Distribution of Synaptomys cooperi 
161 
Capture success varied considerably between field seasons with 
rates of 2.5, 2.1, and 6.5% recorded for each respective season. 
Species composition within the treatments was relatively consistent 
among the field seasons. 
Three S. cooperi were trapped in 2 of the 15 stands. Two 
were taken in snap traps, one in a pitfall trap. All captures of 
Synaptomys were from natural pocosin stands associated with the 
Great Lake Pocosin. Two were taken in the short pocosin stand, 
and one was taken from the periphery at the tall pocosin stand. 
Vegetation sampling — The percent cover and dominant species 
in the canopy, midstory, and understory of all sampled treatments 
is presented in Table 2. The short pocosin stand where two 
S. cooperi were taken was dominated by shrubs that rarely ex- 
ceeded 1 m in height. It had an open canopy primarily com- 
posed of pond pine ( Pinus serotina ) with a few loblolly bay trees 
(Gordonia lasianthus). Trees were sparsely distributed, stunted, and 
poorly developed. Dominant shrubs were fetterbush ( Lyonia lucida ), 
titi ( Cyrilla racemiflora), red bay ( Persea borbonia), loblolly bay, 
young pond pine, zenobia ( Zenobia pulverulenta ), and sweetbell 
( Leucothoe spp.). Dominant herbaceous species included cinna- 
mon fern ( Osmunda cinnamonea), pitcher plant ( Sarracenia spp.), 
and sphagnum moss ( Sphagnum spp.) 
The average height of the overstory in the tall pocosin stand 
where one S. cooperi was captured was 13 m. Dominant trees were 
pond pine and loblolly bay; the shrub layer height averaged 1.5-3 
m. The most common shrubs were fetterbush, loblolly bay, small 
gallberry {Ilex glabra), titi, and huckleberry ( Gaylussacia sp.). There 
was little herbaceous vegetation, only sparsely distributed Smilax. 
Specimen identification — Based on geographic proximity, the 
specimens are expected to represent S. c. helaletes, a race pre- 
viously regarded as endemic to the Dismal Swamp region. The sub- 
specific identity of the National Forest specimens is not clear from 
the skull measurements. We compared these measurements to those 
of the S. c. stonei and S. c. helaletes specimens that were mea- 
sured by Wetzel (1955) (Table 3). Wetzel’s conservative treatment 
of the adult category precludes subspecific determination by skull 
measurements because none of the National Forest specimens had 
all characteristics used by Wetzel to place them in the adult 
category. 
DISCUSSION 
The habits of the southern bog lemming certainly contribute to 
the low capture rates for this rodent. A. K. Fisher found Synaptomys 
