Feb., 1912. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 225 



and it often does considerable damage in the garden, as it is fond of 

 vegetables such as carrots and potatoes. In localities where it is at 

 all common it is destructive to fruit trees. Kennicott states that while 

 their food consists largely of roots of grass and other plants, he has 

 found acorns and hazel-nuts in their burrows. 



The exact range of the Mole Mouse in Illinois is uncertain. Bailey 

 records it from West Northfield, Cook Co., and from Warsaw, Hancock 

 Co. Kennicott states it was common in northern Illinois and southern 

 Wisconsin, but the latter statement at least is questionable, as so far 

 as I am aware there is no actual record of its having been taken in 

 Wisconsin. Wood failed to find it in Champaign Co. and doubts that 

 it is found there. The most northern record I have been able to find 

 of its occurrence in Indiana is that given by Evermann and Butler from 

 Wabash Co.* (/. c, p. 127.) It is common, however, in southern 

 Illinois. The Field Museum collection contains specimens from John- 

 son, Alexander and Hardin counties. 



Specimens examined from Illinois : 

 Illinois — Olive Branch, Alexander Co., 11; Rosiclare, Hardin Co.,i; 



Reevesville, Johnson Co., 2 = 14. 



Genus FIBER Cuvier. 



Fiber Cuvier, Tabl. Elem. de Hist. Nat. des Anim., 1798, p. 141. (De- 

 scribed in 1798, but not named until 1800) Ih., Legons d'Anat. 

 Comp., I, 1800, tab I. Type Castor zibethicus Linn. 

 Body short and thickly furred; tail bare and vertically compressed 



(width decidedly less than height); toes of hind feet partly webbed; 



molars or grinding teeth with pronged roots; lower incisors with roots 



on outside of molars; auditory meatus with protruding edge. 



Dental formula: I. - — \ C. ^— ^j Pm. ^— ^j M. ^— ^= 16. 

 i-i 0-0 0-0 3-3 



Fiber zibethicus (Linn.). 



MUSKRAT. 



Castor zibethicus Linn^us, Syst. Nat., XII ed., I, 1766, p. 79. 



Fiber zibethicus Lapham, Trans. Wis. State Agr. Soc, II, 1852 (1853), p. 340 (Wis- 

 consin). Kennicott, Trans. 111. State Agr. Soc, I, 1853-54 (1855), p. 579 

 (Cook Co., Illinois). lb., Agr. Rept. for 1856, U. S. Patent Office Rept., 1857, 

 p. 105 (Illinois). Miles, Rept. Geol. Surv. Mich., I, i860 (1861), p. 221 (Mich- 



* Given as pinetorum by Evermann & Butler, but which I assume to be this 

 race. 



