POCKET MOUSE 



Pocket Mouse. — Perognathus fasciatus 



and related forms 



General Description. — ^A rather small Mouse with external 

 fur-lined cheek-pockets; tail fairly long; hind legs long; ears 

 small but not hidden in fur; nocturnal in habit. Plate XXVI. 



Color. — Sexes colored alike; seasonal variation in color 

 occurring, but not very marked. 



Fig. 6i. Pocket Mouse 



Upperparts olive-gray finely mixed with black; sides like 

 back; a buff lateral line from nose to end of tail; buffy about 

 eye and ears; tail dusky above, buffy on sides, white below; 

 pelage everywhere slate-colored at base; underparts clear white. 



Immature duller than adults, slaty gray tinged with buff. 



Measurements. — Sexes of approximately equal size, males 

 slightly larger than females. Total length, 5.5 inches; tail 

 vertebrae, 2.5 inches; hind foot, .68 inch. 



Geographical Distribution. — Southwestern and mid-western 

 North America. 



Food. — Chiefly seeds. 



Enemies. — Snakes, Owls, Weasels, Foxes, and small 

 predatory mammals in general. 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Perognathus 

 Subgenus Perognathus 



Characterized by small to medium size, soft normal pelage 

 (no spines) , soles of hind feet usually hairy. 

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