86 ANIMAL LIFE OF CARLSBAD CAVERN 



MERRIAM KANGAROO RAT 



Dipodomys merriami merriami (Figs. 30 and 31) 



The little Merriam kangaroo rats are common over 

 the valley and on the high limestone ridges about the 

 Carlsbad Cave. They are probably as common as the 

 larger species, but less conspicuous, as they place their 

 burrows under bushes and cactuses, — spiny-leaved 

 plants, — where they are often hidden or unnoticed. 

 Many of the animals were caught, however, in traps 

 set at various burrows, and not infrequently at the 

 large burrows of the banner-tail which seems to have the 

 same range, and on the stores of which they apparently 

 depend for a share of their living. Both species were 

 captured and kept in captivity in my cabin while I 

 was at the cave. The big ones were always trying to 

 jump on and kill the little fellows, which were, however, 

 too quick and watchful to be caught. They were gen- 

 tle, lovely pets, did not object to being handled, and 

 usually were not unfriendly to each other. Five adults 

 were often found sleeping in one nest box in my room, 

 but occasionally there were nocturnal squabbles among 

 them and some bloody tails next day. The one male 

 in the group finally took up his quarters in a cotton 

 roll on my desk and then the others were quiet and 

 friendly. Usually they did not store up food for the 

 daytime, but each filled its capacious cheek pouches 

 with rolled oats and grain before retiring to the nest 

 box for the day and so provided enough food to last 

 until the following evening. 



These little, four-toed kangaroo rats are about half 



