sr5^

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

OF THE
MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY

GIFT OF

Kirtley F. Mather

mz. tm?. mi

IIaR 1 0 1953

University of Kansas Publications
Museum of Natural History

Volume 7, No. 1, pp. 1-303, 73 figures in text, 37 tables
August 25, 1952

MAMMALS OF KANSAS

BY

E. LENDELL COCKRUM

University of Kansas

Lawrence

1952

University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History

Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, A. Byron Leonard,
Edward H. Taylor, Robert W. Wilson

Volume 7, No. 1, pp. 1-303, 73 figures in text, 37 tables
Published August 25, 1952

University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

tmt mi

MAR 1 0 195c

G.u

t " Uv

PRINTED BY

FERD VOILAND. JR.. STATE PRINTER

TOPEKA. KANSAS

1952

24-1424

Mammals of Kansas

by
E. Lendell Cockrum

CONTENTS

PAGE

Introduction 4

Topography 5

Climate 7

Vegetation 9

Faunal Divisions of Kansas 9

Problems of Distribution and Speciation in Kansas 16

Methods 28

Check-list of Mammals of Kansas 30

Accounts of Species and Subspecies 34

Order Marsupialia 34

Order Insectivora 40

Order Cliiroptera 54

Order Edentata 87

Order Lagomorpha 90

Order Rodentia 110

Order Carnivora 219

Order Artiodactyla 268

Hypothetical List 278

Type Localities 284

Bibliography 286

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figs. 1 and 2. Hydrothermographs 7 and 8

Fig. 3. Biotic Districts in Kansas 12

Fig. 4. Mammalian Distributional Areas in Kansas 15

Fig. 60. Graph; bounty payments on coyotes 222

Figs. 5-59, 61-73. Distribution maps 36-217, 225-264

(3)

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

INTRODUCTION

Kansas is the meeting ground of the Great Plains grassland fauna
and the eastern, deciduous forest fauna. Here, biologically, the
East meets the West. Several kinds of mammals reach their north-
ern limits and other kinds reach their southern Hmits in the state.
The result is that Kansas, although relatively uniform climatically
and topographically, has more kinds of mammals than most states
east of the Rocky Mountains.

Several reports have been published on the mammals of the state
in the past 100 years. Knox ( 1875 ) published the first inclusive list of
the 60 mammals then known to occur in the state. Cragin (1885)
made some additions to the list, and J. A. Allen (1874, 1895) and
Baker (1889) published accounts of species found and of observa-
tions made at various places in the western part of the state. Lantz
( 1905A, 1905B ) published two accounts of the mammals of Kansas
which summarized all information available to him on distribution
and economic importance of the kinds known to occur in the state.
Unfortunately for mammalogy, an admirable account of the mam-
mals of the state prepared by A. Remington Kellogg as a master's
thesis at the University of Kansas was never published. Hibbard
(1933, 1944) published check-lists of the mammals of the state,
listing 109 kinds in 1933 and 120 kinds in 1944. Although Black
( 1937 ) published the first major account of our mammals, he omitted
mention of kinds believed to have become extinct witliin historic
time. Paul B. Allen (1940) published an account of the mammals
of the state but did not distinguish between species and subspecies
in his discussions of geographic ranges and characteristics; thus
much confusion results from the use of his paper.

In addition to the larger papers mentioned above, many shorter
papers have been published, consisting chiefly of notes on life his-
tories, new records of occurrence, extensions of recorded ranges,
and mention of specimens in monographs. All such publications
known to the writer are listed in the bibliography at the end of this
paper.

Aims in the preparation of this account of the mammals of Kansas
were: to determine the kinds of mammals that have occurred in the
state within Recent time; to ascertain for each kind its geographic
range and to show this range on a map; to furnish keys by which
each of the species may be identified; to provide general informa-
tion on the habits and economic importance of each of the species;

Introduction and Topography 5

to provide, in so far as possible, for each kind (species and sub-
species) a synonymy complete for Kansas; to catalogue and evalu-
ate taxonomically the extent of variation (individual, specific, sub-
specific, and geographic); and to point out factors aflFecting the
distribution of the various kinds of mammals in the state.

One hundred and nineteen different kinds of mammals are thought
to occur, or to have formerly ( within historic time ) occurred, in the
state. A total of 9,044 specimens was examined in the course of this
study.

The completion of this paper would have been difficult, if not
impossible, without the assistance, both directly and indirectly, of
several persons and institutions. At the University of Kansas nu-
merous staff members of the Museum of Natural History, and staff
members, graduate students, and undergraduate students from the
Department of Zoology added valuable specimens to the collection
in the Museum of Natural History. For the loan of specimens from
Kansas as well as for comparative materials from other states and
for the opportunity afforded to examine these specimens, I am grate-
ful to the authorities of each of the following institutions: Chicago
Museum of Natural History; Los Angeles County Museum; United
States Biological Surveys Collections; United States National Mu-
seum; Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection; and Ottawa Univer-
sity, Ottawa, Kansas. The late G. C. Rinker, of Hamilton, Kansas,
and the late A. J. Kirn, of Somerset, Texas, generously permitted me
to examine material in their private collections. Acknowledgment
is made to the Kansas Biological Survey for financial assistance in
the final year of field work and in the preparation of the manuscript.

For help with the mechanics of the preparation of the manuscript
in one way and another, I am grateful to several persons, especially
to my wife, Irma Cockrum, and to Alice White. I am grateful to Pro-
fessor E. Raymond Hall for guidance in the study and for critical
assistance with the manuscript, to Professor A. Byron Leonard for
similar assistance, especially in the final year of my study, and to
Professors Robert W. Wilson and Charles D. Michener for valuable
suggestions. Finally, I wish to express my thanks to the many other
friends and associates who have given of tiieir time, constructive
criticism, and assistance.

TOPOGRAPHY
Kansas is nearly oblong in shape and is 82,276 square miles in
area. The geographical center of the United States lies in Kansas,
the exact point being marked by a monument standing 11 miles
east and four miles north of Smith Center, Smith County.

6 University of Kansas Publs,, Mus. Nat. Hist.

Although Kansas is essentially a plain, its surface is not every-
where flat, horizontal, and featureless. There are innumerable
hills and valleys, and, in the western and southwestern part of the
state, there are canyons with steep bare rock walls. The surface
of the state slopes gradually eastward at the rate of ten to 15 feet
per mile. The highest point in the state has an elevation of 4,135
feet above sea level and is situated on the west border of the state
in Wallace County. The lowest point in the state, slightly less than
700 feet above sea level, is at the point where the Verdigris River
leaves Kansas, approximately three miles south of Coffeyville,
Montgomery County.

A guide to the physiography of the state has been published by
Schoewe (1949:279). A short summary of his classification fol-
lows. Two major physiographic divisions (Interior Highlands
Division and the Interior Plains Division) and three physiographic
provinces are recognized. The Ozark Plateaus Province, a part of
the Interior Highlands Division, is present in Kansas only in the
southeast corner of Cherokee County, in an area of approximately
50 square miles. Spring River marks its approximate western
limits in the state. The Interior Plains Division which makes up
the remainder of the state, is divided into two physiographic
provinces. The Central Lowlands Province includes all of the
eastern one-third of the state and extends westward in a tongue
along the Arkansas River Valley to the western border of the state.
The remainder of the state is included in the Great Plains Province.
Each of these provinces is divided by Schoewe ( op. cit. ) into a con-
siderable number of sections and minor subdivisions. These subdi-
visions seem to have little if any significance as concerns the geo-
graphic distribution of native wild mammals, and hence are not
considered further in the present account.

The principal drainage of the state is from west to east. The
Kansas [Kaw] River, with its main tributaries, the Republican,
Solomon, Saline, and Smoky Hill rivers, drains the northern half
of the state and empties into the Missouri River at Kansas City.
The Arkansas River, with its tributaries, the Pawnee, Ninnescali,
Chikaskia, Medicine Lodge, and Cimarron, drains the southwestern
and south-central sections of the state. Most of these streams follow
a general west-east direction, although the Arkansas River turns
abruptly to the south before it leaves the state. The drainage pat-
tern of the southeastern part of the state in general is from north
to south. The Spring, Neosho, Verdigris, and Walnut rivers are the
principal streams in this section.

Climate

CLIMATE

Notable features of the climate are frequent and abrupt changes.
Summers are usually warm, often with periods of high temperatures
and low relative humidity. Winters are drier than the summers.
According to Flora (1948:1), Kansas has three climatic types

80

70

60

a>

2! 50

en
O

40

30

20

Inches

Fig. 1. Hydrothermographs of the three climatic areas of Kansas, (a)
western, (b) central, and (c) eastern. Temperature is represented in degrees
Fahrenheit, precipitation in inches. Numbers beside points in the figure desig-
nate months of the year.

which correspond roughly in distribution to the eastern, middle,
and western thirds of the state. Flora ( loc. cit. ) pointed out that
the eastern third has an average annual precipitation of 35.27
inches, a higher relative humidity, less sunshine, and less range

8

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

between day and night temperatures than other parts of the state.
Its winters are somewhat milder and its growing seasons longer
than areas to the west and north. In spite of this, spring and the
advancement of crops, including harvest dates, are often earlier in
the south-central counties than in the southeastern part of the state.

80

70

60

(A

«50
Q

40

30-

20

(0)

(b)
(c)

3
Inches

Fig. 2. Hydrothermographs of three towns in Kansas, (a) Colby, Thomas
County, in the northwest, (b) Horton, Brown County, in the northeast, and
(c) Columbus, Cherokee County, in the southeast part of the state. Tempera-
ture is represented in degrees Fahrenheit, precipitation in inches. Numbers
beside points in the figure designate months of the year.

The middle third has an average annual precipitation of 26.45
inches. It has drier air, more sunshine, better wind movement,
and a greater range between day and night temperatures than the
eastern third.

The western third has an average annual precipitation of 19.01
inches. The air is dry, the amount of sunshine is great and wind
movement is high. The range between day and night temperatures
is considerably greater than at points farther eastward.

Climate and Vegetation 9

Hydrothermographs (figure 1), illustrating in graphic form the
average monthly temperature and precipitation in the three parts,
demonstrate that the main differences among them result from
variations in the amounts of precipitation, rather than from vari-
ations in the average monthly temperatures. This difference is
more noticeable when one compares hydrothermographs for Colby,
Thomas County, in the northwestern part of the state; Horton,
Brown County, in the northeastern part of the state; and Columbus,
Cherokee County, in the southeastern part of the state ( figure 2 ) .

VEGETATION

Eastern Kansas is characterized by a mixture of prairies and
deciduous forests. These forests occur, for the most part, on flood
plains and moist hillsides and include elm ( Ulmtis ) , sycamore
(Platanus occidentalis) , burr oak (Quercus macrocarpa), eastern
Cottonwood (Populus deltoides), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis),
redbud {Cercis canadensis), and buckeye (Aesculus) (Dice 1923A:
45). According to Wilhams (1946:117): "There are 1,122,626
acres of farm forest land in Kansas, including Forest Service shelter-
belts and Soil Conservation Service plantings. This represents
only twenty-five per cent of the forests originally found in the state
when the first white settlers arrived." The prairies of eastern
Kansas are characterized by the presence of blue stem, especially
on the western edge of the zone, and blue grass and miscellaneous
grasses on the eastern border of the state (Gates: 1937).

The climax vegetation of the western three-fifths of Kansas is com-
posed of grasses. Although a number of species of grasses occur
there, Gates (1937) regarded blue grama {Boutelotia gracilis) and
buffalo grass ( Buchloe dacttjloides ) as characteristic of the western
short-grass area.

A mixture of short grasses and tall grasses occurs in the central
part of the state. As a result, the name "mixed-grasses area" is often
applied to this region. Grasses present include the blue grama, buf-
falo grass, big bluestem (Andropogon furcatus), little bluestem
(Andropogon scoparius), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), and
sideoat grama (Botiteloua ctirtipendida). Albertson (1937:481-547)
has described the ecology of a mixed prairie in west-central Kansas.

FAUNAL DIVISIONS OF KANSAS

Topography or land form, climate, soil, and other, non-organic
factors such as latitude, drainage, weathering, wind, and exposure
all have interacting effects and combine to make up the basic con-

10 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

ditions for the existence of life. These non-Hving units plus the
living units make the environment.

Variations in the several components of the environment result in
differences in the composition of the fauna and flora of the state.
In other words, the distribution of most kinds of living plants and
animals is dependent upon a number of diverse environmental fac-
tors. Attempts have been made to divide the various parts of North
America into a series of more or less homogenous units, as regards
their faunal and floral composition, on the basis of differences in
one or more of the above named environmental factors.

One attempt at such a division, based primarily on temperature,
was made by Merriam (1894:209-213). He thought that certain
temperatures were of critical importance to the distribution of plants
and animals, especially during the season of growth and reproduc-
tion. He stated (op. ci?.: 213): "While it is not for a moment sup-
posed that the subject has been disposed of in all its details, it is
confidently believed that the principles controlling the geographic
distribution of terrestrial animals and plants have been discovered
and that they may be expressed as follows: In northward distribu-
tion terrestrial animals and plants are restricted by the sum of the
positive temperatures for the entire season of growth and repro-
duction. In southward distribution they are restricted by the mean
temperature of a brief period during the hottest part of the year."
Merriam divided North America into seven "Life Zones." All of
Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, as well as many other states and
parts of states in the same general latitude all across the United
States, were included in the Carolinian or Upper Austral Life Zone.

Merriam thought that temperature was the dominating force,
but thought also that rainfall, and its attendant humidity, was a
significant factor and later (1898:30) he divided the Upper Austral
Zone, "into two large and important faunal areas — an eastern humid
or Carolinian area and a western arid or Upper Sonoran area, which
pass insensibly into one another in the neighborhood of the one
hundredth meridian." Under this division, Kansas was divided be-
tween the Upper Sonoran and the Carolinian areas of the Upper
Austral Life Zone.

A second attempt at a division of North America into relatively
homogenous ecological units is the biome system developed by
Weaver and Clements, Shelf ord, and others (see Shelf ord 1945:
248). The biome is based on climax vegetation and dominant ani-
mals. According to Clements and Shelford (1939:20) "the term
biome . . . is . . . the exact synonym of formation and

Faunal Divisions of Kansas 11

climax when these are used in the biotic sense." As modified by
Shelf ord (1945:249) this system divides Kansas between two bi-
omes, the Oak-Wild Turkey Biome in the eastern part of the state
and the Grama Grass-Antelope Biome in the remainder of the state.

Dice divided North America into a series of units which he
designated as "biotic provinces." His divisions were made on the
basis of many more ecological factors than were those of Merriam
and Shelford. Dice wrote (1943:3) : "Each biotic province . . .
covers a considerable and continuous geographic area and is char-
acterized by the occurrence of one or more important ecologic
associations that differ, at least in proportional area covered, from
the associations of adjacent provinces. In general, biotic provinces
are characterized also by peculiarities of vegetation type, ecological
climax, flora, fauna, climate, physiography, and soil."

Three biotic provinces (according to Dice, 1943) occur in
Kansas: The Carolinian, characterized by deciduous hardwood
forests, includes the southeastern corner of Cherokee County; the
Illinoian, characterized by alternating areas of prairie and decidu-
ous forest and an average annual precipitation range of from 23
to 40 inches that falls mainly in the growing season, includes most
of eastern and central Kansas westward approximately to the one
hundredth meridian; and the Kansan, characterized by short grasses,
covers Kansas west of the one hundredth meridian.

Other attempts have been made to classify the assemblages of
plants and animals in a given geographical area. Among these are
the following.

Faunal Areas. This type of division was originally proposed by
Grinnell and Swarth ( 1913:217) for the San Jacinto area of southern
California. They thought that: "In the restricted sense in which we
believe the term best employed, a fauna is a subdivision of a life
zone, based upon conditions of atmospheric humidity." Grinnell
(1914:63) expanded the concept and applied it to the lower Colo-
rado River Valley. He wrote: "Every animal is believed to be
limited in distribution zonally by greater or less degree of temper-
ature, more particularly by that of the reproductive season (see
Merriam, 1894). . . . Many species are kept within geo-
graphic bounds in certain directions only by an increasing or de-
creasing degree of atmospheric humidity ( see Grinnell and Swarth,
1913:217). By the plotting of the ranges of many animals as well
as of plants, coincidence in this regard is found in so many cases
as to warrant the recognition of a number of 'faunal areay,' on the
causative basis of relative uniformity in humidity."

12

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Hall (1946:44) divided Nevada into a number of faunal areas,
basing his divisions upon the presence or absence of certain kinds
of mammals in given areas.

Biotic Areas. This concept, independently arrived at by Clark
( 1937) and Davis ( 1939:28-29), is that, as a result of the interaction
of climatic, geographic, edaphic, and biotic factors, the assemblages
of plants and animals of a given area are recognizably distinct from
assemblages in adjoining areas. These are termed biotic areas.

Biotic districts. As defined by Dice (1943:3) a biotic district is:
"A subdivision covering a definite and continuous part of the geo-
graphic area of a biotic province. Biotic districts are distinguished
by ecologic differences of less importance than those that separate

100

39

38

Museum of Nolurol History

University of Kansos

I94S

39

38

100

97

Fig. 3. Map showing biotic districts in Kansas (after Brumwell, 1941:
16-21). 1. Short-grass Plains Biotic District, a. Northern association, b.
Southern association. 2. Mixed Grass Plains Biotic District, a. Northern asso-
ciation, b. Southern association. 3. Osage Savanna Biotic District, a. Northern
association, b. Southern association. 4. Kaw Valley Biotic District. 5. Chero-
kee Prairie Biotic District. 6. Ozark Biotic District.

biotic provinces." According to Blair and Hubbell (1938:426), "A
biotic district is a geographic unit distinguished by the presence of
imique ecological associations, or more often by the presence of a
unique assemblage of widely distributed associations. It is less
extensive than a biotic province . . . and usually several biotic
districts are distinguishable within a province."

Faunal Divisions of Kansas 13

Brumwell (1941:16-21, unpublished thesis) divided Kansas into
six biotic districts, each of which he thought was characterized by
assemblages of vegetational types as well as assemblages of mam-
mals, reptiles, and amphibians. He included a map showing the
extent of each biotic district, as understood by him. In the pub-
lished version of Brumwell's thesis ( 1951 : 190 ) , the listings of vege-
tational types and the map have been omitted. The biotic districts
in Kansas, according to Brumwell (loc. cit.), are: Kaw Valley Biotic
District, Cherokee Prairie Biotic District, Ozark Biotic District,
Osage Savanna Biotic District, Mixed Grass Plains Biotic District,
and the Short-Grass Biotic District. See the map, figure 3 on the
facing page.

Distributional Areas in Kansas. No one of the systems of faunal
divisions discussed above corresponds, except in its more general
aspects, with the distribution patterns of the mammals in the state.
Because of this, I have outlined distributional areas for the state.
These distributional areas and their subdivisions are not based on
the total fauna or flora of the area; rather, they are based upon the
presence or absence of certain kinds of mammals in given areas.
These distributional areas and their subdivisions correspond, in part,
to the biotic districts as recognized by Brumwell (loc. cit.). I
believe that Kansas can be divided into two distributional areas,
each of which is further divisible into a number of recognizable sub-
divisions characterized by a particular assemblage of mammals ( see
map, figure 4). These assemblages are probably the result of in-
teractions between certain edaphic, topographic, climatic, and biotic
factors.

The Great Plains Distributional Area, consisting generally of the
western three-fifths of the state, is distinct from the Central Low-
land Distributional Area in that the genera Corynorhinus, Antrozous,
Dipodomijs, and Ontjchomys are restricted to it. Furthermore, it
is characterized by the full species Myotis velifer, Myotis suhulatus,
Tadarida molossa, Lepus townsendii, Sylvilagtis audtibonii, Citellus
spilosoma, Perognathus favescens, Perognathus flavus, Neotoma
micropus, Vulpes velox, and Mustela nigripes which do not occur
elsewhere in the -state. In addition there are 25 subspecies which
are restricted, or nearly so, to the Great Plains Distributional Area.
This distributional area consists of two provinces, each of which is
divisible into two subcenters.

14 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

The Central Lowland Distributional Area, consisting generally of
the eastern two-fifths of the state, is distinct from the Great Plains
Distributional Area in that the genera Nycticeius, Marmota, Tamias,
Pitymtjs, Zapus, and Urocyon are restricted to it. Furthermore, it is
characterized by the full species Sylvilagus aquaticus, Sciurus
caroUnensis, Reithrodontomys fulvescens, Peromyscus boylii, and
Vulpes fulva which do not occur elsewhere in the state. In addition,
there are 19 subspecies which are restricted, or nearly so, to this
distributional area. This Central Lowland Distributional Area con-
sists of only two provinces, one of which is divisible into two sub-
centers.

The distributional areas and their provinces and subcenters are
outlined as follows ( see figure 4 ) :

A. Great Plains Distributional Area

1. Short Grass Plains Province

a. Central High Plains Subcenter

b. Southern High Plains Subcenter

2. Mixed Grass Plains Province

a. Blue Hills Subcenter

b. Red Hills Subcenter

B. Central Lowland Distributional Area

1. Tall Grasses Province

a. Kansas River Valley Subcenter

b. Osage Plains Subcenter

2. Cherokee Prairie Province

Table 1 shows the faunal relationships of the species and sub-
species of mammals in each of the subdivisions of the distributional
areas in Kansas. An examination of this table reveals, as might
be expected, that the relations of the fauna of the Great Plains Dis-
tributional Area are primarily with faunas of the Great Plains
( this is especially pronounced in the Short-grass Plains Province, but
less so in the Mixed-grass Plains Province ) and that the relations of
the fauna of the Central Lowlands Distributional Area are pri-
marily with the fauna of the eastern deciduous forests. The three
southern subcenters (Southern High Plains, Red Hills, and Osage
Plains) all show faunal relationships with geographically more
southern faunas.

Faunal Divisions of Kansas

15

39

38

mrffjptiimimnvwfinfrnnMm

39

\J=

Musaum of Nolurol History

University of Konsflt

I94S

38

100

97

Fig. 4. Map showing mammalian distributional areas in Kansas.

TABLE 1. — Faunal Relationships of the Species and Subspecies of Mam-
mals IN Kansas; Based Upon the Taxonomic Similarities Between the
Total Known Fauna of each Distributional Area and Those of Sur-
rounding Areas.

a

C3

a

00 a. <u

3

■a

•3^2^

<A

:t

1-2

^

bspe
tion
of e

0

i

1

3

•3S

-3

nd su
g rela
auna

o

1^

1

=2

a) i-t

a! e~

"2

0)
T3

Jo

S °

a

o

T)

3 03

.a
p

Species
havi
with

1
§

a

H

i

«5

o

H

Ala

2

29

3

0

6

40

Alb

4

26

8

2

5

45

A2a

6

18

2

0

1

27

A2b

7

23

5

1

3

39

Bla

30

7

2

0

4

43

Bib

24

4

5

0

3

36

B2

20

1

4

0

3

28

16 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

PROBLEMS OF DISTRIBUTION AND SPECIATION

IN KANSAS

In theory, and perhaps in practice, a single environmental factor
can limit the distribution of a given kind of organism. This con-
cept of hmiting factors, of which "Liebig's Law of the Minimum"
is the best known, was first stated by Liebig in 1840. He applied
the concept to the yield in field crops, and thought that the nutri-
tive constituent present in the smallest amount limits the yield.
This concept has been restated several times. One of the more
recent restatements was made by W. P. Taylor (1934) as follows:
"The growth and functioning of an organism is dependent on the
amount of the essential environmental factor presented to it in
minimal quantities during the most critical year or years of a cli-
matic cycle." Similar relations hold, at least theoretically, for maxi-
mal quantities.

However, I believe that this concept is often interpreted too
strictly. In my opinion each of the factors in a given environ-
ment fluctuates continually, but not necessarily at the same rate nor
in the same direction. Temperature, for example, may show daily
as well as seasonal variations while the calcium content or the
size of the sand grains of the soil may remain relatively stable over
long periods of time. A given environment, then, is the result of
the interaction of all of the factors present. A change in the rate,
direction, magnitude, or mean of the fluctuation of any one factor
inevitably effects all of the other factors. The original change, if
isolated from other environmental factors, may not be sufficient
to effect the distribution of a given kind of organism, yet, by inter-
action with the other factors, it may result in a new environment
of composition sufficiently different to effect the distribution of a
given kind of organism. An increase in temperature, for example,
results in a lower relative humidity and an increased evaporation
rate. In such a case, drier atmosphere, rather than higher tem-
perature, may be the limiting factor in the distribution of a given
kind of organism. An example of this sort is seen in the fluctua-
tion of the population levels of the prairie vole, Microttis ochrogaster,
in a mixed prairie near Hays, Ellis County. In 1931 the popula-
tion was estimated at 7367 individuals per square mile; in 1933,
at 2500 individuals per square mile; and in the period 1934-1939
none was found (Wooster, 1939 A, Brown, 1946:448). In the five
years, 1928-1932, the annual rainfall at Hays was never less than
25 inches. In 1933 the total annual rainfall dropped to 16.26 inches

Problems of Distribution and Speciation 17

and for the four succeeding years was, in eflFect, equally subnormal
in amount. From this one might conclude that the low precipita-
tion caused a decrease in the population level. This probably was
only indirectly true: direct factors probably were decreases in
the food and cover plants and increases in predation. Wooster
(1935:352 and 1939A) and Albertson and Weaver (1942) showed
that the little blue stem and other grasses and weeds disappeared
from the prairies, thus cutting down on the food supply and ex-
posing the runways of Microtus. In the exposed runways, Microtus
were more easily taken than formerly by hawks, owls, coyotes, and
other enemies. Other factors also may have contributed to the de-
crease in the population levels.

At the risk of losing sight of the concept that a given environ-
ment is the result of the interaction of all factors present and that
a change in any one of these factors, by interaction, may result in
a new environmental complex, I shall point out cases in the dis-
tributions of mammals in Kansas in which given environmental
factors appear to behave as "limiting factors."

Edaphic factors and distribution. The brush mouse, Peromysctis
bcylii, is found only on or near rocky ledges and cliffs in the south-
east. However, along similar rocky ledges in other parts of the
state, the brush mouse does not occur, presumably because of the
absence of suitable plant-life. Acorns furnish one of the main foods
of the brush mouse.

The pocket gopher, Geomys hursarius, is found rarely, if at all,
in the state southeast of a line extending from 13 miles south of
Lawrence, Douglas County, to a point eight miles southwest of
Toronto, Greenwood County. The area southeast of this line
corresponds almost exactly with the areas indicated by Hide
(1946:33) as those where moderate and heavy applications of lime
are necessary on most soils. Further, this is also the area where
large amounts of chert gravels are found in the soil.

Kangaroo rats {Dipodomys ordii), although found at least rarely
in most habitats in western Kansas, reach high population levels
in areas of sand or loose, sandy soils.

Topographic factors and distribution. — In east-central Kansas,
where local differences in elevation are correlated with the stream
patterns, soil types, availability of water, and perhaps other factors,
there are great differences in vegetational types at the different
elevations. On the uplands there are mixed grasses and on the
lowlands, along the streams, there are westward extensions of the

18 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

forests. The types of habitats interdigitate and, as a result, east-
ern woodland species occur far westward along the forested streams.
Examples of this are the gray squirrel, Sciuriis carolinensis, the lem-
ming mouse, Synaptomys cooperi, and pine mouse, Pitymys nemo-
ralis, which occur in Riley County. Leo Brown {in litt.) found
skulls of the lemming mouse, Synaptomys cooperi, in barn owl
pellets taken one-fourth mile south of Hunter, Mitchell County.
This locality is near Bacon Creek, a wooded tributary of the Saline
River. Similarly, western grassland species occur farther eastward
on divide areas. For example the prairie dog, Cynomys ludo-
vicianus, has been recorded as far east as Cloud, Clay, and Dickin-
son counties.

In species which show subspecific differences between popula-
tions in western and eastern Kansas, individuals taken from wooded
stream valleys as far west as Mitchell, Lincoln, and Ellsworth coun-
ties, while actually intergrades, show more of the characteristics
of the eastern subspecies than do individuals taken from upland
habitats as far east as Marion County.

The few lakes and the streams in Kansas are essential to the ex-
istence of the raccoon, Procyon lotor, the mink, Miistela vison, the
beaver, Castor canadensis, and the muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus.

In a broad sense, the physiography of the state has an efiFect on
mammalian distribution. Few of the major or minor physiographic
divisions correspond however, except in a very general way, with
the distributional patterns of mammals.

Flooding probably depopulates a few restricted areas each year.
Scheffer (1908:130) reported that: "During the great flood of
1903 in the valleys of the Kansas and its tributaries the flood-plains
of many streams were inundated from bluff to bluff. At this time
observers noted hundreds of pocket gophers on the higher points
of land above water and along railroad embankments. An observer
near Manhattan killed 180 of the animals with a club. For a year
or so after the floods the lowlands were comparatively free from
gophers, but they are fast reoccupying the flats and regaining their
original numbers."

The gypsum caves in Barber and Comanche counties, although
a very local feature in the total environment of the state, have an
effect on the distributional pattern of many bats. The long-eared
bat, Corynorhiniis rafinesquii, and Bunkers bat, Antrozous bunkeri,
have not been taken elsewhere in Kansas and the bat, Myotis velifer,
although recorded in surrounding areas, congregates in numbers
only in the caves.

Problems of Distribution and Speciation 19

Marshes in Meade and Stafford counties support isolated popula-
tions of lemming mice, Synaptomijs cooperi.

Climatic factors and distribution. In Kansas, climate seems to
play an important part in the distribution of mammals, but because
the total area of Kansas is small, in comparison to the area of geo-
graphic distribution of several kinds of mammals, and because cli-
mate in Kansas is not divisible into different zones with clear-cut
boundaries, the precise effects of individual components of the cli-
mate in the state are not readily recognizable.

According to Flora (1948:5), a trend toward milder winters and
warmer summers began over the state in the late 1880's and con-
tinued until the late 1930's, when a downward trend began. Flora
presented graphs (op. df.: 176-178) of ten-year moving averages
of temperatures for both summer and winter, which bear out his
statements. Beginning in 1926, the ten-year moving averages of
winter temperatures have been above the 1887-1945 average and
since 1934 the ten-year moving averages of summer temperatures
have been above the 1887-1945 average.

Perhaps this trend toward warmer summers and milder winters
influenced the geographic distribution of several species. Else-
where I have presented (Cockrum, 1948:306-312) data which show
that the cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidtis, has extended its range
northward in the state. Additional evidence on this northward ex-
tension and on a westward extension are presented later in this
paper. This extension can be correlated rather closely, chrono-
logically, with the high portion of the ten-year moving averages
of summer temperatures.

The armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, has been extending its
range northward and eastward in the United States in the past
fifty years. Taber in 1939 (pp. 489-493) summarized available
data on this extension. Six recorded instances of the occurrence of
the armadillo in Kansas are available. The two earlier occurrences
(one in 1909 and one in the 1930's) probably represent escapes.
The four later occurrences (one in 1942 and three in 1950, all in
the south-central part of the state) probably represent a continua-
tion of their northward extension from Texas and Oklahoma. Per-
haps this extension into Kansas can be correlated with the milder
winters of recent years. Taber (1939:492) pointed out: "Ar-
madillos ... are incapable of withstanding temperatures even
approaching freezing, if it continues several days." To me it ap-
pears unlikely that the armadillo will become permanently estab-

20 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

lished here. One prolonged cold period would probably kill all
armadillos in the state.

Precipitation has a great indirect bearing on mammalian distribu-
tion in Kansas. The normal annual precipitation varies from a low of
15.85 inches in Stanton County (southwest) to a high of 41.86
inches in Cherokee County (southeast). Most of the precipitation
occurs in the warm season (April-September, inclusive). The nor-
mal precipitation in the warm season is 14.70 inches in the western
one-third and 24.64 inches in the eastern one-third of the state.
The normal winter precipitation (December-February, inclusive)
is low, ranging from 1.57 inches in the western one-third to 3.76
inches in the eastern one-third of the state. The readings for aver-
age relative humidity in July at Dodge City (western Kansas) and
St. Joseph, Missouri, at 12:30 a. m.; 6:30 a. m.; 12:30 p. m.; and 6:30
p. m. are: 63.4, 81.1; 69.9, 78.2; 36.5, 48.7; 35.3, 49.0.

The western part of the state has stronger winds than the eastern
part of the state. This is more noticeable in the warm season than
in the winter season, as showoi in the following tabulation:

AVERAGE HOURLY WIND VELOCITY IN MILES PER HOUR

Jan. July Annual

Dodge City, Kan 1L9 12.2 12.9

Topeka, Kan 9.1 8.3 9.2

St. Joseph, Mo 9.0 7.4 8.7

The lower relative humidity and the greater wind velocity in
western Kansas combine to give a higher rate of evaporation than
exists in the eastern part of the state. This is shown in the following
tabulation:

MEAN MONTHLY EVAPORATION RATES IN INCHES

Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

Hays 7.6 9.7 12.2 15.5 13.8 10.6 7.1

Manhattan 6.1 7.6 8.8 10.6 9.0 7.2 4.8

Lawrence 5.2 6.6 7.8 9.8 9.2 6.8 4.2

The greater evaporation rate and the lower amount of precipita-
tion in western Kansas as compared with the lesser evaporation rate
and greater amount of precipitation in eastern Kansas combine to
make the difference in moisture available to plants in the two areas
even greater than is indicated by an analysis of precipitation data
alone.

According to plant ecologists, deciduous forests are characterized
by large total precipitation, long growing season, hot and humid
summers, cold, windy winters, and no droughts or frosts in the
growing season. Grassland is characterized by low rainfall, precipi-

Problems of Distribution and Speciation 21

tation largely in the growing season, high evaporation rate, high
summer temperatures, low winter temperatures, and high winds.

A glance at the data presented above shows that a climate char-
acterizing deciduous forests is found in eastern Kansas and a cH-
mate characterizing grasslands is found in western Kansas.

In Kansas, as in other parts of the world, there have been alter-
nately recurring wet and dry periods. Flora (1948:4) could see
no regularity in intervals between these periods nor could he find
any clues to suggest when they might occur in the future. Six dry
periods of exceptional note have been recorded in Kansas since
1850: October, 1859 to March, 1868; from September, 1872 to
summer of 1875; from 1892-1894 in western Kansas; from Novem-
ber, 1900 to May, 1902; from 1910 to 1918; and from 1930 to 1940.
To my knowledge, no observations were recorded on the effects of
the earlier dry periods on mammalian populations.

I have already pointed out how, in Ellis County, the dry period
of the 1930's, interacting with other environmental factors, resulted
in the almost complete elimination of the prairie vole, Microtus
ochrogaster. Wooster (1935:351) reported that during this same
time, the numbers of black-tailed jackrabbits increased. He found,
in a prairie area in Ellis County, where transect-survey counts
were made, three times as many black-tailed jackrabbits in March,
1935 (in the middle of the dry period), as in March, 1933 (at the
beginning of the dry period in Ellis County). This increase seemed
to have been general in western Kansas and Wooster {loc. cit.)
reasoned that since the increase was general (thus eliminating the
possibility of local concentrations) and since he could find no in-
crease in predation, the increase in population of the black-tailed
jackrabbit must have been caused by a lower mortality rate of
the young. Normally, he explained, the chilling rains and wet soils
of the spring and early summer cause many young to die but the
spring and early summer of 1934 and 1935 were both dry and warm,
and thus decreased the mortality rate of the young and permitted
an increase in the population level.

The climate of a given region consists of a series of minor fluctua-
tions, a warmer trend for a period of years, followed by a cooler
trend for a period of years. These fluctuations are entirely apart
from any long term trend toward warmness or coldness that might
be apparent if information were available for thousands of years.
These minor trends may be sufficient to permit populations on the
edge of the range of a species to extend the range of the species,

22 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

providing, of course, that the dimatic factors rather than some
other environmental feature are the Hmiting factors. In such an in-
stance one adverse season can halt the expansion or even reduce
the range of the species. The cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus, may
be a case in point. Sigmodon was first recorded in Douglas County
in 1941 and by the summer and fall of 1948, it was common, and
locally numerous, in most of the county. In the winter of 1948-
1949, sleet covered most of northeastern Kansas to a depth of two
to three inches and remained on the ground for approximately
one month. The following summer and fall, 1949, cotton rats were
rare in most parts of the county. By October, 1950, the population
level was again high; cotton rats were numerous in many parts of
the county. Perhaps, if conditions had been slightly more severe
in the winter of 1948-49, the cotton rat would have been eliminated
from the county.

Biotic factors and distribution. (1) Plants. Directly and indi-
rectly the vegetation of the state is very important in limiting the
distribution of many kinds of mammals. Two major areas, each
with a different type of plants, occur in Kansas, the deciduous forest
in the east and the grassland in the west. The forest, even before
the state was settled, did not cover all of the eastern part of the
state, but rather were interspersed with tall-grass prairies. In gen-
eral, trees occur on flood plains and moist hillsides along streams.
Elm, sycamore, bur oak, eastern cottonwood, hackberry, redbud,
and buckeye are among the kinds of trees characteristic of this
area. Trees characteristic of the deciduous forest exist in river val-
leys almost half-way across the state.

Several kinds of mammals are restricted to the eastern wooded

portion. Such restrictions may result from dependence upon the

trees and shrubs for food or for cover, or both. The following

mammals are limited in their distribution to this wooded portion.

Sciurus carolinensis Peromtjscus boylii

Marmota monax Fitymijs nemoralis

Tamias striatus Zapus hudsonius

Glaucomijs volans Vulpes ftilva

Reithrodontomys fidvescens Urocyon cinereoargenteus

The grasslands can be roughly divided into two regions: The
short grass region, primarily buffalo and grama grasses, in the west-
ern one-third of the state and the mixed grass region, with a mix-
ture of blue-stem and short grasses, in the central one-third of the
state. In the eastern one-third of the state, which is primarily a
deciduous forest, two zones of characteristic grasses occur: (1) the

Problems of Distribution and Speciation 23

zone of blue grass and miscellaneous grasses in three tiers of coun-
ties along the eastern border and ( 2 ) the zone of blue stem grasses,
extending from Marshall County on the northern border southward
to Chautauqua County, on the southern border (Gates, 1936).
These latter two zones, the blue stem and the blue grass zones,
are mixed in with deciduous forest areas.

As pointed out by Clements and Shelf ord (1939:260-264), in the
area listed above as the short-grass zone the climax vegetation is
believed to be a mixture of short grasses and grasses of mid-height,
but the mid-height grasses have been removed by overgrazing and
a disclimax of short grasses has resulted. In fenced areas protected
from grazing, the mid-height grasses again become abundant. Lar-
son (1940:113-121) noted that under natural conditions the bison
and other grazing animals must have had much the same efiFect as
domestic live stock and concluded that the vegetation of the plains
is not very different now from what it was before the bison was
eliminated.

The following species of mammals are limited in their distribu-
tion to the grasslands. Those species marked with an asterisk are
found only in the short-grass region; the remainder occur in both
the short-grass and mixed-grass regions.

Lepus townsendii* Dipodomys ordii

Sylvilagus audubonW Onychomijs leucogaster

Cynomijs ludovicianus Neotoma micropus

CiteUus spilosoma* Vulpes velox (extinct)

Perognathus flavescens Mustela nigripes (extinct?)

Perognathus flavus* Antilocapra americana (extinct)

The pocket mouse, Perognathus hispidus, usually characteristic
of grasslands, has been taken in the blue stem zone of the eastern
part of the state.

Among those species of mammals which occur in both the
eastern wooded sections and in the western grassland sections sev-
eral have differentiated into subspecies, one characteristic of the
western grasslands and a second one characteristic of the eastern
woodlands.

(2). Other biotic factors. The occurrence and distribution of
the large carnivores that formerly occurred in the state, especially
the grizzly bear, Ursus horribilis, and tlie wolf. Cants lupus, were
probably more influenced by the' presence or absence of the large
herbivores, such as the bison, antelope, and deer, than by any other
one environmental factor. When man destroyed the large herbi-
vores, the grizzly bear and the wolf were doomed for extinction in

24 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

the state. Man hastened this extinction by poisoning, trapping, and
shooting as many of the large carnivores as possible.

The distribution of the black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes, was
greatly influenced by the presence or absence of the prairie dog,
Cijnomys liidovicianus. It fed upon these rodents and used their
burrows for shelter. Continuous warfare has been waged against
the prairie dog since the state was first settled. Poisons, gases, and
traps have taken heavy toll of the prairie dog and have exterminated
the black-footed ferret in the state.

To some extent the distribution, and definitely the population
levels, of the prairie dog are influenced by biotic factors. The
prairie dog requires hard-packed ground and short grass. The im-
mense herds of bison that formerly roamed western Kansas packed
down the soil and in many places overgrazed the grasslands so that
only short grasses were able to exist. There was thus provided an
ideal habitat for the prairie dog. Mead (1899:281) reported that
in the 1850's the divide between the Saline and Solomon rivers in
Ellsworth County and westward was a continuous prairie dog town
for miles. When the buffalo were killed, the ground ceased to be
tramped hard, the short grass was replaced by weeds and tall grass,
and the prairie dogs perished. The breaking of the prairie sod for
the planting of wheat further restricted the available habitat. Areas
utilized as range land, especially when overgrazed, still furnish
suitable habitat for the prairie dog. A striking example of this was
given by Mead (1885:92). Cattle raised in Texas were driven
northward through Oklahoma (then Indian Territory) to the rail-
road in Kansas. Mead reported {loc. cit.) that because of over-
grazing and packing of the soil: "The great Chisholm Texas cattle
trail through the Indian Territory, a hundred yards wide, became a
Dogtown almost its entire distance."

Land use and distribution. Certainly, in his use of the land, man
has influenced the distribution of many mammals. The American
Indian had relatively little effect on mammalian distribution; the
White Man, however, has had a great effect on the abundance and
distribution of many kinds of native mammals.

The large herbivores and large carnivores were exterminated
soon after the state was settled, although in recent years deer have
again become established. The bison, antelope, and deer not only
furnished food for man but also competed with him for the use of
the land. Obviously herds of cattle or grain fields could not exist
in the midst of a great bison range. As the large herbivores were
exterminated the large carnivores probably began to prey more

Problems of Distribution and Speciation 25

heavily on domestic animals and thus, were also doomed for ex-
termination by the herders who were bent on protecting their do-
mestic animals.

When large tracts of the prairie sod were turned for the plant-
ing of wheat, suitable habitat for many mammals either no longer
existed or was greatly restricted. The white-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus
townsendii, once numerous in the northwest, became scarce; popula-
tion levels of the cottontail rabbits probably never reached the high
levels formerly possible, and certainly the number of prairie dogs
in the state decreased.

Some kinds of native mammals have become more numerous
and have increased their ranges as a result of changes in land use.
The black-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus californicus, was formerly rare
in the northwestern part of the state. Apparently it was able to
adapt itself more readily to the changed conditions than was the
white-tailed jackrabbit, and became more abundant in the north-
west.

The opossum, Didelphis virginiana, the fox squirrel, Sciurtts niger,
and the spotted skunk, Spilogale interrupta, were formerly rare or
absent over most of western Kansas. With the change in land use,
these mammals have either become more numerous or have actually
extended their ranges westward from eastern woodlands. This was
made possible by an increase in available foods, by the planting of
trees on the western grasslands, and by the growth of trees along
stream courses after prairie fires seldom occurred.

The following species of mammals in Kansas have been influ-
enced by changes in land use.

Increased in numbers, in extent of range, or both.

Didelphis virginiana Sciurus niger

Lepus californicus Spilogale interrupta

Decreased in numbers, in extent of range, or both.

Lepus townsendii Lutra canadensis*

Cynomys ludovicianus Felis concolor*

Erethizon dorsatum Lynx rufus

Canis lupus' Cervus canadensis*

Canis niger* Odocoileus hemionus

Vulpes velox* Odocoileus virginianus

Ursus horrihilis* Antilocapra americana*

Ursus americanus* Bison bison*
Mustela nigripes*

Speciation. To me it seems evident that, in general, speciation
in the class Mammalia is a population phenomenon. It results from

' Extinct in the state.

26 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

the separation, either temporally or geographically, of a popula-
tion (or series of adjacent populations) from the parent popula-
tion (or populations), and the di£Ferentiation and reproductive
isolation of these groups by natural selection or random fixation
(Wright, 1931 and elsewhere) of mutations that occur or are al-
ready available in the population as stored variability ( Mather and
Harrison, 1949). In actual practice exact data to show whether
or not members of given population samples are reproductively
isolated from each other are usually lacking; thus the degree of
morphological difference must be used as a basis for judging whether
or not differences between two population samples are the result
of individual variation, geographic variation within one species,
or species differences. Herein lies one of the greatest difficulties
of mammalian taxonomy, for the interpretations made for a given
case vary with knowledge, experience, and personal convictions.

A given species is composed of a series of actually or potentially
interbreeding populations. Individuals in these various popula-
tions vary, not only due to differences in age and sex but also be-
cause of differences in genetic composition, resulting in different
reactions to environment. In addition, even two individuals of
the same litter are exposed to different microenvironments in their
life history. This, also, may result in individual variation. For
example, one individual may secure more food at a critical stage
in its life history while a second may, at the same time, secure only
a minimum amount of food.

This individual variation is usually relatively small and falls in
a normal distribution curve around a given modal value. The
distribution curves of individual variation for two populations,
separated only by a plowed field, are often somewhat different.
In general, however, populations in a major environmental type,
such as the wooded eastern part of Kansas, are close, morpho-
logically, whereas populations in a second major environmental type,
such as the grasslands of western Kansas, tend to cluster around
a slightly different modal point. When morphological differences
between two such series of populations are of such a magnitude
that 75 per cent or more of the individuals in each series are sep-
arable from the other series, then each series is considered to be
a subspecies.

In Kansas, color of pelage, for example, differs between eastern
and western subspecies of many species. In general, subspecies in
the eastern part of the state have a much darker pelage; those in the
west are pale. The following species are examples:

Problems of Distribution and Speciation

27

Name of the species
Scalopus aquaticus
Eptesicus fuscus
Sylvilagus fioridanus
Geomys btirsarius
Perognathus fiavescens
Perognathus hispidus
Reithrodontomys montamis
Peromyscus maniculatus
Peromyscus leucopus
Neotoma fioridana
Microtus ochrogaster

Eastern, dark

subspecies
machrinoides
fuscus
mearnsii
majusculus
copei
spiJotus
griseus
hairdii

noveboracensis
osagensis
ochrogaster

Western, pale

subspecies
caryi
pallidus
Uanensis
jugossicularis
fiavescens
paradoxus
albescens
nebrascensis
tornillo
campestris
haydenii

Perhaps I should point out now that, in my view, subspecies are
not necessarily incipient species. Any population, or series of pop-
ulations, in the range of a species, whether recognized as a sub-
species or not, is a potential species. If, by chance, one population
or series of populations (of one or more subspecies) be separated
geographically from the rest of the species, I can see how, in time,
the two groups might become reproductively isolated. If the ranges
of the two again come together, or overlap, they might not inter-
breed. These, then, I would consider to be separate species.

Perhaps the population of lemming mice, Synaptomys cooperi,
that appears to be geographically isolated at present in marsh areas
in Meade County, if it continues to exist, may, in time, become
sufficiently different, genetically, that reproductive isolation will
result. However, rather minor fluctuations of climatic and ecologi-
cal conditions would again permit lemming mice to occur over most
of the state, the geographic isolation would no longer exist and the
genetic constitution of the population, by interbreeding with ad-
jacent populations and the resultant gene-flow, would again ap-
proach the modal value of the species. Another, equally likely
possibility is that changes in ecological conditions might easily
exterminate the population now existing in Meade County,

In Kansas, most species that occur over any large part of the
state are divisible into two or more subspecies. In all such cases
the subspecific differences are associated with minor differences in
the environment. Since, in Kansas, different environments grade
almost imperceptibly into each other, it is not at all surprising
that there are no sharp lines between the ranges of various sub-
species. Rather, the subspecies, like the environments, grade into
each other over wide geographic zones. These zones I consider to
be areas of intergradation. For the purpose of constructing dis-
tribution maps I have, in many cases, arbitrarily referred specimens
from these areas of intergradation to a given subspecies.

28 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

In general, the range of individual variation is slightly greater in
areas of inter gradation. A given population in such an area may
contain individuals that more nearly resemble the norm of one or
the other of the intergrading subspecies in one or more morpho-
logical characteristics. The majority of the individuals, however,
tend to have morphological characteristics intermediate between
those of the two subspecies and thus are, in truth, intergrades.

METHODS

The arrangement of the major taxonomic categories, from suborders to gen-
era, follows Simpson (1945:48-162), except for certain generic names. In ar-
ranging the species, G. S. Miller (1924), has been followed except for genera
revised since the time of his work, the order of arrangement of the latest re-
vision is followed. The arrangement of the subspecies is from north to south
and west to east within the state.

Under each species is included a common or vernacular name as well as
general notes on natural history and economic importance. Each vernacular
name applies to all of the subspecies of its species.

The following is a list of abbreviations used in this account and an explana-
tion of their meaning.

AJK — Collection of the late A. J. Kim, formerly of Somerset, Texas.

AMNH — American Museum of Natural History.

CNHM — Chicago Natural History Museum.

GCR — Collection of the late Dr. Glen C. Rinker, of Hamilton, Kansas.

KU — University of Kansas Museum of Natural History.

MVZ — Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.

MZ — Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.

OU — Ottawa University Collection, Ottawa, Kansas.

USES — United States Biological Surveys Collection.

USNM — United States National Museum.

WGF — Collection of W. Gene Frum.
Each subspecies is treated under the following headings:

1. The synonymtj, in which the first citation is to the original description,
followed by the designation of the type locality. The second entry cites the
first usage of the combination (generic, specific, and subspecific) employed in
the present work, unless the combination is the same as that used by the
original author. The remainder of the citations refer to the diflFerent name
combinations, arranged chronologically, that have been applied to specimens
taken in Kansas. A pure synonym is recognizable because the citation is fol-
lowed by the designation of the type locality. Throughout the synonymy,
a comma is placed between the scientific name and the author if he did not
originally propose the name in the work referred to; conversely, the absence of
a comma indicates that the author did propose the name in that work.

2. The distribution within the state.

3. The remarks begin with measurements (in millimeters, unless other-
wise stated ) of the total length ( tip of the nose to the distal end of the fleshy
part of the tail), length of tail (from point where tail may be bent at a right
angle with the back to the distal end of the fleshy part of the tail, not including
the hairs which project beyond the tip), length of hind foot (from back of

Methods

29

heel to tip of longest claw when foot is laid out flat), and length of ear
(measured from notch). These measurements are given in the order men-
tioned. Any other measurements given are explained at the place where they
are recorded. These measurements are followed, in most cases, by notes re-
ferring to the subspecies concerned, in contrast to remarks applying to that
species as a whole.

4. Under specimens examined there is given, first, the total number of speci-
mens available to me. This number is followed by a list of the localities from
which these specimens were taken. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens
are in the collection of the Museum of Natural History at tlie University of
Kansas.

The order of listing is first by counties, beginning in the northwest comer

of the state and ending in the southeast comer of the state, in the following

order:

Lincoln Edwards

Ottawa Stafford

Saline Reno

Dickinson Harvey

Geary Butler

Morris Greenwood

Wabaunsee Woodson

Shawnee Allen

Osage Bourbon

Douglas Stanton

Johnson Grant

Greeley Haskell

Wichita Ford

Scott Kiowa

Lane Pratt

Ness Kingman

Rush Sedgvdck

Barton Elk

Ellsworth Wilson

Rice Neosho

McPherson Crawford

Marion Morton

Chase Stevens

Lyon Seward

Coffey Meade

Franklin Clark

Anderson Comanche

Miami Barber

Linn Harper

Hamilton Sumner

Kearny Cowley

Finney Chautauqua

Gray Montgomery

Hodgeman Labette

PawTiee Cherokee

Within a county, localities are listed from north to south; where two locali-
ties are on the same parallel the western one precedes the eastern.

5. Under additional records are Usted specimens tliat have been mentioned
in literature but that have not been examined by me. With each is given a
citation to the source of the record.

6. In tables of cranial measurements I have listed measurements (given in
milhmeters and tenths thereof as taken with dial calipers) of the skulls of the
various kinds of mammals found in the state. Unless otherwise stated, these
measurements are those of the skulls of adult specimens.

Cheyenne

Rawlins

Decatur

Norton

Phillips

Smith

Jewell

Republic

Washington

Marshall

Nemaha

Brown

Doniphan

Shemian

Thomas

Sheridan

Graham

Rooks

Osborne

Mitchell

Cloud

Clay

Riley

Pottawatomie

Jackson

Atchison

Jefferson

Leavenworth

Wyandotte

Wallace

Logan

Gove

Trego

Ellis

Russell

30

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

CHECK-LIST OF THE MAMMALS OF KANSAS

The 119 kinds (species and subspecies) are grouped in eight
orders, 23 families, 55 genera, and 80 ( full ) species.

Class MAMMALIA — mammals

Order Marsupialia — marsupials

Family Didelphidae — opossums page

Didelphis virginiana virginiana Kerr Virginia opossum 39

Order Insectivora — insectivores

Family Soricidae — shrews

Blarina brevicauda brevicauda (Say) Short-tailed shrew 42

Blarina brevicauda carolinensis (Bachman) Short-tailed shrew 43

Crijptotis parva parva (Say) Little short-tailed shrew. . 45

Family Talpidae — moles

Scalopus aqtiaticus canji Jackson Common mole 50

Scalopus aqtiaticus machrinoides Jackson Common mole 51

Scalopus aquaticus intermedius Elliot Common mole 52

Order Chiroptera — bats

Family Vespertilionidae — common bats

Myotis lucifugus lucifugus ( LeConte ) Big myotis 58

Myotis velifer incautus (J. A. Allen) House bat 60

Myotis subulatus suhulatus (Say) Small-footed myotis 63

Lasionycteris noctivagans (LeConte) Silver-haired bat 65

Pipistrellus subflavus suhfhvus (F. Cuvier) Pipistrelle 67

Eptesicus fuscus fuscus ( Beauvois ) Big brown bat 70

Eptesicus fuscus pallidus Young Big brown bat 71

Nycticeius humeralis humeralis

( Rafinesque ) Evening bat 72

Lasiurus cinereus cinereus ( Beauvois ) Hoary bat 74

Lasitirus borealis borealis (MuUer) Red bat 76

Corynorhinus rafinesquii pallescens Miller Long-eared bat 79

Antrozous bunkeri Hibbard Bunker bat 81

Family Molossidae — free-tailed bats

Tadarida mexicana (Saussure) Mexican free-tailed bat. . . 84
Tadarida molossa (Pallas) Big free-tailed bat 85

Order Edentata — sloths, anteaters and armadillos

Family Dasypodidae — armadillos

Dasypus novemcinctus mexicanus Peters Nine-banded armadillo . . 89

Check-list

31

Order Lagomorpha — hares, rabbits, and pikas

Family Leporidae — hares and rabbits page

Lepus townsendii campanius Hollister White-tailed jackrabbit . . 98

Lepus californicus melanotis Mearns Black-tailed jackrabbit . . . 100

Sylvilagus fioridanus similis Nelson Florida cottontail 102

Sylvdagus fioridanus mearnsi ( Allen ) Florida cottontail 103

SylvUagus fioridanus alacer ( Bangs ) Florida cottontail 105

Sylvilagus fioridanus llanensis Blair Florida cottontail 104

Sylvilagus audubonii baileyi Merriam Audubon cottontail 106

Sylvilagus audubonii neomexicanus Nelson Audubon cottontail 107

Sylvilagus aquaticus aquaticus ( Bachman ) Swamp rabbit 107

Order Rodentia — rodents

Family Sciuridae — squirrels

Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis (Gmelin) Gray squirrel 113

Sciurus niger rufiventer GeoflFroy Fox squirrel 115

Marmota monax bunkeri Black Woodchuck 118

Cijnomys ludovicianus ludovicianus ( Ord ) Prairie dog 121

Citellus tridecemlineatus arenicola Howell Striped ground squirrel . . 124
Citellus tridecemlineatus tridecemlineatus

(Mitchell) Striped ground squirrel. . . 125
Citellus tridecemlineatus texensis

(Merriam) Striped ground squirrel . . 126

Citellus spilosoma major (Merriam) Spotted ground squirrel. . . 128

Citellus spilosoma obsoletus ( Kennicott ) Spotted ground squirrel . . 127

Citellus franklinii ( Sabine ) Franklin ground squirrel . . 129

Tamias striatus venustus Bangs Eastern chipmunk 132

Tamias striatus griseus Mearns Eastern chipmunk 131

Glaucomys volans volans ( Linnaeus ) Flying squirrel 134

Family Geomyidae — ^pocket gophers

Geomys bursarius lutescens Merriam Pocket gopher 141

Geomys bursarius majusculus Swenk Pocket gopher 141

Geomys bursarius jugossicularis Hooper Pocket gopher 142

Geomys bursarius industrius Villa-R. and

Hall Pocket gopher 142

Geomys bursarius major Davis Pocket gopher 143

Family Heteromyidae — pocket mice and kangaroo rats

Perognathus fiavescens fiavescens Merriam Plains pocket mouse 145

Perognathus fiavescens copei Rhoads Plains pocket mouse 146

Perognathus fiavus fiavus Baird Baird pocket mouse 148

Perognathus hispidus spilotus Merriam Hispid pocket mouse 150

Perognathus hispidus paradoxus Merriam Hispid pocket mouse 149

Dipodomys ordii richardsoni (Allen) Ord kangaroo rat 153

Family Castoridae — beavers

Castor canadensis missouriensis Bailey American beaver 157

32

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Family Cricetidae — native rats and mice page

Ontjchomys leucogaster arcticeps Rhoads Grasshopper mouse 161

Onychomys leucogaster breviauritus

Hollister Grasshopper mouse 162

Reithrodontomys fulvescens aurantius

Allen Golden harvest mouse ... 163

Reithrodontomys megalotis dychei Allen Western harvest mouse . 166

Reithrodontomys megalotis aztecus Allen Western harvest mouse . . . 167

Reithrodontomys montanus albescens Gary Pygmy harvest mouse ... 168

Reithrodontomys montanus griseus Bailey Pygmy harvest mouse. . . 169
Peromyscus maniculatus nebrascensis

(Goues) Deer mouse 172

Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii

( Hoy and Kennicott ) Deer mouse 174

Peromyscus leucopus aridulus Osgood Wood mouse 177

Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis

(Fischer) Wood mouse 177

Peromyscus leucopus tornillo Mearns Wood mouse 179

Peromyscus leucopus texanus ( Woodhouse ) Wood mouse 179

Peromyscus boylii attwateri (Allen) Brush mouse 181

Sigmodon hispidus texianus ( Audubon

and Bachman ) Hispid cotton rat 186

Neotoma floridana campestris Allen Florida wood rat 189

Neotoma floridana osagensis Blair Florida wood rat 189

Neotoma micropus canescens Allen Gray wood rat 191

Neotoma micropus micropus Baird Gray wood rat 191

Synaptomys cooperi gossii ( Goues ) Cooper lemming mouse . . . 195
Stjnaptomys cooperi paludis Hibbard and

Rinker Gooper lemming mouse . . . 196
Ondatra zibethicus cinnamominus

(Hollister) Muskrat 198

Ondatra zibethicus zibethicus ( Linnaeus ) Muskrat 199

Pitymys pinetorum nemoralis ( Bailey ) Woodland pine mouse 200

Microtus ochrogaster ochrogaster ( Wagner ) Prairie vole 203

Microtus ochrogaster haydenii ( Baird ) Prairie vole 203

Microtus ochrogaster taylori Hibbard and

Rinker Prairie vole 205

Family Muridae — Old World rats and mice

Rattus rattus rattus ( Linnaeus ) Black rat 209

Rattus rattus alexandrinus (GeoflFroy) Roof rat 209

Rattus norvegicus norvegicus ( Berkenhout ) Norway rat 210

Mus musculus subsp. House mouse 211

Family Zapodidae — jumping mice

Zapus hudsonius pallidus Cockrum and

Baker Hudsonian jumping mouse, 215

Family Erethizontidae — porcupines

Erethizon dorsatum bruneri Swenk Porcupine 218

Check-list

33

Order Carnivora — carnivores

Family Canidae — wolves, coyotes, and foxes

Canis latrans nebracensis Merriam Coyote 226

Canis latrans latrans Say Coyote 227

Canis lupus nubilus Say Wolf 229

Canis niger rufus Audubon and Bachman Red wolf 230

Vulpes fulva fulva ( Desmarest ) Red fox 233

Vulpes velox velox ( Say ) Swift fox 235

Urocyon cinereoargenteus ocythous Bangs Gray fox 237

Family Ursidae — bears

Ursus horribilis horribilis Ord Grizzly bear 239

Ursus americanus americanus Pallas Black bear 240

Ursus americanus amblyceps Baird Black bear 240

Family Procyonidae — raccoons and allies

Procyon lotor hirtus Nelson and Goldman Raccoon 242

Family Mustelidae — weasels, skunks, and allies

Mustela vison letifera Hollister Mink 245

Mustela frenata neomexicana ( Barber and

Cockerell) Long-tailed weasel 248

Mustela frenata longicauda Bonaparte Long-tailed weasel 247

Mustela frenata primulina Jackson Long-tailed weasel 247

Mustela nigripes (Audubon and Bachman) Black-footed ferret 250

Taxidea taxus taxus ( Schreber ) American badger 253

Mephitis mephitis avia Bangs Striped skunk 257

Mephitis mephitis varians Gray Striped skunk 256

Mephitis mephitis mesomelas Lichtenstein Striped skunk 257

Spilogale interrupta ( Rafinesque ) Spotted skunk 259

Lutra canadensis interior Swenk River otter 260

Family Felidae — cats

Felis concolor hippolestes Merriam Puma 262

Lynx rufus rufus ( Schreber ) Bobcat 265

Lynx rufus baileyi ( Merriam ) Bobcat 264

Order Artiodactyla — artiodactyls

Family Cervidae — wapiti, elk, deer, and allies

Cervus canadensis canadensis Erxleben Wapiti 270

Odocoileus hemionus hemionus

( Rafinesque ) Black-tailed deer 272

Odocoileus virginianus macrourus

( Rafinesque ) White-tailed deer 274

Family Antilocapridae — Prong-horn

Antilocapra americana americana (Ord) Prong-horned antelope ... 275

Family Bovidae — cows, bison, and allies

Bison bison bison ( Linnaeus ) Bison 278

2—1424

34 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES

The class Mammalia is divided into approximately 32 orders, 14
of which are extinct. Nine of the 18 living orders are now native
to Kansas. Man is the only native representative of the order
Primates in Kansas and is not considered in this account. The
following key gives diagnostic characters of the remaining orders:
1. Inner toe of hind foot without nail and opposable; ten upper in-
cisors MARSUPIALIA, p. 34

1'. Inner toe of hind foot, if present, with nail and not opposable;

fewer than ten upper incisors 2

2.(1') Fingers lacking claws (thumb has one), longer than the forearm,

and supporting a leathery membrane which serves as a wing,

CHIROPTERA, p. 54
2'. Fingers with claws, shorter than forearm, and not supporting a

leathery membrane for flight. . 3

3.(2') Body covered with bony plates forming a hard shell dorsally; no

teeth present in anterior one-fourth of upper or lower jaw,

EDENTATA, p. 87
3'. Body covered with fur; at least incisors present in the anterior

one-fourth of lower jaw 4

4. ( 3' ) Skull with canine teeth; a true diastema absent 5

4'. Skull without canine teeth; a true diastema present 6

5.(4) Total length less than 200 mm.; canine teeth little or no larger

than the adjacent teeth INSECTIVORA, p. 40

5'. Total length more than 250 mm.; canine teeth conspicuously

larger than the adjacent teeth CARNIVORA, p. 219

6.(4') Feet with claws ( not hooves ) ; incisors totaling 2 or 4 above .... 7
6'. Feet with hooves (not claws); incisors absent above,

ARTIODACTYLA, p. 268
7. ( 6 ) Ears shorter than tail vertebrae; total of 2 upper incisors,

RODENTIA, p. 110
7'. Ears longer than tail vertebrae; total of 4 upper incisors,

LAGOMORPHA, p. 90

Order MARSUPIALIA

Marsupials

The marsupials, or "pouched mammals", are so called because the
female has an external abdominal pouch or marsupium. The young,
which are born in an incomplete stage of development, are carried
and nourished in this pouch until they are developed sufficiently
to move about by themselves.

The marsupials are, for the most part, found in the Australian
region (kangaroos, wombats, etc.) but are represented in North
America by the opossums. One family ( Didelphidae ) is repre-
sented in Kansas by one species.

Opossum 35

Genus Didelphis Linnaeus
Opossum

This genus occurs from southeastern Canada southward, through
eastern and central United States, Mexico, Central America, and
southward through most of South America.

Generic characteristics include: Hind limb short; feet with five
distinct toes, each provided with a claw, except first toe of liind
foot which is large, opposed to the others in grasping and without
a claw; tail long, prehensile and partly naked; skull with sagittal
and occipital crests greatly developed. The dental formula is:

I' 4> C' T> P* ^> ^^* 4'

Didelphis virginiana
Virginia Opossum

The first available reference to the occurrence of the opossum
in Kansas is Knox's (1875:22) statement that it was "not rare in
eastern parts of the state". Actual specimens collected before 1900,
are available from Douglas County (KU no. 1887 and 1894) and
Chautauqua County (1892, USNM), both in the eastern part of the
state. However, in 1905 and 1906 specimens were taken at Wa-
keeney (KU), in western Kansas. Lantz (1905B:333) indicated
that the opossum was "common in the wooded parts of the state
and westward along the streams." This indicates that perhaps, in
1875, either ( a ) Knox did not have suflBcient material to determine
if the opossum occurred in western Kansas or (b) the opossum
was not present in the western part of the state. Knox probably
did not have records to show accurately the geographic range of
the opossum in the state but the available evidence indicates that
the opossum then actually did not occur in the western part of the
state.

J. A. Allen spent the summer of 1871 in the vicinity of Fort
Hays, now Ellis County, and two weeks of the following winter
in northwestern Kansas. While there he collected several kinds
of mammals and also made observations on others. When report-
ing on this trip in 1874, he made no mention of the opossum.
Baker ( 1889 ) in reporting on the mammals of western Kansas failed
to mention the opossum. J. A. Allen (1895A) in reporting on the
collection of mammals and field notes made by Walter Granger,
who spent six weeks ( Sept. 14 to Nov. 2, 1894 ) at Long Island and
three days at Pendennis (May 8 to May 10, 1894) made no men-
tion of the opossum.

36

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

More recently Schaffner (1929:61-62) wrote: "The opossum is
now quite common all through the region [northwestern part of
Clay County] while in the early years the writer never heard of
one being seen, although raccoons and badgers were frequently

Museum of Natural History

Uniwarsity of KartSOS

1945

39

38

100

97

Fig. 5. Distribution of Didelphis virginiana virginiana in Kansas. The
symbols for locality records are as follows: circles, specimens examined; tri-
angles, specimens reported but not examined; solid symbols, precise localities;
hollow symbols, localities known only to county.

taken by him and others. Its original range in the region probably
did not extend farther than the southeastern part of the county
where oaks are still common. The writer long ago heard his father
say that the opossum was present in the soutlieastern part. The
progress of the opossum toward the northwest is probably due to
the much more certain food supply under civilized conditions.
There is corn part of the year, to say nothing of poultry and eggs,
especially in the fall and winter when food must have been ex-
ceedingly scarce for the opossum in a region where acorns and
other nuts and fruits are absent. . . . The opossum will prob-
ably enjoy the blessings of civilization for a long time to come."

From August 14 to August 23, 1926, W. H. Burt was a member
of a party which was collecting museum specimens in Morton
County, Kansas. In unpublished notes concerning this trip, Burt
makes no mention of the opossum, although he does record ob-
servations of other animals which were not taken.

H. Leo Brown, in correspondence with Donald F. HofiFmeister
( 1945 ) , reported sight observations of opossums in several counties
in north-central and south-central Kansas. The most westerly

Opossum

37

counties in which he indicated that he had seen opossums were
Norton County (three miles east of Norton) in September, 1938,
and in Edwards County (one mile north of Fellsburg) in Decem-
ber, 1937. Irvin S. Baird (personal communications) reported
having seen opossums dead on the highway in Greeley and Ham-
ilton counties in 1943.

Specimens of the opossum from western Kansas are few but in
the collection of the University of Kansas Museum of Natural His-
tory are specimens from Seward County ( taken in 1934 ) and Meade
County (taken in 1942). On July 19, 1950, I saw an opossum dead
on the highway four miles west of Ulysses, Grant County. This
was some miles from the nearest rough land or any great numbers
of trees. Residents of Stanton and Morton counties state that opos-
sums are seen occasionally in that area.

In southeastern Kansas, as in most of the southern states, opossum
hunting, with dogs and lanterns, is a sport enjoyed by many. "Play-
ing 'possum" is a common expression in the language of the people
and this expression is based on this animal's habit of pretending to
be dead when it is cornered — a ruse which often enables it to es-
cape from its enemies.

Many thousands of opossums are trapped each year for their fur.
Table 2 shows the number of pelts that have been sold in Kansas
in several recent years. The opossum ranks second in number of
individuals killed and sold for fur each year, being exceeded only
by the skunk.

TABLE 2. — Number of Pelts of the Opossum Reported as Sold

IN Kansas.

Based on data in the Biennial Reports of the Kansas Forestry, Fish and
Game Commission: Second (1926-1928) p. 67; Third (1928-1930) pp. 14
and 32; Fourth (1930-1932) p. 37; and Fifth (1932-1934) p. 25 and on data
released by tlie United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Anon. 1939:8;
1940:8; 1945:8; 1946:8; and Ashbrook, 1950:9; 1951:10). These data are
reports made by fur buyers in Kansas and do not account for any shipped out
of state by the trapper.

Year

Number

1928

350,286

1929

349,469

1930

316,297

1931

317,984

1932

303,261

1933

297,631

1934

265 ,000

1938

78,440

1940

155,945

Year

1941...
1942...
1943...
1944. . .
1945...
1946...
1947-8.
1948-9.
1949-50

Number

148,322

133,652

147,852

118,314

98,645

74,000

124,042

61 ,424

47,318

38 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

The opossum is nocturnal in habit, a fact which coupled with its
slow-moving gait, often leads to its death on the highways. On an
extended trip along the highways, a dead opossum on the road is
not an uncommon sight, especially in the eastern part of the state.
Robert W. Hankins (unpublished manuscript) counted 14 dead
opossums on the highway between Topeka, Shawnee County, and
Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, a total of 186 miles of highway,
in August, 1948. This interested Hankins who decided to count
the animals seen dead on State Highway No. 10 between Sunflower,
Johnson County, and Lawrence, Douglas County, a distance of 14
miles. Hankins made observations six days a week from September
14, 1948, to January 14, 1949, and in this period he saw 11 opossums
dead on the highway. In this same period and along the same
highway, Hankins observed a total of 113 rabbits dead on the high-
way. Black (1935B:223) pointed out that the opossum seems to
be able to survive after more severe injuries than can any other
Kansas mammal. More than one third of the series of skeletons of
opossums examined by Black revealed bones that had been broken
and healed. These injuries ranged from minor breaks to injuries
involving such vital parts as the skull, pelvic girdle, and vertebral
column; six or more broken ribs were not at all uncommon.

The opossum is omnivorous. In addition to the persimmon for
which the opossum's love is well known, it eats fruits, corn, crayfish,
insects, insects' eggs, any vertebrates that it can catch, and carrion.
The last item makes up an important part of the opossum's diet,
and even badly decomposed carcasses are utilized as food.

The gestation period of the opossum is notably brief, being only
13 days. The young (three to 17 per litter), which are completely
naked and grublike in appearance, are more immature when born
than the young of placental mammals. At this time each is ap-
proximately the size of a pea and weighs only 1/10,000 as much as
the mother. The forelimbs are sufficiently developed to permit the
young opossum to crawl into the pouch of its mother where further
development occurs after it attaches to a teat. When four to five
weeks of age the young is sufficiently developed to leave the pouch
for short periods altliough it stays with the mother for 90 to 100
days. Reynolds (1945:361-379) studied the breeding habits, food
habits, and other aspects of the natural history of the opossum in
Missouri. Most of his findings would probably apply equally well
in eastern Kansas.

Three factors (large litters, omnivorous diet, and ability to re-
cover from severe injuries) have enabled the opossum to thrive in

Opossum 39

spite of the inroads made on its population by accidents, hunters,
and trappers. In fact the opossum has expanded its range greatly
since the coming of the white man to North America and Frye and
Lay (1942:14) believed it to be more abundant now than at any
time in history.

Didelphis virginiana virginiana Kerr

Didelphis virginiana Kerr, Animal Kingdom, p. 193, 1792, type from
Virginia; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:172, 1905; Lantz,
Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:333, 1905.

Didelphis virginiana virginiana. Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:107, 1923; Miller,
U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull, 128:3, 1924; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:140,
1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:231, 1933; Black, Jour.
Mamm., 16:223, 1935; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Bi-
ennial Kept., p. 136, 1937; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 42:505, 1939; Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia,
Bull. Inf., Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5):18, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:62, 1944; Lowrance, Jour. Morph., 85:569, 1949;
Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:208, 1951.

Didelphys Virginianus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.

Didelphys virginiana, Schaffner, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 31:61, 1929.

D[idelphis]. calif ornica, Lantz, Kansas State College E.xp. Sta. Bull.,
129:333, 1905.

Distribution. — State wide; more common in the eastern than in the western part
of the state. See map, figure 5.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males and two females
from Douglas County, are: ^ 860, 698, § 718, 645; 330, 318, 300,
253; 53, 70, 64, 60; 38, , 48, . One male weighed 6'A pounds.

Specimens examined. — Total, 285, distributed as follows: 'Nemaha County:
Sabetha, 6. Doniphan County: Geary, 1; Unspecified, 2. Clay County: 6 mi.
SW Clay Center, 2. Riley County: Unspecified, 1. Jackson County: 4 mi.
SW Muscotah, 1; lOYi mi. WSW Holton, 1. Atchison County: 5 mi. SW Ef-
fingham, 1. Leavenworth County: Ft. Leavenworth, 1. Trego County: Wa-
keeney, 7; Unspecified, 1. Wabaunsee County: 3 mi. NE Maple Hill, 1.
Shawnee County: Richland, 2. Douglas County: 2'/2 mi. W Lawrence, 1; near
Lawrence, 1; 1 mi. N Lawrence, 1; Lawrence, 12; 2 mi. SE Lawrence, 1; 4 mi.
SE Lawrence, 1; 6)2 mi. SE Lawrence, 1; 7 mi. SW Lawrence, 21; 7^2 mi. SW
Lawrence, 39; 8 mi. SW Lawrence, 4; Washington Creek, 1; 10 mi. SW Law-
rence, 1; 11 mi. SW Lawrence, 3; Sibley, 1; Cfinton, 7; Unspecified, 65. John-
son County: Gardner, 1; 15 mi E Lawrence, 1. Franklin County: S of: Ot-
tawa, 1. Anderson County: 4 mi. S Garnett, 2; 6 mi. S Gamett, 2. Stafford
County: Little Salt Marsh, 3. Reno County: 3 mi. N, 5?2 mi. E Hutchinson, 1;
2 mi. N, 2 mi. E Hutchinson, 2. Greenwood County: 3 mi. E Hamilton, 1
(GCR); Hamilton, 1 (GCR); 23^ mi. SW Hamilton, 1 (GCR); 8 mi. SW To-
ronto, 6; S of Toronto, 2; Unspecified, 2. Harvey County: Unspecified, 1.
Woodson County: Unspecified, 1. Allen County: 1 mi. N, 1 mi. W Neosho
Bridge, Humboldt, 1. Elk County: Longton, 1. Seward County: 1 mi. E
Arkalon, 1. Meade County: 14 mi. SW Meade, 1. Labette County: 10 mi.
SW Oswego, 3. Cherokee County: 8 mi. SW Columbus, 3; 9 mi. SW Colum-
bus, 1; 10 mi. SW Columbus, 1. Eastern Kansas: no precise locality, 58.

Additional records. — Norton County: 3 mi. E Norton (see text). Edwards
County: 1 mi. N Fellsburg (see text). Grant County: 4 mi. W Ulysses (see
te.xt).

40 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist,

TABLE 3. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Didelphis.

CO

as a

g

JS

^

53 o

d

o3

^a

"3

3

-13

a
o

i

'Z

O

J

03

03

a

o

o

tuo
a

a

t3

O

a

a

D. virginiana vi.

rqiniana,

Douglas County

d'

3610

110.6

48.7

62.1

11.0

64.6

46.5

21.9

d'

2980

110.5

52.2

59.7

11.8

65.9

46.7

21.8

c?

11482

48.1

56.5

11.2

62.6

44.7

21.6

9

4517

103.5

51.2

53.2

11.0

63.0

44.8

20.9

9

3150

99.5

45.0

56.1

11.5

60.9

41.8

20.7

9

2

107.8

51.2

58.3

12.5

65.4

42.4

20.7

Order INSECTIVORA

Insectivores

Members of this order feed mainly upon insects and thus have
earned the name, insectivores. Earthworms, snails, and to some
extent vertebrates, usually carrion, are also used as food. All mem-
bers of this order are comparatively small and, for the most part,
are nocturnal and terrestrial in habit. Representatives are found
throughout the temperate and tropical climates of the world with
the exception of Australia and most of South America.

Only two families of this large order occur in North America.
These are the moles (Family Talpidae) and the shrews (Family
Soricidae). The following key will be of aid in separating those
kinds found in Kansas.

1. Total length more than 150 mm.; forelegs modified for digging;

skull more than 30 mm. in length Scalopus aquaticus, p. 47

1'. Total length less than 150 mm.; forelegs not modified for digging;

skull less than 30 mm. in length .2

2.(1') Total length more than 100 mm.; hind foot more than 11 mm.;

total number of teeth 32 Blarina brevicauda, p. 41

2'. Total length less than 100 mm.; hind foot less than 11 mm.; total

number of teeth 30 Cryptotis parva, p. 44

Genus Blarina Gray

Short-tailed Shrews

This genus occurs in southeastern Canada and eastern United
States. Kansas is on the western edge of the range of this genus.
The dental formula is generally given as: i. |, c. ^, p. ^, m.. f .

Shrews

41

Blarina brevicauda

Short-tailed Shrew

The short-tailed shrew occurs in suitable habitats throughout the
eastern two-thirds of the state, where it is especially common in
woodlands and moist areas.

The earliest record known to me of the occurrence of this shrew
in the state is Knox's (1875:21) terse comment that "Blarina Caro-
linensis" was "Rare," although today the short-tailed shrew is com-
mon in most of the eastern part of the state.

Leo Brown examined pellets of the barn owl that he collected
in a barn one-fourth of a mile south of Hunter, on August 17, 1932,
and August 10, 1933. He found (unpublished notes) that Blarina
and Cryptotis together comprised 4 per cent (36 individuals) of
the total number of skulls in the pellets.

100

39

38

TiT 7

Muittfin or Nolurol Htttorjr

Untvcr^ifr Ol Konid)

I94J

39

38

100

97

Fig. 6. Distribution of Blarina brevicauda in Kansas. 1. B. b. brevicauda.
B. b. carolinensis. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

Short-tailed shrews usually make their own runways but often
utilize those made by moles and microtine rodents. The com-
ments about the food habits and appetites of the small shrew,
Cryptotis parva, apply equally well to this shrew.

Pearson (1944:43) has pubHshed the results of an intensive study
of reproduction in this species. Most of his materials were from
Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts. According to him,
"pregnant females may be captured from April through September,
but most authors record a reduction or cessation of breeding activi-

42 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

ties in late July and August." It is not known how many litters an
adult female will produce in one season. The period of gestation is
21 or 22 days.

No intensive work has been done on the reproductive cycle of
Blarina in Kansas. On April 7, 1949, I found a nest of the short-
tailed shrew under a log one-half mile west of the University of
Kansas Campus, Lawrence. The nest rested on the surface of the
ground, was approximately eight inches in diameter, and had been
constructed of dry leaves of elm and honey locust trees. It con-
tained six young that were approximately half grown. One speci-
men (KU No. 16237), captured on August 31, 1945, in McPherson
County, was lactating.

Blarina brevicauda brevicauda (Say)

Sorex brevicaudus Say, Long's Exped. Rocky Mts., 1:164, 1823, type

from west bank of Missouri River, near Blair, formerly Engineer

Cantonment, Washington County, Nebraska.
Blarina brevicauda brevicauda. Dice, Ecology, 4:44, 1923; Dice, Jour.

Mamm., 4:108, 1923; Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 128:35, 1924;

Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:140, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 36:231, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial

Rept., p. 142, 1937; Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:515,

1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull.

Information, Nat. Flist. Surv., 20(5) :20, 1940; Hibbard, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:63, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat.,

45:208, 1951.

Blarina Carolinesis [sic], Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875.

Blarina talpoides, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 5:65, 1877.

Blarina brevicauda, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 42, 1858; Merriam,
N. Amer. Fauna, 10:13, 1895; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
19:178, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College "Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:338,
1905; Jameson, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:137, 1947.

Distribution. — Northern half of the state; south, certainly to Marion, Anderson,
and Linn counties. See map, figure 6.

Remarks. — External measurements of four males and two females
from Lawrence are: ^ 107.2 (94-120), ? 104, 112; 22.2 (21-24),
20,20; 14.2 (13-16), 14, 14.

Specimens examined. — Total, 103, distributed as follows: Raivlins County:

2 mi. S Ludell, 1. Nemaha Countij: 6 mi. N Sabetha, 1; 2?^ mi. S Sabetha, 2;
% mi. E, 3M mi. S Sabetha, 3. Brown County: 7M mi. N, )2 mi. E Hiawatha, 1;

3 mi. N Hiawatha, 1; 5 mi. S Hiawatha, 1; 1 mi. N Horton, 1. Doniphan
County: Geary, 1. Cloud County: Bullock Farm, 4 mi. E Glasco, 1.
Riley County: Manhattan, 1. Jackson County: 5/2 mi. E Holton, 2. Atchison
County: 1?2 mi. S Muscotah, 7; l%o mi. N Atchison, 1. Leavenworth County:
Unspecified, 1. Ellis County: 3/2 mi. W Ft. Hays State College Campus, 1;
3^2 mi. W, % mi. S Hays, 2150 ft., 1. Saline County: 4 mi. W Safina, 2;

4 mi. E Sahna, 3. Shawnee County: 3 mi. W, AY2 mi. N State Capitol Bldg.,
Topeka, 1. Douglas County: 2 mi. N Lawrence, 1; Lawrence, 25; 7
mi. SW Lawrence, 7; 7!= mi. SW Lawrence, 3; 5^^n mi. W, Vi mi. S
Clinton, 1; Unspecified, 22. McPherson County: Smoky Hill R., 1 mi. S,

Shrews 43

Lindsborg, 1. Marion County: 1 mi. N, /2 mi. E Lincoln-
ville, Clear Creek, 1. Chase County: 9 mi. E Lincolnville, 1. Lyon County:
15 mi. S Plymouth, 1. Coffey County: 2/2 mi. S Burlington, 2. Anderson
County: 7 mi. S Gamett, 1; 1 mi. W Welda, 1. Miami County: 11 mi. SSE
Paola, 2. Linn County: Yz mi. N, 4 mi. W Prescott, 1.

Blarina brevicauda carolinensis (Bachman)

Sorex carolinensis Bachman, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 7(2):
366, 1837, type from eastern South Carohna.

Blarina brevicauda carolinensis, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 10:13, 1895;
Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 142, 1937,
P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Informa-
tion, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :20, 1940.

Blarina brevicauda hulophaga, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:232, 1933; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:63, 1944.

Distribution. — Southeastern part of the state, north certainly to Greenwood
and Allen counties and west certainly to Cowley and Harvey counties. See
map, figure 6.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males and one female
from 3 mi. SE Arkansas City are: J 92, 96, $ 95; 20, 24, 23; 14,
17, 18.

Blair (1939:99), writing about Blarina brevicauda hulophaga in
Oklahoma, stated: "This race is known from only 4 specimens, all
of which agree in being paler and more brownish in color than
the race carolinensis. In size and cranial characters it does not
differ appreciably from carolinensis. It seems likely that tliis is a
slight local race, developed through partial isolation in the Ar-
buckle Mountains." And in writing about B. h. carolinensis he
stated: "Specimens from the northern part of the Osage Savanna
district are clearly referable to carolinensis rather than to the sub-
species hulophaga of the Arbuckle Mountains in the southern part
of the district." On the basis of this observation of Blair's I am
applying the name, Blarina brevicauda carolinensis, to animals of
southeastern Kansas.

Specimens of B. b. brevicauda from northeastern Kansas are
measurably larger than specimens of B. b. carolinensis from south-
eastern Kansas. Specimens from intermediate geographic localities
show a gradual gradation from one to the other — a cline in which
no great step exists.

Specimens examined. — Total, 68, distributed as follows: Harvey County:
1 mi. E, M mi. N Halstead, 1. Greenwood County: 1 mi. W Virgil, 3 (GCR);
Hamilton, 42 (GCR); 1 mi. S Hamilton, 2; 8% mi. SW Toronto, 1. Woodson
County: Neosho Falls, 2; 2^2 mi. N Toronto, 1; 2 mi. S Toronto, 1. Allen
County: Moran, 2; Unspecified, 1. Cowley County: 6 mi. N, 12 mi. E Ar-
kansas City, 1; 8.1 mi. E Arkansas City, 2; 3 mi. SE Arkansas City, 5. Mont-
gomery County: Unspecified, 1. Labette County: 2 mi. SW Parsons, 600 ft.,
1. Cherokee County: /2 mi. S Galena, 1; Unspecified, 1.

44

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Genus Cryptotis Pomel

Little Short-tailed Shrews

This genus occurs through most of eastern and central United
States, southward through Mexico and Central America into north-
ern South America. The dental formula is generally given as:

2> '^•

0>

p.

t, m. f.

Cryptotis parva

Little Short-tailed Shrew

The little short-tailed shrew probably occurs in suitable habi-
tats in most of the state although there are few records for the west-
ern part of Kansas. Two individuals, taken at Dry Willow Creek,
Yuma County, Colorado, were reported by F. W. Miller (1924:199).

100

39

38-

.oMilei

=1

Musflum of Noiural History

Univartilr of Konsos

I94S

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 7. Distribution of Cryptotis parva parva in Kansas.

explanation of symbols.

See figure 5 for

The little short-tailed shrew is the smallest mammal in the state,
having a total length of approximately three inches and a weight of
less than an ounce. The shrew occurs in grasslands, woodlands,
along fence rows and almost anywhere that it can find sufficient
cover and insect food. It burrows in the ground, under leaves and
logs, and often utilizes the runways and burrows of mice.

Shrews in general are noted for their remarkable appetites. Many
well authenticated records exist to show that the shrews can eat
two or three times their own weight in one twenty four hour period

Shrews 45

and that without food, they will starve to death overnight. How-
ever, under natural conditions, a shrew probably requires approxi-
mately three-fourths of its weight in food each day (Hamilton,
1944:3). Of the habits of Cnjptotis parva in Texas, Davis and
Joeris (1945:138) wrote: ". . . digestion is rapid. After chang-
ing the diet of our shrews from insects to hamburger, the fecal
pellets changed in consistency within 2 hours. This rapid meta-
bolic rate requires a large intake of food. In a period of 12 hours,
one of our captive shrews ate 3 crickets, 25-30 sow bugs, 1 beetle
about three-fourths of an inch long, and it was still hungry."

Young, which are born from April to late fall, are usually four
to six in number although records of two to eight are available.
Several Htters may be produced each year. Black (1937:141) made
observations on a nest of this shrew. He wrote: "The only nest
of this species of which I have direct knowledge was one containing
eight young shrews, attended by the male, which was exposed when
a large rock . . . was turned over by a plow. The nest was
composed of grass and leaves, and arranged in a compact ball."

Of five females taken between October 11 and October 15, 1945,
in Lawrence by Walter W. Dalquest, one contained two embryos,
another was lactating while the remaining three showed no signs of
reproductive activity.

This shrew, like the other insectivores, is an asset to the farmer
and gardener. Its insect-eating habits and its phenomenal appetite
make the shrew a formidable enemy of insects.

Cryptotis parva parva (Say)

Sorex parvus Say, Long's Exped. Rocky Mts., Vol. 1, p. 163, 1823, type
from west bank of Missouri River, near Blair, formerly Engineer Can-
tonment, Washington County, Nebraska.

Cryptotis parva parva, Hibbard and Rinker, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
29:258, 1943; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:63, 1944.

Cryptotis parva, Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:140, 1928; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:231, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric,
30th Biennial Rept., p. 141, 1937; Sprague, Jour. Mamm., 19:246,
1938; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:506, 1939;
Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:515, 1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas
State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv.,
20(5) :19, 1940; Rinker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 45:376, 1942;
Jameson, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:137, 1947; Brum-
well, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:208, 1951. '

Blarina parvula, Cragin, Bull. Washburn College Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:47,
1885.

Blarina parva, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 10:13, 1895; Lantz, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp.
Sta. Bull., 129:338, 1905.

Sorex, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 6:65, 1877.

Blarina exilipes, Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:57, 1889.

46

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Distribution. — Probably occurs in suitable habitats in most of the state although
no records exist for the extreme western part. Common in the eastern one-third
of the state. See map, figure 7.

Remarks. — External measurements of five adults of each sex from
Lawrence are: ,? 77.5 (71-80), § 78.5 (77-81); 17.2 (16-18), 17.5
(17-18); 11 (11-11), 11 (11-11).

Specimens from Meade County are lighter than those from the
eastern part of the state. Of two specimens examined from Saline
County, one approached the light color of the Meade County speci-
mens, lacking, however, the reddish tinge found in the latter but
the second was darker and fitted well into a series from Douglas
County. Both of these specimens were taken on October 3, 1948, by
A. J. Kirn. When more material is available for all seasons and age
groups, the populations of Cnjptotis parva in western Kansas may
be found to differ subspecifically from Cryptotis parva parva of
eastern Kansas.

TABLE 4. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Shrews-

^

3.Q

a

i

EH
1

£

h

o +^

J3

2
Ji

■*^
O
O

M a

^H

.-3

C en

d

c3

o S

"S,

aS

c3

— C

X

3§
o

2

-k^ O

a)

.-1

1

Blarina h

p. brevicauda,

, Lawrence,

Douglas

County

<?

4.551

22.1

9.9

11.7

6.0

8.0

8.5

&

4345

21.9

10.1

11.5

5.6

7.5

8.5

&

1748

21.9

9.4

6.1

7.9

7.9

9

1740

21.9

9.8

i2.'2

6.0

7.9

8.3

9

2984

22.5

10.0

12.7

6.1

8.0

8.6

9

1735

22.2

10.2

12.6

6.0

7.8

8.5

B.h. carolinensis, 3 mi.

SE Arkansas

City, Cowley County

cf

12925

21.1

9.4

11.3

5.5

7.4

8.1

d^

12927

20.2

9.2

10.8

5.4

7.1

8.1

9

12926

20.5

8.5

11.2

5.4

7.1

8.3

Cryptotis

parva parva,

Lawrence,

Douglas

County

&

5

15.6

6.2

7.7

3.5

4.9

5.5

min.

15.4

6.1

7.5

3.3

4.7

5.4

max.

16.1

6.4

8.0

3.7

5.0

5.6

9

5

15.7

6.5

7.8

3.5

5.0

5.5

min.

15.3

6.0

7.7

3.3

4.8

5.5

max.

16.1

6.8

8.0

3.6

5.2

5.5

"Measurements taken in manner described by Jackson (1928:13), except that I have
measured least interorbital constriction.

Shrews and Mole 47

Specimens examined. — Total, 169, distributed as follows: Rawlins County:
2 nii. S Ludell, 1. Doniphan Countij: Geary, 2. Atchison County: 1/2 mi. S
Muscotah, 1. Leavenworth County: Unspecified, 1. Ellis County: Fort Hays
State College, Hays, 2; 4 mi. W, M mi. S Hays, 2250 ft., 1. Saline County: 8J2
mi. E Salina, 2 (AJK). Osage County: 3 mi. SE Carbondale, 1. Douglas
County: 4/2 mi. N Lawrence, R19E, T12S, Sec. 1, 1; 2 mi. W Lawrence, 1;
Lawrence, 25; % mi. S Lawrence [Univ. Kansas Campus], 5; 2 mi. SW Law-
rence, 1; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 2; Unspecified, 14. Franklin County: 4 mi. N,
/2 mi. E Ottawa, 1; 4 mi. N Ottawa, 1. Anderson County: 3vio mi. S Gamett, 1.
Miami County: 9 mi. N Paola, 2; 11 mi. SSE Paola, 1. Harvey County: Hal-
stead, 1. Greenwood County: Hamilton, 77 (GCR); 5 mi. SE Hamilton, 1
(OCR); 8/2 mi. SW Toronto, 2. Kingman County: Kingman County Quail
Farm, Calista, 2. Meade County: I/2 mi. N Fowler, 9; 1 mi. SW Meade, 1;
17 mi. SW Meade, 6. Cowley County: 8.1 mi. E Arkansas City, 1. Labette
County: Oswego, 2. Cherokee County: I7 mi. N, 6 mi. E Baxter Spgs., 1.

Additional records. — Riley County: Unspecified, 4 (MZ). Ness County: 10
mi. E Bazine, 1 (MVZ),

Genus Scalopus GeofiFroy

Moles

This genus occurs in eastern North America, from southern On-
tario, southward through eastern and central United States, into
northeastern Mexico. The dental formula of adults of this genus is:
i. I, c. ^, p. I, m. |.

Scalopus aquaticus
Common Mole

Moles occur in favorable habitats throughout the state. Be-
cause they live mostly underground moles are only rarely seen
and consequently often are confused with other small mammals,
such as the shrews, meadow mice, and pocket gophers. The pres-
ence of broad, horizontally flattened front feet, the absence of ex-
ternal ears, and the absence of openings through the skin for the
eyes readily distinguish the mole from other small mammals.

The mole lives in cultivated ground, in soft, moist ground along
streams and in lawns. The presence of the mole in an area is easily
detected by the presence of characteristic ridges made when it
pushes up the soil to construct a system of surface runways. Sur-
face runways are used mainly for feeding and are often abandoned
after a relatively short time. The more permanent tunnels are
usually well below the surface ( six to ten inches ) and in their con-
struction no telltale ridge of eartli is left. These permanent runways
are often found under fence rows, hedge rows, or other places
where tlie soil has not been disturbed by man.

The mole spends most of its life in these underground tunnels.
However, when it does leave the burrows, probably only at night.

48

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

it is exposed to many enemies, among which are owls. Leo Brown
(unpublished notes) examined pellets of barn owls obtained on
August 17, 1932, and on August 10, 1933, from a barn one-fourth of
a mile south of Hunter and found the skulls of 13 moles among the
802 skulls of small mammals; moles made up approximately 1.6
per cent of the total. These findings differ from those of Silver and
Moore (1933:10) who reported: "Among birds of prey, hawks and
owls take only a small toll from the mole tribe. Examination of the
stomach contents of more than 2,000 of these birds disclosed the
remains of only 13 moles. ... of 3,005 skulls of small mam-

100

97

Mus«um of Nolural History

Unlv«rti1]r of Kantot

1945

m

Fig. 8. Distribution of Scalopus aquaticus in Kansas. 1. S. a. caryi. 2. S. a.
machrinoides. 3. S. a. intermedius. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

mals found in pellets disgorged by the barn owl, only 2 were of
the mole."

During the breeding season one or more enlargements in the
tunnel system may contain a nest of half-dried grasses. ScheflFer
(1912:161) described the nest of the mole [presumably in Riley
County] as follows: "In my excavations I have unearthed at least
a half-dozen nests, each in a chamber four to six inches in diameter
and about a foot beneath the surface of the ground. In all cases
the nesting material consisted mainly of closely cropped pasture
grasses with fine fibrous roots attached. It is probable that this
grass stubble had been pulled down by the roots into the shallow
surface burrows and carried from those to the nesting chambers.

Mole 49

That the mole seeks some materials above ground for its nests, how-
ever, is evident from the fact that there was a large admixture of
leaves in the only two nests that were near trees." Scheffer (op.
cit. :162) in autumn made a total of 449 breaks in 50 runways of the
mole in the early evening and recorded the hour at which the
breaks were repaired. He concluded that the mole does not have
"the periodical feeding habits commonly ascribed to him; more-
over, that in his daily activities he may not be classed as diurnal,
nocturnal or crepuscular. To what extent, if any, he may vary from
these observed habits in the summer season remains to be deter-
mined by further investigation."

Moles have a relatively low reproductive rate. Underground
habitat protects the mole from a great many enemies; hence a high
reproductive rate is not needed to maintain the population level of
the species. Only one litter of 3-5 ( usually four ) is born each year.
In Kansas this litter is born in March or the first half of April.
Scheffer (1911C: 121-123) examined 101 females taken in one year
near Manhattan and found no evidence of pregnancy prior to Feb-
ruary 27 nor evidence of young having been recently born later
than April 22. Since the young mole does not leave the nest until
it is almost as large as the parent, very few young are seen.

Moles feed chiefly upon earthworms and insects that inhabit the
ground. One of the earliest studies of the food habits of the mole
in Kansas was made by Dyche (1903:183-186) who examined the
stomachs of 67 moles between January, 1894 and October, 1902.
These moles were taken, for the most part, in Lawrence. From his
examination the food of the mole was found to consist, by bulk, of:
earthworms, 43.2 percent; insect eggs, ants, myriopods, 7.6 per cent;
vegetable food ( corn and seeds ) 3.7 per cent.

Scheffer (19110:119-131) examined the stomachs of 100 moles
from in and near Manhattan. He found that "The proportions of
the various articles of food do not vary with the season as they do
in . . . birds, for in some form the insects, worms and grubs
. . . are about as abundant in the soil at one time of the year as
at another. ... I have not attempted to compute the actual
percentages of each article of food. . . . Such figures would be
mere approximations at best. . . . While plant fibers or rootlets
show up in forty-three cases, in no case was the amount of identi-
fiable plant tissue more than might have been taken in incidental to
the ingestion of other food."

50 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat, Hist.

Hisaw (1923:19) studied the food preferences of the moles in
captivity. He found that: "The mole is predominantly carnivorous
in its food habits, but will eat certain seeds and vegetables even
when supplied simultaneously with an over-abundance of insects
and worms. Of the foods most commonly eaten, the following pref-
erences are shown: 1, earthworms and white grubs; 2, insect larvae
other than white grubs; 3, adult insects; 4, corn; 5, ripe tomatoes;
6, Irish potatoes and apples."

The mole often does considerable damage to lawns and gardens
by the physical disruption of the soil and the root systems of plants.
The number of moles in any given area is difficult to regulate unless
a person has some knowledge of their habits. The mole's suspicions
are aroused when its sensitive nose encounters anything foreign in
the runway, and the mole will burrow around or under an ordinary
trap set in its tunnel. However, it is not suspicious of soil blocking
the runway and will immediately reopen such a blockade. This
permits the use of specially designed traps which straddle, encircle
or are held suspended above the runway and with the trigger hidden
in a blockade of soil.

Scalopus aquaticus caryi Jackson

Scalopus aquaticus cariji Jackson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 27:20,
1914, type from Neligh, Antelope County, Nebraska; Jackson, N.
Amer. Fauna, 38:49, 1915; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:
231, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept.,
p. 138, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia,
Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :19, 1940; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:63, 1944.

Distribution. — Northwestern Kansas as far east as Smith County and as far
south as Logan County. See map, figure 8.

Remarks. — This is the smallest and the lightest colored of the
three subspecies of moles found in Kansas. External measurements
of two males and one female from two miles northeast of Ludell
are: ^ 139, 146, ? 155; 23, 30, 25; 21, 20, 21. The skull is small
in all measurements except width of the interorbital region and
breadth of the rostrum. In these two measurements, S. a. caryi is
slightly larger than S. a. intermedins but smaller than S. a. mach-
rinoides. ( See table 5 ) . One immature specimen from Smith Cen-
ter (KU no. 3457) is, in color, more nearly like S. a. machrinoides
but, in cranial characters, is like S. a. caryi — to which it is referred.

Specimens examined. — Total, 6, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
23 mi. (by road) NW St. Francis, 1. Rawlins County: 2 mi. NE Ludell, 3.
Smith County: Smith Center, 1. Logan County: Unspecified, 1.

Additional records. — Phillips County: Long Island, 3 (AMNH).

Mole 51

Scalopus aquaticus machrinoides Jackson

Scalopus aquaticus machrinoides Jackson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
27:19, 1914, type from Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas; Jackson,
N. Amer. Fauna, 38:46, 1915; Hisaw, Jour. Mamm., 4:12, 1923;
Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:140, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 36:231, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial
Kept., p. 138, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Em-
poria, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :18, 1940; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:63, 1944; Brumwell, Amer, Midland
Nat., 45:208, 1951.

Scalops argentatus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875.

Scalopus aquaticus niachrimis, Dyche, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 18:183,
1903; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad Sci., 19:178, 1905.

Scalopus aquaticus intermedius, Scheffer, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 23:
119, 1911.

Scalopus aquaticus, Jameson, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:
137, 1947.

Distribution. — Eastern Kansas, as far west as Cloud, Saline, and Harvey coun-
ties. See map, figure 8.

Remarks. — This is the largest and darkest of the three subspecies
of moles found in Kansas. External measurements of three males
and six females from Fort Leavenworth are: ^ 179.3 (166-187),
$ 178.2 (174-182); 35.0 (33-37), 33.0 (29-39); 24.3 (23-27), 23.0
(23-23). The skull is larger than that of S. A. cartji or S. a. inter-
medius.

Scheffer (1911C:119) reported on the measurements and color
of 100 individuals (45 males and 55 females) taken at Manhattan,
He computed average measurements for males and females and
found them to be: $ 176, $ 168; 30, 30; and weight, in ounces,
4, 3, As to variation in size and color he wrote ( op. cit. ) : "The
variation in size among individuals taken in the same locality is
not especially marked. ... In contrast to the slight variation
in size among moles taken in the same locality is the marked vari-
ation in color. The dominant shade is a mingling of lead color
and brown, but some specimens are darker than this and on the
other hand, some are a beautiful silver gray, or, perhaps, are
tinged with purplish. I have taken at least two that were suffused
all over with rich golden brown. On the average, about one-half
of the moles taken here have certain regions of the body — particu-
larly the nose, chin and breast — washed with a tinge of orange, or
have distinct patches of this color on the head or belly. Some
of these patches are yellowish or golden brown instead of orange,
and occasionally one is nearly white."

The following tabulation indicates some of the variations in color
found by Scheffer ( loc. cit. ) .

52 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Males Females Total

Number examined 45 55 100

Number marked on nose only 5 12 17

Number having orange or rusty-brown markings 27 23 50

Number suffused or washed in part 18 2 20

Number having well defined patches 6 9 15

Two Specimens from Saline County, in the collection of A. J.
Kirn, were referred to this subspecies by Hall and HofiFmeister on
August 2, 1946 ( in lift. ) , but both specimens showed some evidence
of intergradation with S. a. caryi and S. a. intermedius. In one (no.
471 AJK, from six miles south of Solomon) they noted: "Skull keys
to caryi or intermedius but color is dark" while in the other ( no. 420
AJK, from Debold Farm, Salina) they noted that: "Skull keys to
caryi or intermedius and skin is pale but not so pale as in caryi from
Rawlins Co., Kans." One specimen from six miles northeast of
Wellington is referable to S. a. machrinoides but shows some inter-
gradation with S, a. intermedius.

Specimens examined. — Total, 130, distributed as follows: Marshall County:
Blue Rapids, 1. Doniphan County: Unspecified, 1- Riley County: Manhattan,
6. Leavenworth County: Ft. Leavenworth, 9; Ft. Leavenworth (Engineers
Hill), 3; Unspecified, 1. Douglas County: 3 mi. W Lawrence, 1; Lawrence,
34; 7 mi. SW Lawrence, 2; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 3; 3 mi. E Baldwin, 1;
Unspecified, 29. Marion County: /2 mi. E Lincolnville, 1; 1 mi. E Lincoln-
ville, 1. Franklin County: Richmond, 1. Anderson County: 6 mi. S Gamett,
1. Miami County: 3 mi. SW Springhill, 2. Harvey County: Halstead, 1;
Unspecified, 1. Greenwood County: Hamilton, 23 (20 GCR); 8)2 mi. SW
Toronto, 2. Neosho County: 3 mi. NW Chanute, 5. Crawford County: Un-
specified, 1. Su77iner County: 6 mi. NE Wellington, 1. Montgomery County:
CoflFeyville, 1. Cherokee County: 4 mi. S Columbus, 1; Shole Creek, 1.

Additional records.— Clay Co.: 20 mi. W Ft. Riley, 1 (Baird, 1858:64).
Pottawatomie Co.: Onaga, 2 (Jackson, 1915:46). Saline County: Debold
Farm, Salina, 1 (AJK, see text); 6 mi. S Solomon, 1 (AJK, see text). Coffey
Co.: Burlington, 1 (Jackson, 1915:46). Woodson Co.: Neosho Falls, 2
(Jackson, 1915:46).

Scalopus aquaticus intermedius Elliot

Scalopus machrinus intermedius Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., publ. 37,
Zool. Ser., 1:280, 1899, type from Alva, Woods County, Oklahoma.

[Scalopus aquaticus] intermedius, Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., publ.
45, Zool. Ser., 2:390, 1901.

Scalopus aquaticus intermedius, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:231, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept.,
p. 138, 1937; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:506,
1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull.
Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :19, 1940; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:63, 1944.

Distribution. — Southwestern Kansas east certainly to Sumner County and north
certainly to Stafford County. See map, figure 8.

Remarks. — This subspecies is intermediate in size between S. a.
caryi and S. a. machrinoides in all cranial measurements taken ex-
cept interorbital breadth and rostral breadth, both of which are
smaller than in either S. a. caryi or S. a. machrinoides. External

Mole 53

measurements of 15 males and six females from 14 to 17 miles
southwest of Meade are: c? 153.0 (139-168), ? 149.5 (132-162);
28.1 (24-34), 25.5 (23-31); 21.1 (19-23), 20.6 (20-22). In color
S. a. intermedius is closer to S. a caryi than to S. a. machrinoides. It
has a silvery sheen above, a silvery plumbeous color below, and a
suffusion of ochraceous on the nose and wrists.

Seven specimens from Little Salt Marsh are intergrades between
S, a. caryi, S. a. machrinoides and S. a. intermedius; the specimens
most nearly resemble S. a. intermedius, to which they are here re-
ferred.

Of two specimens from one mile north of Harper, one closely

resembles S. a. machrinoides in color but in size it more nearly

resembles S. a. intermedius to which it is here referred.

Specimens examined. — Total, 62, distributed as follows: Stafford County:
Little Salt Marsh, 6; Unspecified, 1. Pratt County: Pratt, 3; Unspecified, 1.
Morton County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 7. Meade County: 13 mi. SW
Meade, 6; 14 mi. SW Meade, 10; Meade State Park, 19 (6, GCR); 16 mi.
SW Meade, 2; Unspecified, 2. Clark County: 7 mi. S Kingsdown, 1. Barber
County: 1 mi. W Aetna, 1; Aetna, Wells Ranch, 2. Harper County: 4 mi.
NE Harper, 1; 1 mi. N Harper, 2.

TABLE 5. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Scalopus."

3

GO

•4A

J3

-*s

1

-.J
be

a

1

£

.13
tlO

a

1

1

.a

s
a

.a

1
'Ja

a
1-^

.a
1

£

s
s

OS

3

al

a

V

Q

2
S

a

S. a. caryi, 2 mi

. NE Ludell

, Rawlins County

c?

11903

34.7

15.0

17.6

8.0

11.0

5.0

10.3

8.5

rf-

12029

33.0

14.1

17.3

8.0

10.9

5.0

10.1

7.7

9

11743

33.0

14.3

17.1

8.0

10.5

4.5

10.0

7.8

S.a.

machrinoides, Ft.

Leavenworth, Leavenworth County

c?

3

37.0

15.9

19.2

8.0

11.5

5.4

10.4

8.8

min.

36.0

15.7

18.7

7.9

11.0

5.0

9.9

8.7

max.

37.9

16.2

19.7

8.1

12.2

5.6

10.9

9.0

9

6

37.3

16.1

19.3

8.2a

11.6

5.4

10.4a

9.1

min.

36.7

15.6

18.8

7.8

11.1

5.2

10.1

8.6

max.

38.1

16.5

20.0

8.5

12.1

5.9

10.7

9.6

S. a. intermedius. 13 to 17 mi.

SW Meade. Meade County

cf

17

34.5

14.6

18.1

7.8

10.7

4.7

10.2

8.3

min.

33.1

14.0

17.0

7.6

10.2

4.4

10.0

7.9

max.

36.3

15.2

18.9

8.3

11.1

5.0

10.5

9.0

9

6

33.2

14.1

17.6

7.7

10.4

4.5

9.9

7.8

min.

32.5

13.5

17.0

7.5

10.1

4.3

9.8

7.6

max.

33.9

14.7

18.0

8.0

10.7

4.7

10.0

8.0

•Measurements as taken by Palmer (1937:287).
a. 5 specimens averaged.

54 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Order CHIROPTERA
Bats

The 14 kinds (13 species, nine genera) of bats known to occur
in Kansas are members of two families, Vespertilionidae and Molos-
sidae, both in the suborder Microchiroptera.

Little is known about bats in Kansas. A glance at the distribu-
tion maps of the species occurring in the state reveals that there
are relatively few records of occurrence.

The species of bats which occur in the state are insectivorous;
they feed exclusively on flying insects. Bailey (1931:375) pointed
out that: "With such highly beneficial food habits the bats are
probably almost as essential to successful agriculture as are the
birds." In spite of their usefulness, bats are often persecuted. As
Black (1937:144) pointed out: "Wherever they are found in large
numbers . . . there are evidences of . . . wanton destruc-
tion of the bats on one pretense or another." Wholeheartedly I
agree with his plea: "This needless and foolish killing . . .
should be outlawed at once, and these bats protected as stringently
as any game bird or mammal in the state."

Bats often congregate to roost in the attics or between the walls
of houses. Under these conditions control may be desirable. Silver
(1935:3) has pointed out: "As bats individually are almost wholly
beneficial, and at a distance are in no way objectionable, they
should not be destroyed except as a last resort. It is only the bat
roosts that have been established in occupied buildings that should
be eliminated. This can usually be accomplished in either of two
ways: (1) Excluding the bats by closing the openings through
which they gain entrance; or (2) evicting them by treating their
roost with a chemical substance to which they object." He recom-
mends (op. cit.-A) the use of napthalene flakes as a repellant: "The
flakes should be thrown liberally around or into the spaces occupied
by the bats. Ordinarily 2 to 5 pounds are required for the average
bat roost in dwellings. The bats will not return so long as a strong
napthalene odor remains, but they may return after several weeks."

The following key will aid in the separation of the kinds of bats
known to occur in the state:

1. Tail not extending more than 3 mm. behind uropataglum; an-

terior border of ear lacking horny excrescences; anterior border
of palate truncate or rounded. Family VESPERTILIONIDAE, 3

1'. Tail extending behind uropatagium for approximately one half

its total length; anterior border of ear with six to eight horny

Bats 55

excrescences; anterior border of palate with a distinct emargina-

tion. Family MOLOSSIDAE 2

2.(1') Well developed pocket in membrane at angle of tibia and

femur; ears when laid forward extending well beyond nose; two

incisors on each side below; condylobasal length of skull more

than 18 mm Tadarida molossa, p. 85

2'. No pocket in membrane at angle of tibia and femur; ears when

laid forward not extending beyond nose; two and generally

three incisors on each side below; condylobasal length of skull

less than 18 mm Tadarida mexicana, p. 82

3. ( 1 ) Ears more than 20 mm. 4

3'. Ears less than 20 mm., rarely more than 15 mm 5

4.(3) Prominent lump above nostrils; forearm less than 50 mm. in

length; two upper incisors on each side,

Corynorhinus rafinesquii, p. 78
4'. No lump above nostrils; forearm more than 50 mm. in length;

one upper incisor on each side . .Antrozous bunkeri, p. 79

5. ( 3' ) One upper incisor on each side 6

5'. Two upper incisors on each side 8

6.(5) Upper surface of interfemoral membrane completely furred;

total number of teeth 32 7

6'. Upper surface of interfemoral membrane entirely bare or furred

shghtly at extreme base; total number of teeth 30,

Nycticeius humeralis, p. 72
7.(6) Color of body hoary (brown mLxed with grayish white); length

more than 120 mm Lasiurus cinereus, p. 73

7'. Color of body on upper parts reddish brown or yellowish brown;

length less than 120 mm Lasiurus horealis, p. 75

8.(5') Dorsal surface of interfemoral membrane entirely bare or furred

slightly at extreme base; total number of teeth 38 or 32 9

8'. Dorsal surface of interfemoral membrane furred from Vi to J2 of

its length; total number of teeth 34 or 36 13

9.(8) Tip of tail extending slightly beyond the interfemoral membrane;

total length more than 105 mm.; total number of teeth 32,

Eptesicus fuscus, p. 68
9'. Tip of tail not extending be>ond the interfemoral membrane;

total length less than 105 mm.; total number of teeth 38 10

10.(9') Size small, forearm less than 41 mm 11

10'. Size larger, forearm more than 43 mm. (Pale whitish below,

with hairs on flanks pure white to base; elsewhere plumbeous at

base; color pale olive brown to dull rufescent brown. )

Myotis velifer, p. 58
11.(10) Belly whitish, very pale yellowish-buflF dorsally, face and ears

dark brown, forming a very prominent facial mask; forearm less

than 35 mm Myotis subulatus, p. 61

ir. Belly buflF; plumbeous underfur on belly prominent, dorsal fur

bright ohve to almost black; forearm more than 35 mm.; no

prominent facial mask 12

12.(11') Ear when flattened against the head (base not pushed forward

but in normal position) reaching 3-4 mm. beyond tip of nose.

56 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

(Not yet reported from Kansas but probably rare in NE Kan-
sas. ) Myotis keenii, p. 279

12'. Ears not extending beyond tip of nose Myotis lucifugus, p. 56

13. ( 8' ) Color sooty, frosted with white; length of forearm more than 36

mm.; total number of teeth 36. . . .Lasionycteris noctivagans, p. 65
13'. Color yellowish brown; length of forearm less than 36 mm.; total

number of teeth 34 Pipistrellus subfiavus, p. 66

Family Vespertxlionidae

Members of this family are characterized by their small size,
simple muzzles and hps, and separate ears with well-developed
tragi. The tails are long and extend to the edge of the interfemoral
membrane. The ulna is fused to the head of the radius; the shaft
of the ulna is reduced to an ossified fibrous strand. Eight genera of
this family occur in Kansas.

Genus MYOTIS Kaup

Mouse-eared Bats

The members of this genus that occur in Kansas are small and
brownish. They are not truly migratory although they often move
some distance from their summer home to a hibernation site. They
are gregareous, especially in the winter. Several thousand indi-
viduals of a single species have been found in a cave in Comanche
County in winter. The females of at least some species are colonial
when the young are born. The dental formula, i. |, c. |, p. |, m. |,
is diagnostic for this genus in Kansas.

Myotis lucifugus
Big Myotis

This bat is the most common species over most of the eastern
United States. It ranges from coast to coast, north into Canada
and Alaska, and south in the United States at least to a line con-
necting Tennessee, Arkansas, New Mexico and California. The
females spend the summer in colonies of various sizes in hollow
trees, under rock ledges, in shallow caves, and in the attics of
buildings. The males are not usually associated with the females
in the spring and early summer, but live a solitary life, spending
their days in secluded spots around trees, buildings, and rock
ledges.

Cagle and Cockrum (1943:474-492) reported on the habits of a
summer colony of this species, which consisted of several thousand
individuals in the attic of a building at Carbondale, Jackson County,

Bats

57

Illinois. Bats were first noted in the colony on April 1; all were fe-
males. Six hundred adult females were taken in the month of May
while in this same period only four adult males were taken. The
young, one to each female, were born between May 17 and July 12,
with the peak in the last part of June. In July adult males were
more common in the colony. After the young were born the num-
ber of individuals in the colony diminished rapidly until, by Sep-
tember, few remained in the colony. The last bat observed in the
colony was taken on November 10.

In winter these bats hibernate in caves, aften gathering in clusters
of several hundred, or even several thousand individuals in ideal

39

38

Mutaum of Natural Hittory

UAlvtrslti o( KanMf

I94S

39

38

100

97

Fig. 9. Distribution of Myotis lucifugtis lucifugus in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

situations. Hitchcock (1949:53) found that this species selected
warm, draftless locations for hibernation. The temperature of caves
in which he found this species ranged from 37 to 40° F. and the
relative humidity ranged from 78 per cent to 90 per cent. Griffin
(1945:22) found that in this species in New England: "The migra-
tion from cave to summer colony may be as short as five to ten miles
or at least as long as 168 miles, and it may be in almost any direc-
tion. Flights as long as 125 miles from one cave to another occurred
during the winter months. There were also a few recoveries of bats
that had moved from one summer colony to another; but the great
majority of returns was retaken at the original place of banding."
Individuals of this species may live for several years. Cockrum

58 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

(1949:433-4) reported an individual, adult when banded, that was
recovered seven years later and that was at least eight years old at
that time. However, Hitchcock (1949:55) states: "Although seven
or eight years may represent an old age for such bats, it is not the
maximum for M. I. lucifugus, as Griffin has recovered this species
after thirteen years ( personal correspondence ) ."

Myotis lucifugus lucifugus (LeConte)

Vespertilio lucifugus LeConte, McMurtrie's Cuvier, Animal Kingdom,
1:431, type from Georgia, probably from the LeConte Plantation,
near Riceboro, Liberty County; Cragin, Bull. Washburn College
Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:47, 1885.

Myotis lucifugus lucifugus, Miller, Bull. New York St. Mus., 8(38): 149,
1900; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:232, 1933; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 37:236, 1934; Black, Kansas State Board
Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 145, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State
Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Infoniiation, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20
(5):20, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:64, 1944;
Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:209, 1951.

Myotis lucifugus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905; Lantz,
Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:338, 1905.

Distribution. — Probably occurs throughout the eastern two-thirds of the state.
See map, figure 9.

Remarks. — External measurements of four males and two females

from Lawrence are: ^ 90 (87-95), ? 89, 89; 37.3 (36-40), 38, 35;

10.5 (10-11), 10, 11; 14.1 (12.5-15), 14, 12.

Specimens examined. — Total, 9, distributed as follows: Pottatoatomie
County: Unspecified, 1 (OU). Leavenworth County: Cave on Missouri R.,
1 mi. SE Leavenworth, 1. Douglas County: Lawrence, 6. Barber County: AY2
mi. SW Sun City, 1.

Additional records. — Comanche County: Double Entrance S cave, 1 (Hib-
bard, 1934C:236). Douglas County: Baldwin, 1 (Kellogg, 1915:unpubhshed
thesis ) .

Myotis velifer

House Bat

This species ranges from Kansas and western Texas westward to
southern Utah and southern California and southward through
Mexico to Guatamala.

Like other species of Myotis this bat spends its winters in hiber-
nation. In McMoran Cave (Double Entrance S Cave of Hibbard,
1934C:235 and elsewhere), 17 miles east and 14 miles south of Cold-
water, Comanche County, thousands of these bats congregate every
fall. This cave, like many others in the area, developed in the
Medicine Lodge gypsum. It is the largest of ten or 12 caves in
Swartz Canyon.

On March 26th and 27th, 1948, Dr. A. B. Leonard, A. B. Wilhams,
and I visited this cave. Several thousand bats of this species were

Bats

59

in crevices in the ceiling or were hanging from the ceihng in clusters
of two to several hundred individuals. Some of the larger clusters
were estimated to contain at least 1,000 individuals. When we first
entered the cave at approximately 8:30 p. m., March 26th, no bats
were observed flying. All of the bats were torpid and did not fly
even when handled. When disturbed the bats began to breathe
rapidly and later flew away.

Natural enemies take their toll, even when the bats are hiber-
nating. Raccoon tracks were extremely numerous all of the way
through the cave. At 11:30 p.m., we saw a pack rat, Neotoma
micropus, approximately fifty yards from the mouth of the cave
carrying a bat toward the entrance of the cave. Perhaps one of the
bats disturbed by us had settled in a crevice within reach of the
pack rat. It is likely that raccoons and pack rats feed on any bat

100

39

38

-39

Scolt
lo 4aMllai

I '

Museum of Natural Hislory
Universllir of KariiOi

38

100

97

Fig. 10. Distribution of Myotis velifer incautus in Kansas. See figure 5 for

explanation of symbols.

that they can reach, either living or dead. If this is true, then it is
not surprising that we did not find any dead bats on the floor of the
cave. However, Doctor Leonard counted six or seven dead bats
hanging to the roof of the cave. In some cases these dead bats
were actually mummified, yet they were still hanging to the ceiling.
One wonders what the rate of mortality among the hibernating bats
really is.

A total of 2,000 individuals of this species in the cave was banded
with United States Fish and Wildlife Service aluminum bird bands.

60 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

size 0. One of these bands was placed on a forearm of each of the
bats. The 2,000 bats banded represented only a small fraction of the
population of this one cave. The sex ratio of those banded was
1,110 males to 890 females.

Although I have not visited this cave since the bats were banded,
six of the banded bats have been recovered. Three were taken in
hibernation in a cave three and one-half miles south and one mile
west of Aetna, Barber County, by R. B, Loomis on April 10, 1949.
This point of recovery is two miles east of the point of banding.
The remaining three were reported to me by the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service. One was recovered August, 1948, in a barn
near Protection, Comanche County, 28 miles west-northwest of the
point of banding. The second was retaken on October 23, 1948, at
Mooreland, Woodward County, Oklahoma, a point 43 miles south-
southwest of the banding point. The third was recovered on Octo-
ber 6, 1948, 14 miles southwest of Medicine Lodge, Barber County,
a point 13 miles east-northeast of the place of banding.

Myotis velifer incautus (J. A. Allen)

Vespertilio incautus J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 8:239,
1896, type from San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.

Myotis velifer incautus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 28:241, 1918;
Miller and Allen, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 144:92, 1928; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:232, 1933; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 37:235, 1934; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30di
Biennial Kept., p. 146, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers
College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :20,
1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:64, 1944.

Myotis velifer, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:338,
1905.

Distribution. — Known only from. Pratt, Comanche, Barber, and Harper coun-
ties in the south-central part of the state. See map, figure 10.

Remarks. — The average and extreme external measurements of
eight males and four females from 17 miles east and 14 miles south
of Coldwater are: ^ 105 (99-111), $ 106 (102-110); 45.8 (40-51),
44.8 (42-50); 11.4 (10.5-13), 11.1 (11-12); 15.6 (15-16), 15.9 (15.5-
16).

Specimens examined. — Total, 98, distributed as follows: Pratt County:
Pratt, 2. Comanche County: 6 mi. NW Aetna [= 17 mi. E, 14 mi. S Cold-
water] "S" cave, 12. Barber County: Sun City, 1; 4 mi. SW Sun City, 2;
4J2 mi. SW Sun City, 43; 5 mi. SW Sun City, 1; Havard Cave, 27. Harper
County: Harper, 7; Unspecified, 3.

Additional records. — Barber County: Medicine Lodge, 1 ( Miller and Allen,
1928:93); Sun City, 3 (Kansas State Agric. College, Kellogg, 1915; unpub-
lished thesis); Sun City, 18 (Miller and Allen, 1928:93).

Bats

61

Myotis subulatus

Small-footed Myotis

This species ranges from New England westward to eastern
Washington and Oregon and southward to Baja California, southern
Arizona, and northern Sonora, Mexico. However, as pointed out by
Bailey (1926:216): "Over a wide strip of prairie country from the
Gulf of Mexico to Manitoba there are very few records of its occur-
rence, while to the eastward and westward in rough country where
caves are more numerous, the map shows many records." In Kansas

100

39-

38

■u=

Multum of Notwrol Hittory

Unlvvrsily of Kon»a»

f94S

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 11. Distribution of Myotis subulatus subulatus in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

this bat is known only from Logan and Trego counties.

Like others of this genus, Myotis subulatus hibernates in caves
in the winter months. To date, however, it has not been taken in
Kansas in winter. This bat was first taken in the state in August,
1884, in the Chalk Cliffs near Castle Rock by A. B. Baker. These
specimens were sent to C. H. Merriam who described (1886:2) the
bat as a new species, Vespertilio ciliolabrum. Later work showed
that these bats are actually the same as Myotis subulatus subulatus
(Say). Baker (1889:57) gave the following information about this
bat: "Found in clefts of the rocks, and in swallows' nests. The
first individuals captured of this species were taken in August, 1884,

62 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

when scores of them were seen. None have been seen here since
that time."

No further records of this bat are available from the state until
August 28, 1926, when a collecting party from the University of
Kansas Museum of Natural History took three adult males near
Castle Rock probably in nearly the identical spot that Baker had
taken them 42 years previously. C. D. Bunker {in litt.) pointed
out: "The fact that they [My Otis subulatus siibulatus] were not
seen from 1884 to 1926 merely means that no one looked for them
at the right time of the evening. They fly much later than all
other bats I have known. Baker, no doubt, got his from a crevice in
the rocks in the daytime and their time of flight was never noticed
until . . . 1926."

The following summer another collecting party from the Uni-
versity of Kansas Museum of Natural History visited this same lo-
cality and succeeded in taking two adult females on July 30, 1927.
Then, on August 6th, 7th and 9th, they secured four additional
specimen from five miles west of Elkader, Logan County. The
stomachs were saved from the four specimens taken in Logan
County. Bunker (in litt.) pointed out that the bats had been shot
soon after coming out of their hiding places, yet, when C. C. Sperry
(of the Food Habits Research Division of the Biological Survey)
examined these stomachs, one was full, one was half full, and two
were empty. This is in keeping with Bailey's findings (1931:391)
for this same species in New Mexico: "In a very short time after
their first appearance their stomachs are found well distended
with food, so that under normal conditions their rapid flight and
quick motions enables them to obtain an ample food supply.
Almost invariably when shot their stomachs are found to be full
of food, but of so finely pulverized insect remains that very little
can be determined as to the species eaten." C. C. Sperry (in litt.)
was able to determine that the contents of the half-filled stomach
were: "Bits of a bug (Jassidae), 2 per-cent; remains of flies,
Anthomyidae (probably Hylemyia) , 98 per cent," and in the full
stomach "A finely ground mass of insect remains among which
were found several Agallia sp., one or more Piesma cinerea, minute
Scarabaeidae, Staphylinidae (1), Anthicidae (1), and fragments of
ants and a fly."

As far as I know, no data are available as to movements or
longevity of individual Myotis sithulatiis. The reproductive habits
of this species are especially in need of further study. Bailey ( 1926:
216) found that in North Dakota this species had two young per

Bats 63

litter. This information led Asdell (1946:87-88) to state: "From a
physiological standpoint the nomenclature of this western North
American bat probably needs revising. Myotis suhulatus suhulatus
Say has two as the usual number of young, while M. suhulatus
melanorhinus Merriam has one. Subspecies conform so regularly
in their litter size that the incorporation of these two into one spe-
cies is open to question."

Myotis suhulatus suhulatus (Say)

Vespertilio suhulatus Say, Long's Exped. Rocky Mts., 2:65, 1823, type
from Arkansas River, near La Junta, Otero County, Colorado; Cragin,
Bull. Washburn College Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:47, 1885.

Myotis suhulatus suhulatus. Miller and Allen, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus.,
144:168, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:232, 1933;
Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept., p. 147, 1937;
P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Informa-
tion, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :21, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:64, 1944.

Myotis suhulatus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:338,
1905; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905.

Vespertilio ciliolahrum Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 4:2, 1886,
type from near Banner, Trego County, Kansas, in a bluff on Hack-
berry Creek, about one mile from Castle Rock; Baker, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 11:57, 1889.

M[tjotis] calif ornicus ciliolahrum, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta,
Bull., 129:338, 1905.

Myotis californicus ciliolahrum. Miller and Rehn, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat.
Hist., 30:257, 1901; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905.

Distrihution. — Probably occurs throughout western Kansas although records are
available only from Logan and Trego counties. See map, figure 11.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and one female
from five miles west of Elkader are: 3^ 83.3 (78-89), $86; 39.0
(35-42), 40; 7.3 (7-8), 8; 16 (15-18), 16.

Specimens examined. — Total, 13, distributed as follows: Logan County: 5
mi. W Elkader, 5. Trego County: Castle Rock, Hackberry Creek, 8.

Additional records. — Trego County: Banner, 6 (Miller and Allen, 1928:
169).

Genus Lasionycteris Peters

Silver-haired Bat

This genus, which is found only in North America, has only one
species. It is distributed throughout North America north of Mexico
and south of the Hudsonian Life-Zone. Its breeding range is in
the Transition and Canadian life-zones across the entire continent.
Well established records show that this bat migrates southward
after the breeding season. It is mainly a forest bat and is usually
found in localities where trees are abundant. In summer, in the

64

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

breeding range, it has been found in the day-time under loose bark
and in hollow trunks of dead trees.

The dental formula, i. |, c. |, p. |, m. |, and the color, black with
silver-white hair tips, serve to distinguish this bat from others found
in Kansas. The females have two axillary mammae. The usual
number of young is shown by embryos to be two, and less commonly
one.

39

38

Museum of Naiurol Hislory

University of Kansas

194 5

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 12. Distribution of Lasionycteris noctivagans in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

Specimens, in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural His-
tory, from the mountains of Georgia, were killed on January 14,
1933, while flying in the daytime. It is likely that these bats take
advantage of the fact that insects fly about on warm days in the
winter, while during the colder evenings, very few, if any, insects
move about, even in the latitude of Georgia.

Perhaps the silver-haired bat moves far enough south that it does
not need to hibernate but more probably it becomes dormant in
periods of cold weather and scant food supply, even in the southern
part of its winter range. Hamilton (1943:83) reported that it has
been found hibernating in skyscrapers, churches, and other build-
ings in New York City between December and March. He reports
also that one individual was found hibernating beneath the loose
bark of a tree in British Columbia.

Bats 65

Lasionycteris noctivagans

Silver-haired Bat

Before 1950 Lasionycteris was known in Kansas only from two
specimens, both of which are apparently no longer in existence.
Baker (1889:57) reported, in writing of the mammals taken near
Wakeeney: "Only one individual taken; captured indoors; attracted
probably by the light." I have been unable to find the date on
which it was taken nor have I been able to determine if it was pre-
served. The second record is the one examined by Remington Kel-
logg (1915: unpublished thesis) in the collection of Baker Univer-
sity. This specimen, taken at Baldwin, was destroyed by a fire.

In the fall of 1950, three examples of this bat were taken in Kansas
and added to the collection of the University of Kansas Museum of
Natural History. One of these was taken in September at Oberlin
and two were taken in Morton County, one on September 19 and
one on October 6.

Probably the silver-haired bat will be found to be a migrant in
the state — passing through the state to the more wooded states to
the north in the late spring and returning southward in early au-
tumn. It has been recorded as a summer resident of North Dakota
(Bailey, 1926:213).

Lasionycteris noctivagans (LeConte)

Vespertilio noctivagans LeConte, McMurtrie's Cuvier, Animal Kingdom,
1:431, 1831, type from eastern United States; Cragin, Bull. Wash-
burn College Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:47, 1885.

Lasiomjcteris noctivagans, H. Allen, Monogr. Bats N. Amer. (18S(3),
p. 105, 1894; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905; Lantz,
Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:338, 1905; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:232, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric,
30th Biennial Kept., p. 147, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers
College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :21, 1940;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:64, 1944.

Scotophilus noctivagans. Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:57, 1889.

Distribution. — Probably throughout the state in migration seasons. See map,
figure 12.

Remarks. — External measurements of one female from Elkhart
are: 105; 44; 10; 18.

Specimens examined. — Total, 3, distributed as follows: Decatur County:
Oberlin, 1. Morton County: 1 mi. W Elkhart, 1; Elkhart, 1.

Additional records. — Trego County: Wakeeney, 1, (Baker, 1889:57).
Douglas County: Baldwin, 1, (Kellogg, 1915:unpubhshed thesis).

3—1424

66

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Genus Pipistrellus Kaup
Pipistrelles

This genus occurs in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
In North America it occurs from southern Canada to Honduras and
from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, Generic character-
istics include: ears longer than broad, tapering, tip narrowly
rounded; tragus nearly straight; interfemoral membrane slightly
furred on basal third; and two upper incisors subequal and outer
one lacking a concavity on surface facing canine. The dental
formula is: i. i,

f, P-

2>

m.

3
1^-

Pipistrellus subflavus

Pipistrelle

This is the smallest of the bats that occur in the state. The total
length varies from 77 to 89 mm. and the color varies from Snuff
Brown to Sayal Brown.

100

39

38

Muteum of Notural History

UO'versily of Kontos

I94S

39

38

100

97

Fig. 13. Distribution of Pipistrellus subflavus subflavus in Kansas. See figure

5 for explanation of symbols.

As now understood, P. stihflavtis ranges in eastern North America
from Quebec, Canada, southward to Honduras, in central America.
Hall and Dalquest (1950:599) pointed out that this range is ex-
ceptional in that it passes from the Canadian Life-zone in the north,
south to the Tropical Life-zone in Honduras. In winter this spe-
cies hibernates in caves, at least in the northern part of its range.

Bats 67

It usually selects warm, draftless spots where it hibernates in clus-
ters of less than 50 individuals and often singly. In summer few
pipistrelles are found in caves and some have been collected miles
from the nearest cave. D. R. GrifEn (1945:20) records the recovery
of an individual in summer at Katonah, New York, approximately
65 air-line miles from a cave near Sheffield, Massachusetts, where
it had been banded in winter. M. J. Guthrie (1933:8), studying
cave bats near Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, found that:
"Pipistrellus is always isolated and has not been found in crevices.
Specimens occur in very moist places and are beautiful objects as
the light flashes on them when they are covered with droplets of
water. Some appear frosted under these conditions and doubtless
are the "white" bats sometimes reported by casual observers."
Further (op. c/t: 17-18) she noted that: "Individuals entered the
cave in the middle of October and became very torpid. . , .
Until the end of April, both sexes were present in equal numbers
. . .; by the middle of May only males were found, and they were
feeding. This situation continued throughout May." No bats were
seen in the cave after May but one was shot near the entrance some-
time in the month of June.

Female pipistrelles have one to three, with an average of two,
young which in central and northern states are born between mid-
June and mid-July. In the first few days of their life the young are
carried with the mother on her evening flight but after this time
they are left behind while the mother seeks food. The young are
able to fly when they are approximately three weeks of age. In-
dividuals of this species may live for at least six years (Hitchcock,
1949:56).

As shown below, few records of this bat are available from the
state; only eighteen specimens have been taken. Hibbard (1934C:
236) observed in Barber County, Kansas, that: "These little bats
were not common in any of the caves. They were found singly,
and in the most obscure places, occupying a much drier habitat than
Mijotis velifer incautus."

Pipistrellus subflavus subflavus (F. Cuvier)

"Vlespertilio] suhjiaviis F. Cuvier, Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris,
1:17, 1832, type from eastern United States, probably Georgia.

Pipistrellus suhjiavus stibfiavus. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No.
128:75, 1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:233, 1933;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 37:236, 1934; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 148, 19;37; P. B. Allen,
Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Infonnation, Nat.
Hist. Surv., 20(5) :21, 1940; Hibbard. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

68 University of Kansas Fuels., Mus. Nat. Hist.

47:64, 1944; Hall and Dalquest, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat.
Hist., 1:599, 1950.

Pipistrelltis suhjiavus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905;
Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull, 129:338, 1905.

Vespertilio Georgianus, Cragin, Bull. Washburn College Lab. Nat. Hist.,
1:47. 1885.

Distribution. — Probably throughout the eastern half of the state although defi-
nite records are available from only Leavenworth, Butler, Barber, Woodson,
and Cherokee counties. See map, figure 13.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males and one female
from Butler County, are: ^ 83, 89, $ 88; 39, 43, 40; 10, 9, 11; 14,
13, 14.

Two individuals from Fort Leavenworth are much darker than
any of the other examples of this species in the collection of the
University of Kansas Museum of Natural History.

Specimens examined. — Total, 20, distributed as follows: Leavenworth
County: Ft. Leavenworth, 2; Cave on Missouri R., 1 mi. SE Leavenworth, 1.
Butler County: 5 mi. S El Dorado, 1; 6 mi. S El Dorado, 6. Barber County:
AYz mi. SW Sun City, 6; ^Vz mi. SW Sun City, 1; )i mi. N Natural Bridge, 1.
Cherokee County: VA mi. S Galena, 2.

Additional records. — Woodson Co.: Neosho Falls, 1 (Cragin, 1885:47).

Genus Eptesicus Rafinesque
Brown Bats

This genus occurs in Asia, Africa, and Australia, and in the west-
em hemisphere it ranges from southern Canada to northern South
America.

The black, naked ears, the black, nearly naked membranes, the
medium size and the uniformly dark brown body are characteristics
that distinguish this bat from others found in the state. From
Nycticeius and Mijotis, with which Eptesicus might be confused, it
is distinguished by its larger size and by its dental formula, i. |, c. \,

p. i, m. f .

Eptesicus fuscus

Big Brown Bat

Many individuals of this species remain in the state throughout
the year. In winter they hang in sheltered spots and remain more
or less inactive. I have taken tliis species in November and in Feb-
ruary in dark, sheltered spots under the stadium at the University
of Kansas campus in Lawrence. Black (1937:149) reported that:
"The big brown bat has been found to hibernate in the storm, or
flood sewers underneath Lawrence, coming into these drains some-
time in November and remaining until early spring. They almost

Bats

69

invariably hang singly, but will bunch in groups of three in a crev-
ice, and we have found as many as six hanging together where a
brick had fallen out. In caves I have never found more than a
single specimen at a place." Rysgaard (1942:254) found that in
caves in Minnesota the males tend to hang in clusters more readily

100

S8liii|iiiiite

^;^

Wuitum of Noiyol Hitrorjr
IfAivtri'lr 0' KontOt

39

38

100

97

Fig. 14. Distribution of Eptesicus juscus in Kansas. 1. E. /. pallidus. 2. E. f.
fuscus. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

than the females. He found as many as 29 individuals in a single
cluster; only two of these were females. In one cave he found 117
males and 17 females hanging in clusters and in the same cave he
found 18 males and 48 females hanging singly. Eptesicus was found
either in artificial sandstone caves or in the cooler part of caves (35
to 46° F. ) which were avoided by other species.

On February 19th, 1950, Gene Frum, Phillip Krutzsch, and I vis-
ited some man-made caves in Leavenworth. Three artificial caves,
dug in the face of a north facing limestone bluff in the block
bounded on the south by Walnut Street and on the east by Fourth
Street, were examined. Two of the caves had large openings and
were relatively cold and dry. Eight Eptesicus fuscus were taken in
cracks of the ceiling within 50 feet of the entrances. A mass of
earth had partly filled the entrance of the third cave, making it
much darker than either of the other two. Ground water seeped in
at the back and the floor was covered with water. Two Eptesicus
were taken here and, in the warmer, more humid depths of the cave
two Pipistrellus subflavus were taken.

70 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

In the southeast part of Leavenworth, approximately 100 yards
west of the Missouri Pacific Raihoad, is an abandoned rock quarry
which consists of approximately one-half mile of interconnected
rooms and chambers tunneled in the side of a bluff. Several large
holes, large enough for the entrance of trucks, open to the outside
along the east edge of this series of chambers and two or three
similar openings are on the west edge. Ground water seeps through
the walls and ceilings of a few of the chambers and in some, water
to a depth of ten to 12 inches covers the floor. Twenty-five Eptesi-
cus fuscus were observed, hanging singly, in various parts of the
cave. Sixteen (nine females and seven males) were taken as speci-
mens. In the warmer, more humid parts of the cave we took three
Pipistrellus (two males and one female) and one Myotis lucifugus
( female ) .

In summer Eptesicus fuscus is usually solitary although summer
colonies have been found. Hibbard (1936:167) reported taking
the big brown bat in association with Tadarida mexicana in the
belfry of an old school building at Medicine Lodge. In the attic
of the County Court House in Osborne there is a summer colony
of several hundred big brown bats. The caretaker of the building
reports that the bats are numerous in this attic every summer, but
that they disappear in the winter.

The number of young per female varies from one to four but
two is the usual number. Eptesicus flies late in the evening and
near the ground; thus it is often noticed more than the other, higher
flying, bats. Hamilton (1933:155) found its food to be mainly
beetles, hymenoptera, and diptera. Individuals have been known
to live as long as nine years (Hitchcock, 1949:56).

Eptesicus fuscus fuscus (Beauvois)

Vespertilio fuscus Beauvois, Catal. Raisonne Mus. Peale, Philadelphia,
p. 18, 1796, type from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Cragin, Bull.
Washburn College Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:45, 1885; Miller, N. Amer.
Fauna, 13:96, 1897; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905;
Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:338, 1905.

Eptesicus fuscus fuscus. Hall, Jour. Mamm., 4:193; Miller, Bull. U. S.
Nat. Mus., 128:76, 1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:233,
1933; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 37:237, 1934; Black, Kan-
sas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 149, 1937; P. B. Allen,
Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist.
Surv., 20(5) :22, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:65,
1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:209, 1951.

[Eptesicus fuscus] fuscus, Engels, Amer. Midland Nat., 17:653, 1936.

Adelonycteris fuscus, H. Allen, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 43:121, 1897.

Distribution. — Occurs throughout the eastern one-third of the state. See map,
figure 14.

Bats 71

Remarks. — The average and extremes of external measurements
of six adult males from Leavenworth County are: 114.1 (110-117);
46.1 (40-54); 10.0 (9-12); 17.1 (14-19).

The differences between the various populations of Eptesictis
fuscus in Kansas are small. Most individuals from the western
part of the state are paler than most individuals from the eastern
third of the state. No significant differences were found between
the skulls of individuals from the western and eastern parts of the
state. On the basis of color alone Eptesicus in Kansas is separable
into the darker, eastern race, Eptesicus fuscus fuscus, and the paler
western race, Eptesicus fuscus palUdus.

Specimens examined. — Total, 60, distributed as follows: Atchison County:
Atchison, St. Benedicts College, 1 (WGF). Leavenworth County: Leaven-
worth, 2; cave on Missouri R., 1 mi. SE Leavenwort:h, 7; Ft. Leavenworth, 9.
Douglas County: Lawrence, 35; Unspecified, 5. Franklin County: Unspeci-
fied, 1 (OU).

Additional records. — Cowley County: Winfield, 1 (CNHM). Woodson
County: Neosho Falls, 1 (USNM).

Eptesicus fuscus pallidus Young

Eptesicus pallidus Young, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, p, 408,
1908, type from Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado.

Eptesicus fuscus pallidus. Miller, N. Amer. Land Mamm. 1911, p. 62,
1912; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 150,
1937; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:65, 1944.

Eptesicus fuscus, Hibbard, Jour. Mamm., 17:167, 1936.

[Eptesicus fuscus] fuscus, Engels, Amer. Midland Nat., 17:653, 1936.

Distribution. — Occurs throughout the western two-thirds of the state. See
map, figure 14.

Remarks. — External measurements of nine adult males and nine
adult females from Barber County, are: ^ 114.3 (104-123), $
117.8 (115-122); 45.7 (39-50), 47.1 (42-50); 11.1 (10-13), 11.8
(10-14); 16.8 (15-18), 17.2 (16-18).

Several individuals taken on August 3 and August 5, in a series

from five miles west of Elkader, show signs of molting.

Specimens examined. — Total, 107, distributed as follows: Osborne County:
Court House, Osborne, 14. Logan County: 5 mi. W Elkader, 35. Gove
County: Castle Rock, 8 (OCR). Scott County: State Park, 1 (GCR). Coman-
che County: 6 mi. NW Aetna, "S" cave, 2; Unspecified, 1. Barber County:
Medicine Lodge, 46.

Genus Nycticeius Rafinesque

Evening Bats

The genus occurs in North America, Asia, Australia, and Africa.
In North America, it ranges from southeastern Canada southward
through the eastern and central United States to northeastern
Mexico. The dental formula is: i. ^, c. \, p. \, m. |.

72

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Nycticeius humeralis

Evening Bat

This species is found in the austral zones of the eastern United
States west to Kansas and southern Texas. Hamilton (1943:101)
states that: "It occurs as a summer resident from Pennsylvania to
southern Michigan and Illinois but reaches its maximum abundance
in the south." In size and color this species resembles Myotis
lucifugtis but it has fewer teeth.

The habits of this bat are little known. Hamilton (1943:101)
states that the breeding season is August, and that two young are
born in late May.

Mustum c( Nolural Kiilorjr

Univtrsili of KontOI

1945

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 15. Distribution of Nycticeius humeralis humeralis in Kansas. See figure

5 for explanation of symbols.

Actual specimens of this bat have not been previously reported
from the state. The five specimens now reported were found among
the Myotis lucifugtis in the collection of the University of Kansas
Museum of Natural History. No observations have been made on
the habits of these bats in Kansas.

Nycticeius humeralis humeralis (Rafinesque)

Vespertilio humeralis Rafinesque, American Monthly Magazine, 3:445,

1818, type from Kentucky.
Nycticeius humeralis humeralis, Peterson, Jour. Mamm., 27:166, 1946.
N[ycticeius] humeralis, Rafinesque, Jour, de physique, 88:417, 1819.

Bats 73

Nycticeius humeralis, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:338, 1905; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:248, 1933;
Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:209, 1951.

Atalapha crepuscularis, Cragin, Bull. Washburn College Lab. Nat. Hist.,
1:47, 1885.

Distribution. — Probably occurs throughout the eastern third of the state;
known only from Clay and Douglas counties. See map, figure 15.

Remarks. — The four animals taken in Clay County were females
and all were taken in the last week of June, 1937. In total length
they range from 85 to 91 mm, which is less than the corresponding
measurement of 99 mm. for the male from Douglas County. The
Douglas County specimen weighed 15.7 grams. A note by the col-
lector, W. W. Dalquest, on the specimen label indicated that 5.0
grams of fatty tissues were removed from the body.

Specimens examined. — Total, 5, distributed as follows: Clay County: 6 mi.
SW Clay Center, 4. Douglas County: TJs mi. SSW Lawrence, 1.

Genus Lasiurus Gray

Hairy-tailed Bats

Two species of this genus occur in Kansas. They may be distin-
guished from other species by the interfemoral membrane which
is densely furred over all its dorsal surface. The dental formula is:
i- h c. T> P- t) ^^' I- The two species in Kansas occur over most of
North America, are migratory, solitary and tree dwellers.

Lasiurus cinereus
Hoary Bat

The yellowish-brown to dark mahogany-brown hair frosted with
silver gives this bat a pronounced hoary appearance. The color and
the large size serve readily to distinguish this bat from all others in
the state. Like the red bat, Lasiurus horealis, the hoary bat mi-
grates southward in the autumn, spends the winter in the southern
territories, and returns to the north in the spring. In Kansas,
females have been taken as early as May 10 (KU no. 9322, Law-
rence) and as late as August 18 (KU no. 13219, State Park, Meade
County). Adult males seem to arrive in Kansas much later than the
females, the earliest record being June 30 ( KU no. 3174, Lawrence ) .
The species has been taken as late as September 4 (OU no. 16,
Pottawatomie County).

The females apparently give birth to their young in mid-June.
Two is the usual number of young. Five pregnant females each
had two embryos, and of eight females taken with their young, five

74

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

had two young each and three had only one young each. The sex
ratio of twelve of these young for which sex was recorded is five
males to one female. The sex ratio for all young hoary bats in the
collection of the Museum of Natural History taken in Kansas be-
tween June 17 and July 20 is three males to one female.

100

39

38

ScoK
» 4oHilas

I I

Musaum of Nelurol Hislory

UnUtrtily ol Konsat

1943

39

38

100

97

Fig. 16. Distribution of Lasiunis cinereus cinereus in Kansas. See figiure 5

for explanation of symbols.

Lasiunis cinereus cinereus (Beauvois)

Vespertilio cinereus (misspelled linereus) Beauvois, Catal. Raisonne
Mus. Peale, Philadelphia, p. 18, 1796, type from Pennsylvania,
probably near Philadelphia.

Lasiurus cinereus cinereus, Dalquest, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat.
Hist, 2:168, 1948; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:209, 1951.

Lasiurus cinereus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905;
Sprague, Jour. Mamm., 20:102, 1939; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 47:65, 1944.

L[asiurus] cinereus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:20, 1875; Lantz,
Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:338, 1905.

Alalopha cinerea, Cragin, Bull. Washburn College Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:45,
1885; H. Allen, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 43:162, 1897.

Ntjcteris cinerea. Hall, Jour. Mamm., 4:192, 1923; Hibbard, Trans. Kan-
sas Acad. Sci., 36:233, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th
Biennial Kept., p. 151, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers
College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :23,
1940.

Distribution. — Probably occurs throughout Kansas, wherever trees are present,
in the summer months. It has not been taken in the extreme western and
northwestern parts of the state. See map, figure 16.

Bats

75

Remarks. — External measurements of two adult females, from
Lawrence, are: 150, 135; 65, 54; 13, 13; 14, 13.

Specimens examined. — Total, 45, distributed as follows: Washington Co.
(?): Little Blue River, 1 (USNM). Pottawatomie County: Unspecified, 1
(OU). Dickinson County: Abilene, 1. Douglas County: Lawrence, 30;
Unspecified, 5. Woodson Co.: Neosho Falls, 1 (USNM). Pratt County: State
Fish Hatchery [= 1 mi. S, 2 mi. E Pratt], 2. Greenwood County: Hamilton,
1 (GCR). Meade County: Meade, 1 (USNM); Unspecified, 2.

Additional records. — Riley Co.: Manhattan (Cragin, 1885:45).

Lasiurus borealis

Red Bat

The bright red or rusty color of this bat distinguishes it from all
other bats found in the state. The females are a dull buflFy chest-
nut color, often frosted with white. The males are much brighter,

100

39

38-

MHiltt

=1

Multunt ol NulurQl Kltlory

Univertlly of Kon»09

194 >

39

36

100

97

Fig. 17. Distribution of Lasiurus borealis borealis in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

usually a bright orange-red. The red bat is perhaps the most com-
mon bat found in Kansas and, because it flies earher in the evening
than other bats, it is seen far more often than any other kind. It
appears soon after sunset and long before dark, fluttering around
trees, ponds, and even the street lights of the city. As many as three
or four are often visible at one time around a single street light.
The red bat passes the day hanging in the branches of some shady
tree, and, in autumn, migrates southward to spend the winter.

76 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

G. M. Allen (1939:256-259) summarized the evidence for migration.
In brief, the evidence consists of: (1) observations of jEights north-
ward in the spring and southward in the fall at lighthouses as far
as 15 miles from land; (2) the finding of animals at sea far from the
nearest land . . . "as if they had wandered far or been blowTi
to sea in the course of their passage south along the east coast"
(Allen, 1939:256). It has been taken several times in Bermuda.

To date very little is known about the migration of this bat and,
to my knowledge, no definite evidence, such as the recovery of an
individual in the south that had been marked in the north, is avail-
able. Even less is known about their return from the south in the
spring. In Kansas the earliest spring record is that of a female
taken on April 26, 1950, in Lawrence. By mid-May female red bats
are common, at least around Lawrence, and continue to be so until
the middle of August. The latest recorded occurrence of a female
is of one taken on September 19, 1924, 3 miles south of Lawrence.

The males do not arrive in Kansas in any great numbers until ap-
proximately the time when the young are born. The earliest spring
record of an adult male is that of one taken on June 18, 1941, seven
and one-half miles southwest of Lawrence. The last record of the
season is that of a male bat taken on September 20, 1919, from an
unspecified locality in Douglas County. This date is later by only
one day than the latest record for a female.

In Douglas County June 15 is the earliest recorded date of birth
of young and the latest record of embryos in utero is June 20. The
number of young varies from two to four with three being the usual
number. An examination of 16 pregnant females revealed one with
two, nine with three, and six with four embryos, or an average of
3.31 per female. However, an examination of specimens in the col-
lection of the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, in
which an adult female was associated with its young, reveals that
in ten such cases, five were with two, four were with three, and one
was with four young, or an average of 2.6 per female. This is sig-
nificantly lower than the number of embryos — probably indicating
that many of the young die before they reach maturity.

Lasiurus borealis borealis (Muller)

Vespertilio borealis Muller, Natursyst. Suppl., p. 20, 1776, type from
New York.

Lasiurus borealis borealis, Johnson, Jour. Mamm., 13:132, 1932; Loewen,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 37:258, 1934; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:65, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:209,
1951.

Lasiurus borealis, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905; Lantz,
Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:338, 1905.

Bats 77

Nycteris horealis borealis. Hall, Jour. Mamm., 4:192, 1923; Linsdale,
Jour. Mamm., 9:141, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:
233, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept.,
p. 150, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia,
Bull. Information, Nat. Hist., Surv., 20(5) :22, 1940.

Lasiurus noveboracensis, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:20, 1875;
Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:57, 1889.

Atalapha noveboracensis, Cragin, Bull. Washburn College Lab. Nat.
Hist., 1:45, 1885; H. Allen, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 43:153, 1897.

Distribution. — Probably state wide but much more common in the eastern one-
third of the state. See map, figvure 17.

Remarks. — External measurements of two adult males and eleven
adult females, taken in and near Lawrence are: ^ 103, 110, 5
113.7 (109-124); 48, 47, 52.5 (50-60); 9, 9, 9.5 (9-10); 12, 12, 12.5
(12-13).

Hall (1923:193) reported observing this species: "at Atwood,
Rawlins County, Kansas, where large numbers were inhabiting a
cave." Hall now ( 1951 ) believes that this observation was in error
(no specimens were taken) and that the bats observed were big
brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, or some species other than Lasiurus
borealis.

Specimens examined. — Total, 155, distribubted as follows: Doniphan
County: Doniphan Lake, 1; Unspecified, 2. Pottawatomie County: Unspeci-
fied, 1 (OU). Jackson County: 3/2 mi. SW Muscotah, 4. Leavenworth
County: Ft. Leavenworth, 3; Unspecified, 1. Douglas County: 3 mi. up
Kansas R. (from Lawrence), 1; Lawrence, 27; K. U. Campus, 13; Haskell
Institute, 3; 3 mi. SW Lawrence, 4; 3 mi. S Lawrence, 1; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence,
2; Unspecified, 21. Hamilton County: 1 mi. E Coolidge, 2. Stafford County:
Little Salt Marsh, 2. Greenwood County: Hamilton, 33 (28, OCR); 8 mi.
SW Toronto, 1; 8/2 mi. SW Toronto, 15; Unspecified, 1. Sedgwick County:
Wichita, 4. Meade County: 14 mi. SW Meade, 1; 17 mi. SW Meade, 1;
Unspecified, 3. Cowley County: Arkansas City, 2. Chautauqua Co.: Cedar
Vale, 1 (USBS). Montgomery County: 4 mi. N Caney, 2; 4 mi. NW Caney,
1. Labette County: 10 mi. SW Oswego, 1. Cherokee County: Unspecified, 1.

Additional records. — Shawnee Co.: Topeka, 2 (Cragin, 1885:45). Riley
Co.: Manhattan, 1 (Cragin, 1885:45). Rice County: Sterling (Loewen,
1934:258). Woodson Co.: Neosho Falls (Cragin, 1885:45).

Genus Corynorhinus Allen

Long-eared Bat

The long-eared bat averages approximately a hundred millimeters
in total length. The ears are long and are joined by a basal mem-
brane. The dental formula is: i. |, c. y, p. f , m. f. From Antrozous
this bat may be distinguished by: Darker color, especially on the
venter; narrower ears; shorter forearm, which is less than 49 mm.
( approximately 44 as opposed to 54 mm. ) ; a lump on each side of
the muzzle, as well as a larger number of teeth (36 as opposed to
28).

78

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Corynorhinus rafinesquii

Long-eared Bat

Little is known of the habits of this bat in Kansas. To date it has
been taken only in the gypsum caves of Barber and Comanche
counties. Hibbard (1934C:237) reported that: "This long-eared
bat showed little tendency to be gregarious in habit. Only females
were found together. We succeeded in catching a male September
2, in Fallen Arch cave, three quarters of a mile south of the Natural
Bridge on Bear Creek. Seven of these bats were observed in the
caves of Barber County in September, They were always hanging
by one foot and would fly at the slightest approach of our light,

39

38

Muflum of Nalgral HIttory

Unj.artlly •( Kokmi

1943

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 18. Distribution of Corynorhinus rafinesquii pallescens in Kansas.

figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

See

darting in among the rocks or out of the many openings. . . .
Two females were taken November 2 from a sinkhole in Barber
County, one-eighth mile northeast of Dancer's cave. Three females
were taken November 4 in Comanche County, from the Double
Entrance S cave. All were found singly on the underside of large
rocks very close to the stream bed."

Hall (1946:158) found that in Nevada: "The females are colonial
when carrying embryos and when with young; at these times the
females remain apart from the males. The number of adult
females found together in Nevada always has been less than fifty —

Bats 79

usually about twenty-five. At the time of the year when the females
are in colonies the males were found singly."

One is the usual number of young although Hall ( op. cit. ) : re-
ports "Of the ten females with embryos, nine had but one each and
one had two embryos. All these data point to the last week of June
as the time when young are bom."

Corynorhinus rafinesquii pallescens Miller

Corynorhinus macrotis pallescens Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:52, 1897,
type from Keams Canyon, Navajo County, Arizona; Lantz, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :215, 1907.

Corynorhinus rafinesquii pallescens. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus.,
128:82, 1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:233, 1933;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 37:237, 1934; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 151, 1937; P. B. Allen,
Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat.
Hist. Surv., 20(5) :23, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:65, 1944.

Distribution. — Known only from the gypsum caves of Barber and Comanche
counties. See map, figure 18.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males and five females
from Barber County, are: ^ 104, 102, $ 100.6 (98-103); 46, 48,
45.8 (40-50); 16, 11, 11.8 (11-14); 34, 30, 32.4 (29-35).

Specimens examined. — Total, 15, distribubted as follows: Comanche County:
Swartz Canyon, 2; 6 mi. NW Aetna, "S" Cave, 3. Barber County: 45^ mi. SW
Sun City, 1; 7 mi. S Sun City, 3; 18 mi. S Sun City, 2; 4 mi. S Aetna, 3;
Unspecified, 1.

Genus Antrozous Allen
Pale Bats

This genus occurs only in North America, from western United
States southward to Central Mexico. Kansas is at the eastern hmit
of the range of this genus. The dental formula is: i. |, c. \, p. \, m. |.

Antrozous bunkeri

Bunker Bat

This species was described by C. W. Hibbard from specimens
taken in a tunnel at Natural Bridge, Barber County. Individuals
of this species have been taken, with one exception, only between
August 31st and September 9th in caves and sink holes within ten
miles of the type locality. The one exception is a young female
taken three miles north of Kenton, Cimmaron County, Oklahoma,
on August 24, 1937 (Burt, 1945:309). This locality is more than
200 miles west of the type locahty.

80

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist,

The large ear is the most obvious character of the Bunker bat.
It has a smaller number of teeth than in the other long-eared bat in
the state, Corynorhinus. Almost nothing is known about its habits;
in fact, the bats have been found only in late August in Kansas
and Oklahoma, and in Kansas in the first part of September. Hib-
bard, when he described this bat, had 25 specimens available, all
taken on September 2, 1933. In writing of the cave bats of Kansas,
he tells (1934:237) of the discovery of these bats: "The first place
that we explored was a tunnel at the Natural Bridge, 7 miles south
of Sun City, on the afternoon of September 2. The south entrance
of the tunnel is about four feet high and three feet wide. Entering
the tunnel from the south, we found a low ceiling for the first 130

100

39

38

Scola
« 0 70 .oMitai
I I I I 1

Muttum of Norural History
Univarsily ol Konsos

39

38

100

97

Fig. 19. Distribution of Antrozous bunkeri in Kansas. See figure 5 for

explanation of symbols.

feet; at this point the ceiling became higher, ranging from 6 to 10
feet. A distance of 168 feet from the south entrance we came upon
a group of Antrozous bunkeri hanging from the ceiling. As we
came nearer to them two bats (Myotis velifer incautus) flew from
the group into the north end of the tunnel. The bats paid no atten-
tion to us. They were closely packed, some hanging to others which
were wedged in a crack. As we started collecting them from the
ceiling, they attempted to crawl away over the surface, but made no
effort to fly, neither did they attempt to bite as did the other bats
collected. . . . Twenty-five specimens were collected, consist-
ing of 12 adult females, 10 immature females and 3 immature

Bats 81

males. Antrozous was never found again on our collecting trips.
The quantity of guano on the floor under the bats indicated that it
was their first day in that part of the tunnel. About 20 feet from
the north entrance was found a small area of freshly scattered
guano belonging to Antrozous. It was apparently evident that the
bats had only spent two days in this tunnel."

Antrozous bunkeri Hibbard

A7itrozous bunkeri Hibbard, Jour. Mamm., 15:227, 1934, type from
Natural Bridge, 5/2 mi. S Sun City, Barber County, Kansas; Hib-
bard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 37:237, 1934; Black, Kansas State
Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 152, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas
State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv.,
20(5) :23, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:65, 1944.

Antrozous ci. pacificus, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:234, 1933.

Distribution. — Known only from Barber County. See map, figure 19.

Remarks. — External measurements of 12 adult females from
Barber County, are: 122 (115-130); 48 (40-52); 13.5 (12-15); 27.1
( 26-28 ) . These are the measurements given by Hibbard ( 1934:288 )
in the original description of Antrozous bunkeri. General com-
parisons indicate that A. bunkeri is at most subspecifically distinct
from Antrozous pallidus (Le Conte). Because Bryan Glass is
currently studying material from Oklahoma which bears on this
point and because Dr. Robert T. Orr expects to make a systematic
review of all members of the members of the genus Antrozous, 1
have not attempted at this time to settle the systematic status of
A. bunkeri.

Specimens examined. — Total, 96, distributed as follows: Barber County: 7
mi. S Sun City, 24; 5% mi. S Sun City, 70; 1 mi. SW Aetna, 2.

Family Molossidae

Free-tailed Bats

Members of this family are characterized by swift flight, short
and satiny hair, and short, thick, leathery ears projecting forward
over the face. The tail extends conspicuously beyond the inter-
femoral membrane. This family occurs in the warmer regions of
both hemispheres. One genus, Tadarida, and two of its species
occurs in Kansas.

Genus Tadarida Rafinesque

Free-tailed Bats

This genus occurs in the warmer parts of both the Old and New
World. Generic characteristics according to Shamel (1931:1-2)
include: deep vertical grooves or wrinkles on the upper lip; the

82 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

crown of the last upper molar has a definite Z-shape; and the pre-
maxillae are separated between the upper incisors. The dental
formula is: i. |, or ^, c. -}, p. |, m. |.

Tadarida mexicana
Mexican Free-tailed Bat

The first record of this species in the state seems to be that of a
specimen obtained by C. P. Blachly, at Manhattan, and reported in
1885 by F. W. Cragin under the name "Ntjctinomys nasutus, Spix.,
var. fulginosus Cooper?". D. E. Lantz (1907A:217) wrote of this
specimen: "A proper determination of the specimen [collected at
Manhattan by C. P. Blachly], which probably remains in the Wash-
burn College Museum, will add another species to the Kansas list
of mammals." Again, in 1908, Lantz (1908:336-337) wrote of this
same specimen under the name Nyctinomtis mexicanus: "The speci-
men of free-tailed bat collected at Manhattan by Dr. C. P. Beachey
[= Blachly] and presented by him to the Washburn College Mu-
seum, was forwarded to the Biological Survey in February, 1907,
and identified there as the Mexican species. It was submitted also
to the judgment of Mr. Gerritt S. Miller, of the United States Na-
tional Museum, who confirmed the identification."

In 1936, Hibbard (1936:167) apparently having only D. E.
Lantz's 1907 report available, wrote: "A careful check was made
at the Washburn College Museum in the spring of 1933, and it was
found that this specimen [the one collected by C. P. Blachly] was
missing."

M. C. Gardner, of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in reply to
a query from me, wrote, in a letter dated May 5, 1948: "A thorough
search of both collections here has failed to locate Doctor Blachly's
Tadarida specimen. It is, however, listed in our identification card
file. One mounted specimen from Manhattan, Kansas was identi-
fied for C. P. Blachly by Vernon Bailey on February 8, 1907 as
Tadarida mexicana."

Hibbard (1933:234) reported: ". . . these bats emerge by
the thousands . . . [from Marihew Cave, ^A mile south of the
Barber-Comanche Co. line, Woods County, Oklahoma, and swing]
. . . northward to feed over the Salt Fork and Medicine rivers
in Kansas. It is reported that they feed as far north as the Arkansas
River, but I have no proof for this. On the evening of September
6, 1933, hundreds of these bats were observed in the early evening
around Atena [= Aetna, Barber County] Kansas. I shot one just

Bats

83

north of the post oflBce." This specimen is number 9315 in the col-
lection of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas.

In 1936 Hibbard (1936:167-168) reported established colonies of
Tadarida in Kansas. Those at Medicine Lodge are still the only
colonies known in the state.

Another record worthy of note, is the specimen (no. 11597,
UKMNH, skeleton only) taken on 5 September 1936, by Mr. C. D.
Bunker, in Lawrence. This specimen was found dead on a street
in Lawrence. From the appearance of the bones someone had
stepped on the animal. However, in spite of the crushed bones

39

38

-LI.

4oUlla>

=1

Mtistom of NotufOl HiiTory
Univartity ot Kjiniat

39

38

100

97

Fig. 20. Distribution of Tadarida mexicana in Kansas. See figure 5 for

explanation of symbols.

and skull, sufficient diagnostic characters remain to identify the
specimen as Tadarida mexicana. The teeth of this specimen are
extremely worn, much more so than those of any other specimen of
the same species in the collection of the University of Kansas.

The Mexican free-tailed bat, throughout most of its range, is
colonial in habit and usually inhabits caves, although many smaller
colonies have been found in attics and bell towers of buildings. One
of the most famous colonies of this bat is the one living in the Carls-
bad Cavern in New Mexico. The large number of individuals living
here has impressed everyone who has seen the colony. Bailey
(1931:378) reported that: "Late in August [1923] . . . they
were said to leave the cave each evening in a black cloud visible 2

84 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

miles away at early dusk and to continue to pour out of the 50-foot
throat of the cave for two hours. The numbers were estimated by
millions, and such numbers would be necessary to account for the
vast deposits of guano found in the cave."

Because of the concentration of large numbers of this species,
many people have been interested in their food habits. Nelson
(1926:6) reported that: "These bats are gluttonous feeders, and in
some species twenty minutes after their appearance in the evening
the stomachs have been found distended with food, the contents
averaging one-quarter the weight of the animal. This would imply
a capacity for at least half their weight in insects every night."
Night-flying moths and beetles form the majority of their food and
in one series of examinations conducted by the Division of Food
Habits Research [see Storer 1926:86] moths comprised well over
90 percent of the total while: ". . . no mosquito remains what-
ever were found and indeed only a trace of a single insect of the
whole order of Diptera." These results did not support the general
belief that these bats destroy mosquitoes and indicated that, at least
in the series examined, the Mexican free-tailed bat did not feed on
mosquitoes.

Tadarida mexicana (Saussure)

Molossus Mexicanus Saussure, Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, Ser. 2,
12:283, 1860, type from Ameca, Jalisco, Mexico.

Tadarida mexicana. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:86, 1924; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:234, 1933; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 37:238, 1934; Black, Jour. Mamm., 16:147, 1935; Hib-
bard, Jour. Mamm., 17:167, 1936; Black, Kansas State Board Agric,
30th Biennial Kept., p. 152, 1937; Macy, Jour. Mamm., 20:382,
1939; P. B. Allen, State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Inlorma-
tion, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5):24, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:66, 1944.

Nijctinomus sp., Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :216, 1907.

Nyctinomus nasutus var. Fuliginosus, Cragin, Bull. Washburn College
Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:44, 1885.

Nyctinomus mexicanus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 22:336, 1908.

Tadarida cynocephala, Macy and Macy, Jour. Mamm., 20:252, 1939.

Distribution. — Probably occurs rarely in most of the state. See map, figure 20.

Remarks. — External measurements of five males and 12 females,
from Medicine Lodge, are: J^ 94.2 (90-97), $ 98.4 (92-105); 35.2
(32-40), 35.1 (32-40); 9 (8-10), 9.2 (8-10); 17 (16-18), 16.5
(13-19).

Specimens examined. — Total, 24, distributed as follows: Gove County:
Castle Rock, 1. Douglas County: Lawrence, 1. Marion County: Lincoln-
ville, 1. Barber County: Medicine Lodge, 18; Aetna Post Office, 1; 4^2 mi.
SW Sun City, 2. Cherokee County: Galena, 1.

Additional records. — Riley County: Manhattan (see text).

Bats

85

Tadarida molossa

Big Free-tailed Bat

This species occurs in northern South America, on several islands
in the Caribbean Sea, and in Western North America. Few indi-
viduals have been taken on the mainland of North America, and
these from widely separated locaHties. It has been recorded from
British Columbia, Iowa, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, CaHfomia, Ari-
zona, Texas, and Lower California and Federal District in Mexico.

Tadarida molossa (Pallas)

V[espertilio] Molossus Pallas, Miscellanea Zoologica, p. 49, 1767, type
from "America," not improbably from Surinam.

Nyctinomus macrotis Gray, Am. Nat. Hist., 4:5, 1839, type from the
interior of Cuba.

Tadarida macrotis. Miller, Bull. U, S. Nat. Mus., 128:86, 1924.

39

38-

Mitl«um of Nalurol HItlory

Unl«*r«ll)r of Koflios

1943

39

38

100

97

Fig. 21. Distribution of Tadarida molossa in Kansas.

explanation of symbols.

See figure 5 for

Distribution. — Known only from Morton County but may be expected to
occur occasionally in any part of the state. See map, figure 21.

Remarks. — One specimen was taken in the fall of 1950, as it was

hanging from the inside wall of a silo nine miles north of Elkhart.

Eugene White, a high school student, found the bat and took it

alive to his biology teacher, Mr. Jim Drake. Mr. Drake saved only

the skull and noted: "wingspread 13 inches, length 6 inches."

Specimens examined. — Total, 1, from the following locality: Morton
County: 9 mi. N Elkhart, 1.

86 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

TABLE 6. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Bats.

§

CO

1

1

0
0

5

t

5
1

•■S
1

0
Ji

-1^

-3

.a

o
-3

0

s

*»
S

1

>>

o

O

1

a

1

o

JS
*>

0
•3

>>

.=3

3

.a
-3

1

03

o

6

1

s

a

pa

a

d

X

as

as

a

as

Myotis lucifugus lucifugus,

Douglas

County

d'

11887

14.4

13.9

4.2

7.8

4.3

5.8

6.6

cf

11886

14.5

13.8

8.9

4.0

7.8

i6.6

4.3

5.7

6.8

cf

10282

14.4

13.8

8.8

4.2

7.8

10.3

4.3

5.6

6.5

9

9183

9.2

4.3

10.9

4.6

5.7

6.8

9

6498

14 .7

i4!6

8.9

4.1

■7.8

10.7

4.5

5.9

6.8

9

10927

14.6

13.9

9.1

4.1

7.8

10.6

4.6

5.6

6.8

M. velifer incautus, Comanche County

d"

9746

16.8

16.2

10.3

4.5

8.5

13.3

5.5

7.1

8.3

c?

9782

16.9

16.3

4.4

8.9

13.0

5.7

7.3

8.5

d<

9783

16.8

16.5

4.5

9.0

13.6

5.6

7.0

8.6

9

9784

17.3

4.2

8.9

13.3

5.9

7.2

8.5

9

9745

17.3

ie^g

4.3

8.7

14.0

5.7

7.1

8.6

M. subulatus subulatus,

Logan County

&

5561

14.4

13.7

8.5

3.3

7.1

10.3

4.4

5.5

6.7

d-

5562

14.3

13.8

8.8

3.6

7.5

4.5

5.5

....

Trego County

9

6559

14.7

14.2

3.4

7.5

10.4

4.5

5.5

6.6

Lasionycteris noctivagans.

Morton County

?

38927

15.7

15.5

9.7

4.2

8.4

11.6

4.7

6.5

7.0

Pipistrellus stibflavus subflavus, Barber County

cf

9748

12.3

11.6

7.8

3.6

6.8

9.2

3.6

5.1

5.5

cf

9758

12.9

12.0

3.8

6.9

9.3

3.6

5.1

5.6

cf

9312

12.9

12.4

'8.6

3.8

7.2

9.6

3.8

5.6

6.0

9

9749

13.0

12.4

7.9

3.7

7.1

9.7

3.7

5.3

5.9

9

9314

13.0

12.3

7.9

3.5

7.3

3.9

5.4

Eptesicus fuscus

pallidus,

Medicine Lodge,

Barber County

d'

9

19.6

18.5

12.9

4.5

8.8

13.8

7.3

8.2

7.9

min.

19.1

18.3

12.6

4.2

8.6

13.5

7.1

7.9

7.6

max.

20.1

18.8

13.4

4.7

9.4

14.1

7.7

8.5

8.4

9

9

20.1

18.9

13.2

4.4

8.8

14.3

7.4

8.4

8.1

min.

19.5

18.1

12.7

4.2

8.7

13.8

7.1

8.1

7.5

max.

20.6

19.4

13.6

4.6

9.1

15.5

7.6

8.8

8.5

E. fuscus fuscus,

Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth County

cf

6

20.1

18.8

13.1

4.5

9.1

14.3

7.3

8.3

7.9

min.

19.2

17.7

12.4

4.1

8.8

13.8

7.0

7.8

7.7

max.

20.5

19.2

13.4

4.8

9.5

14.8

7.5

8.5

8.2

9

13531

20.3

19.3

14.1

4.5

9.2

7.6

8.1

8.0

d'

22143

Nyctecius humeralis humeralis, Douglas County
14.6 14.0 4.1 7.9 10.8

3.9

6.5

Clay County

9

12032

14.3

14.1

9.7 4.0 8.1

11.3

4.0

6.3

6.6

9

12275

10.1 4.1

10.6

4.2

6.5

6.7

9

12274

14.8

14.4

10.2 4.3 8.2

11.3

4.1

6.6

7.0

Lasiurus cinereus cinereus, Douglas

County

r?

3174

17.0

17.0

11.9 5.3 9.8

13.0

4.5

8.6

7.9

9

9218

18.3

18.3

13.0 5.0 10.6

13.7

5.5

8.9

8.4

9

7344

18.1

18.1

12.8 5.2 10.6

13.8

5.2

8.6

8.0

9

4471

18.2

18.2

12.9 5.0 10.2

13.1

5.3

8.9

7.9

Bats

87

TABLE 6. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Bats. — Concluded

CO

I

^

>

J3

bCl

a

1

.2

1

i

1

t

a

1

8

§:

o

"3

^

y

0

■3

1

.a

11

GO

_2

0

JO

3

a)

1

1)

">.

s

2

t3

'•5

a

S

•3

o3 a

0]

TS

S,

dj

03

a

'x

'S

a

X

■*j

£

c

bC

-•J

(U

ca

«

a

CS

^

03

o

1h

o

o
O

>>

£3

1^

a

S

s

S

S

L. horealis horealis, Douglas Cou

nty

«?

22145

13,5

13.5

9.5

4.3

7,8

10.3

4.0

6.3

6.5

d>

8819

13.9

13.9

9.8

4,5

8.2

10.7

6.3

9

4918

13.7

13.7

10.0

4.5

8.3

10.6

"sis

6.6

6.4

9

4919

13.7

13.7

9.7

4.2

7.8

10.3

3.9

6.4

6.2

9

4327

13.7

13.7

9.8

4.3

8.3

10.1

4.2

6.9

6.6

Coi

'■ynorhynua

rafinesquii pallescens. Barber County

cf

9309

16.0

14.8

8.5

3,6

8.9

10.0

4.1

6.0

6.5

t?

10052

15.9

15.3

8.9

3,7

9.0

10.3

4.5

5.9

6.6

cf

13218

16.7

15.5

3,8

9.0

10.9

4.4

5.7

6.2

9

9694

16.4

15.6

'9.2

3,9

9.4

10.5

4,6

6.3

6.9

9

9699

16.9

15.6

9.1

3,8

9.2

10.9

4.4

6.2

6.7

9

10050

16.3

15.5

9.0

3.8

9.2

10.7

4.4

6.0

6.8

Antrozous bunkeri. Barber County*

9

12

21.3

19.7

13.5

4,2

9.4

7.6

....

min.

20.5

19.0

13.0

4.0

9.0

7.2

max.

22.0

20.6

14.0

4.5

10.0

8.0

Tadarida mexicana. Barber County

(f

9315

17.3

16.5

10.1

4.0

9.5

12.0

4.9

7.2

6.8

cf

11133

17 A

16.7

9.7

4.1

9.3

12.0

4.8

7.0

7.3

d"

11883

4.0

11.8

4.8

6.9

7.1

9

11125

17'.6

15.5

'9!8

4.1

'g^i

11.7

4.6

7.0

7.1

9

11132

16.7

15.6

4.2

9.2

11.8

4.4

6.8

6.9

9

11885

17.2

15.9

'9;9

4.1

9.2

11.3

4.9

7.1

7.2

T.

molossa,

Morton County

?

38926

23.1

21.8

12.3

4.2

11.4

16.5

7.7

8.4

9.9

•Measurements from Hibbard (1934:228).

Order EDENTATA

Sloths, Anteaters and Armadillos

Recent members of this order occur in North and South America.
They include the sloths, anteaters, and armadillos.

Genus Dasypus Linnaeus
Nine-banded Armadillos

This genus occurs in North and South America. Characteristics
include: series of skin-covered bony plates forming hard shield on
dorsum; few hairs; strong claws adapted for digging. Dental

formula: i.

0 p

0 n

and m. |. Teeth simple and peglike.

88 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Dasypus novemcinctus

Nine-banded Armadillo

In the past several years the armadillo has been extending its
range northward and eastward from its former northern limits in
Texas. Tabor (1939:489-493) summarized the records available
at that time and found that the armadillo occurred as far north,
certainly, as the Arkansas River, Creek County, Oklahoma. Ham-
lett (1939:335) reported: "This species has an amazing distribution.
It ranges south into northern Argentina . . . extends through-
out central America and most of Mexico, and at the present time
is spreading north and east in the United States. It has already
invaded Oklahoma and Louisiana, at least one has been killed in
Kansas. . . ."

The first two records for the armadillo, available for Kansas, are,
in my opinion, probably of escapes. The earlier of the two is of
an individual taken at an unspecified locality in Osage County on
February 12, 1909, by Alexander Wetmore (KU no. 879). In 1910,
according to Tabor ( 1939:490-1 ), the natural range of the armadillo
did not extend much east of the Brazos River in Texas, nor north of
Stephens County, Texas.

The second record of the armadillo in Kansas is one reported by
Hibbard (1944:87), as follows: "A few years ago an Armadillo
was found living in a den in Chase County near Strong, Kansas."
I do not know in what year this animal was found, but presumably
it was not later than 1939, at which time Tabor ( loc. cit. ) indicated
that the armadillo occurred as far north as Creek County, Oklahoma.

There are four more recent records of the occurrence of the arma-
dillo in Kansas: One individual taken four and one-half miles north-
west of Caldwell on September 9, 1942 (KU no. 14354), and three
reported in 1950, one each from Pratt, Stevens, and Chautauqua
counties. Of the specimen taken in Pratt County, Lutz (1950A)
wrote: ". . . George Lance, of luka brought to the state fish
hatchery an armadillo, which he had killed at his farm, 10 miles
north of Pratt. . . . This [armadillo] was taken to a taxidermist
at Great Bend and when mounted, it will be added to the museum
in the fish and game commission's headquarters at Pratt." This
animal was killed probably in the first week of August, 1950. Lutz
(1950B) also reported the armadillo in Stevens County: "A second
armadillo has been reported found in Kansas. The Hugoton Hermes
reported last week [August 13-19, 1950] that Lloyd Fellers, a farmer
living northwest of Hugoton, caught one at his farm." On Decem-

Armadillo

89

ber 10, 1950, Lew Green, while hunting raccoons at night, shot an
armadillo four miles east and three miles north of Sedan.

No observations have been made on the life history and habits of
the armadillo in Kansas. Baker's (1943:379-380) study and Kalm-
bach's study (1943:23-58) of its food habits in Texas, each reveals
that insects made up approximately three-fourths of the volume of

100

•Li

WHIIM

=1

Wusaum e( Nolurot Hittory

Univartitjr e( Kama*

194}

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 22. Distribution of Dastjpus novcnicmctus mexicanus in Kansas.

figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

See

its food and that other arthropods, earthworms, amphibians, reptiles,
and blackberries made up the remainder.

Dasypus novemcinchis mexicanus Peters

Dastjpus novemcinctus var. mexicanus Peters, Monatsber. k. preuss.

Akad. Wissensch. Berlin, p. 180, 1864, type from Matamoros, Tamau-

lipas, Mexico (see Hollister, 1925:60).
Tatu novemcinctum texanum Bailey, N. Amer. Favma, 25:52, 1905, type

from Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas.

Dasypus novemcinctus texanus. Miller, N. Amer. Land Mamm., 1911,

p. 378, 1912; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:87, 1944.
Dasypus novemcinctus, Hamlett, Jour. Mamm., 20:335, 1939.

Distribution. — Rare in the southern part of the state. See map, figure 22.

Remarks. — External measurements of a male taken four miles

north and three miles east of Sedan are: 693, 254, 107, 40. The

weight was 12/4 pounds.

Specimens examined. — Total, 3, distributed as follows: Osage County:
Unspecified, 1. Sumner County: 4/2 mi. NW Caldwell, 1. Chautauqua County:
4 mi. E, 3 mi, N Sedan, 1.

90 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Additional records. — Chase County: "near Strong", 1 (Hibbard, 1944:87).
Pratt Co.: luka, 10 mi. N Pratt, 1 (Lutz, 1950A). Stevens Co.: "NW of
Hugoton", 1 (Lutz, 1950B).

Order LAGOMORPHA

Hares, Rabbits, and Pikas

The Lagomorphs, including the hares, rabbits, and pikas, are
nearly worldwide in distribution. One of the diagnostic character-
istics of this order is the unique arrangement of the upper incisors,
of which there are four. The first pair is large; the second pair is
small, without cutting edge and nearly circular in outline. Only
one (Leporidae) of the two currently recognized living families is
found in Kansas. The dental formula of the North American mem-
bers of this family is: i. I, c. ^, p. f , m. f . The following key will
aid in the separation of the species in this family.

1. Hind foot more than 105 mm.; ears more than 90 mm.; inter-
parietals fused with parietals 2

1'. Hind foot less than 105 mm.; ears less than 90 mm.; interparietals
not fused with parietals 3

2.(1) Top of tail white; postorbital projection of supraorbital process
not touching skull; occlusal face of first upper incisor showing a
complex infolding from groove on anterior face of tooth,

Lepus townsendii, p. 97

2'. Top of tail black; postorbital projection of supraorbital process

touching skull, leaving an aperature; occlusal face of first upper
incisor showing a simple groove on anterior face of tooth,

Lepus californicus, p. 99

3.(1') Total length more than 470 mm.; basilar length of skull more than
60 mm.; % or all of postorbital projection of the supraorbital proc-
ess fused to skull, leaving no aperature or at most a small foramen,

Sylvilagus aquations, p. 107

3'. Total length less than 470 mm.; basilar length of skull less than

60 mm.; less than % of postorbital projection of the supraorbital

process fused to skull, leaving an aperature 4

4.(3'). Length of ear usually more than 60 mm.; diameter of the auditory
meatus more than 37 per cent of the alveolar length of the upper
cheek teeth Sylvilagus auduhoni, p. 105

4'. Length of ear usually less than 60 mm.; diameter of the auditory
meatus less than 37 per cent of the alveolar length of the upper
cheek teeth Sylvilagus floridanus, p. 101

Rabbits are well known for their ability to reproduce rapidly
under favorable environmental conditions. Normally, however,
their natural enemies, such as hawks, owls, wolves, coyotes, foxes,
wildcats, and human hunters exert a checking effect on the num-
bers of rabbits. Rabbits in this latitude are subject to multiannual

Hares and Rabbits 91

fluctuations in population levels, regardless of predaceous animals.
As rabbit populations approach their peak in numbers, epidemic
diseases may check their increase and eventually, often rapidly,
severely reduce population levels.

The attitude of the people of Kansas and of their Forestry, Fish
and Game Commission toward rabbits has changed much. At one
time rabbits were considered to be pests and on March 6, 1877, the
Legislature of Kansas passed a law providing for a bounty of five
cents for each rabbit scalp presented to the county commissioner.
Twenty-five counties, mainly in the eastern part of the state, offered
bounties for various periods of time, ranging from 12 days in Doug-
las County to 404 days in Marion County. The kinds of rabbits on
which bounties were paid were not indicated. Table 7 gives a
summary of the number and amount of bounties paid and the period
in which they were paid. This table is based on information found
in the First Biennial Report of the State Board of Agriculture to
the Legislature of the State of Kansas for the years 1877-8 ( pp. 584-
589).

A glance at Table 7 (page 92) provides strong evidence of one of
the main evils ascribed to the bounty system as a means of con-
trolling unwanted animals, namely, that animals are presented
from nearby areas where the bounty is not provided. Doniphan,
Linn, Crawford, and Cherokee counties each paid bounties on 50,000
to 71,064 rabbits in less than one year or on a numerical average of
241.8 rabbits per day in each of the four counties. Doniphan
County, in the four months that it paid bounties, paid a total of
$1,300.00 on 65,000 rabbits, a numerical average of 537.2 rabbits per
day. An examination of the map reveals that each of these coun-
ties is on the border of the state. In spite of the law which stated:
"No person shall be entitled to receive any bounty . . . with-
out first making it appear by positive proof, by affidavit in writing
. . . that the . . . rabbit . . . was killed within the
limits of the county in which application is made," it is quite likely
that these counties paid bounties on many rabbits which were ac-
tually killed in another area; otherwise, for example, Jackson County
would be expected to have paid as many bounties as Doniphan.
Actually, Jackson County, which is not on the border of the state,
paid on only one twelfth as many rabbits per day.

Again in 1885 and 1889 laws were passed authorizing the pay-
ment of bounties on rabbits — still at the rate of five cents each.
Only 16 counties ordered the payment of bounties. The records of

92

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat, Hist.

TABLE 7. — Number and Amounts of Bounties Paid on Rabbits nsr Various

Counties in 1877-8.

Average

County

Days

Rabbits

Cost

number
per day

Butler

391
209

23,539
8,700

$1,176.45
435.00

60.2

Chautauqua

41.6

Chase

325
324
348
121

7,102
70,000
50,000
65 ,000

355.10
3,500.00
2,500.00
1,300.00

21.8

Cherokee

216.0

Crawford

143.7

Doniphan

537.2

Douelas

12
365
335

2,850
3,535
7,560

142.50
176.75
378.00

237.5

Ellsworth

9.7

Harvey

22.5

Jackson

312

183

13,291
9,432

664.55
471.60

42.5

Johnson

51.5

Labette

386
308

27,896
71 ,064

1,394.80
3,553.20

72.3

Linn

230.7

Lyon

273
404

17,362
2,564

868.10
128.20

63.6

Marion

6.3

McPherson

433

1,926

96.30

4.4

Mitchell

182

5,320

266.00

29.2

Morris

237

5,437

271.85

23.0

Neosho

7

•

14,000*

700.00

7

Osage

365

6,299

314.95

i7.2

Pawnee

104

1,918

95.90

18.4

Riley

273

9,710

485.50

35.5

Wabaunsee

273

14,280

714.00

52.3

Wilson

365

20,470

1,023.50

56.0

Woodson

302

9,133

456.65

30.2

Totals . .

429,378

$21,468.90

* Estimate.

bounties paid in 1885-89 are incomplete, but Palmer (1897:42)
listed the counties that paid bounties on rabbits. Unfortunately, in
most counties, no break down as to the amount paid as bounties
on each kind of animal was available, to Palmer in 1897 (op. cit.)
or to me in 1950. In most counties, the bounties paid include pay-
ments made on coyotes and animals other than rabbits. Table 8
lists the counties that were reported upon by Palmer, with the dates,
and the amounts paid for bounties. One of the most striking facts
available from this table is that of the 25 counties that paid bounties
on rabbits in 1877-78, only three made any later payments.

Sometime in the last part of the nineteenth century, farmers and
hunters began to hunt rabbits for the market. Untold thousands
were shipped to markets in the larger cities all over the United
States. Unfortunately, no records are available as to the exact
numbers that have been shipped from the state. Palmer (1897:

Hares and Rabbits

93

73-4) summarized the market hunting of jackrabbits at that time.
"Many jackrabbits are shipped to market from Kansas. Norton,
Winona, and other places in the western part of the State send the
game to Denver, while from points in central and southern Kansas
a good deal is shipped direct to New York and other Eastern
cities. A commission merchant in Great Bend, Kans., states that
he shipped about 4,200 jackrabbits (350 dozen) during the winter
of 1893-94 and about 6,000 (500 dozen) during the winter of
1894-95. ... A commission merchant writes that his ship-

TABLE 8. — Number and Amounts of Bounties Paid on Rabbits in Various

Counties in 1879-1895.

County

Dates

No. of
rabbits

Cost

Barber

Chase*

Decatur

1891-1894

1879-1895

1890

1891-1893

1894-1895

1890-1895

1890-1896

June-Augu.st, 1896

1893-1894

1890-1891

7

72 ',898

7
7
7
7
7

8 ',000

7
7

14 ',333

7
7

148 ',000

7

36 ',000

7

$3, 644. 90a
4,024 00

Ford

Graham

4,472.40
2,807.05

Hamilton

Hodgeman

1,740.95
4,937.45

Kingman

Lane

320.00b
1.552 45

Logan

7

Pawnee*

Scott

1895

1890-1895?

429.99a

7

Thomas

1890-1895

1888-1895

1880?..

8,161.25

Trego

7,400.00c

Wabaunsee*

7

Wichita

1889-1895

1,800.00c

• Counties that also paid rabbit bounties reported in 1878.

a. Rabbits only, reported here.

b. Rabbits only, bounties paid at rate of four cents each.

c. Rabbits only, the amount of bounties paid is only approximate.

ments from Independence have been increasing gradually during
the last few years at the rate of 200 to 300 per year. In the winter
of 1894-95 he shipped about 1,600 jack rabbits direct to New York.
McPherson County is one of the main shipping centers in the state,
and a dealer in Marquette writes that he handled 2,646 jack rab-
bits last season. . . . Last season the McPherson Produce Com-
pany handled 7,927 jack rabbits, and the total shipments from
that place average about five carloads, or 20,000 rabbits a season.

"In Kansas large numbers of jack rabbits are killed after heavy
snowfalls, and in Chautauqua and Montgomery counties it is said
that farmers sometimes bring them in by the wagon load; the
hunters usually receive about 10 cents apiece for them. Near
McPherson one method of hunting is to stretch a wire between

94 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

two wagons about 200 yards apart, and allow it to drag in the grass
or stubble as they proceed. As the rabbits are started they are
shot from the wagons or by two hunters who follow behind. In
this vicinity the prices vary from 15 cents apiece in October, down
to 5 cents in January."

Mearns (1890:298) purchased a black-tailed jackrabbit on the
market in New York. He found that it was a new kind of jack-
rabbit and described it as a new species. Of this specimen he
wrote ( loc. cit. ) : "This is a market specimen, invoiced with several
hundred pairs from the above locality [Independence, Kansas],
most of which I examined, and which I am informed were doubtless
killed on the northern border of Indian Territory. They command
a ready sale, in the New York markets, at $1.50 per pair."

In addition to the rabbits that have been sold for food, thousands
of live cottontails have been shipped from Kansas to furnish stock
for eastern states. Dice (1927:90-96) reported that cottontails from
Kansas were introduced into the following states: Connecticut
(1925 and 1926), Massachusetts (240 in 1924 and 408 in 1925),
Ohio (in 1926), and Pennsylvania (58,404 from Kansas and Mis-
souri in 1924-1925). Such introductions of game animals are often
dangerous to the native wildlife; diseases and parasites are often
introduced along with the game animals, and may become estab-
lished in the native wildlife. Chaddock (1938:49-52) reported that
an autopsy of 14 specimens of cottontails from Kansas, imported
into Wisconsin for restocking purposes, revealed infections of
coccidia, tapeworms, flukes, nematodes, and tularemia bacilli. He
emphasized the danger of introducing rabbits from other areas
into Wisconsin.

The market hunting continued until, as Lunn (1940:78) pointed
out: "Because of the fear of tularemia the market for rabbits in
the East was seriously injured. Over-supply of the market sent
the prices down. In 1927 the commission was authorized to regu-
late and control the rabbit industry and the rabbit dealers were
required to take out a license from the Commission. . . . There
was no immediate danger of depletion of the supply of rabbits but
the Commission was given the power to regulate in order to pre-
vent the exploitation of the supply. Confidential reports of ship-
ments in 1927 indicate 58,967 cottontails and in 1928 62,791." As
recently as 1942, as reported in the Ninth Biennial Report of the
Forestry, Fish and Game Commission (1942:17), one Kansas firm
shipped nearly 70,000 cottontails to the eastern market. These
were live rabbits, being used to restock eastern states.

Hares and Rabbits 95

Last summer (1950) ranchers in Morton and Stanton counties
told me of the activities of one group of market hunters who oper-
ated in those counties in 1949. These hunters had a small truck,
filled with cages and equipped with a platform on the top. One
man stood on the platform as the truck moved across the short-
grass prairies, and when he spotted a rabbit, he threw a large
metal hoop around the rabbit. This hoop had a net attached, tlius
trapping the rabbit.

The Audubon cottontail, Sylvilagus audubonii, is the common
cottontail in the southwestern part of the state. Probably it has
been introduced into many eastern states, far beyond its native
short-grass plains habitat, but, if so, this seems not to have been
reported.

No reliable estimates are available as to the numbers of rabbits
that are killed each year by the hunters of the state, but several
thousand rabbits are killed each year for their fur. The Seventh
Biennial Report of the Forestry, Fish and Game Commission ( June
30, 1938) indicated that 49,319 rabbits had been sold in the state
in one year (1937?) for their fur — the kind of rabbit was not
specified.

In recent years the advent of highways and automobiles has re-
sulted in an additional hazard to the rabbits of the state. Robert
W. Hankins (unpublished notes) kept a daily record for four
months (Sept. 14, 1948, to Jan. 14, 1949) of the animals found dead
along state highway no. 10, between Sunflower, Johnson County,
and Lawrence, Douglas County, a distance of 14 miles. He saw a
total of 133 cottontails and 1 jackrabbit dead on the road. When
this figure is multiplied by the many thousands of miles of highways
in the state for a year, instead of only 4 months, the factor of high-
way mortality begins to assume a new significance.

Sprague (1939:110-111) made counts on the number of black-
tailed jackrabbits seen dead along U. S. highway 83 from 40 miles
south of Garden City to Garden City, Kansas. He counted a total
of 175 jackrabbits in the first 33 miles, an average of 5.3 per mile,
and a total of 5 jackrabbits in the last 7 miles, an average of .7 per
mile. The first 33 miles was through a cultivated area, and the last
7 miles was through a natural, uncultivated area. Sprague (op.
cit.: 110) thought that: "The rabbits living in the cultivated area
were forced, because of the lack of food in the stubble, to resort to
the roadside ditches to feed on the vegetation growing there."

Rabbit drives have been held in the state at various times. Some
of these drives took a heavy toll of the rabbit population.

96 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Perhaps the most important single factor in the reduction of the
rabbit populations in the state is that of land use. In the last sev-
enty years large areas of the prairie lands have been plowed, mainly
for wheat. This destruction of the original prairie grasslands has
eflFectively reduced the jackrabbit population, and to a somewhat
lesser extent, the cottontail population.

The Biennial reports of the Forestry, Fish and Game Commission
for 1938 through 1948 each recommended that the rabbit be con-
sidered as a game animal and that a closed season be established
and a reasonable bag limit be set. Each of these reports, except
the one for the biennium ending 30 June 1942, indicated that the
numbers of the rabbits were being greatly reduced and that in many
areas there were practically no cottontails.

The Twelfth Biennial Report of the Forestry, Fish and Game
Commission issued June 30, 1948, stated that: "What this state
needs is a good strong law affording a greater measure of protection
to the rabbits and hares, now all but gone from the prairies of
Kansas. The decrease in this valuable wildlife resource was the
result of several contributing factors, namely, no protecting law,
destruction of cover, waste, disease, processing and exporting. The
commission could control many of these destructive influences, pro-
viding there was a law enacted designating the rabbit and hare as
game animals and subject to the rules and regulations of the com-
mission. A bill with that end in view will be presented to the 1949
legislature for your study and consideration."

Under the revised laws of 1949, for the first time, rabbits and
hares were declared to be wild game animals. The open season was
declared to be December 15 to October 15 inclusive and during the
open season of the upland game birds. In effect, this outlawed
rabbit hunting in the open season on upland game birds, except on
those particular days when game birds could be legally shot.

Genus Lepus Linnaeus
Hares

This genus is separated from that of the cottontails, Sylvilagus,
by larger size, longer ears and hind feet, and by having the inter-
parietal fused with the parietals. It is almost world-wide in occur-
rence and is represented in Kansas by two species, the white-tailed
jackrabbit and the black-tailed jackrabbit.

Within historic times several changes in the distribution of Ameri-
can hares and rabbits have been noted. As early as 1909, Nelson

Hares and Rabbits

97

(1909:20) pointed out that: "The main and most permanent
changes in distribution are caused by man. The extension of the
farming area in the United States and Canada, deforestation of the
country, and destruction of the natural enemies of cottontails, such
as birds and beasts of prey, has resulted in considerable permanent
extensions of the ranges of several species." An examination of
the available records shows that a marked shift has occurred in the
range and relative numbers of the two species of jackrabbits in
Kansas. In brief, the white-tailed jackrabbit has decreased in range,
at present being confined to the northwestern counties of the state,
while the black-tailed jackrabbit has become more abundant in the
northwestern part of the state. A discussion of these shifts will be
found in the account of these two species.

100

wMllat

Muiaum of Nolurol Hiitory

Unlv«rlity 0( Kama!

1949

/n

100

97

Fig. 23. Distribution of Lepus townsendii campanius in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

Lepus townsendii

White-tailed Jackrabbit

As its common name indicates, the top of the tail is white, in con-
trast to the black color characterizing the top of the tail of the other
species of this genus found in the state. In the mountains and in the
northern part of its range this species becomes pure white in winter
but in Kansas, as well as other places near the southern part of its
range, its coat color is approximately the same throughout the year.

The first record known to me of this species in the state is Baird's
4—1424

98 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

(1858:589) report of a white-tailed jackrabbit from 60 miles north-
west of Fort Riley, Kansas Territory. The specimen (U. S. Nat.
Mus. no. 1900/2598, original number 47) was taken on June 29,
1856, by W. S. Wood. The white-tailed jackrabbibt was formerly
found in a larger part of the state than at present. Palmer ( 1897:
15) stated that: ". . . on the south it is not found on the plains
much below central Kansas and southern Colorado — Fort Riley
and Pendennis, Kans. . . . being near its southern limits."
Brown summarized several records of occurrence of this species in
the state and recorded several observations on its past distribution.
He pointed out (1940:385) that: "Evidence shows that there has
been a change in the distribution of the white-tailed jackrabbit in
Kansas. They were once common, at least in western Kansas, but
are now scarce everywhere in the state." Many of the reports cited
by Brown are those made by the early settlers of western Kansas,
all of which indicate that (1) the white-tailed jackrabbit was for-
merly found at localities farther south and east than at present and
( 2 ) it was formerly more abundant in the northwestern part of the
state where it is found in small numbers today and where the black-
tailed jackrabbit, formerly rarely seen, is now common.

Brown later pointed out (1947:456) that: "The change in dis-
tribution of the two species of jackrabbits in Kansas was gradual.
The changes in environmental conditions when man began to break
up the prairie and plant crops, especially wheat, seems to be the
most reasonable explanation for the decrease in numbers of the
white-tailed jackrabbit. The changing of the open prairie to culti-
vated land seemed to make conditions more favorable for the
black-tailed jackrabbit to adapt itself to the new agricultural
environment."

According to Asdell (1946:207) the white-tailed jackrabbit
breeds in April, and three to six young, usually four, are born
in June or early July.

Lepus townsendii campanius Hollister

Lepus townsendii campanius Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
28:70, 1915, type from Plains of the Saskatchewan, Canada; Dice,
Jour. Mamm., 4:111, 1923; Dice, Ecology, 4:51, 1923; Wooster,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 24:112, 1931; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Sci., 36:246, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial
Kept., p. 208, 1937; Carter, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:431, 1939;
Brown, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:385, 1940; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:84, 1944; Brown, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
49:455, 1947.

Lepus campestris, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 589, 1858; J. A. Allen,
Bull. Essex Inst., 6:52, 1874; Coues, Monograph N. Amer. Rodentia,
p. 301, 1877; Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:58, 1889; J. A.

Hares and Rabbits 99

Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:264, 1895; Palmer, U. S.
Dept. Agric, Div. Biol. Surv. Bull., 8 (revised): 14, 1897; Merriam,
Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 17:131, 1904; Lantz, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 19:176, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta.
Bull., 129:336, 1905; Elliott, Field Columbian Museum, Publ. 115,
Zool. Series, 8:385, 1907; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 22:336,
1908; Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, 29:78, 1909.
L[epus] campestris, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.

Distribution. — At present occurs only rarely in the northwestern part of the
state; formerly ranged over most of the grasslands of western Kansas east at
least to Cloud County and south into Ford County. See map, figure 23.

Remarks. — No reliable external measurements are available for
specimens taken in Kansas in the collection of the University of
Kansas Museum of Natural History.

Nelson (1909:74) listed two specimens from Lawrence, Douglas

County, which he referred to this species, and indicated that these

specimens were in the United States National Museum. At my

request Henry W. Setzer, Associate Curator of Mammals at the

United States National Museum, checked the identification of

these two specimens (skulls only) and discovered that they are

actually Lepus calif ornicus.

Specimens examined. — Total, 7, distributed as follows: Logan County:
Winona, 5. Trego County: Wakeeney, 1; Unspecified, 1.

Additional records. — Cheyenne County: Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389).
Rawlins County: Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389). Decatur County: Un-
specified (Brown, 1940:389). Norton County: Unspecified (Brown, 1940:
389). Phillips Co.: Long Island (Nelson, 1909:78). Sherman County:
Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389). Thomas County: Unspecified (Brown,
1940:389). Sheridan County: Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389). Graham
County: Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389). Cloud Co.?: 60 miles northwest
Fort Riley (Baird, 1858:589); Republican Fork, 60 mi. W [northwest?] Fort
Riley (Coues, 1877:302); Red Fork, 60 mi. W [northwest?] Fort Riley (Nelson,
1909:78). Wallace County: Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389). Gove County
Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389). Trego Co.: Coyote Station (Coues, 1877
303). Ellis County: Unspecified (Wooster, 1931:112). Russell County
Russell (Brown, 1940:386). Lincoln County: Sylvan Grove (Brovra, 1940
388). Greeley County: Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389). Wichita County
Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389). Scott County: Unspecified (Brown, 1940
389). Lane County: Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389). Ness County: Un-
specified (Brown, 1940:389). Hamilton County: Unspecified (Brown,
1940:389). Kearny County: Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389). Finney Co.:
Garden City (Nelson, 1909:78). Ford County: Dodge City (Brown, 1940:
386). Edwards County: Unspecified (Brown, 1940:389).

Lepus californicus

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Only one subspecies of the black-tailed jackrabbit occurs in
Kansas; it is probably state wide in distribution. As indicated by
the common name, the dorsal surface of the tail is covered by
black hairs. This one characteristic separates the two kinds of

100

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

jackrabbits occurring in Kansas. The total length of the black-
tailed jackrabbit is approximately two feet; the tail comprises ap-
proximately three inches of this total.

According to Asdell (1946:207) this species may have several lit-
ters per year; these are born between April and August. One to
seven young are bom in each litter, the numerical average being
4.1. Palmer (1897:28) reported that young were born in March,

■Li

Scolt

I '

Museum of Nolurol Hiitory

Unlvartiljr of Kontoi

I94S

39

38

100

97

Fig. 24. Distribution of Lepus californicus melanotis in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

July, and September at three different localities in Kansas. Michael
Justice reports (personal communication) that he has taken rabbits
of this species in February in Cowley County which contained
almost full term embryos.

Lepus californicus melanotis Mearns

Lepus melanotis Mearns, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 2:297, 1890,
type from Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas; J. A. Allen,
Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:264, 1895; Palmer, U. S. Dept.
Agric, Div. Biol. Surv. Bull, 8 (revised) : 14, 1897; Miller and
Rehn, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 30:182, 1901; Lantz, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:176, 1905; Elliot, Field Columbian Mus.,
Publ. 115, Zool. Series, 8:380, 1907; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 22:336, 1908.

Lepus californicus melanotis. Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, 29:148, 1909;
Dice, Ecology, 4:51, 1923; Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:112, 1923; Lins-
dale, Jour. Mamm., 9:146, 1928; Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 34:112, 1931; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:246,
1933; Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 38:351, 1935; Black,
Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 209, 1937;
Sprague, Jour. Mamm., 20:110, 1939; Carter, Trans. Kansas Acad.

Hares and Rabbits 101

Sci., 42:431, 1939; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

42:508, 1939; Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:515, 1939;

Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:302, 1940; Webb, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:479, 1940; Riegel, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

44:96, 1941; Riegel, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 45:369, 1942;

Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:85, 1944; Brown, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 50:28, 1947; Brvunwell, Amer. Midland Nat.,

45:214, 1951.
L[epus] melanotis, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:

336, 1905.
Lepus callotis, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:52, 1874.
L[epus] callotis, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.
Lepus callotis texianus, Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:58, 1889.
L[epus] texianus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:336,

1905.

Distribution. — State-wide, see map, figure 24.

Remarks. — Measurements of one adult male and one adult fe-
male, respectively, from Montgomery County are: 567, 510; 68,
60; 130, 125; 109, 150.

Specimens examined. — Total, 58, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
23 mi. (by road) NW St. Francis, 2. Rawlins County: 2 mi. NE Ludell, 2;
Unspecified, 1. Sheridan County: Unspecified, 1. Mitchell County: 5 mi. W,
?2 mi. S Beloit, 1. Clay County: 6 mi. SW Clay Center, 5. Trego County:
Wakeeney, 4; Banner, 2; Perrington Ranch, 1. Douglas County: Lawrence,
2; 2 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; 3 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; 2)2 mi. S Lawrence, 1;
Clinton, 1. Johnson County: Prairie Center, 1. Barton County: 3 mi N, 2
mi. W Hoisington, 2. Marion County: 4 mi. SE Lincolnville, 2. Kearney
County: 15 mi. N, 1 mi. E Lakin, 1. Stafford County: Little Salt Marsh, 6.
Reno County: 5 mi. NE Little Salt Marsh, 1. Harvey County: Halstead, 2.
Greenwood County: 8 mi. SW Toronto, 2. Allen County: 2 mi. N, M mi.
W Neosho R. bridge, Humboldt, 1. Morton County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E
Elkhart, 6. Meade County: Rexroad Ranch, 1. Clark County: 7 mi. S
Kingsdown, 1. Montgomery County: 6 mi. NW Independence, 1; Independ-
ence, 3; 5 mi. S Independence, 1. Labette County: 10 mi. SW Oswego, 1.
Cherokee County: 18 mi. SW Columbus, 1.

Genus Sylvilagus Gray

Cottontails and Allies

This genus diflFers from Lepus, in smaller size, shorter ears and
hind feet, and interparietal not fused, instead of fused, with the
parietals. In Kansas there are three species of Sylvilagus, the
swamp rabbit, the Florida cottontail, and the Audubon cottontail.

Sylvilagus floridanus

Florida Cottontail

Four subspecies of the Florida cottontail occur in Kansas. Ac-
cording to Asdell (1946:205) this rabbit breeds from mid- January
into August, in which time they produce a number of litters. The
gestation period is 26.5 to 30 days and the average litter size is 4.5
with a range from 2 to 7.

102

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

The cottontail is subject to great fluctuations in population level
which varies from year to year, and at any one time from area to area.
Such fluctuations are influenced in part by food and cover and in
part by a long-term cyclic pattern of population levels.

The average length of life of a cottontail in nature is unknown.
Specimen No. 4309 in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural
History was captured as a young rabbit in June, 1914, and held cap-
tive until its death on January 17, 1924, almost ten years later.

100

97

39

■..■■■'J(:ry.\-:'i='^-:i-M,

38

tJ=

Utifum at Notur«l HI(»of|

1943

M

39

38

100

97

Fig. 25. Distribution of Sylvilagus floridanus in Kansas. 1. S. /. similis.
2. S. /. mearnsii. 3. S. /. llanensis. 4. S. /. alacer. See figure 5 for explana-
tion of symbols.

The cottontail is a favorite game animal in most eastern states.
Its life history has been extensively investigated (see Hendrickson,
1938, 1939, 1940, 1943, 1943B, and others), especially from the
standpoint of increasing populations to withstand the increased
hunting pressure in recent years. Until recently, Kansas has not
been confronted with this problem. With increased hunting pres-
sure in the future and further land utilization for crops, informa-
tion on how to maintain the population level will become necessary
in Kansas.

Sylvilagus floridanus similis Nelson

Sylvilagus floridanus similis Nelson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 20:82,
1907, type from Valentine, Cherry County, Nebraska; Lantz, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 22:336, 1908; Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, 29:174,
1909; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:246, 1933; Black, Kan-
sas State Board of Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 212, 1937; Hib-
bard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:85, 1944.

Hares and Rabbits 103

Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsi, Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:515,
1939; Webb, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:479, 1940; Brown, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 50:28, 1947.

Lepus floridanus alacer, Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., Publ. 115, Zool.
Sen, 8:370, 1907.

Lepus sylvaticus bachmani, J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.,
7:264, 1895.

Sylvilagus floridanus, Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:302, 1940.

Distribution. — Northwestern part of the state, east certainly to Norton and
Barton counties and south certainly to Lane County. See map, figvue 25.

Remarks. — External measurements of five males and one female,
respectively, from Norton County are: 393.8 (376-410), 425; 48.0
(42-55), 54, 96.2 (95-98), 98; 59.8 (57-65), 62; ear, crown 68.6 (65-
73), 70.

Specimens examined. — Total, 16, distributed as follows: Rawlins County:
2 mi. NE Ludell, 2. Norton County: 5 mi. W, 1 mi. N Logan. Thomas
County: 10 mi. N, 6 mi. E Colby, 1. Gove County: 5 mi. E Quinter, 1
(OCR). Trego County: Wakeeney, 4. Lane County: Unspecified, 1. Bar-
ton County: 3 mi. N, 2 mi. W Hoisington, 1.

Sylvilagus floridanus meamsii (J. A. Allen)

Lepus sylvaticus meamsii J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.,
6:171, 1894, type from Fort Snelling, Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsi, Lyon, Smiths. Misc. Coll., 45:,336, 1904;
Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 22:336, 1908; Nelson, N. Amer.
Fauna, 29:172, 1909.

Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsii. Dice, Ecology, 4:45, 1923; Dice, Jour,
Mamm., 4:112, 1923; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:146, 1928; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:246, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board
Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 210, 1937; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:85, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:214,
1951.

Lepus floridanus mallurus, Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., Publ. 115,
Zool. Ser., 8:368, 1907.

Lepus sylvaticus, Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:52, 1874; Knox, Trans. Kan-
sas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875; Coues, Monograph N. Amer. Rodentia,
p. 333, 1877; Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:58, 1889.

Lepus floridanus mearnsi, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:176, 1905.

L[epus] floridanus mearnsi, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. BuU.,
129:336, 1905.

Distribution. — Northeastern part of the state, west certainly to Washington
County, south certainly to Marion and Woodson counties and east to Linn
County. See map, figure 25.

Remarks. — External measurements of 15 males and seven fe-
males from Douglas County are: ^406.3 (375-445), $ 430.3 (388-
460); 60.3 (39-72), 60.0 (50-75); 96.0 (85-105), 96.1 (90-108);
55.2 (52-58), 61.0 (60-63).

Specimens from Hamilton and Neosho Falls are intermediate
between S. /, mearnsi and S. /. alacer, but tend slightly toward the
former.

104 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Specimens examined. — Total, 122, distributed as follows: Washington
County: Strawberry, 1; Unspecified, 1. Clay County: 4 mi. SW Clay Center,
3; 6 mi. SW Clay Center, 3. Riley County: Manhattan, 1. Jackson County:
2 mi. S, 10 mi. W Holton, 1. Jefferson County: 2% mi. E Ozawkie, 1; 16
mi. N Lawrence, 1. Leavenworth County: Ft. Leavenworth, 3; Unspecified, 2.
Douglas County: 5 mi. NE Lawrence, 1; 4 mi. NE Lawrence, 1; 1 mi. W
Lawrence, 2; Lawrence, 14; 3 mi. S Lawrence, 1; 7 mi. SW Lawrence, 1;
7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 12; 11 mi. SW Lawrence, 3; Clinton, 1; Unspecified,
14. Marion County: 1 mi. N, '2 mi. E Lincolnville, 1. Chase County: 3 mi.
E, 4 mi. S Cottonwood Falls, 1. Franklin County: 2 mi. S LeLoup, 4. An-
derson County: Harris, 1; 6 mi. SW Garnett, 1; 4 mi. W, Y2 mi. S Welda, 11.
Miami County: 6 mi. N Paola, 24; 5 mi. SE Fontana, 2; 7 mi. SW Springhill,
1. Linn County: 6 mi. SW Fontana, 1. Greenwood County: Hamilton, 3
(OCR); 3)k mi. SE Hamilton, 1 (OCR). Woodson County: Neosho Falls, 4.

Sylvilagus floridanus llanensis Blair

Sylvilagus floridanus llanensis Blair, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. of
Michigan, 380:1, 1938, type from Old "F" Ranch Headquarters,
Quitaque, Briscoe County, Texas; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 47:85, 1944.

Sylvilagus fioridanus alacer. Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, 29:176, 1909
(part, that part from Garden Plain); Tihen and Sprague, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:509, 1939.

Distribution. — Southwestern part of the state, north certainly to Hamilton
County and east certainly to StaflFord and Barber counties. See map, figure 25.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males from Clark
County and one female from Meade County are: ^ , 385, 405, 5
430; 50, 50, --; 95, 95, 101; 53, 60, 58.

Specimen no. 10067 in the University of Kansas Museum of
Natural History from one mile south of Aetna shows characters in-
termediate between S. /. llanensis and S. /. alacer, but is referable
to the former. Of three specimens from StafiFord County, one ( KU
no. 4489) shows characters of S. /. llanensis, a second (KU no. 5619)
is intermediate and the third (KU no. 5547) shows characteristics
of S. /. alacer except in the color of the sides, which is as in S. /.
llanensis. One specimen (KU no. 12968) from Hamilton County
shows characteristics of S. /. similis in the color of the nape of the
neck. Two other specimens from the same county show little evi-
dence of intergradation with S. /. similis but are referable to S. /.
llanensis.

Specimens examined. — Total, 25, distributed as follows: Hamilton County:
Coolidge, 3; 1 mi. E Coolidge, 2. Stafford County: Little Salt Marsh, 9.
Ford County: 2 mi. N Bellefont, 2. Meade County: 13 mi. SW Meade, 2;
State Park, 14 mi. SW Meade, 1 (GCR). Clark County: 7 mi. S Kingsdown,
3; 7 mi. SW Kingsdown, 1. Barber County: 1 mi. S Aetna, 1; 1 mi. NE
Aetna, 1.

Hares and Rabbits 105

Sylvilagus floridanus alacer (Bangs)

Lepus sylvaticus alacer Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:136,
1896, type from Stilwell, Boston Mountains, Adair County, Okla-
homa; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:176, 1905.

Sylvilagus floridanus alacer, Lyon, Smiths. Misc. Coll., 45:336, 1904;
Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, 29:176, 1909; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 36:246, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th
Biennial Kept., p. 212, 1937; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:85, 1944.

L[epus] floridanus alacer, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:336, 1905.

Distribution. — Southeastern part of the state, north certainly to southern
Greenwood County and Harvey County and west certainly to Kingman and
Harper counties. See map, figure 25.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and one female
from Labette County are: ^ 390 (374-400), $ 395; 55.6 (52-60),
56; 91.3 (89-93), 84; 56.6 (51-63), 56.

Specimens from Kingman County show some characteristics of
S. /. llanensis but are referable to S. /. alacer.

Specimens examined. — Total, 63, distributed as follows: Harvey County:
Halstead, 6; 1 mi. S, ¥2 mi. E Halstead, 2; Unspecified, 10. Greenwood County:
4 mi. S, 14 mi. W Hamilton, 1; Vinegar Hill, 1; 8 mi. SW Toronto, 3; 8M mi.
SW Toronto, 5. Neosho County: 3 mi. N Chanute, 2. Kingman County:
Rago, 14. Sedgwick County: Wichita, 2. Harper County: 8 mi. NE Harper,
1. Cowley County: 5 mi. N, 11 mi. E Arkansas City, 1; 3 mi. SE Arkansas
City, 1. Labette County: 10 mi. E, 152 mi. N Parsons, 4; 6% mi. SE Parsons, 600
ft., 1. Cherokee County: 4 mi. SE Columbus, 2; 8 mi. SW Columbus, 2; 18
mi. SW Columbus, 1; 1 mi, S, 43* mi. E Baxter Springs, 2; Unspecified, 2.

Sylvilagus audubonii

Audubon Cottontail

Two subspecies of the Audubon cottontail occur in Kansas. Both
are found only in the western part of the state. This species is found
throughout western United States and south into Mexico. It diflPers
from Sylvilagus floridanus in that the auditory bullae are more in-
flated, the diameter of the external auditory meatus is greater, the
lower incisors are more procumbent, and the walls of the posterior
nasal foramen are constricted. Externally S. audubonii and S.
floridanus are similar.

According to Asdell (1946:208) this species may breed all year
but does so mostly between June and October. Two young are born
after a gestation period of 28 to 30 days.

One specimen in the collection of the University of Kansas Mu-

106

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

seum of Natural History, taken on July 14, 1938, at a point 13 miles
southwest of Meade, contained three embryos.

Sylvilagus audubonii baileyi (Merriam)

Lepus baileyi Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 11:148, 1897, type
from Spring Creek, east side of Bighorn Basin, Bighorn County,
Wyoming.

Sylvilagus audubonii baileyi. Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 128:473,
1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:246, 1933; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:85, 1944.

Sylvilagus auduboni baileyi, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 22:336,
1908; Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, 29:232, 1909; Black, Kansas State
Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 213, 1937.

100

tJ=

SCOK
I I

MHteum of Nolwrtl Hiitorr

UniitrtUt of Konioi

1945

39

38

100

97

Fig. 26. Distribution of Sylvilagus audubonii in Kansas. 1. S. a. baileyi.
S. a. neomexicanus. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

Distribution. — Northwestern part of the state, as far south as Logan County
and east as far as Decatur and Trego counties. See map, figure 26.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males and three fe-
males, from five miles west of Elkader, are: ^ 382 (365-399), 5
363 (359-370); 55.5 (54-57), 49 (44-57); 90 (88-92), 87.6 (85-90);
67 (66-68), 64 (59-69).

Specimens examined. — Total, 25, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County.
19 mi. N Goodland, 1; 23 mi. NW St. Francis, 2; Unspecified, 1. Rawlins
County: 7 mi. NW Atwood, 1; 27 mi. W Atwood [=7 mi. N, 16)^ mi. W At-
wood], 2; 2 mi. NE Ludell, 3. Decatur County: 12)2 mi. S, 4 mi. W Oberlin,
1. Logan County: Winona, 1; 5 mi. W Elkader, 8. Trego County: Wa-
keeney, 2; Banner, 1; Castle Rock, 2.

Hares and Rabbits 107

Sylvilagus audubonii neomexicanus Nelson

Sylvilagus auduboni neomexicanus Nelson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
20:83, 1907, type from Fort Sumner, Guadalupe County, New
Mexico; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 22:336, 1908; Nelson,
N. Amer. Fauna, 29:236, 1909; Black, Kansas State Board Agric,
30th Biennial Kept., p. 213, 1937.

Sylvilagus audubonii neomexicanus. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus.,
128:473, 1924; Dice, Jour. Mamm., 10:227, 1929; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:246, 1933; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 42:508, 1939; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:86,
1944.

Lepus arizonae minor, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:176, 1905.

L[epus] arizonae minor, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:336, 1905.

Distribution. — Southwestern part of the state, north certainly to Hamilton
County and east to Kiowa County. See map, figure 26.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males and four fe-
males from Meade County, are: ^ 402.5 (400-405), $ 389 (370-
401); 49.5 (48-51), 52.7 (48-61); 90.5 (90-91), 88.2 (82-93); 62
(59-65), 64.7 (63-66).

Specimens examined. — Total, 23, distributed as follows: Hamilton County:
2 mi. E, 1 mi. N Coolidge, 1; 1 mi. E, Ji mi. S Coolidge, 1; 1 mi. E CooHdge,
1. Kearny County: Tk mi. S, 2/2 mi. W Larkin, 1; 13 mi. N, 2 mi. E Larkin,
1. Kiowa County: Rezeau Ranch, 5 mi. N Belvidere, 2. Morton County:
9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 5. Seward County: 1 mi. E Arkalon, 2. Meade
County: 13 mi. SW Meade, 4; Meade Co. State Park, 4. Clark County: 7 mi,
S Kingsdown, 1.

Sylvilagus aquaticus
Swamp Rabbit

The swamp rabbit lives in the wet bottomlands along the Neosho
River and tributaries in the southeastern part of the state. It is
readily distinguished from the cottontail by its larger size, its short,
sleek fur, and its thin-haired tail. Little is known of the habits of
this rabbit in the state, where local hunters refer to it as the "market
rabbit" and are well aware of its larger size. The swamp rabbit
is approximately twenty-two inches in total length of which the tail
makes up approximately two and one-half inches.

The presence of swamp rabbits in an area is revealed by the
presence of piles of fecal pellets on suitable logs. During times of
high water in overflow areas, swamp rabbits spend a good part
of their time on such logs, and, according to hunters' reports, are
never found more than a mile from the nearest swamp. When
startled they run directly toward the swamp to escape enemies. I
have personally seen this rabbit take readily to water while at-
tempting to escape an enemy, although it usually retreats into a
thick briar patch adjacent to the swampy area.

108

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

According to Asdell (1946:207) this species has two Htters a year,
each with one to six young.

Sylvilagus aquaticus aquaticus (Bachman)

Lepus aquaticus Bachman, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 7:319,
1837, type from western Alabama.

Sylvilagus aquaticus aquaticus, Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:479,
1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:246, 1933; Black,
Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 214, 1937; P. B.
Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information,
Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :52, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 47:86, 1944.

Distribution. — Known only from the bottomlands of the Neosho River and
its tributaries in the southeastern part of the state. See map, figure 27.

Remarks. — External measurements of four males and two females
from Labette County are : c? 506 ( 490-539 ) , $ 514, 528; 59 ( 54-64 ) ,
67, 68; 109.2 (108-110), 108, 108; 74.2 (70-77), 77, 76; ear, crown,
83.5 (80-88), 84, 87.

Specimens examined. — Total, 22, distributed as follows: Crawford County:
Unspecified, 4. Labette County: 10 mi. E, IK mi. N Parsons, 6. Cherokee
County: 18 mi. SW Columbus, 11; J2 mi. NE Baxter Springs, 800 ft., 1.

100

39

38

wNiltl

ywsauff ti Nolurol Hitlorr

UAiviriltr of Kontoi

194;

39

38

100

97

Fig. 27. Distribution of Sylvilagus aquaticus aquaticus in Kansas. See figure

5 for explanation of symbols.

Hares and Rabbits

109

TABLE 9. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Leporids.

!i4

th
riction

molar

o

1

3

1 § ^ -i 1
2 o <" S S*

•^ _ a S 3

■•3

3
ej

o _

13

2

3

_2

3

1

'to

.2 * — —

1 1 i i r-

QQ
1- 3

o
1

■3

a

m

03

si

pa

N Ph iJ t> 1-J

5

kl

^

Lepus townsendii campaniits, Winona, Logan County

e

1163

73.3

42.6 12.9 39.7 18.8 16.9

6.0

30.7

5.8

rf"

1164

71.3

44.1 12.4 39.7 18.7 17.5

5.8

32.2

5.4

9

1165

68.5

45.4 15.5 38.1 19.0 16.8

5.5

32.6

6.2

9

1161

70.0

44.3 14.6 37.8 20.4 17.3

5.8

32.2

5.1

Levus californicus melanotxa. Little Salt Marsh, Stafford County

d"

5551

74.2

44.7 11.4 41.1 20.9 17.8

6.2

31.9

6.5

<f

4497

74.3

41.8 11.7 40.4 19.5 18.3

6.4

30.1

6.9

9

4494

74.7

42.0 10.9 38.0 17.8 16.8

6.2

29.9

5.4

9

5498

71.5

42.5 11.9 15.7

Sylvilagus floridanus simHia, Norton County

6.1

30.5

6.9

cf

5

52.6=

34.8* 11.8 29.5 13.0 14.0

4.7

26.5*

6.5

max.

54.7

35.8 12.6 31.2 15.1 15.3

5.0

27.5

7.2

min.

49.3

33.3 10.9 28.5 12.3 12.5

4.3

25.4

5.8

9

18863

54.6

35.1 11.3 31.7 13.8 13.8
Sylvilagus f. mearnai, Douglas County

27.6

6.4

cf

15

56.03

35.8 12.2 32.2 14.6 14.4

4.5

26.7

6.6

max.

68.9

37.5 13.8 33.6 17.2 14.9

5.0

28.2

7.7

min.

51.4

33.8 11.0 28.4 12.5 13.4

4.3

25.2

5.4

9

4

54.8

35.4 11.5 29.9 14.4 13.8

4.6

26.2

6.4

max.

57.0

35.8 12.3 25.8 15.8 15.1

5.3

26.8

6.8

min.

52.4

35.1 11.1 31.8 13.3 11.9
Sylvilagus f. llanensis, Clark County

4.3

25.2

6.0

d'

4

53.9'

34.8 12.4 30.9 14.5 14.0

4.4

26.2'

6.3

max.

54.6

35.2 13.9 31.9 15.1 14.4

4.7

26.7

6.9

min.

53.3

34.5 11.2 30.2 14.0 13.5
13 mi. SW Meade, Meade County

4.1

25.9

6.0

9

13207

55.4

38.3 13.8 30.8 15.8 15.3

4.5

27.3

6.1

9

12962

57.6

37.2 12.3 32.8 15.8 15.5

4.6

27.8

6.8

SvlvUagus f. alacer, 10 mi. E, IH mi- N Parsons, Labette County

cf

18896

54.1

35.5 12.8 31.1 14.4 13.8

4.8

27.0

6.9

cf

18897

52.6

33.7 11.7 30.0 14.3 14.5

4.3

24.7

6.5

9

18899

54.1

36.8 16.0 24.7 12.6 13.6
Sylvilagus auduhoni baileyi, Cheyenne County

4.6

27.3

8.5

cf

10975

56.1 '

35.2 11.5 28.3 15.4 13.5

5.5

26.3

6.3

d'

10974

51.7

35.0 11.3 27.0 12.7 12.7

5.4

26.3

5.0

?

12401

53.9

34.3 11.7 30.0 13.5 12.0

5.7

25.2

5.7

SylvUaQua auduhoni neomexicanus, Morton County

cf

5517

52.3

34.9 11.8 29.8 14.3 13.6

5.1

26.4

5.9

9

6621

52.6

35.1 11.7 29.1 14.2 13.2

5.3

25.8

5.5

9

5437

54.8

36.1 11.1 28.8 13.0 13.0

5.0

26.3

6.1

SylvUagua aguaticus aquaticus, Crawford County

c?

9127

66.5

33.3 14.7 16.8

4.5

28.8

9.5

9

8826

69.5

41.2 16.4 37.5 15.9 17.5

4.8

28.7

8.9

Superscript numbers indicate number actually averaged.

110 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Order RODENTIA
Rodents

The rodents, or "gnawers," are by far the largest group of mam-
mals, both in numbers of kinds and in numbers of individuals.
Their teeth are functionally adapted for gnawing: the incisors are
reduced to one on each side, both above and below, and are chisel-
like, and grow continuously throughout life; the canines and at least
the anterior premolars are absent, resulting in a wide space (dia-
stema) between the incisors (gnawing teeth) and the cheek teeth
( grinding teeth ) .

The rodents are world wide in distribution, being found on all
continents and on most islands, from sea level to mountain tops, in
cities, country, forests, plains, and deserts. They range in size from
four feet long ( South American capybara ) to only two inches long
(mice). The smaller species are often extremely abundant, some-
times, under unusual conditions, reaching population levels of sev-
eral hundred individuals of one species per acre. There are ap-
proximately 6,300 species of rodents living in the world today.

The following key will aid in the separation of the eight families
of rodents found in Kansas.

1. Body and tail without quills; facial opening of infraorbital canal
smaller than foramen magnum 2

1'. Body and tail with quills; facial opening of infraorbital canal

larger than foramen magnum ERETHIZONTIDAE, p. 216

2. ( 1 ) Hair on middle of tail longer than the diameter of fleshy part of

the tail at that point; skull with well developed postorbital proc-
esses on frontal bones SCIURIDAE, p. Ill

2'. Hair on middle of tail shorter than the diameter of fleshy part of
the tail at that point; skull without postorbital processes on frontal
bones 3

3.(2') External, fur-lined cheek pouches present; auditory bulla longer
than crown surface of upper cheek teeth and longer than incisive
foramina 4

3'. External, fur-lined cheek pouches absent; auditory bulla shorter
than crown surface of upper cheek teeth or shorter than incisive
foramina and usually shorter than each 5

4.(3) Tail more than % length of head and body; claws on forefeet less
than 1/4 as long as those on corresponding toes on hind feet; nasals
projecting much beyond incisors; auditory bulla exposed on pari-
etal face of skull HETEROMYIDAE, p. 144

4'. Tail less than % length of head and body; claws on forefeet more
than 1% as long as those on corresponding toes of hind feet; nasals
even with or projecting barely beyond incisors; auditory bulla not
exposed on parietal face of skull GEOMYIDAE, p. 136

Rodents 111

5.(3') Tail flattened dorsoventrally; incisive foramen shorter than first

two upper cheek teeth CASTORIDAE, p. 154

5'. Tail not flattened dorsoventrally; incisive foramen longer than first
two upper cheek teeth 6

6.(5') Tail equal to or less than the length of head and body; cheek
teeth % 7

6'. Tail longer (by %) than head and body; cheek teeth % (in Kan-
sas) ZAPODIDAE, p. 213

7.(6) Annulations on tail nearly or completely concealed by hair; cheek
teeth with cusps (or prisms that remain when cusps are worn
down) in two longitudinal rows CRICETIDAE, p. 158

7'. Annulations on tail revealed by sparce hairiness; cheek teeth with

cusps in three longitudinal rows MURIDAE, p. 207

Family Sciuridae

Squirrels

Most members of this family are diurnal and feed chiefly on seeds
and nuts. The woodchucks, ground squirrels, chipmunks, tree squir-
rels, flying squirrels, and prairie dogs are examples. The following
key will aid in the separation of the genera and species, of this fam-
ily, which are found in Kansas.

1. Hind foot more than 75 mm.; postorbital process at right angle to

long axis of skull Marmota monax, p. 117

1'. Hind foot less than 75 mm.; postorbital process projecting down-
ward and backward 2

2.(1') Fold of skin on side between fore- and hind-leg; diameter of ex-
ternal auditory meatus amounting to length of the occlusal surfaces
of 2/2 or more upper molars Glaucomys volans, p. 132

2'. No loose fold of skin on side between fore- and hind-leg; diameter
of external auditory meatus amounting to less than the length of
the occlusal surfaces of 2/2 upper molars 3

3.(2') Hind foot more than 61 mm.; crown of second upper molar as
long as wide 4

3'. Hind foot less than 61 mm.; crown of second upper molar wider
than long 5

4.(3) Lateral hairs on tail tipped with white; upper P3 usually present,

Sciurus carolinensis, p. 112

4'. Lateral hairs on tail not tipped with white; upper P3 absent,

Sciurus niger, p. 114

5.(3') Under parts white; always striped above; upper P3 absent,

Tamias striatus, p. 130

5'. Under parts grayish red; striped or mottled or plain above; upper
P3 present 6

6. ( 5' ) Tail less than 25 per cent of total length; upper molar rows strongly
convergent posteriorly; upper P3 enlarged, complex, with 4 ridges,

Cynomys ludovicianus, p. 119

6'. Tail more than 25 per cent of total length; upper molar rows not
strongly convergent posteriorly; upper P3 simple, peglike 7

112

University of Kansas Publs,, Mus. Nat. Hist.

7.(6') Total length more than 325 mm.; upper molariform tooth-row

more than 8.5 mm Citellus franklinii, p. 128

7'. Total length less than 325 mm.; upper molariform tooth-row less
than 8.5 mm 8

8.(7') Upper parts striped; postorbital constriction less than 12 mm.,

Citellus tridecemlineatus, p. 122

8'. Upper parts with indistinct spots; postorbital constriction more

than 12 mm Citellus spilosoma, p. 126

Genus Sciurus Linnaeus

Tree Squirrels

This genus occurs in Europe, Asia, and North and South America.
In North America, tree squirrels of this genus occur from the north-
em United States south through Mexico into Central America. Two
species occur in Kansas.

Sciurus carolinensis

Gray Squirrel

This large tree squirrel has a local distribution in the eastern part
of the state. It is generally grayish, tinged with pale rusty brown
on the middle of the back. The hairs of the tail are tawny brown

100

39

38

•u=

=1

Multum «f Noturol Nitltrr

Univ«r«lf)r of Konioi

I94J

39

38

J

100

97

Fig. 28. Distribution of Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis in Kansas. See figure

5 for explanation of symbols.

at the base, banded with black and broadly tipped with white. The
dental formula is: i. ^, c. g, p. f , m. |. The first premolar is not
always present and when present is very small and peglike.

Gray squirrels spend most of their time in trees, coming to the

Squieirels 113

ground only to collect and bury nuts. In eastern Kansas they are
found in the few remaining stands of oak-hickory woods, rarely ven-
turing into the open. As pointed out by Hamilton (1943:229-30)
their distribution: ". . . coincides strikingly with that of the oak,
chestnut and hickory forests. It is evident that their mainstay is the
mast of these nut trees. In addition, the gray squirrel feeds on a
multitude of swelling buds, various fruits and berries, an occasional
insect and perhaps now and then a young bird."

The gray squirrels mate in mid-winter. After a gestation period
of approximately 44 days, the young are bom in hollow trees or in
a nest of leaves high in the tree. A second htter is usually produced
in the late summer. From three to six young are born in a htter.
Three young, two females and one male, were collected on April
28, 1898, at Lawrence and are in the collection of the University of
Kansas Museum of Natural History.

Sciurus carolinensis caroHnensis Gmelin

[Sciurus] carolinensis Gmelin, Syst. Nat., 1:148, 1788, type from
"Carolina".

Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis. True, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 7
(1884):595, 1885; Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:111, 1923; Linsdale, Jour.
Mamm., 9:143, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:239,
; 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennnal Kept., p. 179,

1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. In-
formation, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5):34, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:74, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat, 45:211,
1951.

Sciurus carolinensis, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 262, 1858; Lantz, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:173, 1905.

S[ciurus] carolinensis, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:334, 1905.

S[ciurus] Carolinensis, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.

Disribution. — Eastern part of the state, west certainly to Riley County. See
map, figure 28.

Remarks. — External measurements of five males from Douglas

County, are: 450.8 (425-464), 198.0 (184-212), 63.2 (61-66), 32.0

(28-33).

Specimens examined. — Total, 39, distributed as follows: Douglas County:
Lecompton, 3 (USBS); Lawrence, 6; 7 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; 7% mi. SW Law-
rence, 6; 12/2 mi. S, 1/2 mi. W Lawrence, 1; Unspecified, 5. Miami County:

9 mi. N Paola, 1; 7 mi. SW Springhill, 1; 5/2 mi. SE Fontana, 1. Greenwood
County: 4 mi. NE Hamilton, 1 (OCR); 1 mi. SW Hamilton, 1 (OCR); 1 mi.
SE Hamilton, 1 (GCR); 9 mi. SE Hamilton, 2 (GCR); West Creek, 10 mi.
SE Hamilton, 4 (GCR); 5 mi. NW Fall River, 1. Chautauqua County: Cedar
Vale, 1 (USBS). Montgomery County: 4 mi. N Caney, 1. Labette County:

10 mi. SW Oswego, 1. Cherokee County: Baxter Springs, 1.

Additional records. — Doniphan County: Geary, (Linsdale, 1928:143).
Riley County: Unspecified, (Dice, 1923:111). Leavenworth Co.: Fort Leav-
enworth (Baird, 1858:262).

114

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Sciurus niger
Fox Squirrel

This is the common tree squirrel of Kansas. With the possible
exception of some of the western counties, it now (1951) is state
wide in distribution. The general reddish or fulvous color, which
is mixed with grizzled grayish on the backs and sides, serves to
distinguish the fox squirrel from the gray squirrel. The broad tips
on the tail hairs and the tufts behind the ears are fulvous, not whitish
as they are in the gray squirrel. The dental formula, i. \, c. ^, p. J,
m. I, serves as a further aid in distinguishing between this and the
gray squirrel; the gray squirrel usually has two upper premolars.

The fox squirrel spends much of its time on the ground where it
searches for food. The list of foods taken by the fox squirrel is

-39

Uut«um of Notural Hitlo'ir

Untversity of Kon^oi

194}

38

100

97

Fig. 29. Distribution of Sciurus niger rufiventer in Kansas. See figure 5 for

explanation of symbols.

extensive and naturally varies with the habitat of the individual.
Nuts, seeds, buds, mushrooms, bird's eggs, young birds, fruits, and
corn are but a few of the items taken. Whitaker (1939:117) re-
corded the use of the seeds of Osage orange (Madura pomifera)
in eastern and central Kansas. Bugbee and Riegel (1945:199-203)
studied the seasonal food choices of the fox squirrel at Hays, ElUs
County. They found that in the late summer and fall the food
included: hackberry nipplegalls, cedar berries, pods of the honey
locust, walnuts, bark of Russian oHve tree, and seeds of the wild

Squirrels 115

gourd. In the summer, petiole galls on cottonwood and hackberry
seeds were taken whereas in the winter and spring, elm seeds and
buds and fruits of the Russian olive were eaten. The authors
concluded with the statement that: "This short Hst is enough to
show that the fox squirrel is able to utilize a variety of materials for
food in an area where oaks are absent and nut-bearing trees in
general are scarce or non-existent. It is able to thrive on a some-
what different diet than is found farther east."

The summer home of the fox squirrel is a loosely built shelter of
leaves but in the fall they move to a cavity in a tree or construct
a substantial nest of leaves, twigs, and branches. These winter
nests are often used for many years.

Mating usually occurs in January and two to four young are
born in late February or early March.

Sciunis niger rufiventer Geoffroy

Sciurus rufiventer Geoffroy, Catal. Mamm. Mus. Nat. Hist., Paris, p. 176,
1803, type from Mississippi Valley; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad Sci.,
19:176, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:334,
1905; Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., Publ. 115, Zool. Ser. 8:124, 1907.

Sciurus niger rufiventer, Osgood, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 20:44,
1907; Dice, Ecology, 4:45, 1923; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:143,
S 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:239, 1933; Black, Kan-

sas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 179, 1937; Tihen and
Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:507, 1939; Webb, Trans. Kan-
sas Acad. Sci., 43:479, 1940; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers
College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5):35, 1940;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:74, 1944; Bugbee and Riegel,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 48:199, 1945; Brumwell, Amer. Midland
Nat, 45:211, 1951.

Sciurus niger, Bryant, Amer. Midland Nat., 33:264, 1945.

Sciurus ludovicianus, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 253, 1858; Knox,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.

Sciurus niger ludovicianus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.,
7:270, 1895.

Sciurus cinereus var. Ludovicanus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:49,
1874.

Sciurus macroura Say, Long's Exped. to Rocky Mts., 1:115, 1823, type
from northeastern Kansas (see Lowery and Davis, 1942:162).

Distribution. — Probably occurs in suitable habitats in most of the state. See
map, figure 29.

Remarks. — External measurements of four males and three fe-
males from Douglas County are: ^ 507.0 (460-564), $ 516, 506,
545; 222.7 (180-240), 245, 239, 251; 69.2 (64-73), 65, 66, 75; 27.7
(24-30), 28, 26, 30.

Specimens examined. — Total, 157, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
23 mi. (by road) NW St. Francis, 2. Rawlins County: 2 mi. NE Ludell, 2.
Decatur County: 6 mi. S, 6 mi. W Oberlin, 1; 8 mi. S, 5 mi. W Oberlin, 2.
Norton County: 5 mi. W, 1 mi. N Logan, 3; 4 mi. W, 1 mi. S Logan, 1. Wash-

116

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist,

ington County: Strawberry, 1. Doniphan County: Geary, 2. Thomas County:
10 mi. N, 6 mi. E Colby, 2. Jackson County: 105^ mi. WSW Holton, 3.
Jefferson County: 16 mi. N Lawrence, 1; 8 mi. N Lawrence, 1; Unspecified, 1.
Leavenworth County: Ft. Leavenworth, 2; Unspecified, 8. Trego County:
Unspecified, 1. Morris County: Council Grove, 1. Shawnee County: Auburn,
7; Wakarusa, 5; Unspecified, 3. Osage County: 3.5 mi. S, /2 mi. W Linden,
1. Douglas County: Lakeview, 2, /2 mi. W Lawrence, 1; % mi. W Lawrence,
1; Lawrence, 16; 3 mi. E Lawrence, 1; 9 mi. E Lawrence [by road?], 1;

7 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 7; Washington Creek, 5; 9
mi. S KU Campus, 1; Unspecified, 17. Johnson County: 1 mi. W De Soto,
1; Olathe, 1; Unspecified, 1. Barton County: 5/2 mi. N, I/2 mi. W Great
Bend, 1. McPherson County: Smoky Hill River, 1 mi. S, Yi mi. W Linds-
borg, 1. Marion County: VA mi. NE Lincolnville, 1; 1 mi. SE Lincolnville,
1. Chase County: 1 mi. E, .5 mi. N Courthouse, Cottonwood Falls, 1. Cof-
fey County: Unspecified, 1. Anderson County: Unspecified, 1. Miami
County: 1 mi. N, 3 mi. E Fontana, 1; 6 mi. N Paola, 4. Harvey County:
Unspecified, 4. Greenwood County: Willow Creek, 4 mi. N Hamilton, 3
(GCR); 2 mi. W Hamilton, 1 (GCR); Hamilton, 2 (GCR); Y^ mi. S Hamil-
ton, 1 (GCR); 2Y2 mi. SE Hamilton, 1 (GCR); 3 mi. SE Hamilton, 2 (GCR);
Willow Creek, 8 mi. SE Hamilton, 1 (GCR); 10 mi. SE Hamilton, 1 (GCR);

8 mi. SW Toronto, 2. Woodson County: Neosho Falls, 1; Unspecified, 1.
Allen County: 1 mi. N, 1 mi. W Humboldt, 1. Kiowa County: Unspecified,
1. Crawford County: Unspecified, 1. Meade County: 2 mi. N, Yi mi. W
Fowler, 1; 2 mi. N Fowler, 3; 1 mi. N, ^4 mi. E Fowler, 1; 14 mi. SW Meade,
1. Clark County: 7 mi. SW Kingsdown, 1. Harper County: 6)2 mi. NW
Harper, 1; Unspecified, 1. Montgomery County: 4 mi. N Caney, 1. Labette
County: 10 mi. E Parsons, 1; 10 mi. SW Oswego, 2. Cherokee County: 8
mi. SW Columbus, 2; 9 mi. SW Columbus, 1, ^

Additional records. — Phillips Co.: Long Island, 4 (Allen, 1895A:270).
Riley County: Unspecified (Dice, 1923A:45). Ellis County: Hays (Bugbee
and Riegel, 1945:199).

TABLE 10. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Scturus.

O

m

■Si
> ^

a o
2;

t

.2 ><

<u

u

O

a

03

pa

■o

05

03

a

O
bl
>.

N

3

*C rt

«M

e

u

0

s a

J3

0

m 01

J2

?, 0

2 "J

* to

XI

03 -^

■0

"3
■0

■ ■*

|o

J3

ja a

0

.^

-w 0

"

T3

T3-W

^

'Z

<

^

^

s

•5 a

03 "

S3

£

Sciu;

rus niger

rufi venter,

Douglas County, Kansas

cf

5

64.3

49.8

36.6

21.4

11.6 10.5

16.9

28.1

18.6

20.1

min.

60.7

47.0

34.9

20.0

11.0 9.0

16.4

27.1

17.7

20.1

max.

66.0

61,5

37.6

22.6

12.2 11.2

17.6

28.9

19.0

20.1

9

8058

65.1

50.9

37.2

22.3

12.1 11.7

18.5

27.8

18.9

20.0

9

6038

62.6

48.4

34.2

19.6

11.4 9.6

16.4

26.7

17.6

19.1

9

5132

66.4

50.9

37.7

22.6

11.8 10.4

16.2

29.3

19.3

21.3

Scturus carolinensis carolinensis, Douglas County, Kansas

cf

5

61.1

46.7

33.8

20.5

11.0 ....

14.7

26.3

17.6

16.6

min.

60.2

46.2

32.2

19.2

10.7

14.1

26.9

16.2

17.7

max.

63.3

47.8

34.6

21.9

11.4

15.5

25.4

18.1

19.4

9

128

62.0

48.2

35.0

20.1

11.8 ....

15.7

26.6

17.7

18.5

9

136

64.0

49.9

34.6

21.4

11.6 ....

15.4

26.8

17.9

18.8

9

135

61.5

47.1

35.4

19.6

11.1 ....

15.1

27.5

17.9

18.5

Squirrels

117

Genus Marmota Frisch

Marmots and Woodchucks

This genus occurs in North America, Europe, and Asia. One
species of this genus occurs in Kansas, and it is by far the largest
member of the squirrel family found in the state. Large size, up
to 25 inches in length, and the heavy, compact body (five to ten
pounds) supported by relatively short, powerful legs, readily dis-
tinguish the woodchuck from the other rodents in the state. Its
dental formula is: i. |, c. %, p. t, m. f.

Marmota monax

Woodchuck

The w^oodchuck is adapted for digging. The front foot has four
well-developed toes with long, slightly curved claws (the pollex
is small, and high on the foot), the ears are small, and the tail is

100

39

38

t-L-

mMIKI

Muieum 9f Nalvrol Hiltorr

UAivtrtiry of K«niai

194}

39

38

100

97

Fig. 30. Distribution of Marmota monax bunkeri in Kansas. See figure 5 for

explanation of symbols.

short. Its home is an extensive burrow in the ground, often with
two or more entrances which in many instances are beneath large
stones or tree stumps. The burrow may extend to a depth of five
to six feet and for 30 or more feet horizontally. One or more of
the tunnels terminate in an enlarged chamber where a bulky grass
nest is situated. Although not an aquatic animal, the woodchuck

118 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

can swim. Johnson (1923:106-107) observed one swimming lei-
surely across Wakarusa Creek, in Douglas County.

The woodchuck is a diurnal animal, being most active in the
early morning and late afternoon. In spring and summer it spends
much time eating green vegetation and storing up fat so that it
may spend the winter in hibernation. The food includes a great
variety of native grasses and plants as well as cultivated crops such
as corn, clover, and alfalfa. In September or October the wood-
chuck disappears for the winter, remaining in the den until early
March.

Mating occurs in March and April and the young, two to eight
in number, usually four or five, are bom in April or May after a
gestation period of approximately four weeks. As described by
Burt (1946:175) : "The naked, bhnd young are about the size of an
adult pine vole (Pitymys) at birth, weigh twenty-six grams, and
are one hundred and five millimeters long, the tail being sixteen
millimeters long."

Marmota monax bunkeri Black

Marmota monax bunkeri Black, Jour. Mamm., 16:319, 1935, type from
seven miles southwest of Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas; Black,
Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 172, 1937; Swenk,
Jour. Mamm., 19:352, 1938; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers Col-
lege Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :30, 1940;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:72, 1944; Brumwell, Amer.
Midland Nat, 45:210, 1951.

Marmota monax monax, Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 37:25, 1915; Linsdale,
Jour. Mamm., 9:142, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:238, 1933.

Marmota monax, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:334,

1905; Bryant, Amer. Midland Nat., 33:263, 1945.
Marmotta monax [sic], Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:173, 1905.
Arctomys monax, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.

Distribution. — Eastern part of the state, west certainly to Shawnee County.
See map, figure 30.

Remarks. — External measurements of nine males and five females
from Douglas County, are: ^ 614.0(555-653), 5 613.0(596-650);
142.5 (105-189), 128.2 (102-160); 92.4 (85-96), 88.7 (83-93); 32.3
(30-35), 29.8 (26.5-33). Weights of three males and one female
from Douglas County, are: ^ 7 lbs. 15 ozs., 8 lbs. 6 ozs., 9 lbs. 12
ozs.; 5 8 lbs. 6 ozs.

Squirrels 119

TABLE 11. — Cranial MEAsuRE^rENTs (in millimeters) of Marmota.'

•2 I

'o '2

Q CD Ml ^

I;

3 0 -•»

o

1

o

o

-S

a

^

1

o

>>

l-l

N

o

« ji 2 a .s •;: «

Marmota

monax

bunkeri.

Douglas '

County

d"

11

98.2

57.1

36.7

42.1

66.5

48.2

27.9

22.3

22.0

mm.

94.0

55.5

34.0

40.0

65.0

46.8

26.2

20.5

20.0

max.

101.0

59.3

39.0

44.0

69.2

50.5

29.5

23.5

23.0

9

7

98.5

57.9

36.1

42.5

66.1

47.0

27.7

22.3

22.2

min.

95.0

56.0

35.5

41.6

64.5

45.5

27.0

20.6

21.0

max.

100.5

59.5

37.2

42.7

66.8

49.0

30.0

23.7

23.0

• Measurements given by Black (1935:320).

Specimens examined. — Total, 58, distributed as follows: Doniphan County:
Geary, 2; Doniphan Lake, 3. Leavenworth County: 7 mi. NE Lawrence, 1;
Unspecified, 1. Sluiwnee County: 2% mi. N Topeka, 1. Douglas County:
1 mi. N Lawrence, 1; 2 mi. W Lawrence, 1; IY2 mi. W KU Campus, Lawrence,
1; Lawrence, 8; Wakarusa Creek, Haskell Farm, 1; SM mi. S Lawrence, 2;
7 mi. SW Lawrence, 4; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 11; Washington Creek, 1;
Horseshoe Lake, 1; Unspecified, 12. Franklin County: LeLoup, 1. Linn
County: 5/2 mi. SE Fontana, 2. Greenwood County: 2 mi. NE Hamilton, 1
(GCR); Hamilton, 3 (2, GCR).

Genus Cynomys Rafinesque

Prairie Dog

One species of this North American genus occurs in Kansas. The
prairie dog is well known in the state. This medium-sized, robust,
short-legged, and short-tailed rodent is readily distinguished from
the other Kansan squirrels by its short, black-tipped tail and its
pinkish-buff coat that is slightly grizzled with black. The dental
formula is: i. \, c. %, p. -}, m. f . The males are shghtly larger than
the females, reaching a total length of 14 to 16 inches. The tail is
only three to four inches long.

Cynomys ludovicianus

Prairie Dog
The prairie dog inhabits open grasslands, and is always social.
The animals Hve in a group of burrows called a "town." In a
study of a small prairie-dog town, occupying an area of approxi-

120

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

mately 20 acres in the upper Solomon Valley, Scheffer (1938:391)
found that there were 334 burrow openings in the colony, and by
repeated observations, found that the total population "must have
been close to 100 — an average of five to the acre, one to every
3 1/3 open holes." He noted a few cases in which four to six
animals, old and young, occupied a single burrow.

Prairie dogs cannot live in soft ground or tall grass. Overgrazing
of pastures and the packing of the soil by cattle directly contribute
to the increase of prairie dogs by improving their habitat. A strik-
ing example of this was pointed out by Mead (1885:92): "The

100

39

38

i

1 1

! i

1

i

1

i

i

1

1

L

1

i.

ScoU

K, <OHil|t

I I

Muttum o( Nolwrot Hiite/y

Univsriity of Kgntat

I94S

39

38

100

97

Fig. 31. Distribution of Cynomys ludovicianus ludovicianus in Kansas.

figiu-e 5 for explanation of symbols.

See

great Chisholm Texas cattletrail through the Indian Territory, a
hundred yards wide, became a Dogtown almost its entire distance."

In 1899, Mead, in recording some natural history notes of 1859,
reported (1899:281) that: "The divide between the Saline and
Solomon [rivers] in Ellsworth county and west was a continuous
dog town for miles. . . . Prairie-dogs, except a few remnants,
disappeared. The foot of the bufiFalo was necessary for their exist-
ence. As soon as the ground ceased to be tramped hard and the
grass and weeds grew they perished."

Overgrazing of the range lands in western Kansas led to an in-
crease in the prairie dogs. Merriam (1901:264) described the con-
ditions as follows: "A cattle ranch in Logan County, Kans., which
ten years ago pastured a thousand head of cattle, will barely support

Squirrels 121

500 at present, owing to the great increase in prairie dogs, which
have overrun the range. Practically the whole of the southern half
of Logan County is now one continuous dog town, estimated to
cover about 300 square miles. In the past decade the population
of this area has decreased, a post-oflBce (Elkader) has been abol-
ished, and many homes have been vacated, the result, it is said,
of the great increase in prairie dogs."

Blades, stems, and basal portions of low grasses form most of the
food of the prairie dog, but at times they also dig up and devour
the roots and branches. For this reason farmers and ranchers wage
war against the prairie dog, especially when it lives in pastures.
Vernon Bailey (1931:122) stated that: "The drain thus put upon
the grazing capacity of land occupied by numerous prairie-dog
towns has been variously estimated at 50 to 75 per cent of its value
for stock."

Man has destroyed many of the prairie dog towTis, either directly
by the use of poison baits and gas or indirectly by the cultivation
of the prairies. According to Scheffer (1910B:219): "Under the
provisions of an act passed by the legislature of Kansas in 1903 the
purchase and use of poison in all townships infested by prairie-dogs
was made compulsory. All expenses were defrayed from the town-
ship treasury, the county commissioners having previously made a
special levy for the purpose. The vigorous campaign that followed
the enactment of this law almost wiped the prairie-dog from the
face of the land." Today (1951) few colonies of prairie dogs are
known in Kansas.

The prairie dogs mate in late March or early April and after a
gestation period of 28 to 32 days, two to ten young, usually five to
six, are bom in a nest below ground. In early June families of less
than half grown appear at the surface. G. E. Johnson (1927:110-
115 ) described the development of four young that were born in the
laboratory on April 1st, 1926.

Cynomys ludovicianus ludovicianus (Ord)

Arctomys ludovicianus Ord, Guthrie's Geography, 2nd Amer. Ed., 2:292,
description on p. 302, 1815, ty'pe from upper Missouri River ("Vicin-
ity of the Missouri, and throughout the greater part of Louisiana").

Cynomys ludovicianus ludovicianus, HoUister, N. Amer. Fauna, 40:18,
1916; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:239, 1933; Black, Kan-
sas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 177, 1937; Tihen
and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:506, 1939; Webb, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:479, 1940; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers
College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :32, 1940;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:72, 1944.

122 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Cynomys ludovicianus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875;
Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:57, 1889; J. A. Allen, Bull.
Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:270, 1895; Merriam, U. S. Dept. Agric,
Yearbook for 1901:257, 1901; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
19:173, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:334,
1905; Wade, Jour. Mamm., 9:150, 1928; Schaffner, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 31:61, 1929.

Cynomys Ludovicianus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:49, 1874.

Distribution. — Western part of the state, east certainly to Cloud, Dickinson,
and Sedgwick counties. See map, figure 31.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and two females
from Hamilton County, are: ^ 300, 380, 370, § 350, 373; 54, 70,
70, 70, 85; 53, 65, 62, 60, 60; weight in pounds, - -, 2, 1%, 1%, 1%.

Specimens examined. — Total, 121, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
23 mi. NW (by road) St. Francis, 2. Sheridan County: Hoxie, 1 (USES).
Rooks County: Woodson, 1. Cloud County: Di mi. E, M mi. N Glasco, 1.
Wallace County: 2 mi. S Wallace, 3. Gove County: 4 mi. W Banner, 3.
Trego County: Banner, 13 (10, USNM; 1, USBS). Dickinson County: Un-
specified, 1 (USBS). Lane County: Pendennis, 1 (USBS). Hamilton
County: 2 mi. N Coolidge, 2; Coolidge, 49; 1 mi. E Coolidge, 1. Pawnee
County: 3 mi. E Garfield, 1. Stafford County: 6 mi. N Little Salt Marsh, 6;
Little Salt Marsh, 1. Pratt County: Cairo, 2 (USBS). Sedgwick County:
Garden Plain, 1 (USBS). Morton County: 10 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 10.
Meade County: State Park, 1 (GCR); 14 mi. SW Meade, 1 (GCR); 15 mi.
SW Meade, 2 (GCR); 15?i mi. SW Meade, 2; 17 mi. SW Meade, 3; XI Ranch,
28 mi. SW Meade, 4 (GCR). Clark County: E. A. Stephenson Ranch, 7 mi.
S Kingsdown, 2. Comanche County: 4 mi. SW Aetna, 2. Barber County:
Marty Ranch, 3. Harper County: 5 mi. NW Harper, 2.

Additional records. — Phillips Co.: Long Island, 3 (HolHster, 1916:18).
Clay County: Unspecified (Schaffner, 1929:61). Ellis Co.: Fort Hays, 8
(HoUister, 1916:18). Russell County: Plymouth Township (see text); Coyote
Station, 1 (Hollister, 1916:18). Marion County: Unspecified (Wade, 1928:
150 ) . Sumner County: Unspecified ( Wade, 1928 : 150 ) .

Genus Citellus Oken
Ground Squirrels
Three species (including seven subspecies) of ground squirrels
occur in Kansas. They may be distinguished from the chipmunks
(genus Tamias), with which they are often confused, by the ab-
sence of stripes on the sides of the head. The dental formula is:
i- T, c. %, p. I, m. f .

Citellus tridecemlineatus

Striped Ground Squirrel

The upper parts of this ground squirrel are striped with narrow
alternate bands of dark and buffy white. The dark bands have
central rows of whitish spots except on the neck and shoulders.
This pattern readily distinguishes the striped ground squirrel from

Squirrels

123

the other ground squirrels in the state. They reach a total length
of approximately 11 inches, of which the tail comprises approxi-
mately four inches.

Striped ground squirrels live chiefly on dry, grassy prairies and
occur rarely in the brushy borders of timber tracts. They are only
slightly gregarious and not at all social in habit. Individuals usually
hve a more or less solitary life and often dig a number of burrows,
some of which are shallow and are used for temporary shelter;

39

38

ti

=1

Muiawm et Nstv'cr H'ltori

39

38

too

97

Fig. 32. Distribution of Citellus tridecemlineatus in Kansas. 1. C. t.
arenicola. 2. C. t. tridecemlineatus. 3. C t. texensis. See figure 5 for ex-
planation of symbols.

others are of more elaborate construction for more permanent use.
In the permanent burrows, many of which are as much as 20 feet
in length and extend to a depth of three feet, is a nest of dry grass.

Mating occurs in April and, after a gestation period of 28 days,
five to 13 young, usually six to ten, are born in the underground
nest.

This ground squirrel feeds on a variety of wild plants and seeds,
cultivated grains, and insects. Bailey (1893:39) found that half of
the contents of 80 stomachs examined by him consisted of insects,
including grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, beetles, ants, and in-
sects' eggs. Hisaw and Emery (1927:41-44) found that, in cap-
tivity, animals of this species readily took insects, especially grass-
hoppers, even when grains were available.

124 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

The date of entering hibernation varies v^^ith the age, sex, and
fatness of the individual as well as with the chmatic conditions.
For most individuals this date probably occurs in October or No-
vember. G. E. Johnson, Foster, and Coco (1933:266) found that
in west-central Kansas the males appeared in numbers above
ground about the middle of March while the females appeared
about the last of March or the first of April. Johnson and others
carried on an intensive study of hibernation in this species a few
years ago at Kansas State College at Manhattan (see G. E. Johnson,
1929 A, 1929B, 1930, and G. E. Johnson and others, 1932, 1933, and
1934). G. E. Johnson (1931:439) made an excellent summary of
the results of his and other workers' findings on hibernation in mam-
mals.

Citellus tridecemlineatus arenicola Howell

Citellus tridecemlineatus arenciola Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
41:213, 1928, type from Pendennis, Lane County, Kansas; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:239, 1933; Johnson, Foster, and Coco,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:250, 1933; Johnson, Gann, Foster, Coco,
Endocrinology, 18:86, 1934; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th
Biennial Kept., p. 175, 1937; Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:111, 1938;
Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:506, 1939; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:72, 1944; Brown, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 48:451, 1946.

Spermophilus tridecemlineatus pallidus, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat.
Hist., 7:270, 1895.

Citellus tridecemlineatus pallidus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
19:173, 1905; Johnson, Amer. Nat., 63:172, 1929; Johnson, Biol.
Bull., 59:115, 1930; Johnson, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 34:282, 1931;
Johnson and Challans, Endocrinology, 16:278, 1932; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:238, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric,
30th Biennial Kept., p. 175, 1937; Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 58:112,
1938 ( part. — aU of his pallidus from Kansas ) ; Wooster, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 42:515, 1939; P. B. Allen, State Teachers College Em-
poria, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :32, 1940.

C[itellus] tridecemlineatus pallidus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp.

Sta. Bull, 129:334, 1905.
Citellus tridecumlineatus pallidus [sic]., Riegel, Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 44:98, 1941.
Citellus tridecemineatus pallidus [sic]., Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 47:72, 1944.
Citellus tridecemlineatus texensis, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

20(2):214, 1907 (from Medicine Lodge and Kiowa, Kans.).
Citellus tridecemlineatus tridecemlineatus, Webb, Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 43:479, 1940.

Distribution. — Western part of the state, east certainly to Phillips, Lincoln, and
Barber counties. See map, figure 32.

Remarks. — External measurements of two adult males from two
miles north of Belief ont are: 247, 241; 87, 82; 35, 31; 10, 9; weight
in grams 101.7, 108.9.

Squikrels 125

Specimens examined. — Total, 71, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
23 mi. (by road) N\V St. Francis, 1; 6 mi. W Bird City, 1. Rawlins County:
7 mi. N, 16)2 mi. W Atwood, 1; 2 mi. NE Ludell, 7; VA mi. E Ludell, 1; 2 mi.
E Ludell, 1; 10 mi. E Atwood, 1. Decatur County: 2 mi. S, 6 mi. W Oberlin,
1; 11 mi. S, 4 mi. W Oberlin, 1; 12^ mi. S Oberlin, 1. Phillips County: Phil-
lipsburg, 1. Thomas County: 10 mi. N, 6 mi. E Colby, 1. Rooks County:
2 mi. SW Woodston, 1. Wallace County: 2 mi. S Wallace, 1. Logan County:
5 mi. W Elkader, 2. Gove County: S}i mi. W, 2 mi. S Banner, 3; 7 mi. NW
Pendennis, 2 (OCR). Trego County: Wakeeney, 1; Unspecified, 3. Ellis
County: 3 mi. W, }i mi. S Hays, 2200 ft., 1. Lincoln County: 7 mi. SW
Sylvan Grove, 1. Lane County: Pendennis, 2(1, OCR). Hamilton County:
Coolidge, 2; 1 mi. E Coolidge, 2. Kearny County: Oanica, 3. Stanton
County: TA mi. W, 1 mi. N Manter, 1. Ford County: 2 mi. N Bellefont, 2.
Pratt County: Pratt, 2; Unspecified, 1. Morton County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E
Elkhart, 15. Meade County: 6 mi. N Fowler, 1; 6 mi. S Fowler, 1; Meade
Co. State Lake, 1; State Park, 14 mi. SW Meade, 3 (OCR). Clark County:
9 mi. S Ashland, 2.

Additional records.— Phillips Co.: Long Island, 2 (Allen, 1895:270).
Thomas Co.: Colby, 1 (Howell, 1938:114). Graham Co.: Solomon River, 1
(Howell, 1938:114). Ellis Co.: Ellis, 1 (Howell, 1938:114); Hays, 1 (Howell,
1938:114). Gove Co.: Grinell, 2 (Howell, 1938:112); Oakley, 1 (Howell,
1938:112). Trego Co.: Unspecified, 10 (Howell, 1938:114). Scott Co.:
Scott City, 3 (Howell, 1938:112). Lane Co.: Pendennis, 10 (Howell,
1938:112). Pratt Co.: Cairo, 1 (Howell, 1938:112). Barber Co.: Medicine
Lodge, 1 (Howell, 1938:112); Kiowa, 4 (HoweU, 1938:112).

Citellus tridecemlineatus tridecemlineatus (Mitchell)

Sciurus tridecem-lineatus Mitchell, Med. Repository, N. S., 6(21):248,

1821, type from central Minnesota.
[Citellus] tridecemlineatus, Trouessart, Cat. Mamm., Sup., p. 341, 1904.

Citellus tridecemlineatus tridecemlineatus. Dice, Ecology, 4:51, 1923;
Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:111, 1923; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 36:238, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial
Rept., p. 175, 1937; Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:107, 1938; P. B.
Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information,
Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :31, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 47:72, 1944; BrumweU, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:211, 1951.

Spermophilus tridecemlineatus, Dyche, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 12:29,
1890; Bailey, U. S. Dept. Agric, Div. Omith. and Mamm. Bull.,
4:31, 1893.

C[itellus] tridecemlineatus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:334, 1905.

Citellus tridecemlineatus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:173, 1905.

Spermophilus tridecemlineata, Williston, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 6:40,
1877.

Distribution. — Northeastern Kansas, west, certainly to Mitchell and Ottawa
counties and south certainly to Anderson County. See map, figure 32.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and three fe-
males from Douglas County, are: males 233, 255, 245, females 295,
272, 266; 61, 87.5, 67, 118, 95, 103; 34, 32.5, 36, --, 36, 34; 8, — , 9,

Specimens examined. — Total, 45, distributed as follows: Mitchell County:
3/2 mi. W, M mi. S Beloit, 1. Leavenworth County: Fort Leavenworth, 1;
Unspecified, 5. Ottawa County: 4 mi. N Bennington, 1 (AJK). Morris

126 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

County: 10 mi. E Herington, 1; 3 mi. SW Burdick, 1. Douglas County: Law-
rence, 16; 5 mi. NW Baldwin, 1; Unspecified, 17. Anderson County: Un-
specified, 1.

Additional records. — Riley Co.: Fort Riley, 1 (Howell, 1938:109). PoUa-
watomie Co.: Onaga, 5 (Howell, 1938:109).

Citellus tridecemlineatus texensis (Merriam)

Spermophilus tridecemlineatus texensis Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash-
ington, 12:71, 1898, type from Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas.

[Citellus tridecemlineatus] texensis, Trouessart, Cat. Mamm., Sup. p.
342, 1904.

Citellus tridecemlineatus texensis, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:239, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept.j
p. 175, 1937; Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:110, 1938; P. B. Allen,
Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat.
Hist. Surv., 20(5):32, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:73, 1944.

Distribution. — Southeastern Kansas, west certainly to Sedgwick and Sumner
counties and north certainly to Greenwood and Woodson counties. See map,
figure 32.

Remarks. — External measurements of one male and two females
from Neosho Falls are: males 233, females, 229, 242; 82, 88, 87; 33,
33, 34; 10, 9, 9.

This subspecies, C. t. texensis, is intermediate in size between
C. t. tridecemlineatus and C. t. arenicola. Citellus t. tridecem-
lineatus is the darkest colored subspecies in the state; C. t. arenicola
is the lightest. The color of the dorsal stripes is fuscous or fuscous
black in C. t. tridecemlineatus, russet or mars brown in C. t.
texensis, and snuff brown in C. t. arenicola.

Specimens examined. — Total, 8, distributed as follows: Greenwood County:
8 mi. SW Toronto, 1. Woodson County: Neosho Falls, 3. Montgomery
County: Independence, 2. Cherokee County: 8 mi. SW Columbus, 1; 9 mi.
SW Columbus, 1.

Additional records. — Sedgwick Co.: Garden Plain, 2 (Howell, 1938:111).
Sumner Co.: Belle Plain, 1 (Howell, 1938:111).

Citellus spilosoma

Spotted Ground Squirrels

The upper parts of these ground squirrels are light brown, indis-
tinctly spotted on the back and rump with roundish, white spots.
They reach a length of approximately nine and a half inches, of
which the tail comprises approximately three inches. They prefer
dry, sandy soil, and are quite common in drifted sand along the
rivers in the southwestern part of the state. In general this is a
desert species, being much more common in the southwestern
United States than in Kansas.

Squirrels

127

Their food includes plants, mainly seeds, and insects. They
construct burrows that may be as much as 12 feet in length and 18
inches in depth. The two or more entrances to the burrow are
usually concealed under bushes, in a weed patch, or under an over-
hanging rock.

100

39

38

Scllf
« 0 lO «Mittt

II I I

Htftewm of Nclu'Ot H>iior|

Un'.irKiT ol KflntOI

194}

«1

39

38

100

97

Fig. 33. Distribution of Citelltis spilosoma in Kansas. 1. C. s. obsoletus. 2.
C. s. major. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

Two litters per year are usual, with five to 12 young in each Utter.
Rinker (1942B:376) presented some records of size of litters of fe-
males taken in Meade County. Of five adult females taken in the
first nine days of August, 1941, two were carrying embryos; one had
eight, the other, six. A third female: ". . . was captured after
being ploughed up in a wheat field. With her were 4 young, two
of which were captured and proved to be about two-thirds grown."

Like the other ground squirrels in the state, this species spends
part of the winter in hibernation.

Citellus spilosoma obsoletus (Kennicott)

Spermophilus obsoletus Kennicott, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
p. 157, 1863, type from fifty miles west of Fort Kearney, Nebraska.

Citellus spilosoma obsoletus, Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:130, 1938;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:73, 1944.

Citellus obsoletus, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:238, 1933;
Black, Kansas State Board Agrlc, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 174, 1937;
P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Informa-
tion, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :31, 1940.

128 University of Kansas Publs,, Mus. Nat. Hist.

Distribution. — Northwestern part of the state, known only from Cheyenne
County. See map, figure 33.

Remarks. — External measurements of one female from nine miles

northwest of St. Francis are: 245; 69; 33.

Specimens examined. — Total, 1, from the following locality: Cheyenne
County: 9 mi. NW St. Francis, 1.

Citellus spilosoma major (Merriam)

Speromophilus spilosoma major Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 4:39, 1890,

type from Albuquerque, Bemahllo County, New Mexico.
[Citellus spilosoma] major, Trouessart, Cat. Mamm., Sup., p. 340, 1904.

Citellus spilosoma major, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:173, 1905;
Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:344, 1905; Hib-
bard. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:238, 1933; Black, Kansas State
Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 174, 1937; Sprague, Jour.
Mamm., 19:246, 1938; Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:126, 1938;
Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:506, 1939; P. B.
Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information,
Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :31, 1940; Rinker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
45:376, 1943; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:73, 1944.

Distribution. — Southwestern part of the state, east certainly to Edwards
County. See map, figure 33.

Remarks. — External measurements of three females from the XI
Ranch, 16 miles east of Liberal and three-fourths of a mile north of
the Cimarron River are: 261, 252, 265; 75, 73, 80; 37, 35, 35; 11,
11, 10.

C. s. obsoletus is slightly smaller than C. s. major in all external

measurements. The dorsal spots are small and often obscure in

C. s. obsoletus while in C. s. major the dorsal spots are evident.

Specimens examined. — Total, 11, distributed as follows: Morton County:
9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 1. Seward County: 1 mi. E Arkalon, 1. Meade
County: 17 mi. SW Meade, 2; XI Ranch, 16 mi. E Liberal, % mi. N Cimarron
River on Forgan Road, 7.

Additional records. — Edwards Co.: Kinsley (Howell, 1938:127). Finney
County: Garden City, 1 (AMNH).

Citellus franklinii

Franklin Ground Squirrel

This ground squirrel is superficially similar to the gray squirrel,
but the shorter and less bushy tail, tawny body, and shorter ears
serve to distinguish it from the latter. It often reaches a length of
14 inches, larger than the other ground squirrels found in Kansas.

Franklin ground squirrels are more or less social and their bur-
rows are usually found in small groups. They prefer denser cover
than the other Kansas ground squirrels, and are usually found in
brushy or grassy fence rows and in pasture lands.

Squirrels

129

They become fat in the fall and retire to their burrows in October
where they remain in hibernation until April. They mate in mid-
April and after a gestation period of 28 to 32 days two to 11 young,
usually six, are born in an underground nest.

Food taken includes grasses, seeds, grains, fruits, berries as well as
insects and their eggs.

100

39

38

Miisavm 0' Nofwffll HiilOfy

39

38

100

97

Fig. 34. Distribution of Citellus franklinii in Kansas.

planation of symbols.

See figure 5 for ex-

Citellus franklinii (Sabine)

Arctomys franklinii Sabine, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 13:587, 1822,
type from vicinity of Carlton House, Saskatchewan, Canada.

[Citellus] jranklini, Trouessart, Cat. Mamm., Sup. p. 342, 1904.

Citellus franklinii. Dice, Ecology, 4:51, 1923; Dice, Jour. Mamm.,
4:111, 1923; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:143, 1928; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:238, 1933; Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:133,
1938; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull.
Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5):30, 1940; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:73, 1944.

Citellus franklini, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:173, 1905; Lantz,
Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:334, 1905; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 176, 1937; Brumwell,
Amer. Midland Nat., 45:210, 1951.

Sperophilus [sic] Franklinii, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.

Spermophilus Franklini, Dyche, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 12:29, 1890.

Spermophilus franklini, Bailey, U. S. Dept. Agric, Div. Omith. and
Mamm. Bull., 4:48, 1893.

Distribution. — Northeastern and north-central Kansas, west certainly to Trego
County and south certainly to Greenwood and Allen counties. See map, figure
34.

5—1424

130 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males from one-half
mile east of McPherson are: 386, 412, 379; 130, 160, 123; 53, 56, 54;
16, 18, 18; weight in grams 377.9, 508, 435.

Specimens examined. — Total, 30, distributed as follows: Republic County:
Agenda, 1. Mitchell County: 3M mi. W, J2 mi. S Beloit, 1. Riley Co.: Man-
hattan, 1 (USES). Pottawatomie Co.: Onaga, 1 (USES). Leavenworth
County: Fort Leavenworth, 1. Douglas County: Lawrence, 3; 4/2 mi. W no.
6 schoolhouse, Lawrence, 1; Wakarusa Creek, Haskell Farm, Lawrence, 1;
2/2 mi. S, /4 mi. W no. 6 schoolhouse, Lawrence, 1; 3 mi. SW Lawrence, 1;
3 mi. S Lawrence, 1; 3/2 mi. S Lawrence, 1; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; Un-
specified, 2. McPherson County: Smoky Hill River, 1 mi. S, M mi. W Linds-
borg, 2; 1/2 mi. E McPherson, 5. Franklin County: 8 mi. N Ottawa, 1.
Greenwood County: Hamilton, 1. Woodson County: Neosho Falls, 3.
Allen County: 5/2 mi. N Moran, 1.

Additional records. — Trego County: 9 mi. W Wakeeney, 1 (MVZ).

Genus Tamias Illiger
Chipmunks
The chipmunk is a brightly colored rodent, similar to the ground
squirrel in general build. The presence of stripes on the side of
the head, the color, a grizzled grayish rusty marked with five longi-
tudinal stripes of black from the shoulders to the rump, and the
dental formula, i. \, c. ^, p. \, m. |, all serve to distinguish the chip-
munks in Kansas from the ground squirrels.

Tamias striatus
Eastern Chipmunk

The chipmunk reaches a length of ten to 11 inches, of which the
tail comprises approximately four inches. Two subspecies of the
eastern chipmunk occur in Kansas.

This beautiful animal is apparently nowhere abundant in the
state. The number of specimens in museums indicate that it was
formerly much more abundant and widespread in the state than it
is now. Perhaps this has been a result of man's activity. In Web-
ster County, Iowa, Damon ( 1941:326-327) found that no one species
of tree was necessary for the occurrence of the chipmunk; how-
ever, "This rodent was not found in timber that was open enough
to permit the growth of dense grass. With the exception of clipped
lawns the chipmunk apparently avoids all dense grassy areas." In
Kansas, where most of the original forests have been destroyed or
cut-over, few forests dense enough to prevent the growth of grasses
and weeds exist today.

Asdell (1946:221) reported that this chipmunk may mate "from
March onward, and young born late in the previous season may

Squirrels

131

mate and produce young in July or August." The usual number
of young is from three to five; they are born after a gestation period
of 31 days.

Their food consists of nuts, especially acorns and hazelnuts, ber-
ries, various wild seeds, and some insects and other animal mate-
rials. They are found around rock fences and ledges and in open

too

39

38

■LJL

1*49

m

100

97

Fig. 35. Distribution of Tamias striatus in Kansas. 1. T. s. griseus. 2. T.
venustus. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

w^oodlands, never far from nut-bearing trees. They are more or less
active throughout most of the winter, at least in Kansas, and prob-
ably hibernate only in the coldest weather.

Tamias striatus griseus Meams

Tamias striatus griseus Meams, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 3:231, 1891,
type from Fort Snelling, Hennepin County, Minnesota; Linsdale,
Jour. Mamm., 9:143, 1928; Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 52:20, 1929;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:239, 1933; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 178, 1937; P. B. Allen,
Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist.
Surv., 20(5) :33, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:73,
1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:211, 1951.

Tamias striatus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875; Lantz,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:173, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College
Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:334, 1905.

Distribution. — Formerly in northeastern Kansas, west certainly to Pottawatomie
County and south to Franklin County. See map, figure 35.

132 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Remarks. — External measurements of one male from Doniphan

County and one female from Lawrence are: ^ 239, 5 261; 90, 100;

35, 36; 14, — .

Specimens examined. — Total, 8, distributed as follows: Doniphan County:
Lower part of bluff on Missouri River, 1; Missouri River bank, 1. Pottawatomie
Co.: Onaga, 1 (USES). Leavenworth County: Unspecified, 1. Douglas
County: 10 mi. W Lawrence, 1; Lawrence, 2; Unspecified, 1.

Additional records. — Franklin County: Peoria (Hall, 1939:766).

Tamias striatus venustus Bangs

Tamias striatus venustus Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:137,
1896, type from Stilwell, Adair County, Oklahoma, Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:239, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric,
30th Biennial Rept., p. 178, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers
College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :34,
1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad, Sci., 47:73, 1944.

Distribution. — Known only from Montgomery and Cherokee counties in the

southeastern part of the state. See map, figure 35.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males and one female
from Independence, are: ^ 250, 252, $ 247; 91, 90, 91; 36, 38, 37;
19, 18, 18.

Tamias s. venustus is larger ( except in the length of the tail which

is slightly shorter) and more brightly colored than T. s. griseus.

The dorsal stripes are slightly shorter in T. s. venustus than in T.

s. griseus.

Specimens examined. — Total, 4, distributed as follows: Montgomery
County: Independence, 3. Cherokee County: I/2 mi. S Galena, 1.

Genus Glaucomys Thomas
American Flying Squirrels

This genus occurs only in North America. One species occurs in
Kansas. The flying squirrel, with its fur-covered gliding mem-
branes connecting the fore- and hind-limbs, its soft, silky pelage,
and its flat tail, is one of the most readily identifiable rodents in the
state. Its dental formula is: i. | , c. ^, p. f , m. f . It reaches a length
of approximately nine inches, of which the tail comprises approxi-
mately four inches.

Glaucomys volans

Flying Squirrel

Flying squirrels are so rare in Kansas that few people are
familiar with them. They are known only from wooded areas
where standing dead timber is available for shelter. They build
nests in hollow trees where they spend most of the day. At night
they leave their nests and then, as described by Black (1937:180):

Squirrels

133

"They travel by an alternate series of jumps, or 'flights,' landing with
uncanny skill at the base of a tree, climbing to the described eleva-
tion and then hurling themselves out into space, gliding a remark-
able distance before finally coming near the ground, where they
alight on a tree trunk, and climb up again for another jump."

According to Asdell (1946:216), the flying squirrel "may breed
several times a year, probably usually twice," usually in late Febru-
ary or early March and again in July. After a gestation period of
40 days, the birth of the one to four young, usually three or four,
takes place in a nest in a hollow tree. Hamilton (1943:240) states

100

39

38

Scolt

to wMirtt

I .1

Mutflvm c( Nglvrol Hittory

39

38

100

97

Fig. 36. Distribution of Glaucomys volans volans in Kansas.

explanation of symbols.

See figure 5 for

that the "young are born in an undeveloped condition, quite bhnd
and naked but with a prominent lateral fold of skin which fore-
shadows the flying patagium. Generic characters may be recog-
nized at one week; when four weeks old the young have opened
their eyes and resemble the parents." The flying squirrels are quite
social; several often share a crowded nest during the day. In the
coldest part of the winter several will curl together in the nest, and
thus benefiting from their combined heat, often remain inactive
for several weeks at a time.

Their food is principally various acorns and nuts but includes
berries, fruits, and insects. I have caught them in rat traps nailed
to the trunks of trees, some of these traps were baited with dried
prunes and others with strips of bacon.

134 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Glaucomys volans volans (Linnaeus)

[Mus] volans Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 1:63, 1758, type from Virginia.

Glaucomys volans volans, Howell, N. Amer. Fauna^ 44:23, 1918; Lins-
dale. Jour. Mamm., 9:144, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:240, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept,
p. 180, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia,
Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :35, 1940; Brumwell,
Amer. Midland Nat., 45:212, 1951.

Glaucomys volans nebrascensis, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:74, 1944.

Pteromys volucella, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.

Sciuropterus volans, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:173, 1905;
Lantz Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:334, 1905.

Distribution. — In wooded areas in eastern Kansas, west certainly to Shawnee
and Woodson counties. See map, figure 36.

Remarks. — External measurements of three females from Doug-
las County, are: 218, 222, 230; 103, 78, 96; 28, 33, 27; 17, --,--.

Swenk (Univ. Nebraska Studies, 15:151, September 25, 1915)
named, as Pteromys volans nebrascensis, the flying squirrel of Ne-
braska as new. The type specimen came from Nebraska City, Otoe
County, in southeastern Nebraska. Howell (1918:20) listed this
name as a synonym of Glaucomys volans volans (Linnaeus) and
commented {op. cit. :22-23): "The type of Pteromys volans nebras-
censis Swenk has been examined and found to agree essentially with
typical specimens of volans from the vicinity of Washington, D. C.
It is a rather pronounced example of the gray phase. . . . The
skull and hind feet measure exactly as in typical examples."

Although I have not had specimens from Nebraska available for
comparisons, I have compared the flying squirrels from Kansas with
examples of G. v. volans from Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, Massa-
chusetts, and West Virginia, as well as with the description of G. t;.
volans as given by Howell (op. cit.). I could find no consistent
differences between the specimens of flying squirrels from Kansas
and typical G. v. volans, neither in cranial nor external features. I
concur with Howell ( op. cit. ) in listing nebrascensis as a synonym of
G. V. volans.

Specimens examined. — Total, 34, distributed as follows: Doniphan County:
1 mi. SW Geary, 1. Leavenworth County: Unspecified, 3. Wyandotte
County: Unspecified, 1. Shawnee County: Topeka, 4. Douglas County:
Deer Creek (9/2 mi. W Lawrence), 3; Lawrence, 10; 7 mi. SW Lawrence, 5;
7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; 14 mi. S Lawrence, 1; Unspecified, 4. Cherokee
County: IM mi. S Galena, 1.

Additional records. — Woodson Co.: Unspecified, 1 (Howell, 1918:23).

Squirrels

135

TABLE 12. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Cynomys,

CiTELLUS, TaMIAS, AND GlAUCOMYS.

J3

5

1

1

1

2

1

O

o

3 J3

•|

s

3

•s

1

O Z

1

c

1

"3

•a
s

u

•2

a

1

e3

Ct/nowJ/s

ludovicianus ludovicianus, Coolidge, Hamilton

County

&

10309

41.1

12.5

13.7

22.2

16.5

&

12728

63^7

45.6

31.0

12.9

13.6

24.0

15.9

&

12730

63.3

44.8

30.8

12.3

13.4

24.0

16.3

9

12729

59.5

41.5

28.7

11.7

13.7

22.5

15.8

9

12931

61.4

44.2

31.0

11.5

13.0

22.5

16.3

Citellus Iridecemlineatust nrenicnla. Lane and Morton counties

&

8*

39.1

23.2

17.2

8.1

12.0

13.9

7.2

min.

38.3

22.6

16.8

7.4

11.6

13.2

6.8

max.

40.3

24.3

17.6

8.9

12.5

14.9

7.7

9

8*

38.1

22.7

17.0

7.6

13.5

13.5

7.0

min.

37.3

21.9

16.2

7.0

13.0

13.0

6.7

max.

39.7

23.4

17.8

8.2

14.4

14.4

7.2

C. t. tridecemlineatus, Douglas County

cf

8057

41.5

23.2

17.7

7.2

11.1

14.8

7.2

cf

6494

42.1

24.3

18.5

8.2

12.0

14.2

8.0

cf

221

42.1

24.6

17.8

7.3

10.5

14.0

7.7

9

2516

41.7

22.7

17.2

7.7

11.5

14.2

7.6

9

3933

37.5

22.6

17.4

7.6

12.0

13.3

7.6

9

3054

41.5

22.8

17.6

7.1

12.4

14.6

7.3

C.t.

texensis,

Woodson County

c?

4993

37.5

21.4

17.1

7.0

11.3

11.9

7.5

9

4994

38.3

22.0

18.0

7.2

11.6

13.2

7.9

C. t. texensis, Montgomery County

9

5009

38.5

21.7

16.8

7.4

10.4

12.5

7.5

Cherokee County

9

2535

41.9

23.9

18.1

7.8

10.9

14.9

7.3

C. spilosoma obsoletus, Chey(

gnne County

9

3454

41.5

25.3

18.6

9.5

14.6

13.5

7.9

C.

s. major,

, Seward County

cf

13037

39.1

23.9

19.5

8.0

14.4

12.6

7.9

Meade County

9

14005

41.7

20.4

9.0

14.1

14.0

7.4

9

14009

42.7

25^3

20.1

9.0

13.0

13.9

7.8

136

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

TABLE 12. — Cranial Measurements (in Millimeters) of Cynomys,
CiTELLUs, Tamias, AND Glaucomys — ConcIudcd.

<4^

J3

.2

1
1

1

.a

-4^

s

a
"o

1

1

8

C3

s

o

"3

2

1

u

•*3 "

(0

M

oS

-S

<D

C

d

1

o

o

d

(S

^

S

C. franklinii,

McPherson County

cf

16245

53.1

29.8

24.0

9.8

12.5

17.1

11.4

&

16249

55.5

31.6

24.6

10.5

13.0

18.7

11.2

&

16247

10.0

18.0

12.0

9

16248

56^7

3L2

25^0

9.7

12.7

19.5

11.0

9

16246

55.0

31.1

24.2

9.9

12.9

18.5

11.5

Tamias striatus griseus, Doniphan County

9

13701

43.4

23.5

18.9

11.0

....

14.4

....

Leavenworth County

9

204

42 8

22.9

19.0

11.0

14.9

T. .

J. venustus,

Independence, Montgomery County

cf

4944

41.8

22.1

17.4

11.5

• . . .

13.4

....

9

5081

41.0

....

18.0

10.0

14.1

....

Glaucomys volans volans, Douglas County

cf

9648

33.8

20.1

17.3

7.0

8.9

9.0

6.6

<f

8075

21.0

17.9

9.2

6.4

9

5077

33^8

16.9

'6'5

'8.9

9.3

6.8

9

2315

20'4

16.5

7.5

8.9

.

6.5

?

2943

34;4

20.6

17.8

7.7

9.2

9.1

6.6

"Measurements given by Howell (1938:112).

Family Geomyidae

Pocket Gophers

Only one genus, Geomys, of this family is known to occur in the
state today; however, there is some evidence that a second genus,
Cratogeomys, has occurred within the state in recent times, if not
at present. Members of this family, with their minute external
ears, small eyes, forelimbs enlarged into digging claws, and naked,
tactile tail, are adapted for a life underground. The skull is large,
heavy, and angular, with widespreading zygomatic arches and a
sturdy rostrum. These and many other skeletal features also
are adaptations to a subterranean life. The dental formula is:
i. \, c. g, p. \, m. f .

Pocket Gopher 137

The following key will aid in the separation of the two species of
pocket gophers which may occur in Kansas.

1. Upper incisors with two longitudinal grooves. . . .Geomys bursarius, p. 137
1'. Upper incisors with one longitudinal groove . . Cratogeomys castanops, p. 279
(see hypothetical list).

Genus Geomys Rafinesque

Pocket Gophers

This genus occurs in eastern North America, west to the Rocky
Mountains. All members are well adapted to a subterranean habi-
tat. They remain underground practically all the time, and they
are active throughout the year. One species, with five subspecies,
of this genus occurs in Kansas.

Geomys bursarius
Pocket Gopher

Pocket gophers occur throughout most of the state, being absent
only in the southeastern counties. Scheffer (1940:473-478) and
Charles F. Smith (1948:313-315) have reported on excavations of
runway systems of gophers. Smith excavated the runway system
of a single gopher one-fourth mile south and two miles west of
Lawrence and found that it consisted of one main tunnel, 206 feet
in length; from which branched many short lateral tunnels. The
lateral tunnels were usually plugged with soil. Most of the tunnel
system was between six and nine inches below the surface of the
ground, but in the region of the nest the depth was 38 inches.
Smith (op. ctY. :314) found that all fecal material was "in short,
plugged-up tunnels approximately nine inches in length that origi-
nally branched from the main burrow. After the tunnel was almost
full of feces, the gopher plugged the remaining part with soil. As
a result, the main tunnel was free of fecal material." Smith also
found two food stores in the burrow system he excavated, both stores
consisting entirely of tubers of the sunflower, Helianthus tuberosa.

ScheflFer carried on an intensive study of the habits and economic
importance of the pocket gopher in Kansas and found (1910B:205)
that: "The natural food of the pocket gopher consists of the fleshy
roots and underground stems of various plants growing wild on the
prairies. To this bill of fare he adds occasionally a small quantity of
succulent vegetation drawn down into his burrow from the surface
at points where exits are dug for removing earth."

138

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Scheffer {op. ci*. :203-205) found that the pocket gopher has but
one htter per year. The young, varying from one to six per litter,
usually four, are born in March and April.

As pointed out by Scheffer {op. cit. :209): "The economic status
of the pocket gopher has changed in the last few decades. There
was a time when their work was a real benefit to the future interests
of agriculture. For untold centuries they have been mixing the soil
of the prairies, bringing up the subsoil to mellow, and covering up

100

39

38

WUiItt

Wvscvn «t Nolurat Hitl9/y

Uniw*fsilr of Kanftflt

194}

39

38

100

97

Fig. 37. Distribution of Geomys bursarius in Kansas. 1. G. b. lutescens.
2. G. b. majusculus. 3. G. b. jugossicularis. 4. G. b. industrius. 5. G. b. major.
See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

vegetation to molder and add humus to the clays and sand." He
goes on to state that: "But now that the virgin soil has been pre-
pared for us we would gladly dispense with their services, for their
presence is now seriously detrimental to our interests." With this
last statement I agree only in part. Pocket gophers in cultivated
fields are seriously detrimental to man's interests, but in pastures
and waste lands, they are useful in deepening the soil and pro-
moting its fertility.

In the past, laws have been enacted, in Kansas, with the aim of
exterminating the pocket gophers. Scheffer {op. cit. -.216-219) gave
a resume of the attempts at extermination and discussed them at
some length. In 1903, an act was passed authorizing county com-
missioners of those counties east of the Sixth Principal Meridian —
that is, Washington, Clay, Dickinson, Marion, Butler, Cowley coun-

Pocket Gopher 139

ties, and those to the east — to pay, at their discretion, a bounty of
five to 25 cents apiece for the scalps of pocket gophers and "gray
ground squirrels," probably Citellus franklinii. ScheflFer {op. cit.:
218-219) reported that under this act eight counties paid pre-
miums on gopher scalps for periods of three months to four years.
The counties were: Atchison, Brown, JeflFerson, Johnson, Leaven-
worth, Marshall, Morris, and Pottawatomie. Some of them reported
the payment of only a few dollars per year in bounties, but in
others the amounts were considerable. Leavenworth County, for
example, paid $2480, after which the commissioners withdrew the
bounty. Marshall County withdrew its bounty after paying $4200
in the year 1907. Township trustees from all parts of that county
reported at the close of the year that the number of pocket gophers
seemed to be as great in their respective townships as when they
began paying bounty in the spring. It seemed that the trap was
slower than the gopher's rate of increase. Wholesale fraud was
suspected; it was thought that in a number of cases several scalps
were manufactured from one skin.

In 1905 a compulsory gopher extermination law. House bill No.
184, Session Laws of 1905, was passed. It provided that, on peti-
tion of ten resident landholders of any township, the county com-
missioners might, at their discretion, direct the trustees of the
township from which the petition came to appoint a person to see
that the gophers were exterminated. The person appointed was
to enter the premises of every resident of his district at least three
times a year on a tour of inspection. If any landowner failed to
exterminate the gophers on his premises, the inspector was to attend
to the work, the costs being charged up in taxes to the delinquent
landowner. ScheflFer (op. cit. :216) stated that: ". . . unfor-
tunately it does not appear that township oflBcers care to avail
themselves of its provisions [the gopher extermination law]. From
correspondence with county oflBcers in nearly all counties of the
state, I have not been able to learn of a single case wherein the law
has been made operative."

In 1909 a bounty law was passed which required all counties in
the state to pay a bounty of five cents per head on pocket gophers
and permitted them to pay ten cents at their discretion. ScheflFer
(op. cif.: 217-218) pointed out several faults of such a law. He
argued that: (1) ". . . the gopher roams about so little above
ground that each individual is practically a permanent resident of
the farm on which its burrow is located. . . . The principle
of allowing the community at large to pay the expense of protect-

140

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

ing the careless man's crop, while his thrifty neighbor looks after
his own fields, is theoretically wrong. It imposes a double bur-
den upon thrift. . . ." ( 2 ) "The payment of ten cents for each
scalp will put a premium on trapping and tend to discourage
poisoning, the more thoroughly and easily applied method of rid-
ding a badly infested locality of these pests. . . ." (3) "The
expense of maintaining a bounty system is usually out of all pro-
portions to the benefits gained. . . ." (4) "Finally, the oppor-
tunities for fraud in the matter of claiming bounties are much
greater in the case of the pocket gopher than with the larger and
better known mammals."

This gopher bounty law was in force in Kansas for several years.

TABLE 13. — Number of Pocket Gophers Presented to the Coxjnty Clerk
OF Comanche County for Payments of Bounties.

Year

Number

Year

Number

1911

1912 .

18

611

889

1,299

3,069

3,050

2,865

2,484

1,051

950

1923

1924

700
1,050

1913

1914

1915

1925

1926

1927

800
1,200
2,000

1916

1917

1918

1919

1928

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

Total

2,. 500

1,800

800

3,000

1920

1921

2,500
1,600

1922

34,236

I have not been able to secure data on the number of gophers
presented for bounties in all the counties but in four years, 1908-11,
a total of 15,137 gophers were presented for bounty in Jewell
County, according to figures furnished me by the county clerk.
In Comanche County, bounties were paid on pocket gophers
every year from 1911 to 1933 except 1921 and 1922. There the
bounty paid was ten cents per gopher, or $3423.60 in the twenty-one
years. As can be seen in table 13, the number presented for bounty
in Comanche County, while never so large as in Jewell County,
tended to increase, not decrease, each year.

Poisoning, fumigation, and trapping are all methods of com-
bating pocket gophers where their presence conflicts with man's
interests.

Pocket Gopher 141

Geomys bursarius lutescens Merriam

Geomys bursarius lutescens Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 4:51, 1890,
type from Sandhills on Bird Creek, Lincoln County, Nebraska;
SchefiFer, Tech. Bull., U. S. Dept. Agric, 224:6, 1931; Villa-R. and
Hall, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:222, 1947.

Geomys lutescens, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 8:127, 1895; J. A. Allen,
Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:258, 274, 1895; Lantz, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 19:175, 1905; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:240,
1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 182,
1937; Swenk, Missouri Valley Fauna, 2:1, 1940; P. B. Allen,
Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat.
Hist. Surv., 20(5) :36, 1940.

G[eomys] lutescens, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:
335, 1905; Scheffer, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 23:109, 1911.

Geomys lutescens lutescens, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:74,
1944.

Geomys bursarius, Bailey, U. S. Dept. Agric, Div. Omith. and Mamm.
BuU., 15:37, 1895.

Distribution. — Northwestern part of the state, east to Ellis County and south
to Scott and Lane counties. See map, figure 37.

Remarks. — External measurements of one male and two females

from two miles northeast of Ludell are: ^ 272, $ 230, 245; 92,

63, 70; 35, 31, 30.

Specimens examined. — Total, 37, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
23 mi. (by road) NW St. Francis, 3. Rawlins County: 2 mi. NE Ludell, 10.
Logan County: 5 mi. W Elkader, 3; Unspecified, 1. Trego County: Wa-
keeney, 4; 12 mi. S Collyer, Perrington Ranch, 2; Unspecified, 5. Ellis County:
Hays State College Campus, Hays 1. Scott County: 4 mi. S Scott City, 2;
State Park, 2 (OCR). Lane County: Pendennis, 4.

Geomys bursarius majusculus Swenk

Geomys bursarius majusculus Swenk, Missouri Valley Fauna, 1:6, 1939,

type from Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; Hibbard, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:74, 1944; Villa-R. and Hall, Univ. of Kansas

Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:223, 1947; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat.,

45:212, 1951.

Geomys bursarius, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 377, 1858; Knox, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875; Dyche, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

12:30, 1890; Bailey, U. S. Dept. Agric, Div. Omith. and Mamm.

Bull., 15:36, 1895; Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 8:120, 1895; Lantz,

Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull, 129:335, 1905; Lantz, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:175, 1905; Elliot, Field Columbian Mus.,

Publ. 115, Zool. Sen, 8:309, 1907; Scheffer, Kansas State College

Ento. and Zool. Dept. Bull., 172:199, 1910; Scheffer, Trans. Kansas

Acad. Sci., 23:109, 1911; Dice, Ecology, 4:51, 1923; Dice, Jour.

Mamm., 4:111, 1923; Johnson, Jour. Mamm., 7:35, 1926; Linsdale,

Jour. Mamm., 9:144, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

36:240, 1933; Scheffer, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:476, 1938.

Geomys bursarius bursarius, Scheffer, U. S. Dept. Agric Tech. Bull.,

224:6, 1931; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept.,

p. 181, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia,

Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :35, 1940.

Geomys breviceps, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 380, 1858; Knox, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

20(5) :215, 1907.

142 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist,

Distribution. — Northeastern part of the state, west to Mitchell and Saline coun-
ties and south to Greenwood County. See map, figure 37.

Remarks. — External measurements of 16 males and 17 females
from Douglas County, are: ^ 289 (273-308), ? 265 (222-304);
79 (70-95), 78.6 (59-92); 36.3 (32-55), 32.8 (30-35).

Specimens examined. — Total, 250, distributed as follows: Mitchell County:
3M mi. W, M mi. S Beloit, 21. Clay County: 6 mi. SW Clay Center, 3. Jackson
County: 10/2 mi. WSW Holton, 1; Unspecified, 1. Atchison County: }» mi.
E, 1 mi. S Horton, 1; IJz mi. S Muscotah, 3; 3 mi. N Cummings, 2. Jefferson
County: Oskaloosa, 1. Leavenworth County: Ft. Leavenworth, Pope Hill
formation, 1; Ft. Leavenworth, Engineer Hill Vicinity, 1. Ft. Leavenworth,
3; Unspecified, 20. Saline County: Debold Farm, Salina, 2 (AJK); 4 mi. E
Salina, 4 (AJK). Morris County: VA mi. N Council Grove, 3. Osage County:
3 mi. N Lyndon, 1. Douglas County: 1 mi. NW Midland, 1; 1 mi. N Lawrence,
1; 1 mi. W Lawrence, 1; M mi. W Lawrence (W Fort Lake), 3; Lawrence, 24;
Univ. Kansas, 9; 2/2 mi. S Lawrence, 1; 7-7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 7; 10 mi. SW
Lawrence, 1; Unspecified, 28. Johnson County: 1 mi. W Desoto, 1. Marion
County: IM mi. NE Lincolnville, 6; 4 mi. SE Lincolnville, 1; 6 mi. S Lincoln-
ville, 1. Greenwood County: VA mi. W Hamilton, 2 (GCR); Hamilton, 41
(36, GCR); }i mi. E Hamilton, 6 (GCR); M mi. E Hamilton, 1 (GCR); % mi.
E Hamilton, 2 (GCR); 2 mi. E Hamilton, 1 (GCR); % mi. S Hamilton, 4
(GCR); Yi mi. SE Hamilton, 1 (GCR); % mi. SE Hamilton, 1 (GCR); )i mi.
S Hamilton, 15 (GCR); 1 mi. SW Hamilton, 4 (GCR); 4 mi. S, 14 mi. W
Hamilton, 6; 14 mi. S, 17 mi. W Hamilton, 1 (GCR); 8 mi. SW Toronto, 1;
8/4 mi. SW Toronto, 5; Unspecified, 6.

Geomys bursarius jugossicularis Hooper

Geomys lutescens jugossicularis Hooper, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool., Univ.

Michigan, 420:1, 1940, type from Lamar, Prowers County, Colorado;

Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:75, 1944.
Geomys bursarius jugossicularis, Villa-R. and Hall, Univ. Kansas Pubis.,

Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:226, 1947.

Distribution. — Extreme southwestern part of the state, north to Hamilton
County and east to Seward County. See map, figure 37.

Remarks. — External measurements of four males and two females
from nine miles north and three miles east of Elkhart, are: J" 265
(250-285), $ 244, 230; 82.0 (68-92), 72, 72; 34.2 (30-37), 30, 30.

Specimens examined. — Total, 25, distributed as follows: Hamilton County:
Conard Farm, 1 mi. E Coolidge, 4; Stanton County: 6 mi. W, 1 mi. N Manter,
2. Morton County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 11; 12 mi. NE Elkhart, 2;
7 mi. N, 2 mi. W Elkhart, 2. Seward County: 1 mi. E Arkalon, 4.

Geomys bursarius industrius Villa-R. and Hall

Geomys bursarius industrius Villa-R. and Hall, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus.

Nat. Hist., 1:226, 1947, type from Di miles north of Fowler, Meade

County, Kansas.

Geomys lutescens, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 8:127, 1895.

Geomys breviceps llanensis, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :215,
1907; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:240, 1933; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept., p. 181, 1937; Tihen and
Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:507, 1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas
State Teachers College Emporia, Bull, of Information, Nat. Hist.
Surv., 20(5):36, 1940.

Pocket Gopher 143

Geomys lutescens jugossicularis. Hooper, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool.,
Univ. Michigan, 420:1, 1940.

Distribution. — Southwestern part of the state from Meade County east to Pratt
and Clark counties and north to Pawnee County. See the distribution map,
figure 37, on page 138.

Remarks. — External measurements of eight males and seven
females from Meade County, are: ^ 265 (247-280), $ 238 (231-
256); 82.0 (70-90), 73.0 (65-75); 35.0 (33-36), 31.3 (30-32).

Specimens examined. — Total, 69, distributed as follows: Pawnee County:
Jet. Pawnee and Arkansas rivers, Lamed, 6; 1 mi. S, 1 mi. E Lamed, 7.
Edwards County: 1 mi. W, 3)2 mi. S Kinsley, 1. Kiowa County: Rezeau Ranch,
5 mi. N Belvidere, 2. Pratt County: Pratt, 14; Unspecified, 1. Meade
County: 3M mi. NE Fowler, 2; 2 mi. N Fowler, 2; VA mi. N Fowler, 2; 7 mi.
N Meade, Cudahy Ash Pit, 2; 13 mi. SW Meade, 9; State Lake and Park, 15
(11, OCR); Unspecified, 4. Clark County: 7 mi. SW Kingsdovra, Stephenson
Ranch, 1; 6 mi. S Kingsdown, 1.

Geomys bursarius major Davis

Geomys lutescens major Davis, Texas Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull., 590:32,
1940, type from eight miles west of Clarendon, Donley County,
Texas; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:75, 1944.

Geomys bursarius major, Villa-R. and Hall, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus.
Nat. Hist., 1:229, 1947.

Geomys lutescens, Merriam, N. Amer. Faima, 8:129, 1895.

Geomys bursarius lutescens, Scheffer, U. S. Dept. Agric, Tech. Bull.,
224:7, 1931, part from Sun City, Barber County.

Geomys breviceps llanesis, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2):215,
1907; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:240, 1933; Black, Kan-
sas State Board Agric. 30th Biennial Rept., p. 182, 1937; Swenk,
Missouri Valley Fauna, 2:12, 1940.

Geomys breviceps cf. dutcheri, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:75, 1944.

Distribution. — South-central part of the state, from Barber County east to
Cowley County and north to Ellsworth County. See the distribution map,
figure 37, on page 138.

Remarks. — External measurements of one male and two females
from three miles southeast of Arkansas City, are: <^ 246, $ 230,
246; 76, 82, 83; 32, 30, 32.

Specimens examined. — Total, 79, distributed as follows: Ellsworth County:
2 mi. S Ellsworth, 1. McPherson County: SmoW Hill River, 1 mi. S, M mi.
W Lindsborg, 6; M mi. E McPherson, 1. Stafford County: Little Salt Marsh,
15 mi. N, 3 mi. E Stafi^ord, 15; Unspecified, 2. Reno County: 8 mi. N, 1 mi.
E Haven, 2. Harvey County: 1 mi. E, ^i mi. N Halstead, 1; Halstead, 2;
Unspecified, 1. Butler County: 8 mi. W Rosalia, 2. Barber County: Near
South Bridge, Sun City, 1; 2 mi. S Sun City, 1; Aetna, Wills Ranch, 2; 1 mi.
W (Wills) Ranch, Aetna, 3; Near South Bridge, Aetna, 1; Near Bridge, 1 mi.
S Aetna, 2. Harper County: 1 mi. N Harper, 11; 3 mi. S Harper, 1; 4% mi.
NE Danville, 8. Cowley County: 3.5 mi. E Arkansas City, 2; 3 mi. SE Arkan-
sas City, 8; 3 mi. SW Arkansas City, 3; 3 mi. S Arkansas City, 1; Unspecified. 2.

144 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

TABLE 14. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Geomys."

Is

J3

to

e

f

1

{

1
u

'B

a
o

u

"5

o

TO 03

^2

3
^

S

u

CO

£

11

3

12:

a

V

>3

"3

o

1

•r*

o "U

00

O

J3

o

M

02

1

pa

to

a

tS3

1

m

c

g s

>

« 0.

a
Q

to

a

Geomys bursarius lutescens, 2 mi

i. NE Ludell, Rawlins County

o"

12088

43.2

19.1

32.2

27.7

11.3

6.6

8.4

2.8

18.0

22.1

9

11733

35.3

15.1

26.5

24.1

9.3

6.1

7.5

2.4

15.0

18.2

9

12155

35.6

14.6

25.2

24.1

10.6

6.4

7.5

3.1

14.9

18.2

G. b. majusculus,

Douglas

County

cf

16

47.1

21.0

34.1a

30.4

12.1

6.8

9.3

3.7

18.5

24.9

min.

44.7

18.9

30.5

27.5

11.1

6.5

8.2

2.9

17.3

22.9

max.

49.9

23.2

38.0

34.5

13.5

7.6

10.3

5.7

20.0

28.1

9

17

40.6b

17.2

28.6a

26.4

10.9

6.5

9.1

3.6

16.6

21.0

min.

37.1

15.9

26.7

24.9

10.0

5.9

8.5

2.0

15.2

18.8

max.

47.0

20.1

33.4

29.1

12.3

7.3

10.0

5.9

19.1

24.1

G. b. jugossicularis, Morton County

d'

4

40.7

16.9

30.0

27.9

10.7

6.0

8.6

5.2

17.3

21.2

min.

38.5

16.1

29.0

27.5

10.5

5.5

8.2

4.7

16.4

20.2

max.

42.4

17.4

31.1

28.4

11.0

6.2

9.2

5.5

17.9

22.0

9

5012

36.2

16.4

25.4

25.0

10.0

5.9

8.0

4.2

16.0

19.3

9

5395

34.6

13.9

24.7

24.8

9.8

5.8

8.0

4.5

15.2

17.5

G. b. IT

idustrius.

Meade County

(f

8

40.9

18.1

30.0

28.0

11.0

6.2

8.8

4.3

17.7

21.8

min.

37.9

15.5

28.2

26.5

9.9

5.7

8.0

2.9

16.8

19.5

max.

43.4

21.0

32.4

29.5

11.6

7.0

9.1

5.2

19.1

24.2

9

7

36.4c

14.9

26.3

24.8

10.0

6.0

8.4

4.1

16.2

18.6

min.

35.4

14.0

25.8

24.5

9.5

5.6

8.1

3.6

15.5

17.5

max.

37.8

16.1

27.8

25.9

10.3

6.5

8.7

4.7

17.6

19.9

G. 6.

major. Cowley County

d'

12870

42.1

16.0

33.7

29.7

11.5

6.3

9.4

4.5

17.6

21.3

d

12892

41.7

17.3

27.7

10.8

6.4

8.9

4.2

17.2

21.5

9

12872

38.1

15.0

28^0

26.2

10.3

6.3

7.8

4.5

16.1

19.1

9

12894

38.5

15.5

28.0

25.6

10.0

6.7

8.7

4.0

16.6

19.5

9

12893

36.5

14.2

25.6

24.8

9.6

6.6

8.7

4.6

15.4

18.1

a. 15 averaged.

b. 16 averaged.

c. 5 averaged.

"Compiled from measurements given by Villa-R and Hall (1947:232-233).

Family Heteromyidae

Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats

Two genera, Perognathus and Dipodomys, of this family, occur
in Kansas, and are characteristic of arid and semi-arid regions of
western North America. In Kansas they are found in the more arid,
western part of the state. They are small and, with their tiny fore-
feet and elongated hind feet, are adapted for a saltatorial life.
The tail is long and, in Dipodomys, tufted at the tip. The skull has
a long rostrum and enormously inflated auditory regions. The
dental formula is: i. \, c. n, P- i, m.

1 y

3

Pocket Mice 145

The following key will aid in the separation of the species of this
family that occur in the state:

1. Soles of hind feet naked; greatest width of head less than distance
between tip of nose and posterior end of eye; interparietal more
than J4 greatest width of skull 2

1'. Soles of hind feet densely haired; greatest width of head more than
distance between tip of nose and posterior end of eye; interpari-
etal less than )* greatest width of skull Dipodomys ordii, p. 152

2.(1) Total length less than 150 mm.; hind foot less than 19 mm.; oc-
cipitonasal length less than 25 mm.; mastoids greatly developed,
projecting beyond plane of the occiput; interparietal length less
than interparietal width 3

2'. Total length more than 150 mm.; hind foot more than 19 mm.;
occipitonasal length of skull more than 25 mm.; mastoids not so
greatly developed; interparietal length equal to or greater than
interparietal width Perognathus hispidus, p. 148

3. (2) Post-auricular patches twice the length of the ears; interparietal

breadth less than 4.1 mm Perognathus jlavus, p. 147

3'. Post-auricular patches approximately the length of the ears; inter-
parietal breadth more than 4.1 mm Perognathus jiavescens, p. 145

Genus Perognathus Maximilian
Pocket Mice
This genus occurs only in western North America. Many species
occur in the deserts of southwestern United States and Mexico.
Pocket mice all have long tails and long hind feet as well as fur-lined
cheek pouches. Three species, including five subspecies, occur in
Kansas.

Perognathus flavescens

Plains Pocket Mouse

Two subspecies of this small pocket mouse occur in the state.
Although it is known from many scattered localities in the south-
western part of the state, it is apparently nowhere common. A total
of ten specimens of this species is known from Kansas.

Little is known of the habits of this species anywhere in its range.
Asdell (1945:231) indicated that it has four young in a litter.

Perognathus flavescens flavescens Merriam

Perognathus fasciatus flavescens Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 1:11, 1889,
type from Kennedy, Cherry County, Nebraska.

Perognathus flavescens flavescens, Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:273,
1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:240, 1933; Black, Kan-
sas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 183, 1937; P. B.
Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information,
Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :36, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kanasas Acad.
Sci., 47:75, 1944.

146

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Perognathus flavescens, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:335, 1905; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:175, 1905.

Distribution. — Probably throughout the western one-third of the state, east
certainly to Clark County. See map, figure 38.

Remarks. — External measurements of one male and one female

from one mile east of Coolidge, are: 113, 118; 47, 53; 17, 15; 7, 6.

Specimens examined. — Total, 5, distributed as follows: Hamilton County:
1 mi. E Coolidge, 2. Morton County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 1. Seward
County: Unspecified, 1. Clark Co.: Sand Creek, Cimarron R., 1 (USNM).

100

39-

38

%J=

Muttum of Nolurol Hiilorr

Univlrsily sf Kansas

I94S

39

38

100

97

Fig. 38. Distribution of Perognathus flavescens in Kansas. 1. P. /. flavescens.
2. P. /. copei. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

Perognathus flavescens copei Rhoads

Perognathus copei Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1893,

p. 404, type from Mobettie, Texas.
Perognathus flavescens copei, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 25:143, 1905.
Perognathus flavus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 5:65, 1887.

Distribution. — Central part of the state, known from Ellsworth, Pratt, Reno,
and Harper counties. See map, figure 38.

Remarks. — External measurements of one female from four and
one-half miles northeast of Danville, are: 114; 51; 17; 6.

In P. /. flavenscens the dorsal surface is pale and the dorsal
tail-stripe is very Hght, presenting little contrast with the ventral
surface of the tail. In P. f. copei the dorsal surface is heavily suf-
fused with black, resulting in a dark color and the dorsal tail-stripe
is black.

Pocket Mice

147

Specimens examined. — Total, 5, distributed as follows: EllswoHh County:
VA mi. S Wilson, 1. Pratt Co.: Cairo, 3 (USES), Harper County: 4M mi.
NE Danville, 1.

Additional records. — Reno County: Nickerson (Knox, 1877:65).

Perognathus flavus
Baird Pocket Mouse

39

38

Mtittu"! of Nsl.rat Hiilory

U<«>v«rtilr Of K«ni«s

I94J

39

38

100

97

Fig. 39. Distribution of Perognathus favus jlavus in Kansas.

explanation of symbols.

See figure 5 for

Little is known of the habits of this species in Kansas. Bailey
(1932:274) found the animals to be abundant one mile east of
Deming, New Mexico, and living in burrows, usually closed during
the day, that had runways or hnes of tracks which led from them
to neighboring patches of wild sunflower and other seed-laden
plants. The animals seemed to be finding an abundance of choice
food at that season for they avoided all his traps and such bait as
he could offer them. The food of this mouse consists mainly of
seeds. These seeds usually are shelled and only the inner parts are
eaten, as evidenced by the pure white color of contents of their
stomachs (Bailey, op. cit. :275).

Bailey {op. cit. :275) found that in New Mexico this species has
two to six young; probably two or more litters are raised each
season. In the state of Kansas no detailed studies seem to have been
made on reproduction.

148 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Perognathus flavus flavus Baird

Perognatus [sic] flavus Baird, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 7:332,
1885, type from El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.

Perognathus flavus flavus. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:274, 1924,
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:240, 1933; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 183, 1937; Tihen and
Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:507, 1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas
State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist.
Surv., 20(5) :37, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:76,
1944.

Perognathus flavus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:
335, 1905; Lantz. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:175, 1905.

Distribution. — Western Kansas, east certainly to Trego and Kiowa counties.
See map, figvure 39.

Remarks. — External measurements of eight males and two fe-
males from nine miles north and three miles east of Elkhart, are:
J 111.8 (100-119), 2 108, 110; 49.6 (44-52), 50, 56; 15.4 (15-16),
16, 15; 6.4 (6-7), 6,7.

Specimens examined. — Total, 44, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
23 mi. (by road) NW St. Francis, 1. Rawlins County: 12 mi. NE McDonald,
1; 2 mi. NE Ludell, 1. Decatur County: 2 mi. S, 6 mi. W Oberhn, 1.
Logan County: Vincent Ranch, N Fork Smoky R. [=4 mi. W 8 mi. N
McAllaster], 2; Unspecified, 1. Gove County: Castle Rock, 1 (GCR). Trego
County: Wakeeney, 3. Hamilton County: 1 mi. E CooHdge, 8. Stanton
County: 6 mi. W, 1% mi. S Manter, 1; 8)2 mi. W, 2)i mi. S Manter, 1. Kiowa
County: Rezeau Ranch, 5 mi. N Belvidere, 1. Morton County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi.
E Elkhart, 18. Meade County: 9 mi. SW Meade, 1; 17 mi. SW Meade, 2.
Clark County: Stephenson Ranch, 7 mi. S Kingsdown, 1.

Perognathus hispidus

Hispid Pocket Mouse

Two subspecies of this pocket mouse occur in Kansas. There is
Httle danger of confusing this pocket mouse with other species that
occur in the state since it is larger and has harsh fur.

Hispid pocket mice occur widely over the open plains of the
western United States and, in Kansas, occur much farther east
than other members of this family. They construct shallow bur-
rows, often opening on bare ground. In New Mexico, Bailey ( 1932:
280) found that: "Even in the desert valleys, where low shrubby
vegetation is abundant, they make their burrows in the open more
often than under the shrubbery." They are active food gatherers,
storing many seeds and grains in their burrows. In Rogers County,
Oklahoma, Blair (1937:188) found this pocket mouse only on
rocky, uncultivated prairies where it constructed burrows, usually
at least partly under limestone rock fragments. Mounds of dirt,
resembling those of the pocket gopher, were found at the entrances
to the burrows. Large amounts of seeds were found stored in the

Pocket Mice

149

burrows and there was evidence that some insects were also taken
as food.

Four to seven young are bom in each litter. Several litters are
bom each season.

Perognathus hispidus paradoxus Merriam

Perognathus paradoxus Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 1:24, 1889, type from
Banner, Trego County, Kansas; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.,
7:265, 1895.

39

38

■LL

=1

W»..«r|.lj «f Kansas
I94»

39

38

100

97

Fig. 40. Distribution of Perognathus hispidus in Kansas. 1. P. h. paradoxus.
2. P. h. spilotus. See figiire 5 for explanation of symbols.

Perognathus hispidus paradoxus, Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 18:44, 1900;
Miller and Rehn, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 30:160, 1901; Lantz,
Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:335, 1905; Lantz, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:175, 1905; Dice, EcoIog>', 4:51, 1923; Dice,
Jour. Mamm., 4:111, 1923; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:240, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept.,
p. 183, 1937; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:507,
1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. In-
formation, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :37, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:76, 1944; Brown, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 48:451,
1946; Glass, Jour. Mamm., 28:178, 1947.

Perognathus hispidus, Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:303, 1940.

Distribution. — ^Western Kansas, east to Barton and Kiowa counties. See map,
figure 40.

Remarks. — External measuremnts of two males and four females
froml4milessouthwestof Meade, are: ^j 207, 213, $ 217,198,207,
220; 100, 99, 98, 102, 103, 113; 27, 25, 27, 26, 27, 27; 8, 12, 12, 12,
11, 12.

150 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Specimens examined. — Total, 79, distributed as follows: Rawlins County:
2 mi. NE Ludell, 2; 4 mi. N Atwood, 1; 1 mi. N McDonald, 1; 6 mi. S At-
wood, 1. Decatur County: 2 mi. S, 6 mi. W Oberlin, 2. Norton County:

4 mi. W, 1 mi. S Logan, 1. Phillips County: 2 mi. S, 1 mi. E Long Island,
2. Logan County: Vincent Ranch, 1; 5 mi. W Elkader, 2. Gove County:
Castle Rock, 2 (GCR). Trego County: Saline River, 8 mi. N Wakeeney, 1;
Banner, 5; Hackberry Creek, "Banner", 3; Perrington Ranch, 7; Unspecified,
1. Ellis County: Ft. Hays State College (}i mi. W Dairy Barns), 1. Scott
County: State Park, 1 (GCR). Lane County: Walnut Creek, 12 mi. S
Pendennis, 1. Rush County: Nekoma, 1. Barton County: 3 mi. N, 2 mi.
W Hoisington, 5. Hamilton County: 1 mi. E Coolidge, 2. Pawnee County:
1 mi. S Lamed, 1. Stanton County: 6 mi. W, 1/2 mi. N Manter, 1. Ford
County: 1 mi. E, 8 mi. N Fowler, 2. Kiowa County: 5 mi. N Belvidere,
Rezeau Ranch, 1; SE comer of county, 1. Morton County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi.
E Elkhart, 5; 8 mi. N Elkhart, 1. Seward County: 1 mi. E Arkalon, 1.
Meade County: IVA mi. E Meade, 2 (GCR); Meade County State Lake, 3
(2, GCR); Meade County State Park, 4 (1, GCR); 14 mi. SW Meade, 6
(2, GCR); 17 mi. SW Meade, 7. Clark County: 7 mi. SW Kingsdown, 1.

Additional records. — Thomas Co.: Colby, 1 (USBS). Rooks Co.: 4 mi.
E Stockton, 1 (Ralph H. Imlerr Coll.). Ellis County: Ellis, 2 (USBS); Hays,

5 (USBS). Lane County: Pendennis, 1 (Glass, 1947:179). Kiowa County:
15 mi. N Belvidere, 5 (Glass, 1947:179). Meade County: 13 mi. SW Meade,

6 (Glass, 1947:179).

Perognathus hispidus spilotus Merriam

Perognathus paradoxus spilotus Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 1:25, 1889,
type from Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas.

Perognathus hispidus spilotus. Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th
Biennial Rept., p. 183, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers
College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :37,
1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:76, 1944; Glass, Jour.
Mamm., 28:177, 1947.

Perognathus hispidus maximus, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas. Acad. Sci.,
36:240, 1933.

Perognathus fasciatus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.

Distribution. — Central Kansas, west certainly to Mitchell, Ellsworth, and Barber
counties and east certainly to Pottawatomie, Lyon, and Montgomery counties.
See map, figure 40.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males and three females
from Greenwood County, are: ^ 198, 190, $ 197, 196, 235; 71,
90, 93, 94, 110; 26, 25, 25, 25, 27; 12, 11, 11, 12, 13.

The color of the upper parts is an ashy ochraceous in P. h.

paradoxus and a bright, dark ochraceous in P. h. spilotus. The

color of the lateral line encroaches on the forearm of P. h. spilotus,

and is white or ochraceous in P. h. paradoxus and dark ochraceous

in P. h. spilotus.

Specimens examined. — Total, 49, distributed as follows: Mitchell County:
3/2 mi. W, /2 mi. S Beloit, 1. Cloud County: 4 mi. E Concordia, 11; Bullock
Farm, 3/2 mi. E, 1 mi. N Glasco, 1. Ellsworth County: VA mi. S Wilson, 1;
2M mi. S Wilson, 1. Saline County: S)-. mi. NW Solomon, 2 (AJK); 3 mi.
W Solomon, 1 (AJK); 8/2 mi. E Sahna, 1 (AJK). Lyon County: 2 mi. S
Chalk, 1. McPherson County: Smoky Hill River, 1 mi. S, M mi. W Linds-

Pocket Mice

151

borg, 1. Marion County: % mi. E Lincolnville, 1. Chase County: 2 mi. W
Cottonwood Falls, 2. Harvey County: 8 mi. W Newton, 1. Greenwood
County: 7 mi. NW Hamilton, 1 (GCR); Hamilton, 3 (GCR); !ii mi. S Hamil-
ton, 1 (GCR); 4 mi. S, 14 mi. W Hamilton, 1; 4 mi. S, 17 mi. W Hamilton,
1 (GCR); 7 mi. SW Toronto, 2; 8 mi. SW Toronto, 1. Barber County:
Near South Bridge, Sun City, 1; 6 mi. N Aetna, 1. Harper County: 5 mi.
N Harper, 1; 5 mi. NW Harper, 6. Cowley County: Arkansas City, 3; 8.6
mi. E Arkansas City, 1. Montgomery County: Coffeyville, 1 (Kansas St.
Coll., Manhattan).

TABLE 15. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Perognathus.

o|

-a j3 j3 5

i

.13

"O S

■;J ~ 'S "O

"S o

~*.»

^1

i ^ i ^ i

JsJs

MO

■T3

5

:i

a 1 f ^ -3

a 3 rt -3 .^

c o

"3
♦J

.2

SI'S

O q -o XI

b «

'C

M

■el

G «

3

1 1 1 1 1

o a

|3

c

u

<g

•z

o ^ S JS 5

<

a

P. flavus flams, 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, Morton County

d^

6

21.1 14.2 12.1 8.1 4.6

6.2

3.5

min.

20.0 13.5 11.3 7.4 4.4

3.0

3.3

max.

22.2 15.0 13.0 8.9 4.8

3.2

3.9

9

5295

19.6 13.5 11.3 7.0 4.2

2.8

3.1

9

5050

20.2 13.8 10.2 7.2 4.7

3.0

3.0

P. flavescens flavescens, 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, Morton

County

9

5419

11.6 6.8 5.0

Seward County

2.6

4.7

<f

2866
P.

14.1 .... 7.8 4.8
/. copei, IJ^ mi. S Wilson, Ellsworth County

2.9

5.0

cf

14045

20.9 14.1 11.5 7.0 5.0
4J^ mi. NE Danville, Harper County

2.8

4.8

9

13045

20.3 13.3 10.4 6.6 4.7

P. hispidiis paradoxus, Meade County

2.8

4.3

d'

14046

21.5 7.6

4.4

&

14053

31.2 21.6 15.4 8.3 7.4

4.2

'7.'8

9

14047

32.9 22.3 16.3 8.5 7.4

4.5

7.9

9

14048

21.0 16.7 8.9 7.5

4.5

9

14050

30.4 21.3 15.3 8.0 6.8
P. h. spilotus. Greenwood County

4.3

'7.7

cf

13647

32.9 21.7 16.5 8.5 7.5

4.5

8.1

9

8649

28.4 19.1 14.3 7.3 6.6

4.0

8.2

9

8647

28.8 19.5 14.1 7.7 6.9

4.6

8.0

9

8648

33.9 23.0 16.1 8.6 8.0

4.4

7.8

Additional records. — Pottawatomie Co.:
Garden Plain, 1 (USES).

Onaga, 1 (OU). Sedgwick Co.:

152

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Genus Dipodomys Gray
Kangaroo Rats

This genus occurs in western North America, from southern
Canada south to the southern limits of the Mexican Tableland and
from the Pacific Coast east to the eastern hmits of the Great Plains
in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. The genus is character-
istically found in areas of sandy soils.

Dipodomys ordii

Ord Kangaroo Rat

The kangaroo rat occurs in most areas of sandy soil in central
and western Kansas. It is readily distinguished from all other
rodents in the state by the long white hairs on its ventral surface.

39

38

Mvftwm «f N«tuf«l HU»of r

Unfv«ntt]r of KdftMl

194}

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 41. Distribution of Dipodomys ordii richardsoni in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

the prominent rump-stripe of white across the thighs, the buffy
ochraceous upper parts, its long tail, weak front legs, and its long
hind legs. The total length of this rat is approximately ten inches,
of which the tail makes up approximately five and one-half inches.
Asdell (1945:230) reports that the young are born in the spring
and fall, and that there are one to five young in each litter, the
average being 3.6. Three specimens in the collection at the Uni-
versity of Kansas Museum of Natural History, taken in September,
each contained three embryos.

Kangaroo Rat 153

Dipodomys ordii richardsoni (Allen)

Dipodops richardsoni Allen, Bull. Arner. Mus. Nat. Hist., 3:277, 1891,
type from "one of the sources of the Beaver [North Canadian] River
in the extreme northwestern comer of the [Indian] Territory of the
so-called neutral strip." Probably Harper County, Oklahoma ( Blair,
1939:116).

Dipodomys ordii richardsoni, Grinnell, Jour. Mamm., 2:96, 1921;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:241, 1933; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 184, 1937; Sprague,
Jour. Mamm., 20:111, 1939; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 42:507, 1939; Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:303,
1940; Webb, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:479, 1940; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:76, 1944; Setzer, Univ. Kansas Pubis.,
Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:511, 1949.

P[erodipus] ordi, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:335,
1905.

Perodipus richardsoni, J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:260,
1895; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:175, 1905; Lantz, Kansas
State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:335, 1905.

Perodipus montanus richardsoni, P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers
College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :38,
1940.

P[erodipus] longipes, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:335, 1905.

D[ipodomijs] Phillippi [sic], Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.

Dipodomys phiUipsi ordi. Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:57, 1889.

Dipodomys Ordii, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875.

Distribution. — Western Kansas, east certainly to Rooks, Ellis, Reno, and Sedg-
wick counties. See map, figure 41.

TABLE 16. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Dipodomys.

t

ja

"B

s

CO

'x

%

u

4*d

flS

a

1

O

Q

a

s

S

B

s

■w
M

1

§

■4^

i

Is

a
«

a
Ji

1

x>2

s

o

a
o

■s

2

e
'S

(3

s

u
e3

M

S

03

^

s

as
O

o

o

sa

^

2

V

Co

pa

D. ordii richardsoni, Pawnee County

c?

16286

39.9

24.1

20,6

7.0

14.7

12.9

....

d'

16288

42.5

24.1

22.0

7.6

15.2

13.4

26.4

cf'

16290

40.6

25.0

21.8

7.5

14.9

13.0

25.8

9

16284

42.3

26.3

23.1

7.8

15.2

13.6

28.2

9

16287

39.3

23.6

21.3

7.8

13.8

13.6

25.3

9

16289

38.8

23.8

21.5

7.3

14.1

13.0

25.4

Remarks. — External measurements of five males and three fe-
males from three miles south and one and one-half miles west of
Larned, are: ^ 254.6(247-263), $ 262, 258, 258; 140.2 (136-147),

154 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

140, 133, 131; 40.2 (39-42), 40, 42, 42; 13.2 (13-14), 14, 14, 13;

weight in grams, 69.0 (54.4-81.9), 73.7, 93.6, 68.8.

Specimens examined. — Total, 243, distributed as follows: Cheyenne
County: 23 mi. (by road) NW St. Francis, 7. Rawlins County: 2 mi. NE
Ludell, 2; VA mi. W Ludell, 1. Decatur County: 2 mi. S, 6 mi. W Oberlin, 4.
Norton County: 4 mi. W, 1 mi. S Logan, 1. Rooks County: 1 mi. S Wood-
ston, 1. Wallace County: Lacey Ranch, 4M mi. E, 9 mi. S Wallace, 1; 2 mi.
S Wallace, 2. Logan County: 5 mi. W Elkader, 3; Unspecified, 2. Gove
County: Castle Rock, 10 (GCR); Unspecified, 1. Trego County: Banner, 8
(USNM); Perrington Ranch, 12 mi. S CoUyer, 2; Unspecified, 8 (USNM).
Ellis County: Ellis, 1 (USES); 12 mi. N, 3 mi. W Hays, 2000 ft, 1. Lane
County: Pendennis, 10 (USES). Hamilton County: Coolidge, 1 (CNHM)

1 mi. E Coolidge (Conard Farm), 5. Pawnee County: 1 mi. S Lamed, 4

2 mi. S, % mi. W Lamed, 2; 3 mi. S, IVi mi. W Lamed, 10. Edwards County
Kinsley, 3 (USES); 3^2 mi. E Kinsley, 5; S side Arkansas River, 2 mi. S
Kinsley, 1; 1 mi. W, 3^ mi. S Kinsley, 9. Stafford County: Little Salt Marsh,
15 mi. N, 3 mi. E Stafford, 2. Reno County: Medora, 1 (MZ); 2 mi. W, Ji
mi. S Medora, 4. Stanton County: 6 mi. W, IM mi. N Manter, 2; 6 mi. W, 1
mi. N Manter, 3. Kiowa County: 5 mi. N Belvidere, 1. Pratt County: Cairo,
2 (USES); Unspecified, 1. Sedgwick County: Wichita, 6 (AMNH). Morton
County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 36. Seward County: 1 mi. E Arkalon, 7;
Liberal, 1; Unspecified, 1. Meade County: Meade, 1 (USNM); 13 mi. SW
Meade, 6; 14 mi. SW Meade, 1; 17 mi. SW Meade, 7. Clark Co.: 12 mi. S
Ashland, 4 (1, MZ); Unspecified, 1. Barber County: Medicine Lodge, 4;
1 mi. NW Aetna, 1; 1 mi. W Aetna, 5; Y2 mi. W Aetna, 1; Aetna, 5; 1 mi.
SW Aetna, 11; 1 mi. S Aetna, 2; VA mi. SW Aetna, 1; 2 mi. S Aetna, 5;
Unspecified, 2. Harper County: 2 mi. NE Runnymede, 3; 4J2 mi. NE Dan-
ville, 12.

Family Castoridae

Beavers

This family has only one living genus. Castor, and it is knov^^n
from North America, Europe, and Asia. The beaver scarcely needs
description; its adaptations for a semi-aquatic life, the broad, scaly,
horizontally flattened tail, and its v^^ebbed hind feet, are known to
almost everyone. The dental formula is: i. |, c. ^, p. {, m. f .

Castor canadensis

American Beaver

When the early settlers first came to Kansas they found the beaver
to be common along most of the streams in the state. Mead
(1905:8) reported them to be common along the Saline River in
1859. J. A. Allen (1874:49) reported that they were "still quite
frequent along the timbered portions of the streams" in middle and
western Kansas. In 1875 Knox reported (1875:22) that beaver
were: "common along most of the large streams. Getting scarce
in the eastern parts of the State. Does much damage to timber
along the streams." Kellogg (1915, unpublished thesis) reported
that: "Mr. Jay Swink who trapped near Timber Canyon Ranch in

Beaver

155

Scott County collected in 1884 nearly two hundred skins from the
creeks in that vicinity." In 1889, Baker (1889:57) wrote that the
beaver was formerly common in western Kansas, being ". . .
found along all streams whose banks are not too sandy; it is now
rapidly disappearing," Lantz (1905B:334) stated that beaver were
". . . common along most Kansas Streams as late as 1880; now
rare." Dyche (1907:165) reported that "The beaver in Kansas is
a rare animal, and it will not be many years until it will be placed
on the list with the deer, buffalo, bear, and other animals that have

39

38

1=L

S<tK

WvtflV* of N«t»rfl tti%t«tf

UAi*«f|<ty tl KoniOt

1*4 >

39

38

100

97

Fig. 42. Distribution of Castor canadensis missouriensis in Kansas. See figure

5 for explanation of symbols.

become extinct. There is no law to protect them, and the old
beaver trappers will travel miles to get just one more, each trapper
making the excuse that if he does not catch the beaver the other
fellow will. . . . The first winter (1877 and 1878) I spent at
Lawrence there were a number of beavers living within a mile of
the city. ... I have not heard of a beaver being taken any-
where near Lawrence since the winter of 1888 and 1889, until No-
vember of this year [1907], when one was taken within a few miles
of Lawrence."

Legislation protecting the beaver was enacted sometime between
the years of 1907 and 1924, the exact date being unknown to me.
Dyche (1907:165) stated that no protecting law existed at that time
and the Fifth Biennial Report of the Kansas Fish and Game De-

156 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

partment for the years 1923-24, states (p. 19) merely that, "Beaver
are protected.", without further comment.

Bailey (1922:22) indicated that beaver did not occur in Kansas
at that time. Later (1927:3) he published a map indicating that
beaver were more widespread in distribution in the United States
than he had indicated earlier, but Kansas still was indicated as an
area not having beaver. Dr. E. Raymond Hall tells me, however,
that he saw beaver sign on the Wakarusa River directly south of
Lawrence, Douglas County, in the period 1920-1923 and a speci-
men taken at Lecompton, Douglas County, on November 12, 1920,
is preserved in the Museum of Natural History. The Fifth Biennial
Report of the Kansas Fish and Game Department for 1923-1924,
states (p. 19): "Beaver are protected. They appear in the Repub-
lican, Saline, Arkansas and Solomon valleys, being more numerous
in the Republican valley. . . ." It seems, therefore, that Bailey
(1922, 1927) had incomplete information concerning the status of
the beaver in Kansas.

Hibbard (1933:241) and Black (1937:185-186) thought that the
beaver found here when white men arrived was representative of
the eastern subspecies, Castor canadensis carolinensis, that this
beaver was exterminated by the white man by 1900, and that later
another subspecies. Castor canadensis missouriensis, invaded the
state from the northwest.

Hibbard and Black probably obtained this idea from the late
Charles Dean Bunker of the University of Kansas Museum of
Natural History, and possibly also from an unpublished manuscript
prepared in 1915 by Remington Kellogg. At any rate, Kellogg ( oral
information, 1951 ) believes that he obtained the idea from Bunker.

The beaver now in Kansas are probably descendants of native
beaver that remained in isolated colonies in central and north-
western Kansas. Mr. William "Billie" Wilson, a fur buyer at
Olathe, Kansas, is a keen observer and is well informed on the his-
tory and conditions of game and fur-bearing mammals in the Great
Plains. Mr. Wilson recounted to me (in January, 1952) an example
of an isolated colony of beaver in north-central Kansas. In the
winter of 1899-1900, Mr. Wilson and two companions spent several
months trapping for fur bearers in north-central and northeastern
Kansas. They left Fairbury, Nebraska, and went downstream on
the Little Blue River to the Big Blue River, upstream on the Big
Blue to the Kansas-Nebraska state line, downstream again to the
Kansas River and down that stream to Lawrence, Kansas. The only
sign of beaver seen on this trip was that of one "family" seen on the

Beaver 157

Little Blue River above Manhattan at the mouth of Walnut Creek.
At that same time, however, several scattered colonies of beaver
were on the Republican River upstream from Concordia, Kansas.

Many beaver have been transplanted within the state. Each of
the biennial reports of the Kansas Forestry, Fish, and Game Com-
mission for the periods ending in 1930, 1938, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1948,
and 1950, report that beaver had been live trapped from over-popu-
lated areas and released elsewhere in the state. Data as to the
localities of capture and release were not given, W. C. Justice (in
litt. ) informs me that beaver were released between 1930 and 1935
in the Arkansas River in Cowley County. Perhaps these were trans-
planted by the Forestry, Fish, and Game Commission.

At least since 1929 the Forestry, Fish, and Game Commission has
trapped and pelted some beaver. Table 17 shows, by years, the
numbers of such skins taken in the state. These figures were com-
piled from the sources given in table 1 and were checked by Mr.
Dave Leahy, Director of the Kansas Forestry, Fish, and Game Com-
mission.

Table 17. — Numbers of beaver pelts taken in Kansas by years; compiled

FROM the sources GIVEN IN TABLE 2. No PELTS WERE REPORTED IN 1934
AND 1940.

1929 1930 1938 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947-48 1948-49 1949-50
66 280 30 368 292 350 246 218 205 237 269 355

The beaver has but a single litter each year. Four to six young is
the usual size of the litter although it may vary from one to eight.
The length of the gestation period is approximately three months.
Beavers grow rather slowly and do not reach full size for three or
more years.

Castor canadensis missouriensis Bailey

Castor canadensis missouriensis Bailey, Jour. Mamm., 1:32, 1919, type
from Apple Creek, 7 mi. E Bismarck, Burleigh County, North
Dakota; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:241, 1933; Black,
Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 185, 1937; P. B.
Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information,
Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :38, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:76, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:212, 1951.

Castor fiber, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:49, 1874.

Castor Canadensis, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.

Castor canadensis, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:173, 1905;
Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:334, 1905; Dyche,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 21:165, 1907.

Castor canadensis canadensis. Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:111, 1923.

Castor canadensis carolinensis, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:241, 1933.

Distribution. — Probably in suitable habitats throughout all but the southwestern
comer of the state. See map, figure 42.

158 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat, Hist.

TABLE 18. — Cranial MEAstrREMENTs (in millimeters) of Castor.

CI .3

fe M gl * 5 -S -

3

oj T3

2 S I § -J -3 --S -3 ^

M-^ u C3 (n bfl S S a ^

C.

canadensis

missouriensis, Clay County

d'

14397

127 A

126.8

114.1

96.5

25.5

43.9

24.5

d^

14391

109.6

106.3

78.4

61.3

23.7

35.2

22.1

9

14390

111.5

80.9

23.0

38.6

20.6

9

14395

134.5

133.5

115.8

92.0

72.2

26.0

49.0

24.0

9

14393

138.7

139.2

127.4

103.0

79.6

27.0

52.8

23.1

Remarks. — External measurements of two females, one from the
west side of the Missouri River, one and three-fourths miles down-
stream from Leavenworth and one from North Lawrence, are:
965, 967; 410, 330; 174, 160; 33, 33.

Specimens examined. — Total, 33, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
St. Francis, 7. Republic County: Scandia, 4. Marshall County: Marysville,
2. Riley County: Unspecified, 5. Leavenworth County: W side Missouri
River, 1^ mi. downstream from Leavenworth, 1. Wabaunsee County: Un-
specified, 1. Douglas County: Lecompton, 1; Near Lecompton, 1; Kaw River,
1; /2 mi. N Lawrence, 1; North Lawrence, 1; 3 mi. E Lawrence, 3; 10 mi. SW
Lawrence, 1; Unspecified, 4.

Family Cricetidae

Native Rats and Mice

Nine genera and 15 species of this family occur in Kansas. These
animals are diverse in appearance, but all are small, have well-
furred bodies and a dental formula of: i. \, c. %, p. ^, m. f . The tail
usually is sparsely haired and, depending on the species, varies from
short to long. The molar crowns are either prismatic or tuberculate,
with, in the latter, only two longitudinal rows of tubercles. The
following key will aid in the separation of the species in Kansas.

1. Tail scaly and laterally compressed (rudder-shaped); toes on

hind feet with stiff bristles; skull more than 50 mm. in length,

Ondatra zibethicus, p. 197

1'. Tail not scaly nor compressed; toes of hind feet without stiff
bristles; skull less than 50 mm. in length 2

2.(1') Cheek teeth with cusps; no flat occlusal area composed of tracts
of dentine surrounded by enamel 3

Cricetid Mice 159

2'. Cheek teeth without cusps, flat occlusal area composed of tracts
of dentine surrounded by enamel and separated by reentrant
angles 11

3.(2) Cusps on cheek teeth not flattened and not divided into
S-shaped lophs; tooth row less than 5.0 mm.; guard hairs not
prominent and pelage smooth to the touch 4

3'. Cusps on cheek teeth flattened and divided into S-shaped lophs;
tooth row more than 5.0 mm.; guard hairs prominent and pelage
rough to the touch Sigmodon hispidus, p. 184

4.(3) Tail less than 60 per cent of length of head and body; coronoid

process of mandible high . . .Onychomys leucogaster, p. 160

4'. Tail more than 60 per cent of length of head and body; coronoid
process of mandible low 5

5. ( 4' ) Upper incisors grooved on anterior face 6

5'. Upper incisors not grooved on anterior face 8

6.(5) Upperparts golden brownish; venter grayish white, usually
washed with bulf; length of tail more than 77 mm.,

Reithrodontomys fulvescens, p. 163

6'. Upperparts grayish or brownish; venter never washed with
buffy; length of tail less than 77 mm .7

7.(6') Dorsal tail-stripe wide, covering dorsal surface of tail; venter
grayish; middorsal stripe faintly defined; length of tail usually
more than 65 mm.; greatest length of skull usually more than
20.3 mm.; in unworn dentition, small accessory cusp evident on
outer surface of first lower molar between first and second larger
cusps Reithrodontomys megalotis, p. 164

7'. Dorsal tail-stripe narrow, not covering dorsal surface of tail;
middorsal stripe usually well defined; length of tail usually less
than 65 mm.; greatest length of skull less than 20.3 mm.; no
accessory cusp evident Reithrodontomys montanus, p. 167

8.(5') Total length more than 225 mm.; skull more than 30 mm.;
temporal ridges forming pronounced beads on sides of skull

above orbits Oryzomys palustris, p. 280

(see hypothetical hst)

8'. Total length less than 225 mm.; skull less than 30 mm.; temporal
ridges not forming pronounced beads on sides of skull above
orbits 9

9.(8') Length of hind foot more than 23.5 mm.; length of ear more

than 18 mm.; skull more than 26.8 mm.. . .Peromyscus boylii, p. 180

9'. Length of hind foot less than 23.5 mm.; length of ear less than

18 mm.; skull less than 26.8 mm 10

10.(9') Tail-length usually less than 65 mm., sharply bicolored; hind
foot less than 21 mm.; skull usually less than 22 mm.,

Peromyscus maniculatus, p. 171
10'. Tail-length usually more than 65 mm., faintly if at all bicolored;

skull usually more than 22 mm Peromyscus leucopus, p. 176

11.(2') Total length more than 300 mm.; skull more than 35 mm 12

11'. Total length less than 300 mm.; skull less than 35 mm 13

160 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

12.(11) Color fulvous or rufous above; length of incisive foramina less

than 11 mm Neotoma fioridana, p. 187

12'. Color gray above, without rufous tinge, pure white below; length

of incisive foramina more than 11 mm.. . .Neotoma micropus, p. 190
13.(11') Tail as short as, or shorter than, hind foot; upper incisors

grooved on front surface Synaptomys cooperi, p. 193

13'. Tail one and one-half times, or more, longer than hind foot;

upper incisors not grooved on front surface 14

14.(13') Tail more than 25 mm.; adults dark grayish colored; second

upper molariform tooth vdth five loops and triangles,

Microtus ochrogaster, p. 201
14'. Tail less than 25 mm.; adults chestnut colored; second upper

molariform tooth with four loops and triangles,

Pitymys pinetorum, p. 199

Genus Onychomys Baird

Grasshopper Mice

There are two living species of this genus, only one of which
occurs in Kansas. They resemble mice of the genus Peromyscus
but have stouter bodies and shorter tails.

Onychomys leucogaster

Northern Grasshopper Mouse

Two subspecies of Onychomys leucogaster occur in the state.
In each, the tail is less than half the length of the head and body
and is thick and tapering, the hind feet have four tubercles, and the
pelage is soft and silky. Immature specimens are grayish to blackish
brown above, and are without the white ear tufts of the adults. The
total length is approximately six inches; the tail comprises approxi-
mately one and one-half inches of the total.

These mice have been treated systematically by Hollister (1914),
and Bailey ( 1929 ) gave data on their life history and habits.

Grasshopper mice feed on a great variety of insects, which make
up most of their diet, but they take also seeds and other vegetable
foods when insects are scarce. In captivity they have been seen
to kill rodents of other species and then feed on their bodies. Grass-
hopper mice may dig shallow burrows, but some naturalists sug-
gest that they generally use abandoned burrows or those of their
victims. They are mainly nocturnal, spending most of the daytime
in burrows.

According to Asdell (1945:242), the breeding season of the grass-
hopper mouse is from April to September, and after a gestation
period of approximately 33 days, two to six young, usually four,

Cricetid Mice

161

are born in an underground nest. One female may have more than
one litter in each season. Bailey (1929:10) stated that the young
weigh two and one-half to three grams each at birth and that:
"The young were naked and helpless, with eyes and ears closed
and no trace of teeth showing through, on the eleventh day their
incisors were well out and their ears open, and on the fifteenth day
their eyes opened. They were not weaned until they were about
24 days old and nearly half grown, but they had been eating seeds,
rolled oats, and green food for a week."

The grasshopper mice are practically harmless to man's interests
— in fact one may consider them to be actually beneficial in that
insects do make up such a large percentage of their diet.

39

38

0*iir*t%Hf of K«A>««

m

100

97

Fig. 43. Distribution of Omjchomys leucogaster in Kansas. 1. O. I. arcticeps.
2. O. /. breviauritus. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

Onychomys leucogaster arcticeps Rhoads

Onychomtjs arcticeps Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1898,
p. 194, type from Clapham, Union County, New Mexico.

Onychomtjs leucogaster arcticeps, HoUister, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.,
47 (2057): 439, 1914; Bailey and Sperry, U. S. Dept. Agric, Tech.
Bull., 145:4, 1929; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:241, 1933;
Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept., p. 187, 1937;
Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:507, 1939; Webb,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:479, 1940; P. B. Allen, Kansas State
Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv.,
20(5) :38, 1940; Rinker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 45:376, 1942.

Onychomys leucogaster articeps [sic], Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:77, 1944.

&— 1424

162 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat, Hist.

Onychomys leucogaster, J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:268,
1895; Elliot, Field Columbian Museum Publ., No. 115, Zool. Ser.,
8:200, 1907; Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:302, 1940.

Onychomys torridus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:174, 1905.

O[nychomys] torridus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:334, 1905.

H[esperomys] leucogaster, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875.

Hesperomys leucogaster, Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:56, 1889.

Distribution. — Western Kansas, east, certainly to Ellis, Rush and Kiowa coun-
ties. See map, figure 43.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and one female
from two miles northeast of Ludell, are: ^ 157, 148, 156, 5 144;
48, 51, 36, 39; 23, 22, 23, 23; 18, 18, 18, 19.

Specimens examined. — Total, 142, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
23 mi. (by road) NW St. Francis, 1. Rawlins County: VA mi. NW Ludell, 1;
2 mi. NE Ludell, 8; IJ2 mi. W Ludell, 3. Decatur County: 2 mi. S, 6 mi.
W Oberlin, 1; 5 mi. S, 8 mi. W Oberlin, 1. Wallace County: Lacey Ranch, 2.
Logan County: 5 mi. W Elkader, 14; Vincent Ranch, Sect. 7, TllS, R37W,
4 mi. W, 8 mi. N McAllaster, 1; Unspecified, 3. Trego County: Banner,
Hackberry Creek, 1; Perrington Ranch, 2; 12 mi. S Collyer, 1; Unspecified, 6.
Ellis County: 4 mi. N, 3 mi. E Hays, 2000 ft., 1; Ellis, 1. Lane County: Un-
specified, 1. Rush County: Nekoma, 1. Stanton County: 7/2 mi. W, 1 mi. N
Manter, 1; 6 mi. W, 1 mi. N Manter, 1. Kiowa County: Rezeau Ranch, 5 mi.
N Belvidere, 30 (2, OCR). Morton County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 14.
Seward County: 1 mi. E Arkalon, 1. Meade County: 13 mi. SW Meade, 9;
State Lake, 8 (4, OCR); State Park, 3; 14 mi. SW Meade, 19 (5, OCR); 17
mi. SW Meade, 7.

Additional records. — Thomas Co.: Colby, 5 (HolHster, 1914:441). Logan
County: Unspecified, 13 (HoUister, 1914:441). Trego County: Unspecified,
15 (Holhster, 1914:441). Ellis Co.: Ellis, 1 (Hollister, 1914:441). Lane
Co.: Pendennis, 9 (Hollister, 1914:441). Meade Co.: Meade, 1 (HoUister,
1914:441).

Onychomys leucogaster breviauritus Hollister

Onychomys leucogaster breviauritus Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash-
ington, 26:216, 1913, type from Fort Reno, Canadian County,
Oklahoma; Holhster, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 47(2057) :453, 1914;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:241, 1933; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30 Biennial Rept., p. 187, 1937; P. B. Allen,
Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat.
Hist. Surv., 20(5) :39, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:77, 1944.

Hesperomys leucogaster, Coues, Monograph N. Amer. Rodentia, p. 109,

1877.
Onychomys leucogaster, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:174, 1905;

Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:334, 1905.

Distribution. — Central Kansas, from Edwards County north and east to Ells-
worth County, and south to Harper County. Reported from Geary and
Woodson counties. See map, figure 43.

Remarks. — External measurements of four males and one female
from Harper County, are: ^ 148.2(140-152), ? 138; 43.5 (41-45),
42; 22.0 (22-22), 21.5; 16.0 (15-17), 15.

In O. I. arcticeps the upper parts are buffy brown, lightly washed

Cricetid Mice 163

with pinkish; the tuft of hair at the base of the ear is white; the tail
is white except for a narrow strip of brownish on the basal two-
thirds of the upper surface. In O. I. breviauritiis the upper parts
are rich brown; the ear tufts are cinnamon buflF; the upper surface
of the tail is grayish brown almost to the tip.

Specimens examined. — Total, 32, distributed as follows: Ellsworth County:
VA mi. S Wilson, 2. Barton County: 3 mi. N, 2 mi. W Hoisington, 5. Paw-
nee County: 2 mi. S, '4 mi. W Lamed, 1; 3 mi. S, I/2 mi. W Lamed, 1.
Edwards County: 3/2 mi. E Kinsley, 5; 1 mi. W, 3/2 mi. S Kinsley, 10. Reno
County: 8 mi. N, 1 mi. E Haven, 1. Harper County: 2 mi. NE Rumiymede,
2; 8 mi. NE Harper, 1; 5 mi. NW Harper, 3; 45^ mi. NE Danville, 1.

Additional records. — County Unknown: Republican River, 1 (Coues, 1877:
109). Geary Co.: Fort Riley, 1 (Hollister, 1914:454). Woodson County.
Neosho Falls, 4 (1, Hollister, 1914:454 and 3, Coues, 1877:109). Edwards
Co.: Kinsley, 1 (Hollister, 1914:454).

Genus Reithrodontomys Giglioli

Harvest Mice

Three species of this genus occur in Kansas. All three are
mouselike in general appearance, with long, slender, sparsely haired
tails; mammae in three pairs, one pectoral and two inguinal; and
each upper incisor with a deep, longitudinal groove near its middle.
Two species, Reithrodontomys megalotis and R. montanus, occur
widely over all but the southeastern part of the state while the
third, R. fulvescens, is found only in the southeastern area of the
state.

Reitlirodontomys fulvescens

Golden Harvest Mouse

This species differs from the other two species of Reithrodontomys
in Kansas in that the color of the upper parts is rich ochraceous
tawny, heavily intermixed with blackish brown, producing a gen-
eral color effect of golden brown, and the length of the tail is more
than 80 mm. This harvest mouse is approximately seven inches in
length, of which the tail comprises three and one-half inches.

The golden harvest mouse has been taken in mixed brush and
grass habitat, often in the lowlands along streams. Nothing is
known of its habits in the state. According to Asdell (1946:243),
on the basis of one record, two young are born in a litter.

Reithrodontomys fulvescens aurantius Allen

Reithrodontomys mexicanus aurantius J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat.

Hist., 7:137, 1895, type from Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana.
Reithrodontomys fulvescens aurantius, Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 36:48,

1914; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:242, 1933; Black, Jour.

Mamm., 16:231, 1935; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Bien-

164

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

nial Kept., p. 189, 1937; Hibbard, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 25:177,
1938; Sprague, Jour. Mamm., 20:102, 1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas
State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv.,
20(5) :40, 1940.

Reithrodontomtjs fluvescens aurantius [sic], Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:78, 1944.

R[eithrodontomijs] chrysotis, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:335, 1905.

100

39

38

ti

M«i*um of NalwfOl HJttofy
Untvtriilf or KOMMt

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 44. Distribution of Reithrodontomys fulvescens aurantius in Kansas.

figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

See

Distribution. — Southeastern Kansas; known only from Anderson, Chautauqua,
and Cherokee counties. See map, figure 44.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males from Cherokee

County, are: 155, 165, 154; 83, 89, 85; 22, 19, 22; 15, --, 13.

Specimens examined. — Total, 5, distributed as follows: Anderson County:
Unspecified, 1. Chautauqua County: VA mi. SW Cedarvale, 1. Cherokee
County: Mouth of Cherry Creek, Neosho River, 1; 18 mi. SW Columbus, 1;
/2 mi. N, /2 mi. W Tristate monument, 1.

Reithrodontomys megalotis

Western Harvest Mouse

From Reithrodontomys montanus this species differs in that it is
slightly larger in external measurements; the dorsal stripe is never
so distinct; the dorsal black stripe on the tail is wide, usually be-
tween one-fourth and one-third of the tail-diameter; and the ventral
surface has a decidedly grayish cast. This grayish cast of the ventral
surface results from each hair having only a small amount of the
end tipped with white. Other than a slightly larger average size

Cricetid Mice

165

in R. megalotis, I know of no consistent cranial difference between
these two species. In most young individuals of R. megalotis, with
unworn or slightly worn teeth, a small accessory cusp can be found
on the outer edge of the first lower m.olar, interposed between the
first and second larger cusps. This accessory cusp is absent in young
R. montanus and is not evident in megalotis with worn teeth.

100

39

38

Mflltf* of Nofwr«l HiilMf

UAntrtiry el KonMS

IMi

39

38

100

97

Fig. 45. Distribution of Reithrodontomys megalotis in Kansas. 1. R. m. dychei.
2. R. m. aztecus. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

In eastern Kansas the western harvest mouse is found in tall
grasses, often associated with brush and tall weeds of fence rows.
In western Kansas, Hill and Hibbard (1943:22) found this species in
the sunflower-tall grass association.

These harvest mice may be active at any time of the day or
night throughout the year. Their nest is usually a ball of grass
with an opening in the side. The nest may rest on the ground or
may be suspended a few inches above the ground in tall grass.
Their food consists almost entirely of grass seeds and weed seeds.

According to Asdell (1946:239), the litter size at birth varies from
one to seven. The period of gestation is 23 to 24 days, and the
breeding period is at any time of the year but is mostly from April
to October. Five specimens from Kansas in the collection of the
University of Kansas Museum of Natural History have the number of
embryos indicated on the labels. The number of embryos average
4.8 with extremes of four to six. By months these were distributed
as follows: March, 1; June, 2; July, 1; and November, 1.

166 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Reithrodontomys megalotis dychei Allen

Reithrodontomys dychei, J. A. AUen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:120,
1895, type from Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas; Miller and
Rehn, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 30:96, 1901; Lantz, Trans. Kan-
sas Acad. Sci., 19:174, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta.
Bull. 129:335, 1905.

Reithrodontomys megalotis dychei, Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 36:30,
1914; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 8:52, 1927; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm.,
9:144, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:242, 1933;
Hibbard, Jour. Mamm., 18:102, 1937; Black, Kansas State Board
Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 189, 1937; Hibbard, Univ. Kansas
Sci. Bull., 25(7) :176, 1938; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers Col-
lege Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :40, 1940;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:78, 1944; BrumweU, Amer.
Midland Nat., 45:212, 1951.

Reithrodontomys megalotis, Jameson, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat.
Hist., 1:137, 1947.

Reithrodontomys dychii [sic], Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., Publ. 115,
Zool. Ser., 8:256, 1907.

Reithrodontomys megolantis duchei [sic]. Brown, Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 48:451, 1946.
Reithrodontomys dychei nehrascensis, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

19:174,1905.
R[eithrodontomys] dychei nehrascensis, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp,

Sta. Bull., 129:335, 1905.
Ochetodon humilis, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875; Coues,

Monogr. N. Rodentia, p. 126, 1877; Cragin, Bull. Washburn College

Lab. Nat. Hist., 147, 1885; Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad Sci., 11:58,

1889.

Distribution. — Northern half of Kansas, south certainly to Scott, Lane, Barton,
and Franklin counties. See map, figure 45.

Remarks. — External measurements of 15 males and 12 females

from Douglas County, are: ^ 131.0(118-147), $ 135.8(119-151);

63.7 (55-76), 64.4 (55-72); 16.8 (14-18), 16.7 (16-18); 12.1 (10-13),

13.4 (11.5-16). Weights, in grams, of five males and five females

are: 11.1 (8.7-14); 12.8 (9.5-16.4).

Specimens examined. — Total, 157, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
23 mi. (by road) NW St. Francis, 1. Rawlins County: 2 mi. NE Ludell,
17; 2 mi. S Ludell, 2. Decatur County: 5 mi. S, 8 mi. W Oberlin, 1. Norton
County: 4 mi. W, 1 mi. S Logan, 4. Phillips County: 2/4 mi. SE Long Island,
1. Nemaha County: Nebraska-Kansas state fine, 7 mi. N Sabetha, 1; 2/2 mi.
S Sabetha, 6. Brown County: 1 mi. E Reserve, 2; 5 mi. S Hiawatha, 4.
Doniphan County: Geary, 1. Sherman County: VA mi. E, 1/2 mi. S Edson,

1. Thomas County: 10 mi. N, 6 mi. E Colby, 3100 ft., 5. Osborne County:
\ mi. W Downs, 4. Mitchell County: S'A mi. W, ¥2 mi. S Beloit, 1500 ft., 5.
Pottawatomie Co.: 1 mi. NW Fostoria, 1; Onaga, 18 (USBS). Atchison
County: IM mi. S Muscotah, 8; 4/2 mi. S Muscotah, 2. Leavenworth County:
Ft. Leavenworth, 2; Unspecified, 3. Logan County: Unspecified, 2. Gove
County: Unspecified, 1. Ellis County: 4 mi. W, ¥2 mi. S Hays, 2250 ft., 6;
3/2 mi. W, /2 mi. S Hays, 2250 ft., 6. Shawnee County: 1 mi. S Silver Lake,

2. Douglas County: 4/2 mi. N Lawrence, 1; 4 mi. N, 1% mi. E Lawrence,
4; /2 mi. NW Lecompton, 1; 5 mi. W Lawrence, 1; 2 mi. W Lawrence, 3;
1 mi. W Lawrence, 4; Fort Lake, Lawrence, 1; Lawrence, 16; 1 mi. SW
Lawrence, 1; 2 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; 7 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; Rock Creek,

Cricetid Mice 167

850 ft., 10 mi. SW Lawrence, 3; N end of Lone Star State Lake, 9 mi. S,
7 mi. W Lawrence, 1; Unspecified, 1. Scott County: State Park, 2 (GCR).
Lane Co.: Pendennis, 5 (USES). Barton County: 3 mi. N, 2 mi. W Hoising-
ton, 3. Osage County: 3 mi. N Lyndon, 1. Franklin County: 4 mi. N
Ottawa, 2.

Additional records. — Woodson Co.: Neosho Falls, 1 (HoweU, 1914:32).

Reithrodontomys megalotis aztecus Allen

Reithrodontomys aztecus J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 5:79,
1893, type from LaPlata, San Juan County, New Mexico.

Reithrodontomys megalotis aztecus, Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 36:30,
1914; Hill and Hibbard, Jour. Mamm., 24:24, 1943; Hibbard and
Rinker, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 29:263, 1943; Hibbard, Trans. Kan-
sas Acad. Sci., 47:77, 1944.

Reithrodontomys megalotis, Rinker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 45:376,
1942.

Distribution. — Southwestern Kansas, north, certainly to Stanton and Grant
counties and east to Meade and Ford counties. See map, figure 45.

Remarks. — External measurements of nine males and three fe-
males from 14 miles southwest of Meade, are: ^ 149.3 (142-155),
$ 139, 143, 156; 72.1 (68-77), 67, 64, 77; 18.2 (17-20), 18, 17, 18;
13.7(13-15),--, 14, 13.

Specimens examined. — Total, 61, distributed as follows: Stanton County:
Tk mi. W, 1 mi. N Manter, 1; 6 mi. W, 1 mi. N Manter, 1. Crant County:
9 mi. W, 2 mi. S Satanta, 1. Ford County: "k mi. NW Bellefont, 10; 6^4 mi.
N Fowler, 2. UoHon County: 8 mi. N Elkhart, 1; l)k mi. N, Vk mi. W
Elkhart, 2. Meade County: 1 mi. N, 1 mi. E Fowler, 9 (GCR); I-'* mi. N,
\ mi. E Fowler, 2; 14 mi. SW Meade, 14; State Park, 16 (GCR); 17 mi. SW
Meade, 2.

Reithrodontomys montanus

Pygmy Harvest Mouse

This species occurs only in the central United States, from South
Dakota southward through Nebraska, eastern Colorado, Kansas,
Oklahoma, eastern New Mexico, central and western Texas, and
into northern Mexico. From the western harvest mouse, R.
megalotis, R. montanus differs in its slightly smaller size, the pres-
ence of a dorsal stripe, a narrow dorsal black stripe on the tail, and
a white ventral SLirface.

In general this species shows an ecological separation from the
western harvest mouse. Hill and Hibbard (1943:22) found this
species to be typical of short grass and prickly pear cactus associa-
tions. In eastern Kansas I have taken it only in areas of native
grasses. It is not common any\vhere in the state and is rare in the
eastern part of the state. In Douglas County, for example, where
the trapping of small mammals has been carried on since 1892,
a total of 13 of this species have been taken and saved as speci-
mens in the collection of the University of Kansas Museum of

168

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Natural History. Of these 13, five are the young of a female that
was taken alive and gave birth to the young in captivity. These
five young were bom on April 25.

Rinker (19426:376) reported that on the first of July, 1941, in
Meade County, he took three females bearing three, four, and five
embryos each. In August, 1941, he found a nest of this species
containing three young.

100

39

38

-39

II I I

My»«um of Nolvrol Hiitofj
Un<vtrsit| ot KonMl

38

100

97

Fig. 46. Distribution of Reithwdontomys montanus in Kansas. 1. R. m. al-
bescens. 2. R. m. griseus. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

Reithrodontomys montanus albescens Gary

Reithwdontomys albescens Gary, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 16:53,
1903, type from 18 miles northwest of Kennedy, Gherry Gounty, Ne-
braska.

Reithrodontomys montanus albescens, Benson, Jour. Mamm., 16:141,
1935.

Reithrodontomys albescens albescens, Hibbard, Kansas Univ. Sci., Bull.,
25(7) :174, 1938; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
42:507, 1939; Rinker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 45:376, 1942; Hill
and Hibbard, Jour. Mamm., 24:23, 1943; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:77, 1944.

Reithrodontomys griseus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :214,
1907 (part from Pendennis and Wakeeney).

Reithrodontomys albescens griseus, Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 36:24,
1914 (part from Pendennis and Trego Gounty); Wooster, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:515, 1939; Webb, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
43:479, 1940.

Reithrodontomys montanus griseus. Brown, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
48:450, 1946.

Distribution. — Western Kansas, east certainly to Osborne and Harper counties.
See map, figure 46.

Cricetid Mice 169

Remarks. — External measurements of eight males and three fe-
males from Meade County, are: ^ 124.8 (117-133), $ 130.3 (123-
143); 55.0 (51-61), 59 (57-63); 16 (15-17), 16.6 (16-17); 12.9
(12-15), 13 (13-13).

Specimens from Osborne and Harper counties show intergrada-

tion with R. m. griseus, especially in their slightly darker color.

Specimens examined. — Total, 39, distributed as follows: Osborne County:
/2 mi. W Downs, 2. Gove County: Banner, 1; Unspecified, 1. Trego County:
8 mi. N Wakeeney on Saline R., 1. Ellis County: 4 mi. W, /z mi. S Hays,
2250 ft., 1. Hamilton County: Coolidge, 1; 1 mi. E Coolidge, 3. Stanton
County: 7/2 mi. W, 1 mi. N Manter, 1; 7/2 mi. W Manter, 1. Morton County:
12 mi. N Elkhart, 3; 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 3. Meade County: 14 mi. SW
Meade, 3; 17 mi. SW Meade, 9. Clark County: 4 mi. S Kingsdovvn, 1; 6 mi. S
Kingsdown, 2; 12 mi. S Ashland, 3. Barber County: Wells Ranch, Aetna, 1.
Harper County: 2 mi. NE Runnymede, 1; 5 mi. NW Harper, 1.

Additional records. — Trego County: Unspecified, 10 (Howell, 1914:24).
Lane Co.: Pendennis, 5 (Howell, 1914:24).

Reithrodontomys montanus griseus Bailey

Reithrodontomys griseus Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 25:106, 1905, type
from San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 20(2) :214, 1907 (part from Onaga, Pottawatomie County).

Reithrodontomys montanus griseus, Benson, Jour. Mamm., 16:141, 1935;
Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:212, 1951.

Reithrodontomys albescens griseus, Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 36:24,
1914 (part from Onaga, Pottawatomie County); Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:241, 1933; Black. Kansas State Board Agric,
30th Biennial Rept., p. 188, 1937; Hibbard, Kansas Univ. Sci. Bull.,
25(7) :175, 1938; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Em-
poria, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :39, 1940; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:77, 1944.

Distribution. — Eastern Kansas, west certainly to Cloud, Reno, and Cowley
counties; not known from the southeastern comer of the state. See map,
figure 46.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and one female
from Douglas County are: J 105, 107, 105, $ 110; 44, 43, 43, 50;
15, 15,--, 15; 11.5, 12.5, 13, 12.

Specimens from Reno County are intergrades between R. m.
griseus and R. m. albescens, but are judged as being referable to
the former subspecies.

Specimens examined. — Total, 42, distributed as follows: Washington
County: Unspecified, 1. Cloud County: Concordia, 4. Clay County: 10 mi.
W, 6 mi. N Clay Center, 1. Pottaivatomie County: NE of Onaga, 1. Douglas
County: I'i mi. S Lawrence, 1; Golf course, Lawrence, 2; Haskell Farm, Law-
rence, 1; Haskell bottoms, S of Lawrence, 2; Young bom in captivity of female
taken in Haskell bottoms S of Lawrence, 5; Unspecified, 2. Reno County:
8 mi. NE Hutchinson, 6. Coffey County: 2!2 mi. S Burlington, 1. Harvey
County: 8 mi. W Newton, 3; 1 mi. E, M mi. N Halstead, 3. Greenwood
County: Hamilton, 1; '2 mi. S Hamilton, 1; 8)2 mi. SW Toronto, 3. Woodson
County: 2/2 mi. N Toronto, 1. Cowley County: 3 mi. SE Arkansas City, 1;
Arkansas City, 1.

Additional records. — Pottawatomie Co.: Onaga, 18 (Howell, 1914:24).

170

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat, Hist.

TABLE 19. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Onychomys

AND ReiTHRODONTOMYS.

S3
1

«<-!

of nasals
bony palate

1

1

"o

1— 1

-*3

5
1

atest breadth o
braincase

st interorbital
constriction

.2

a

5

5
g

as

-1

•1

J

U

^

■3 "S

a

03

,23

8a

M

■M

<o

5

v a

a a>

ce

tn

>

8

oi

t4

a

>H O

0} ja

"3

o

w

O

o

M

O J

1-4 CO

Ph

5

fc

<

Onychomys leucogaster arcticeps, Rawlins County

cf

12011

28.1

22.3

12.4 4.7

10.3 4.3

5.6

7.0

10.9

4.6

d^

12010

28.4

22.3

12.4 5.0

10.3 4.5

5.5

6.9

10.3

4.5

cf

12012

28.2

22.7

12.5 4.5

10.5 4.8

5.4

7.5

10.4

4.4

9

12013

26.0

20.6

12.1 4.6

10.2 4.7

5.2

6.2

9.3

4.4

9

12006

27.7

22.1

12.0 4.5
0. I. breviauritus,

10.9 4.8
Harper County

5.5

6.8

9.9

4.7

(f

13046

29.3

23.3

12.9 4.9

11.5 5.1

5.5

7.4

10.9

4.5

cf

12683

28.2

22.1

12.9 4.9

10.8 5.4

5.3

7.1

10.5

4.1

d'

13542

27.3

21.7

12.4 4.7

10.8 4.4

5.5

7.4

9.7

4.2

9

12934

27.8

21.7

12.6 4.7

10.5 4.9

5.3

7.0

9.9

4.3

Reithrodontomys fulvesc

•.ens, Cherokee County

cf

2573

21.7

16.1

10.1 3.4

7.9 3.9

4.5

5.4

7.1

3.3

d'

1673

10.6 3.8

8.8 3.8

4.7

5.8

3.4

d'

14560

21^8

R

10.2 3.0

. megalotis dychei,

9.0 3.7
Douglas County

4.4

5.4

■7;5

3.7

<f

11

20.8a

15.2a

9.9 3.1

7.6a 3.5

4.3

4.9

6.9a

3.0

min.

20.0

14.7

9.6 2.8

7.1 3.1

4.0

4.8

6.6

2.8

max.

22.0

15.8

10.3 3.5

8.0 3.9

4.5

5.1

7.2

3.2

9

10

20.9b

15.3

9.8b 3.0b

7.8 3.5b

4.3b

4.9

6.8

3.0

min.

20.0

14.7

9.3 2.9

7.1 3.1

4.1

4.6

6.5

2.9

max.

22.1

16.2

R

10.1 3.2

. megalotis aztecus

8.5 3.9
;, Meade County

4.6

5.2

7.2

3.2

d'

10

22.1c

16.0c

9.9d 3.1

8.5b 3.7

4.5

5.2

7.2

3.3

min.

21.5

15.3

9.7 3.0

8.0 3.4

4.2

4.9

7.0

3.1

max.

22.6

16.5

10.1 3.8

9.3 4.0

4.9

5.6

7.7

3.5

9

14103

21.5

15.5

9.9 3.1

8.6 3.6

4.2

5.1

6.8

3.0

9

13864

10.4 3.0

3.6

4.5

4.9

7.4

3.4

9

13847

21.9

ie^o

9.7 3.0

9.1 3.6

4.5

5.1

7.4

3.1

R.

montanus albescens, Meade County

d'

8

19.9c

14.6

9.4c 2.9

7.4 3.4

4.0

4.6

6.6

3.0

min.

19.2

14.0

9.0 2.8

7.2 3.2

3.7

4.5

6.3

2.9

max.

20.8

15.3

10.0 3.0

7.5 3.6

4.6

4.9

6.9

3.3

9

13744

19.8

14.0

9.8 3.0

6.7 3.4

3.6

4.5

6.1

3.0

9

13742

20.1

15.1

9.5 3.0

7.5 3.6

3.9

4.7

6.8

3.4

9

13741

14.7

9.5 2.9

3.0

4.3

4.6

6.7

3.1

d'

9

308

12922
5175

19.5

19.7
19.9

R. montanus griseus. Cloud County
14.7 9.3 3.0 7.1 3.5

3.6 4.6

14.3
14.8

Cowley County
3.1 7.9

2.9 7.7

3.5
3.5

3.6
3.7

4.4
4.7

6.5

6.3
6.5

3.0

3.2
2.8

a.
b.
c.
d.

10 averaged.
9 averaged.

7 averaged.

8 averaged.

Cricetid Mice

171

Genus Peromyscus Gloger

White-footed Mice

Three species of Peromyscus occur in Kansas. In these nocturnal
mice the tail is about as long as the head and body; these mice are
usually bicolored, dark brown or blackish above and white below.
More kinds are included in this genus than in any other mammalian
genus of North America. These mice occur throughout the North
American continent from the northern limit of tree growth south-
ward into the high forests of Panama.

100

39

38

•.••■.•:••.v■:•^^•.v.:;•:^•'•r;••'^aiiEifc•."^V•y

m}:^

=1

UwttMA of Natural Hiiloff
U<tiv«ri<ir ftt (CankOI

n*i

m

39

100

97

Fig. 47. Distribution of Peromyscus maniculatus in Kansas. 1. P. m. ne-
brascensis. 2. P. m. bairdii. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

Peromyscus maniculatus
Deer Mouse

This is the smallest species of Peromyscus in the state. The
total length is approximately six inches; the tail comprises approxi-
mately two inches of this total. The small ears and the small size
serve to distinguish this species from the brush mouse, Peromyscus
boylii. The bicolored tail and the small hind foot, less than 20
mm. in length, as well as the slightly smaller size, distinguish
Peromyscus maniculatus from Peromyscus leucopus. Sprague
(1939D: 495-497) described the diflFerences between the bacula of
P. maniculatus and P. leucopus obtained in Kansas.

172 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

The deer mouse inhabits grasslands in Kansas, being found in
pastures, meadows, fence rows, and in fact almost everywhere ex-
cept in woodlands. For nesting sites it utilizes old burrows and
runways of other mice, old logs, boards, fence posts, and, when
necessary, digs its own shallow burrow in the ground. It is the
most common rodent in many parts of the state. Brown ( 1946:451 ),
in investigating rodent activity in a mixed prairie two and one-half
miles west of Hays, Ellis County, learned that this species ". . .
was the most widely distributed and most abundant mammal found.
It was caught from burrows, open nests, piles of weeds, cactus
plants, holes beneath rocks, cracks in banks and from runs of the
meadow mouse. The number caught was greatest on the lowland.
Least activity was found on the short grass and artificial revegeta-
tion types. . . . Calculation from trapping records showed ap-
proximately 3232 [individuals] per square mile."

The deer mouse feeds on plant and animal materials. Brown
(loc. cit.) found near Hays, Ellis County, that: "Caches of stored
seeds and pellets near freshly eaten plants indicated that 24 differ-
ent species, of which 7 were grasses and 17 were forbs, furnished
some food for these animals. . . . The common sunflower was
most heavily utilized, also buffalo grass and cactus seeds were ex-
tensively eaten. . . . Evidence from excavated burrows showed
that much of the diet of this mouse consisted of crickets, beetles,
moths, spiders, millipedes and grasshoppers."

Nests of the deer mouse are usually constructed of the leaves of
grasses. According to Asdell (1946:238) this species tends to breed
all the year; the gestation period is 22 to 27 days. The litter size
ranges from two to eight, with an average of 5.38. In the fall and
winter of 1944 and 1945 at Hays, Kansas, Brown (1945:309) caught
100 females of which 17 were with embryos. These were distrib-
uted by months as follows : September, 7 ( 4 of these with embryos ) ;
October, 4(1); November, 7(1); December, 21 (1); January, 28
( 1 ) ; February, 16 ( 3 ) ; and March, 17 ( 6 ) .

Peromyscus maniculatus nebrascensis (Coues)

Hesperomys sonoriensis var nebrascensis Coues, Monogr. N. Amer.
Rodentia, p. 79, 1877, type from Deer Creek, western Nebraska.

Peromyscus maniculatus nebrascensis, Meams, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washing-
ton, 24:102, 1911; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:242, 1933;
Hibbard, Jour. Mamm., 18:102, 1937; Black, Kansas State Board
Agric., 30th Biennial Kept., p. 192, 1937; Sprague, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 42:487, 1939; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 42:507, 1939; Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:515, 1939;
Webb, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:479, 1940; P. B. Allen, Kansas

Cricetid Mice 173

State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist., Surv.,

20(5) :41, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:78, 1944;

Brown, Ecology, 26:308, 1945; Brown, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

48:450, 1946.
Peromtjscus m[aniculatus] nebrascensis, Hibbard, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,

25(7) :174. 1938.
Peromijscus maniculatus cf. nebrascensis, Hibbard and Rinker, Univ.

Kansas Sci. Bull., 29 (pt. 2, no. 4): 263, 1943.
Peromyscus nebraskensis [sic], Riegel, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 44:99,

1941.
Peromyscus texanus nebrascensis, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

19:174, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:334,

1905; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :215, 1907.
Peromijscus texensis nebrascensis, Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., Publ.

115, Zool. Ser., 8:220, 1907.
Peromyscus maniculatus luteus, Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 28:79, 1909.
Peromyscus luteus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :214, 1907.
Peromyscus maniculatus osgoodi, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

47:242, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept.,

p. 192, 1937; Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull.

Information, Nat. Hist. Sur\'., 20(5) :40, 1940.
Peromyscus maniculatus, Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:302,

1940.
Hcsperomys leucopus var. sonoriensis, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst.,

6:49, 1874; Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875.
Hesperomys leucopus sonoriensis. Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

11:58, 1889.
Peromyscus leucopus texanus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat Hist.,

7:269, 1895.
Peromyscus texanus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:174, 1905;

Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :215, 1907.

Distribution. — ^^'^estem part of the state, east certainly to Phillips, Osborne,
Barton, and Harper counties. See map, figure 47.

Remarks. — External measurements of six males and two females
from 23 miles (bv road) northwest of St. Francis, are: ^ 144.5
(140-150), $ 153, 142; 59.8 (56-64), 62, 58; 19.8 (19-21), 20, 19;
16.1 (14-17), 17,15.

Dice (1941:18) investigated the variation of the deer mouse in
Nebraska. He concluded: "The tendency of the pelage color of
deer-mice to be correlated with the soil color of the local habitat
has resulted in the development of a pale-colored geographical
race, Peromyscus maniculatus nebrascensis, on the pale-colored
soils of the Nebraska sand hills. The sand-hill race, however, is
nowhere uniform in pelage color, and every local population has a
high degree of variability in shade of color. This variability is
probably due in considerable part to constant interbreeding with
the darker-colored populations which surround the sand hills on
every side.

"The geographical gradients of pelage color and of body di-

174 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

mensions seldom proceed evenly, but are frequently broken by the
occurrence of local races which do not conform to the general
trends."

My assignment of the western Kansas specimens to the sub-
species, Peromyscus maniculatus nebrascensis is tentative. As seen
above. Dice is inclined to restrict the name, P. m. nebrascensis to
the populations found in the Nebraska sand hills. The deer mice
of the Great Plains need considerably more study before their rela-
tions are clearly understood.

Specimens examined. — Total, 346, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
23 mi. (by road) NW St. Francis, 8. Rawlins County: 2 mi. NE Ludell, 29;
VA mi. W Ludell, 1; 27 mi. W Atwood [=7 mi. N, 16M mi. W Atwood], 3.
Decatur County: 2 mi. S, 6 mi. W Oberlin, 6; lOJj mi. S, 3^ mi. W Oberlin, 2;
lOYi mi. S, 4 mi. W Oberlin, 1. Norton County: 5 mi. W, 1 mi. N Logan, 10; 4.
mi. W, 1 mi. S Logan, 5. Phillips County: Long Island, 1; 3 mi. SE Long
Island, 2. Sherman County: VA mi. E, M mi. S Edson, 2. Thomas County:
10 mi. N, 6 mi. E Colby, 21. Rooks County: 6 mi. SW Woodston, 1. Osborne
County: H mi. W Downs, 1. Wallace County: 2 mi. S Wallace, 1; Lacey
Ranch, 1; 9 mi. S Wallace, Lacey Ranch, 1; 13 mi. SE Wallace, Lacey Ranch,
1. Logan County: Vincent Ranch, N Fork Smoky River, 3; 5 mi. W Elkader,
9; Unspecified, 5. Gove County: 4 mi. W Banner, 1; Castle Rock, 6 (OCR).
Trego County: Hackberry Creek, Banner, 7; Saline R. 8 mi. N Wakeeney, 9;
Wakeeney, 1; Unspecified, 1. Ellis County: 3/2 mi. W, /2 mi. S Hays, 11.
Scott County: State Park, 14 (OCR). Lane County: 2 mi. N Pendennis, 1.
Barton County: 3 mi. N, 2 mi. W Hoisington, 12. Hamilton County: 7 mi.
NE Coohdge, 1; 1 mi. E CooHdge, 10. Kearny County: Oanica, 1. Pawnee
County: 1 mi. S Lamed, 4; 2 mi. S, 1 mi. E Lamed, 1; 3 mi. S, IM mi. W
Lamed, 3. Edwards County: 3M mi. E Kinsley, 2; 1 mi. W, 3/2 mi. S Kinsley,
3; S side Arkansas R., 2 mi. S Kinsley, 7. Stanton County: TA mi. W, 1 mi. N
Manter, 1. Ford County: H mi. NW Bellefont, 3. Kiowa County: 5 mi. N
Belvidere, 7. Pratt County: Pratt, 6. Morton County: Cimarron R. NW
RoUa, 1; 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 14; 7'A mi. N, VA mi. W Elkhart, 1.
Seward County: 1 mi. E Arkalon, 2. Meade County: 1 mi. W, 5 mi. N Fowler,
1; 1 mi. N, 1 mi. E Fowler, 2 (OCR); 4 mi. W Fowler, 1; State Lake, 4;
State Park, 35 (24, GCR); 13 mi. SW Meade, 7; 14 mi. SW Meade, 1;
17 mi. SW Meade, 31. Clark County: 7 mi. S Kingsdown, 3. Comanche
County: Schwartz Canyon, 4 mi. W Aetna, 4. Barber County: 6 mi. W
Aetna, 1; 1 mi. W Aetna, 1; Wells Ranch, Aetna, 2; 4%o rni. S Sun City, 2.
Harper County: 4/2 mi. NE Danville, 1; 1 mi. N Harper, 3; 5 mi. W Harper,
1; 3 mi. S Harper, 2.

Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii (Hoy and Kennicott)

Mus bairdii Hoy and Kennicott, in Kennicott, Agricultural Rept., U. S.
Patent Office, 1856, p. 92, type from Bloomington, McLean County,
Illinois.

Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii. Dice, Ecology, 4:46, 1923; Dice,
Jour. Mamm., 4:109, 1923; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:144, 1928;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:242, 1933; Clark, Jour.
Mamm., 17:44, 1936; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th
Biennial Rept., p. 193, 1937; Dice, Occ. Papers Mus. Zool., Univ.
Mich., 351:2, 1937; Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:488,
1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull,
Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :41, 1940; Clark, Genetics,
26:286, 1941; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:78, 1944;
Bmmwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:212, 1951.

Cricetid Mice 175

Peromyscus m[aniculatus] bairdii, Hibbard, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,

25(7):174, 1938.
Peromyscus maniculatus bairdi, Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 28:82, 1909.
P[eromyscus] maniculatus bairdi, McNair, Jour. Mamm., 12:48, 1931.
Peromyscus maniculatus, Jameson, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mas. Nat.

Hist, 1:137, 1947.
Hesperomys (vesperimus) michiganensis, Coues, Monograph N. Amer.

Rodentia, p. 97, 1877.
H[esperomys] Michiganensis, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21,

1875.
Peromyscus michiganensis, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:174,

1905; Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., Publ. 115, Zool. Ser., 8:239,

1907.
P[eromyscus] michiganensis, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta.

Bull., 129:334, 1905; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :215,

1907.

Distribution. — Eastern part of the state, west certainly to Mitchell, Ellsworth,
Reno, and Cowley counties. See map, figure 47.

Remarks. — External measurements of four males and four females
from Anderson County, are: ^ 131.5 (128-133), $ 132.7 (127-
139); 52.2 (49-54), 52.7 (49-55); 19.5 (19-20), 19.0 (18-20); 14.5
(14-16), 14.0 (13-15).

Populations of deer mice in western Kansas, here referred to the
subspecies P. in. nehrascensis, average larger in external measure-
ment and are paler than populations in the eastern part of the state
which are referred to P. m. bairdii. P. m. nehrascensis is variable,
ranging from pale ochraceous buff, more or less intermixed with
dusky, to a bright orange-tawny in dorsal coloration. P. m. bairdii
is much darker, being a rich russet or warm brown in dorsal colora-
tion. A dorsal blackish stripe is evident in P. m. bairdii and obscure
in P. m. nebrascensis.

Specimens examined. — Total, 645, distributed as follows: Nemaha County:
Nebraska-Kansas line, 7 mi. N Sabetha, 1; lOM mi. N Seneca, 1; 6 mi. N
Sabetha, 1; 2)2 mi. S Sabetha, 2. Brown County: 7 mi. N, 9 mi. W Hia-
watha, 3; 3 mi. N Hiawatha, 1; 5 mi. S Hiawatha, 1. Doniphan County:
Geary, 4; Unspecified, 1. Mitchell County: 3/2 mi. W, M mi. S Beloit, 6.
Cloud County: 3 mi. E Concordia, 23; 3/2 mi. E, 1 mi. N Glasco, 1. Clay
County: 6 mi. SW Clay Center, 4. Jackson County: IOJ2 mi. WSW Holton,
1. Leavenworth County: Ft. Leavenworth, 14; Unspecified, 4. Wyandotte
County: 1 mi. S, M mi. W court house, Kansas City, 1. Ottawa County: 3
mi. SW Minneapohs, 1. Douglas County: 1 mi. NNW Midland, 1; 4/2 mi.
N Lawrence, 2; 2 mi. N Lawrence, 1; 1 mi. N Lawrence, 2; 2/2 mi. W Law-
rence, 1; 1 mi. W Lawrence, 4; Lawrence, 151; 6 mi. S KU (Lawrence), 1;
7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 5; Washington Creek Swamp, 2; Washington Creek,
56; 9 mi. S, 7 mi. W Lawrence, 1; Unspecified, 18. Johnson County: 1 mi.
NW Community Bldg., Sunflower, 1. Ellstvorth County: 2/2 mi. S Wilson, 1.
Saline County: 4 mi. W Solomon, 4 (AJK); Solomon, 1; 4 mi. E Solomon,

1 (AJK); 4 mi. E Salina, 1 (AJK). Dickinson County: 3 mi. NW Abilene,

2 (AJK). McPherson County: 1 mi. S, % mi. W Lindsborg, 4; 1 mi. S
Lindsborg, 1. Marion County: VA mi. NE Lincolnville, 5; Lincolnville, 1;

176

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

3 mi. SE Lincolnville, 1; Unspecified, 1. Chase County: 2 mi. W Cotton-
wood Falls, 1; 2 mi. E Cottonwood Falls, 1; 3 mi. E, 4 mi. S court house,
Cottonwood Falls, 1. Osage County: 3 mi. N Lyndon, 1. Coffey County:

4 mi. N Burlington, 1; 2/2 mi. S Burlington, 1. Franklin County: VA mi. S
LeLoup, 1; 4 mi. N Ottawa, 6. Anderson County: 3^io mi. S Gamett, 3;
6 mi. SW Garnett, 2; 7 mi. S Garnett, 5; M mi. SE Welda, 1. Miami County:
6 mi. SW Spring Hill, 5; 6 mi. N Paola, 2; 11 mi. SSE Paola, 3. Linn County:
6 mi. SE Fontana, 1; Unspecified, 1. Reno County: 8 mi. N, 1 mi. E Haven,
2, 2 mi. W, /2 mi. S Medora, 1. Harvey County: 6 mi. SW Newton, 1;
1 mi. E, IM mi. N Halstead, 18; 1 mi. E Halstead, 7; M mi. E Halstead, 1;
/2 mi. E, 2 mi. S Halstead, 2; 1 mi. S, M mi. E Halstead, 17; 1 mi. S Hal-
stead, 5; Unspecified, 2. Greenwood County: Hamilton, 141 (140, GCR);
1 mi. S Hamilton, 1; 4 mi. S, 14 mi. W Hamilton, 3; 8/2 mi. SW Toronto,
25. Woodson County: Neosho Falls, 3. Allen County: Moran, 2. Cowley
County: 6 mi. N, 12 mi. E Arkansas City, 1; Arkansas City, 2; 8.1 mi. E
Arkansas City, 3; 3 mi. SE Arkansas City, 1. Chautauqua County: I/2 mi.
SW Cedar Vale, 2. Montgomery County: Independence, 1; 3/2 mi. E, 2 mi.
N CoflFeyville, 2. Labette County: 11 mi. W Parsons, 5; 10 mi. E Parsons,
3; 1/2 mi. W, 3 mi. S Parsons, 3; Oswego, 4; 10 mi. SW Oswego, 1. Cherokee
County: 4 mi. S Columbus, 2; 4 mi. SE Columbus, 5; 1 mi. S, 4% mi. E
Baxter Springs, 3; 9 mi. SW Columbus, 1.

Peromyscus leucopus

Wood Mouse

Four subspecies of this species occur in Kansas. They differ from
P. maniculatus in being larger, having a longer, more sparsely-
haired and less bicolored tail, and larger hind feet; from P. boylii
in being smaller, having a shorter, more sparsely-haired and less bi-
colored tail and smaller hind feet.

100

ii

Hvsewm of NxiTvfot Hislory

lM^f«rs•l, of KantOK

1945

39

38

100

97

Fig. 48. Distribution of Peromyscus leucopus in Kansas. 1. P. I. aridulus.
2. P. I. noveboracensis. 3. P. I. tornillo. 4. P. I. texanus. See figure 5 for
explanation of symbols.

Cricetid Mice 177

Peromyscus leucopus is an inhabitant of woodlands, at least in
the eastern part of the state. Farther west it is restricted to local
patches of trees, usually in the river bottoms. In Morton and
Stanton counties I have taken it in sage brush along rocky ledges
bordering the Cimarron River and Rock Creek.

According to Asdell (1946:237) the wood mouse breeds from
early April to the beginning of October in the northern part of its
range. In the south it breeds at any time but reproduction tends
to fall oflF in July and August. In specimens examined from Ontario,
the litter size ranges from three to seven with an average of 5.04.

Seventeen specimens taken in Kansas have embryo counts avail-
able. These are distributed by months as follows: February, 1;
March, 1; April, 3; June, 2; July, 2; August, 1; September, 5;
October, 1; November, 3. The number of embryos ranged from
three to seven with an average of 4.7.

This mouse usually nests in the ground, either in burrows of its
own making or in those abandoned by some other mouse, but it
may construct its nest in a hollow stump, log, or tree, or under
rocks and logs on the ground.

Peromyscus leucopus aridulus Osgood

Peromijscus leucopus aridulus Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 28:122, 1909,
type from Fort Custer, Yellowstone County, Montana; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 194, 1937; Hibbard,
Jour. Mamm., 18:102, 1937; Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
42:490, 1939 (part from Rawlins County); P. B. Allen, Kansas
State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist.,
Surv., 20(5) :42, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:79,
1944.

Peromyscus l[eucopus] aridulus, Hibbard, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
25(7) :174, 1938.

Distribution. — In suitable habitat in the northwestern part of the state, east
certainly to Phillips County and south certainly to Thomas Couny. See map,
figure 48.

Remarks. — External measurements of ten males and ten females
from two miles northeast of Ludell, are: ^ 174.3 (165-196), $
178.9 (161-188); 79.7 (70-88), 80.6 (75-85); 22.6 (22-23), 22.2
(21-23); 16.9 (16-18), 16.6 (16-17).

Specimens examined. — Total, 66, distributed as follows: Rawlins County:
2 mi. NE Ludell, 61. Phillips County: Long Island, 4. Thomas County:
6 mi. E, 10 mi. N Colby, 3100 ft., 1.

Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis (Fischer)

[AIus sylvaticus] noveboracensis Fischer, Synopsis mammalium, p.
318, 1829, type from New York.

Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis, Miller, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat.
Hist., 28:22, 1897; Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 28:117, 1909; Dice,
Ecology, 4:44, 1923; Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:109, 1923; Linsdale,

178 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Jour. Mamm., 8:52, 1927; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:144, 1928;
Hall, Jour. Mamm., 9:255, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 36:242, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial
Kept., p. 193, 1937; Hibbard, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull, 25(7) :174,
1938; Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:489, 1939; P. B. Allen,
Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat.
Hist. Surv., 20(5) :41, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:79, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:212, 1951.

P[eromyscus] leucopus noveboracensis, McNair, Jour. Mamm., 12:48,
1931.

Peromyscus rufinus, Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., Publ. 115, Zool. Ser.,
8:215, 1907.

Hesperomys leucopus, Coues, Monograph N. Amer. Rodentia, p. 62,

1877.

Peromyscus leucopus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2):214, 1907;
Jameson, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:137, 1947.

Distribution. — Eastern part of the state, west certainly to Mitchell, Ellsworth,
Reno, and Cowley counties. See map, figure 48.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and three fe-
males from Douglas County, are: $ 193, 185, 176, $ 186, 177,
181; 89, 78, 85, 88, 83, 83; 21, 20, 22, 22, 23, 22; 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16;
weight in grams, 30.3, 30.7, 28.3, 33.3, 28.0, 30.0.

Specimens examined. — Total, 594, distributed as follows: Republic County:
/2 mi. E Agenda, 1. Nemaha County: Nebraska-Kansas line, 7 mi. N Sabetha,
1; 6 mi. N Sabetha, 1; % mi. E, 3/2 mi. S Sabetha, 1; 4 mi. S Sabetha, 1. Brown
County: 7 mi. N, /2 mi. E Hiawatha, 1; 3 mi. N Hiawatha, 1. Doniphan
County: 2 mi. N White Cloud, 2; VA mi. N White Cloud, 2; Geary, 15.
Mitchell County: 3^2 mi. W, Jz mi. S Beloit, 1500 ft., 4. Cloud County: 3 mi.
E Concordia, 21; Bullock Farm, 4 mi. E Glasco, 4. Clay County: 4 mi. S
Clay Center, 1; 6 mi. S Clay Center, 3. Jackson County: 10^2 mi. WSW
Holton, 12. Atchison County: 1.8 mi. N Atchison, 1; 1.8 mi. N, 1 mi. E
Atchison, 1; 2 mi. S Atchison, 2; 1 mi. E, 1 mi. S Horton, 3. Jefferson County:
1/2 mi. E, 7/2 mi. N Lawrence, 1; 7 mi. N Lawrence, 1. Leavenworth County.
Ft. Leavenworth Reservation, 49. Dickinson County: Solomon, 2. Shawnee
County: 1 mi. S Silver Lake, 857 ft., 2; 3 mi. W, 4M mi. N State Capitol Bldg.,
Topeka, 1; /2 mi. N, 1 mi. E Auburn, 1. Osage County: 3 mi. SE Carbondaie,
2; 3 mi. N Lyndon, 1. Douglas County: 5 mi. N Lawrence, 1; 4 mi. N
Lawrence, 1; 2 mi. N Lawrence, 9; 1 mi. N Lawrence, 1; Fort Lake, Law-
rence, 7; 1 mi. W Lawrence, 2; Lawrence, 47; 7 to 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 67,
Rock Creek, 850 ft., 10 mi. SW Lawrence, 2; N end Lone Star State Lake, 9
mi. S, 7 mi. W Lawrence, 4; Unspecified, 39. Johnson County: J2 mi. E Sun-
flower Village, 1. Barton County: Arkansas R., I/2 mi. W, ¥2 mi. S Ellinwood,
7. Ellsworth County: 3 mi. S Wilson, 1. Saline County: 4 mi. W Solomon,
1 (AJK). McPherson County: Smoky Hill R., 1 mi. S, )2 mi. W Lindsborg,
3; 1 mi. S Lindsborg, 1. Marion County: 4/2 mi. E Peabody, 2; 2 mi. N
Lincolnville, 1; I/2 mi. NE Lincolnville, 16. Chase County: 9 mi. E Lincoln-
ville, 2. Lyon County: 6 mi. W, 5 mi. N Emporia, 1. Coffey County: % mi.
W Waverly, 1. Franklin County: 4 mi. N Ottawa, 2. Anderson County:
(near) Garnett, 1; S^/io mi. S Garnett, 14; 4%o mi. S Garnett, 2; 6 mi. SW
Gamett, 1; 6 mi. S Garnett, 1. Miami County: 3 mi. SW Spring Hill, 2; 6 mi.
N Paola, 1; 5/2 mi. SE Fontana, 1; 11 mi. SSE Paola, 3. Linn County:
5/2 mi. SE Fontana, 2; 6 mi. SE Fontana, 7; 6/2 mi. SE Fontana, 3; /2 mi.
S Pigeon Lake, 3; 2 mi. SW Pigeon Lake, 3; 2 mi. S Pigeon Lake^ 4; 5^2 mi.
S Pigeon Lake, 1; Unspecified, 1. Reno County: 2 mi. W Medora, 4; 2 mi.
W, /2 mi. S Medora, 1; 8 mi. N, 1 mi. E Haven, 1. Harvey County: 2 mi.
N, 32 mi. E Newton, 1. Greenwood County: Hamilton, 86 (GCR); 4 mi. S, 11
mi. W Hamilton, 1; 12 mi. SW Hamilton, 1; 8)2 mi. SW Toronto, 24; Unspeci-

CmcETiD Mice 179

fied, 3. Woodson County: Neosho Falls, 4. Allen County: 5/2 mi. N, 4M
mi. W lola, 2; VA mi. W, 2 mi. N Humboldt Bridge, Humboldt, 1. Bourbon
County: 1 mi. W Ft. Scott, 1; Fort Scott, 1. Crawford County: Vi mi. W, IS
mi. N Mulberry, 1; 1 mi. N Mulberry, 1. Cowley County: 6 mi. N, 12
mi. E Arkansas City, 2; 5 mi. N, 11 mi. E Arkansas City, 1; 1.7 mi. N, .8 mi.
E Arkansas City, 1; 3 mi. SE Arkansas City, 15. Chautauqua County:
IJi mi. SW "Cedarvale," 2. Montgomery County: Independence, 5. Labette
County: 10 mi. E Parsons, 1; 11 mi. W Parsons, 1; 2 mi. S Parsons, 600 ft., 1;
Oswego, 3; 10 mi. SW Oswego, 9. Cherokee County: 4 mi. S Columbus,
2; % mi. N, 6 mi. E Baxter Springs, 1; 5/2 mi. E, l/i mi. S Baxter Springs, 3;
1/2 mi. S Galena, 1; 3 mi. S Galena, 3; Tristate Monument, 2; Unspecified, 1.

Peromyscus leucopus tomillo Mearns

Feromyscus tomillo Meams, Preliminary diagnosis of new mammals
from the Mexican border of the United States, privately published,
p. 3, March 25, 1896 (Reprint: Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 18:445, May
23, 1896), type from Rio Grande, about six miles above El Paso,
El Paso County, Texas.

Feromyscus leucopus tomillo, Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 28:125, 1909;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:242, 1933; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept., p. 195, 1937; Sprague,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:490, 1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas State
Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv.,
20(5) :42, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:79, 1944.

Distribution. — In suitable habitats in southwestern Kansas north certainly to
Stanton County and east certainly to Meade County. See map, figure 48.

Remarks. — External measurements of six males and two females
from nine miles north and three miles east of Elkhart, are: ^ 161.1
(155-167), $ 174, 171; 69.8 (66-74), 76, 75; 20.6 (20-22), 22, 20;
15.3 (11-18), 16, 16.

Specimens examined. — Total, 116, distributed as follows: Stanton County:
6 mi. W, m mi. N Manter, 2; 7)i mi. W, 1 mi. N Manter, 7; 6 mi. W, 1 mi.
N Manter, 6. Gray County: 6'A mi. NW Fowler, 13. Ford County: 1 mi. E,
8 mi. N Fowler, 13. Morton County: 81 Ranch, }i mi. N Cimarron R. [= 9
mi, N, 3 mi. E Elkhart], 15; 7 mi. N, 2 mi. W Elkhart, 2. Meade County:
1 mi. W, 5 mi. N Fowler, 28; 11^ mi. E Meade, 1 (GCR); State Park, 14 mi,
SW Meade, 29 (GCR). Clark County: 7 mi. S Kingsdown, 8.

Peromyscus leucopus texanus (Woodhouse)

Hesperomys texana Woodhouse, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia,
6:242, 1853, type probably from the vicinity of Mason, Mason
County, Texas. ( Osgood, 1909 : 129. )

Feromyscus leucopus texanus, Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 28:127, 1909.

Feromyscus leucopus tomillo, Hibbard, Jour. Mamm., 18:102, 1937.

Feromyscus leucopus aridulus, Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:490,
1939 (part from Pratt, Comanche, and Barber counties).

Distribution. — South-central Kansas from Comanche County north certainly to
Pawnee County and east certainly to Harper County. See map, figure 48.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and three fe-
males from four and three-tenths miles south of Sun City, are:
S 182, 175, 177, $ 170, 178, 174; 82, 79, 84, 79, 80, 80; 23, 22, 22,
22, 21, 21; 17, 16, 16, 16, 16,17.

180

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Specimens examined. — Total, 133, distributed as follows: Pawnee County:
2 mi. S, M mi. W Lamed, 2. Edwards County: 1 mi. W, 3 mi. S Kingsley, 1;
S side Arkansas River, 2 mi. S Kingsley, 7. Kiowa County: 5 mi. N Belvidere,
40. Pratt County: 3 mi. E Pratt, 1. Comanche County: 4 mi. SW Aetna, 15;
Schwartz Canyon, 4 mi. W Aetna, 5. Barber County: Sun City (south Bridge),
3; 43/io mi. S Sun City, 6; 18 mi. S Sun City, 2; 1 mi. S Aetna, 1. Harper
County: 1 mi. N Harper, 5; 4^2 mi. NE Harper, 24; 7 mi. NW Harper, 1.

Peromyscus boylii

Brush Mouse

Only one subspecies of the brush mouse occurs in Kansas. It
has been found only in the southeastern corner of the state. It
occurs throughout the southwestern United States; the eastern
limits of the species are in Missouri and Arkansas. As aheady in-
dicated, this is the largest species of the genus that occurs in the

39

38

•u=

MvtSuffl of NofurflT History

Uni.ersKjr o< Konjat

1945

39

38

100

97

Fig. 49. Distribution of Peromyscus boylii attwateri in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

state. The total length is approximately eight inches, of which
the tail comprises four inches.

In Kansas this species has been found only on or near rocky
ledges and cliffs. According to Black (1937:195) it builds nests in
cracks between and under rocks, and piles up brush and sticks on
a small scale after the fashion of the pack rat. Acorns, Black re-
ports, are one of the favorite foods. Stomach contents of the two
specimens taken at Shole Creek, Cherokee County, are indicated on
the specimen labels as being "Insect and seed pulp" for one and

Cricetid Mice 181

"Acorn and seed pulp" for the other. Both specimens were taken
in September.

According to Asdell (1946:236) this species breeds all year in the
lowlands of the western United States but in the mountains, young
are not born until May. He states that the litter size is two to four,
usually three.

An examination of specimens of this subspecies in the collection
of the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History reveals that
the embryo counts, as indicated by the collector on the skin labels,
of three females from McDonald County, Missouri, were four, four,
and six, respectively. These three females were taken on November
27. Lactating females have been taken on April 20 ( Boone County,
Arkansas ) and October 9 ( Stone County, Arkansas ) . Hall reported
(1946:519), for different subspecies in Nevada, that one female con-
tained six embryos and a second contained four. The range of the
number of embryos, as given by Asdell {loc. cit.), should probably
read "from two to six," rather than "two to four."

Peromyscus boylii attwateri Allen

Peromtjscus attwateri J. A. Allen, Bull. Anier. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:330,
1895, type from Turtle Creek, Kerr County, Texas; Lantz, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2):214, 1907.

Peromyscus boylii attwateri, Bailey, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 19:57,
1906; Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 28:148, 1909; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:243, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric,
30th Biennial Kept., p. 199, 1937; Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
42:491, 1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia,
Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :42, 1940; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:79, 1944.

Distribution. — Known only from rocky ledges in Cherokee and Chautauqua
counties, in southeastern Kansas. See map, figure 49.

Remarks. — External measurements of six males and four females
from three miles south of Galena, are: males 182.8 (174-198), fe-
males 182.7 (110-195); 93.3 (83-104), 94.7 (88-103); 23.3 (23-25),
24.2 (24-25); 18.9 (18-20), 18.4 (17.5-19).

Cranially this species can be distinguished from Peromyscus mani-
ciilatus in Kansas by the larger size of the skull. From Peromyscus
leucopus in Kansas, P. boylii can be distinguished by the pro-
nouncedly greater width of the interorbital constriction and greater
length of the tooth-row.

Specimens examined. — Total, 18, distributed as follows: Cherokee County:
"Shole" Creek, 2; VA mi. S Galena, 3; 3 mi. S Galena, 850 ft., 11; % mi. N, 6 mi.
E Baxter Springs, 850 ft., 2.

Additional records. — Chautauqua Co.: "Cedarvale," 1 (Osgood, 1909:149).

182 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

TABLE 20. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Peromyscus.

li

Is

5

■3

a
o
•■&

•1

1

"3

5

1

ngth of upper
ow

K

3

1

1

1

s

•s

1

•l

00

2;

GS

§

a

3

N

<

P. maniculatus nebracensis, Rawlins County

d^

24

20.2c

10. 4d

3.7e

9.5

12. 4f

3.5

min.

18.5

10.0

3.6

9.0

11.5

3.1

max.

21.2

11.2

4.1

10.0

13.2

4.0

9

6

19.8a

10.3a

4.0

9.3

12.5b

3.5

min.

18.0

10.0

3.9

8.7

11.7

3.1

max.

21.1

10.5

4.1

10.0

13.0

3.9

P.m.

bairdii,

Douglas

County

<?

5

17.9

10.8

3.9

9.1

12.2

3.4

min.

17.1

10.5

3.7

8.7

11.9

3.2

max.

18.7

11.2

4.2

10.2

12.5

3.6

9

6

17.7

10.8

3.9

9.0

11.9

3.4

min.

17.1

10.0

3.5

8.2

11.3

3.3

max.

18.9

12.0

4.2

9.4

12.7

3.5

P. leucop

us aridulus, Rawlins County

&

5

20.3

11.5

4.3

10.3

13.5

3.9

min.

19.5

11.3

4.2

9.8

13.3

3.8

max.

20.6

11.7

4.5

10.8

13.7

4.0

9

5

20.9

11.5

4.3

10.3

14.1

3.8

min.

19.7

11.1

4.2

9.5

14.0

3.7

max.

22.0

12.0

4.5

11.3

14.2

4.0

P. I. noveboracensis, Anderson County

cT

5

20.2

11.3

4.2

9.9

13.6

3.7

min.

19.5

10.9

4.0

9.5

13.1

3.6

max.

21.1

11.7

4.5

10.5

14.1

3.8

9

5

20.3

11.1

4.2

9.7

13.4

3.8

min.

20.0

10.6

4.0

9.1

13.2

3.7

max.

21.3

11.4

4.5

10.5

13.8

3.9

P. I.

tornillo,

Morton County

c?

4

19.4

11.5

4.4

9.8

13.5

3.7

min.

18.9

11.1

4.3

9.4

13.0

3.6

max.

20.0

12.0

4.5

10.1

13.9

4.0

9

5470

20.6

11.5

4.3

11.1

14.4

3.9

9

5477

20.0

11.4

4.4

10.1

14.0

3.7

Cricetid Mice

183

TABLE 20. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Peromyscus. —

Concluded.

I- t*

1

1
a.

•Si

a

•s

.2

i
3

o

J3

3

— ?

1

3

n

'3

••a

2

a

l-H

^

a

5

P.L

texanus,

Barber

County

c?

18967

21.5

11.8

4.3

10.8

14.4

3.8

<f

18969

20.5

10.7

4.1

10.2

14.1

3.6

<f

18972

20.8

11.5

4.3

10.3

14.1

3.7

9

18968

19.9

11.0

4.4

9.8

14.0

3.9

9

18970

20.1

11.4

4.1

10.7

14.1

3.8

9

18971

20.7

11.5

4.1

10.6

14.1

3.8

P. hoijlii

■ attwateri

i, Cherokee County

cf

14577

21.5

11.8

4.7

10.5

14.0

4.0

c?

14580

20.0

11.6

4.7

9.7

13.6

4.2

cf

14582

19.9

11.6

4.7

9.8

13.7

3.9

9

14576

20.0

11.6

4.6

9.3

13.9

4.1

9

14578

21.0

11.7

4.6

10.4

14.2

4.0

9

14579

20.4

12.4

4.5

10.1

13.5

4.1

a.

5 i

weraged.

b.

3 1

averaged.

c.

21

averaged.

d.

19

averaged.

e.

23

averaged.

f.

20

averaged.

Genus Sigmodon Say and Ord

Cotton Rats

This genus occurs in North and South America from the central
United States southward, through Mexico and Central America,
into northern South America. Generic characteristics include: skull
short and wide; rostrum short and swollen, auditory bullae rela-
tively small; body stout; pelage long and coarse, more or less con-
cealing the short ears; tail shorter than head and body; front feet
small; hind feet long; soles naked. Only one species occurs in
Kansas.

184

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist,

Sigmodon hispidus

Hispid Cotton Rat

The cotton rat weighs approximately four ounces and an adult is
approximately ten inches in length, of which the tail comprises
four inches. The color on the back and sides is grayish-brown to
buffy-gray with an admixture of black, resulting in a grizzled ap-
pearance; the venter is paler (whitish), usually a light gray. The
cotton rat can be distinguished from the Norway rat (Rattus
norvegicus) and from the pack rats (Neotoma spp. ) by the lesser
total length and shorter tail. The pack rat is 14 to 15 inches in total

100

39

38

Umtittn el Notv^oi Hijiofy
1945

39

38

100

97

Fig. 50. Distribution of Sigmodon hispidus texianus in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

length of which the tail makes up six to six and a half inches. The
Norway rat has a total length ranging up to 16 inches; the tail makes
up slightly less than half of this length.

The cotton rat, at times, becomes locally abundant, sometimes
numerous. In areas of such abundance, it is often a pest — even a
menace — to the farmer. Grain crops are often damaged and yields
of hay are noticeably reduced by its ravages.

I have already presented data (Cockrum, 1948:306-312) show-
ing that, at least in eastern Kansas in the period 1933 to 1947, the
cotton rat expanded its range northward at least one hundred miles
from Greenwood and Allen counties in 1933, northward into Brown
County in 1947. Additional data and specimens reveal that, in the

Cotton Rat 185

western part of the state, the cotton rat has expanded its range
westward and northward but not so rapidly nor so far as in eastern
Kansas. I have examined a specimen taken on October 25, 1949,
just south of Hays. This specimen is in the collection of the Fort
Hays Kansas State College. E. P. Martin, formerly of that institu-
tion, who trapped the animal, reported ( in litt. ) : "As far as I, or
any one else here knows, this is the first record of Sigmodon in this
area."

In 1948, five specimens of Sigmodon were taken along Beaver
Creek, 12 miles west and six miles north of Scott City.

Field men for the U. S. Public Health Service, working primarily
to ascertain if plague was present in the rodent population in the
summer of 1949, trapped small mammals in 12 western Kansas
counties. They reported taking Sigmodon in Logan and Gove
counties and in six counties to the southward. The counties in
which Sigmodon were taken, the number of Sigmodon taken, and
the total number of mammals taken in each county, are as follows:
Logan (10 Sigmodon in 140 mammals taken); Gove (6 in 133);
Greeley (2 in 308); Wichita (16 in 526); Scott (55 in 333); Lane
(3 in 197); Ness (5 in 178); and Morton (111 in 752). In Rawlins,
Decatur, Thomas, and Trego counties no Sigmodon were taken,
although a total of 976 small mammals were taken in these four
counties.

In the summers of 1926 and 1927, parties from the University of
Kansas Biological Survey collected birds, mammals, and reptiles in
Morton County, the southwesternmost county of the state but took
no Sigmodon; perhaps it was not present then in the southwestern
county of the state.

In eastern Kansas the winter of 1948-49 was much more severe
than several of those immediately preceding it. Sleet and ice cov-
ered the ground to a depth of two to three inches, and remained on
the ground for approximately one month. In the summer of 1949
cotton rats were scarce in Douglas County. The following winter
(1949-50) was mild, and in the summer of 1950 cotton rats were
again numerous in most parts of Douglas County. Perhaps the
severity of the winter restricts the northern expansion of the range
of the cotton rat in Kansas, while a series of relatively mild winters
permits a northward expansion, and one or a series of severe win-
ters halts the expansion or even reduces the range.

Asdell (1946:239-240) reports that the cotton rat breeds from
early spring to late fall. The gestation period is 27 days. The Ht-
ters range in size from two to ten and average 5.6. Seventeen fe-

186 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

males from Kansas in the collection of the University of Kansas
Museum of Natural History have the numbers of embryos written
on the labels. These numbers range from three to 12 and aver-
age 6.0.

Sigmodon hispidus texianus (Audubon and Bachman)

Arvicola texiana Audubon and Bachman, Quadr. N. Amer., 3:229, 1853,
type from Brazos River, Texas.

Sigmodon hispidus texianus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.,
3:287, 1891; Bailey, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 15:106, 1902;
Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:174, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State
College Exp. Sta. Bull, 129:335, 1905; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 36:243, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th
Biennial Kept., p. 197, 1937; Sprague, Jour. Mamm., 19:246, 1938;
Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:508, 1939; P. B.
Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information,
Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :43, 1940; Rinker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
45:377, 1942; Rinker, Jour. Mamm., 23:439, 1942; Hibbard and
Rinker, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 29(pt. 2 no. 4):266, 1943; Hib-
bard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:80, 1944.

Sigmodon hispidus, Jameson, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist.,
1:137, 1947; Cockrum, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 51:306, 1948.

Distribution. — Throughout all but the northwestern part of the state. See map,
figure 50.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and 12 females

from three miles north and two miles west of Hoisington, are:

S^ 239.6 (225-265), ? 251.5 (202-277); 102.3 (95-111), 102.5 (87-

110); 30.5 (29.5-32), 31.6 (29-35); 17 (16-18), 17.5 (16-20); weight

in grams, 71.7 (50.2-98.0), 94.6 (56.5-203.4).

I have not had an opportunity to examine topotypical material of

Sigmodon hispidus alfredi from Baca County, Colorado. Specimens

from Meade, Ford, and Scott counties, Kansas, however, do not fit

the description of S. h. alfredi as given by Goldman and Gardner

(1947:57).

Specimens examined. — Total, 482, distributed as follows: Brown County:
5 mi. S Hiawatha, 1; 1 mi. N Horton, 2. Jackson County: 10/2 mi. WSW
Holton, 2. Atchison County: Di mi. S Muscotah, 6; 2 mi. S Muscotah, 6;
2.6 mi. S Atchison, 1. Jefferson County: Buck Creek, 900 ft., 1 mi. N, 3J4
mi. E Williamstown, 1; IM mi. E, 7/2 mi. N Lawrence, 1; 1/2 mi. E, 4/2 mi.
N Lawrence, 1. Ellis County: Near Hays, 1 (Fort Hays Kansas St. Col-
lege). Saline County: 1 mi. N Bavaria, 1. Shawnee County: 3 mi. W,
4M mi. N State Capitol Bldg., Topeka, 2. Douglas County: 1 mi. N Mid-
land, 1; /2 mi. NW Lecompton, 1; Lakeview, 1; 3 mi. NE Lawrence, 3; }i
mi. W Lawrence, 2; 1/2 mi. WSW Lawrence, 1; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 4;
Rock Creek, 850 ft., 10 mi. SW Lawrence, 2; N end Lone Star "State" Lake,
9 mi. S, 7 mi. W Lawrence, 3. Johnson County: 1 mi. NW Community
Bldg., Sunflower, 1; Sunflower Village, 2 mi. SW DeSoto, 1. Scott County:
Beaver Creek, 12 mi. W, 6 mi. N Scott City, 5. Barton County: 3 mi. N,
2 mi. W Hoisington, 16; I/2 mi. W, ¥2 mi. S Ellinwood, 1. Ellsworth County:

Cotton Rat 187

Ellsworth, 1. McPherson County: Smoky Hill River, 1 mi. S, J2 mi. W
Lindsborg, 16; 1 mi. S Lindsborg, 2. Marion County: 2 mi. E, IVz mi. N
Peabody, 2; 4M mi. E Peabody, 1. Lyon County: 6 mi. W, 5 mi. N Emporia,
3. Coffey County: Tk mi. S Burlington, 1. Osage County: 3 mi. N Lyndon,
1. Anderson County: M mi. SE Welda, 12; 3.7 mi. S Gamett, 1; 7 mi. S
Gamett, 1. Miami County: 9 mi. N Paola, 1; 11 mi. SSE Paola, 46. Linn
County: M mi. N, 4 mi. W Prescott, 1. Pawnee County: 2 mi. S, 1 mi. E
Lamed, 3; 3 mi. S, VA mi. W Lamed, 2. Reno County: 1 mi. N, 2 mi. W
Medora, 2; 2 mi. W Medora, 1; 2 mi. W, 'A mi. S Medora, 10; 8 mi. N, 1
mi. E Haven, 2. Harvey County: J2 mi. NW Newton, 1; 1 mi. S Halstead,
9; 1 mi. S, J2 mi. E Halstead, 8; 2 mi. S, J2 mi. E Halstead, 1. Greenwood
County: Hamilton, 43 (GCR); 2 mi. E Hamilton, 1; J2 mi. S Hamilton, 2;
1 mi. S Hamilton, 1; 5 mi. S Hamilton, 1; 8 mi. SW Toronto, 9; 8M mi. SW
Toronto, 16. Allen County: 2 mi. W Petrolia, 1. Ford County: Js mi. NW
Bellefont, 6. Kiowa County: Rezeau Ranch, 5 mi. N Belvidere, 3. Pratt
County: Fish Hatchery, 1; Unspecified, 2. Sedgwick County: 4 mi. N, 2
mi. E Court house, Wichita, 1. Neosho County: 3 mi. NW Chanute, 1.
Crawford County: J2 mi. E Mulberry, 1. Meade County: Meade County
State Park, 4; 14 mi. SW Meade, 4; 17 mi. SW Meade, 63; Unspecified, 7.
Harper County: 5 mi. NW Harper, 4; 3 mi. S Harper, 10; 4'/2 mi. NE Dan-
ville, 6. Cowley County: 6 mi. N, 12 mi. E Arkansas City, 1; 8.1 mi. E Arkansas
City, 8; 3 mi. SE Arkansas City, 18. Chautauqua County: IM mi. SW "Cedar-
vale," 3. Montgomery County: Independence, 1. Labette County: 10 mi. E,
VA mi. N Parsons, 4; 11 mi. W Parsons, 2; 10 mi. E Parsons, 3; 8^2 mi. SE Par-
sons, 1; 8 mi. SW Oswego, 2; 10 mi. SW Oswego, 1. Cherokee County: % mi.
N, /'4 mi. E Columbus, 1; Columbus, 1; 1 mi. W Columbus, 1; 4 mi. E Columbus,
22; 132 mi. S Galena, 1; 3 mi. S Galena, 1; 18 mi. SW Columbus [by road],
22; 3 mi. E Baxter Springs, 900 ft., 3; 'A mi. N, % mi. W Tri-State Monument, 1.
Additional records. — Logan County: Unspecified (see te.vt). Gove County:
Unspecified (see text). Greeley County: Unspecified (see text). Wichita
County: Unspecified (see text). Lane County: 2 mi. E Dighton, 1 (MZ,
see Cockmm, 1948:309-10). Ness County: Unspecified (see text). Morton
County: Unspecified ( see text ) .

TABLE 21. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Sigmodon.*

1

es

B

t

ja

0

s

5

1

1

03
0

1

a

5i

0

u
0

S

h

•s °

•i

s

u

B

S

s

"0

"3
0

1

a

83

0
CO

2:

0

0
0

^

^

^

a

<

Sigmodon hispidus texianus, 1 mi.

S, }4 mi,

. W Lindsborg, McPherson County

d^

7

34.6

32.6

19.3

5.1

12.9

14.4

2.6

6.5

min.

31.0

29.5

17.5

4.8

11.4

13.8

2.0

6.1

max.

38.6

36.2

21.0

5.5

15.1

15.0

3.2

6.8

9

5

31.7

29.7

18.3

5.0

11.5

14.2

2.7

6.4

min.

29.1

27.0

16.5

4.8

10.0

13.8

2.4

6.0

max.

33.2

31.3

19.0

5.1

12.5

14.4

3.0

6.8

•Measurements taken as defined by Goldman and Gardner (1947:58).

188

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Genus Neotoma Say and Ord

Wood Rats

Two species of this genus occur in Kansas. They can be readily
distinguished from the introduced Rattus (Old World rats), the
only other genus in Kansas which they closely resemble, by several
characteristics. In Rattus the cheek teeth have definite cusps while
in Neotoma the cheek teeth are made up of lakes of dentine sur-
rounded by enamel, the lakes being more or less separated from
one another by re-entrant angles. The resulting grinding surfaces
of the cheek teeth are flat in Neotoma in contrast to the cuspate
condition in Rattus. The tail is more hairy in Neotoma.

Neotoma floridana
Florida Wood Rat
The range of the species is, in general, the southeastern part of
the United States. The two subspecies of N. floridana that occur in

39

38

UoS«Wn el NOIur«l Hillorf

Uwv«r»itr of Koniot

194}

39

38

100

97

Fig. 51. Distribution of Neotoma floridana and Neotoma micropus in Kan-
sas. 1. N. f. campestris. 2. N. f. osagensis. 3. N. m. canescens. 4. N. m.
micropus. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

Kansas differ in their habits and choice of a den site. The eastern
subspecies, N. f. osagensis, inhabits wooded areas and usually con-
structs a nest in a brush pile, under a fallen tree, around the base
of a tree, or less frequently, in the branches of a tree. Its nests
are often seen along fence rows of Osage orange trees.

The western subspecies, N. f. campestris, usually builds its nest
in the cracks and crevices of rock ledges.

Wood Rats 189

According to Asdell (1946:241) this species breeds all year and

has one to four young per litter, the usual numbers being three

and four.

Neotoma floridana campestris Allen

Neotoma campestris J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 6:322,
1894, type from Pendennis, Lane County, Kansas; Miller and Rehn,
Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 30:102, 1901; Lantz, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 19:174, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta.
Bull., 129:335, 1905; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :215,
1907; Elliot, Field Columbian Mus. Publ. 115, Zool. Ser., 8:275, 1907.

Neotoma floridana campestris, Kellogg, Kansas Univ. Mus. Nat. Hist.,
Publ. 1, Zool. Ser., 1:5, 1914; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:243, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial
Kept., p. 198, 1937; Webb, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:479, 1940;
P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Informa-
tion, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :44, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:80, 1944; Brown, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 48:451,
1946.

Neotoma baileyi, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :215, 1907.

Neotoma floridana baileyi, Goldman, N Amer. Fauna, 31:24, 1910;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:80, 1944.

Neotoma floridana, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875; Baker,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:58, 1889; Wooster, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 43:302, 1940.

Neotoma cinerea, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:49, 1874.

Distribution. — Northwestern Kansas, east to Rooks and Ellis counties and south
to Scott and Lane counties. See map, figure 51.

Remarks. — External measurements of seven males and 14 fe-
males from Pendennis, are: ^ 380.3 (368-392), $ 362.9 (338-
395); 164.8 (155-174), 157.0 (144-175); 40.3 (38-42), 40.7 (38-42).

Specimens examined. — Total, 75, distributed as follows: Rawlins County:
7 mi. N, 16^2 mi. W Atwood, 1. Decatur County: 5 mi. S, 8 mi. W OberHn,
1. Rooks County: 6 mi. SW Woodston, 3. Wallace County: Lacey Ranch,"
4)2 mi. E, 9 mi. S Wallace, 1. Logan County: 5 mi. S Elkader, 4; Unspeci-
fied, 4. Gove County: Castle Rock, 8 (GCR). Trego County: Banner, 8
mi. S, 1 mi. E Collyer, 6; Unspecified, 1 (USNM). Ellis County: Hays, 7
(USBS); 3)2 mi. W, M mi. S Hays, 1. Scott County: State Park, 1 (GCR).
Lane County: 1 mi. N Pendennis, 10; Pendennis, 23 (USBS); 12 mi. S
Pendennis, Walnut Creek, 2; Unspecified, 2.

Neotoma floridana osagensis Blair

Neotoma floridana osagensis Blair, Occas. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich.,
413:5, 1939, type from Okesa, Osage County, Oklahoma; Beamer,
Penner, and Hibbard, Jour. Kansas Ent. Soc, 16:47, 1943; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:81, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland
Nat., 45:213, 1951.

Neotoma floridana baileyi. Dice, Ecology, 4:45, 1923; Dice, Jour.
Mamm., 4:109, 1923; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:243,
1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept., p.
198, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia,
Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :43, 1940.

Neotoma bailetji, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:174, 1905.

N[eotoma] baileyi, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:335,
1905.

Neotoma floridana, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 490, 1858.

190 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Distribution. — Eastern Kansas, west certainly to Cowley and Ellsworth
counties. See map, figure 51.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and three fe-
males from one mile northwest of Midland, are: ^ 390, 331, 345,
$ 339, 333, 310; 167, 129, 139, 142, 158, 132; 39, 35, 36, 36, 38, 35;
— ,26,26,26,25,18.

N. f. campestris is pale, being buffy-ochraceous; the tail is not
strikingly bicolored. N. f. osagensis is dark, being a buffy-gray to
brownish gray above; the tail is strikingly bicolored. N. /. osagensis
averages larger in cranial measurements except in least interorbital
constriction, which is smaller.

Specimens examined. — Total, 143, distributed as follows: Marshall County:

1 mi. W Vermillion, 2. Riley County: Manhattan, 5 (USES). Jackson County:
Soldier Creek, 6 mi. S, 10 mi. W Holton, 1. Jefferson County: 13 mi. NE
Lawrence, 2. Leavenworth County: Unspecified, 10. Douglas County: 7 mi.
N Lawrence, 1; 6 mi. NW Lawrence, 1; 1 mi. N Midland, 2; 1 mi. W Mid-
land, 3; 1 mi. NW Midland, 6; Lawrence, 2; 8 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; 8J2 mi.
SW Lawrence, 1; 10 mi. SW Lawrence, 3; Lone Star Lake, 1; Unspecified,
5. Ellsworth County: 3 mi. S Wilson, Smoky Hill River, 2. Chase County:
9 mi. E Lincolnville, 1. Anderson County: 3vio mi. S Gamett, 1; 4/2 mi.
NNE Welda, 1. Greenwood County: 3 mi. NE Hamilton, 1 (OCR); 15 mi.
W Hamilton, 1 (GCR); Slate Creek Bridge, Hamilton, 9 (GCR); Hamilton,
7 (5, GCR); 1 mi. E Hamilton, 2 (GCR); 2 mi. E Hamilton, 2 (GCR); 3
mi. E Hamilton, 5 (GCR); ¥2 mi. S Hamilton, 1 (GCR); % mi. S Hamilton,

2 (GCR); 3 mi. SW Hamilton, 2 (GCR); 3 mi. SE Hamilton, 1 (GCR); 3!^
mi. SW Hamilton, 2 (GCR); 4)^ mi. SW Hamilton, 2 (GCR); 5 mi. SW
Hamilton, 1 (GCR); 4 mi. S, 17 mi. W Hamilton, 3 (2, GCR); 12 mi. SW
Hamilton, 12; 8 mi. SW Toronto, 8; 8)^ mi. SW Toronto, 15; Unspecified, 2.
Allen County: 2 mi. N, M mi. W Neosho R. bridge, Humboldt, 2. Crawford
County: Mulberry, 1. Cowley County: 6 mi. N, 12 mi. E Arkansas City, 2;
8.6 mi. E Arkansas City, 2; 3 mi. SE Arkansas City, 2. Chautauqua County:
"Cedarvale," 7 (USES).

Neotoma micropus
Gray Wood Rat

Two subspecies of this species occur in Kansas. The range of
the species is, in general, the southwestern United States and Mex-
ico; southwestern Kansas is the northeastern part of the range.

In Kansas this species builds its nests among rock ledges, and
was extremely numerous along Bear Creek in western Stanton
County in July, 1950. Here the nests were under ledges and in
crevices of the rocks exposed on the southern side of the stream.

According to Asdell (1946:242), in nature the young are born
in late April and in captivity there is one litter per year, born in
February. The gestation period is 33 days and the litter size is
two to three young.

Wood Rats 191

Neotoma micropus canescens Allen

Neotoma micropus canescens J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.,
3:285, 1891, type from North Canadian River, near the Oklahoma-
New Mexico line, Cimarron County, Oklahoma (see Blair, 1939:
125); Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:243, 1933; Black,
Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 199, 1937; P. B.
Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Infonnation,
Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :44, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 47:81, 1944.

Distribution. — Southwestern Kansas north certainly to Hamilton County and
east to Clark County. See map, figure 51.

Remarks. — External measurements of seven males and four fe-
males from nine miles north and three miles east of Elkhart, are:
^ 329.8 (300-349), $ 329.7 (307-358); 136.5 (127-148), 142.2
(130-155); 37.0 (36-38), 37.5 (36-40); 25.3 (24-26), 25.0 (23-27).

Specimens examined. — Total, 56, distributed as follows: Hamilton County:
Coolidge, 1. Stanton County: 7/2 mi. W, 1 mi. N Manter, 2; 6 mi. W, 1 mi.
N Manter, 2; 8 mi. W, 1 mi. S Manter, 5. Morton County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E
Elkhart, 16; 7 mi. N, 2 mi. W Elkhart, 1. Meade County: 13 mi. SW Meade,
7; 14 mi. SW Meade, 5; Meade County State Park, 4; l'4;2 mi. SW Meade, 1;
15 mi. SW meade, 1; 17 mi. SW Meade, 8. Clark County: 7 mi. S Kings-
down, Stephenson Ranch, 3.

Neotoma micropus micropus Baird

Neotoma micropus Baird, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1885,
p. 333, type from Charco Escondido, Tamaulipas, Mexico; Lantz,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2):214, 1907.

Neotoma micropus micropus. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:378,
1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:243, 1933; Black,
Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept., p. 198, 1937; Tihen
and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:508^ 1939; P. B. Allen,
Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Infonnation, Nat.
Hist. Surv., 20(5) :44, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:81, 1944.

Distribution. — South-central Kansas, known only from Kiowa, Comanche, and
Barber counties. See map, figure 51.

Remarks. — External measurements of one male and five females
from five miles north of Bel videre, are: ^ 380, $ 371.4(350-390);
120, 155.2 (142-168); 38, 39.2 (37-41); 29, 29.2 (28-32).

N. m. micropus differs from N. m. canescens in having darker

pelage, larger hind foot, slightly larger cranial measurements, and

noticeably longer nasals (see table 22 for the cranial measurements

of these two subspecies ) .

Specimens examined. — Total, 25, distributed as follows: Kiowa County:
5 mi. N Belvidere, 14. Comanche County: Cave Creek, 1. Barber County:
5 mi. S Sun City, Natural Bridge, 1; 8 mi. SW Medicine Lodge, 2; 6 mi. N
Aetna, 1; 1 mi. SW Aetna, 1; Marty Ranch, 5.

192 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

TABLE 22. — Cranial Measx^ements (in millimeters) of Neotoma.

s|

ji

1

1

s

■« s

B

<— •

o

"S

a 5

•B

_s

GO

>

"S

o

M 2

e

t

.a

.2

11

1

03

a

'.S
u

a a
— a

a o
-2 ?

>-.2

V

"S

e-S

o

o S

o

bj^

X

■at

1
2

03

1

■a g

a

■so

«

^

>>

V

V

a>

a

m

2;

CQ

N3

ij

>J

iJ

J

<

A^. florida ,

campeslris,

Pendennis, Lane Countv

&

7

41.3

26.8

6.9

18.9

10.3

8.6

9.6

min.

38.1

25.4

6.8

17.3

9.5

8.1

9.2

max.

44.8

28.4

7.2

20.2

11.0

9.5

10.2

9

14

39.6a

25.9a

6.9

18.2a

9.8

8.5

9.5

min.

37.5

24.5

6.4

17.1

9.2

8.0

9.0

max.

43.5

27.4

7.1

19.4

10.5

8.9

10.0

A'', floridana osagensis, Greenwood County

&

8838

47.0

25.5

6.5

18.8

9.7

8.5

9.9

&

8839

46.0

24.8

6.3

18.1

9.5

7.5

9.0

1

8835

47.0

26.0

6.5

18.1

9.8

8.3

9.4

9

8836

48.2

27.2

6.3

19.5

10.5

8.7

9.4

9

8837

50.0

27.4

6.1

20.5

10.2

8.8

9.8

9

8840

44.8

25.3

6.3

17.9

10.0

8.1

9.5

A'', micro'pus canescens, Morton County

d"

5369

47.1

26.4

6.1

19.1

11.6

8.5

9.0

&

5244

46.7

25.7

6.0

19.7

11.4

8.5

9.1

d"

5242

47.0

26.1

5.9

18.8

11.1

8.3

9.2

9

5367

46.7

25.9

6.5

17.7

10.5

8.4

9.6

N.

TO. micropus, Kiowa

I County

d'

13312

50.0

28.8

6.5

21.3

12.3

7.8

9.0

9

13183

48.2

27.1

6.4

20.4

11.7

7.8

8.9

9

13187

47.0

26.4

6.0

20.2

11.2

8.3

9.5

9

13185

48.2

27.9

6.7

20.0

11.3

8.8

9.3

9

13184

46.9

26.2

7.0

21.2

11.7

7.5

9.3

a. 13

averaged.

Genus Synaptomys Baird

Lemming Mice

One species of this genus occurs in Kansas. It can be distin-
guished from other Kansas rodents by its short tail which is Httle if
any longer than the hind foot, by the longitudinal groove on the
anterior face of each upper incisor, and by the enamel pattern of
the cheek teeth. The enamel pattern consists of tracts of dentine
surrounded by enamel; the tracts are more or less separated from
one another by re-entrant angles.

MiCROTiNE Rodents

193

Synaptomys cooperi

Cooper Lemming Mouse

Two subspecies of this species occur in Kansas. These animals
are approximately six inches in length, the tail comprising less than
one inch of the total.

This mouse has been found in several counties in the eastern
part of the state and in StaflFord County in central Kansas and in
Meade County in western Kansas. In Stafford and Meade counties
the animals were in bogs and marshes. Probably these mice are
relict populations, remaining in these local situations which meet

100

39

38

tJ=

tjniv*rt\1f of Kakm*
l»49

39

38

100

97

Fig. 52. Distribution of Synaptomys cooperi in Kansas. 1. S. c. paludis.
2. S. c. gossii. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

their habitat requirements. In Meade County this mouse is known
only from marsh areas found in Meade County State Park. Hib-
bard and Rinker (1942:33) state: "The range of Synaptomys in
Meade, Seward and Beaver Counties [Beaver County, Oklahoma]
must have been widespread along the stream valleys when the
country was first settled, for larger meadows existed along the flood
plains of the Beaver and Cimarron Rivers, and along Crooked
Creek. Many parts of the meadows were marshy and supported a
large number of muskrats. The area between the true marsh and
meadow would be the ideal area for Synaptomys." Hibbard and
Rinker ( loc. cit. ) think that with the arrival of the settlers, some of

7—1424

194 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

the meadows were mowed for hay, others were burned to furnish
pasture, and many were drained and plowed.

In eastern Kansas the bog lemming was common, at least locally,
only to disappear at a later time. In Douglas County 89 specimens
have been taken, which, by year of capture, are distributed as fol-
lows: 1894, 1 specimen; 1924, 8; 1925, 31; 1926, 36; 1927, 6; 1928, 5;
1929, 1; 1937, 1.

The number of mice caught may, in part, reflect the number of
traps set. However, trapping ( at times intensive ) has been done at
various localities in Douglas County from 1892 to the present.
Many other kinds of small mammals have been taken in the county
in this time, but none showed such an unusual fluctuation when
plotted by years of collection. Further the only specimens of the
Cooper lemming mouse in the collection of the Museum of Natural
History from Woodson County were taken in 1926; from Anderson
County in 1925 and Stafford County in 1927 — years in which several
specimens were taken in Douglas County. The population of
Synaptomys seems to have been relatively high over most of eastern
Kansas from 1924 through 1928.

The presence of Synaptomys in such numbers in eastern Kansas
led Linsdale (1927) and Burt (1928) to publish some notes on
the life history and occurrence of these animals in Kansas. Lins-
dale (1927:51) reported that: "In the winter of 1924-1925 this
mouse was found by myself and others at several places in Douglas
County, Kansas, within seven miles of the University of Kansas.
Mice had been collected in that vicinity, and even in the same fields
in which Synaptomys was subsequently found, for many years
without finding this particular species."

Leo Brown ( in litt. ) examined a series of barn owl pellets taken
on August 10, 1933, from a barn one-fourth of a mile south of
Hunter. This barn was near Bacon Creek, a wooded tributary of
the Saline River. Fifteen of the 376 skulls of small mammals
found in these pellets were of the lemming mouse.

Since this period intensive trapping has yielded only one addi-
tional specimen from Douglas County (1937); all recent records
have been secured in northeastern Kansas: Nemaha, Brown, and
Atchison counties.

In fields of blue grass, runways are constructed above ground,
criss-crossing one another. In many respects these runways are
like the runways constructed by Microtus and Pitymys. Positive
identification can be made only after the capture and identification
of the mouse itself but a fairly certain determination can be made

MiCROTiNE Rodents 195

from an examination of the fresh droppings in the runway. The
fresh droppings are Hght green in color if from Synaptomijs, and
brown or blackish if from Microtiis and Pitijmys.

These mice remain active throughout the year. Burt (1928:214)
reported that: "During the four days, January 21 to 24, 1925, eleven
mice were caught despite the fact that this was an extremely cold
period. The ground was covered with sleet and the temperature
was four degrees below zero Fahrenheit on the morning of January
22." In winter the nest is built four to six inches below the surface
of the ground, but in summer the nest is often above ground. Burt
(1928:213-214) described the nest as: ". . . from six to eight
inches in diameter, . . . made of dry grass with, sometimes
a lining of fur. . . . There are usually three or four exits from
the nest, but it is not uncommon to find only two."

Asdell (1946:252) reports that the breeding season of this species
is from February through November and that the litter size is from
one to five young, with an average of 3.2. This does not agree
with data available from eastern Kansas. Burt (1928:214) reported
finding five young in a nest on October 30th. Embryo counts
from nine females taken in eastern Kansas range from one to seven
and average 3.5. These are distributed by months as follows:
January, 1; March, 1; April, 1; October, 1; November, 2; and De-
cember, 3. In eastern Kansas, at least, this species seems to breed
all winter. Burt (1928:214) reported that: "The number of
embryos found at different seasons of the year indicate that the
number per litter is less in cold than in warm weather."

Synaptomys cooperi gossii (Coues)

Arvicola (Synaptomys) gossii Coues, Monog. N. Amer. Rodentia, p.
235, 1877, type from Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas.

Synaptomys cooperi gossii, Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 50:18, 1927;
Burt, Jour. Mamm., 9:212, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 33:244, 1933; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:81,
1944; Ficbter and Planson, Bull. Univ. Nebraska State Mus.,
3(8) :2, 1947; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:213, 1951.

Synaptomys cooperi gossi, Rboads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia,
1897:307, 1897; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial
Kept. p. 200, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College
Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :45, 1940.

Synaptomijs cooperi, Jameson, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist.,
1:137, 1947.

Synaptomys helaletes gossii, Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
10:60, 1896; Miller and Rehn, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 30:132,
1901; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:175, 1905: Lantz, Kansas
State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:335, 1905; Dice, Ecology, 4:48,
1923; Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:110, 1923; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm.,
8:51, 1927.

Sunaptomys cooperii [sic], Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875.

196 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Distribution. — Formerly in the northeastern part of the state, west to Mitchell
County and south to Woodson County. Probably an isolated population
occurs in Stafford County. Recent records of occurrence are from Nemaha,
Brown, and Atchison counties. See map, figure 52.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males and four females
from one and one-half to four miles south of Muscotah, are: ^T
132, 138, $131.5 (127-135); 24, 24, 22.0 (18-33); 20, 20, 18.5
(17-20); 11, 11.5, 10.4 (10-11). Weight, in grams, of two males
and one female from four miles south of Muscotah, Atchison
County, are: males 42, 49, female 39.

Specimens examined. — Total, 118, distributed as follows: Nemaha County:
% mi. E, 3J2 mi. S Sabetha, 3; 4 mi. S Sabetha, 3. Brown County: 1 mi. N
Horton, 1. Atchison County: VA mi. S Muscotah, 4; 4 mi. S Muscotah, 9.
Leavenworth County: Fort Leavenworth, 6 ( USES ) . Douglas County:
3 mi. NW Lawrence, 1; 2/2 mi. W. Lawrence, 1; 2 mi. W Lawrence, 5; 1%
mi. W Lawrence, 1; I/2 mi. W Lawrence, 1; 1 mi. W Lawrence, 16; /2 mi. W
Lawrence, 2; Lawrence 1; U. of Kansas Campus, Lawrence, 10; 2 mi. SW
Univ. Kansas Campus, 4; 7 and 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 31; Unspecified, 9.
Anderson County: 6 mi. S Gamett, 5; Unspecified, 1. Woodson County:
1 mi. SE Neosho Falls, 1; Neosho Falls, 2 (USNM). Stafford County: Little
Salt Marsh, 15 mi. N, 3 mi. E Stafford, 1.

Additional records. — Mitchell County: M mi. S Hunter, see text Riley
County: Unspecified, Dice (1923:110). Shawnee County: Topeka, Lantz
(1905A:175).

Synaptomys cooperi paludis Hibbard and Rinker

Synaptomys cooperi paludis Hibbard and Rinker, Univ. Kansas Sci.
Bull., 28(pt. 1, no. 2):26, 1942, type from Bog area surrounding
brooder Pond No. 1, Meade County State Park, 14 miles southwest
of Meade, Meade County, Kansas; Hibbard and Rinker, Univ.
Kansas Sci. Bull., 29(pt. 2, no. 4):255, 1943; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:82, 1944.

Distribution. — Known only from the type locahty. See map, figure 52.

Remarks. — External measurements of ten males and six females

from 14 miles southwest of Meade, are: ^ 142.7 (133-154), $

135.5 (122-142); 21.6 (18-24), 21.5 (21-22); 21.4 (20-22), 21.0

(20-22); 12.8 (12-14), 12.5 (11-14).

Specimens examined. — Total, 32, from the following locality: Meade
County: 14 mi. SW Meade, 32 (4, OCR).

Genus Ondatra Link

Muskrats

This genus, a native of North America, is found from Northern
Alaska and Canada southward through most of the United States.
It has recently been introduced into Europe and Asia. The large
size and the scaly, laterally compressed tail serve to distinguish
the muskrat from other rodents found in Kansas.

MiCROTiNE Rodents

197

Ondatra zibethicus

Muskrat

The muskrat is found over the entire state but is much more
common in the eastern, more humid half. Although typically a
semiaquatic mammal, the muskrat is often seen far from the nearest
water.

In swamps and marshes the muskrat builds a house of cattails
and other vegetation available in the water. These houses are
usually constructed in water not more than two feet deep. A
snug, dry chamber, shghtly above the water level, serves as a
sleeping chamber.

100

97

Scolt
to KUiiei

Miitvwn of Nolurol Miilorr

Uftntrsity e( RoniOf

194}

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 53. Distribution of Ondatra zibethicus in Kansas. 1. O. z. cinnamominus.
2. O. z. zibethicus. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

Where conditions are unsatisfactory for the construction of a
house, the muskrat digs a tunnel in the bank, usually below the
surface of the water. This tunnel leads to an enlarged chamber
well above the high water level, where a nest of grasses is con-
structed. A second entrance may open on the bank.

According to Asdell (1946:248-9) the muskrat, at the latitude of
Iowa, breeds from April to August, or later. The litter size varies
from one to 11 and averages 6.5 young per Htter. The period of
gestation is probably 29 to 30 days.

198 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

TABLE 23. Number of muskrat pelts taken in Kansas in various

RECENT years.

These figures were compiled from the sources given in table 2.

1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1938 1940

239,174 280,719 276,338 225,487 203,144 210,387 198,652 77,923 119,918

1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947-48 1948-49 1949-50

121,256 116,758 121,256 116,287 119,387 103,209 104,537 93,472 81,611

The muskrat is one of the most important fur bearing mammals
in the state. Table 23 shows the number of muskrats taken in
Kansas for their furs, in the last several years. Muskrats rank
third in number of individuals taken, being exceeded in Kansas
by the opossum and skunks.

Ondatra zibethicus cinnamominus (HoUister)

Fiber zibethicus cinnamominus Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
23:125, 1910, type from Wakeeney, Trego County, Kansas; Hollis-
ter, N. Amer. Fauna, 32:31, 1911.

Ondatra zibethicus cinnamominus, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:83, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:214, 1951.

Ondatra zibethica cinnamomina, Dice, Ecology, 4:43, 1923; Dice, Jour.
Mamm., 4:110, 1923; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:244,
1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p.
203, 1937; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:508,
1939; Hibbard and Rinker, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 29 (pt. 2,
no. 4):255, 1943.

Fiber zibethicus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:49, 1874; Baker, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:58, 1889; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

19:175, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:335,
1905.

Fiber Zibethicus, Knox, Trans, Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875.

Ondatra zibethica zibethica, Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:145, 1928.

Distribution. — Throughout all but the southeastern part of the state. See map,
figure 53.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males from Wa-
keeney, are: 470, 456, 533; 213, 200, 254; 72, 65, — ; 21, 20, --.

Specimens examined. — Total, 297, distributed as follows: Nemaha Countij:
Sabetha, 4. Doniphan County: Doniphan Lake, 3; IM mi. W Doniphan, 1.
Osborne County: 1 mi. E Downs, 1. Riley County: Manhattan, 1 (USNM);
Unspecified, 3. Logan County: S of Smokey, 1; Unspecified, 1. Trego Co.:
Wakeeney, 3; Unspecified, 7 (USNM). Douglas County: '2 mi. N Lawrence,
1; Wakarusa River, 10 mi. W KU, 1; in creek of Kaw River, Lawrence, 1;
Kaw River, 4; 2 mi. W Lawrence, 2; 1 mi. W Lawrence, 6; Lawrence, 4;
Wakarusa Creek, Haskell Farm, 1; 3 mi. SW Lawrence, 5; 4/2 mi. SW Law-
rence, 3; 7 mi. SW Lawrence, 27; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 31; Wakarusa Creek,
11 mi. SW Lawrence, 2; Unspecified, 79. Marion County: S Cottonwood
Creek, 2 mi. W, 3 mi. S Hillsboro, 1. Chase County: 3 mi. E court house,
Cottonwood Falls, 1. Anderson Co.: Gamett, 1 (USNM); 6 mi. SW Gamett,
1. Kearny County: Lakin, 3; Unspecified, 1. Stafford County: Little Salt
Marsh, 3. Reno County: 1 mi. N, 2 mi. W Medora, 1; 2 mi. W, ¥2 mi. S
Medora, 1; 2 mi. N, 2 mi. E Hutchinson, 3. Harvey County: Halstead, 7.
Morton County: Spring Creek, 12 mi. NW Elkhart, 1; 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E
Elkhart, 3. Meade County: VA mi. N Fowler, 1; 13 mi. SW Meade, 1; 14
mi. SW Meade, 3; 17 mi. SW Meade, 1; Unspecified, 1. Eastern Kansas: no
other locality specified, 71.

MiCROTiNE Rodents 199

Ondatra zibethicus zibethicus (Linnaeus)

[Castor] Zibethicus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, 1:79, 1866, type from

eastern Canada.
Ondatra zibethicus zibethicus, Davis and Lowery, Jour. Mamm., 21:212,

1940.
Ondatra zibethica zibethica, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:244,

1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 203,

1937.

Distribution. — Southeastern Kansas, west to Cowley County and north to
Greenwood, Woodson, and Bourbon counties. See map, figure 53.

Remarks. — External measurements of one male from three miles

southeast of Arkansas City, are: 520; 217; 78, 20.

Specimens examined. — Total, 12, distributed as follows: Greenwood
County: Hamilton, 1 (GCR); 1 mi. E Hamilton, 1 (OCR); 3 mi. SE Ham-
ilton, 1 (GCR); 8 mi. SW Toronto, 3; Unspecified, 1. Woodson County:
Neosho Falls, 1. Bourbon County: 1 mi. W Anna, 1. Crawford County:
Mulberr>', 1. Cowley County: Arkansas City, 1; 3 mi. SE Arkansas City, 1.

Genus Pitymys McMurtrie

Pine Mice

This genus occurs in North America, Europe, and Asia. In North
America it is confined mainly to eastern United States and some
mountains in eastern Mexico. Members of this genus have five
plantar tubercles, four mammae, lateral glands on the hips of adult
males, small ears, short tail, and short, dense and glossy fur. One
species of this genus occurs in Kansas, and that is restricted to the
eastern part of the state.

Pitymys pinetorum

Woodland Pine Mouse

This species may be distinguished from Synaptomys coopcri by
the longer tail (slightly longer than the hind foot) and absence of
grooves on the upper incisors. From Microtiis, Pitymys differs in
glossy, rich chestnut, instead of gray or blackish, dorsum. The pine
mouse is approximately six inches in length, the tail comprising
approximately one inch of this total.

The pine mouse usually lives in moist woodlands where it makes
runways under the fallen trees and leaves and in soft soil. Occa-
sionally it has been taken in grassy areas. G. C. Rinker took a
total of 90 individuals of this species over a period of years from
a brushy railroad embankment one-half mile south of Hamilton,
Greenwood County.

Asdell (1946:252) reports only one record of the number of
young for this species; that being two. Data given on the label
of a female taken on April 8, 1923, at Geary, Doniphan County,

200

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

indicates that the female was associated with three young. Three
females in the collection contained two embryos each. Two of
these gravid females were taken on March 7th and one on Decem-
ber 26th.

100

tA.

Musaum of Nalurat H'Storjr

Unittri'ty of Kansas

1943

39

38

100

97

Fig. 54. Distribution of Pitymys pinetorum netnoralis in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

Pitymys pinetorum nemoralis (Bailey)

Microtus pinetorum nemoralis Bailey, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
12:89, 1898, type from Stilwell, Adair County, Oklahoma.

Pitymys pinetorum nemoralis, Jackson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
54:202, 1941.

Pitymys nemoralis. Miller, N. Amer. Land Mamm. 1911, p. 229, 1912;

Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 8:145, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 36:244, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial

Kept., p. 202, 1937; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:82,

1944; Jameson, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:137, 1947;

Brmnwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:213, 1951.
Microtus nemoralis, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 17:66, 1900; Lantz, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:175, 1905; Dice, Ecology, 4:45, 1923; Dice,

Jour. Mamm., 4:110, 1923.

M[icrotus] nemoralis, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:335, 1905.

Arvicola pinetorum, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad., Sci., 5:65, 1877.

Arvicola (Pitymys) pinetorum. Cones, Monograph N. Amer. Rodentia,
p. 225, 1877.

Distribution. — Eastern part of the state, west certainly to Riley, Greenwood,
and Cowley counties. See map, figure 54.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and two fe-
males from two miles west-northwest of Lawrence, are: ^ 127,

MiCROTiNE Rodents 201

132, 141, 2 122, 134; 24, 26, 26, 22, 24; 19, 18, 19, 18, 18; 12, 12, 12,
11, 12; weight in grams 28.6, 35.0, 44.3, 27.3, 39.6.

Specimens examined. — Total, 211, distributed as follows: Doniphan County:
Geary, 16; Geary Lake, 5. Riley Co.: Manhattan, 2 (USES). Jackson County:
10/2 mi. WSW Holton, 1. Leavenworth Co.: Fort Leavenworth, upper one
mile creek, 1; Fort Leavenworth, 2 (1, USES); Stranger Creek, 2 mi. N
Jarbalo, 1; Unspecified, 1. Douglas County: 1 mi. W Midland, 1; Lakeview,
2; 2 mi. WNW Lawrence, 5; 1 mi. W Lawrence, 1; Lawrence, 13; 7 mi. SW
Lawrence, 10; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 15; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence (Washington
Creek), 2; Rock Creek, 10 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; N end Lone Star "State" Lake,
9 mi. S, 7 mi. W Lawrence, 1; Unspecified, 4. Miami County: Pigeon Lake,
1; 11 mi. SSE Paola, 1. Greenwood County: Hamilton, 8; /2 mi. S Ham-
ilton, 90 (GCR); % mi. S Hamilton, 5; 1 mi. S Hamilton, 7; 4 mi. S, 14 mi.
W Hamilton, 1; Fall River, 5 mi. S, 12 mi. W Hamilton, 3 (GCR);
14 mi. S Hamilton, 1; 8M mi. SW Toronto, 4. Woodson Co.: Neosho
Falls, 1 ( USNM ). Allen County: 5'A mi. N, 4^2 mi. W Tola, 2. Cowley County:
3 mi. SE Arkansas City, 2. Montgomery Co.: Cherryvale, 1 (USNM).

Additional records. — Coffey Co.: Burfington, 1 (Coues, 1877:225).

Genus Microtus Schrank

Meadow Mice

This genus is characteristic of the north and high altitudes, and
is found in Europe and Asia as well as North America. Meadow
mice have long, loose pelage, a relative short tail, short, rounded
ears nearly concealed by the pelage and smooth anterior faces of
the incisor teeth. One species of this genus occurs in Kansas.

Microtus ochrogaster
Prairie vole

Three subspecies of the prairie vole occur in Kansas. They may
be separated from Synaptomys by their longer tail (longer than
length of hind foot) and by the absence of grooves on the upper
incisors. From Pitymys, Microtus ochrogaster diflFers in that the
dorsal color is gray or blackish, rarely with a brownish tinge, while
Pitymys is usually a rich chestnut in dorsal coloration. The pelage
is harsher than in Pitymys.

This species is active throughout the day all year. In eastern
Kansas it is more common in damp situations; it has been found
in the same runways as Synaptomys. Its habits closely resemble
those of Synaptomys. The meadow mouse feeds on a large number
of grasses, clovers, and weeds. Jameson (1947) made an intensive
study of the natural history of this species at Lawrence. He found
that, in summer, this vole inhabits areas of grass, clover, and alfalfa.
In winter, habitats with some woody growth may be sought.

Jameson (1947:146-7) found that the breeding season is from
February through November; that the size of the litter varied with

202

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

the age of the female and with the season of the year (Htter size
largest in old females and in March). The average number of
embryos in 58 gravid females examined by him was 3.4 (range from
one to seven), and these gravid females were distributed by
months as follows: January, 0; February, 4; March, 10; April, 6;
May, 8; June, 9; July, 5; August, 2; September (no examinations
made); October, 5; November, 5; and December, 0.

In western Kansas this species was formerly found in most of the
native prairies. In 1933 Wooster (1939A) made a census of this
species on a prairie near Hays, and estimated that there were 2,500
individuals per square mile; 1933-1937, inclusive, was a period

39

38

•L=L

•oUIKl

=1

Muttwfn of Nolurol Hitlori

UfiiT«rilly ol Kansas

194}

39

38

100

97

Fig. 55. Distribution of Microtus ochrogaster in Kansas. 1. M. o. haydenii. 2.
M. o. ochrogaster. 3. M. o. taylori. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

of low rainfall throughout the state, especially so in the western
part. By 1934 the grass cover of the prairies was gone and the
prairie voles almost disappeared. Wooster also pointed out ( 1939) :
"Predatory birds evidently had to turn to other rodents for food.
. . . A study of Barn Owl pellets in 1932 showed that meadow
mice composed approximately half the total food of the owls at
that time. In 1933 meadow mice composed one-third of the total
food of the Barn Owls. ... In 1935 the meadow mouse com-
posed only one-fiftieth of the food of the Barn Owl."

Brown (1946:453) studied a mixed prairie two and one-half
miles west of Hays in 1944, seven years after the drouth period
in that area. He pointed out that although the meadow mouse

MiCROTiNE Rodents 203

had been the most abundant rodent in much of the native prairie
several years ago, it was found only in small areas in the ungrazed
little bluestem. He estimated that there were approximately 22
meadow mice per square mile in 1944.

Microtus ochrogaster haydenii (Baird)

Arvicola (Pedomys) haydenii Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 543, 1858,
type from Fort Pierre, Stanley County, South Dakota.

Microtus ochrogaster haydenii. Black, Kansas State Board Agric., 30th
Biennial Kept., p. 202, 1937; Hibbard and Rinker, Univ. Kansas
Sci. Bull., 29 (pt. 2, no. 4):260, 1943; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:82, 1944; Brown, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 48:451,
1946.

Microtus ochrogaster haydcni, Osgood, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
20:48, 1907.

Microtus haydenii, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:175, 1905;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad, Sci., 36:244, 1933.

Microtus haydcni, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 17:75, 1900; Burnett,
Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. and Ent., Colorado Agric. College, 1:7,
1930; Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 38:352, 1935; Wooster,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:515, 1939; Wooster, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 43:303, 1940; Webb, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:479,
1940.

M[icrotus] haydenii, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:
335, 1905.

Pedomys haydenii, Ellerman, Families and Genera of living Rodents,
volume 2, p. 621, 1941.

Pedomys ochrogaster haydenii, Anderson, Nat. Mus. Canada Bull.,
102:200, 1947.

Distribution. — Northwestern part of the state, east certainly to Decatur and
Ellis counties and south certainly to Barton, Pratt, Scott, and Lane counties.
See map, figure 55.

Remarks. — External measurements of six males from 2 mi. NE
Ludell, and one female from Logan County, are: ^ $ 149.3 (137-
172), $ 143.3; 34.8 (24-41), 36.8; 20.6 (19-22), 21.8; 12.6, — .

I have not critically studied the geographic variation in this
species because James Bee at present is doing so.

Specimens examined. — Total, 31, distributed as follows: Rawlins County:
2 mi. NE Ludell, 6. Decatur County: 10)!i mi. S, 4 mi. W Oberlin, 3.
Thomas County: 10 mi. N, 6 mi. E Colby, 3. Logan County: Unspecified, 3.
Gove County: Castle Rock, 2 (GCR). Ellis Co.: Hays, 2 (USBS); 4 mi. W,
/2 mi. S Hays, 1. Scott County: State Park, 4 (OCR). Lane County:
Pendennis, 1. Barton County: 3 mi. N, 2 mi. W Hoisington, 6.

Additional records. — Trego County: Banner, 15 (Bailev, 1900:75). Lane
Co.: Pendennis, 10 (Bailey, 1900:75). Pratt Co.: Cairo, 4 (Bailey, 1900:74).

Microtus ochrogaster ochrogaster (Wagner)

Hypudaeus ochrogaster Wagner, Schreber's Saugethiere, Suppl., 3:592,

1842, type from New Harmony, Posey County, Indiana (See Bole

and Moulthrop, 1942:157).
Microtus ochrogaster ochrogaster, Black, Kansas State Board Agric,

30th Biennial Rept., p. 200, 1937; Bole and Moulthrop, Sci. Publ.

Cleveland Mus. Nat. Hist., 5(6): 159, 1942; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas

Acad. Sci., 47:82, 1944.

204 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat, Hist.

Microtus ochrogaster, Lantz, U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. Surv. Bull.,
31:18, 1907; Dice, Ecology, 4:44, 1923; Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:110,
1923; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm.j 8:52, 1927; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm.,
9:144, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:244, 1933;
Jameson, Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:128, 1947.

Microtus ochogaster ochogaster [sic], Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat.,
45:213, 1951.

Arvicola austerus. Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:58, 1889.

Arvicola (Pedomys) austerus, Coues, Monograph N. Amer. Rodentia,
p. 214, 1877.

A[rvicola] austerus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875.

A[rvicola] austerus var. cutata, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21,

1875.
Microtus austerus, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 17:74, 1900; Elliott, Field

Columbian Mus. Publ. 115, Zool. Series, 8:300, 1907; Lantz, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:175, 1905.

M[icrotus] austerus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:
335, 1905; Lantz, U. S. Dept. Agric. Yearbook for 1905:373, 1905.

Microtus pennsylvanicus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:174,
1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:335, 1905;
Beach, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 34:125, 1931.

Arvicola riparia var. longipilus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21,
1875.

Distribution. — Eastern part of the state, west along stream valleys certainly
to Repubhc, Mitchell, Saline, McPherson, and Chautauqua counties. See map,
figure 55.

Remarks. — External measurements of 25 males and 20 females
from one and one-half miles south of Muscotah, are: ^J 154.7
(142-172), $ 153.8 (134-171); 34.0 (29-41), 32.5 (29-38); 20.4
(19-22), 20.2 (17-22); 13.4 (12-15), 13.2 (12-14).

Specimens examined. — Total, 583, distributed as follows: Republic County:
Agenda, 3; /2 mi. SE Agenda, 2. Nemaha County: 6 mi. N Sabetha, 1; 2J2
mi. S Sabetha, 2; % mi. E, 3/2 mi. S Sabetha, 2. Brown County: 1 mi. E
Reserve, 2; 7 mi. N, ¥2 mi. E Hiawatha, 1; 3 mi. N Hiawatha, 1; 1 mi. N
Horton, 1. Doniphan County: Geary, 19; I/2 mi. W Doniphan, 1. Mitchell
County: SYz mi. W, ¥2 mi. S Beloit, 6. Cloud County: 4 mi. E Concordia, 2.
Riley Co.: Manhattan, 1 (USBS). Atchison County: VA mi. S Horton, 2;
IJ2 mi. S Muscotah, 47; 4 mi. S Muscotah, 9; 1.8 mi. N Atchison, 1.
Jefferson County: 3/2 mi. ENE Wilhamstown, 4. Leavenworth County: Ft.
Leavenworth, 14; Unspecified, 4. Saline County: DeBolds Farm, 4 mi.
E Sahna, 8 (AJK); 10 mi. E SaUna, 2. Dickinson County: 3/2 mi. NW Solo-
mon, 1 (AJK); 3 mi. NW Solomon, 1 (AJK); 6 mi. S Solomon, 2 (AJK).
Osage County: 3 mi. SE Carbondale, 4. Douglas County: Y2 mi. NW Le-
compton, near Kaw R., 1; 4/2 mi. N Lawrence, 1; 3 mi. NE Lawrence, 1
1 mi. NW Midland, 6; 2 mi. N Lawrence, 3; 2 mi. NW Lawrence, 1

1 mi. NW Lawrence, 2; U. P. tracks N of Lawrence, 13; 7 mi. W Lawrence
1; 2/2 mi. W Lawrence, 1; 2 mi. W Lawrence, 1; 1 mi. W Lawrence, 9
West of Fort Lake, 13; Lawrence, 44; Haskell Fann, Lawrence, 1

2 mi. SW Lawrence, 2; 7 mi. SW Lawrence, 26; "around Clinton", 1
3/2 mi. SSW Pleasant Grove, 2; N end Lone Star State Lake, 9 mi. S, 7 mi
W Lawrence, 1; Rock Creek, 850 ft., 10 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; Unspecified,
34. Johnson County: Sunflower Village, 2 mi. SW DeSoto, 1. McPherson
County: Smoky Hill River, 1 mi. S, ¥2 mi. W Lindsborg, 4; 1 mi. S Lindsborg,
2. Marion Co.: 4^2 mi. E Peabody, 1; Lost Springs, 3 (USBS). Chase
County: 9 mi. E Lincolnville, "101 Pasture", 2. Franklin County: Near
Princeton, 2; 4 mi. N Ottawa, 2. Anderson County: S'^o mi. S Gamett,

MiCROTiNE Rodents 205

11; 4%o mi. S Gamett, 5; 6 mi. S Gamett, 3; 7 mi. S Gamett, 3; Un-
specified, 4. Miami County: 13 mi. SW Spring Hill, 1; 11 mi. SSE Paola, 2.
Greenwood County: Hamilton, 181 (173, GCR); 1 mi. E Hamilton, 14; 5^
mi. S Hamilton, 1; 1 mi. S Hamilton, 2; VA mi. SE Hamilton, 4; 1 mi. W
Virgil, 1 (GCR); 4 mi. S, 14 mi. W Hamilton^ 1; 8J2 mi. SW Toronto, 6;
Unspecified, 2. Allen County: Moran, 8; 2/2 mi. W lola, 1. Bourbon County:
1 mi. W Anna, 1. Chautauqua Co.: Cherryvale, 2 (USNM). Labette
County: 10 mi. E, VA mi. N Parsons, 3. Cherokee County: 18 mi. SW
Columbus, 1; Unspecified, 1.

Additional records. — Doniphan County: Unspecified, 1 (Coues, 1877:214).
Pottawatomie Co.: Onaga, 3 (Bailey, 1900:74). Leavenworth Co.: Fort
Leavenworth, 22 (Bailey, 1900:74). Coffey Co.: Burlington, 1 (Coues,
1877:214). Woodson Co.: Neosho Falls, 3 (Coues, 1877:214).

Microtus ochrogaster taylori Hibbard and Rinker

Microtus ochrogaster taylori Hibbard and Rinker, Univ. Kansas Sci.
Bull., 29 (pt. 2, no. 4):256, 1943; type from H. H. Hildebrand
Farm, I/2 mi. N Fowler, Meade Countv, Kansas; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:82, 1944.

Distribution. — Occurs locally in southwestern Kansas; known only from
Hamilton, Ford, and Meade counties. See map, figure 53.

Remarks. — External measurements of 22 specimens from Meade
County, as given by Hibbard and Rinker (1943:260) in the original
description of this subspecies, are: 160.0 (141-180); 35.4 (30-42);
21.0 (20-22); 11.2 (10-13).

Hibbard and Rinker (1943:266) reported that: "The data at
hand show clearly that M. o. taylori inhabits a much more moist
habitat than M. o. haydenii." They further reported {op. cit. :264)
that nine females of this subspecies collected in Meade County in
the last part of June and the first part of July, contained embryos,
ranging from one to five in number. The average number of em-
bryos per female was 2.6.

According to Hibbard and Rinker (1944:257), the skull of this
subspecies is similar to that of M. o. haydenii, but diflFers in being
slightly shorter, narrower, and with lighter upper incisors. The
temporal ridges of M. o. taylori meet posterior to the interorbital
constriction and form a pronounced interorbital ridge, a character
that is not common in M. o. ochrogaster nor in M. o. haydenii. The
pelage of the dorsum is a snuff brown color, as contrasted to a gray
coloration in M. o. haydenii and a grizzled color in M. 0. ochrogaster.

Specimens examined. — Total, 55, distributed as follows: Hamilton County:
Coohdge, 1. Ford County: 8 mi. E Dodge City, 1; Yi mi. NW Bellefont, 4.
Meade County: VA mi. N Fowler, 29; 1 mi. N, 1 mi. E Fowler, 20 (GCR).

206

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

TABLE 24. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Synaptomys,
Ondatra, Pitymys, and Microtus.

s|

■s

ja

1

3

%

_0

J3

-ga

.♦3

"S

•3

C3

?§

j>

s

£

^1

g-3

"3
1

.a

|2

|2

C3 ■"

J3

1

3

>>

o
O

1

i .2
^ Q

^8
<

2

a

«S. cooperi gossii, Atchison County

C?

16146

30.6

17.8

8.1 9.0

7.8

7.0

3.3

&

16147

28.8

17.1

7.3 8.0

7.5

6.7

3.7

cf

16148

26.9

15.9

7.1 7.6

7.0

6.5

3.6

Nemaha County

9

16638

26.8

16.5

6.9 7.4

7.2

6.4

3.6

9

16639

24.5

15.8

6.5 7.3

7.0

6.2

3.5

9

16641

25.8

16.0

7.1 7.3

7.1

6.2

3.5

S.c

. paludis,

14 miles SW Meade, Meade County

t

S

28.2

18.6

....

7.5

7.1

min.

27.5

17.9

>>•• ••■■

7.3

6.9

max.

29.0

19.7

.... ....

8.0

7.5

....

u

1

1

5
1

3
J3

1

g

■3
3

^ 5

1^
^ 0

^

CS

o to

lU ti

cj

t

o

•J a

a "

i -3
^ 1

a

5

•SO

-4^

On

daira zihethicus cinnamominus, Trego

County

cf

5113

63.2

38.7 19.4

22.3

15.5

5.7

cf

5114

57.6

35.6 18.1

20.0

15.3

6.7

d^

1519

60.1

•

20.0

22.3

14.2

6.3

Douglas County

9

2668

59.0

37.1 19.6

21.0

14.1

6.9

9

4099

64.1

39.8 21.8

22.3

16.7

5.6

9

1521

61.0

.

19.5

22.1

15.3

7.4

12919

0. 2. zihethicus, Cowley County
63.1 38.1 19.9

22.6

15.0

^

13629

&

13630

&

13635

9

13633

9

13641

9

8040

Pitymys nemoralis. Greenwood County

25.1 14.7 8.0 7.3
24.5 13.9 7.2 7.5
26.4 15.6 7.6 7.8
26.7 15.7 8.5 8.3

24.2 14.8 6.5 7.5
26.0 15.2 7.9 7.8

5.7

5.8

4.2

6.1

4.3

6.5

4.3

6.4

4.1

5.9

4.5

6.4

4.3

MicROTiNE Rodents 207

TABLE 24. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Synaptomys,
Ondatra, Pitymys, and Microtus — Concluded

o|

5

J3

U

3

%

5

"Sa

S

■a

O

"S

"S

^a

.2

g

tg

5S

2

b o

'S

n

ji

U^

gi-c

JQ

1

> 3

11

1

E
o
bo
>i

a
•3

OQ

12;

*
3

5

^1

<

5

1

a

Microtus ochrogaster haydenii,

2 mi.

XE Ludell,

Rawlins

County

cf

5

27.5

15.7

7.5

8.3

6.3

6.2

4.1

mm.

24.9

14.2

6.4

7.3

5.8

5.6

4.0

max.

29.2

17.6

8.4

8.9

6.8

6.7

4.3

Logan County

9

1066 27.0

15.1 7.5 7.7

6.4

6.3

3.9

M.

0. ochrogaster,

1 1^2 mi. S Muscotah, Atchi

son County

c?

16

27.6

15.9a 7.5 8.3

5.9

5.7

4.1

mm.

25.7

14.8 6.7 7.6

5.1

5.1

3.7

max.

29.3

16.8 8.5 9.1

6.5

6.1

4.5

9

13

27.2

15.9 7.3 8.1

5.9

5.9

3.9

mm.

25.7

14.7 6.8 7.3

5.7

5.7

3.8

max.

29.5

16.8 8.0 9.0

6.4

6.2

4.3

M. 0. taylori,

1 }/2 mi- N Fowler, Meade County

**

22

28.0

16.4 7.1 8.2

6.5

6.5

mm.

24.2

14.5 6.5 6.6

6.0

5.9

max.

30.7

17.3 8.4 9.1

7.1

7.0

•* Average of eight males and 14 females as given by Hibbard and Rinker (1943:259).

a. 15 averaged.

I Average of seven males and one female as given by Hibbard and Rinker (1942:29).

Family Muridae
Old World Rats and Mice

Two genera, including three species, of this family occur in Kan-
sas. The barn rat and the house mouse are introduced commensals
of man. They are distinguished from the native rats and mice by
their thinly haired and scaly tails and by the presence of three rows
of tubercles on the molars. The dental formula for this family is:
i. ],c.tp.f,m.f.

The following key will aid in the separation of species known to
occur in Kansas.

1. Hind foot less than 22 mm.; greatest length of skull less than 30

mm.; no heavy ridges on skull Mus musculus, p. 211

1'. Hind foot more than 22 mm.; greatest length of skull more than 30
mm.; heavy ridges over orbit and posteriorly on skull 2

208 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

2.( 1') Tail shorter than head and body; ears small, half buried in fur; no
distinct notches on anterior row of cusps on first molar tooth,

Rattus norvegicus, p. 209

2'. Tail longer than head and body; ears large, standing out from the
fur; distinct outer notches on anterior row of cusps on first molar
tooth Rattus rattus, p. 208

Genus Rattus G. Fischer
Old World Rats

Rats of this genus have scaly, naked tails, nearly naked ears, and
much coarser pelage than the native rats of the genus Neotoma.
The upper molars differ from those of native rats in having three
longitudinal rows of tubercles on the cheek teeth, instead of two
rows of tubercles or a flat occlusal area. According to Hamilton
(1943:349), rats of the genus Rattus have been in the New World
since the American Revolution.

The general destructiveness of these rats as well as their activity
as disease carriers and their role in increasing the fire hazard have
all been emphasized time and again. The United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture has available a free publication on rat control
and methods of rat-proofing of buildings.

Rattus rattus
Rats

Two subspecies of this rat seem to occur, or to have occurred, in
Kansas. This species can be distinguished from Rattus norvegicus
by the longer tail (longer than the head and body in R. rattus)
and more prominent ears (small and half buried in the fur in R.
norvegicus ) .

Hibbard (1933:245) reported that the black rat [Rattus rattus
rattus] was once common throughout the eastern United States
but that it had been replaced in Kansas by the house rat, Rattus
norvegicus, and mentioned one skin, in the University of Kansas
Museum, taken near Lawrence in Douglas County. I have failed
to locate any specimen of Rattus rattus rattus, or other record of
one from Kansas.

Last year (1950) J. W. Hunt of the United States Public Health
Service presented to the University of Kansas Museum of Natural
History one specimen of Rattus rattus alexandrinus from Wichita
and reported that several individuals of this subspecies have been
killed in Wichita by various employees of the United States Public
Health Service.

Rats and Mice 209

Hayden (1875:94) reported that: "Mus rattus, or common Rat,"
had been introduced at fur-trading posts along the Missouri River
as early as 1855.

Rattus rattus rattus (Linnaeus)

[Mus] rattus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., 1 (ed. 10):61, 1758, type from

Upsala, Sweden.
RaUus rattus rattus. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:428, 1924; Hib-

bard. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:245, 1933; Hibbard, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:83, 1944.

Distribution. — Not known to be present in the state at present but may have
formerly occurred in at least the eastern third of the state.

Remarks. — Measurements of 12 adults from Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Virginia (as given
by Hamilton, 1943:355) are: 369 (327-430); 193 (160-220); 35.5
(33-39).

Specimens examined. — None.

Rattus rattus alexandrinus (Geoffroy)

Roof Rat

Mus alexandrinus Geoffroy, Catal. Mam. du Mus. Nat. d'Hist. Nat.

Paris, p. 192, 1803, type from Alexandrina, Egypt.
R[attus] rattus alexandrinus, Hinton, Jour. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc,

26:63, 1918.

Distribution. — At present known only from Wichita, Sedgwick County.

Remarks. — The measurements of the specimen, an adult male,

taken on June 29, 1950, at Wichita, are: 15" [381 mm.]; 8" [203

mm.]; VA" [38 mm.]; %" [19 mm.].

Specimens examined. — Total, one, from the following locality: Sedgwick
County: Wichita 1.

Rattus norvegicus
Norway Rat

Only one subspecies of the Norway rat occurs in Kansas but it is
state-wide in distribution and is common around many warehouses,
barns, and city garbage dumps. The Norway rat is a much larger
and heavier-bodied rat than either the black rat, R. r. rattus, or the
roof rat, R. r. alexandrinus.

Hamilton (1943:352) reports this species as introduced into the
United States in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and of
its reproductive habits states (p. 354) that: "Much has been written
on the reproductive potentialities of the rat, a great deal of which
has been grossly exaggerated. Nevertheless, rats are among the
most prolific of all mammals. If food is abundant and shelter
adequate, rats will breed throughout the year, although fewer

210

University of Kansas Publs., Mus, Nat. Hist.

litters are produced in tlie winter." The litter size varies from one
to 14 (the female has 12 mammae) with an average of six to eight
young per litter. The average litter size varies in different parts
of the world and, to my knowledge, has not been worked out for
animals from Kansas.

O. M. King (1950) published the results of his study of this
species in Lawrence.

39

38

•u=

Musaum of NolurQl Hitiorj
1943

39

38

100

97

Fig. 56. Distribution of Rattus norvegicus norvegicus in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

Rattus norvegicus norvegicus (Berkenhout)

Mus norvegicus Berkenhout, Outlines Nat. Hist. Great Britain and
Ireland, 1:5, 1769, type from Norway; Lantz, Kansas State College
Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:334, 1905; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
19:174, 1905; Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., Publ. 115, Zool. Ser.,
8:194, 1907.

Rattus norvegicus norvegicus, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:83,
1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:214, 1951.

Rattus norvegicus. Dice, Ecology, 4:44, 1923; Dice, Jour. Mamm.,
4:110, 1923; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:145, 1928; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:245, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric,
30th Biennial Kept., p. 205, 1937; Webb, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
43:479, 1940; King, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 53:500, 1950.

Mus decumanus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:49, 1874; J. A. Allen,
Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:270, 1895.

M[us] decumanus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875.
Distribution. — State-wide, rarely found far from buildings. See map, figure 56.

Remarks. — Measurements of six females, from Lawrence, are:
357.6 (294-425); 161.0 (125-190); 37.8 (35-42); 22 (one specimen
only ) .

Rats and Mice 211

Specimens examined. — Total, 29, distributed as follows: Douglas County:
1 mi. N Lawrence, 6; Lawrence, 7; Unspecified, 9. Harvey County: Unspeci-
fied, L Morton County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 1. Meade County: Meade
County State Game Farm, 1; 17 mi. SW Meade, 1. Clark County: Minneola,
2400 ft., 1. Labette Co.: 10 mi. SW Oswego, 1. Cherokee Co.: 18 mi.
SW Columbus, 1.

Genus Mus Linnaeus

This genus is a native of the Old World but has been introduced
all over the world. Although not as destructive as the Old World
rats, genus Rattus, the house mouse causes untold thousands of
dollars damage to stored foods each year, in Kansas alone.

Mus musculus
House Mice

House mice can be distinguished from the native mice by the
characteristics pointed out in the discussion of this family: thinly
haired and scaly tails and three rows of tubercles on the occlusal
surfaces of the cheek teeth. A third distinguishing feature of the
house mice is the notched occlusal surface of the upper incisors.

Hayden (1875:94) reported the house mouse as abundant at all
fur-trading posts on the Missouri River as early as 1855.

Mus musculus subspecies

[Mus] musculus Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, 10 ed., 1:58, 1758, type

probably from southern Sweden.
Mus musculus, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 444, 1858; J. A. Allen, Bull.

Essex Inst., 6:48, 1874; Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875;

Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:58, 1889; J. A. Allen, Bull.

Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:270, 1895; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 19:174, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,

129:334, 1905; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 8:52, 1927; Wooster, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:303, 1940; King, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

53:500, 1950.

Mus musculus suhsp. ?, Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:214, 1951.

Mus. musculus musculus. Dice, Ecology, 4:44, 1923; Dice, Jour.
Mamm., 4:110, 1923; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:146, 1928; Hib-
bard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:245, 1933; Black, Kansas State
Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 204, 1937; Tihen and Sprague,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:508, 1939; Webb, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 43:479, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:83, 1944.

Remarks. — External measurements of ten males and ten females
from Douglas County, are: males 148.5 (130-178), females 167.3
(145-198); 73.9 (63-91), 81.5 (66-102); 17.7 (16-20), 18.3 (17-21);
13.3 (11-18, 9 specimens), 13.3 (12-14, 3 specimens).

The subspecific status of the house mice in Kansas is unknown.
Schwartz and Schwartz (1943:59-72) made an intensive study of
the wild and commensal stocks of the house mice, and concluded
that, in wild stocks, four different subspecies can be distinguished.

212

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Each of these subspecies is found in a different part of Eurasia
and from three of these wild stocks ( subspecies ) commensal stocks
( designated also as subspecies ) have developed. They further con-
cluded that only two of these commensal stocks have been intro-
duced and established in the western hemisphere; Mus musculus
domesticus introduced into North America, from Alaska southward
to the northern part of the central states of the United States, and
Mus musculus hrevirostris, which has been introduced "...

100

39

38

Scolc

III I I

Museum of Nflfurql Hlilory

University of KonsOS

1945

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 57. Distribution of Mus musculus subspecies in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

into South and Central America, and the southern part of the United

States where its range passes into and overlaps with that of M. m.

domesticus." (Schwartz and Schwartz, 1943:65).

I have wondered if the house mice in Kansas are the result of

crosses between two or more of the various named subspecies of

this species. I have made no attempt to assign a subspecific name

to the available specimens.

Specimens examined. — Total, 110, distributed as follows: Cheyenne County:
14 mi. NE St. Francis, 1. Rawlins County: 2 mi. NE Ludell, 5. Thomas
County: 10 mi. N, 6 mi. E Colby, 3100 ft., 3. Cloud County: 3 mi. E Con-
cordia, 9. Clay County: 6 mi. SW Clay Center, 1. Jackson County: 10/2 mi.
WSW Holton, 1. Atchison County: 1/2 mi. S Muscotah, 1. Leavemvorth
County: Fort Leavenworth, 2; Unspecified, 3. Logan County: Unspecified,
1. Douglas County: Kansas R., ¥2 mi. NW LeCompton, 1; 2 mi. N Lawrence,
2; 1 mi. N Lawrence, 1; 1 mi. W Lawrence, 1; Lawrence, 16; 7/2 mi. SW

Rats and Mice 213

Lawrence, 17; Unspecified, 6. McPherson County: Smoky Hill R., 1 mi.
S, Js mi. W Lindsborg, 1. Marion County: VA mi. NE Lincolnville, 1.
Anderson County: Unspecified, 1. Miami County: 3 mi. SW Springhill, 1.
Hamilton County: 1 mi. E Coolidge, 3. Pawnee County: 3 mi. S, 152 mi. W
Lamed, 1. Stafford County: Little Salt Marsh, 1. Harvey County: 1 mi.
E, 'A mi. N Halstead, 1; "E of Halstead", 1; 1% mi. E, 1 mi. S Halstead, 1.
Greenwood County: Hamilton, 9 (8, GCR)); Yz mi. S Hamilton, 2; 8 mi.
SW Toronto, 1. Woodson County: Neosho Falls, 1. Allen County: 5/2 mi.
N, 4A mi. W lola, 1. Crawford County: Pittsburg, 1. Morton County:
9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 1. Meade County: State Lake, 1; 17 mi. SW
Meade, 4; Unspecified, 1. Clark County: Minneola, 2400 ft., 2. Labette
Co.: 8 mi. SW Oswego, 2. Cherokee County: 1 mi. S, 4% mi. E Baxter
Springs, 900 ft., 1.

TABLE 25, — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Rattus

AND Mus.

1^

a,

3

1

Q

a

2

-"

ja

a
o

s

g

i

s

1

•t

O

o

P3

J3 - S

4^ ^ »•

S "2 -a o.

« -i 8 a -3 s I

S S g 3 5-a

- - .2 rs Ie -2^

^1 .as

« d

Z ei u (9 "d

cQ u o n p^

g M a :2 >

^ .^ S ^ ^

R. norvegicus norvegicus, Cherokee County

cf

2614

50.5

42.6 24.5 18.5
Douglas County

23.9

18.1

9.4

7.7

9

3785

38.2

31.9 18.2 14.0

19.1

15.8

7.8

6.6

9

3787

41.5

35.4 20.2 14.8

21.0

16.1

8.7

6.8

9

689

45.9

38.5 21.9 16.1

17.9

9.5

7.0

R. rattus alexandrinus, Wichita

cf

38099

39.7

32.3 18.2 14.7

18.9

16.4

7.8

6.5

M. musculus, Douglas County

cf

18553

21.8

17.9 10.3 7.8

11.3

9.7

4.5

3.2

cT

730

20.1

16.5 9.5 7.1

10.7

9.6

4.4

3.1

d"

3796

21.3

17.2 9.6 7.6

10.8

9.3

4.4

3.2

9

3793

20.9

17.3 9.7 7.3

9.6

4.5

3.1

9

3795

21.5

17.8 10.2 7.8

io'g

9.5

4.5

3.5

9

4519

22.0

17.3 9.7 8.1

12.1

10.2

4.8

3.3

Family Zapodiadae

Jumping Mice

Only one genus of this family, Zapus, occurs in Kansas. The
jumping mouse is a small, saltatorial mouse with a very long tail,
elongated hind legs, and small ears and eyes. The upper incisors
are grooved. The dental formula is: i. {, c. g, p. J, m. |.

214

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Genus Zapus Coues

Jumping Mice

Mice of this genus occur in Asia and in North America from
Alaska across Canada to the Atlantic Ocean and southward into
the United States. In the eastern United States this genus extends
southward, in the mountains to South Carolina and in the western
United States, it extends southward, in the mountains, to Central
New Mexico.

Zapus hudsonius
Hudsonian Jumping Mouse

One subspecies of this species occurs in Kansas. From the other
rodents in the state it can be distinguished by the long tail ( longer
by one-fifth than the head and body), the long, slender hind legs

100

MuKuTi Of Noturol MiilOfy

Unlvtriity ol Koniot

I94S

39

38

100

97

Fig. 58. Distribution of Zapus hudsonius pallidus in Kansas. See figure 5 for

explanation of symbols.

and feet and small front feet, the grooves on the upper incisors and
the dental formula.

Prior to 1948, fewer than ten specimens of Zapus hudsonius were
known from Kansas, although considerable collecting had been
done in the state in the past 70 years by personnel of the University
of Kansas Museum of Natural History as well as by the personnel
of the Bureau of Biological Survey (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
and other institutions. During and since 1948 a total of 12 speci-
mens have been taken in Douglas County. Although of apparent

Jumping Mouse 215

widespread distribution within the state, this species may be one of
the rarest of small mammals in Kansas and, certainly, is one of
the least known. Probably it will be found principally in relatively
undisturbed marginal situations between grasslands and wood-
lands in the more humid parts of eastern Kansas.

Asdell (1946:291-2) reported that this species, Zapus hiidsonius,
has one litter per year in New York and probably in North Dakota,
but in the south it has more. In the north the mating season is in
May and the young are bom in June. The Utter size is five to
eight and the mean is 7.0. Of ten females, in the University of
Kansas Museum of Natural History, taken in the first part of July,
1947, three miles northwest of Sundance, Crook County, Wyoming,
eight contained embryos. The number of embryos ranged from
five to seven and averaged 6.0. No information is available on
the reproductive habits of this species in Kansas.

Jumping mice are nocturnal and live in globular nests made of
dried grasses placed on the surface of the ground in tall grasses. In
winter they hibernate and, like other mammals that hibernate, they
accumulate a large supply of fat in late summer and autumn.
Neither the dates of hibernation nor actual hibernation has been
observed in Kansas jumping mice.

Zapus hudsonius pallidas Cockrum and Baker

Zapus hudsonius pallidus Cockrum and Baker, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash-
ington, 63:1, 1950, type from NW comer sect. 4, T12S, R20E,
5/2 mi. N, 1^ mi. E Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas.

Zapus hudsonius hudsonius, Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:146, 1928.

Zapus hudsonius campestris, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:175,
1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:336, 1905;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:245, 1933; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 205, 1937; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:83, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland
Nat., 45:214, 1951.

Zapus hudsonius, Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:56, 1889.

Jaculus Hudsonius, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875.

Distribution. — Probably of rare occurrence throughout the eastern one-third
of the state. See map, figure 58.

Remarks. — External measurements of four adult males and four
adult females from the type locality are: ^ 199.2 (193-204), $
189.5 (178-197); 114.5 (107-121), 113.2 (106-119); 28 (28-28),
27.2 (26-29); 12.5 (11-14), 13.8 (13-15); weight in grams 17.0
(15.2-20.0), 14.4 (11.7-16.2).

Baker (1889:57) reports one specimen of this species from near
Wakeeney. Of this specimen he wrote: "Rare, one individual was
taken among willow brush on the bank of a stream."

216 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

TABLE 26. — Cranial Measurements (in milimeters) of Zapus.

s -a g-"- 3

fe M «s IS T.S 73 mS m S

% £ .S ^ S-:

a><^

M § S S« § S « > £ S

Ul

9w taw CO w

Z. hudsonii

us pallidus, 5M nii.

N, IH

mi. E Law

rence,

Douglas County

(f

4

22.4

11.5

9.7

4.3

3.4

3.4

9.2 8.5

mm.

22.1

10.9

9.5

4.1

3.3

3.2

9.0 8.2

max.

22.7

11.8

10.0

4.6

3.5

3.5

9.8 8.7

9

4

21.6

10.9

9.5

4.4

3.3

3.2

8.6 8.2

mm.

21.0

10.5

9.1

3.9

3.2

3.0

8.4 7.9

max.

22.6

11.1

9.7

4.8

3.4

3.6

8.7 8.4

Specimens examined. — Total, 17, distributed as follows: Brown County:
Horton, 1. Douglas County: NW comer Sect. 4, T12S, R20E, 5M mi. N,
1% mi. E Lawrence, 8; 5 mi. N, 1/2 mi. E Lawrence, 3; Sect. 8, T12S, R20E,
4 mi. N, Ifi mi. E Lawrence, 1; Lakeview, 1; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 2.
Greenwood County: /2 mi. S Hamilton, 1 (OCR).

Additional records. — Doniphan County: Geary (Linsdale, 1928:146).
Douglas Co.: Baldwin City, 1 (Knox, 1875:21). Trego Co.: near Wakeeney:
". . . along the hundredth meridian between N latitude 38.30 and 39.30",
1 (Baker, 1889:57). Anderson County: Colony, 1 (Baker Univ. Collection, R.
Kellogg, 1915: unpublished thesis).

Family Erethizontidae
Porcupines

This family occurs in North America and South America. It is
distinguished from other families of rodents in Kansas by its highly
developed spines or quills. These are pointed, barbed, and loosely
attached in the skin. The cheek teeth are complex and flat crowned.

One genus, Erethizon, of this family occurs in Kansas.

Genus Erethizon F. Cuvier
Porcupines

This genus occurs from the northern portions of North America,
south, in the mountains, to Arizona. There are four toes on the
front foot and five on the hind foot; each toe bears a strong, sharp,
curved claw — an adaptation to arboreal habits. The tail is broad,
bushy, and densely covered with quills.

The pelage is of three different types: a woolly under fur, a
coarse guard hair, and highly specialized spines or quills. One
species of this genus occurs in Kansas.

Porcupine

217

Erethizon dorsatum

Porcupine

But one subspecies of the porcupine occurs in Kansas. Prob-
ably it has never been common in the state. In general the porcu-
pine is an arboreal animal and trees are rare in the western part of
the state, where specimens of the porcupine have been reported
or taken. The porcupine seems never to have occurred regularly
in the eastern wooded part of the state. Professor E. Raymond
Hall has told me that his father, Wilbur Downs Hall, remembers

100

39

38

t=i

U»<rtr«ity ol K««»4I
194}

jn

39

38

100

97

Fig. 59. Distribution of Erethizon dorsatum bruneri in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

one porcupine killed in a large apple orchard approximately four
miles south and one mile east of Gardner, Johnson County, in the
1890's. W. D. Hall lived at the place mentioned from 1876 until
1901 and this was the only porcupine seen or heard of in that area.

Black (1937:206) reported that: "The one Barber County
specimen in the K. U. collection is rather small and decidedly
diflFerent in coloration from typical bruneri; additional material may
prove the presence of an undescribed race of porcupine in that
region." A thorough search of the collections at the University
of Kansas Museum of Natural History at the present time ( 1951 )
has failed to yield any trace of this specimen.

Scattered reports of the occurrence of the porcupine in the state
within recent years are available. W. C. Justice (in litt.) reported

218 University of Kansas Fuels., Mus. Nat. Hist.

that a large porcupine was taken six miles west of Arkansas City,
near the Arkansas River, in the summer of 1942. Justice is of the
opinion that this porcupine had floated down the river on drift in
the spring floods. In July, 1950, natives of Morton County told me
of various sight records of the porcupine in that region within
the past year. One porcupine was killed in the winter of 1949-50
near the Cimarron River north of Rolla.

On July 17, 1950, an adult male was found in a hedgerow near
Reading State Lake, ten miles north and eight miles east of Em-
poria. The animal was shot by O. W. Haywood and through the
co-operation of Ted Andrews and John Breukelman of the Depart-
ment of Zoology of Emporia State Teachers College, was saved
for the collections of the University of Kansas Museum of Natural
History.

According to Asdell (1946:294) the porcupine mates in Novem-
ber and after a gestation period of 16 weeks, one or occasionally
two young are born.

Mead (1899:280) reported that in 1859 "Hedgehogs, locally
called porcupines, were very common on the streams between the
Saline and Solomon. They subsisted on the bark and buds of trees,
climbing with ease. . . . They nested under the shelving rocks
where such could be found and brought forth two at a litter."

Erethizon dorsatum bruneri Swenk

Erethizon epixanthum bruneri Swenk, Univ. Studies Nebr., 16:117,
1916, type from three miles east of Mitchell, Scottsbluff County, Ne-
braska; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:245, 1933; Hibbard,
Jour. Mamm., 15:70, 1934; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th
Biennial Kept., p. 206, 1937; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 42:508, 1939; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:84, 1944.

Erethizon dorsatum bruneri, Anderson and Rand, Canadian Jour. Re-
search, 21:293, 1943.

Erethizon dorsatus var. epizanthus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:52,
1874; Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:22, 1875.

Erethizon dorsatus epixanthus. Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:58,

1889.
Erethizon epixanthus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,

129:336, 1905.
Erethizon epixanthum, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:176, 1905;

Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., Publ. 115, Zool. Ser., 8:358, 1907.

Distribution. — Formerly perhaps throughout the western two-thirds of the
state or, less likely, state wide. At present, of rare occurrence throughout the
western two-thirds of the state. See map, figure 59.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males, one from De-
catur County and one from Lyon County, and one female from
Kingman County are: $ 785, 760, $ 630; 210, 215, 180; 102, 105,
70; 30, 30, 34. The male from Lyon County weighed 18 pounds.

Porcupine and Carnivores 219

Cranial measurements of one male from Decatur County and one
female from Kingman County, are, respectively: Basal length,
91.2, 90.1; basilar length, 85.2, 84.4; occipitonasal length, 94.6, 90.5;
palatilar length, 45.4, 47.3; length of nasals, 40.7, 35.6; zygomatic
breadth, 70.5, 64.3; mastoidal breadth, 45.5, 43.9; interorbital
breadth, 24.3, 30.8; and alveolar length of upper cheek-teeth, 23.7,
24.9.

Specimens examined. — Total, 8, distributed as follows (the date in the
parenthesis is the date of collection): Decatur County: Oberlin, 1 (1932).
Wallace Co.: Wallace, 1 (USES, 1872). Logan County: Unspecified, 2
(1894, 1912). Trego County: 20 mi. SW Wakeeney, 1 (1924). Lyon
County: 10 mi. N, 8 mi. E Emporia, 1 (1950). Kingman County: 1 mi. W
Rago on Chikaska R., (1933).

Additional records. — Rooks Co.: Northeast of Stockton on Bow Creek
(winter, 1930-31) (Wooster, 1931:112). Ellis Co.: 10 mi. N Hays (1929)
(Wooster, 1931:112). Woodson County: Along Verdigris River SW of
Toronto (late 1870's) ( Hibbard, 1944:84). Morton County: Cimarron R.,
north of Rolla (winter, 1949-50) (see text). Barber County: Unspecified, 2
(one in 1931) (Black, 1937:206). Cowley County: 6 mi. W Arkansas City,
(1942) (see text).

Order CARNIVORA
Carnivores

The carnivores, or flesh eating mammals, are mainly terrestrial
and are nearly world-wide in distribution. Their dentition is
adapted for a flesh diet, two teeth in each jaw being modified,
usually, into carnassials or cutting teeth. The incisors are small
but the canines are well developed, being longer than the other
teeth, and thus are adapted for seizing prey.

Members of this order vary greatly in size. Among the smallest
is the least weasel which is scarcely larger than a chipmunk.
Among the largest is the huge Alaskan bear which is reported to
weigh more than half a ton. Five families of terrestrial carnivores
occur in North America, each of which either formerly occurred, or
at present occurs, in Kansas.

The following key will aid in the separation of the various fami-
lies of carnivores known to occur in the state within historic times.

1. Total length more than 1225 mm. (48 inches) and tail less than
14% of total length; M2 (always present) at least 1% times as long
as wide URSIDAE, p. 237

1'. Total length less than 1200 mm. (47 inches) and tail more than
15% of total length; M2 (may be absent) less than IY2 times as long
as wide 2

2.( 1') Five toes on hind foot; 34 to 40 teeth 3

2'. Four toes on hind foot; 30, 32, or 42 teeth 4

3.(2) Pelage of tail with conspicuous rings; 40 teeth,

PROCYONIDAE, p. 241

3'. Pelage of tail without rings; less than 40 teeth. .MUSTELIDAE, p. 243

220 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

4.(2') Muzzle long and narrow; claws not retractile; 42 teeth including 2

upper molars on each side CANIDAE, p. 220

4'. Muzzle short and wide; claws retractile; 30 or 32 teeth with only

one upper molar on each side FELIDAE, p. 261

Family Canidae
Wolves, Coyotes, and Foxes

This family, which includes the domestic dog, is composed of
several genera of medium-sized, dog-like carnivores. The feet are
digitigrade. There are four toes on each of the hind feet and five
on each of the front feet. The claws are non-retractile. There are
42 teeth in all North American members of this family; the dental
formula is i. f , c. \, p. ^, m. f . It is world wide in distribution and
has three genera represented in Kansas.

The following key will aid in the separation of the species of this
family known to occur in Kansas within historic times.

1. Weights of adults less than 18 pounds; length less than 1050 mm.;
greatest length of skull less than 175 mm 2

1'. Weights of adults more than 18 pounds; length more than 1050

mm.; greatest length of skull more than 175 mm.. .Genus Canis, p. 220

2.(1) Total length less than 735 mm.; upper parts bufFy-yellow,

Vulpes velox, p. 234

2'. Total length more than 735 mm.; upper parts reddish or grizzled
gray 3

3.(2') Upper parts grizzled-grayish; tail with dorsal black stripe and
prominently tipped with black; lyre-shaped temporal ridges; P2
approximately as long as wide Urocyon cinereoargenteus, p. 236

3'. Upper parts yellowish-red; tail without dorsal black stripe and not
tipped with black; temporal ridges not lyre-shaped; P2 approxi-
mately three times as long as wide Vulpes fulva, p. 232

Genus Canis Linnaeus

Wolves and Coyotes

Three species of this genus either occur, or have occurred, in
the state within historic times. These are the wolf, the red wolf,
and the coyote. Members of this genus can be distinguished
from the foxes by greater weight, adult specimens of Canis weigh-
ing more than 18 pounds.

Canis latrans

Coyotes

The taxonomic relationships of the various populations of coyotes
has long been obscure, because the number of specimens studied
were too few, too few localities were represented clearly to show

Coyote

221

geographic variation, and too few specimens were available from
a given locality to show the degree of individual variation. How-
ever, H. H. T. Jackson recently has brought all available material
together and made a careful study of the individual and geographic
variation of this species, although the results of his studies are not
yet published and thus, are not available to me at this time.

Since Kansas was first settled, almost continuous "warfare" was
waged against the wolf until it was exterminated and this warfare
has been continued against the coyote which still thrives. In the
minds of most people, the coyote and wolf are one and the same
animal; therefore, many of the references to wolves in the state
pertain to the coyote rather than the wolf.

On March 6, 1877, the Legislature of the State of Kansas passed
a law providing a bounty of one dollar for each coyote and wolf
scalp presented to the county commissioner. Twenty-four counties,
mainly in the eastern part of the state, offered bounties in 1877-78.
Table 27 gives a summary of the numbers and amounts of bounties
paid. This table is based on information found in the first Biennial

TABLE 27. — Number of Wolves and Coyotes Presented to Various
County Clerks for Bounties in 1877-78.

1 ■

County

Coyotes

Wolves

Cost

Butler

0
0

134
0
0

107
0
0
0
4
0
8
0
1

101

0

0

18

0

0

0

0

70

42

150
59

0
48
28

1
50
192
14
40
41

0
103
57
11
17
27

0

41

23

25

109

0

0

S150.00

ChautauQua

59.00

Chase

134.00

Cherokee

48.00

Douelas

28.00

Ellsworth

108.00

Harvey

50.00

Jackson

192.00

Jefferson

14.00

Labette

44.00

Leavenworth . .

41.00

Linn

8.00

Lvon

103.00

Marion

58.00

McPherson

112.00

Mitchell

17.00

Morris

27.00

Neosho

18.00

Osage

41.00

Pawnee

23.00

Riley

25.00

Wabaunsee

109.00

Wilson

70.00

Woodson

42.00

Totals

485

1,036

.?1,521.00

222

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Report of the state Board of Agriculture to the Legislature of the
State of Kansas for the years 1877-78 (pp. 584-589).

The table above reveals that most county clerks reported all ani-
mals presented as either coyotes or wolves. Chase County, for
example, reported paying bounties on 134 coyotes and no wolves,
while each of the adjacent counties, Morris to the north, Lyon to
the east, and Butler to the south, reported paying bounties on a
total of 310 wolves but no coyotes. McPherson County, to the west
of Chase County, reported paying bounties on 11 wolves and 101
coyotes.

1905

1910

I9IS

1920 1925

Years

1930

1935

1940

1945

Fig. 60. Graph showing the number of coyotes presented for bounty payments

in five counties.

The payment of bounties on coyote scalps has been continued,
in Kansas, from 1877 to date. Lantz (1905C:10) listed 94 counties
in the state which paid bounties on coyotes from July 1, 1903 to
June 30, 1904. Of the 11 counties not listed he determined that ten
had paid no bounties and one, Doniphan, had made no report. He
found that a total of 19,514 coyote scalps had been presented for
bounty payments in the one year period. This is an average of
207.6 annual payments in each of the 94 counties.

Wooster (1938:389) Hsted the number of bounties paid on coy-
otes in Ellis County, by year, from 1914 through 1932. He also

Coyote

223

listed (1931:112) similar information for Ness County for the yeai'S
1889 through 1929. This information, together with similar in-
formation that I have received from the county clerks of Comanche,
Jewell, and Franklin counties, is presented in figure 60. An in-
spection of this chart reveals that although many fluctuations in
bounty payments have occurred from year to year, there is a sur-
prising amount of correlation among the various counties. If the
number of coyotes presented for bounty payment can be taken as
a measure of the relative abundance of the animals in the county,
then it is obvious that the population levels of the coyotes is in a
state of continuous flux. Such fluctuations of population levels
among carnivores is well known in more northern latitudes, where
it IS cyclic in nature and has been correlated with the cyclic be-
havior of the population levels of the rodents and rabbits. This
correlation is not perfect; the peaks of the carnivore population
cycles are usually one or two years later than the peaks of the
rodent population cycles.

TABLE 28. — Number of Coyotes Presented to County Clerks of Various
Counties for Bounty Payments in the Years 1941-1949.

County

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

Atchison

167
234
220
153
209
371
309

344
266
275
184
196
503
355

233

217
300
176
248
399
250

271
3*16
330
131
247
518
236

290
270
325
294
269
514
305
232
332
179
476
157
90
326
282
695
307
357
475
518
431
221
464
143
636
168

223
203
470
177
340
340
280
226
174
169
348
154

61
449
293
581
260
209
363
220
382
104
341
230
389

95

143

Bourbon

Comanche. . .
Crawford ....
Doniphan. . . .
Ellsworth ....

Franklin

Hamilton ....

246
614
94
155
380
412

127
192
88
115
367
308

139
315
129
214
583
320
235

Harper

Hodgeman. . .

265

225

279

313
354
398
200

282
279
628
194
156
261
193

491
362
563
210
108
212
256
383
409
259
333
722
560
179
498
157
460
254

302
181

Jewell

Johnson

Labette

439
141

241
91

"l97

597
171

87

Leavenworth

Marion

Marshall. . .

209
191

37

254

156
297

495

288

265
301
164

McPherson. . .
Neosho

172

125

210

256

229

140
314

Osage

714
502
249
121
591
146
656
492

244

Osborne

Rawlins

245

353
92

480
869

33
285

53
550
148

564
905

"581'
64
594
212

403
472

Sedgwick ....

161

Smith

Sumner

64

42

51

374

165

333
141

Washington. .
Wichita

434
30

251
53

Totals...
Average

4,091
255.7

3,147
174.8

5,220
274.7

7,679
383.9

7,512
327.0

8,465
338.6

8,756
336.7

7,081
272.3

6,658
256.0

224 University of Kansas Fuels., Mus. Nat, Hist.

However, the population fluctuations shown above, for the coy-
ote in Kansas, are not cycHc in nature, but rather reach peaks at
various intervals of five to eleven years. Hall (1946:57) proposed
the term "multiannual fluctuation" to describe fluctuations of this
nature. When the peaks and low points of multiannual fluctuations
are spaced regularly, the fluctuation is properly spoken of as cycHc.
The multiannual fluctuations in Kansas differ from the cyclic fluc-
tuations not only in the lack of periodicity but also in that trends
toward peaks are frequently abortive.

In the summer of 1950 I sent a questionnaire to each of the
county clerks of the 105 counties in Kansas, requesting information
on the numbers of animals that had been presented to their oflBce
for bounty payments. Twenty-six of these questionnaires were re-
turned with suflBcient information on coyote bounties to be of use
here. Table 28 summarizes the number of coyotes presented for
bounty payments in these various counties.

The following tabulation shows the average number of bounties
paid on coyotes in each county in various years between 1877 and
1950. The number of such averages available is inadequate to use
as a basis for valid conclusions. The number of coyotes presented
for bounties in 1903-04 is fewer than the number presented in recent
years — this fact indicates that, in spite of the bounty system, the
coyote has held its own, or even increased, in competition with man.

i

Number of
Year Average counties

1877-78* 63.3 24

1903-04 207.6 94

1940 333.1 8

1941 255.7 16

1942 174.8 18

1943 274.7 19

1944 383.9 20

1945 327.0 23

1946 338.6 25

1947 336.7 26

1948 272.3 26

1949 256.0 26

° Includes animals reported as "wolves."

Wooster (1938:389), in analyzing the records of coyote bounties
in Ellis County for the years 1914 through 1932, found "that the
arithmetic mean of bounties paid per year on coyotes in the ten-
year period from 1923 to 1932, inclusive, is 333. From preceding
nine years ( the tenth year back is incomplete ) the arithmetic mean
is 338." He further pointed out (loc. cit.) that: "It will be seen
from the above data that the average for each of the two periods
is practically the same. This would indicate that coyotes have held

Coyote

225

their own in numbers through a period of almost twenty years.
If coyotes were either decidedly on the increase or decidedly on
the decrease the fact would, over a considerable period of time, be
manifest in the numbers killed for bounty. Neither seems to be
the case. It is of interest to note that the common impression
among old settlers, farmers, and hunters is to the effect that coyotes
are maintaining their numbers in spite of the numbers killed for the
bounty. This impression corresponds to the indications of the
bounty record."

100

SeoU
TO 40 MiUf

I I

Wwilum or NolurOl HittOfy

Uni.criirr of KAnt4t

1945

39

38

100

97

Fig. 61. Distribution of Canis latrans in Kansas. 1. C. I. ncbracensis.
latrans. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

2. C. I.

Wooster's comments just quoted seem to me to apply equally
well to the data that I have presented above. In spite of their com-
petition with man, coyotes are maintaining their numbers.

Bennitt (1948:321) studied the bounty system of coyote "control"
in Missouri. He found: (1) the number and cost of coyote boun-
ties in Missouri increased rapidly in the 12 years from 1936 through
1947. (2) In this same time complaints of damage continued to
increase; so did the population of coyotes. (3) "There is reason
to believe that bounty figures furnish a reliable index of popula-
tion." (4) "It is virtually certain that there is no relation between
total number of coyotes and amount of damage. Damage is caused
by a relatively few members of the species." ( 5 ) "The bounty sys-
tem cost the counties about $50,000 in 1947. . . ."

Many coyotes are sold for their furs. In many cases the animal

8—1424

226

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

is first presented for bounty payment, then skinned and the pelt sold
in the fur trade. Table 29 shows the numbers sold for fur in Kan-
sas in various recent years.

According to Asdell (1946:156) the breeding season of the coyote
is between February and April; the gestation period is 60 to 65 days.
In 1,330 cases the average number of embryos was 6.23 and in
1,582 cases the average number of den young was 5.70. Wooster
(1938:390) reported that 28 litters of coyotes were presented for
bounties in Ellis County in the spring of 1931. These litters ranged
in number from three to 12 and averaged 6.21. Wooster thought
that perhaps the one htter of 12 actually represented two litters —
as well may have been the case. If this be true, then the litters
ranged in number from three to nine and averaged 6.00

TABLE 29. — Number of Pelts of "Wolves" and Coyotes Sold in Kansas
IN Recent Years. The "Wolves" Listed in This Table Are Almost Cer-
tainly Coyotes. These Figures Were Compiled from the Sources
Given in Table 2.

Year

Coyotes

"Wolves"

Total

1928

6,169
10,957
14,022
18,392
16,758
22,953
23,987
26,853
19,263

2,716
672
798

1,416
2,492
1,047
983
1,153
1,558

7,585

1938

13,449

1940

15,069

1941

19,375

1942

17,911

1943

24,511

1944

23,987

1945

26,853

1946

19,263

1947-48

338

85

3,054

1948^9

1949-50

757
798

Canis latrans nebracensis Merriam

Canis nebracensis Merriam, Science, N. S., 8:792, 1898 (Substitute for
pallidus Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 11:24, 1897), type
from Johnstown, Brown County, Nebraska.

Canis latrans nebracensis. Nelson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 45:223,
1932; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:70, 1944.

Canis nebrascensis [sic], Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177, 1905;
Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:336, 1905.

Canis nebrascensis subsp. [sic], Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 42:506, 1939.
Canis nebrascensis nebrascensis [sic]. Dice, Ecology, 4:48, 1923; Dice,

Jour. Mamm., 4:108, 1923; Wooster, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

41:387, 1938.

Canis nebracensis nebracensis, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:237, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept.,
p. 168, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia,
Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :29, 1940.

Coyote 227

Canis latrans, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:45, 1874; Baker, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:57, 1889.

Canis latrans texensis, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:70, 1944.

Distribution. — ^Western part of the state, east certainly to Reno County. See
map, figure 61.

Remarks. — No external measurements of specimens of this sub-
species are available to me. According to Black (1937:168) indi-
viduals of this subspecies average slightly smaller than those of the
subspecies C. latrans latrans. Diagnostic characteristics of C. latrans
nebracensis include the pale coloration and buffy instead of fulvous
color on the back of the ears.

Specimens examined. — Total, 46, distributed as follows: Wallace County:
7 mi. SE Wallace, 5; Unspecified, 1. Logan County: Unspecified, 8. Trego
County: Unspecified, 1. Reno County: 3 mi. SW Hutchinson, 1; 7 mi. NNW
Hutchinson, 1; 11 mi. NW Hutchinson, 1. Ford County: 7 mi. N Fowler, 1.
Morton County: 9 mi. \, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 9; 12 mi. NE Elkhart, 1. Seward
County: 1 mi. E Arkalon, 1. Meade County: Unspecified, 2. Clark County:
Unspecified, 1. Comanche County: Cave Creek, 4/2 mi. SW Aetna, 13.

Canis latrans latrans Say

Canis latrans Say, Long's Exped. Rocky Mts., 1:168, 1823, type from
Engineer Cantonment, near present town of Blair, Washington
County, Nebraska; Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 120, 1858; Knox,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875; Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc.
Washington, 11:23, 1897; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:176,
1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:336, 1905;
Elliot, Field Columbian Mus. Publ. 115, Zool. Sen, 8:409, 1907; Lins-
dale. Jour. Mamm., 9:142, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:236, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept.,
p. 167, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia,
Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :29, 1940; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:70, 1944.

Canis latrans latrans. Nelson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 45:223, 1932;
Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:210, 1951.

Distribution. — Eastern part of the state, west to Saline and Cowley counties.
See map, figure 61.

Remarks. — External measurements of six males and four females
from eight miles west of Lawrence, are: J 1229.1 (1192-1260),
? 1165.0 (1140-1190); 351.3 (320-370), 343.7 (335-350); 204.5
(193-212), 194.5 (191-200); 111.0 (104-120), 107.7 (102-116).

Specimens examined. — Total, 94, distributed as follows: Nemaha County:
Sabetha, 3. Atchison County: 4 mi. \E Muscotah, 1. Jefferson County: 1 mi.
N Midland, 1. Leavenworth County: 3 mi. E McLouth, 1. Saline County:
Unspecified, 1. Shawnee County: Watson, 5; 1 mi. SE Watson, 1; 2 mi. NW
Richland, 5; 2 mi. SE Barryton, 4. Douglas County: 2 mi. S LeCompton, 1;

2 mi. E Midland, 2; 8 mi. W Lawrence, 10; 3 mi. W Lawrence, 1; Lawrence,
3; Wakarusa bottoms near Haskell. 1; 2 mi. SE StuU, 1; 3 mi. NE Overbrook,
1; 2 mi. NW Eudora, 2; 2 mi. S Eudora, 1; 10 mi. W, 2 mi. S Lawrence, 1;

3 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; 3 mi. S Lawrence, 1; 5 mi. S, 1 mi. W Eudora, 4; 7^2
mi. SW Lawrence, 1; Unspecified, 16. Johnson County: Edgerton, 2. Frank-
lin County: 2 mi. S LeLoup, 3. Miami County: 1 mi. N, 8 mi. E Hillsdale, 5;

228 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

9 mi. N Paola, 4. Greenwood County: Hamilton, 3; 3 mi. S, 2 mi. W Toronto,
1; 6 mi. SW Toronto, 1; 8 mi. SW Toronto, 1; 1 mi. E, 4 mi. S Hamilton, 1;
Unspecified, 1. Wilsoti County: West of Coyville, 1. Cowley County: 2 mi.
S, 2^4 mi. E Atlanta, 2.

Canis lupus
Wolf

The wolf was once common in Kansas but now is extinct within
the limits of the state. J. R. Mead, an early hunter, trapper, and
resident of Kansas, in recording some natural history notes of 1859,
wrote (1899:280) that: "Lobo, the mountain wolf, locally known on
the plains as 'big gray,' were congeners and associates of the buffalo,
and lived almost exclusively upon them. Each wolf would kill
in the course of a year, it is fair to assume, a dozen buflFalo, many
of them calves; but they, with equal facility, could kill the strongest
bull, and did, whenever appetite and circumstances made it most
convenient. Hunters with strychnia finally exterminated the wolves,
myself and men kilhng some 5000 of them. They never molested
people."

Allen (1874:45) reported that, in middle and western Kansas,
in 1871, the wolf was: "Formerly very abundant, but during the
last few years their numbers have greatly diminished, thousands
having been killed for their skins every winter by means of strych-
nine. Comparatively few now remain." Knox (1875:10) reported
that the wolf was: ". . . not uncommon in all parts of the state.
Many are taken on the plains every winter for their splendid fur
that is used for muffling robes. . . . C Lupus seems to be
getting more common in older parts of the state."

By 1889, however, the number of wolves had greatly diminished.
Baker (1889:56) reported that near Wakeeney, Trego County, the
wolf was ". . . formerly quite numerous; now uncommon, and
found only in rough country along streams."

In 1905 Lantz (1905A:176) reported the wolf was ". . . still
found in a few scattered sections of the state. There is a bounty of
five dollars on the large wolves in most of the counties. Last year
only three counties were called upon to pay such bounties — Chau-
tauqua, Republic, and Sherman."

Bailey (1907:11), in reporting the status of the wolf in Kansas,
stated: "Gray wolves were reported as not uncommon in the region
of Colby in 1893, and later reports show that bounties were paid
in 1905 on 29 wolves in the five counties of Brown, Labette, Lyon,
Sedgwick, and Sherman."

Bailey (1907:23) stated that the young of the wolf in Wyoming
were usually born in March or early in April. He found that the

Wolf 229

litter size varied from five to 13, the usual size being between eight
and 11. He further reported (1907:24) that: "The young are
usually born in caves, among rocks, in washed-out cavities in bad
lands, or in old badger holes in banks that had been enlarged by
the wolves."

Canis lupus nubilus Say

Canis nubilus Say, Long's Expedition Rocky Mountains 1:169, 1823,
type from Engineer Cantonment, near present town of Blair, Wash-
ington County, Nebraska; Miller, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., 59(15):4,
1912; Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:108, 1923; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 36:237, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th
Biennial Kept., p. 169, 1937.

C[anis] nubilus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:336,
1905.

Canis lupus nubilus, Pocock, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1935, p. 45, 1935;

Goldman, Jour. Mamm., 18:37, 1937; Goldman, The wolves of

North America, American Wildlife Inst., p. 441, 1944; Hibbard,

Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:71, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland

Nat, 45:210, 1951.

Canis lupus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:45, 1874; Knox, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875; Bailey, Forest Serv. Bull., 72:11,
1907.

Canis ater, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:176, 1905.
Canis griseus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:176, 1905.
Canis occidentalis. Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:56, 1889; Lantz,
Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:336, 1905.

Distribution. — Formerly statewide, now extinct.

Remarks. — No external measurements of specimens taken in
Kansas are available to me. Young and Goldman (1944:443) gave
the length of an adult male of this subspecies from Douglas, Wyo-
ming, as 1982 mm.

Specimens examined. — Total, 3, distributed as follows: Sherman County:
Unspecified, 1. Gove County: 3 mi. W Castle Rock, 1. Trego County:
Near Castle Rock, 1.

Additional records. — Ellsworth Co.: Fort Harker, 1 (Young and Goldman,
1944:444). Gove County: Unspecified, 1 (Young and Goldman, 1944:444).

Canis niger
Red Wolf

One subspecies of the red wolf probably formerly occurred in
the southeastern corner of the state. Unfortunately, however, no
specimens of this species have been preserved from the state.

Remington Kellogg and Victor Householder investigated the
mammahan fauna of Cherokee County in December, 1915, and
January, 1916. Kellogg wrote of the red wolf ( unpubhshed notes ) :
"Rill Renham saw seven in his feed ring south of Columbus in
1892. Clyde Royd killed a male in 1909. The trappers in this

230 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

county speak of this wolf as having longer legs and a more reddish
color than the coyote." Householder's notes, also unpublished, con-
cerning this same trip, record that: "The prairie wolf is rare. One
was heard on the night of December 31 [1915]. They were for-
merly numerous. Clyde Boyd killed one in 1908. Frank Larson
has noticed a pair around his place for a couple of years."

No information is available on the natural history of this species
in the state.

The red wolf formerly ranged throughout the southeastern United
States, westward to central Texas and northward, in the Mississippi
Valley, to central Illinois. It is now restricted mainly to the Ozark
Mountain region in Missouri, Arkansas, and southeastern Oklahoma
and to a few restricted sections of Louisiana and Texas. The red
wolf is rather small and is of slender build. Its color is usually near
tawny, especially on the muzzle, ears, and outer surfaces of the limbs.

The food habits of the red wolf resemble those of the timber wolf.
Young (1944:211) reported that an examination of the stomachs of
31 red wolves revealed that cottontails and jackrabbits were the
most important food items, comprising 56 per cent of the total food,
while carrion constituted an additional 18 per cent.

Canis niger nifus Audubon and Bachman

Canis lupus var. rufus Audubon and Bachman, Quadr. North Amer.
2:240, 1851, type locality restricted (see Goldman, 1937:38) to 15
miles west of Austin, Texas.

Canis niger rufus. Harper, Jour. Mamm., 23:339, 1942; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:70, 1944.

Canis frustror, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:237, 1933; Black,
Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 169, 1937.

Distribution. — Formerly in the southeastern part of the state, now extinct.

Remarks. — No external measurements of specimens taken in Kan-
sas are available. Young and Goldman ( 1944:487) gave the external
measurements of two adult males from Redfork, Oklahoma, as:
1403, 1454; 381, 420; 210, 221; and the weight of an adult male from
Noble, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, as 55 lbs.

Specimens examined. — None.

Additional records. — Cherokee County: "south of Columbus" (see text).

Foxes

231

TABLE 30. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Canis.

E

1

2.

1

i

J3
T3

!3

e
_o

o

c
o

o

13

II

a

11

S3
C3 O

■ o

3

es
O

.=3S

X o

a

2
.2

B

s

o
>>

0

1

4) S

a— •
c

C. lairans nehracensis. Wallace County

&

2100

174.5

65.1

26.7

81.4

30.4

12.2

19.6

Meade County

cT

14367

203.7

71.0

34.6

99.5

33.8

14.4

20.9

C. latrans latrans, Dougl;

as County

<f

21991

197.5

69.7

33.0

97.0

35.0

13.6

20.1

cf

16223

202.2

72.4

33.4

99.3

35.1

13.5

19.6

cf

21993

196.9

75.3

32.8

100.8

34.5

13.2

19.7

9

30800

188.1

68.8

29.9

91.3

33.8

13.3

19.0

9

22059

188.6

71.9

29.6

34.6

12.2

18.5

9

22066

182.6

66.4

28.8

88.0

31.2

12.4

18.5

C. lupus nubilus, * Gove County, Kansas
d" 139156 254.4 105.6 45.7 135.7 39.3

Platte River, Nebraska
9 3575 231.0 96.2 40.3 130.5 38.0

9 2611 233.5 .... 37.3 126.2 35.3

Canis niger rufus,* Redfork, Oklahoma
<? 133233 228.5 97.8 39.3 120.0 36.1

cf 135748 217.2 92.1 34.9 111.1 36.2

Tahlequah. Oklahoma
9 251059 210.5 89.9 34.7 105.0 36.0

16.3 26.1

15.5
14.8

15.3
13.8

13.5

24.2
23.4

21.8
20.3

20.5

"Measurements given by Young and Goldman (1944:490-506).
are those of the United States National Museum.

Catalogue numbers

Genus Vulpes Oken

Foxes

Two species, the red fo.x and the swift fox either occur or have oc-
curred in Kansas. The swift fox is probably extinct in the state.
Generic characteristics of these foxes include the large ears, the
large cylindrical and bushy tail, small size (weight less than 15
pounds), temporal ridges closely paralleling one another or uniting
to form a saggital crest, and inferior margin of mandible without
the "step" seen in Urocyon.

232

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Vulpes fulva

Red Fox

The red fox ranges normally from the limit of trees in the far
north to the northern edge of the cotton belt in the southern United
States. According to Bailey (1928:272): "A few scattered records
over Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas
are probably of wanderers, or the progeny of stocks introduced for
fox hunting." One subspecies of the red fox occurs in Kansas. It
is distinguished from the swift fox, Vulpes velox, which formerly
occurred in western Kansas, by its reddish color, larger size, and
the white tip on the tail.

100

39

38

40 Witt

=1

tluttum of Nolu'tl Historr

Un>.trsit» of KOfiiOt

1943

39

38

100

97

Fig. 62. Distribution of Vulpes fulva fulva in Kansas.

planation of symbols.

See figure 5 for ex-

According to Asdell (1946:157-158) this species mates in late
January or February and the gestation period is 49 to 55 days. The
litters range in number from one to eight; and the numerical aver-
age is 4.52 young per litter.

This shy animal is not common anywhere in the state. Reming-
ton Kellogg and V. Householder reported in 1916 (unpublished
notes) that a few red foxes had been killed in Cherokee County
but that they ". . . were never plentiful". Charles D. Kennedy
( personal communication, 1949 ) reported trappers have taken some
red foxes near Halstead in recent years. W. C. Justice (in litt.)
reported to me that the red fox was introduced into Cowley County
in 1935 and is now common there.

Foxes 233

According to reports of the United States Fish and Wildhfe Serv-
ice a few foxes are taken in the state each year for their fur. No
distinction is made in these reports between the gray fox and the red
fox. Table 31 shows the number of pelts of foxes sold in the state in
recent years for their furs.

TABLE 31. — Numbers of Pelts of Foxes Sold in Kansas in Various Recent
Years. These FiGxmES Were Compiled from the Sources Gfven in
Table 2.

1938 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947-48 1948-49 1949-50
501 1,965 1,387 1,574 1,792 1,252 971 738 1,341 302 0

Vulpes fulva fulva (Desmarest)

Cams fulvus Desmarest, Mammalogie, 1:203, 1820, type from Virginia.
Vulpes fulva fulva, Soper, Jour. Mamm., 4:251, 1923; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:69, 1944.

Vulpes fulvus fulvus, P. B. Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Em-
poria, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :28, 1940.

Vulpes fulvus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875; Lantz,
Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:336, 1905^ Lantz, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177, 1905.

Vulpes fulva, Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:142, 1928; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:236, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric,
30th Biennial Kept., p. 163, 1937; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat.,
45:210, 1951.

Vulpes fulva regalis, Bailey, Nature Magazine, 28:317, 1928.

Distribution. — Eastern part of the state, west certainly to Mitchell County
and probably to Harvey County. See map, figure 62.

Remarks. — Measurements of two males and one female from
Douglas County, are: ^ 1000, 910, $ 965; 358, 310, 357; 162, 150,
145; — , 90, — . One male from ten and one-half miles south of
Tonganoxie, Leavenworth Co., weighed 10/2 pounds.

Bailey (1936:317) includes Kansas in the range of Vulpes fulva

regalis. Comparisons of specimens from Kansas with V. /. regalis

from Cavalier County, North Dakota and with V. /. fulva from

New York, Illinois, and Georgia show that Kansas specimens are

referable to the latter subspecies, Vulpes fulva fulva.

Specimens examined. — Total, 29, distributed as follows: Jefferson County:
Unspecified, 1. Leavenworth County: 3 mi. W, ]i mi. S Linwood, 1; lOM mi.
S Tonganoxie, 2; Unspecified, 2. Shawnee County: Tecumseh, 3. Douglas
County: First Island N on Kaw River from Lawrence, 1; 2 mi. N Courthouse,
Lawrence, 1; VA mi. W Union Pac. Depot, Lawrence, 1; Lawrence, 1; 2/2 mi.
E KU, 1; "E of Lawrence", 3; IM mi. SE Lawrence, 1; 8 mi. SW Lawrence, 1;
Near Clinton, 1; Unspecified, 8. Johnson County: 3 mi. S, 1 mi. W Overland
Park, 1.

Additional records. — Doniphan County: Geary (Linsdale, 1928:142).
Mitchell County: Waconda Springs, 1 (Hibbard, 1944:69). Harvey County:
Near Halstead (see text). Cowley County: Unspecified (see text). Cherokee
County: Unspecified (see text).

234

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Vulpes velox

. Swift Fox

The swift fox is small, lightly built and much paler than the red
fox, Vulpes fulva, and is buffy yellow in general dorsal color. The
tail is bu£Fy gray above and tipped with black. The swift fox is
approximately 26 inches in total length; the tail comprises approxi-
mately nine inches of this total.

The swift fox is extinct in Kansas at the present time and ap-
pears to be on the verge of extinction throughout its range.

100

39

38

.0Mir«s

=1

Muiaym o( Natural Miiiorr
1949

39

38

100

97

Fig. 63. Distribution of Vulpes velox velox in Kansas.

planation of symbols.

See figure 5 for ex-

Mead (1899:280) reported that in 1859: "There were red foxes
living on the plains with the wolves, called "swifts" from their re-
markable speed. They lived in pairs; not more than two found
together. No other foxes were found on the plains." Allen, in
writing of the swift fox in central and western Kansas in 1871,
reported (1874:45) that: "These graceful little animals are still
more or less abundant." Baker, in 1889, reported (1889:57) that
near Wakeeney, Trego County, the swift fox was: ". . . very
numerous until within the past five or six years; now rarely seen. It
Hves in shallow burrows on the open prairie."

Bunker (1940:35-36) reported that: "In the summer of 1911,
T. A. Rocklund and I were camped for one month on the Pennell
Ranch in Wallace County, Kansas, adjoining the George A. Allman
Ranch. Mr. Allman was an early settler in the West, had been a

Foxes 235

government guide, and had shipped tons of fossils to the Smith-
sonian Institution. He was a very observing man and spent hours
recounting to me conditions of vvildHfe in the early West.

"He told me that it was the general custom of tlie early cattlemen
to place poison at all the undevoured buffalo carcasses to destroy
the wolves. It was his observation that the little swift foxes were
always the first to take the poison. He stated that the gray wolf has
not been seen in Kansas since 1879."

Vulpes velox velox (Say)

[Canis] velox Say, Long's exped. Rocky Mts., Vol. 1, p. 487, 1823, type
from South Platte River, Colorado. (See Miller, 1924:146.)

Vulpes velox velox. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:146, 1924; Hib-
bard. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:236, 1933; Black, Kansas State
Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept., p. 165, 1937; Tihen and Sprague,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:506, 1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas State
Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv.,
20(5) :28, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:69, 1944.

Vulpes velox, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:45, 1874; Baker, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:57, 1889; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
19:177,1905.

V[ulpes] velox, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875; Lantz, Kan-
sas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:336, 1905.

Distribution. — Formerly common in the western half of the state, but now ex-
tinct. See map, figure 63.

Remarks. — No external measurements of specimens taken in Kan-
sas are available. External measurements of an adult male from
First View, Cheyenne County, Colorado (KU no. 1601) are: 838;
228.

One specimen in the collection of the University of Kansas Mu-
seum of Natural History (no. 1602), supposedly taken on Decem-
ber 8th, 1900, in Douglas County, must have been a captive animal.
Other than this one specimen no evidence is available to indicate
that the swift fox ever occurred as far east as Douglas County.

Specimens examined. — Total, 1, from the following locality: Logan County:
"Monument", 1.

Additional records. — Cheyenne County: Unspecified (Black, 1937:165).
County unspecified: Mehita, 1 (no. 16609, AMNH, Jan. 22, 1901). Meade
County: S of State Park, 1 (Tihen and Sprague, 1939:506); Big Springs Ranch,
1 (Tihen and Sprague, 1939:506).

Genus Urocyon Baird

Gray Foxes

One species of this genus occurs in Kansas. Generic characteris-
tics include: ears large, tail large, tipped with black and triangular
in cross section; size small (less than 14 lbs.); line of long, stiff

236

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

black hairs along middle of upper side of tail for its entire length;
temporal ridges of skull far apart, forming lyrate pattern on top of
skull; inferior margin of mandible with distinct "step" midway be-
tween tip of angular process and anterior border of coronoid process.
This genus occurs from southern Canada southward through most
of the United States, Mexico, Central America, into northern South
America.

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Gray Fox

One subspecies of the gray fox occurs in Kansas. It is nowhere
common in the state at the present time. Knox reported in 1875
(p. 19) that the gray fox was rarer than the red fox at that time.
Remington Kellogg and V. Householder (unpublished notes) re-

39

38

1=J=

Muieum of Noturol Hiitory

Ufiivcrsily of Kansas

1945

39

38

100

97

Fig. 64. Distribution of Urocyon cinereoargenteus ocijthous in Kansas. See

figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

ported that in Cherokee County two gray foxes were killed at the
mouth of Cherry Creek in 1870. Kellogg ( 1915, unpublished thesis )
reported that: "The Gray Fox was forced away from eastern Kan-
sas when the timber was cleared off and the land settled by pio-
neers."

Only three records of the gray fox being taken in Kansas since
1900 are available, one specimen taken in Greenwood County in
1914, one in Cherokee County in 1949, and one in Shawnee County

Foxes and Bears 237

in 1950. Black (1937:166) reported specimens of the gray fox
from Douglas, Greenwood, Elk, and Wilson counties were avail-
able in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. A
thorough search of the collections and records of the museum have
failed to yield any trace of specimens from Elk and Wilson counties.
Asdell (1946:162) reports that after a gestation period of approxi-
mately 63 days the gray fox gives birth to litters ranging in size
from two to seven young. The average Htter size is approximately
four young per litter.

Urocyon cinereoargenteus ocythous Bangs

Uroctjon cinereoargenteus ocythous Bangs, Proc. New England Zool.
Club, 1:43, 1889, type from Platteville, Grant County, Wisconsin;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:236, 1933; Black, Kansas
State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 166, 1937; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:70, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland
Nat., 45:210, 1951.

Urocyon cinereoargenteus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177,
1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:337, 1905.

'V[ulpes] Virginianus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875.

Distribution. — Rare in the eastern wooded portion of the state and west cer-
tainly to Greenwood and Cowley counties. See map, figure 64.

Remarks. — The total length and length of tail of one male from
Lawrence, are: 1080; 382. Measurements of a female from 5 miles
west and 3 miles south of Arkansas City, are: 889; 336; 133; 66;
weight 7/2 pounds.

A comparison of the few specimens available from Kansas with
typical L^ c. ocythous and U. c. cinereoargenteus reveals that the
specimens from Kansas are referable to the race U. c. ocythous.

Specimens examined. — Total, 10, distributed as follows: Shawnee County:
8 mi. E State Capitol Bidg., Topeka, 1. Douglas County: Lawrence, 6.
Greenwood County: 8 mi. NW Hamilton, 1. Coivley County: 5 mi. W, 3 mi.
S Arkansas City, 1. Cherokee County: 2 mi. S, Yi mi. W Hollowell, 1.

Additional records. — Elk County: Unspecified (Black, 1937:166). Wilson
County: Unspecified (Black 1937:166).

Family Ursidae

Bears

Bears are found in North and South America, Europe, and Asia.
Native North American bears are characterized by large size, rudi-
mentary tail, and plantigrade feet. The dental formula for the
bears is: i. f , c.{, p. f , m. f . Actually, few adult bears have as many
as sixteen premolars; the anterior teeth of this series are small and
are frequently lost with advancing age.

238 University of Kansas Publs., Mus, Nat. Hist.

Genus Ursus Linnaeus

Bears

This genus, as here employed (see Simpson, 1945:111) includes
the black bear and the grizzly bear, both of which formerly oc-
curred in the state. The black bear and the grizzly bear were
exterminated in Kansas soon after it was settled.

Ursus horribilis
Grizzly Bear

Although few records remain, the grizzly bear probably formerly
roamed over most of the western two-thirds of the state. Almost
nothing of the occurrence and habits of this bear in Kansas has
been recorded in literature.

J. O. Pattie ( 1831 ) was an early traveller in many of the western
states and, although his accounts have been shown to be unreliable
in several aspects [see M. M. Quaife's remarks (Pattie, 1831 [1930
ed., p. xxxvj ) in the historical introduction to his reprint of Pattie's
account], he apparently was in western Kansas in the autumn of
1824. He later recounted (1831:34-35): "Our encampment for
the evening of this day, was near a small spring, at the head of
which we found a great natural curiosity. A rock sixteen yards in
circumference, rises from eighty to ninety feet in height, according
to our best judgment, from a surface upon which, in all directions,
not the smallest particle of rock, not even a pebble can be found.
. . . We gave the spring the name of Rock Castle spring."
Perhaps this and other information fixes Pattie's location as being
at what is now called Castle Rock in Gove County. Two days fol-
lowing this, after crossing a ridge presumed to be the dividing
ridge between the Republican and Smoky Hill drainages, he
reported ( loc. cit. ) : "Here we killed a white bear, which occupied
several of us at least an hour. It was constantly in chase of one
or another of us, thus withholding us from shooting it, through
fear of wounding each other. This was the first I had ever seen.
His claws were four inches long and very sharp. He had killed a
buffalo bull, eaten part of it, and buried the remainder. When
we came upon him, he was watching the spot, where he had buried
it, to keep off the wolves, which literally surrounded him. On the
11th we travelled over some hilly ground. In the course of the
day, we killed three white bears, the claws of which T saved."

Kellogg (1915, unpublished thesis) reported that a druggist at
Russell Springs, Logan County: ". . . at one time had a grizzly

Bears 239

bear skull in his collection which was picked up in one of the
coulees along the Smoky Hill river. This skull cannot now be
found."

Hibbard (1944:67) writes that: "One skull has been examined
from Council Grove, Morris County, Kansas, in the mammal col-
lection at the Kansas State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kan-
sas." In the spring of 1952, no grizzly skull could be found in the
mammal collection at the College. Proof that mammal bones from
Morris County were sent to the collection, however, is provided by
the cranium and attached zygomata of a horse, labeled as "Black
Bear. Excavated on E. A. Gruell farm July 1927. Dunlap, Kans.
Sent in by D. Z. McCormick, Council Grove, Kans."

Ursus horribilis horribilis Ord

Ursus horribilis Ord, Guthrie's Geography, 2nd Amer. ed., Vol. 2, p.

291, described on p. 299, 1815, type from Missouri River, a Httle

above mouth of Poplar River, northeastern Montana.
Ursus horribilis horribilis. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:92, 1924;

Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:234, 1933; Hibbard, Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:67, 1944.

Distribution. — Probably once occurred in the western tvv'O-thirds of the state;
now extinct. •

Remarks. — No external measurements of specimens taken in Kan-
sas are available to me. Bailey ( 1926:194) gives total lengths of this
bear that range from six feet and two inches to nine feet.

Specimens examined. — None.

Additional records. — Logan County: (see text). Trego County: (see text).

Ursus americanus

Black Bears

Probably two subspecies of the black bear formerly occurred in
Kansas. However, to my knowledge, no specimens were saved
from anywhere within the limits of the state. Seton (1929:vol. II,
p. 125) indicated that the black bear formerly occurred from the
northern tree limit in Canada, southward through most of the
United States into Mexico. The black bear has probably been
extinct within the state at least since 1880.

Mead (1899:280), in recording some observations made in 1859,
reported that a few black bears had been found in Comanche
County where they lived in the gypsum caves. Kellogg (1915:un-
published thesis) added: "J. R. Mead, in a letter to the museum,
gives the following information. Tn 1864-5-6 we killed Black Bears
in Comanche County, Kansas. They had dens in the Gypsum caves.

240 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat, Hist,

which were numerous in the broken canyons, and raised their young
there. We smoked them out and shot them as they ran.' ".

Knox (1875:19) reported that the black bear was then still found
in timber in the central part of the state. No records are available
to show that the black bear has been taken in the state after this date,

Ursus americanus americanus Pallas

Ursus americanus Pallas, Spicilegia Zoologica, Fasc. 14, p. 5, type from
eastern North America, 1780; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
19:177, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull, 129:337,
1905.

Ursus americanus americanus. Hall, Univ. California Publ. Zool.,
30(10): 232, 1928.

Ursus arctos var. Americanus, Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:46, 1874.

Ursus Americanus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875.

Euarctos americanus americanus. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:90,
1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:234, 1933; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:66, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland
Nat, 45:209, 1951.

Distribution. — Probably formerly found in the eastern, wooded portions of the
state; now extinct.

Remarks. — No measurements are available for specimens taken
in Kansas. Bailey (1926:191) gave the external measurements of
an adult male of this subspecies from Montana, as: 1680; 105; 275,

Specimens examined. — None.

Ursus americanus amblyceps Baird

Ursus amblyceps Baird, Rep. U. S. and Mex. Bound. Surv., 2(2) :29,

1859, type from Fort Webster, on the Gila River, lat. 32° 47' N. long.

108° 4' W, Grant County, New Mexico.
Ursus americanus amblyceps, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 25:187, 1905.
Euarctos americanus amblyceps, Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:91;

1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:234, 1933; Hibbard,

Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:66, 1944.

Distribution. — Probably formerly occurred in at least the southwestern part of
the state; now extinct.

Remarks. — No measurements of specimens taken in Kansas are
available. Bailey (1931:350) indicated that the general characters
of this subspecies included: "Size large for a black bear of the
americanus group. , . ," He did not give any external measure-
ments.

Specimens examined. — None.

Additional records. — Kiowa County: Unspecified (Hibbard, 1944:66),
Meade Co.: ". . . small canyon just south of Meade" (Hibbard, 1944:67).
Comanche County: Unspecified (Mead, 1899:280).

Raccoon 241

Family Procyonidae

Raccoons and Allies

The American species are medium- to small-sized carnivores with

plantigrade or semi-plantigrade feet, all of which have five toes.

The camassial teeth are not typically developed; the molars are

broad and tuberculate. One genus, Procyon, of this family occurs

in Kansas.

Genus Procyon Storr

Raccoons

Raccoons occur from southern Canada southward through most
of the United States, Mexico, Central America, and into South Amer-
ica to southern Brazil and northern Argentina. Generic character-
istics include: head broad, with short, pointed muzzle; upper lip
hairy across median line; soles of feet naked, smooth, without well-
developed digital pads; claws non-retractile; tail shorter than body;
cylindrical, distinctly annulated; and skull broad and massive. The
dental formula is: i. f, c. \, p. i, m. |. One species of this genus
occurs in Kansas.

Procyon lotor

Raccoon

Members of this species range from southern Canada southward
to Panama. This genus has been divided into 27 geographic races
or subspecies, only one of which occurs in Kansas. The raccoon
is statewide in distribution, but is usually more common in the
eastern part than in the more arid western part of the state. I per-
sonally observed tracks of the raccoon in the mud along Bear
Creek, on the Colorado-Kansas state line, two and one-half miles
south and eight and one-half miles west of Manter, on July 22, 1950.
Local residents reported that a few raccoons have been seen in
that region in the past ten years.

Raccoons are strictly nocturnal, rarely being seen during the day.
In Kansas they are hunted and trapped for their fur as well as for
sport. Because of the great interest in "coon hunts" many sports-
men have imported raccoons to release within the state. One re-
lease of this nature was reported in an Associated Press release
on page 35 of the Kansas City [Missouri] Star for March 16, 1949.
This dispatch stated in part: "Pittsburg, Kas., March 15. The
Crawford County Coon Hunters' Association has thirty-five im-

242

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

ported coons it plans to release in Crawford County to bolster the
coon hunting sport in coming years.

"L. C. Stevenson, Frontenac, president of the group, said it had
been planned to release them yesterday, but the sudden cold wave
postponed the ceremony, since twenty-five of the coons are from
Florida and not yet accustomed to present Kansas temperatures.
He is not worried about the other eight purchased in Wisconsin."

100

39

38

■Li

Wuttum of Nolurol Hltlorf
Univtrtllr e' Koniot

39

38

100

97

Fig. 65. Distribution of Procyon lotor hirtus in Kansas.

planation of symbols.

See figure 5 for ex-

W. C. Justice (in litt.) reported to me that "Wisconsin black
coon" were introduced into Cowley County in 1935.

Table 32 shows the number of raccoon pelts sold in Kansas in
various recent years. The population levels of raccoons have in-
creased generally throughout the state in the past few years.

TABLE 32. — Number of Raccoon Pelts Sold in Kansas in Various Recent
Years. These Figures Were Compiled from the Sources Given in
Table 2.

1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1938
5,789 24,447 22,666 21,742 18,698 18,000 17,350 9,375

1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947-48

11,215 16,774 15,666 16,899 13,224 44,259

Procyon lotor hirtus Nelson and Goldman

1940 1941

8,374 9,744

1948-49 1949-50

58,980 62,002

Procyon lotor hirtus Nelson and Goldman, Jour. Mamm., 11:455, 1930,
type from Elk River, Sherboume County, Minnesota; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:235, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board
Agric, 30th Biennial Rept., p. 154, 1937; Tihen and Sprague,

Raccoon and MusTELros 243

Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:506, 1939; P. B. Allen, Kansas State
Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv.,
20(5) :24, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:67, 1944;
Goldman, N. Amer. Fauna, 60:37, 1950; Brumwell, Amer. Midland
Nat., 45:209, 1951.

Procyon lotor, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 212, 1858; J. A. Allen, Bull.
Essex Inst., 6:46, 1874; Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875;
Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:57, 1889; Gowell, Univ. Kansas
quarterly, 6:121, 1897; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177,
1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:339, 1905;
Rinker, Jour. Mamm., 23:439, 1944.

Procyon lotor lotor. Dice, Ecology, 4:45, 1923; Dice, Jour. Mamm.,
4:108, 1923; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:141, 1928.

Distribution. — Statewide; more numerous in the eastern, than western, part of
the state. See map, figure 65.

Remarks. — External measurements of four males and four females
from Douglas County, are: males 812.4 (800-839), females 750,
810, 820, 850; 209.5 (233-288), 240, --, 270, 282; 121.7 (118-126),
110, 105, 115, 115; 53.0 (30-69), 50, 60, — , — .

Specinwns examined. — Total, 105, distributed as follows: Nemaha County:
Sabetha, 1. Atchison County: 21 mi. NE Muscotah, 3; 6 mi. NE Muscotah,
4. Jefferson County: Unspecified, 2; Fish Pond Creek, 2/2 mi. E Ozawakie, 1.
Trego County: Wakeeney, 1. Geary County: Junction City, 5. Shawnee
County: Auburn, 1. Douglas County: Lawrence, 20; 4J2 mi. SW KU, 1;
Near Clinton, 8; 7-8 mi. SW Lawrence, 12; 10-11 mi. SW Lawrence, 2,
Unspecified, 20. Reno County: 3 mi. N, 5/2 mi. E Hutchinson, 3; 2 mi. N,
2 mi. E Hutchinson, 1. Greenwood County: 3 mi. N Hamilton, 1 (GCR);
Unspecified, 1. Meade County: 14 mi. SW Meade, 3; Meade County State
Park, 2; Unspecified, 3. Comanche County: Cave Creek, 4/2 mi. SW Aetna, 1.
Barber County: 2 mi. E, % mi. S Sun City, 1. Labette County: 10 mi. E,
1/2 mi. N Parsons, 1. Cherokee County: Unspecified, 1. Eastern Kansas:
Unspecified, 6.

Additional records. — Doniphan County: Geary (Linsdale, 1928:141).
Riley Co.: Manhattan, 1 (Goldman, 1950:38). Stanton County: 2)i mi. S,
8/2 mi. W Manter (see text). Cowley County: Unspecified (see text).

Family Mustelidae

Weasels, Skunks, and Allies

This family occurs in North and South America, Europe and
Asia. Much variation is shown among the various members. They
range in size from the tiny least weasel, approximately the size of a
chipmunk, to the sea otter, nearly four feet in length. Depending
on the genus, they are terrestrial, arboreal, semi-aquatic, or aquatic.
Anal scent glands are well-developed in these animals.

The following key will aid in separating the five genera and
seven species that occur in Kansas.

1. General color of upper parts some shade of brov^^l, buffy yellow,
or silvery, never predominantly black and white; posterior border
of hard palate extending appreciably beyond posterior edges of
last upper molars 2

3.(2)

3'.

4.(3)

4'.

244 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

1'. General color of upper parts black and white; posterior border of
hard palate not extending appreciably beyond posterior edges of
last upper molars 6

2.(1) Size small, total length of adults less than 840 mm. (33 inches);
hair on tail longer than on back; 34 teeth; P4 with a simple deu-
terocone, not expanded into a basined structure 3

2'. Size large, total length of adults more than 840 mm. (33 inches);

hair on tail approximately same length as on back; 36 teeth; P4
with deuterocone expanded into a basined structure,

Lutra canadensis, p. 260
Color of upper parts some shade of brown or buflFy yellow; basilar

length of skuU less than 80 mm 4

Color of upper parts silvery, with a single white stripe on middle
of head extending a varying distance toward the tail; basilar length

of skull more than 80 mm Taxidea taxtis, p. 251

Color of upper parts some shade of brown; least interorbital

breadth less than 16.5 mm 5

Color of upper parts yellow; hands, feet, mask, and tip of tail
black; least interorbital breadth more than 16.5 mm.,

Mustela nigripes, p. 249

5.(4) Underparts vdth broad, light-colored area, amounting to at least
a fourth of circumference of body; basilar length of skull less than
54 mm Mustela frenata, p. 247

5'. Underparts "vVith small or no light-colored areas; basilar length of

skull more than 54 mm Mustela vison, p. 244

6.( 1') Back with two white stripes; length of upper tooth-row more than

23.5 mm.; Ml more than 8 mm. in length. . . .Mephitis mephitis, p. 255

6'. Back with four or more Unes of broken stripes or spots; length of

upper tooth-row less tlian 23.5 mm.; Ml less than 8 mm. in length,

Spilogale interrupta, p. 258

Genus Mustela Linnaeus
Weasels, Ferrets, and Minks

Members of this genus are slender-bodied and small, with the
diameter of the head only slightly exceeding that of the neck. The
tail is long and usually tipped with black. The pelage is short but
dense. In the skull the rostrum is relatively short; the facial angle
is slight; the palate terminates behind the upper molars; and the
dental formula is: i. f, c. }-, p. f or |, m. |. Three species, the long-
tailed weasel, the black-footed ferret, and the mink, occur in Kansas.

Mustela vison

Mink

This species occurs from northern Alaska and Canada southward

throughout all but the semi-arid southwestern part of the United

States. The mink is dark brown and some, but not all, individuals

have white spots on the throat, chest, or belly. The total length

Mink

245

of the male is approximately 26 inches; the tail comprises approxi-
mately seven and one-half inches of this total. One subspecies of
this species occurs in Kansas. Asdell (1946:147) reported that the
mink breeds in March and the gestation period is 39 to 76 days.
The litters range in size from four to ten young.

In general the mink is an animal of the waterways; rarely is one
found far from permanent water of swamps, streams or lakes. For
this reason the mink was never common in western Kansas, where
few streams are permanent.

TABLE 33. — Number of Mink Pelts Sold in Kansas in Various Recent
Years. These Figures Were Compiled from the Sources Indicated in
Table 2.

1928 1929 1930 1931
5,527 7,587 5,867 2,565

1942 1943 1944

1,239 1,618 1,381

1932

1933

1934 1938 1940 1941

2,687

1,239

1,368 1,398 2,271 1,529

1945

1946

1947-48 1948-49 1949-50

852

590

13,724 18,422 12,773

100

Unit

to •OUiItt

—I ■ ..)

Miitflum 0' Nafu'Ol Hiitofjr

Univtriii, ol KoniOS

1945

39

38

100

97

Fig. 66. Distribution of Mustela vison letifera in Kansas. See figure 5 for

explanation of syinbols.

Table 33 shows the number of mink pelts sold in Kansas in
several recent years. There are several mink ranches in the state
and part of the numbers reported in table 57 represent animals
raised in captivity.

Mustela vison letifera HoUister

Mustela vison letifera HoUister, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 44:475, 1913,
type from Elk River, Sherburne County, Minnesota; Dice, Ecology,
4:45, 1923; Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:109, 1923; Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat.
Mus., 128:126, 1924; Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:142, 1928; Hibbard,

246

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:235, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board
Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 157, 1937; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 47:68, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat. 45:209, 1951.
Putorius nigrescens, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer,, p. 180, 1858; Cragin, Bull.
Washburn College Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:43, 1885.

P[utorius] nigrescens, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875.

P[utorius] vison, Knox, Trans. Kansas. Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875.

Putorius ( Lutreola ) vison, Coues, Fur-bearing Animals of North America,
p. 160, 1877.

Putorius vison, Cragin, Bull. Washburn College Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:43,

1885.
Putorius vison lutreocephalus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177,

1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:337, 1905.
Lutreola vison, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:274, 1895.

Distribution. — Eastern Kansas, west along the main streams perhaps as far as
Logan County. See map, figure 66.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males from Douglas

County, are: 666, 597; 241, 171; 72, 70.

Specimens examined. — Total, 29, distributed as follows: Osborne County:
Unspecified, 1. Atchison County: 6 mi. NE Muscotah, 4; Unspecified, 1.
Jefferson County: 2 mi. S Meriden, 1; Unspecified, 2. Douglas County: 2 mi.
W Lawrence, on Kaw River, 1; Lawrence, 3; 7/2 mi. SW KU, 1; Unspecified, 11.
Linn County: Unspecified, 2. Reno County: 2 mi. N, 2 mi. E Hutchinson, 1.
Eastern Kansas: Unspecified, 1.

Additional records. — Phillips Co.: Long Island, 2 (Allen, 1895:274). Doni-
phan County: Geary (Linsdale, 1928:142). Riley County: Unspecified (Dice,
1923:109). Pottawatomie County: Onaga, 1 (USNM). Leavenworth Co.:
Fort Leavenworth, 1 (USNM). Logan County: Unspecified (Black, 1937:157).
Pratt Co.: Cairo, 2 (USNM).

100

39

38

Scolt

19 O » *OMiff»

III I I

Musaum of Natural Hlslary
Univarait, of Kanioi

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 67. Distribution of Mustela frenata in Kansas. 1. M. /. longicauda.
2. M. f. primulina. 3. M. f. neomexicana. See figure 5 for explanation of
svmbols.

Weasel 247

Mustela frenata

Long-tailed Weasel

This species occurs from southern Canada southward to northern
Bolivia in South America. Three subspecies occur in Kansas. M.
frenata is strictly carnivorous.

Asdell (1946:149) reports that in mid- April females of this spe-
cies give birth to their young. The litter size ranges from four to
eight young.

TABLE 34. — Nxjmbers of Pelts of Weasels Sold in Kansas in Various
Recent Years. These Figures Were Compiled from the Sources Indi-
cated IN Table 2.

1928 1938 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947-48 1948-49
3,392 170 170 0 0 0 0 0 0 225 128

A few weasels are taken in Kansas for their furs, and Table 34
shows the number of pelts sold in several recent years.

Mustela frenata longicauda Bonaparte

Mustela longicauda Bonaparte, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 2:38,
January, 1838, type from Carlton House, on North Saskatchewan
River, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Mustela frenata longicauda. Hall, Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ.,
473:105, 1936; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:67, 1944.

Mustela longicauda longicaudu. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:121,
1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:235, 1933; Black, Kan-
sas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept., p. 155, 1937; P. B. Allen,
Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist.
Surv., 20(5):25, 1940.

Putorius longicauda, Coues, Fur-bearing Animals N. Amer,, p. 136, 1877;
Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:56, 1889; Merriam, N Amer.
Fauna, 11:19, 1896.

Putorius noveboracensis, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875.

Distribution. — Northwestern part of the state. See map, figure 67.

Remarks. — External measurements of two males and one female
from Thomas County, are: ^ 415, 410, $ 380; 138, 145, 130; 48,
43, 40; 22, 25, 17.

Specimens examined: Total, 6, distributed as follows: Thomas County:
6 mi. W Brewster, 2; Brewster (near), 2; Unspecified, 2.

Additional records. — Trego Co.: Near Wakeeney (?) (Baker, 1889:56).

Mustela frenata primulina Jackson

Mustela primulina Jackson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 26:123, 1913,
type from 5 miles northeast of Avilla, Jasper County, Missouri,
Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:121, 1924; P. B. Allen, Kansas
State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Infonnation, Nat. Hist.
Surv., 20(5) :25, 1940.

248 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Mustela frenata primulina. Hall, Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ.,

473:104, 1936; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:68, 1944;

Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:209, 1951.
Mustela longicauda primulina, Linsdale, Jour. Mamm., 9:141, 1928;

Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:235, 1933; Black, Kansas

State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 156, 1937.
Mustela longicauda longicauda. Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:108, 1923; Allen,

Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat.

Hist. Surv., 20(5) :25, 1940 (part from Pratt County).
Putorius longicauda, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177, 1905.
P[utorius] longicauda, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,

129:337, 1905.

Distribution. — Eastern Kansas, west certainly to Riley and Pratt counties. See
map, figure 67.

Remarks. — External measurements of four males and one female
from Douglas County, are: ^ 392.7 (350-428), $ 355; 129.7
(110-147), 120; 42.9 (40-45.7), 41; 18.0 (12-21), 20.

Specimens examined. — Total, 103, distributed as follows: Riley County:
Winkler (near), 1. Atchison County: Doniphan Lake, 1; 5 mi. NE Muscotah,
1; Unspecified, 1. Douglas County: 10 mi. W (KU) Lawrence, 1; IM mi.
W Lawrence, 1; Lawrence, 8; 2 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; Clinton (near), 5; 7 mi.
SW Lawrence, 7; 7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 5; 6 mi. S Lawrence, 3; 10 mi. SW
Lawrence, 1; Baldwin, 1; Unspecified, 51. Anderson County: 4 mi. S Gamett,
1. Greenwood County: 8 mi. SW Toronto, 4. Pratt County: Pratt, 1. East-
ern Kansas: Unspecified, 9.

Additional records. — Doniphan County: Geary (Linsdale, 1928:141).

Mustela frenata neomexicana (Barber and Cockerell)

Putorius frenatus neomexicanus Barber and Cockerell, Proc. Acad. Nat.

Sci. Philadelphia, p. 188, 1898, type from Armstrong's Lake, Mesilla

Valley, Donna Ana County, New Mexico; Lantz, Trans. Kansas

Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905.
Mustela frenata neomexicana, Miller, N. Amer. Land Mamm., 1911,

p. 100, 1912; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:235, 1933;

Hall, Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ., 473:108, 1936; Black,

Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 156, 1937; P. B.

Allen, Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information,

Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5) :25, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 47:67, 1944.
P[utorius] frenatus neomexicanus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp.

Sta. Bull., 129:337, 1905.

Distribution. — Probably the southwestern part of the state; known only from
one specimen from Seward County. See map, figure 67.

Remarks. — No external measurements of specimens of this sub-
species taken in Kansas are available.

Specimen examined. — One from Seward County: Liberal.

Black-footed Ferret

249

Mustela nigripes

Black-footed Ferret

The range of the black-footed ferret is the Great Plains from west-
ern North Dakota westward to the eastern base of the Rocky Moun-
tains, and from southern Canada southward to New Mexico and
Texas. Little is known about the animals and for years after Audu-
bon and Bachman first described the black-footed ferret, its very
existence was denied by many zoologists. Throughout its range this
animal is intimately associated with the prairie — apparently using
the prairie dog as food and the hole dug by the prairie dog as a
home.

39

38

Scort

10 0 n MMlltl

■ ■ ' ' 1

Mustwin of Nolurol Hiitori

U*«vtrjitj ol Kflftsoi

I94J

jn

39

38

100

97

Fig. 68. Distribution of Mustela nigripes in Kansas. See figure 5 for ex-
planation of symbols.

Baker (1889:56), in writing of this animal near Wakeeney, Trego
County, stated: "Lives in prairie dogs' burrows, and preys upon
these rodents; makes occasional inroads also upon poultry. It is
generally to be found in the larger prairie-dog 'towns', but it is no-
where numerous." Weeks (1927:88) was probably describing the
black-footed ferret when he wrote: "When we went to northwest
Kansas in 1872 we found . . . once in a while an animal which

250 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist,

I called a pine martin, whose fur was rich lemon-yellow, except for
a black-tipped tail. It had the boldness of a weasel. One of them
would get into a prairie dog town and put the whole colony on the
run. I ran one into a dog hole, and it came right up between my
feet, and looked at me with the bold curiosity of the weasel. I got
a trap, ran him into a hole, held to the end of the chain, and had him
in less than ten seconds."

Mead (1885:92) reported the following observations on the black-
footed ferret in Kansas: "Following the life of a hunter [from 1859
to 1869, in Kansas] ... I saw one, and but one 'Black-footed
Ferret'. It was in a Prairie Dog town, on Spillman Creek, north of
the Saline River, in 1860. I was sitting down at the time waiting
for a herd of buffalo to feed within range, when noticing a commo-
tion among the Dogs, I looked and saw an animal closely resembling
a Mink, of tawny yellowish color . . . running around in the
Dog town, followed behind and on each side by the Dogs; who
seemed greatly interested in his movements. The Ferret would
occasionally go down a Dog hole; then the Dogs would gather
closely around the hole and hold an animated discussion till he
came out, when they would fall back and follow him around to the
next hole he saw fit to enter. I did not see the Ferret attempt to
catch or disturb the Dogs, or they to attack the Ferret."

Little is known of the reproductive habits or life history of this
species. On July 10, 1929, Aldous (1940:23) found, in north-
central New Mexico, an adult female with two young. One of the
young was taken and raised in captivity. To my knowledge, this is
the only instance where the number of young of the black-footed
ferret has been recorded.

Mustela nigripes (Audubon and Bachman)

Putorius nigripes Audubon and Bachman, Quadrupeds N. Amer., 2:297,
1851, type from Fort Laramie, Laramie County, Wyoming; Coues,
Fur-bearing Animals of North America, p. 151, 1877; Cragin, Bull.
Washburn College Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:43, 1885; Baker, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 11:56, 1889; Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:7, 1896;
Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177, 1905.

Mustela nigripes. Miller, N. Amer. Land Mamm. 1911, p. 102, 1912;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:235, 1933; Hibbard, Jour.
Mamm., 15:70, 1934; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Bien-
nial Kept., p. 157, 1937; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:68,
1944.

P[utoriits] nigripes, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:337,
1905.

Distribution. — Formerly throughout the western half of the state, east certainly
to Lincoln and Kingman counties. At present, probably extinct in the state.
See map, figure 68.

Badger * 251

Remarks. — External measurements of two males from near Cool-
idge, are: 500, 530; 125, ; 60, 64; 31, 31.

Specimens examined. — Total, 10, distributed as follows: Wallace Co.: Fort
Wallace, 1 (USNM). Logan Co.: Oakley, 1 (USNM). Gove County: Un-
specified, 2 (USNM). Trego Co.: Banner, 1 (USNM); Unspecified, 1
(USNM). Lincoln County: US highway No. 18, E of Lucas, 1. Hamilton
County: Near Coolidge, 2. Kingman County: Kingman, 1.

Additional records. — Ellis County: Near Hays, 1 (Carnegie Museum).

Genus Taxidea Waterhouse

American Badger

This genus occurs only in North America. Only one species is
recognized. Badgers are short-legged carnivores with strong fore-
limbs. The forefeet are armed with long, strong digging claws.
The tail is short and the body is flattened. The dental formula is:
i. I, c. i, p. f , m. 1.

Taxidea taxus

American Badger

The badger occurs from the southern part of western Canada
south, through the Great Plains and western United States into
Mexico. The general color of the upper parts is grizzled gray
with a prominent stripe arising on the forehead and continuing to or
slightly beyond the shoulders. The face, prominently marked with
dull black, has a whitish patch on each side before the eye and
ear. The total length is approximately 29 inches; the tail comprises
five to six inches of this total.

According to Asdell (1946:147-8) badgers give birth to one to
five young between February and May. The time depends on the
geographical locality; in Kansas the young are probably born in
late May or early June.

The eastern limit of the range in Kansas apparently fluctuates
over a period of years. Kellogg and Householder, in the winter
of 1915-16, investigated the mammahan fauna of Cherokee County,
in the southeastern corner of the state. Of the badger, they wrote
( unpublished notes ) : "Doc Burgett killed a badger here in 1885.
None occur here today. Old settlers say that they were never very
plentiful." Lantz (1905:177), without mentioning localities or
specimens, reported that the badger occurred throughout the state,
", . . but rarely in the eastern part."

In the southern part of the state I have no recent record of the
badger farther eastward than Greenwood County. W. C. Justice
{in litt.) reported to me that badgers are common in Cowley

252

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

County. In the northeastern part of the state I know of no records
from points east of Riley County prior to 1940. Since 1940 the
badger has been reported or taken in several counties east of Riley
County. According to correspondence between R. A. Stirton and
D. F. Hoffmeister in the files of the University of Kansas Museum
of Natural History, a badger was killed in late May, 1945, by
Clarence Keifer at a point two miles southwest of Muscotah. Speci-
mens are in the collection of the University of Kansas Museum
of Natural History which have been taken in the following counties

39

38

Uwtaum of Nofu'Ol H.ilo'y
194)

39

38

100

97

Fig. 69. Distribution of Taxidea taxus taxus in Kansas. See figure 5 for ex-
planation of symbok.

in the years indicated: Nemaha, 1949; Jefferson, 1948; Leaven-
worth, 1947; and Douglas, 1946.

The badger from Jefferson County was brought to the Uni-
versity of Kansas Museum of Natural History on August 20, 1948,
by Paul LeGer, state game warden. Mr. LeCer said at that time
that he knew of six badgers having been taken within the preced-
ing two years or less in his district (Jefferson and Leavenworth
counties ) but did not know of any taken earlier.

In December, 1950, a badger was taken "near Lawrence," Douglas
County, and came into the hands of C. W. Ogle, a Lawrence fur
buyer. The animal was discarded, pelt and all, before I learned of
this; thus, this individual was not saved as a museum specimen.

The available evidence leads me to conclude that ( 1 ) The badger

Badger

253

may have been in eastern Kansas prior to 1890; (2) the badger
probably did not occur in Kansas much east of Riley and Green-
wood counties between 1890 and 1940; and (3) the badger has
expanded its range into northeastern Kansas since 1940.

Although the pelt of the badger is not usually worth much on
the fur market, a few badger pelts (see table 35) are sold in
Kansas each year.

TABLE 35. — Number of Badger Pelts Sold in Kansas in Various Recent
Years. These Figxires Were Compiled from the Sources Given in
Table 2.

[ .

Year

Number

Year

Number

1928

9,789
9,389

1941

1,050

1929

1942

538

1930

8,344

1943

1,152

1931

5,987

1944

938

1932

5,103

1945

653

1933

4,283

1946

589

1934

4,756

1947-8

528

1938

205

1948-9

232

1940

2,911

1949-50

182

Taxidea taxus taxus (Schreber)

Ursus taxus Schreber, Saugethiere, 3:520, 1778, type said to be from
"Labrador and Hudson Bay" but probably from southwest of
Hudson Bay.

Taxidea taxus taxus. Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:109, 1923; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:236, 1933; Hall, Carnegie Inst. Washington
Publ, 473:78, 1936; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th
Biennial Kept., p. 162, 1937.

Taxida taxus taxus [sic], Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:69, 1944.

Taxidea Americana, J. A. Allen, Bull. Esse.x Inst., 6:46, 1874; Knox,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875.

Taxidea americana, Coues, Fur-bearing animals of North America, p.

263, 1877; Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:56, 1889.
Taxidea Americana var. Berlandieri, Cragin, Bull. Washburn College

Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:43, 1885.
Taxidea taxus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177, 1905.
Taxidea taxus berlandieri, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177,

1905; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:236, 1933.
Taxidea taxus montana Schantz, Jour. Mamm., 31:90, 1950, type from

35 miles south of Dillon, Beaverhead County, Montana (part from

Greeley and Thomas counties, Kansas).
Taxidea taxus merriami Schantz, Jour. Washington Acad. Sci., 40:92,

1950, type from Banner, Trego County, Kansas (nine specimens

from Trego, Lane, Harper, Meade, Stafford, and Logan counties).
Taxidea taxus kansensis Schantz, Jour. Mamm., 31:346, 1950, type

from 4 miles southeast of McLouth, Leavenworth County, Kansas

(eight specimens from Nemaha, Douglas, Riley, Leavenworth,

Greenwood, and Jefferson counties).

254 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Distribution. — Throughout all but the southeastern part of the state. See map,
figure 69.

Remarks. — Measurements of a male from /2 mi. W Perry, and two
females, one from 4 mi. SE McLouth, the other from 13 mi. W, 1
mi. S Lawrence, are: male 773, females 719, 710; 135, 111, 120; 104,
102, 115; 52, 49, 54; weight ( lbs. ) 21.6, — , - -,

Schantz ( 1950A, 1950B, 1950C ) has assigned the badgers in Kan-
sas to at least three different subspecies. These subspecies are based
primarily on differences in color of pelage, a feature which shows a
wide range of variation in the few animals that I have seen. Most
of the specimens of Taxidea in the collection of the University of
Kansas Museum of Natural History have been on loan to Schantz
since 1946 and I have not had the opportunity to study them. Per-
haps, in the planned revision of the genus Taxidea, Schantz will
point out additional diagnostic characteristics of sufficient constancy
to warrant the recognition of three ( or more ) subspecies of badgers
in Kansas.

Specimens examined. — Total, 17, distributed as follows: Decatur County:
8 mi. S Oberlin, 1. Norton County: 4 mi. W, 1 mi. S Logan, 1. Thomas
County: Brewster, 8; Near Brewster, 11. Jefferson County: )i mi. S Perry, 1.
Leavenworth County: 4 mi. SE McLouth, 1. Logan County: Unspecified, 1.
Douglas County: 13 mi. W, 1 mi. S Lawrence, 1. Greeley County: Un-
specified, 1. Stanton County: Unspecified, 1. Gray County: 2 mi. S Monte-
zuma, 1.

Additional records. — Nemaha County: Bern, 1 (KU, Schantz, 1950:347).
Graham County: 22 mi. E Hill City, 1 (KU, Schantz, 1950:92); Bow Creek,
1 (Kellogg, 1915, unpubUshed thesis). Riley Co.: Manhattan, 1 (USNM,
Schantz, 1950:347). Logan County: Winona, 1 (KU, Schantz, 1950:93).
Trego County: Banner, 2 (USNM, Schantz, 1950:93); Collyers, 1 (USNM);
Unspecified, 1 (USNM, Schantz, 1950:93). Dickinson Co.: Abilene, 1
(Cragin, 1885:44). Geary Co.: Junction City, 1 (Cragin, 1885:44). Lane
County: Dighton, 1 (KU, Schantz, 1950:93). Stafford County: Little Salt
Marsh, 2 (Schantz, 1950:93). Greemvood County: 4 mi. W Neal, 1 (KU,
Schantz, 1950:347); 8 mi. SW Toronto, 1 (KU, Schantz, 1950:347). Meade
County: 13 mi. SW Meade, 1 (KU, Schantz, 1950:93). Barber County: Sun
City, 1 (Kellogg, 1915:unpubhshed thesis); Unspecified, (Cragin, 1885:44).
Harper County: Unspecified, 1 (KU, Schantz, 1950:93). Cowley County:
Unspecified (see text). Cherokee County: Unspecified (see text).

Genus Mephitis Geoffroy and Cuvier
Striped Skunks

This genus is restricted in distribution to North America where
it ranges from northern Canada southward, through all of the United
States, into Central America. There are two species, only one of
which occurs in Kansas.

Generic characteristics include: highly arched skull ranging from
56 to 76 mm. in basal length; mastoid bullae not inflated; posterior
margin of palate nearly on a line with posterior borders of upper

Skunks

255

molars; long, bushy tails; conspicuous black and white color pat-
tern; and anal scent glands well developed; dental formula: i. f , c. {,

p. -g, m. Y-

Mephitis mephitis

Striped Skunk

The striped skunk, in Kansas, is divisible into three subspecies.
The animal is notorius for the ill-smelling, volatile musk which it
releases as a defense against enemies. The total length is approxi-
mately 23 inches; the tail comprises approximately nine inches of
this total.

The skunk feeds upon almost any kind of small animal life as
well as many fruits. Insects, mice, lizards, birds, birds' eggs, ground
squirrels — all these and a host of others furnish food for the striped
skunk.

100

39

38

J.-.'-Ai;

:^::i\v;:>:>VT-Av>:^::::-'Qii

r>^;^^Vv:^^;::•^•:t:;.^::^•::J^::}

f/;fy^^^

lutatim of Naturol Histofy
194}

m

39

100

97

Fig. 70. Distribution of Mephitis mephitis in Kansas. 1. M. m. varians.
2. M. m. avia. 3. M. m. mesomelas. See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

Asdell (1946:148-149) reported in effect that members of this
species vary in time of breeding and size of litter in the various parts
of its range. Probably, in Kansas, the young are bom in late May
or early June, and the litter size is thought to vary from four to
seven, or more.

The skunks, both spotted and striped, furnish a large percentage
of the furs sold in the state. The striped skunks, however, furnish
a larger percentage of the total than do the spotted skunks. Table

256

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat, Hist.

TABLE 36. — Number of Pelts of the Striped and the Spotted Skxwks
Sold in Kansas in Various Recent Years. These Figures Were Com-
piled FROM THE Sources Indicated in Table 2.

Year

Spotted

Striped

Total

1928

107,277

116,334

117,309

101,431

102,206

93,216

79,893

21 ,604

47,219

48,874

45,322

48,337

«

*
*
*
*

279,647
269,940
258,493
215,633
231,411
186,328
173,852
110,245
151 ,800
153,216
149,888

151,758

*

*

*
*

*

*

386,924

1929

386,274

1930

375,802

1931

317,064

1932

333,617

1933

279,544

1934

253,745

1938

131,849

1940

199,019

1941

202 ,090

1942

195,210

1943

200,095

1944

175,515

1945

171 ,807

1946

158,742

1947-8

189,303

16,973

1949-50

17,887

• Separate totals not available.

36 shows the number of skunk pelts sold in Kansas in various recent

years.

Mephitis mephitis varians Gray

Mephitis varians Gray, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 1:581, 1837,

type from Texas.
Mephitis mephitis varians. Hall, Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ.,

473:66, 1936; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:69, 1944.
Mephitis mesomelas varians, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177,

1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:337, 1905;

Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:506, 1939.
Chincha mesomelas varians, Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 20:32, 1901.

Distribution. — Western part of the state, east certainly to Phillips and Reno
counties. See map, figure 70.

Remarks. — External measurements of four females from 12 miles
northeast of Elkhart, are: 621.2 (610-640); 269.2 (255-293); 70.2
(63-76); 28.2 (25-30).

Specimens examined. — Total, 35, distributed as follows: Rawlins County:
2 mi. NE Ludell, 1. Nort:on County: 5 mi. W, 1 mi. N Logan, 1; Unspecified,
1. Thomas County: Unspecified, 1. Wallace County: 3 mi. S Wallace, 1.
Logan County: Unspecified, 5. Gove County: Unspecified, 1. Trego County:
Unspecified, 3. Stafford County: N of Salt Marsh, 1; Little Salt Marsh, 1.
Reno County: 2 mi N, 2 mi. E Hutchinson, 3. Pratt County: Unspecified, 1.
Morton County: 9 mi. N, 3 mi. E Elkhart, 3; Unspecified, 4. Seward County:
1 mi. E Arkalon, 1. Meade County: Unspecified, 7.

Additional records. — Phillips County: Long Island, 2 (Howell, 1901:32).
Trego County: Unspecified, 5 (Howell, 1901:32).

Skunks 257

Mephitis mephitis avia Bangs

Mephitis avia Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc, Washington, 12:32, 1898, type
from San Jose, Mason Co., Illinois.

Mephitis mephitis avia. Hall, Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ., 473:65,
1936; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:68, 1944; Brumwell,
Amer. Midland Nat., 45:210, 1951.

Mephitis mesomelas avia, Elliot, Field Columbian Mus., Publ. 115,
Zool. Ser., 8:434, 1907; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:236,
1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 160,
1937.

Mephitis mesomelas varians. Dice, Jour, Mamm., 4:109, 1923; Linsdale,
Jour. Mamm., 9:142, 1928.

Distribution. — Northeastern part of the state, west certainly to Riley and
Harvey counties and south certainly to Harvey, Chase, and Anderson counties.
See map, figure 70.

Remarks. — External measurements of four males and four females
from Douglas County, are: ^ 633.0 (597-736.3), $ 612.4 (560-
635); 236.7 (190.5-270), 240.3 (228.6-254); 77.7 (69.8-88.9), 65.7
(54.6-78.7).

Specimens examined. — Total, 284, distributed as follows: Nemaha County:
Unspecified, 11. Leavenworth County: Unspecified, 1. Shawnee County.
1 mi. SE Watson, 1. Douglas County: TA mi. W Lawrence, 2; Lawrence, 13;
5 mi. S Lawrence, 2; 7-7/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 22; 8 mi. SW Lawrence, 4;
Lone Star Lake, 2; Baldwin, 1; Unspecified, 112. Osage County: Lyndon, 1.
Anderson County: 6 mi. S Gamett, 2. Miami County: Unspecified, 1.
Marion County: 1 mi. NE Lincolnville,! . Chase County: 9 mi. NE Lincoln-
ville, 11. Harvey County: Unspecified, 11. Eastern Kansas: Unspecified, 86.

Additional records. — Doniphan County: Geary (Linsdale, 1928:142). Riley
County: Unspecified (Dice, 1923:109). Pottawatomie Co.: Onaga, 3
(Howell, 1901:32).

Mephitis mephitis mesomelas Lichtenstein

Mephitis mesomelas Lichtenstein, Darstellung neuer oder wenig
bekannter Saugethiere, pi. 45, fig. 2, 1832, type from Louisiana.

Mephitis mephitis mesomelas. Hall, Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ.,
473:66, 1936; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:69, 1944.

Distribution. — Southeastern part of the state, north and west certainly to
Greenwood County. See map, figure 70.

Remarks. — External measurements of one female from eight miles
soutliwest of Toronto, are: 660; 295; 70; 40.

Additional material from central Kansas is necessary before the

extent of the zones of intergradation between M . m. varians and

M. m. avia and between M. m. varians and M. m. mesomelas can

be more exactly determined.

Specimens examined. — Total, 13, distributed as follows: Greenwood County:
Hamilton, 1 (GCR); 1 mi. SE Hamilton, 1 (GCR); 8 mi. SW Toronto, 2;
Unspecified, 9.

Additional records. — Woodson Co.: Neosho Falls, 1 (Howell, 1901:32).
Chautauqua Co.: "Cedarvale," 1 (Howell, 1901:32).

9—1424

258

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Genus Spilogale Gray
Spotted Skunks

This genus is restricted in distribution to North America; it
occurs from extreme southern British Columbia and over most of
the United States, south through Mexico, to Costa Rica. Only one
species occurs in Kansas.

Generic characters include: skull flattened dorsally, ranging from
35 to 56 mm. in basilar length; mastoid bullae highly inflated; palate
nearly on a line with posterior border of last upper molar; and
color pattern consisting of white and black spots. The dental
formula is: i. #, c ^

^>

i>

3J

m.

Spilogale interrupta

Spotted Skunk

This nominal species of the Great Plains ranges from North
Dakota south into east central Texas. The spotted skunk is much
smaller and slenderer than the striped skunk. The total length is
approximately 21 inches and the tail comprises approximately eight
inches of this total. There is one annual htter of 2 to 7 young.

39

38

Musaum of Natural KIttory

Vtitttnlij of Kantat

I94S

m

39

38

100

97

Fig. 71. Distribution of Spilogale interrupta in Kansas. See figure 5 for ex-
planation of symbols.

Table 36 shows the number of spotted skunks sold for their fur
in Kansas in various recent years.

The range of the spotted skunk may have changed since the

Skunks 259

early settlers arrived in Kansas. Mead (1899:280), in recording
some notes on conditions on the plains of Central Kansas in 1859,
reported: "The large two-striped skunks [Mephitis] flourished
everywhere; there were none of the small spotted variety." Baker
( 1889:56 ) in reporting the mammals near Wakeeney, Trego County,
stated that the spotted skunk was: ". . . not seen here until
the autumn of 1887. Of twenty skunks taken since that time, one-
third were of this species." J. A. Allen visited Fort Hays, Kansas
in the summer of 1871 and in the following winter spent two weeks
in northwestern Kansas. Allen reported (1874:46) that the striped
skunk was abundant but made no mention of the spotted skunk.
Possibly the spotted skunk has expanded its range westward in
Kansas in the past century.

Spilogale interrupta (Rafinesque)

Mephitis interrupta Rafinesque, Annals of Natxire 1:3, 1820, type from
upper Missouri River.

Spilogale interrupta. Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:56, 1889;
Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 4:8, 1890; J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus.
Nat. Hist., 7:274, 1895; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:337, 1905; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177, 1905;
Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 26:19, 1906; Elliot, Field Columbian
Mus., Publ. 115, Zool. Ser., 8:438, 1907; ScheflFer, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 23:111, 1911; Johnson, Jour. Mamm., 2:87, 1921; Dice,
Jour. Mamm., 4:49, 1923; Dice, Ecology, 4:109, 1923; Linsdale,
Jour. Mamm., 9:142, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:236, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Rept.,
p. 159, 1937; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:68, 1944;
Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:209, 1951.

Mephitis (Spilogale) putorius, Coues, Fur-bearing animals of North
America, p. 239, 1877.

M[ephitis] bicolor, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875.
Distribution. — State wide. See map, figure 71.

Remarks. — External measurements of three males and two fe-
males from Douglas County, are: ^ 444.5, 567, 552.6, $ 426, 431;
196.8, 235, 190.5, 140, 165; 69.8, 53, 53.3, 47, 44.5.

Specimens examined. — Total, 183, distributed as follows: Nemaha County:
Sabetha, 19. Brown County: Mission Lake, Horton, 1. Thomas County:
Brewster, 1. Pottawatomie Co.: Onaga, 8 (USNM). Jackson County: Un-
specified, 1. Leavenworth Co.: Fort Leavenworth, 1 (USNM); Botany Bluff,
2 mi. E, 6 mi. N Lawrence, 1; Unspecified, 1. Wallace County: 3 mi. SW
Wallace, 1; Unspecified, 1. Trego County: Unspecified, 7 (USNM).
Douglas County: Kaw River, 2; 3 mi. W KU Lawrence, 1; Ja mi. W Lawrence,
1; Lawrence, 4; 732 mi. SW Lawrence, 9; 8 mi. SW Lawrence, 1; 11 mi. SW
Lawrence, 2; Unspecified, 87. Miami County: Unspecified, 1. Reno County:
2 mi. N, 2 mi. E Hutchinson, 1. Harvey County: Halstead, 1. Greenwood
County: K mi. NE Hamilton, 1; Hamilton, 10; 8 mi. SW Toronto, 4; 8J2 mi.
SW Toronto, 2; Unspecified, 3. Woodson County: Neosho Falls, 1. Pratt
Co.: Cairo, 3 (USNM). Meade County: 2 mi. N Fowler, 2; M mi. N Fowler,
1; lYi mi. N Fowler, 1; Unspecified, 1. Harper County: Unspecified, 2.

Additional records. — Phillips County: Long Island, 3 (Howell, 1906:19).
Riley County: Manhattan, 2 (Howell, 1906:19); Fort Riley, 1 (Howell, 1906:
19). Coffey Co.: Burlington, 1 (Howell, 1906:19).

260 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist,

Genus Lutra Brisson

Otter

This genus occurs in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and
Africa. One species of this genus formerly occurred in Kansas.
Generic characters include: skull flattened, ranging in basilar
length from 50 to 135 mm.; tympanic bullae flattened and not in
contact with paroccipital processes; palate terminates behind upper
molars; toes entirely webbed; ears small; and fur short and dense.
The dental formula is: i. f, c. \, p. |, m. |.

Lutra canadensis

River Otter

This species formerly ranged from northern Alaska and Canada
southward, through most of the United States and on into South
America. Probably only one subspecies of this species has occurred
in Kansas within historic times.

When Kansas was first settled the otter was found along all the
major streams in the state. There the otter was often found in a
hole in the bank, the entrance of which was usually under the
surface of the water. Various kinds of aquatic life including
frogs, crayfish, fish, and mollusks, were utilized as food.

Mead reported (1899:280) that in 1859 otter were common in
central Kansas. J. A. Allen spent the summer of 1871 in the vicinity
of Fort Hays, Kansas, and two weeks of the following winter in
northwestern Kansas. He reported (1874:46) that the otter oc-
curred occasionally along the streams. Baker (1889:56) reported
that the otter was found occasionally in western Kansas at that time.

Remington Kellogg and Victor Householder investigated the
mammalian fauna of Cherokee County in the winter of 1915-1916.
Of the occurrence of otter in that country, they reported (unpub-
lished notes) that: "H. A. Scovell killed an otter on Brush Creek,
2 miles east of Columbus, in 1868. A few have been reported
since then."

To my knowledge, the last record of the occurrence of the otter
in Kansas is that reported by Lantz (1905A:178): "One was cap-
tured near Manhattan in September, 1904."

Lutra canadensis interior Swank

Lutra canadensis interior Swenk, Univ. Studies, Univ. Nebraska,
18(1 ):2, 1918, type from Lincoln Creek, west of Seward, Seward
County, Nebraska; Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial
Kept., p. 158, 1937.

Lutra canadensis cf. interior, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:68,
1944.

Otter and Cats 261

Lutra Canadensis, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:46, 1874; Knox, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875.

Lutra canadensis, Coues, Fur-bearing Animals N. Amer., 295, 1877;
Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:56, 1889.

Lutra canadensis sonora, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905;
Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:337, 1905.

Lutra canadensis lataxina, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:235,
1933; Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:210, 1951.

Distribution. — Formerly state wide, now extinct in Kansas.

Remarks. — No reliable external measurements of specimens taken
in Kansas are available to me. Bailey (1931:323) gave the external
measurements of an adult female otter (L. c. sonora) from Monte-
zuma Well, Arizona, as: 1300; 815; 146; weight 193^ lbs.

Specimens examined. — Total, 4, distributed as follows: Wabaunsee County:
Unspecified, 1. Douglas County: Kaw River, near Lawrence, 1; Unspeci-
fied, 2.

Additional records. — Riley Co.: Manhattan, 1 (USNM). Trego County:
Unspecified (Baker, 1889; 56). Wabaunsee County: Alma, 1 (Kellogg, 1915:
unpublished thesis); Mill Creek, 1 (Kellogg, 1915: unpublished thesis). Chero-
kee County: 2 mi. E Columbus, 1 (see text).

Family Felidae

This family includes the cats and catlike carnivores. Members
of this family are slender animals, have moderately long legs, and,
in size, are medium to large. They occur in North and South
America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Two genera occur in Kansas.

The following key will aid in the separation of the species of this
family known to occur in Kansas within historic times.

1. Tail more than 30 per cent of total length; P% Felis concolor, p. 261

r. Tail less than 30 per cent of total length; P% Lynx rufus, p. 263

Genus Felis Linnaeus

Cats

This genus occurs in North and South America, Europe, Asia,
and Africa. One species has occurred in Kansas within historic
times. The dental formula of this genus is: c. |, i. \, p. |, m. \.

Felis concolor

Puma

The puma, often called "mountain lion" or "panther" was once
common throughout most of the state. Zebulon Pike (1811:177)
found puma in what is now Chase County, Kansas.

Now the puma is extinct in Kansas. However, newspaper ac-
counts as late as last year (1950) continue to report sight records
of this cat in Kansas. Perhaps some pumas have strayed into the

262

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat, Hist.

state within recent years; however to my knowledge the last speci-
men taken in the state was one obtained on August 15, 1904, at Cath-
erine (9 mi. N Hays). This animal is specimen no. 2193 in the col-
lection of the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History.
Dyche (1905:160-162) reported in detail on this animal. He
reasoned that the animal was not to ". . . be considered as a
native-born Kansan; it must rather be looked upon as a mere strag-
gler."

100

39

38

Musaum of Noturdl Hisfor f

Univeriily O' Konsos

I94S

39

38

100

97

Fig. 72. Distribution of Felis concolor hippolestes in Kansas. See figure 5

for explanation of symbols.

Felis concolor hippolestes Merriam

Felis hippolestes Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 11:219, 1897,
type from Wind River Mountains, Fremont County, Wyoming.

Felis concolor hippolestes. Nelson and Goldman, Jour. Mamm., 10:347,
1929; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:71, 1944; Goldman
in Young and Goldman, The Puma, Amer. Wildlife Inst., p. 209,
1946.

Felis concolor, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875; Cragin,
Bull. Washburn College Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:42, 1885; Dyche, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:160, 1905.

Felis oregonensis hippolestes, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:176,
1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:336, 1905;
Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:237, 1933.

Felis cougar, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:237, 1933.

Felis concolor couguar, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:71, 1944.

Distribution. — Formerly state wide, now probably extinct in the state. See
map, figure 72.

Remarks. — No reliable external measurements of specimens taken
in Kansas are available to me. Young and Goldman (1946:210)

Bobcat 26S

gave the total lengths of three adult males and three adult females
from the vicinity of Meeker, Colorado, as: males 2438, 2336, 2286,
females 2134, 2058, 2006; and their weights in pounds as: 227, 164,
160, 133, 124, 120.

Specimens examined. — Total, 2, distributed as follows: Ellis County:
Catherine (9 mi. N Hays), 1. Reno County: Nickerson, 1.

Additional records. — Doniphan County: Sparks, 1 (Goldman, 1946:211).
Jefferson Co.: Valley Falls (Knox, 1875:19). Trego County: Unspecified
(Lantz, 1905A:176). Saline Co. (?): "a few miles above mouth of Solomon
R." (Mead, 1899:278). Butler County: White Water [== Towanda] ( Mead,
1899:278). Comanche County: Unspecified (Cragin, 1885:42). Barber
County: Unspecified (Cragin, 1885:42). Harper County: Unspecified
(Cragin, 1885:42).

Genus Lynx Kerr

Lynxes
This genus occurs in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
One species of this genus occurs in Kansas. The dental formula
of this genus is: c. f, i. [, p. |, m. j.

Lynx rufus
Bobcat

This species occurs from the southern part of Canada south,
through all of the United States, into Mexico. Two subspecies are
recognized in Kansas. The bobcat is a medium sized, short-tailed
cat with a total length of approximately 36 inches; the tail com-
prises approximately seven inches of this total.

According to Asdell ( 1946:174) the bobcat mates in late February
and in April produce a litter of young ranging in size from one to
four.

On March 6, 1877, the legislature of the State of Kansas passed
a law authorizing a bounty of one dollar for each bobcat scalp pre-
sented to the county commissioner. Twenty-four counties, mainly
in the eastern part of the state, oflFered bounties in 1877-78, and
received a total of 356 bobcats. These were distributed by counties
as follows: Butler, 56; Chautauqua, 68; Chase, 13; Cherokee, 4;
Douglas, 0; Ellsworth, 41; Harvey, 6; Jackson, 27; Jefferson, 2;
Labette, 8; Leavenworth, 1; Linn, 7; Lyon, 21; Marion, 0; McPher-
son, 10; Mitchell, 7; Morris, 0; Neosho, 1; Osage, 5; Pawnee, 1;
Riley, 15; Wabaunsee, 23; Wilson, 35; and Woodson, 5. (See
First Biennial Report of the State Board of Agriculture to the Legis-
lature of the State of Kansas for the years 1877-78, pp. 584-589. )

Although not so abundant as formerly, the bobcat still occurs
in many rough sections of the state. W. C. Justice, a taxidermist at

264

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Arkansas City, Cowley County, reported (in letter dated April 1,
1950) that he had received three bobcats from Cowley County
in 1950 and one from Chautauqua County.

In 1940 a total of 150 bobcat pelts were sold in Kansas and in
1947-48, 98 were sold in Kansas. No pelts were indicated as sold
in Kansas in the years 1934, 1938, 1941-1946, 1948-49 and 1949-50.
(For source of figures see references given in table 2.)

100

39

38

Muse^tm of Korurat History
1945

39

38

100

97

Fig. 73. Distribution of Lynx rufus in Kansas. 1. L. r. baileyi. 2. L. r. rufus.
See figure 5 for explanation of symbols.

Lynx rufus baileyi Merriam

Ltjnx baileyi Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 3:79, 1890, type from Moccasin

Spring, Coconino County, Arizona; Lantz Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 20(2):216, 1907; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:237,

1933.
Lynx rufus baileyi, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 53:291, 1931; Black, Kansas

State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 170, 1937; P. B. Allen,

Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information Nat.

Hist. Surv., 20(5) :30, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

47:71, 1944.
Lynx rufus var. maculatus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 5:65, 1877.

Lynx rufus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:45 1874; Knox, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875 (part); Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 11:56, 1889; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:176, 1905
(part).

Distribution. — Western Kansas, east certainly to Decatur and Comanche
counties. See map, figure 73.

Remarks. — No external measurements of specimens of this sub-
species, taken in Kansas, are available, but probably members of

Bobcat 265

this subspecies do not difiFer greatly in measurements from L. rufus
rufus.

Specimens examined. — Total, 16, distributed as follows: Decatur County:
Oberlin, 1. Logan County: 5 mi. W Elkader, 1; Unspecified, 11. Gove
County: Bluffs near Castle Rock, 1. Scott County: Scott City, 1. Comanche
County: 4 mi. SW Aetna, 1.

Additional records. — Barber County: Unspecified, 1 (Lantz, 1907A:216).

Lynx rufus rufus (Schreber)

Felis rufa Schreber, Saugethiere, plate 1096, 1777, type from New York.

Lynx rufus rufus. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:161, 1924; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:237, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board
Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 170, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State
Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv.,
20(5) :30, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:71, 1944;
Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:210, 1951.

Lynx ruffus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:336, 1905.

Lynx rufus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:45, 1874; Knox, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875 (part); Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 11:56, 1889; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:176, 1905.

Distribution. — Eastern Kansas, west certainly to Geary and Cowley counties.
See map, figure 73.

Remarks. — Measurements of a male from two and one-half miles
southwest of Dexter, are: 952; 160; 195; 80; weight 24 pounds. W.
C. Justice (in litt.) reported measurements on specimens mounted
by him in recent years. The localities of capture and measurements
are as follows: Cowley County: City Services Lake, four miles
northwest of Cambridge, a male weighing 34 pounds taken in
1938; one and one-half mile east of Vinton, a male weighing 25
pounds taken on Oct. 23, 1949; two miles west of Silverdale, a male
trapped on December 11, 1949; two and one-half miles SW of
Silverdale, a male, measuring 1010, 138, 181, 67, weight 23M lbs.,
trapped on March 10, 1950; and Chautauqua County: two and one-
half miles northeast of Cedar Vale, a male weighing SIM lbs., trapped
on January 28, 1950.

The material necessary to show the extent of the zone of inter-
gradation between the eastern and western subspecies is not now
in existence, nor, with the increased land use and decreased bobcat
populations, is it likely to be in the future.

Specimens examined. — Total, 9, distributed as follows: Leavenworth
County: 6 mi. N Lawrence, 1. Geary County: Junction City, 1. Douglas
County: 17 mi. SW Lawrence, 2. Lyon County: Reading, 1. Greenwood
County: Unspecified, 1. Woodson County: Yates Center, 1. Cowley County:
I'A mi. SW Dexter, 1; 2'i mi. SW Silverdale, 1.

Additional records. — Cowley County: City Services Lake, 4 mi. NW Cam-
bridge (see text); 4 mi. E Cambridge (see text); VA mi. E Vinton (see text);
2 mi. W Silverdale (see text). Chautauqua County: 2M mi. NE Cedar Vale
(see text).

266

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

TABLE 37. — Cranial Measxjrements (in millimetebs) of Carnivores,

Except Canis.

"Si

.£3

1=

•9 0

■s

a

JO

eadth
readth

o

"3

a
g

M

II

*3

3

O

t

"3

o

IS

S B

1 a

>>

"o
a

5 y.

«
J

o

§ n"

J

2

§

Vulpes fulva fulva.

Douglas County

<f

6

75.0

25.3

68.7

45.0a 72.4b

20.6b

14.7b

13.2

14.2

niin.

72.9

24.9

65.3

43.6 71.1

20.2

14.1

12.3

12.7

max.

79.7

26.4

71.5

46.3 75.7

22.4

15.5

13.6

14.9

9

6968

77.9

24.7

73.5

46.2 77.2

23.6

15.5

14.1

15.0

9

11533

72.9

27.0

69.6

45.8 70.0

21.1

14.5

12.9

13.8

9

7030

74.4

26.0

69.9

20.7

14.9

13.7

14.7

V. velox vei

ox. First View, Colorado

(^

1601 <

39. 7

58.5

23.7

55.2

38.1

18.0

12.3

10.8

11.7

&

1603 !

36.4

\. 57.3

21.4

52.8

37.5 68.5

17.6

10.0

1604

58.3

Logan County, Kansas
24.2 54.5

11.7 10.4 11.5

Urocyon cinereoargenteus ocythous, Lawrence, Douglas County

cf

1615

116.6

63.7

26.1

60.8 46.5

69.9

21.0

12.9

10.6

11.7

cf

1616

104.5

58.4

23.3

57.6 43.7

68.5

18.6

12.4

11.1

10.9

9

1617

109.8

60.7

24.8

58.9 46.7

68.8

19.8

12.7

10.4

11.2

?

1614

114.4

61.7

26.2

61.4 48.0

72.3

20.4

12.4

10.2

11.3

Procyon lotor hirttia, Douglas

County

cf

8

105.2

55.7

23.9

42.1 53.8

71.4

18.5

8.9

8.3

7.2

min.

101.2

51.5

22.3

40.5 51.3

68.5

17.6

8.2

7.8

6.6

max.

111.8

57.5

26.3

43.6 55.2

76.0

19.9

9.5

8.9

8.0

9

4

102.0

51.8

22.9

42.3 51.6

69.7

18.1

8.7

8.0

7.3

min.

97.6

49.5

21.3

39 . 1 49 . 4

65.2

17.4

8.0

7.6

6.5

max.

106.9

54.1

24.6

44.7 54.2

75.9

18.6

9.1

8.9

8.3

Mustela vison letifera, Douglas

County

cf

1474

63.4

24.5

15.0

13.0 33.7

39.0

18.3

cT

1473

63.2

24.5

15.5

12.6 33.2

39.1

18.5

....

....

cT

6218

62.7

24.7

16.2

13.1 34.0
Linn County

40.7

17.0

....

....

....

9

8213

57.7

22.2

13.5

11.8 28.6

33.5

16.2

....

9

8212

58.0

21.8

14.0

11.7 29.5

33.8

17.0

9

7530

55.0

21.0

13.7

11.1 28.8

34.0

15.9

....

M

. frenaia longicauda, Thomas County

&

7185

46.3

17.5

10.7

9.6 25.0

15.5

cf

12124

45.6

17.6

10.4

9.5 24.5

28.1

14.6

....

c?

12125

17.5

11.1

10.0

28.6

15.0

9

7937

42.5

15.9

10.1

7.9 22.4

24.8

14.4

M. f. primulina, Douglas County

cf

4350

45.4

16.8

10.0

9.3 23.9

25.8

15.0

....

<f

3636

45.0

16.8

9.2

8.9 22.8

25.1

14.6

cf

4104

47.3

17.3

10.9

9.2 24.2

28.2

15.3

9

3638

41.1

14.9

9.3

8.4 20.3

23.8

13.8

9

4348

39.6

14.5

9.2

8.5 21.4

23.2

13.5

9

3084

40.7

14.4

8.2

7.9 20.2

22.8

14.8

M. f. neomexicana, Seward County

9

1485

51.5

17.9

12.3

28.2

35.0

17.0

M. nigripes, Lincoln County

&

10177

62.2

23.2

16.2

13.8 34.4

38.8

19.0

Hamilton County

&

11077

66.8

25.2

18.5

15.3 36.0

43.0

18.9

....

....

....

Carnivores

267

TABLE 37. — Cranial Measxjrements (in millimeters) of Carnwores,

Except Canis. — Continued

11

1

73

■3

M

C

_2

■a
g

j3

0

•3

03

B

^

11

1
o

B

O *^

C3

1
'2

.a

•0
5

en

03

E

a

Mj3

a

CM

1

[3

CD

3

03

pa

^

O

§

^

U

J

^

s

s

Kingman

County

cT

1487

63

8

23 3

18.0

14.2

37.3

42.1

18.3

Taxidea taxus taxus

, Thomas County

(f

8417

111

7

52.4

28.5

29.1

76.0

82.3

27.7

13.5

11.1

5.8

&

9130

109

0

53.8

28.8

27.8

77.4

78.0

28.0

13.8

12.3

5.8

cf

8450

111

8

52.3

28.2

28.7

82.9

79.1

25.5

13.9

12.9

6.0

9

8449

107

6

51.3

27.1

30.6

73.7

75.7

26.6

13.7

12.1

5.1

9

8451

107

7

52.4

29.3

28.1

78.2

78.8

26.1

13.7

12.2

5.3

9

8420

100

4

48.8

24.3

26.2

68.2

71.5

23.0

12.8

11.8

5.8

9
9
9

cf
cf
9
9
9

9
9

9
9
9

3473

10330
10323
10967

1327
2633
1328
1312
1322
4818

16550

8622
10057

1281
1288
4820
2517
1231
1286

69.0

62.2
61.9
60.2

70.8
68.4
65.6
60.8
61.5
62.3

61.3

59.6

55.9

51.4
54.2
55.2

47.6
46.2

Mephilis mephitis varians, Rawlins County
31.1 23.5 20.1 39.9 48.3

29.2
28.6
27.4

30.0

29.9
29.4
28.1
27.1
27.5

Morton County

20.5 19.5 35.0 42.9
20.1 17.9 37.5 42.6

20.6 17.5 35.5 42.8

M. m. avia, Douglas County

25.5
23.6
20.4
20.0
19.7
20.5

19.3
19.9
18.2
17.6
17.6
18.6

40.7
39.4
37.5
36.0
35.4
36.5

49.

48.

46.

43.

42.0

44.3

.2
.5
.1
.6

^f. m. mesomdoi. Pawnee County, Oklahoma
27.9 18.4 36.0 43.5

26.9

25.1

21.5
21.8
22.8
20.7
20.1
20.9

Greenwood County, Kansas
20.7 17.0 36.8 43.3

Dewey County, Oklahoma

18.5 16.6

Spilogale interrupla, Douglas County

15.7 14.0 32.4 35.1

16.3 14.9 33.2 36.5
16.9 13.1 31.3 36.7

14.4 12.1 31.6

14.1 11.7 27.0 31.0

13.6 11.7 28.2 30.8

17.8
18.9
17.6
17.6
16.0
16.3

9 2077

d* 28728* 103.0

cf 13267 164.5

9 14554

(? 2641 115.5

? 5321 103.8

Lutra canadensis interior. Woodward County, Oklahoma
43.0 24.6 16.0 62.8 70.8

Seward County, Nebraska
24.0 66.5 74.5

67.4

Felis concolor azteca, Arizona
42.7 41.3 87.7 155.6

33.9

F. c. missovlensis. East Fork, Ravalli County, Montana
143.3 61.3 35.9 37.1 75.8 123.2 30.6

19.1

15.9

24.2
20.8

47.7

43.1

Lynx rufus baileyi, Scott County
24.3 28.4 58.9 93.4

22.4

Logan County
25.0 53.3

82.3

28.2

24.3

268

University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat, Hist.

TABLE 37. — Cranial Measurements (in millimeters) of Carnivores,

Except Canis. — Concluded

o

3

t, t"

s

9°

S 1=1

fed

a

e

•

§

o
:S

a

h

-S.S

*i o
2 o

5

o

IB

"3

T3
■J

03

i

'3

ft

1
•S3

0

2

"3

1

z

C3

ffi

O

§

>>

^

03

§

Lyn

I ru/us baileyi.

Comanche County

7

2240

112.7

43.0

23.3

25.8

56.5

90.4

27.3

L. r.

rw/us, Douglas County

rf

12096

110.6

45.5

22.0

27.4

87.1

27.5

9

12095

103.1

40.9

22.8

25.2

52.7

85.7

25.6

Greenwood County

7

8410

98.4

41.5

21.7

22.6

52.7

82.6

25.3

a. 4 averaged.

b. 5 averaged.

* Catalogue number of Univ. of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology; measure-
ments given by Swenk (1918:4).

Order ARTIODACTYLA

Artiodactyls

The artiodactyls have the first or inner digit suppressed, so that
there are at most only four functional toes; most genera have all
but two (the third and fourth) toes suppressed. The terminal
phalanges of the limbs form a hoof. Members of this order are
usually of large size and are herbivorous. Three families of this
order occur, or occurred, in Kansas within historic times.

The artiodactyls, including the wapiti, deer, antelope, and bison,
were once extremely abundant on the plains of Kansas and were
important animals in the early history of the state. They furnished
the main source of meat for the diet of the early explorers and
settlers. Today, however, most of the artiodactyls are extinct in the
state.

The following key vidll aid in the separation of these families.

1. Males with antlers; females without antlers or homs; lateral digits

present CERVIDAE, p. 269

1'. Males and females with horns (permanent bone-core covered with

horny sheath ) ; lateral digits vestigial 2

2.(1') Underside of neck crossed by two white bars; homs with single

fork in males, rarely 8 inches long in males and 2 inches in females;

two hooves on each foot, rarely one additional vestigial hoof,

ANTILOCAPRIDAE, p. 274

Artiodactyls 269

2', Underside of neck without white bars; horns not forked; four

hooves (including two vestigial hooves) on each foot,

BOVIDAE, p. 276

Family Cervidae

Members of this family occur in North and South America,
Europe, and Asia. Characteristics of this family include: bony
antlers present in the males, rarely in the females; upper incisors
absent; upper canine usually absent; and the lower canine incisor-
like.

Two genera, including three species, of this family occur or for-
merly occurred in Kansas. The following key will aid in the
separation of these species.

1. Tail straw-colored; row of upper cheek teeth more than 110;
knobhke canine tooth at union of maxillary and premaxillary
bones Cervus canadensis, p. 269

1'. Tail brown or white with black tip; row of upper cheek teeth less
than 110; no canine tooth present 2

2.(1') Tail brown above, white below; ears approximately M length of
head; antler -with one main beam and smaller tines branching
from it Odocoileus virginianus, p. 273

2'. Tail white, tipped with a black tuft; ears approximately % length

of head; antler branching dichotomously (into two equal parts),

Odocoileus hemionus, p. 271

Genus Cervus Linnaeus

Wapiti (American Elk)

This genus occurs in North America, Europe, and Asia. Generic
characteristics include: upper canines small or absent in females,
much larger in males; frontals without ridges; antlers arising at
right angles to median line of skull, sujoported by short pedicles;
antlers not forked at first division and generally of large size. The
dental formula is : i. f, c. \, p. f, m. |. One species of this genus
formerly occurred in Kansas.

Cervus canadensis

Wapiti

This species formerly occurred in a belt running east-west across
North America, as far north as central Canada and as far south as
northern Oklahoma, In Kansas its distribution was probably for-
merly state wide; it is now extinct in the state. HoflFmeister (1947:
75-76) reported some early observations on the wapiti in Kansas.
He pointed out (p. 75) that: "In the collections of the Museum of

270 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Natural History of the University of Kansas, there is no specimen,
nor part of a specimen, other than remains of fossil elk, which
occurred naturally in Kansas."

J, R. Mead wrote three letters to L. L. Dyche at the University of
Kansas Museum of Natural History in 1892 in which he reported
several observations on the elk in Kansas. Hoffmeister (1947:75-
76) reported these observations, a summary of which follows:

In 1859 to 1864 the eastern limits of the range of the wapiti in
Kansas was a line drawn north and south through El Dorado,
Butler County. As to the abundance of the wapiti in Kansas in the
1850's and 1860's, Mead wrote: "I have seen 1000 more or less
in one drove, and they crossed the Saline [River] at the fork right
where the town of Lincoln now stands. ... I have killed Elk
on the Solomon, Saline, Smoky Hill, and Arkansas rivers and their
tributaries."

Phillips (1890:351), in describing western Kansas as it appeared
approximately one hundred years ago, wrote: ". . . and then
came the buffalo and the buffalo grass, and the beautiful herds of
antelope, and the majestic herds of elk. I have, as late as 1866,
seen several thousand of these latter magnificent creatures in a
herd; and small bands of black-tailed deer along the bluffs and
cedars of the upper Smoky, Saline and Solomon [rivers]. . . ."

J. A. Allen (1874:48) reported that in 1871, near the vicinity of
Fort Hays, the wapiti was: ". . . more or less common near
the streams, especially on Paradise Creek, and occurs as far east
at least as Fort Harker [Ellsworth County]."

Knox ( 1875:20) reported that the wapiti was ". . . quite com-
mon in the west of the State."

Probably the wapiti became extinct in Kansas soon after this
for Lantz (1905A:172) disposed of the wapiti in his listing of the
mammals in Kansas with the following terse comments: "Formerly
common throughout the state. Now extinct."

Cervus canadensis canadensis Erxleben

[Cervus elaphus] canadensis Erxleben, Syst. Regni Anim., 1:305, 1777,

type from eastern Canada.
Cervus canadensis canadensis. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:483,

1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:247, 1933; Hibbard,

Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:86, 1944; Brumwell, Amer. Midland

Nat., 45:214, 1951.
Cervus Canadensis, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:48, 1874; Knox,

Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:20, 1875.
Cervus canadensis, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:333,

1905; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:172, 1905.

Cerves [sic] canadensis canadensis, Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 42:509, 1939.

Deer 271

Distribution. — Formerly state wide; now extinct.

Remarks. — No specimen taken in Kansas of this species have
been preserved. Bailey (1926:33) stated that adult bulls have
been estimated to weight from 700 to 1,000 pounds and adult cows
from 500 to 600 pounds.

Specimens examined. — None.

Genus Odocoileus Rafinesque

American Deer

This genus occurs in North and South America. Generic char-
acteristics include: upper canines absent; antlers large with lower
prong larger than upper one; auditory bullae slightly inflated, and
tail long and thickly haired beneath. The dental formula is: i. ^,
c. 5, p. |, m. §. Two species of this genus occur, or formerly occurred,
in the state. These are the white-tailed deer and the black-tailed
or mule deer.

Odocoileus hemionus
Black-tailed or Mule Deer

Black-tailed deer occurred throughout much of western North
America, from west-central Canada southward and eastward
through the mountains and western Great Plains into Mexico.

The black-tailed deer formerly occurred over much of western
Kansas, at least during the winter months. Mead (1899:281), in
reporting some natural history notes for 1859, wrote that: "Black-
tailed deer were numerous in winter in the hills between the
Saline and Solomon [rivers], going in bunches of three or four to
twenty or thirty. I suppose they came down from the foothills of
Colorado to winter, as I did not see them in summer." Phillips
(1890:351) reported: "I have, as late as 1866, seen . . . small
bands of black-tailed deer among the bluffs and cedars of the upper
Smoky, Saline and Solomon [rivers]." J. A. Allen (1874:48) re-
ported that in 1871, in central and western Kansas, the black-tailed
deer was: ". . . more or less common along the wooded por-
tions of the streams, especially on the Smoky and the Paradise."

Baker (1889:57) reported that near Wakeeney, Trego County,
the black-tailed deer was: ". . . quite common till within the
past few years; now found only occasionally and in the roughest
country."

Kellogg (1915: unpublished thesis) reported that: "H. T. Mar-
tin informs me that he saw two [black-tailed deer] on Beaver
Creek in Logan County in 1884. So far as is known the last mule

272 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

deer in Logan County was killed in 1885 on a ranch near Chalk
Creek by Jay Swink and Jink Davis." Lantz (1905A:172) reported
that the black-tailed deer ". . . was still found in western
Kansas in 1884, but has now probably entirely disappeared." Hib-
bard (1933:247 and 1944:86) reported this deer as extinct in the
state.

Tihen and Sprague (1939:509), in recording the mammals of the
Meade County State Park, reported that: "A number of mule deer
have been introduced into the park area where they have become
very tame, and have shown an increase in number each year.
During the summer of 1937, while camped at the park, a young
buck deer with two points was chased up the Cimarron river on
the plains north of Plains, Kan. The deer was winded and stiff
when found and driven into a barn, since it was thought to have
been an escape from the park. Due to injuries received, it was
dead by the time we reached it. The deer did not belong in the
park, but was one of the few wild deer still found along the
Cimarron breaks. The specimen is now in the University Museum."

Last summer ( 1950 ) I learned that twenty black-tailed deer had
been moved from the state park in Meade County and released in
Morton County on land controlled by the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. The original
habitat of these animals is unknown to me.

Odocoileus hemionus hemionus (Rafinesque)

Cervus hemionus Rafinesque, Amer. Monthly Magazine, 1:436, 1817,
type from Sioux River, South Dakota.

Odocoileus hemionus hemionus. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:485,
1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:247, 1933; Tihen and
Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:509, 1939; Hibbard, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:86, 1944.

Odocoileus hemionus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:172, 1905.

0[docoileus] hemionus, Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,
129:333, 1905.

Cervus macrotis, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:48, 1874; Baker, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:57, 1889.

C[ervus] macrotis, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:20, 1875.

Distribution. — Formerly in the western two-thirds of the state; at present
extinct in the state. Reintroduced stocks of the black-tailed deer are found
in some of the southwestern counties.

Remarks. — No external measurements of specimens taken in Kan-
sas are available.

Specimens examined. — Total, 1, from the following locality: Meade County:
7 mi. NW Plains, 1.

White-tailed Deer 273

Odocoileus virginianus

White-tailed Deer

The white-tailed deer occurred from southern Canada southward,
through all but the southwestern part of the United States, through
Mexico, into central America. Probably but one subspecies of
white-tailed deer occurred in Kansas.

Mead (1899:281), reported that, in 1859: ". . . white-tailed
deer were numerous in the hills about the forks of the Solomon
[River] and the hilly country of Barber and Comanche counties,
and occasionally found elsewhere." Knox (1875:20) reported that
the white-tailed deer was: ". . . frequent in large bodies of
timber in different parts of the state."

Kellogg (1915: unpublished thesis) reported that: "In 1867 two
men by the name of Wilcox and Livsa killed over one hundred
white-tailed deer near the mouth of Lightning Creek on the Neosho
River [Cherokee County]. Ross McDonald killed a doe at Chetopa,
Labette County, in 1881. . . . Dave Dunham killed a buck on
Lightning Creek near Columbus [Cherokee County] in 1896. The
latter record seems to be the last for that part of Kansas."

By 1905, however, the numbers of white-tailed deer were so re-
duced that Lantz (1905A:172) reported: "It is now probably ex-
tinct in the state." Hibbard (1933:247 and 1944:86) considered
the white-tailed deer to be extinct in the state.

Tihen and Sprague (1939:509) reported that the white-tailed deer
had been introduced into the Meade County State Park. W. C.
Justice ( in litt. ) informs me that two bucks and one doe of white-
tailed deer were introduced from Texas into Cowley County, In
1948, he reported that these deer were plentiful, at least locally,
within a radius of 50 miles of Arkansas City.

In eastern Kansas, since 1945, several white-tailed deer have been
observed. Every year a number of newspaper accounts concerning
such observations are published. Apparently the white-tailed deer
is again becoming established in the eastern part of the state. I
am uncertain as to the original source of these deer. Perhaps many
are descendents of animals released in various parts of eastern Kan-
sas. Perhaps others are animals that have wandered into the state
from Missouri. Although I reaHze that the white-tailed deer in
Kansas today is probably of mixed parentage, that is, crosses be-
tween two or more subspecies, I recognize only one subspecies as
being native to the state.

274 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Odocoileus virginianus macrourus (Rafinesque)

Cervus (misspelled Corvus) macrourus Rafinesque, American Montlily
Magazine, 1:436, 1817, type from plains of Kansas River, upper
Mississippi Valley.

[Odocoileus virginianus] viacrurus, Trouessart, Catal. Mamm. suppl.,
p. 704, 1905.

Odocoileus virginianus macrourus. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:
489, 1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:247, 1933;
Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci. 42:509, 1939; Hib-
bard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:86, 1944; Brumwell, Amer.
Midland Nat., 45:214, 1951.

Odocoileus americaniis macrourus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
19:172, 1905; Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:333,
1905.

C[crvus] Virginianus, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:20, 1875.

Distribution. — Formerly state wide; probably exterminated in the state and

reintroduced within recent years. Perhaps the introduced animals are of a

different subspecies.

Remarks. — No external measurements of specimens taken in
Kansas are available. In general the white-tailed deer varies in
total length from 1500 to 1700 mm.; the tail comprises approxi-
mately 250 mm. of this total.

Specimens examined. — Total, 5, distributed as follows: Leavenworth
County: Tonganoxie State Park (introduced), 3. Douglas County: Bismark
Grove (introduced), 2.

Family Antilocapridae

Members of this family are restricted in their geographical dis-
tribution to western North America. There is but one living genus
recognized in this family.

Genus Antilocapra Ord

Prong-horned Antelope

This genus includes but one living species. Characteristics in-
clude: upper canines absent; lachrymal not articulating with nasal,
being separated by large lachrymal vacuity; horns deciduous and
branched; and horn core a long, flattened bony process attached
to frontal bone. The dental formula is: i. ^, c. y, p. |, m. f .

Antilocapra americana

Prong-horned Antelope

The antelope formerly occurred in western North America, from
the northern edge of the Great Plains in Canada southward,
through most of the western United States, into Mexico.

The antelope formerly occurred over most of Kansas. Lantz ( 1910:
11) stated: "Pike found it common in eastern Kansas in 1806."

Prong-horned Antelope 275

Mead (1899:281) reported in 1859, in central and western Kansas,
"Antelope were abundant everywhere, in summer, migrating south
in winter to the Staked Plains." J. A. Allen (1874:48) reported
that in Kansas in 1871, the antelope was: "Common in summer as
far east as the middle of the state, and formerly ranged much
further eastward. Not observed in winter much to the eastward
of the Colorado boundary, at this season they mostly [abandoned]
. . . this portion of the state for the milder portions of the
country to the southward and westward. We observed them in
June about Fort Hays in small parties of six to a dozen. They
were, however, exceedingly wary and difficult to approach. Fawns
a few days old were frequently brought into the Post during the
first two weeks of June. . . . Although tolerably frequent in
northwestern Kansas in summer, they are far less numerous here
than in eastern Colorado, or on the plains of Wyoming." Knox
(1875:20) reported that antelope were present ". . . in great
numbers on the western [Kansas] plains, in herds of ten or twenty."
Baker (1889:57) reported that near Wakeeney, Trego County,
antelope were ". . . still comparatively common; and, until
quite recently, very numerous." The numbers of antelope in
the state fell rapidly after 1890. Lantz (1905A:173) reported that
antelope were ". . . fast disappearing. A recent law protects
these animals, but the law is ignored by many of the settlers in
western Kansas. A few small herds have been reported to me
within the last year as occurring in the extreme western counties
of the state."

Kellogg (1915: unpublished thesis) recorded: "C. D. Bunker
saw three [antelope] in Stanton County in 1912." Hibbard (1933:
247) stated: "The antelope has been the last of the large game
animals of Kansas to disappear. It has been seen in Kansas until
the last few years."

Antilocapra americana americana (Ord)

Antilope americana Ord, Guthrie's Geography, 2nd American ed.,
2:292, 1815, type from "plains and highlands of the Missouri."

Antilocapra americana americana. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:
493, 1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:247, 1933; Tihen
and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:509, 1939; Hibbard,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:86, 1944.

Antilocapra americana, Baker, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:57, 1889;
Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:173, 1905; Lantz, Kansas
State College Exp. Sta., Bull., 129:333, 1905; Lantz, U. S. Dept.
Agric, Biol. Surv. Bull., 36:11, 1910.

Antilocapra Americana, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:48, 1874; Knox,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:20, 1875.

Distribution. — Formerly most of the state; now extinct.

276 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist,

Remarks. — No reliable external measurements of specimens taken

in Kansas are available to me.

Specimens examined. — Total, 13, distributed as follows: Logan County:
Unspecified, 4. Reno County: Nickerson, 3. Meade County: Meade County
State Park (captives), 3. Western Kansas: Unspecified, 3.

Family Bovidae

Members of this family occm" in North America, Europe, Asia,
and Africa.

Genus Bison H. Smith

Recent members of this genus occur in North America and Europe.
Characteristics include: upper canines absent; horns unbranched,
cylindrical, short, thick at base and tapering rapidly to a point;
horns bent outward and upward for half their length; nasals short,
separated by a wide space from the premaxillae. The dental
formula is: i. f, c. f , p. |, m. f.

Bison bison

Bison

The bison, or "American BuflFalo", formerly occurred from Alaska
south through Yukon Territory, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Mani-
toba, Canada, into the United States. In the United States the
buffalo occurred from Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico east to Penn-
sylvania, western Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
northwestern Georgia. (See Skinner and Kaison, 1947.)

The male bison reached a length of approximately 11 feet and
a weight of 1800 pounds. The female was smaller, rarely being over
seven feet in total length and rarely weighing more than 1000
pounds.

The bison formerly occurred throughout Kansas. Judging from
the reports of early travellers, only the bulls grazed over eastern
Kansas. Pike (1810:183-184) reported: "For some distance from
the Osage Villages, you find deer, then elk, then cabrie [prong-
horned antelope], and finally, buff aloe. But it is worthy to remark,
that although the male buffaloes were in great abundance, yet in
all our route from the Osage to the Pawnees, we never saw one fe-
male." For western Kansas Pike {loc. cif.: 200-201) reported: "In
the afternoon [we] discovered the north side of the [Arkansas]
river to be covered with animals, which, when we came to them,
proved to be cows and calves. ... I do not think it an exag-
geration to say there were three thousand in one view. It is worthy
of remark, that in all the extent of country yet crossed, we never

Bisox 277

saw one cow, and that now the face of the earth appeared to be
covered with them."

J. A. Allen (1874:46) reported that in 1871: "The great buflFalo
country of the United States is now mainly restricted to Western
Kansas and Eastern Colorado, between the Arkansas and Platte
Rivers, — a region extending about two hundred miles in a north
and south direction and merely three hundred miles in an easterly
and westerly direction, over much of which territory they still
range in countless hordes. They are, however, partially migratory,
moving eastward in summer and westvvard in winter. In the
northern part of the state their siunmer range, in 1871, extended
eastward from the western boundary of the state to the vicinity
of Fort Harker [Ellsworth County]. In winter their eastern limit
scarcely extended east of Ellis. . . ." Allen (7oc. cif.: 47) further
recorded that: "Respecting the whole number now annually killed
in Kansas, it is almost impossible to obtain reliable statistics.
Through the kindness of Mr. W. T. Bowen, General Superintendent
of the Kansas Pacific Railway, I have learned that the meat and
hides shipped to eastern cities over this road during the year 1871
represented about twenty thousand individuals. In the fall of 1872
forty-three thousand hides are reported to have been shipped from
Fort Dodge alone, besides about a million and a half pounds of
meat. The grand total killed in the season of 1872-3, in the im-
mediate vicinity of Fort Dodge, is stated to be not less than one
hundred thousand!"

Knox (1875:20) reported that vast numbers of bison still roamed
over much of western Kansas but: "They are being slaughtered by
the ten thousand annually, for their hides, meat, bones, and sport
of killing them. Should not legislation put a stop to this wholesale
destruction?"

By 1885, however, the numbers of bison were so reduced in Kan-
sas that Cragin (1885:44) wrote: "Small herds of Buffalo, scat-
tered remnants of their rapidly vanishing race, have this winter been
chased with the usual wholesale "success" in several of our western
counties. They are probably the last, or about die last, that will
be seen in Kansas. At best, it can be but a year or two till the
Buffalo, once a highly characteristic feature of our prairie fauna,
shall have passed, in its swift flight to extinction, beyond the limits
of the State."

Baker (1889:56-58) reported the mammals found near Wakeeney,
Trego County, listing: ". . . only such species ... as have
been taken by the writer within the past five years." Baker did not

278 University of Kansas Fuels., Mus. Nat. Hist.

mention the bison, although he did report black-tailed deer and

antelope.

Bison bison bison (Linnaeus)

[Bos] bison Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed., 10, 1:72, 1758.

Bison bison bison. Dice, Jour. Mamm., 4:112, 1923; Miller, Bull. U. S.
Nat. Mus., 128:494, 1924; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
36:247, 1933; Tihen and Sprague, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:509,
1939; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:87, 1944.

Bison bison, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:173, 1905; Lantz,
Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:333, 1905.

Bos Americanus, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:46, 1874; Knox, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:20, 1875; Cragin, Bull. Washburn College
Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:44, 1885.

Distribution. — Formerly state wide, now extinct.

Remarks. — No external measurements of specimens taken in
Kansas are available to me. In general, however, adult male bison
reach a total length of nine to 11 feet (approximately 2 ft. of this
being the tail) and weigh approximately 2000 pounds. Adult
females are somewhat smaller; they weigh 700 to 1000 pounds.

Specimens examined. — None.

HYPOTHETICAL LIST

The mammals listed below include those wrongly listed as occur-
ring in Kansas and those concerning the occurrence of which there

is some doubt.

Myotis grisescens Howell

Gray Bat

Myotis grisescens Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 22:46, 1909,
type from Nickajack Cave, near Shellmound, Marion County,
Tennessee; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:248, 1933.

Remarks. — This bat probably occurs in southeastern Kansas. It
has been recorded from Salt Peter Cave, McDonald County, Mis-
souri (KU no. 2061) and from Scraper, Cherokee County, Okla-
homa ( Blair, 1939 : 100 ) . Hibbard ( 1933 : 248 ) thought that this bat
should occasionally occur in southeastern Kansas.

Myotis sodalis Miller and Allen

Social Bat

Myotis sodalis Miller and Allen, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 144:130, 1928,
type from Wyandotte Cave, Indiana.

Remarks. — This bat may occur in eastern Kansas. It has been
recorded from Rocheport Cave, Boone County, Missouri (Guthrie,
1933:16) and Bat Cave, NW of War Eagle, Benton County,
Arkansas (Black, 1936:30).

Hypothetical List 279

Myotis keenii septentrionalis (Trouessart)

Long-eared Brown Bat

Vespertilio gnjphus var. septentrionalis Trouessart, Catal. Mamm. viv.
foss., p. 131, 1897, type from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Myotis keenii septentrionalis. Miller and Allen, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus.,
144:105, 1928; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:248, 1933,
Brumwell, Amer. Midland Nat., 45:209, 1951.

Remarks. — This bat should occur throughout eastern Kansas.
It has been recorded from one-half mile west of Meadow, Sarpy
Co., Nebraska (KU no. 35077), from Rocheport Cave, Boone
County, Missouri (Guthrie, 1933:17), and Crystal Cave, 5 mi. N
Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas ( Bellinger and Black, 1940:
188). Hibbard (1933:248) thought that this bat should occur in
northeastern Kansas.

Citellus variegatus grammurus (Say)
Rock Squirrel

S[ciurus] grammurus Say, Long's Exped. Rocky Mountains, 2:72, 1823,
type from Purgatory [= Purgatoire] River, near mouth of Chacuaco
Creek, Las Animas County, Colo.

Citellus variegatus grammurus, Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:142, 1938.

Remarks. — This rock squirrel should occur in the southwestern
part of the state. It has been recorded from 18 mi. S Lajunta,
Otero County, Colorado (Howell, 1938:145) and Beaver County,
Oklahoma (Blair, 1939:110).

Cratogeomys castanops castanops (Baird)

Pocket Gopher

Pseudostoma castanops Baird, Report Stansbury's Exped. to Great Salt
Lake, p. 313, 1852, type from "Prairie road to Bent's Fort", near
present town of Las Animas, Bent County, Colorado, on the
Arkansas River.

Cratogeomys castanops castanops. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:
259, 1924.

Cratogeomys castanops, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:175, 1905;
Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:335, 1905; Rinker,
Jour. Mamm., 22:88, 1941; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:75, 1944.

Remarks. — This animal has been reported from Monon, Baca
County, Colorado (Cary 1911:130), a ghost tov^m formerly on Bear
Creek, only two miles west of the Kansas state line. Rinker
(1941:88) reported finding the fragmentary skull and lower jaws
of this gopher in Meade County. Hibbard (1944:75) reported that
Rinker collected a second recent skull of this gopher, in the sum-
mer of 1942, in Meade County. The second skull was found on a
fresh mound of earth thown up by Geomijs. Both Rinker and Hib-

280 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist,

bard reported that extensive trapping in southwestern Kansas had
failed to take any gophers of the genus Cratogeomtjs.

In the summer of 1950 I trapped several days in Stanton County,
just two miles east of the locality -in Baca County where Cary
(1911:130) reported taking Cratogeomys. I took several Geomys
but no Cratogeomys.

Peromyscus nuttallii aureolus (Audubon and Bachman)
Golden Mouse

Mus (Calomys) aureolus Audubon and Bachman, Proc. Acad. Nat.

Sci. Philadelphia, 1:98, 1841, type from "In the oak forests of

South Carolina."
Peromyscus nuttallii aureolus, Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 28:225, 1909;

Black, Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial Kept., p. 196, 1937.
Peromyscus nuttalli [sic] aureolus, Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

36:249, 1933.
Hesperomys Nuttalli, Knox, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 5:65, 1877.

Remarks. — Knox (1877:65) reported that a specimen of this
mouse was: "In Col. Goss' Museum, Neosho Falls. Taken at
Colony, March 7, 1873, by J. J. Fairbanks." Although many of the
specimens collected by Goss were later deposited in other institu-
tions, I can find no trace of this specimen today ( 1951 ) .

Based on this record, Hibbard (1933:249) tentatively listed P. n.
aureolus as a member of the Kansas fauna. Black (1937:196), with-
out additional specimens, argued that it occurred in the state. He
stated {loo. cit.) "Recent sight records from Colony could hardly
refer to any other mouse [than P. n. aureolus], and it is therefore
thought best to return this species to full rank [that is, as a member
of the Kansas fauna]."

The golden mouse builds a characteristic nest in briers, vines,
and brush, well above the ground. In December, 1950, H. B.
Tordoff and I spent a day in the Neosho River valley between Col-
ony and Neosho Falls, Kansas, looking for some sign of this mouse.
We failed to find any. The locality nearest to Kansas at which the
golden mouse has been taken is one and one-half miles west of
Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas (Bellinger and Black,
1940:190), approximately 160 airline miles south and east of Colony,
Anderson County, Kansas.

Oryzomys palustris texensis Allen

Rice Rat

Oryzomys palustris texensis J. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.,
6:177, 1894, type from Rockport, Aransas County, Texas; Hibbard,
Trans, Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:243, 1933; Black, Kansas State Board
Agric, 30th Biennial Rept., p. 196, 1937; P. B. Allen, Kansas State

Hypothetical List 281

Teachers College Emporia, Bull. Information, Nat. Hist. Surv.,

20(5) :43, 1940; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:79, 1944.
H[esperomys] palustris, Knox, Trans. Kanasas Acad. Sci., 4:21, 1875.
Hesperomys (Oryzomys) palustris, Coues, Monogr. N. Amer. Rodentia,

p. 117, 1877.
Oryzomys palustris, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:174, 1905;

Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:335, 1905; Lantz,

Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :216, 1907.

Remarks. — The only record to date of this animal in Kansas is
the specimen taken by Capt. B. F. Goss at Neosho Falls, Woodson
County, and deposited in the United States National Museum. Ac-
cording to the original catalogue entry this specimen was captured
in January, 1859, and catalogued in the United States National
Museum collection on January 24, 1859. Because the specimen was
already mounted when catalogued, it seems improbable to me that
the animal could have been collected in January, mounted, and
transported to Washington, D. C. (under the transportation diffi-
culties of that time), in time to have been catalogued on January
24th.

Further, no specimens have been taken in surrounding states
nearer than Rocky, Polk County, Arkansas, a distance of approxi-
mately 260 airline miles from Neosho Falls, although efforts have
been made to trap this species in intervening localities. However,
as Lantz (1907A:216) so aptly stated: "Whether these animals once
occurred in Kansas or whether there was an error as to the locality
from which the Goss specimens came will probably never be
known." I am inclined to believe that the latter situation is the case.

Myocastor coypus (Molina)
Nutria

Mus coypus Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, pp. 287-288, 342, 1782, type

from rivers of Chili.
Myocastor coypus, Hoffmeister and Kennedy, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

49:445, 1947.

Remarks. — The nutria is a South American rodent with fur much
like that of the muskrat. It has been introduced into the United
States and attempts to raise it on fur farms have been made in most
areas. Often the nutria escapes and becomes established as a mem-
ber of the mammalian fauna. Such feral populations of nutria, as
pointed out by HofiFmeister and Kennedy (1947:445), have been re-
ported in Montana, Washington, Oregon, Louisiana, and New Mex-
ico in the United States as well as in Engand and France.

Hoffmeister and Kennedy (loo cit.) reported that a feral nutria
was captured in central Kansas in the fall of 1945. It was taken

282 University of Kansas Publs., Mus, Nat. Hist.

along Peace Creek, twenty-four miles west and two miles north of
Hutchinson, Reno County. This animal is now in the collection of
the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History.

Perhaps the nutria is not as yet established in the wild in Kansas.
If it ever does become estabhshed, the nutria will probably be an
unwelcome introduction. It will compete with the muskrat and
might succeed in replacing the muskrat in many ecological niches.
The nutria, where established, often becomes a pest around gardens
and vegetable farms. As pointed out by Hoffmeister and Kennedy
(1947:446): "Since the fur of the nutria is currently less valuable
than that of the muskrat and since the feral nutria might become
an agricultural pest, it seems wise, if possible, to prevent the estab-
lishment of the nutria in Kansas."

Vulpes macroura Baird
Mountain Red Fox

Vulpes macrourus Baird, Report Stansbury's Exped. to Great Salt Lake,

p. 309, 1852, type from Wasatch Mountains bordering Great Salt

Lake, Utah.
Vlulpes] macrourus, Lantz,, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:

336, 1905.
Vulpes macroura. Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:144, 1924; Hibbard,

Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:248, 1933.
Vulpes fulva macroura, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :216,

1907.

Remarks. — Mead (1899:280) reported: "There were red foxes
living on the plains with the wolves, called 'Swifts' from their re-
markable speed." Hibbard (1933:248) quoted this as evidence that
the mountain red fox formerly occurred in Kansas. However,
Mead (1899:280) added: "They lived in pairs; not more than two
found together. No other foxes were found on the plains. They
were unlike the timber foxes." From this, I conclude that Mead
was referring to Vulpes velox, the swift fox. This fox is known to
have occurred in the area referred to by Mead.

Lantz (1905:336 and 1907:216) stated that N. S. Goss reported
two specimens of the mountain red fox in Cowley County. This
report, which I have not seen, was published in Field and Stream
(vol. 27, p. 465, January 6, 1887) and was quoted by Lantz (1907:
212) as follows: "A little over a year ago Mr. Fred Whitney killed
a Prairie Fox (Vulpes macrorus Baird) in Cowley County. He had
the animal mounted, and it is now at his home in Meade County.
It is the light color variety spoken of by Professor Baird in his work
on mammals (P. R. R. Rept., vol. 8, p. 130), and the first, to my

Hypothetical List 283

knowledge, captured in the state. Mr. Whitney says that another
one has since been killed in the same vicinity."

Hibbard (1933:248) was also aware of Lantz's report. Since
the mounted specimen referred to by Goss has been lost, and, to my
knowledge, no other records exist for the state, I am placing this
species in the list of hypothetical members of the Kansas mam-
malian fauna.

Bassariscus astutus flavus Rhoads

Ring-tailed Cat

Bassariscus astutus flavus Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
1893, p. 417, 1894, type from Texas.

Bassaris astuta, J. A. Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., 6:45, 1874; Knox, Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19, 1875.

Bassariscus astutus, Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:177, 1905;
Lantz, Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:337, 1905; Lantz,
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :216, 1907.

Remarks. — J. A. Allen (1874:45) first reported the ring-tailed cat
in Kansas. He stated: "Although I did not meet with it, an animal
was described to me by different persons that so accurately agrees
with the Texas civet cat [= ring-tailed cat] that I have no doubt
of its being this species. It is apparently rather rare, however, as
none of my informants had seen more than two or three individuals
in the region under consideration. The northern boundary of Kan-
sas probably forms its ordinary northern limits of distribution on
the plains."

Based on Allen's report, Knox (1875) and Lantz (1905A, 1905B)
listed the ring-tailed cat as a member of the Kansas mammalian
fauna. Lantz (1907A:216) questioned whether of this species was
a member of the fauna of Kansas and reported that Allen had based
his observation on second-hand information.

Later lists of mammals of Kansas have not included the ring-
tailed cat. However, data released by the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service (Anon., 1939:8; 1940:8; 1946:8; Ashbrook, 1950:9)
hsts a total of 86 pelts of ring-tailed cats sold for their fur in the
state in 1938. None was reported as sold in the state in 1934 nor in
the period 1940-1949. Perhaps the 86 reported in 1938 were actually
trapped elsewhere and shipped to Kansas before they were sold.
W. C. Justice (in lift.) has reported to me that within the past
eleven years, six "Texas ring-tailed cats" have been taken in Cowley
County. Justice believes that they occur naturally in that area.
Perhaps one or more may, in time, find their way into a museum
collection as a permanent record of the occurrence of this species
in the state.

284 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Martes caurina origenes (Rhoads)
Marten

Mustela caurina origenes Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
p. 458, 1902, type from Marvine Mountains, Garfield County, Colo-
rado.

Martes caurina origenes. Miller, N. Amer. Land Mamm., 1911, p. 93,
1912; Hibbard, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:248, 1933.

Remarks.— Uihhard (1933:248) included the marten in a hypo-
thetical list and stated: "There is a chance that we may find a skull
of the marten in western Kansas . . . there are no specimens
on record which have been taken in Kansas." Hibbard listed the
marten as a former member of the fauna of Kansas because Mead
(1899:28) wrote: "Martens were rare." I think that the marten
has not occurred in Kansas within historic times.

The nearest locality from which martens have been recorded in
historic times, to the best of my knowledge, is the headwaters of
the Cimarron River in Gunnison County, Colorado (Cary, 1911:
190), a locality that is some 260 miles west of Kansas. Further, in
Colorado, the marten is an inhabitant of the high mountains and
Uves in ecological conditions quite unhke any that occur in Kansas.

Conepatus mesoleucus figginsi W. Miller

Hog-nosed Skunk

1925. Conepatus mesoleucus figginsi W. Miller, Jour. Mamm., 6:50,
January 9, type from Furnace Canyon, western Baca County,
Colorado.

Remarks. — The hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus mesoleucus, has not
yet been recorded from Kansas but may be expected to occur in the
southwestern part of the state. The type locality of this subspecies,
C. m. figginsi, is Furnace Canyon in western Baca County, Colorado,
approximately 55 miles, by air line, from the southwestern corner of
Kansas.

The hog-nosed skunk is a medium-sized black skunk with a single
broad white stripe on its back. The white stripe extends from the
back of the head to the tip of the tail. The nose pad is broad, ap-
proximately twice as wide as that of the striped skunk, and is used
for "rooting" for insects.

In the summer of 1950, I spent several days collecting mammals
in Morton and Stanton counties, in the southwestern part of Kan-
sas. I examined several striped skunks that had been killed on high-
ways in these two counties and made inquiries of several ranchers.
None had seen or heard of such an animal in that area although one
rancher told me of his experiences with hog-nosed skunks in Texas.

Type Localities 285

TYPE LOCALITIES IN KANSAS
Riley County

1. Manhattan

Scalopus aquaticus machrinoides Jackson, p. 51.

Leavenworth County

2. 4 mi. SE McLouth

Taxidea taxus kansensis Schantz [=zTaxidea taxus taxus (Schreber)],
p. 253.

Tkego County

3. Wakeeney

Fiber zibethicus cinnamonimus Hollister [== Ondatra zibethicus cin-
namonimus], p. 198.

4. Banner [^= 8 mi. S, 1 mi. E Collyer]

Vespertilio ciliolabrum Merriam [= Myotis subulatus subulatus
(Say)], p. 63.

Perognathus paradoxus Merriam [= Perognathus hispidus para-
doxus], p. 149.

Taxidea taxus merriami Schantz [^Taxidea taxus taxus (Schreber)],
p. 253.

Douglas County

5. NW comer sect. 4, T12S, R20E, 5% mi. N, 1^ mi. E Lawrence

Zapus hudsonius pallidus Cockrmn and Baker, p. 215.

6. Lawrence

Reithrodontomys dychei Allen [^ Reithrodontomys megalotis
dychei], p. 166.

7. 7 mi. SW Lawrence

Marmota monax bunkeri Black, p. 118.

Lane Coitnty

8. Pendennis

Citellus tridecemlineatus arenicola Howell, p. 124.

Neotoma campestris Allen [= Neotoma floridana campestris], p. 189.

Woodson County

9. Neosho Falls

Arvicola (Synaptomys) gossii Coues [= Synaptomys cooperi gossii],
p. 195.

Meade County

10. m mi. N Fowler

Geomys bursarius industrius Villa-R and Hall, p. 142.
Microtus ochrogaster taylori Hibbard and Rinker, p. 205.

11. Meade County State Park, 14 mi. SW Meade

Synaptomys cooperi paludis Hibbard and Rinker, p. 196,

Barber County

12. Natural Bridge, 6)2 mi. S Sun City

Antrozous bunkeri Hibbard, p. 81.

Montgomery County

13. Independence

Lepus melanotis Meams [= Lepus californicus melanotis], p. 100.
Kansas ?

14. Plains of Kansas River, Upper Mississippi Valley.

Cervus (misspelled Corvus) macrourus Rafinesque [=: Odocoileus
virginianus macrourus], p. 274.

286 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Albertson, F. W.

1937. Ecology of mixed prairie in west central Kansas. Ecological Mono-
graphs, 7:481-547.
Albertson, F. W., and Weaver, J. E.

1942. History of the native vegetation of western Kansas during seven
years of continuous drought. Ecological Monographs, 12:23-51.

Aldous, G. M.

1933. Notes on a black-footed ferret raised in captivity. Jour. Mamm.,
21:23-26.
Allen, G. M.

1939. Bats.

Harvard Univ. Press, pp. x -f 368, 57 figs.
Allen, H.

1894. A monograph of the bats of North America. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus.,
43:ix-f 198, 38 pis.
Allen, J. A.

1874. Notes on the mammals of portions of Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming
and Utah. Part I. On the mammals of middle and western Kan-
sas. Bull. Essex Inst., 6:43-52.

1894. Descriptions of ten new North American mammals, and remarks
on others. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 6:317-332.

1895. List of mammals collected in the Black Hills region of South
Dakota and in western Kansas by Mr. Walter W. Granger with
field notes by the collector. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 7:258-
274.

Allen, P. B.

1940. Kansas mammals. Kansas State Teachers College Emporia, Bull.
Information, Nat. Hist. Surv., 20(5): 1-62.

Anderson, R. M.

1947. Catalogue of Canadian recent mammals. National Museum Can-
ada, Bull, 102, Biol. Ser., 31, pp. v + 238.
Anderson, R. M., and Rand, A. L.

1943. Variation in the porcupine (genus Erethizon) in Canada. Canadian
Jour. Research, 21:292-309, 5 figs.

Anon.

1878. Bounty upon wolf, coyote, wild cat, fox and rabbit scalps. Pp. 584-
589 in First Biennial Rept. Kansas State Board Agric, pp. 1-632.

1939. A survey of the annual fur catch of the United States. U. S. Dept.
Agric, Bur. Biol. Surv., Wildlife Research and Management leaflet,
BS-140:1-19, mimeographed.

1940. The annual fur catch of the United States. U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Wildlife leaflet, 170:1-21, mimeographed.

1945. Annual fur catch of the United States. U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Wildlife leaflet, 276:1-22, mimeographed.

1946. Annual fur catch of the United States. U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Wildlife leaflet, 290:1-22, mimeographed.

Bibliography 287

Anthony, H. E.

1928. Field book of North American Mammals. G. P. Putnam's Sons,
New York, pp. xxvi + 674, 48 pis., 150 figs.
ASDELL, S. A.

1946. Patterns of mammalian reproduction. Comstock Publ. Co. Ithaca,
New York, pp. xii + 437, 12 pis.

ASHBROOK, F. G.

1950. Annual fur catch of the United States. U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Wildlife leaflet 315:1-23, mimeographed.

1951. Annual fur catch of the United States. U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Wildhfe leaflet 315 (revised): 1-25, mimeographed.

Audubon, J. J., and Bachman, J.

1856. The Quadrupeds of North America. Vol. 1-3, V. G. Audubon,

New York.
Bailey, V.

1893. The prairie ground squirrels or spermophiles of the Mississippi

valley. U. S. Dept. Agric, Div. Om. and Mamm. Bull., 4:1-69,

3 pis., 4 maps.
1895. The pocket gophers of the United States. U. S. Dept. Agric,

Div. Om. and Mamm. Bull., 15:1-47, frontispiece, 2 colored pis.,

1 col. map., 6 figs.
1900. Revision of the American voles of the genus Microtus. N. Amer.

Fauna 17:1-88, 5 pis., 17 figs.
1902. Synopsis of the North American species of Sigmodon. Proc. Biol.

Soc. Washington, 15:101-116.
1905. Biological survey of Texas. N. Amer. Fauna, 25:1-222, 16 pis.,

24 figs.
1907. Wolves in relation to stock, game and the National Forest Re-
serves. Forest Service Bull., 72:1-31, 3 pis., 7 figs.
1922. Beaver habits, beaver control and possibilities in beaver farming.

U. S. Dept. Agric. Bull., 1078:1-29, 7 pis., 7 figs.

1926. A biological survey of North Dakota. N. Amer. Fauna, 49:vi -f 226,
21 pis., 8 figs.

1927. Beaver habits and experiments in beaver culture. U. S. Dept.
Agric, Tech. Bull, 21:1-40, 14 pis., 6 figs.

1928. The red fox in America. Nature Magazine, 28:269-72; 317, 3
photographs, 1 map.

1929. Life history and habits of grasshopper mice, genus Onychomys.
U. S. Dept. Agric, Tech. Bull., 145:1-19, 4 pis., 1 map.

1932. Mammals of New Mexico. N. Amer. Fauna, 53:1-412, 22 pis.,
58 figs.
Bailey, V. and Sperry, C. C.

1929. Life history and habits of grasshopper mice, genus Onychomys.
U. S. Dept. Agric, Tech. BuU., 145:1-20, 4 pis., 1 fig.
Baird, S. F.

1858. Explorations and surveys for a railroad route from the Mississippi
River to the Pacific Ocean. War Department. Mammals, Part I,
xxxii -f 757, pis., 17-60, 35 figs, in text.

288 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist,

Baker, A. B.

1889. Mammals of western Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 11:56-58.
Baker, R. H.

1943. May food habits of armadillos in eastern Texas. Amer. Midland
Nat., 29:379-380.
Beach, E.

1931. The spermatogenesis of the meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus.
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 34:125-131, 2 pis.
Beamer, R. H., Penner, L. R., and Hibbard, C. W.

1943. Some notes on the biology of the pack rat Cuterebrid (Cuterebrid
beameri Hall) in Kansas. Jour. Kansas Ent. Soc, 16:47-50, 1 pi.
Bennitt, R.

1948. The coyote bounty system in Missouri, 1936-1947. Trans. 13th
N. Amer. WildUfe Conference, p. 314-322, 1 fig.
Benson, S. B.

1935. The status Reithrodontomys montanus (Baird). Jour. Mamm.,
16:139-142, 1 fig.

Black, J. D.

1935A. Tadarida mexicana from the Trego-Gove County Region of Kan-
sas, at Castle Rock. Jour. Mamm., 16:147.

1935B. Observations on the vitahty of the Virginia opossum as exhibited in
the skeleton. Jour. Mamm., 16:223.

1935C. The golden harvest mouse from Anderson County, Kansas. Jour.
Mamm., 16:231-232.

1935D. A new woodchuck from Kansas. Jour. Mamm., 16:318-320.

1936. Mammals of northwestern Arkansas. Jour. Mamm., 17:29-35.

1937. Mammals of Kansas. Kansas State Board Agric, 30th Biennial
Report, 35:116-217.

Blair, W. F.

1937. The burrows and food of the prairie pocket mouse. Jour. Mamm.,
18:188-191.

1939. Faunal relationships and geographic distribution of mammals in
Oklahoma. Amer. Midland Nat., 22:85-133, 1 fig.

1942. Systematic relationships of Peromyscus and several related genera as
shoviTi by the baculum. Jour. Mamm., 23:196-204, 2 figs.
Blair, W. F., and Hubbell, T. H.

1938. The biotic districts of Oklahoma. Amer. Midland Nat., 20:425-
454, 1 fig.

Bole, B. P., and Moulthrop, P. N.

1942. The Ohio Recent mammal collection in the Cleveland Museum of
Natural History. Sci. Publ. Cleveland Mus. Nat. Hist., 5(6):83-
181.
Brown, E. C, Lattimore, J. L., and Hofmann, J. C.

1933. Tularemia: summary of 120 cases reported in Kansas. Jour.
Kansas Medical Soc, Aug. 1933.
Brown, H. L.

1940. The distribution of the whitetailed jack rabbit (Lepus townsendii
campanius Hollister) in Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:385-
389, 1 fig.

Bibliography 289

1945. Evidence of winter breeding of Peromyscus. Ecology, 26:308-309.

1946. Rodent activity in a mixed prairie near Hays, Kansas. Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 48:448-456.

1947A. Why has the v^'hite-tailed jack rabbit (Lepus townsendii cam-
panius Hollister) become scarce in Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 49:455-456.

1947B. Jack rabbit, cottontail, vegetation in a mixed prairie. Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 50:28-44.
Brumwell, M. J.

1941. An ecological survey of the Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation.
Unpubhshed Master's Thesis, University of Kansas, pp. 1-187.

1951. An ecological survey of the Fort Leavenworth MiUtary Reserva-
tion. Amer. Midland Nat., 45: 187-231, 6 pis.
Bryant, M. D.

1945. Phylogeny of Nearctic Sciuridae. Amer. Midland Nat., 33:257-390,
8 pis., 48 figs.
BuGBEE, R. E., and Riegel, A.

1945. Seasonal food choices of the fox squirrel in western Kansas. Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 48:199-203, 4 figs.
Bunker, C, D.

1940. The Kit Fox. Science, 92 (2376) :35-36.
Burnett, W. L.

1913. Report on prairie dog investigations in Colorado. Office of the State
Entomologist, Fort Collins, Colo. Circular no. 8.

1914. Pocket gophers. Office of State Entomologist, Fort Collins, Colo.
Circular no. 10.

1930. Hayden's vole Microtus haydeni (Baird). Occas. Papers Mus. Zool.

and Ent., Colorado Agric. College, 1:5-11, 3 figs.
Burt, W. H.

1928. Additional notes on the fife history of the Goss Lemming Mouse.

Jour. Mamm., 9:212-216.

1945. The Bunker bat in Oklahoma. Jour. Mamm., 26:309.

1946. The mammals of Michigan. Univ. of Michigan Press, pp. xv + 288,
13 pis., 107 figs., 67 maps.

Cagle, F. R., and Cockrum, E. L.

1943. Notes on a summer colony of Myotis lucifugus Iticifugus. Jour.
Mamm., 24:474-492, 1 pi, 7 figs.
Cardwell, a. B., and Flora, S. D.

1942. The climate of Kansas. Kansas State College Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull.,
302:1-108, 11 figs., 2 photographs.

Carter, F. L.

1939. A study of jackrabbit shifts in range in western Kansas. Trans. Kan-
sas Acad. Sci., 42:431-435.

Gary, M.

1911. A biological survey of Colorado. N. Amer. Fauna, 33:1-256, 12
pis., 39 figs.
Chaddock, T. T.

1938. Some facts concerning cottontails imported into Wisconsin. Wiscon-
sin Conservation Bull., 3(4):49-52.

10—1424

290 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Clabk, F. H,

1936. Geotropic behavior on a sloping plane of arboreal and non-arboreal
races of mice of the genus Peromyscus. Jour. Mamm., 17:44-47.

1941. Correlation and body proportions in mature mice of the genus
Peromyscus. Genetics, 26:382-300.
Clark, H. W.

1937. Association types in the north coast ranges of California. Ecology,
18:214-230, 5 figs.

Clements, F. E., and Shelford, V. E.

1939. Bio-ecology. John Wiley and Sons, New York, pp. viii + 425, 85
figs.
COCKRUM, E. L.

1948. The distribution of the hispid cotton rat in Kansas. Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 51:306-312, 2 figs.

1949. Longevity in the Httle brown bat, Myotis lucifugus lucifugus. Jour.
Mamm., 30:433-434.

CocKRUM, E. L., and Baker, R. H.

1950. A new jumping mouse (genus Zapus) from Kansas. Proc. Biol. Soc.
Washington, 63:1-4, 1 fig.

Couch, W. E.

1933. Pocket-gopher control. U. S. Dept. Agric. Farmers' Bull., 1709:1-20,
17 figs.
CouES, Elliott

1877. The fur-bearing animals of North America. Estes and Lauriat, Bos-
ton, pp. xiv + 348, 20 pis.
1877. Monographs of North American Rodentia. Rept. U. S. Geol. Surv,
Terr., pp. x + 1091, 77 figs.
Cragin, F. W.

1885. Notes on some mammals of Kansas, with a few additions to the
hst of species known to inhabit the state. Bull. Washburn College
Lab. Nat. Hist., 1:42-47.
Dalquest, W. W.

1948. Mammals of Washington. Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. Nat. Hist.,
2:1-444, 140 figs.
Damon, D.

1941. Notes on the gray eastern chipmunk. Jour. Mamm., 23:326-327.
Davis, W. B.

1939. The Recent mammals of Idaho. The Caxton Printers, Ltd., Cald-
well, Idaho, pp. 1-400, 2 pis., 33 figs.

Davis, W. B., and Joeris, L.

1945. Notes on the life-history of the little short-tailed shrew. Jour,
Mamm., 45:136-138.
Davis, W. B., and Lowery, G. H., Jr.

1940. The systematic status of the Louisiana muskrat. Jour. Mamm.,
21:212-213.

Dellinger, S. C, and Black, J. D.

1940. Notes on Arkansas mammals. Jour. Mamm., 21:187-191.

Bibliography 291

Dice, L. R.

1922. Some factors affecting the distribution of the prairie vole, forest

deer mouse and prairie deer mouse. Ecology, 3:29-48, 1 fig.
1923A. Notes on the communities of the vertebrates of Riley Coxmty,

Kansas, with especial reference to amphibians, reptiles and mam-
mals. Ecology, 4:40-53, 3 figs., one table.
1923B. Notes on some mammals of Riley County, Kansas. Jour. Mamm.,

4:107-112.
1927. The transfer of game and fur-bearing mammals from state to

state, with special reference to the cottontail rabbit. Jour. Mamm.,

8:90-96.
1929. An attempt to breed cottontail rabbits in captivity. Jour. Mamm.,

10:225-229.
1937. Additional data on variation in the prairie deer-mouse, Peromyscus

maniculatus bairdii. Occas. Papers Museum of Zool., Univ. of

Michigan, 351:1-19, 3 figs.
1941. Variation of the deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) on the sand

hills of Nebraska and adjacent areas. Contr. Univ. Micliigan Lab.

Vert. Genetics, 15:1-19,
1943. The biotic provinces of North America. Univ. of Michigan Press,

pp. viii -|- 78, 1 map.
Dyche, L. L.

1890. Notes on three species of gophers found at Lawrence, Kas. Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 12:29-31.
1903. Food habits of the common garden mole. Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 18:183-186.
1905. The puma or American lion. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:160-163.
1907. A Kansas beaver (Castor canadensis Kuhl). Trans. Kansas Acad.

Sci., 21:165-167.
Ellerman, J. R.

1940-1941. The families and genera of living rodents. British Museimi

(Natural History), London. Vol. 1 (1940), pp. xxvi -f 689; vol. 2

(1941), xii + 690, 49 figs.
Elliot, D. G.

1899. Description of apparently new species and subspecies of mammals

from Oklahoma Territory. Field Columb. Mus., publ, 37, Zool.

Sen, 1(14): 280.
1901. A synopsis of the mammals of North America and the adjacent

seas. Field Columb. Mus., Publ. 45, Zool. Ser., 2:1-475, 143 pis.
1907. A catalogue of the collection of mammals in the Field-Columbian

museum. Field Columb. Mus., Publ. 115, Zool. Sen, Siviii-f- 694,
92 figs,
Engels, W, L.

1936. Distribution of races of the brown bat (Eptesicus) in western North

America. Amer. Midland Nat., 17:653-660, 1 fig.
Fighter, E., and Hanson, M. F.

1947. The Goss lemming mouse, Synaptomys cooperi gossii (Coues), in
Nebraska. Bull. Univ. Nebraska State Mus., 3(2): 1-8, 2 figs.

292 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Flora, S. D.

1948. Climate of Kansas. Rept. Kansas State Board Agric, 67:xii + 320,
illus.
Fremont, J. C.

1845. Report of the exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains in the
year 1842 . . . etc. Blair and Rives; Washington.
Frye, O. E., and Lay, D. W.

1942. Fur resources and fur animals of Texas. Texas Game, Fish and
Oyster Comm. Bull., 25:iii + 42, 19 unnumbered figs.

Gates, F. C.

1937. Grasses in Kansas. Rept. Kansas State Board Agric, 55(220-A):
1-349, frontispiece, 270 figs., 224 maps.

GiLMORE, R. M.

1946. Mammals in archeological collections from southwestern Penn-
sylvania. Jour. Mamm., 27:227-254, 1 map.

Glass, B. P.

1947. Geographic variation in Perognathus hispidus. Jour. Mamm.,
28:174-179.

Goldman, E. A.

1910. Revision of the vi'ood rats of the genus Neotoma. N. Amer. Fauna,

31:1-124, 8 pis., 14 figs.
1937. The wolves of North America. Jour. Mamm., 18:37-45.

1944. Classification of wolves. Part II in the wolves of North America by
Young and Goldman. Publ. by American Wildlife Inst., Washing-
ton, D. C.

1950. Raccoons of North and Middle America. N. Amer. Fauna,
60:vi + 153, 22 pis., 2 figs.
Goldman, E. A., and Gardner, M. C.

1947. Two new cotton rats. Jour. Mamm., 28:57-59.
Gowell, R. C.

1897. The myology of tlie hind limb of the raccoon, Procyon lotor. Kan-
sas Univ. Quarterly, 6( A) : 121-126, 2 pis.
Graham, E., and Ulrich, J.

1943. Animal parasites of the fox squirrel, Sciurus niger rufiventer, in
southeastern Kansas. Jour. Parasitol., 29:159-160.

Griffin, D. R.

1945. Travels of banded cave bats. Jour. Mamm., 26:15-23.
Griffin, D. R., and Galambos, R.

1941. The sensory basis of obstacle avoidance by flying bats. Jour. Ex-
perimental Zool., 86:481-506.
Grinnell, J.

1914. An account of the mammals and birds of the Lower Colorado Val-
ley, with especial reference to the distributional problems pre-
sented. California Univ. Publ. Zool., 12:51-294, pis. 3-13, 9 figs.
Grinnell, J., and Swarth, H. S.

1913. An account of the birds and mammals of the San Jacinto area of
southern Cahfomia with remarks upon the behavior of geographic
races on the margins of their habitats. Univ. California Publ. Zool.,
10:197-466, 5 pis., 3 figs.

Bibliography 293

Guthrie, M. J.

1933. Notes on the seasonal movements and habits of some cave bats.

Jour. Mamm., 14:1-19.
Hall, E. R.

1923. Occurrence of the hoary bat at Lawrence, Kansas. Jour. Mamm.,

4:192-193.
1928. Notes on the Me history of the woodland deer mouse. Jour.

Mamm., 9:255-256.
1936. Mustelid mammals from the Pleistocene of North America with

systematic notes on some Recent members of the genera Mustela,

Taxidea and Mephitis. Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ. 473:41-119,

5 pis., 6 figs.
1939. Extension of the known geographic range of the striated chipmunk

(Tamias striatus). Amer. Midland Nat., 21:766.
1946. Mammals of Nevada, pp. xi -f 710, frontispiece, 11 pis., 473 figs.,

Univ. California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California.
Hall, E. R. and Dalquest, W. W.

1950. A synopsis of the American Bats of the genus Pipistrellus. Univ.

Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:591-602, 1 fig.
Hamilton, W. J. Jr.

1933. The insect food of the big brown bat. Jour. Mamm., 14:155-156.
1939. American Mammals. Their lives, habits and economic relations.

McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. xiv -|- 434, 92 figs.

1943. The mammals of eastern United States. Comstock Publ. Co.,
Inc., Ithaca, N. Y., pp. 1-432, frontispiece, 184 figs.

1944. The biology of the Httle short-tailed shrew, Cryptotis parva. Jour.
Mamm., 25:1-7, 1 pi,

Hamlett, G. W. D.

1939. Identity of Dasypus septemcinctus Linnaeus with notes on some
related species. Jour. Mamm., 20:328-336.

Hayden, F. V.

1875. Catalogue of the collections in geology and natural history
obtained by the expedition under command of Lieut. G. K. Warren.
Reprinted from "PreUminary report of explorations in Nebraska
and Dakota in the years 1855-'56-'57" by G. K. Warren, and
originally published "with the documents accompanying the Presi-
dent's annual message to congress in December 1858, in the
annual report of the Secretary of War."

Hendrickson, G. O,

1938. Winter food and cover of Meams cottontail. Third N. Amer.
Wildlife Conference, 787-793.

1939. Inventory methods for Meams cottontail. Fourth N. Amer.
Wildlife Conference, 209-215.

1940. Nesting cover used by Meams cottontail. Trans. Fifth N. Amer.
Wildhfe Conference, 1940, pp. 328-331.

1943A. Gestation period in Mearns cottontail. Jour. Mamm., 24:273.
1943B. Meams cottontail investigation in Iowa. The Ames Forester,
21:59-74.

294 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

HiBBARD, C. W.

1933. A revised checklist of Kansas mammals. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

36:230-249.
1934A, The occurrence of Erethizon epixanthum bruneri and Mustela

nigripes in Kansas. Jour. Mamm., 15:70-71.
1934B. Antrozous bunked, a new bat from Kansas. Jour. Mamm., 15:

227-228.
1934C. Notes on some cave bats in Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

37:235-238.

1936. Established colonies of the Mexican free-tailed bat in Kansas.
Jour. Mamm., 17:167-168.

1937. Peromyscus leucopus aridulus in Kansas. Jour. Mamm., 18:101-
102.

1938. Distribution of the genus Reithrodontomtjs in Kansas. Univ. Kan-
sas Sci. Bull., 25:173-179, 1 map.

1944. A checkhst of Kansas mammals, 1943. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
47:61-88.
HiBBARD, C. W., and Rinker, G. C.

1942. A new bog-lemming (Synaptomtjs) from Meade County, Kansas.
Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 28:25-35, 3 figs.

1943. A new meadow mouse (Microtus ochrogaster taylori) from Meade
County, Kansas. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 29 (pt. 2 no. 4):255-268,
5 figs.

Hide, J. C.

1946. Rotations, crop residues, manures and lime. In Soil Conservation in
Kansas. Kansas State Board Agric, Report., 65(271):20-33.

Hill, J. E., and Hibbard, C. W.

1943. Ecological differentation between two harvest mice {Reithro-
dontomys) in western Kansas. Jour. Mamm., 24:22-25.
Hisaw, F. L.

1923. Feeding habits of moles. Jour. Mamm., 4:9-20.
Hisaw, F. L., and Emery, F. E.

1927. Food selection of ground squirrels, Citellus tridecemlineatus. Jour.
Mamm., 8:41-44.
Hitchcock, H. B.

1949. Hibernation of bats in southeastern Ontario and adjacent Quebec.
The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 63:47-59, 1 fig.

HOFFMEISTER, D. F.

1947. Early observation on the elk in Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 50:75-76.

HoFFMEisTER, D. F., and Kennedy, C. D.

1947. The Nutria, a South American rodent, in Kansas. Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 49:445-446.

HOLLISTER, N.

1925. The systematic name of the Texas armadillo. Jour. Mamm., 6:60.
Howell, A. H.

1901. Revision of the skunks of the genus Chincha. N. Amer. Fauna,
20:1-62, 8 pis.

Bibliography 295

1906. Re\ision of the skunks of the genus Spilogale. N. Amer. Fauna,
26:1-55, 10 pis.

1914. Revision of the American harvest mice (Genus Reithrodontomys ) .
N. Amer. Fauna, 36:1-97, 7 pis., 6 figs.

1915. Revision of the American marmots. N. Amer. Fauna, 37:1-80, 15
pis., 3 figs.

1918. Revision of the American flying squirrels. N. Amer. Fauna, 44:1-
64, 7 pis., 4 figs.

1928. Descriptions of six new North American ground squirrels. Proc.
Biol. Soc. Washington, 41:211-214.

1929. Revision of the American chipmimks (genera Tamias and Eu-
tamias) N. Amer. Fauna, 52:1-157, 10 pis., 9 figs.

1938. Revision of North American ground squirrels with a classification
of the North American Sciuridae. N. Amer. Faima, 56:1-256, 32
pis., 10 figs.

HOVEY, C.

1874. Rabies Mephitica. Amer. Jour. Sci. and Arts, 3rd Series, 7(41):
477-483, 1874. [Reprinted in full in Coues, 1877, pp. 224-229].
Jackson, H. H. T.

1914. New Moles of the genus Scalopus. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
27:19-21.

1915. A review of the American moles. N. Amer. Fauna, 38:1-100.
6 pis., 27 figs.

1928. A taxonomic review of the American long-tailed shrews. N.
Amer. Fauna, 51:vi + 238, 13 pis., 24 figs.
Jameson, E. W., Jr.

1947. Natural history of the prairie vole. (Mammalian genus Microtus).
Univ. Kansas Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:125-151, 4 figs.
Johnson, C. E.

1921. The "hand-stand" habit of the spotted-skunk. Jour. Mamm.,

2:87-89.
1923. Aquatic habits of the woodchuck. Jour. Mamm., 4:105-107.

1926. Notes on a pocket gopher in captivity. Jour. Mamm., 7:35-37.
1932. Notes on a family of red bats in captivity. Jour. Mamm., 13:132-

135.
Johnson, G. E.

1925. Control of mammals injurious to agriculture in Kansas. Kansas
State College Exp. Sta. Circ, 120:1-10, 1 fig.

1927. Observations on young prairie-dogs (CjTiomys ludovicianus ) bom
in the laboratory. Jour. Mamm., 8:110-115, 3 pis.

1929A. Hibernation of the thirteen-Hned ground squirrel, Citellus tride-
cemlineatus (Mitchell). II. The general process of waking from
hibernation. Amer. Nat., 63:171-180, 3 figs.

1929B. Hibernation of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Citellus tride-
cemlineatus (Mitchell). III. The rise in respiration, heart beat
and temperature in waking from hibernation. Biol. Bull., 55:107-
129, 6 figs.

296 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

1930. Hibernation of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel Citellus tride-
cemlineatus (Mitchell). V. Food, light, confined air, precooHng,
castration and fatness in relation to production of hibernation.
Biol. Bull., 59:114-127, 1 fig.

1931 A. Early life of the tliirteen-lined ground squirrel. Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 34:282-290, 2 tables, 14 figs.

1931B. Hibernation in mammals. Quart. Rev. of Biology, 6:439-461.
Johnson, G. E., and Challans, J. S.

1932. Ovariectomy and corpus luteum extract studies on rats and ground
squirrels. Endocrinology, 16:278-284, 1 fig.

Johnson, G. E., Foster, M. A., and Coco, R. M.

1933. The sexual cycle of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel in the labora-
tory. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 36:250-269, 12 figs.

Johnson, G. E., Gann, E. L., Foster, M. A., and Coco, R. M.

1934. The effect of daily hetero-pituitary extract implants into adult but
sexually inactive male ground squirrels. Endocrinology, 18:86-96,

9 figs.
Kalmbach, E. R.

1943. The armadillo: Its relation to agriculture and game. Texas Game,
Fish and Oyster Commission, pp. iv -f 61, frontispiece, 4 pis., 4 figs.
Kellogg, R.

1914. On the rentention of Neotoma campestris Allen as a separate sub-
species from Neotoma fioridana baileyi Merriam. Kansas Univ.
Mus. Nat. Hist. Publ. 1, Zool. Series, 1(1 ) :l-7.

1915. The mammals of Kansas with notes on their distribution, life his-
tories and economic importance. Master's thesis, U. of Kansas, 15
Dec. 1915. (unpublished typescript).

King, O. M.

1950. An ecological study of the Norway rat and the house mouse in a city
block in Lawrence, Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 53:500-528,

10 figs.
Knox, M. V. B.

1875. Kansas Mammalia. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 4:19-22.
1877. Additions to Kansas Mammalia. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 5:65.
Lantz, D. E.

1905A. A list of Kansas mammals. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:171-178.
1905B. Kansas mammals in their relation to agriculture. Kansas State

College Exp. Sta. Bull., 129:331-404.
1905C. Coyotes in their economic relations. U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol,

Surv. Bull, 20:1-28.
1905D (1906). Meadow mice in relation to agriculture and horticulture.

Yearbook of U. S. Dept. Agric. for 1905:363-376, 4 pis., 1 fig.
1907A. Additions and corrections to the list of Kansas mammals. Trans

Kansas Acad. Sci., 20(2) :214-217.
1907B. An economic study of field mice (genus Microtus) U. S. Dept.

Agric, Biol. Surv. Bull., 31:1-64, 8 pis., 3 figs.
1908. Notes on Kansas mammals. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 22:336-337,
1910. Raising deer and other large game animals in the United States.

U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. Surv. Bull., 36:1-62, 8 pis.

Bibliography 297

1918. Notes on Kansas mammals, 1915. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
28:241-242.
Labson, F.

1940. The role of the bison in maintaining the short grass plains. Ecology,
21:113-121.
Latimer, H. B.

1937. Weights and linear dimensions of the skull and of some of the long
bones of the skunk ( Mephitis mesomelas avia ) . Jour. Morphology,
60:379-391, 1 fig.
Latimer, H. B., and Riley, R. B.

1934. Measurements of the skull and some of the long bones of the musk-
rat (Ondatra zibethicus cinnamominus) . Jour. Morph., 56:203-212.
Lewts, W., and Cl.^rke, W.

1814. History of the expedition under the command of Captains Lewis and
Clarke to the sources of the Missouri, thence across the Rocky moun-
tains and down the river Columbia to the Pacific Ocean. Performed
during the years 1804-5-6, by order of the government of the United
States. Prepared for the press by Paul Allen, Esquire. Bradford
and Inskeep, Philadelphia, 2 vols.

LlEBIG, J.

1840. Chemistry in its application to agriculture and physiology. Taylor
and Walton, London.

LiNSDALE, J. M.

1925. Land vertebrates of a limited area in Eastern Kansas. Manu-
script, University of Kansas Library.

1927. Notes on the life history of Synaptomys. Jour. Mamm., 8:51-54.

1928. Mammals of a small area along the Missouri River. Jour. Mamm.,
9:140-146.

LOEWEN, S. L.

1934. A new cestode from a bat. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 37:257-258.
Lowe, P. G.

1890. Kansas, as seen in the Indian Territory. Trans. Kansas Historical
Soc, 4:360-366.
LowERY, G. H., Jr., and Davis, W. B.

1942. A revision of the fox squirrels of the lower Mississippi Valley and
Texas. Occas. Papers of the Mus. of Zool., Louisiana State Univ.,
9:153-172, 2 figs.
Lowrance, E. W.

1949. Variability and growth of the opossum skeleton. Jour. Morph.,
85:569-593.
LuNN, M. p.

1940. The history and administration of the Kansas Forestry, Fish and
Game Commission. UnpubUshed Master's Thesis, Univ. of Kansas,
pp. 1-142.
LuTz, H.

1950A. News release of Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission,

dated August 10, 1950. Pratt, Kansas.
1950B. News release of Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission,
dated August 23, 1950. Pratt, Kansas.

298 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat, Hist.

Macy, R. W.

1939. A correction. Jour. Mamm., 20:382.
Macy, R. M., and Macy, R. W.

1939. Hawks as enemies of bats. Jour. Mamm., 20:252.
Mather, K., and Hakrison, B. J.

1949. The manifold effect of selection. Heredity, 3:1-52, 131-162.
McNair, G. T.

1931. The deer mouse, Peromyscus, a valuable laboratory mammal.
Jour. Mamm., 12:48-52.
Mead, J. R.

1885. Notes on two Kansas mammals. Bull. Washburn College Lab.
Nat. Hist., 1:91-92.

1899. Some natural history notes of 1859. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
16:280-281.

1903. The drying-up of pools and streams in Central Kansas. Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 18:213-214.

1905. (1906). The Saline River country in 1859. Trans. Kansas State
Historical Soc, 9:8-19.
Mearns, E. a.

1890. Description of supposed new species and subspecies of mammals,
from Arizona. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 2:277-307.
Merriam, C. H.

1886. Description of a new species of bat from the western United States.
Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 4:1-4.

1889. Preliminary revision of the North American pocket mice (genera
Perognathus et Cricetodipus Auct. ) with description of new species
and subspecies and a key to the knovra forms. N. Amer. Fauna,
1: vii-1-36, 4 pis.

1890. Descriptions of twenty-six new species of North American mam-
mals. N. Amer. Fauna, 4: v -f 60, 3 pis., 3 figs.

1894. The geographic distribution of animals and plants in North Amer-
ica. U. S. Dept. Agric. Yearbook for 1894, pp. 203-214, 1 map.

1895A. Revision of the shrews of the American genera Blarina and
Notiosorex. N. Amer. Fauna, 10:5-34, 3 pis., 2 figs.

1895B. Monographic revision of the pocket gopher Family Geomijidae.
. . . N. Amer. Fauna, 8:1-258, frontispiece, 19 pis., 71 figs.,
4 maps.

1896A. Revision of the lemmings of the genus Sijnaptomtjs, with descrip-
tions of a new species. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:55-64.

1896B. Synopsis of the weasels of North America. N. Amer. Faxma,
11:1-44, frontispiece, 5 pis., 16 figs.

1897. Revision of the coyotes or prairie wolves with descriptions of new
forms. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 11:19-33.

1898. Life zones and crop zones of the United States. U. S. Dept. Agric,
Biol. Surv. Bull., 10:1-79, frontispiece.

1901. The prairie dogs of the great plains. U. S. Dept. Agric. Yearbook
for 1901:257-270, 3 pis., 2 figs.

1904. Jack Rabbits of the Lepus campestris group. Proc. Biol. Soc.
Washington, 17:131-134.

Bibliography 299

Miller, F. W.

1924. The range of CoTtotis parva (Say). Jour. Mamm., 5:199.
Miller, G. S., Jr.

1897. Revision of the North American bats of the family Vespertilionidae.

N. Amer. Fauna, 13:1-140, 3 pis., 40 figs.
1912A. The names of the large wolves of northern and western North

America. Smith. Misc. Coll., 59(15): 1-5.
1912B. List of North American Land Mammals in the United States Na-
tional Museum, 1911. U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:xiv + 455.
1924. List of North American Recent mammals, 1923. U. S. Nat. Mus.
Bull., 128:xvi + 673.
Miller, G. S., Jr., and Allen, G. M.

1928. American bats of the genera Myotis and Pizonyx. U. S. Nat. Mus.
Bull., 144:1-218, 1 pi., 1 fig., 13 maps.
Miller, G. S., Jr., and Rehn, J. A. G.

1901. Systematic results of the study of North American land mammals
to the close of the year 1900. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 30:1-
352.
Moody, J.

1886-1888. Alvar Nunez Cabeca de Vaca. Trans. Kansas State Historical
Soc, 4:332-350.
Nelson, E. W.

1909. The rabbits of North America. N. Amer. Fauna, 29:1-314, 13 pis.,

19 figs.
1926. Bats in relation to the production of guano and the destruction of
insects. U. S. Dept. Agric, Dept. Bull., 1395:1-12, 4 figs.
Osgood, W. H.

1900. Revision of the pocket mice of the genus Perognathus. N. Amer.

Fauna, 18:1-72, 4 pis., 15 figs.
1909. Revision of the mice of the American genus Peromyscus. N. Amer.
Fauna, 28:1-285, 8 pis., 12 figs.
Oyer, E. R.

1946. Identification of mammals from studies of hair structure. Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 49:155-160.
Palmer, F. G.

1937. Geographic variation in tlie mole Scapanus latimanus. Jour. Mamm.,
18:280-314, 2 pis., 1 fig.
Palmer, T. S.

1897. The Jack rabbits of the United States. U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol.
Surv. Bull., 8 (revised): 1-88, 6 pis., 3 figs.
Pattie, J. O.

1831. The personal narrative of James O. Pattie of Kentucky. . . .
[edited by T. Fhnt]. Reprinted in 1930 with a historical introduc-
tion and annotations by M. M. Quaife by the Lakeside Press,
Chicago, pp. xliii + 428.
Pearson, O. P.

1944. Reproduction in the shrew (Blarina brevicauda Say). Amer.
Jour. Anatomy, 75:39-93, 6 pis.

300 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist.

Peterka, H. E.

1936. A study of the myology and osteology of three sciurids with regard
to adaptation to arboreal, ghssant and fossorial habits. Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 39:313-332.
Peterson, R. L.

1946. Recent and Pleistocene mammalian fauna of Brazos County,
Texas. Jour. Mamm., 27:162-169, 5 figs.
Phillips, W. A.

1890. Kansas History. Trans. Kansas Historical Soc, 4:351-359.
Pike, Major Z. M.

1810. Account of an expedition to the sources of the Mississippi and
through the western parts of Louisiana, to the sources of the
Arkansaw, Kansas, La Platte and Pierre Jaune rivers; performed
by order of the government of the United States during the years
1805, 1806, and 1807. And a tour through the interior parts
of New Spain, when conducted through these provinces by order
of the captain general, in the year 1807. Illustrated by maps and
charts. Published by Pliiladelphia; C. and A. Conrad and Co.;
Petersburg: Somervell and Conrad; Norfold: Bonsai, Conrad and
Co. and Baltimore: Fielding Lucas, Jr. John Binns, printer.
Reynolds, H. C.

1945. Some aspects of the life history and ecology of the opossum in
central Missouri. Jour. Mamm., 26:361-379.
Riegel, D. a.

1941. Some coactions of rabbits and rodents with cactus. Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 44:96-103, 1 pi.

1942. Some observations of the food coactions of rabbits in western Kan-
sas during periods of stress. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 45:369-375,
4 photographs.

Rinker, G. C.

1941. Cratogeomys castanops from a recent terrace in south-western Kan-
sas. Jour. Mamm., 22:88.

1942A. An extension of the range of the Texas cotton rat in Kansas. Jour.

Mamm., 23:439.
1942B. Litter records of some mammals of Meade County, Kansas. Trans.

Kansas Acad. Sci., 45:376-378.
1944. Os clitoridis from the raccoon. Jour. Mamm., 25:91-92.
Rysgaard, G. N.

1942. A study of the cave bats of Minnesota with especial reference to the
large brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus fuscus ( Beauvois ) . Amer. Mid-
land Nat., 28:245-267.

SCHAFFNER, J. H.

1929. Extension of natural range of two mammals in Clay County, Kansas.
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 31:61-62.
SCHANTZ, V. S.

1950A. A new badger from Montana. Jour. Mamm., 31:90-92.

1950B. A new race of badger (Taxidea) from Kansas. Jour. Washing-
ton Acad. Sci., 40:92-93.

1950C. A new race of badger (Taxidea) from eastern Kansas. Jour.
Mamm., 31:346-347.

Bibliography 301

SCHEFFER, T. H.

1908. The pocket gopher. Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull., 152:111-

145, illustrated.
1910A. The common mole. Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull.,

168:1-36, 12 figs.
1910B. The pocket gopher. Kansas State College Exp. Sta. Bull, 172:197-

233, 9 figs.
1911 A. Distributional, natural enemies and breeding habits of the Kansas

pocket gopher. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 23:109-114.
191 IB. The prairie-dog situation in Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

23:115-118.
1911C. Investigation of the mole. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 23:119-131.
1912. The common mole. Runway studies; hours of activity. Trans.

Acad. Sci., 25:160-163.
1931. Habits and economic status of the pocket gophers. U. S. Dept.

Agric, Tech. Bull., 224:1-7, 8 pis., 2 figs.
1938. Study of a small prairie-dog town. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,

40:391-395, 1 fig.
1940. Excavation of a Runway of the pocket gopher (Gcomys bursarius) .

Trans. Acad. Sci., 43:473-478, 3 figs.

SCHOEWE, W. H.

1949. The geography of Kansas. Part II, physical geography. Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 52:261-333, 43 figs.
Schwartz, E., and Schwartz, H. K.

1943. The wild and commensal stocks of the house mouse, Mus musculus
Linnaeus. Jour. Mamm., 24:59-72.
Seton, E. T.

1929. Lives of game animals. Doubleday, Doran and Co., Inc., New
York, issued in 4 volumes, each with two parts; each volume paged
separately.
Setzer, H. W.

1949. Subspeciation in the kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ordii. Univ. Kansas
Pubis., Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:473-573, 27 figs.
Shamel, H. H.

1931. Notes on the American bats of the genus Tadarida. Proc. U. S.
Nat. Mus., 78(19): 1-27.
Shelford, V. E.

1945. The relative merits of the life zone and biome concepts. Wilson
Bull., 57:248-252, 1 map.
Silver, J.

1935. Eliminating bats from buildings. U. S. Dept. Agric. Leaflet, 109:
1-5, 2 figs.
Silver, J., and Moore, A. W.

1933. Mole control. U. S. Dept. Agric, Farmer's BuU., 1716:1-17, 14 figs.
Simpson, G. G.

1945. The principles of classification and a classification of mammals.
Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist, 85:xvi-|- 114.
Sktntner, M. F., and Kaisen, O. C.

1947. The fossil Bison of Alaska and preliminary revision of the genus.
Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 89(3): 127-256, 19 pis.

302 University of Kansas Publs., Mus, Nat. Hist.

Smith, C. F.

1948. A burrow of the pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) in eastern
Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 31:313-315, 1 fig.
Smith, H. M.

1934. Notes on some bat-flies of southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma.
Jour. Kansas Ent. Soc, 7:62-64.
Sprague, J. M.

1938. Distributional records from Kansas. Jour. Mamm., 19:246.
1939A. Mammal distributional records for Kansas. Jour. Mamm., 20:

102-103.
1939B. Notes on mammal mortality on highways. Jour. Mamm., 20:110-

111.
1939C. The distribution of the genus Peromyscus in Kansas. Trans. Kan-
sas Acad. Sci., 42:487-493.
1939D. A preliminary study of the baculum of Peromyscus leucopus and
P. maniculatus in Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:495-497,
2 figs.
Stene, O. E.

1944. The development of Kansas wildhfe conservation poUcies. Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:289-319.
Storer, T. I.

1926. Bats, bat towers and mosquitoes. Jour. Mamm., 7:85-90, 2 figs.
SWENK, M. H.

1938. Distribution of Marmota monax in the Missouri River region.
Jour. Mamm., 19:348-353, 1 map.

1939. A study of local size variations of the prairie pocket gopher
(Geomys bursarius), with description of a new subspecies from
Nebraska. Missoviri Valley Fauna, 1:1-8.

1940. A study of subspecies variation in the yellow pocket gopher
(Geomys lutescens) in Nebraska, and the geographical and eco-
logical distribution of the variants. Missouri Valley Fauna, 2:1-12.

Tabor, F. W.

1939. Extension of the range of the armadillo. Jour. Mamm., 20:489-493,
2 figs.
Taylor, W. P.

1934. Significance of extreme or intermittent conditions in distribution
of species and management of natural resources, with a restatement
of Liebig's law of minimum. Ecology, 15:374-379.
TiHEN, J. A., and Sprague, J. M.

1939. Amphibians, reptiles and mammals of the Meade County State
Park. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:499-512, 1 map, 4 photo-
graphs.
TiMMONS, F. L.

1942. The dissemination of prickly pear seed by jack rabbits. Jour.
Amer. Soc. Agron., 34:513-520.
True, F. W.

1896. A revision of the American moles. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.,
19(1101): 1-111, 4 pis., 45 figs., 5 maps.

Bibliography 303

ViLLA-R., B., and Hall, E. R.

1947. Subspeciation in pocket gophers of Kansas. Univ. Kansas Pubis.,
Mus. Nat. Hist., 1:217-236, 2 figs.
Wade, O.

1928. Notes on the time of breeding and the number of young of
Cynomys ludovicianus. Jour. Mamm., 9:149-151.
Webb, J.

1940. Identification of rodents and rabbits by their fecal pellets. Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 43:479-481, 1 fig.
Weeks, L. T.

1927. Autobiography of Leroy Titus Weeks. Wilson Bull., 39:86-90.
Whitaker, H. L.

1939. Fox squirrel utilization of osage orange in Kansas. Jour. Wildhfe
Management, 3:117.

W1LLLA.MS, R. A.

1946. Forestry, pp. 117-125, in Soil conservation in Kansas, Rept. Kansas
State Board Agric, 65:1-199.

WlLLISTON, S. W.

1877A. The American antelope. Amer. Nat., pp. 599-603.
1877B. Spermophilus Richardsonii. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 6:39-40.
WOOSTER, L. D.

1931. The present status of certain mammals in western Kansas. Trans.
Kansas Acad. Sci., 34:112-113.

1935. Notes on the eflFects of drought on animal populations in western
Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 38:351-352.

1936. The contents of owl pellets as indicators of habitat preferences of
small mammals. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 39:395-397.

1937. The fauna: Mammals and birds of "Rock City". Trans. Kansas
Acad. Sci., 40:197-198, 1 pi.

1938. An attempt at an ecological evaluation of predators on a mixed
prairie area in western Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 41:387-
394, 2 figs.

1939A. The effects of drouth on rodent populations. Turtox News ( Chi-
cago), 17(1).

1939B. An ecological evaluation of predatees on a mixed prairie area in
western Kansas. Trans, Kansas Acad. Sci., 42:515-517, 2 figs.
Wright, S.

1931. Evolution of Mendahan populations. Genetics, 16:97-159.
YotiNG, S. P., and Goldman, E. A.

1944. The wolves of North America. The American Wildlife Institute,
pp. xxii -f 636, 131 pis., 15 figs.

1946. The Puma, mysterious American cat. American Wildlife Inst., pp.
x\'i + 358, 93 pis., 6 figs.

Transmitted October 15, 1951.

n

24-1424

3 2044

093 36'

384