534 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



COLOUR '^Winter pelage: Upper parts uniform clear peppery 



gray, from a combination of black and whitish-tipped hairs; 

 belly, washed with soiled white or pale buffy; tail, sharply bi- 

 colour, dusky above, buffy below; feet, gray. Summer 

 pelage: With a mixture of fulvous above, belly with thinner 

 wash of light-tipped hairs over dark under-fur. 



^'Toung slightly darker than adult, with less peppery ap- 

 pearance of fur."^ 



It most resembles drummondi of the species in our limits, 

 but drummondi is large, with white breast and chestnut back 

 that is peppered with black hairs, and minor, small with buff 

 breast and gray back peppered with whitish hairs. Besides 

 which the sub-generic characters will aid in diagnosing the two. 

 (See Plate XXXIX, figure c.) 



Life-history. 



RANGE This Vole ranges in the northern part of the prairie region 



from north-eastern North Dakota to Edmonton, Alberta, 

 and south-eastward to Minneapolis, Minn. I found it common 

 about Carberry. 



The actual records are shown on Map 30. 



ENVIRON- It frequents dry uplands, the open fields along fences, and 

 is especially well pleased with the shelter of stacks and stooks. 



ABUN- In Manitoba it is common, and at threshing time we 



could usually count on finding two or three dozen of this 

 species at the bottom of each stack. The number, however, 

 varies greatly; in 1884 I find, according to my notes, I saw but 

 one in the four weeks before September 2d. 



HOME- In the size of the individual range, population, voice, etc., 



ETC. ' it appears to be much like M. drummondi. 



MATING Nothing is known of its mating habits. Possible side- 



Hght is afforded by the habits of its near kinsman austerus, con- 



^ Ibid., p. 76. 



