1936] 



MAMMALS OF OREGON 



235 



common in the grassy and flowery mountain meadows and under 

 the fringing willows along the creeks, and are often taken in con- 

 siderable numbers by collectors. 



In August they become fat, and none are taken between the early 

 part of September and May. They hibernate for 6 or 7 months in 

 underground nests, laying up no food but depending entirely on 

 their accumulated fat to carry them through the winter. In food 

 and breeding habits they show no subspecific peculiarities. 



Family HETEKOMYIDAE: Kangaroo Rats and Pocket Mice 



PERODIPUS ORDII COLUMBIANUS MEEBIAM 

 COLUMBIAN FIVE-TOED KANGAROO RAT ; WAPOTA PITSUA of the Piute 



Perodipus ordi oolumbianus Merriam, Biol. Soc. Wash. Proc. 9: 115, 1894. 



Type. Collected at Umatilla, Oreg., by Clark P. Streator, October 18, 1890. 



General characters. A small, five-toed, buff-colored kangaroo rat, with long 

 crested tail (pi. 39, A) ; long hairy soled hind feet; small hands; wide head; 

 large eyes ; small hooded ears ; 

 and very long mustaches. 

 Skull with inflated mastoids 

 and broad antorbital arches; 

 upper incisors narrow, equal- 

 ly grooved and strongly re- 

 curved. Upper parts dark 

 buff with dusky ears, sides of 

 nose, heels, and soles, and 

 plumbeous stripes along top 

 and bottom of tail; lower 

 parts, feet, sides of tail, hip 

 stripes, brow and ear patches 

 and lining of cheek pouches 

 white. The white side lines 

 of the tail are broad and usu- 

 ally meet below just back of 

 the tip of tail. 



Measurements. Type : To- 



FIGURE 53. Range of three forms of kangaroo 

 rats (Dipodomys and Perodipus) in Oregon: 1, 

 Perodipus orclii columbianus; 2, Dipodomys heer- 

 manni calif ornicus ; 3, D. h. gabrielsoni. Type 

 localities circled. 



tal length, 254 mm; tail, 148; 

 foot, 40; ear (dry), 11. 

 Adult female from Malheur 

 Lake: 242; 135; 42; ear in 

 flesh, 13. Weight 50 g. 



Distribution and habitat. These are the common kangaroo rats of 

 eastern Oregon, occupying practically all of the Upper Sonoran sage- 

 brush valleys east of the mountains, except in the Klamath section 

 (fig. 53). They prefer sandy or mellow soils, but are occasionally 

 found on firm or even hard soils on the uplands, but never in such 

 numbers as in the sandy areas. They prefer the open and avoid dense 

 vegetation. 



(jf-eneral habits. The name "kangaroo rat" is wholly inappro- 

 priate and misleading for these beautiful little rodents. The large 

 hind feet and legs and long tails are the only points of superficial 

 resemblance to kangaroos and these are structurally entirely different 

 from those of any marsupial. Neither are they closely related to 

 rats or in any way ratlike in appearance. Still the name seems 

 hopelessly fastened upon them. 



They are beautiful little animals with short, arched bodies, large 

 heads, large black eyes; short rounded ears; fur-lined cheek pouches; 

 long, slender, tasseled tails; long hind feet and legs; and small hands. 



