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In connection with a study of hibernation of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, large numbers of the variety found in western Kansas, Citellus tridecemlineatj,s pallidus (Allen), have been procured each spring. Many of the females have been pregnant and have given birth to litters in the laboratory. In only a few cases have the animals bred in the laboratory (Johnson and Wade, 1931, Johnson and Foster, unpublished) although both sexes were present in nearly all of the cages. One case observed in 1926 was followed by the birth of a litter (Y3, Figs. 2, 9-12) between 27 and 28 days later, confirm ng the observation of Drips (1919) and 0. Wade (1926) as to the length of the gestation period.

The almost complete lack of reproduction by the several hundred ground squirrels, Citellus tridecemlineatus, in our laboratory led to experiments to promote such reproduction (Johnson and Wade, 1931). Anterior pituitary implants, ultra-violet light, a diet rich in vitamin E, and ovarian extracts and implants did not increase reproduction. During this study it became evident that the sexual development of different individuals varied greatly, and that very little was known of the sexual cycle in captivity.

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