300 



VERTEBRATE AXIMALS OF THE UNITED STATES 



5. Sigmodon Say and Ord. Body large and rat-like ; ears large ; tail 

 long; molars with crowns flattened and showing S-shaped loops: 

 II species, mostly in Mexico; i species in the United States. 



5. hispidus S. and 0. Cotton rat (Fig. 166) . Color yellowish brown 

 above sprinkled with black, whitish beneath; fur long and coarse; 



^m 







Fig. 165. — Oryzomys paliistris {after 

 Stone &■ Cram). 



Fig. 166. — Sigmodon hispidus {after 

 Stone if Cram). 



length 252 mm.; tail 102 mm.; hind foot 32 mm.: south Atlantic and 

 Gulf States; westward to Kansas, Texas and into Mexico; 11 subspecies. 



Subspecies of S. hispidus 



S. h. hispidus S. and O. North Carolina to Florida and Louisiana. 

 5. h. littoralis Chapman. Color darker: southeastern Florida. 



