33.
vertical limits, 14.
Linnea americana, 45, 245.
Lion, mountain, 163-165. 5
Liopeltis vernalis, 40.
Lithospermum linearifolium, 21.
Lizard, gray rock, 39.
ring-necked, 21.
whip-tailed, 21.
Locust, 236. Z
Lophortyx californicus, 24.
Loxia curvirostra minor, 44.
Lupinus alpestris, 133.
pusillus, 21.
Lutra canadensis, 182-183.
canadensis sonora, 182.
251
Lutreola vison energumenos, 37, 188-184.
Lycium pallidum, 25, 244.
Lynx, Canada, 44, 165-167.
snowshoe, 167.
Lynx baileyi, 167-168.
canadensis, 44, 48, 165-167.
uinta, 37, 48, 168-169.
Macronema, discoideum, 51.
Mahogany, mountain, 234-235.
Malvastrum coccineum, 21.
Mammal list, Canadian zone, 44.
Hudsonian zone, 48.
Transition and Canadian, 37.
Transition, Canadian,
Sonoran, 37.
and Upper
Transition and Upper Sonoran, 37.
Upper Sonoran, 19, 27.
Manzanita, 248.
Maple, mountain, 45, 237.
Marmot, 50, 98-99.
Marmota engelhardti, 44, 48, 50, 98-99.
Marten, 44, 50, 189-191.
Matrimony vine, #44.
Meadowlark, western, 20.
Meadow mouse, Saguache, 121-122.
Melospiza lincolni, 44.
Mephitis estor, 24, 29.
hudsonica, 37,178.
mesomelas estor, 179.
mesomelas varians, 19, 178-179.
Meriolix serrulata, 21. 6
Mertensia alpina, 49, 51.
Micranthes rhomboidea, 51.
Microtus, 107.
mordax, 44, 48, 50, 123.
nanus, 37, 48, 50, 1238-124.
ochrogaster haydeni, 19, 122-128.
pauperrimus, 36, 124-125.
pennsylvanicus modestus, 37, 121-122.
Mimus polyglottos leucopterus, 20.
Mink, 183-184.
Mockingbird, western, 20.
Mole, plains, 201.
Mouse, 173.
Apache pocket, 24, 147-148.
Baird pocket, 145-147.
big-eared harvest, 24, 110-111.
buff-bellied pocket, 144.
cliff, 28, 36, 193.
dwarf field, 123-124.
Estes Park cliff, 106.
field, 50.
golden-breasted, 28.
golden-breasted canyon, 24, 107.
grasshopper, 24.
harvest, 19.
house, 99-100.
Idaho grasshopper, 23, 102.
Kansas pocket, 143-144.
mountain harvest, 108-110.
Nebraska harvest, 110.
Nebraska white-footed, 102-103.
pale grasshopper, 19, 24, 100-101.
pallid harvest, 110.
|
252 INDEX.
Mouse, plains pocket, 145.
pocket, 19.
prairie jumping, 148.
pygmy field, 124-125.
Red Desert pocket, 23, 148.
Rocky Mountain field, 44, 123.
Rocky Mountain jumping, 44, 148-149.
Rocky Mountain red-backed, 44, 120-121.
Rowley cliff, 106-107.
Saguache meadow, 121-122.
tawny white-footed, 44, 103-104.
Texas white-footed, 102.
True cliff, 104-105.
upland, 122-123.
white-footed, 19.
yellow white-footed, 108.
Muhlenbergia gracillima, 21.
pungens, 21.
Munroa squarrosa, 21.
Mus musculus, 99-100.
Muskrat, Great Plains, 126.
Rocky Mountain, 125-126.
Mustela americana, 191.
caurina origenes, 44, 48, 50, 189-191.
pennanti, 191.
Myadestes townsendi, 48.
Myiochanes richardsoni, 38.
Myosotis alpestris, 51.
Myotis californicus, 24, 208.
californicus ciliolabrum, 19, 23, 208, 209.
evotis, 19, 23, 24, 207.
lucifugus longicrus, 36, 206-207.
subulatus, 20, 206.
yumanensis, 23, 207.
Myiarchus, californicus, 24.
Neotoma albigula warreni, 12, 29, 116-117.
campestris, 115.
cinerea arizonae, 28, 113.
cinerea orolestes, 23, 48, 111-1138.
cinerea rupicola, 19, 114.
desertorum, 24, 118-119.
fallax, 36, 117-118.
floridana baileyi, 19, 114-115.
micropus canescens, 19, 115-116.
Neosorex palustris navigator, 44, 208 204.
Night heron, black-crowned, 20.
Ninebark, 39, 232.
Nucifraga columbiana, 48.
Numenius americana, 20.
Nuthatch, pygmy, 37.
Rocky Mountain, 37.
Nuttallornis borealis, 44.
Nycteris cinereus, 211.
Nycticorax n. nzvius, 20.
Nyctinomus depressus, 205.
mexicanus, 24, 204-205.
Oak, 38.
Ochotona saxatilis, 48, 50, 151-152.
Odocoileus hemionus, 37, 48, 56-58.
virginianus macrourus, 37,99-56.
Odostemon aquifolium, 231.
fremonti, 231.
Ocenothera, 21. ;
Onychomys brevicaudus, 37.
leucogaster brevicaudus, 23, 102.
leucogaster pallescens, 19, 24, 100-101.
Opossum, Virginia, 52-58.
Opulaster intermedius, 232.
monogynus, 232.
ramaleyi, 39.
Opuntia, 27, 73, 111, 118, 119, 142, 145.
arborescens, 21, 29, 116, 118, 146, 241.
camanchica, 25, 240.
fragilis, 39, 240.
polyacantha, 21, 23, 138, 141, 146, 148, 160,
240.
rhodantha, 25, 240.
whipplei, 25, 29.
Orache, 228-229.
Oreobatus deliciosus, 39, 232-238.
Oreoscoptes montanus, 23, 38.
Oreospiza chlorura, 37.
Oriole, Bullock, 20, 23.
Otocoris alpestris leucoleema, 23, 38.
Otter, 182-183.
Ovis canadensis, 48, 50, 62-64.
Owl, burrowing, 20.
saw-whet, 37.
Pachystima myrsinites, 45, 237.
Panicum virgatum, 21.
Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus, 38.
Passerina amcena, 20.
Pear, prickly, 138, 142, 147, 148, 160, 240.
Pedicularis groenlandica, 51.
Penthestes gambeli, 38.
Peraphyllum ramosissimum, 29, 38, 236.
Perisoreus canadensis capitalis, 44, 48.
Peritoma, 27.
serrulatum, 21.
sonore, 27, 79, 108, 148.
Perodipus, 86.
longipes, 24.
montanus, 27, 139-140.
montanus richardsoni, 19, 23, 140-142.
Perognathus apache, 24, 27, 147-148.
callistus, 23, 148.
fasciatus infraluteus, 144.
flavescens, 19, 145.
flavus 19, 27, 145-147.
hispidus paradoxus, 19, 143-144.
Peromyscus boylei rowleyi, 28, 106-107.
crinitus auripectus, 24, 28, 107.
leucopus tornillo, 19, 102.
maniculatus luteus, 108.
maniculatus nebrascensis, 19, 23, 102-
103.
maniculatus rufinus, 44, 48, 105-104.
nasutus, 36, 106. :
truei, 28, 104-105.
Petalostemon oligophyllus, 21.
purpureus, 21.
villosus, 21.
Phalznoptilus nuttalli, 38.
Phenacomys, mountain, 44, 119-120.
Preble, 44, 119-120.
Phenacomys orophilus, 44, 119-120.
preblei, 44, 119-120.
Philadelphus microphyllus, 29.
Phlox condensata, 51.
Phrysonoma ornatissimum, 21, 23, 26.
Pica pica hudsonia, 38.
Picea engelmanni, 45, 49, 217.
parryana, 43, 217-218.
INDEX. 253
Picoides americanus dorsalis, 44, 48. Procyon lotor, 193-194.
Pika, 50, 151-152. Prunus americana, 20, 236.
Pine, foxtail, 43, 47, 49, 72, 80, 212-213. besseyi, 21.
lodgepole, 35, 41, 215-216. melanocarpa, 20, 38, 236.
nut, 216-217. pennsylvanica, 236.
pinyon, 15, 28, 35, 88, 141, 160, 216-217. Psaltriparus plumbeus, 29.
Rocky Mountain white, 45, 213. Pseudostoma castanops, 130.
Rocky Mountain yellow, 213-215. Pseudotsuga mucronata, 34, 36, 38, 218-219.
yellow, 38. Psoralea hypogea, 21.
Pinicola enucleator montana, 48. lanceolata, 21.
Pinus aristata, 43, 47, 49, 72, 80, 212-213. tenuiflora, 21.
edulis, 15, 28, 29. Ptarmigan, white-tailed, 50.
flexilis, 34, 45, 213. Putorius arizonensis, 37, 48, 186-187.
murrayana, 34, 41, 215-216. ermineus, 187.
scopulorum, 34, 35, 36, 38, 213-215. longicauda, 20, 185-186.
Pinyon, 15, 28, 35, 88, 141, 160, 216-217. longicauda, 187.
Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus, 29. nigripes, 20, 184-185.
maculatus montanus, 37 streatori leptus, 44, 48, 187-188.
Pipistrellus hesperus, 24, 209. vulgaris, 188.
Pipit, 50. Pyrola, 45.
Pituophis sayi, 21, 27.
Planesticus migratorius propinquus, 38, 48. Quail, California, 24.
Plantago purshi, 21. scaled, 29.
Plant list, Canadian zone, 45. Quercus, 29.
Great Plains, 20. fendleri, 38.
Hudsonian zone, 49. gambeli, 38.
Transition zone, 38-39. Querquedula discors, 38.
Upper Sonoran, 23, 25, 27 Quiscalus quiscula zeneus, 20.
Plover, upland, 20. ,
Plum, wild, 20, 236. Rabbit, 173.
Pocket gopher, 19, 124, 173, 182. Black Hills cottontail, 159-160.
chestnut-faced, 130-131. black-tailed jack, 19.
Colorado, 44,50, 134-135. Colorado cottontail, 161-163.
Coues, 132-133. Kansas jack, 155-156.
Espanola, 137-138. Nebraska cottontail, 158-159.
fulvous, 136. plains cottontail, 160-161.
golden, 24, 136-137. Rocky Mountain cottontail, 37, 159.
Green River, 23, 133-134. Rocky Mountain snowshoe, 154-155.
mountain, 83. _ snowshoe, 44,50.
San Luis, 131-132. Texas jack, 24, 157-158.
yellow, 128-129. Townsend jack, 37.
western white-tailed jack, 153-154.
white-tailed jack, 37,152-153.
Raccoon, 193-194.
Racer, blue, 21.
Rana pipiens, 24.
Ranunculus unguiculatus, 49.
Raspberry, false, 232-233.
flowering, 39.
red, 233.
Rat, Arizona bushy-tailed, 113.
Arizona wood, 28.
Polioptila czerulea obscura, 29. Bailey wood, 114-115.
Polygonum viviparum, 51. Colorado bushy-tailed wood, 111-113.
Pocecetes gramineus confinis, 20, 38. desert wood, 24, 118-119.
Poplar, aspen, 35, 41, 45, 224-225. Gale wood, 36, 117-118.
Populus acuminata, 23, 25, 225-226.
angustifolia, 39, 67, 225.
occidentalis, 20, 225.
tremuloides, 41, 45, 224-225,
Pocket mouse, 19.
Apache, 24. 147-148.
Baird, 145-147.
buff-bellied, 144.
Kansas, 143-144,
plains, 145.
Red Desert, 23, 148.
Podasocys montanus, 20.
Polemonium, 49.
confertum, 41.
hoary wood, 115-116.
kangaroo, 19, 104.
Moki kangaroo, 24.
ore Norway, 99.
wislizeni, 25, 225. pallid bushy-tailed wood, 114.
Porcupine, 50. Richardson kangaroo, 140-142.
yellow-haired, 149-151. San Luis kangaroo, 139-140.
Prairie dog, 19, 94-95, 173, 184. Warren wood, 29, 116-117.
Gunnison, 95-97. wharf, 99.
white-tailed, 92, 97-98, 162, 182. wood, 19, 134, 193.
Prickly pear, 138, 142, 147, 148, 160, 240. Ratibida columnaris, 21.
254
Rattlesnake, 21, 23, 27.
Red-backed mouse, Rocky Mountain, 44, 120-121.
Redfieldia flexuosa, 21.
Redwing, San Diego, 23.
thick-billed, 20.
Regulus calendula, 48.
satrapa, 48.
Reithrodon montanus, 108.
Reithrodontomys dychei nebrascensis, 110.
megalotes, 24, 110-11].
montanus, 27, 108-110.
montanus albescens, 110.
nebrascensis, 19.
Reptiles, Canadian zone; 45.
Transition zone, 39.
Upper Sonoran, 21, 23, 25.
Rhamnus smithi, 25, 238.
Rhodiola integrifolia, 49.
polygama, 49, 51.
Rhus rydbergi, 237.
Ribes cereum, 83, 231-232.
inebrians, 39.
longiflorum, 20, 28, 232.
pumilum, 39.
wolfi, 45, 232.
Road runner, 29.
Robinia neomexicana, 236,
Rosa mancea, 45, 235.
Rose, 238.
cliff, 234.
Rosy finch, brown-capped, 50.
Rubacer parviflorus, 45, 232.
Rubus strigosus, 233.
Sage, 27.
salt, 229-230.
Sagebrush, 43, 246.
Sage hen, 23, 37.
Sage sparrow, 23.
Sage thrasher, 23, 241.
Salamander, 22, 40.
Salicornia herbacea, 23.
Salix amygdaloides, 23, 226.
chlorophylla, 5, 49, 123, 226.
geyeriana, 45, 226.
glaucops, 49, 51, 123, 124, 2
glaucops glabrata, 51.
nuttalli, 39, 226.
perrostrata, 39.
petrophila, 51.
pseudolapponum, 49.
saximontana, 49.
Salmonberry, 232.
Salpinctes obsoletus, 38.
Saltbush, 229-230.
gray, 228-229.
round-leaved, 229.
Sambucus melanocarpa, 45, 244-245,
microbotrys, 45, 244.
Sand swift, 21..
Sarcobatus, 27, 77, 92, 108, 140.
vermiculatus, 23, 25, 39, 78, 230.
Saxifraga debilis, 51.
Sayornis saya, 38.
Scalopus aquaticus intermedius, 201.
Scaphiopus hammondi, 27.
Sceloporus consobrinus, 21, 26.
INDEX.
Sceloporus elongatus, 26, 40.
graciosus, 23, 26.
Schedonnardus paniculatus, 21.
Schmaltzia glabra, 237.
trilobata, 20, 25, 28, 29.
Sciurus aberti concolor, 64.
aberti ferreus, 36, 64-67.
aberti mimus, 36, 66, 67-69.
fremonti, 44, 48, 69-70.
fremonti neomexicanus, 70-71.
grammurus, 87.
lateralis, 81.
niger rufiventer, 64.
quadrivittatus, 71.
Sedum stenopetalum, 49.
Selasphorus platycercus, 51.
Senecio, 122.
Sheep, domestic, 62.
mountain, 50, 62-64.
Shrew, 44.
Dobson, 203. .
dwarf, 2038.
masked, 202.
Rocky Mountain, 202-203.
water, 44. :
white-bellied water, 203-204.
Shrike, white-rumped, 20, 23.
Sialia currucoides,,38, 48.
mexicana bairdi, 37.
Silene acaulis, 51.
Silversia turbinata, 51.
Sitanion hystrix, 21.
Sitta canadensis 44.
carolinensis nelsoni, 37.
pygmea, 37.
Skunk, Arizona, 24, 29,179.
Great Basin spotted, 24, 28-29, 181.
long-tailed, 19, 178-179.
northern plains, 37, 178.
prairie spotted, 179-180.
Rocky Mountain spotted, 180.
Skunk bush, 237.
Snake, bull, 21, 27, 94.
garter, 27, 40, 45.
green, 40.
hog-nosed, 21.
rattlesnake, 21, 23, 27.
Snowberry, 80, 245.
Snowshoe rabbit, Rocky Mountain, 154-155.
Solomon’sseal, false, 122.
Sorex obscurus, 44, 48, 202-203.
personatus, 44, 202.
tenellus nanus, 44, 203.
vagrans dobsoni, 44, 203.
Sparrow, black-throated, 24.
Brewer, 20, 23.
Lincoln, 44.
sage, 23.
western grasshopper, 20.
western lark, 20.
western vesper, 20.
white-crowned, 50.
white-throated, 83.
Spatula clypeata, 38.
Speotyto cunicularia hypugea, 20.
Spermophile, Kennicott, 19.
striped, 19.
INDEX,
Spermophilus gunnisoni, 95.
Sphyrapicus thyroideus, 44.
varius nuchalis, 44.
Spilogale gracilis saxatilis, 24, 181.
interrupta, 19, 179-180.
tenuis, 37, 180.
Spinus pinus, 44, 48.
Spizella breweri, 20, 23, 38.
passerina arizon®, 38.
Sporobolus eryptandrus, 21.
Spotted skunk, Great Basin, 24, 28-29, 181.
prairie, 179-180.
Roeky Mountain, 180.
Spruce, blue, 43, 217-218.
Douglas, 38, 218-219.
Engelmann, 41, 43, 45, 47, 48, 49, 154,217.
white, 217.
Squirrel, antelope, 24, 84-86.
Fremont, 69-70.
ground, 173.
Kennicott ground, 93-94.
large spotted ground, 94.
little striped ground, 23, 92-93.
northern tuft-eared, 64-67.
pale striped ground, 91-92.
rock, 28, 87-88.
Say ground, 81-84.
tuft-eared, 67-69.
western fox, 64.
Wortman ground, 22, 84.
Wyoming ground, 36, 89-90, 182.
Steganopus tricolor, 38.
Stipa comata, 21.
Sturnella neglecta, 20, 38.
Sumae, 20, 237.
Swertia palustris, 51.
Swift, 175-176, 177.
sand, 21.
white-throated, 37.
Svida interior, 242.
stolonifera riparia, 39, 242.
Sylvilagus auduboni baileyi, 19, 23, 160-161.
auduboni warreni, 24, 27, 143, 161-168.
floridanus similis, 158-159.
nuttalli grangeri, 159-160.
nuttalli pinetis, 37, 154, 159.
Symphoricarpos occidentalis, 20, 245.
oreophilus, 36, 38, 80, 245.
Tachycineta thalassina lepida, 38.
Tamias quadrivitiatus, 80.
Taxidea taxus, 19, 37, 181-182.
Tea, New Jersey, 39.
Thamnophis elegans vagrans, 27, 40, 45.
Thlaspi purpurascens, 51.
Thomomys, 36, 182.
aureus, 24, 136-137.
aureus pervagus, 27, 137-138.
clusius, 36, 132-133.
clusius ocius, 23, 133-134.
fossor, 44, 48, 50, 83, 92, 124, 134-135.
fulvus, 36, 136.
talpoides agrestis, 12, 36, 131-132.
Thrasher, brown, 20.
sage, 23, 241.
Thryomanes bewicki bairdi, 29.
Tit, lead-colored bush, 29.
Titmouse, gray, 29.
Toad, 27.
horned, 21, 23, 40.
Touterea nuda, 21.
stricta, 21.
Towhee, canyon, 29.
green-tailed, 37.
spurred, 37.
Townsendia, 21.
Toxostoma rufum, 20.
Transition zone, 38-41.
Trifolium, 49.
nanum, 51.
Troglodytes aédon parkmani, 38.
Trollius albiflorus, 49.
Tuft-eared squirrel, 64-69.
T winflower, 45, 245.
Tyrannus tyrannus, 20.
verticalis, 20.
vociferans, 23.
Upland plover, 20.
Upper Sonoran zone, 14-33.
Urocyon cinereoargenteus scotti, 28, 176-178.
Ursus americanus, 37, 44, 48, 195-196.
horribilis, 48, 50, 197-201.
Uta ornata, 26.
stansburiana, 26.
Vaccinium ceespitosum, 45, 243.
erythrococcum, 49, 243.
oreophilum, 248.
Vagnera stellata, 122.
Verbena bracteosa, 21.
hastata, 21.
Vesper sparrow, 20.
Vespertilio subulatus, 206.
Viburnum, few-flowered, 245.
Viburnum pauciflorum, 45, 245. :
Viola canadensis neomexicana, 45.
Vireo, Bell, 20.
plumbeous, 37.
Vireo belli, 20.
Vireosylva gilva swainsoni, 38.
Vole, Hayden, 19.
pygmy, 36.
Vulpes macrourus, 37, 44, 48, 50, 174-175.
velox, 19, 175-176.
Wapiti, 53-54.
Warbler, Grace, 38.
Macgillivray, 37.
pileolated, 50.
western yellowthroat, 20.
yellow, 20.
Weasel, dwarf, 44, 187-188.
long-tailed, 20, 185-186.
mountain, 186-187.
White-footed mouse, 19.
Nebraska, 102-103.
tawny, 44, 103-104.
Texas, 102.
yellow, 103.
White pine, Rocky Mountain, 45, 213.
Wildcat, mountain, 37, 168-169.
plateau, 167-168.
Willow, 39, 40.
alpine, 123.
Nuttall, 226.
peach-leaved, 226.
2595
256
Wilsonia pusilla pileolata, 48, 50.
Wolf, 54.
gray, 23, 169-171.
Wolfberry, 20, 245.
Wolverene, 44, 191-192.
Woodchuck, 44.
Engelhardt, 98-99.
Woodpecker, alpine three-toed, 44.
Lewis, 37.
Rocky Mountain hairy, 37.
Wood rat, 19, 134, 193.
Arizona, 28.
Arizona bushy-tailed, 113.
Bailey, 114-115.
Colorado bushy-tailed, 111-118.
desert, 24, 118-119.
Gale, 36, 117-118.
hoary, 115-116.
pallid bushy-tailed, 114.
Warren, 29, 116-117.
Wren, Baird, 29.
canyon, 24.
-
INDEX.
Ximenesia, 27.
exauriculata, 25.
Yellow pine, Rocky Mountain, 218-215.
Yellowthroat, western, 20.
Yucca, 27, 118, 222-2938.
Harriman, 223,
Yucca baccata, 25, 29, 228-224.
glauca, 21, 23, 222-298.
harrimaniz, 25, 29, 223.
Zapus hudsonius campestris, 148.
princeps, 37, 44, 148-149.
Zenaidura macroura carolinensis, 20.
Zone, Canadian, 41-45.
Hudsonian, 45-49.
Transition, 83-41. —
Upper Sonoran, 14-33.
Zones, crop, 29.
life, 13, 31.
Zonotrichia leucophrys, 48, 50.
O
alt
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, 38, — Cae. ,
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