MIXED PRAIRIE 265 



gopher is represented by a characteristic species, while in the higher 

 and drier westerly parts another genus (Thomomys) is added. 



The buffalo wolf, Canis nuhilus, was quite abundant over the mixed 

 prairie area; it is often described as following buffalo herds in the 

 early days, though it fed on ground squirrels and mice to a large 

 extent in summer. Badger holes were commonly enlarged as lairs by 

 both wolf and coyote. The abundant form of the area was the Ne- 

 braska coyote (C. nebrascensis nebrascensis Merriam) which fed on 

 rodents, a few insects, and fruit. The kit-fox {Vulpes velox velox 

 Say) occurred practically throughout, and the entire area was likewise 

 covered by one or another of several species of skunk and the plains 

 weasel. 



The birds which are most conspicuous over the plains are the desert 

 horned lark. Smith's longspur, chestnut-collared longspur, western lark 

 sparroAv, lark bunting, purj^le martin, Sprague's pipit. Brewer's spar- 

 row, lazuli bunting, and the western meadowlark. The prairie chicken 

 was abundant at one time but is infrequent today. The marsh hawk, 

 western red-tailed hawk, and prairie falcon are common, but, with the 

 exception of the burrowing owl, the owls are poorly represented. 

 Among the reptiles, the plains gartersnake {Thamnophis radix [B. & 

 G.]), the prairie rattlesnake {Crotalus conjiuentus Say), and the bull- 

 snake {Pituophis sayi Schleg.), make up the principal influents, which 

 take a heavy toll of ground squirrels, pocket mice, harvest mice, etc. 

 (Guthrie, 1926). 



One of the outstanding influents of this area is the grasshopper, of 

 which seven common or very abundant species are characteristic of the 

 Great Plains, feeding on low, dry grasses or other herbage. 



Of climax and subclimax Orthoptera, the following occur in South 

 Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, ]\Iontana, aud Alberta, and tlie majority 

 in Oklahoma and Texas also: 



Acrolophitus Iiirtipes (Say) 

 Amphitornus coloradus (Thomas) 

 Cordillacris occipitalis occipitalis (Thomas) 

 Ageneolettix deorum (Scudder) 

 Psoloessa delicatula (Scudder) 

 Aulocara elliotti (Thomas) 

 Arphia pseudonietana (Thomas) 

 Encoptolophus costalis (Scudder) 

 Spharagemon equale (Say) 

 Metator pardalinus (Sauss.) 

 Phlibostroma quadrimaculatum (Thomas) 



All the above apparently are more or less abundant and well dis- 

 tributed. Melanoplus mexicanus is present at all times, but at long 



