Red-backed Vole 511 



probably a month or two older, which he concluded to be an 

 earlier litter of the same parent. 



Merriam records:^' "I have shot females each containing 

 4 young as early as the 3rd of April and as late as the 4th of 

 October. I have also taken a female early in June that was 

 nursing her second brood. Hence it is clear that several 

 litters are produced each season." To this I may add that at 

 Carberry, September 22, 1884, I caught a Red-backed Vole 

 within a few days of bringing forth young. It is quite likely 

 that the young of the early litters are hard at work contributing 

 to the population before their first winter. 



This Mouse differs from the rest of the ground Mice in habits 

 several important particulars. Its habits are rather like those 

 of the Deermice. It climbs about logs and up low stumps 

 with facility, and is sometimes seen living in old buildings, and, 

 although a wildwood species, it often takes up its abode with 

 civilized man, just as the Deermouse habitually does, and just 

 as the Meadow-mouse does not. 



Most of its kin are nocturnal, but this species is largely diur- 

 if not chiefly diurnal. Kennicott ^^ "was particularly struck 

 with their diurnal habits. Not only were they active during 

 the day, but they appeared to seclude themselves strictly after 

 dark. I caught them readily in traps, in the day, but never 

 at night, nor were they seen in the evening, as would have been 

 the case had they been crepuscular." Merriam considers this 

 Mouse both diurnal and nocturnal. He says:'^ "I have 

 shot it at noonday scampering over the leaves in the deep 

 woods, and dodging in and out between the rocks of a lake 

 shore. I have also seen it after dark in shanties and log 

 houses, and have caught many during the night in traps." 



In food habits it is omnivorous, like its kin, but is a cleaner food 

 feeder than most and shows little of the carnivorous propensity. 



" Mam. Adir, 1884, p. 272. " Quad. 111., 1858, p. 89. 



" Mara. Adir., 1884, p. 271. 



