ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



1305 



KANGAROO RAT 



EGYPTIAN JERBOA 



be quite consumed before the next feeding hour, 

 we have brought about a condition of diurnal 

 activity. Prior to a given feeding time the en- 

 tire collection is active, which results in all its 

 members being displayed most satisfactorily. 

 At such times it is interesting to note such 

 strictly nocturnal creatures as the jerboas and 

 flying squirrels moving about their cages in 

 lively fashion. 



The excellent condition of the rodents series 

 is largely attributable to the devoted attentions 

 of Keeper George Palmer. It is rather difficult 

 to find men sympatheticallv interested in the 

 very small animals, but Keeper Palmer has 

 shown unflagging interest and care in studying 

 and ministering to the wants and ways of his 

 small subjects. Many of the cages, and all 

 of the nesting boxes and accessories, were built 

 by him in a work shop at the Reptile House. 

 The food supply of the collection is inexpensive. 

 It includes carrots, celery, lettuce, stale white 

 bread, whole and cracked corn, sunflower seed, 

 and the small seeds most commonly used as bird 

 food. 



It is important to note the degree of popular 

 interest in this collection, aside from the more 



systematic interest of those actually engaged in 

 the study of animals. At any time of the day 

 a glance at the rodent series will show a num- 

 ber of the animals alert and moving. The big 

 pack-rat may be gathering mouthfuls of cut hay, 

 or carefully carrying bread cubes from one cor- 

 ner of his cage to another. Noting some dis- 

 turbance in his small world, he vigorously 

 stamps his feet, then ostentatiously clears a 

 space about him by shoving away the hay with 

 his forefeet, as if preparing to fight. In a 

 nearby cage several desert spermophiles turn 

 endless somersaults by running up the glass 

 panel, and leaping downward from the top. In 

 the cage next to them are the vigorous and 

 vividly striped California chipmunks. Some of 

 the rodents play like kittens, and from various 

 cages come cheery whistles, chirps and chatter- 

 ings. Among the spermophiles there are several 

 species that are remarkably bird-like in their 

 calls. 



We have devoted a small group of cages to 

 remarkable color phases of domesticated mice. 

 Here may be seen a number of interesting tjqoes 

 of albinism. The most striking of these are 

 the breeds known as "pink-eyed fawns" and 



THIRTEEN-LINED SPERMOPHILE 



VISCACHA 



