FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



in the dry Southwest. Most of the species prefer sandy tracts 

 or regions where dry, loose soil prevails, although some 

 frequent localities of hard, gravelly soil. None live in heavily 

 timbered districts. They burrow extensively and spend the 

 daytime underground. The large eye of the Pocket Rat is one 

 of the characters which favors a nocturnal activity. 



The burrows are large, cleanly cut and often placed with no 

 attempt at concealment. The earth immediately about the 

 burrow entrances may be so undermined by subterranean 

 passages and chambers that one breaks through upon 

 approach, and generally an abundance of tiny tracks radiate 

 out from the holes or collect into two or three main paths and 

 lead away to nearby sources of food or to neighboring burrows. 

 Frequently the mark of the long tail is seen in the sand. 



Where the sand has drifted into low dunes or there are slight 

 eminences, these Rats make their homes at the base of such a 

 rise and run the holes in horizontally. Clumps of brush serve 

 to hold the sand and create little islands of stationary material 

 and these are favorite spots for burrows. During the day the 

 entrances may be blocked up from within. 



Pocket Rats seem to be social by nature and the signs 

 usually indicate the presence of several individuals about each 

 series of burrows. 



The cheek-pouches are used as food containers and in them 

 the rodents carry the seeds which they take into the burrows 

 to be stored up or eaten. The animals do not hibernate. 

 They get along very well without water, in spite of the fact 

 that their food is very dry, since they seldom, or never eat 

 green vegetation. A Pocket Rat that I had as a pet lived for 

 several months on dry wheat and paid no attention to water, 

 which was removed from the cage after the first few days. 



The kangaroo-like hind legs are used as one might imagine 

 and the animals progress in leaps in which the forelegs take no 

 part. These leaps may be of only a few inches or up to six 

 feet or more. My pet used the forefeet only to hold food and 

 hopped about on the hind feet entirely. He was exceedingly 

 quick and left the floor as if released by a spring. He was 

 very particular about his long tail and, if in handling him his 

 tail was grasped, became very indignant. Every time he 

 washed himself the operation closed with passing his tail 

 rapidly between his forepaws and lips. He seemed to inspect 



324 



