132 CAUFORNIA MAMAfAT*'^. 



Length about 140 mm. { 5.50 inches) : tail vertebra? 42 

 (1.65): hind foot 17 {.Sj). 



Type locality, AstCKna, Oreg-on. 



Oregon Meadow-Mice frequent dry open ground under cov^r 

 of grass, or of logs in open forest from Humboldt Bay to Pug^ 

 Sound. 



Genus Fiber Cu\txr- (Beaver.) 



Size, largest of the family: skull stroog. angu1a.r. verv" nar- 

 row between the orbits : molars rooted : basal part of lower incisor 

 passing on tongue side of the first and second molars and on the 

 outer side of third; parietaJs and interparietal very small; hind 

 feet large, partly webbed, capable of being- turned obliquely in 

 swimming: tail long, widened perpendicularly and fringed with 

 stiff hairs on the ei^es. the sides being nearly bare: underfur 

 deise. 



Fiber zibethecns pallidus Mearxs. i Civet like: t>allic!.> 



PALE MUSKRAT. 



General color above light glossy chestnut : sides msset : lower 

 pans grayer; underfur light plumbeous. 



Length about 445 mm. ( 17.50 inches) ; tail vertebrae 195 

 (7.70) ; hind foot 6S {2. 67) ; ear from crown 16.5 ('.65V 



IN-pe locality. Fort Verde, Arizona. 



Pale Muskrats live alon^ the Colorado River and :is tribu- 

 taries, but are not plentiful. They live in the banks of the main 

 river and also in the banks of ponds and old channels containing 

 still water. Muskrats have been reported from Carson Riva- id 

 Nevada, and they may cross the State line into the few suitable 

 places in the upper part of the valley. I am^ quite sure that I 

 have seen a reference to their occurrence in the Sacramento Val- 

 ley, bat I am imable to find rt or recall the particulars. 



I fomid Pak Muskrats in a small lake above Needles. 00 the 

 Arizona, side, but they wo-e very few in nmnber. On the Califor- 



