Vol. XX, pp. 71-74 June 12, 1907 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



NOTES ON THE MAMMALS OF SOUTHWESTERN 



MISSOURI. 



BY HAllTLEY 11. T. JACKSOX. 



The brief notes which follow arc inteiKled only as preliminary 

 notes on the inammals of southwestern Missouri. Duty in other 

 directions than field work prevented a full and comprehensive 

 study of the fauna of this nnich neglected section of our country. 

 The author hopes, in the near future, to continue his research 

 in this district, and at such time a more complete list with more 

 elaborate annotations will be puljlished. 



Didelphis virginiana Kerr. 



OPOSSUM, 

 Opossums are conimon nhmtj; tlie osage hedges and in the scattering 

 timber along the creeks. It as freiiuently dwells in lioles in the ground as 

 in cavities of trees or in liollow logs, and may occasionally be encoun- 

 tered well out upon the i)rairies, especially if there he a few persimmon 

 trees in the vicinity. During latesunnner and early autumn the opossum 

 sometimes visits the henhouse, evi<lently more for the jjiu^hisc of obtain- 

 ing eggs than f(jr chickens. 



Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin. 



(iltAV S(jr]i;KEL. 



Gray squirrels are common in the tinil)er along the creeks and rivers. 

 They seem to prefer mixed groves of sycamore and hickory, dwelling in 

 the cavities of the former and feecUng upon the nuts of the latter. They 

 are very erratic in occurrence, being fomid in abundance in a given locahty 

 for a few years, then entirely disapjjearing to reappear in another locality. 

 No mi'lanistic individuals were seen. 



Sciurus niger rufiventer GeoJIVoy. 



FOX SQUIRREL. 

 ScliiriiK II. riifivi' liter is not as common as Sciariis (■(iroUnensis, but is 

 much more regular in distribution. Fox squirrels are gi'uerally contined 

 to oak woods among the higher ranges of hills. 



16— Proc. Biol. Soc. W.\sh., Vol. XX, 1907. (.71) 



