MAMMALS OF THE REGION 81 



COTTON RAT 



Sigmodon hispidus berlandieri (Fig. 24) 



This rough, gray cotton rat, common along the 

 Pecos Valley in the alfalfa and grain fields, meadows, 

 and ditch banks, and even up in the Guadalupe Moun- 

 tains where bits of meadowland occur, was not found in 

 the vicinity of the Carlsbad Cavern, but its jaws were 

 picked up in the entrance under nest sites of the great 

 horned owls. The cotton rats may have been brought 

 from the farms along Black River, four miles distant, 

 but may have been caught nearer by. The owls are 

 most industrious collectors of small mammals, and cover 

 the ground more thoroughly than we do. 



Cotton rats, when numerous in cultivated ground, 

 often prove very destructive to crops, not only cotton, 

 but all grains, alfalfa, hay, and many other farm prod- 

 ucts. But for owls and such enemies they would be 

 a serious menace to agriculture. 



The cotton rat is between rat and mouse size, with 

 coarse gray hair, medium long, tapering tail, and not 

 very large ears. 



PECOS RIVER MTJSKRAT 



Fiber zibeihicus ripensis 



These little pale muskrats are found in many places 

 along the Pecos River and come nearest to the big 

 cavern in the permanent pools of Black River, about 

 four miles south. Here on the irrigated farmlands of 

 " Uncle Bill Washington " a few are found, but they 



