RICE RAT 



Rice Rat. — Oryzomys palustris 



and its subspecies 



Names. — Rice Rat; Rice Meadow Mouse. Plate XXX. 



General Description. — A Rat somewhat smaller than the 

 House Rat, with rather coarse, long fur; long, sparsely-haired 

 tail ; hind foot with sole naked to heel ; small and inconspicuous 

 ears which are well haired; vibrissse or "whiskers" short; 

 color grizzled grayish brown or buffy above, white to cream 

 color below. Frequents meadows and grassy lands; mainly 

 nocturnal. 



Color. — Sexes colored alike. 



Upperparts brown or buff, grizzled with gray, the color 

 richest on rump, darker on top of head, face, and along mid-line 

 of back; feet whitish; tail brownish above, whitish below; 

 underparts white, sometimes with a light buffy wash. 



Young. — Duller colored than adults, brownish or grayish 

 above, whitish below. 



Measurements. — Total length, 9.5-10 inches; tail vertebrae, 

 4.5-5 inches; hind foot, 1.2- 1.3 inches. 



Geographical Distribution.^ — Eastern North America from 

 New Jersey to Florida and the Gulf States. 



Food.- — -A variety of grasses, sedges, and foliage of shrubs; 

 rice, and seeds of native plants; some animal food such as 

 small crustaceans, mollusks, and meat. 



Enemies. — Small carnivorous mammals such as Weasels, 

 Skunks, Minks, et cetera. Hawks, Owls, and Snakes. 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Oryzomys 



This is a very large genus, of which more than one hundred 

 and fifty species and subspecies have been described (especially 

 troublesome to identify when the specimens come from the 

 mid-range of the genus, tropical America), but only a few 

 forms reach North America. 



Subgenus Oryzomys 



Swamp Rice Rat. — Oryzomys palustris palustris (Harlan). 

 As just described. Found in "Atlantic coastal areas from 

 southern New Jersey (not yet known from Delaware or 

 Maryland, but doubtless occurs there) south to northeastern 

 Florida, thence westward through southern Georgia to the 

 Gulf coast of Alabama and Mississippi, and north through 



373 



