Roford Cynomys ludovicianus April 20, 1955 New weld Co., Glo. Before noted, the no great smell. 1) At CPER, an seen to run at least 50 yds., inside colony area. 11 a.m. dug at Wellington colony. April 21, 1955 With John Red Ritzgus Victor Schiffer visited 7 prairie ice dog colonies. Ritzgus is soils man with F & R Exp. Station. In Sec. 22 colony, CPER, A burrow in area lumnous at W. end colony contained much hard clay. Bottom soil less claylike. No apparent soil difference, such as shalebunter or noduline, at upper slope limit. Perhaps prairie green food at certain critical season determines distribution in colonies to large extent. Possibly occasional flooding keeps lumnous out of flat bottoms. Visited also poisoned out colony on Henry Prange colony (no C.L. seen). Then C.C. Davis caught near Rockport. C.L. rather tame than & much digging for roots, Heavy over-utilization range line. Then visited Tony Raven colony & saw a few out in atypical area. Then Sec. 23 on Rudy Oehm mans. New C.L. on dry sites, not dampest near bottom. Colony on N. or E. side hills to near N. end of the section. (About 15% slope and maximum grade with lumnous, Many pounds about 50% shale chips to 1½" drain. None on top of ridge (nor in other colonies). Briefly visited Sec. 10 colony. Then to Pat Faire colony near D. Salmo Beettle. Here also much digging at same sites, especially on road. Grass here shed much green compared to CPER region. Shot a C.L. through stomach - it escaped but a teaspoon of grass from stomach dropped. Ritzgus was impressed by fact that few lumnous show about 15% slope (less many sites) but could offer no explanation in terms of soil or physical factors. At any rate there is a fairly definite upper slope limit beyond which no lumnous. Apparently little upslope bowl in season when lumnous being dug. Possibly a relation. 98