Field notes, v1400
Page 533
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
3097 Gymnogyps californianus May 12, 1946 Nr. Mt. Posg Calif. N. of the road, 100± W. of Paso Creek, on a 5-10% E. facing shot dry grass slope I found where I believe the birds were feeding. I found 2 squirrel tails, with meat & bone pulled out (skin turned inside out) for basal 3" - these tails were separate from the rest of skeleton. There were two spinal columns with ribs & pelvis attached, one with a single hind leg attached (skinned out & bone cleaned to foot) & the other without. One skull shells, clean- ed, & entire except for one arch. A just twisted shredded piece of skin (about 6 sq. inches). A detached separate foreleg, skinned to wrist, & fairly cleaned of meat. Ribs were spread wide, the sternum gone, but only a few were broken off. One stomach & intestines, & another stomach. The latter was wet & brown - poss- ibly was regurgitated. Two carbor "hachles" were in the vicinity. One entire femur lay near a skull. The "meat" was scattered over a 20' diameter area. In a walk 100 yds. further down stream I found 3 dead squirrels on open ground - juicy & limp but not maggoty; skin unbroken, eyes dried up - apparently food plentiful here. About 50' upwind from these remains was the striking corpse of another squirrel - this one was juicy & soft & much hair had fallen off. Stomach protruded outside the body. Two legs were cleaned of meat & fur to the wrist,