ko.1655. VOTES <>\ VERTEBRATES FROM INDIANA HAHN. 571 



being dark throughout instead of having pale tips. The shoulder 

 patches of old fur are paler, contrasting sharply with the new growth. 

 The young arc dark colored and the pale tips of the hairs arc buffy 

 Instead of ferruginous or cinnamon. 



Measurements: A.verage of ten individual-, total Length, 1 L3.2 nun.; 

 tail. L8.5; hind foot, 17.1: ear, 9. Cranial measurements, greatest 

 Length, 26; basilar Length, 22; palatilar Length, L2; greatesl width. 

 L2; depth over bullae, 9.6; palatal width (outside of molars), 6; 

 Length of molar series, 6.8. 



MICROTUS OCHROGASTER (Wagner). 

 PRAIRIE MEADOW MOUSE. 



This is the most abundant vole and is found in the fields wherever 

 there is a growth of grass dense enough to afford cover. Specimens 

 caughl November 22 and 23 were evidently nol breeding, as the sexual 

 organs were reduced. Of four pregnant females examined during the 

 spring, two contained three embryos each and two contained four 

 each. Some of the nursing females were pregnant, showing that they 

 breed again soon after giving birth to young. 



A nest was found under a railroad tie along an embankment on 

 April 11. It contained three young apparently about a week old. 

 The mother was not in the nest when it was found (about 4 p. m.), 

 ami the covering was replaced. Early next morning -he was again 

 absent, hut about 1<> o'clock -he was in the not nursing her young. 

 When disturbed she started to run away with the young -till clinging 

 to her teat-, hut the whole family was captured. They were placed in 

 a box and given plenty of fresh grass, a- well a- other food, and water. 

 Nevertheless the old mouse ate her offspring during the first night 

 and -he. herself, survived only two day- Longer. She showed a sur- 

 prising ability to climb, going up the vertical sides of the box ami 

 clinging to them while attempting to gnaw out. or running alone- the 

 under surface of the screen w ire which formed the top. 



Tin- species is diurnal in habits, though probably it is more or Less 

 active during the night, and it certainly is during early morning and 

 late evening. It Lives principally on grass, boring tunnel- through 

 the thickly matted growth and extending these or eating the tender 

 shoots from along their sides as the need- require. Even in winter 

 its food consists principally of grass, the dried blades being used to 

 supplement the green shoots when enough of these can not be found 

 beneath the -now and overgrowth. It doe- not refuse seeds, however, 

 and is readily attracted by a bait of either cheese or oatmeal. Dur- 

 ing the early summer, when wheat is ripening, it will cut the stalks 

 into little sections from •_' to ."> inches lone-, working to get the head 

 low enough to reach and remove the grain. This work has generally 



