LoTig-nosed Deer-Mouse, Peromysctis nasiitus. 



J)eer-mice are distributed all over the State, from tlie lowest 

 elevation to above tiiriberline. They adai)t Uiemselves readily to 

 all eonditious, beiu*i' found throughout the foothills and mountain 

 regions, living among the roeks, under decayed logs, around de- 

 serted cabins and quite frequently taking up their abode in oc- 

 cupied cabins and their outbuildings. 



On the plains they are found in the prairie-dog towns, in bur- 

 rows under yucca, sage-brush and grease- wool, and around the 

 buildings of the ranchmen. 



In walking across the plains if you come across a piece of old 

 flattened tin, or an old board, you can frequently find under such 

 objects the nests of these mice. In the cultivated sections of the 

 state they are found along the ditch banks and fences, often in 

 company with the house-mouse (Mus musculus). In a great many 

 cases they occupy the deserted burrows of the striped ground- 

 squirrel (Citellus i. pallidus). Traps set around hay stacks will 

 nearly always yield a good catch of these mice. This is also true 

 of shocks of corn, wheat, oats or other grains. Deer-mice destroy 

 considerable grain in the shocks, but as a rule do very little damage 

 in the fields to growing grains. 



From our' records, deer-mice in Colorado have from five to 

 six young in a litter, and breed six or seven months in the year. 



Genus Neotoma (Wood-Rats) 



Mountain- or w^ood-rats vary in color from mouse color to red- 

 dish brown. Size rather large ; tail long, tapering, thinly haired 

 or bushy. 



The fur is very soft and silky. Very seldom seen abroad in 

 daylight. Total length from about 11 to 15 inches. 



Colorado Species of Wood-Rats. 



Bailey's Wood-Rat, Neotoma floridana haileyi. 



Hoary Wood-Rat, Neotoma. micropus canescens. 



Warren's Wood-Rat, Neotoma alhigida warreni. 



Gale's Wood-Rat, Neotoma mexicana fallax. 



Desert Wood-Rat, Neotoma desertorum. 



Mountain Rat, Neotoma cinerea orolestes. 



Arizona Wood-Rat, Neotoma cinerea arizonae. 



Pallid Bushy-Tailed Wood-Rat, Neotoma cinerea rupicola. 



The wood-rats of Colorado represent five groups, Floridana, 

 Alhigvla, Mexicana, Desertorvum and Cinera. But for convenience 

 sake we will place them in two only, the round-tailed and bushy- 



9 



