Aestivation of older individuals begins in late May and the last young disappear in early June. The squirrels appear again in late January, before the snow has disappeared (Scheffer, 1941: 272). The voice of the Townsend ground squirrel is a faint, high pitched "pe-eee-ep," of remarkable carrying power for so faint a sound, and extremely difficult to trace to its source. Scheffer (in Howell, _op. cit._, p. 6) mentions also a chirping sound and a chatter of alarm which I have not heard. Five to seven embryos were found in specimens collected near Yakima. Scheffer (1941: 270) found the number of fetuses in 52 pregnant females from the Kennewick area to vary from 4 to 16 with an average of 8.6. Francis (1922: 5) reported tularemia in this species. They probably harbor also sylvatic plague. =Citellus washingtoni= Howell Washington ground squirrel; sage rat _Citellus washingtoni washingtoni_ Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:69, May 18, 1938. _Citellus washingtoni loringi_ Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:71, May 18, 1938 (type from Douglas, Douglas County, Washington). _Type._--Obtained at Touchet, Walla Walla County, Washington, by C. P. Streator on May 18, 1891; type in United States National Museum. _Distribution._--The Columbian Plateau and southward into Oregon, ranging from Farmer (Howell, 1938: 71) and Moses Coulee (W. W. D.) south to Wallula (M. V. Z.). _Measurements._--Fifteen specimens from the vicinity of the type locality average: total length 229.2; length of tail 50; hind foot 35.3. A male from 4 miles west of Pasco, Franklin County, weighed 201 grams. _Remarks._--_Citellus w. loringi_ allegedly differs from typical _washingtoni_ in smaller size. The specimens collected by us from within the range of _loringi_ are as large as those from farther south. _C. w. loringi_ is regarded as a synonym of _C. w. washingtoni_. _Description._--The Washington ground squirrel closely resembles the Townsend ground squirrel in size and appearance. It differs principally in color. The upper parts are brownish gray marked with distinct white spots, and the underparts are buffy. The face, thighs and tail are dull reddish.