Prairie Meadow Mouse 
Prairie Meadow Mouse 
Microtus austerus (Le Conte) 
Length. 6 inches. 
Description. Shape much as in the meadow mouse but upper parts 
grizzly gray, caused by a uniform mixture of grayish white 
and black hairs over the whole surface. No brown or chestnut 
tints such as characterize the meadow mouse. Below light 
gray or ochraceous. The fur is harsher and more bristly than 
any of the other members of the meadow mouse tribe. 
kange. Upper Mississippi Valley, southern Wisconsin and Illinois 
to southern Missouri and west to Kansas. 
The grizzly gray color and rather harsh pelage characterize 
these little animals which are inhabitants of the prairies of the 
Upper Mississippi Valley. Mr. Kennicott states that they frequent 
moist localities in summer and drier regions in winter. ‘‘ Their 
winter burrows on the uncultivated prairie are often in old ant hills 
or if not, the earth thrown out from them forms little hillocks. 
They are not very deep, seldom over six inches or a foot, but are 
remarkable for the numerous and complicated chambers and side 
passages of which they are composed. In one of these chambers, 
considerably enlarged, is placed the nest, formed of fine dry grass.” 
The first litter of young is apparently brought forth in this nest 
but later in the spring the mice construct similar nests on the 
surface of the ground. The prairie field mouse is not gregarious 
and when more than one pair are found in the same spot they are 
attracted by some particular food. 
In cultivated fields they frequently establish themselves in corn 
shocks in the same manner as the common field mouse. 
Pine Mouse 
Microtus pinetorum (Le Conte) 
Length. 6 inches. 
Description. Uniform rusty brown on the upper surface, lighter on 
the sides, where it passes gradually into the silvery-gray of the 
under parts. Young individuals are quite gray above with no 
reddish tints. The short, dense silky fur distinguishes the 
species from any other mouse. 
Range. Southern New York and Connecticut to Illinois and south- 
ward to Florida. 
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