MAMMALS OF THE REGION 73 



CLIFF MOUSE 



Peromyscus boylii rowleyi {Fig. 23) 



The only other species of mouse in the cavern is the 

 cliff mouse, a slender, graceful, large eared little animal, 

 with a long, hairy tail, and a famous rock dweller and 

 cliff climber of the deer mouse group. Specimens were 

 taken in the first rooms of the cave only, and none be- 

 yond the traces of daylight that came in through the 

 natural openings. Some of those caught in the cave 

 had green food in their stomachs, telling of visits to the 

 upper world of light and green vegetation, while others 

 on the cave floor, two hundred feet below the surface, 

 were feeding entirely on cave crickets and the rolled 

 oats with which my traps were baited. In winter they 

 may make still more use of the cave, for they were 

 abundant in the cliffs and buildings outside, apparently 

 being the most abundant mammal of the region. In 

 Jim White's cabin they w T ere rather troublesome until 

 my traps set in the corners and around the wall removed 

 seventeen of them, after which only an occasional mouse 

 was caught. Some were caught in the bunk house, and 

 in an upper bunk one had a beautiful nest, a hollow 

 ball of tow with a hole in one side. In my little cabin 

 they were not disturbed and did not disturb me. Sev- 

 eral were kept in cages with two kinds of wheels for 

 play and exercise, and these wheels were kept busy all 

 night and part of the day. When ready to leave, I 

 left the cages open and the cliff mice went where they 

 pleased, scampering over my bed, across my face, and 

 examining my hair with dainty hands. For a part of 



