572 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxxv. 



been attributed to M. pen?isylva?iicus, but I have positively traced it 

 to M. ochrogaster, though the other species may have a similar habit. 



The nest is generally placed underground, but sometimes an old log 

 or board is the only covering. It is made of dry grass and bark. 

 Two or more tunnels usually lead to it, for this species, like M. pine- 

 torum, u<v> underground runways. Its fossorial habits lead it, doubt- 

 less accidentally, into caves. I found the skulls of two individuals 

 in the Shawnee Cave and later trapped another there. It had been 

 eating a pasteboard box, which was the only food at hand, and the 

 lack of food would be a sufficient reason for preventing the species 

 from becoming established in these caves. 



The mice of this species collected at Mitchell are generally less gray 

 than in northern Indiana. An adult male taken March 25 is still in 

 winter pelage, the fur being long, dense, and soft. The color is dark, 

 the black hairs preponderating, while the gray-tipped hairs are few 

 in number. Others collected a little later have more gray hairs 

 mixed with the black. A male taken on April 3 has very much more 

 fulvous coloring than any other mice of this species that I have seen. 

 The black hairs of the back are less numerous than is usual in the 

 species, there are very few gray-tipped hairs, and all the hairs of the 

 Hanks, sides of the neck, and cheeks and lips are tipped with a broad 

 band of fulvous. All the other specimens, collected chiefly in the 

 early spring, are intermediate between those described. 



Measurements, average of four males and four females: Total 

 length, 144.2 mm.; tail, 30.4; hind foot, 19.6. Cranial measurements, 

 average of six adults: Greatest length of skull, 26.6 mm.; basilar 

 length, 23; palatilar length, 13; greatest width of braincase, 11.7; 

 depth of brain case over bullae, 10.3 : maxillary tooth row, 0. 



MICROTUS PINETORUM AURICULARIS Bailey. 

 PINE VOLE; MOLE MOUSE. 



This is an abundant vole, and is found in a great variety of loca- 

 tions. It live-; on the rocky hills, about the caves, in the heavy woods 

 where the carpet of dead leaves is several inches deep, and in the fields. 

 Like the prairie vole, it is largely diurnal in habit and may often 

 be seen scurrying back into its hole when one quietly approaches its 

 feeding ground. It is a more omnivorous feeder than the other voles 

 of this region. The contents of the stomachs I have examined is com- 

 posed largely of seeds and roots, but I have found remains of insects 

 in two. Sometimes grass is eaten, as well as the stems and leaves of 

 other plants and the bark of shrubs and small trees. Where this 

 species takes to the fields it appears to feed principally on grass. 



It is not possible to say positively whether the pine vole of this 

 locality is auricularis or scalapsoides, as the characters are interme- 



