78 RODENTS OP IOWA 



fading and wear. Not much evidence of wear is shown before early 

 spring; but as the tips of the hairs wear off the pelage becomes 

 redder, and by the middle of the summer it shows indications of con- 

 siderable fading. 



Grain, seeds, and green vegetation form the principal articles of 

 diet of the prairie harvest mouse. From the fact that it prefers 

 more or less neglected areas overgrown with native plants which are 

 of no value or of only slight value to the agriculturist it is evident 

 that, in Iowa at least, this mouse does little damage. Add to this the 

 fact that it is apparently not common in any locality and the likeli- 

 hood of damage is also lessened. 



In Utah the species is reported as causing some damage by climb- 

 ing grain stalks and cutting off the heads. It is also reported that 

 in eastern Kansas this form is found under shocks of wheat and 

 corn in the fall and that in such situations it takes some grain. 



This is a western form that is apparently working its way to the 

 east and north ; the records given below indicate that it is pretty 

 generally distributed throughout the state, although nowhere does it 

 seem to be abundant or even common. 



Specimens are at hand from the following localities in Iowa: 

 Iowa City, Wall Lake, Atlantic, Ottumwa, Tama, Logan, and Jeffer- 

 son. This form has also been recorded from Fairport, Hillsboro, and 

 Palo Alto county. These records indicate that the prairie harvest 

 mouse is distributed rather sparingly over practically the entire 

 state ; though Mr. Pellett reports that it is common in the vicinity 

 of Atlantic and he has several specimens in his collection from 

 that place. See also the map on page 107. 



MEADOW MOUSE. MEADOW VOLE. 



Microtus pennsylvamcus pennsylvanicus (Ord). 



Mus pennsylvcmica Ord, Guthrie's Geography, 2d Amer. ed., II, 

 292, 1815. 



Description. Color above reddish brown to yellowish chestnut, 

 mixed with blackish hairs; sides lighter, the lower sides yellowish 

 brown ; feet brownish with six calloused tubercles on the soles ; tail 

 dark above, paler beneath, and more than one-third the length of 

 head and body; color below grayish white, on some specimens 

 faintly washed with cinnamon brown. 



Measurements. Total length, 6.50 inches: tail vertebrae, 1.70 

 inches ; hind foot, 0.85 inch. 



