loo The Mammals of Colorado 
been taken in Larimer, Boulder, Grand, El Paso, Teller, Fremont, 
Costilla, Hinsdale, San Juan, Mineral, Mesa, Gunnison, Rio Blanco, 
Saguache, and Montrose counties. It is found most commonly 
in the Hudsonian and Canadian zones, but ranges well down into 
the Transition and even Upper Sonoran, having been taken at 
Grand Junction, 4,600 feet, and from that elevation up to nearly 
1 1,000 feet. While this book has been in press I have seen one from 
the Summit House on Pike's Peak, 14,147 feet. 
Habits. — This vole inhabits quite a variety of ground, as 
it may be found in wet meadows, on dry grassy slopes, along 
the banks of the streams, and even about rocks on the hill- 
sides. Its habits of food and breeding are like those of the 
other voles. They have been known to come into dwellings 
which the Dwarf Vole, though equally abundant at the same 
place, did not seem inclined to do. 
I once had one in confinement for some little time, which 
became quite tame, and allowed itself to be handled freely 
w^ithout attempting to escape. It occasionally made good 
its name of "cantankerous" by catching hold of one's finger 
with its teeth and allowing itself to be lifted into the air 
without loosening its hold. Those little incisors were very 
nice and sharp and went in good and deep. 
Microtus pauperrimus (Lat. pauper, poor, in allusion to 
its small size). Pigmy Vole. 
Arvicola pauperrima Cooper, Am. Nat. ii., p. 535-536 (1868). 
Type locality. — Plains of the Columbia, near Snake River, 
Washington. 
Measurements. — Total length, 4.5 ; tail vert., 0.75 ; hind foot 0.36. 
Description. — (From specimen taken at Sulphur Springs, April 
12th): Above buffy or ochraceous gray, mingled with blackish 
tipped hairs; ears and nose buffy; feet and under parts gray, lightly 
tinged with buff. Tail grayish above and buffy below. This 
species is easily distinguished from all the other species of Microtus 
found in Colorado by its small size and very short tail. 
Distribution. — The Pigmy Vole is reported from Washington, 
Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. In Colorado it has been taken 
only in Larimer, Grand, and Routt counties. It is an inhabitant of 
the Transition Zone. 
