108 RODENTS OP IOWA 



The geographical distribution of several of the closely allied 

 forms of the genus Sywptomys has not yet been definitely worked 

 out, so that some of the reports which have been made -concerning 

 the habits of one form may properly be credited to what may prove 

 to be another. This is probably the form recorded by Osborn 

 (Proc. la. Acad. Sci., 43, 1887-1889) and in, U A Partial Catalogue 

 of the Animals of Iowa," (Ames, Iowa, 5, 1891), but in neither 

 case are definite localities given. T. Van Hyning, (Proc. la. 

 Acad. Sci., XX, 311, 1913), recorded this form from Fairport, 

 the record being taken from a single specimen secured by T. Surber 

 of the U. S. Biological Station, February 16, 1912, on the laboratory 

 grounds. This mouse has also been recorded from Knoxville. In 

 the course of this work but one specimen has been received and 

 that from Logan, Harrison county, at the extreme western border 

 of the state. Thus, although the recorded specimens have been 

 taken at widely separated points in the state, the probability is 

 that Goss's lemming mouse may be found sparingly in practically 

 every locality. 



POCKET GOPHERS. 

 Family GEOMYID/E. 



The family Geomyidae comprises the mammals commonly known 

 as pocket gophers, the distribution of which is restricted to North 

 and Central America. The family is best developed in western 

 United States and Mexico; it does not occur east of the Mississippi 

 Basin except in the Gulf States where it reaches the Atlantic 

 States in Florida and Georgia. The members of the family are all 

 fossorial and live under ground and their structure is modified in 

 accordance with the needs for a subterranean method of living. 



POCKET GOPHER. SHAW'S POCKET GOPHER. 

 RED GOPHER. 



Geomys bursarius bursarius (Shaw). 

 Mus lursarius Shaw, Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., V, 227, 1800. 



Description. Upper parts chestnut brown with the concealed 

 bases of the hairs dark plumbeous ; under parts paler ; feet whitish ; 

 tail stout, the basal portion with hairs chestnut brown, the apical 

 portion sparsely covered with white or whitish hairs ; body heavy, 

 neck very short; fur-lined cheek pouches opening to the exterior; 

 front feet enlarged, fitted for digging, the claws usually large 

 and long. 



