LEMMING 



reduced, with long, flat, nail-like claw; upper incisors without 

 grooves; ears small, hidden in long pelage of head and neck; 

 pelage long and lax; tail very short, well haired. Plate XXX. 



Color. — Sexes colored alike; seasonal variation not con- 

 spicuous as in the Lemmings of the genus Dicrostonyx. 



Upperparts. — Head and shoulders to middle back grizzled 

 buff}^ slaty black and grayish; lower back and rump rusty 



Fig. 85. Lemming 



red or rufous; sides light ochraceous; tail above, yellowish 

 brown, belov/, slightly lighter; feet dusky; pelage everywhere 

 slate-colored at base. 



Underparts. — Light ochraceous with slate-Colored basal 

 pelage showing through. 



Immature more unicolor than adults, yellowish brown. 



Measurements. — Sexes of equal size. Total length, 6 

 inches; tail vertebras, .8 inch; hind foot, .8 inch. 



Geographical Distribution. — Arctic North America and 

 south along Rocky Mountains to western Alberta. 



Food. — Grasses, foliage of Arctic plants, mosses, lichens, 

 etc. 



Enemies. — Owls, Hawks, Weasels, Arctic Foxes, and other 

 predatory mammals. 



399 



