MAMMALS OF MARYLAND 



105 



The food of the meadow vole consists chiefly of fresh grass, sedges, 

 grains, and seeds. Green vegetation comprises the major portion of 

 its diet in the spring and summer, while in the fall, grains and seeds 

 are an important commodity. In winter, bark and roots of shrubs 

 and trees are sometimes consumed. 



Hamilton (1943, p. 327) says that the meadow vole is of great eco- 

 nomic importance. By girdling fruit trees and nursery stock it causes 

 monetary loss to the horticulturist. The amount of forage crops it 

 consumes, while difficult to measure, is in the aggregate a very great 

 loss to the farmer. It does, however, perform a useful function in 

 providing predatory birds and mammals with an abundant source of 

 food. 



Specimens examined. — Allegany County: Cumberland, 2; Mount 

 Savage, 8 ; Oldtown, 4 miles E, 19 ; Oldtown, 9 miles E, 74 ; Sideling 

 Hill Creek, 3. Anne Arundel County: Annapolis, 1 mile W, 6; Annap- 

 olis, 3 miles W, 4; Annapolis, 4 miles W, 2; Lake Shore area, 1. 

 Baltimore County : Loch Raven, 2. Charles County : Nanjemoy Creek, 

 2; Newport, 5. Garrett County: Finzel, 1; Grantsville, 1; Mountain 

 Lake Park, 2. Hoioard County : Atholton, % mile S, 5; Long Corner, 

 1. Montgomery County: Cabin John Bridge, 1 mile N, 1; Kensington, 

 1 ; Rockville, 2.3 miles NE, 3 ; Seneca, 11/2 miles NW, 26 ; Seneca, 2.9 

 miles W, 52 ; Silver Spring (vicinity) , 5. Prince Georges County: Col- 

 lingwood ( = CoUington ? ) , mile S, 2; Hyattsville, 10; Lanham, 1; 

 Laurel, 30; Oxon Hill, 11; Eiggs Mill, 1. Queen Annes County: 

 Parson Island, 2. District of Columbia: 91. 



Other records and reports. — Allegany County: Dans Mountain 

 (Coll. U. Md.) ; La Vale (Coll. U. Md.) ; McCoole (Coll. Carnegie 

 Museum). Anne Arundel County: Dorsey (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service files). Baltimore County: Bare Hills-Lake Roland area 

 (Bures, 1948, p. 67) ; Patapsco State Park (Hampe, 1939, p. 6). Gar- 

 ret County: Cranberry Swamp (Coll. LL Md.). Cranesville Pine 

 Swamp (Mansueti, 1958, p. 83) ; Cunningham Swamp (Coll. U. Md.). 

 Prince Georges County: Patuxent Research Center (Herman and 

 Warbach,1956,p.87). 



Remarks. — This subspecies intergrades with Microtus p. nigrans in 

 the Eastern Shore and Western Shore sections. Specimens from the 

 northern portion of these sections (Parson Island, Annapolis vicinity, 

 Laurel, Oxon Hill) are, however, clearly referable to M. p. pennsyl- 

 vanicus, as is a small series from Newport, in the south central 

 Western Shore section. 



