90 ANIMAL LIFE OF CARLSBAD CAVERN 



The large Kansas pocket mouse measures in total 

 length about 222 millimeters; tail, 108 mm. ; hind foot, 

 26 mm. 



The little Dutcher pocket mouse measures in total 

 length about 118 mm.; tail, 58 mm., foot, 16 mm. 



The tiny Baird pocket mouse measures in total length 

 about 112 mm.; tail, 50 mm., foot, 15 mm. All have 

 fur-lined cheek pockets like the kangaroo rats. 



LECHUGUILLA POCKET GOPHER 



Thomomys lachuguilla 



These small brown pocket gophers are fairly common 

 all over the limestone ridges about the cave, and wher- 

 ever the little century plant, mescal, or lechuguilla 

 grows. They live almost entirely underground, even 

 where the soil is so shallow over the limestone that they 

 can not find enough mellow earth with which to close 

 their doorways to the surface. Generally, however, 

 their habitations are recognized by the numerous 

 small mounds of dark earth pushed out along the lines 

 of their tunnels, the earth covering and closing the 

 temporary exits through which it was pushed out in the 

 construction of the tunnels. The gophers live almost 

 entirely among the little lechuguilla plants, upon which 

 they largely depend for food, burrowing under and 

 eating their way up into the rich food stored in the 

 heart of the plant, and being protected from above by 

 the bristling dagger points and hooked sawteeth of 

 the rigid leaves. One of these large heads will supply 

 good food and moisture for a gopher for probably a 



