... } . . . . . .
§ 1 - . ."
§
<º -
gºš sº It)WA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 208 7 &
ºr 6 ... -- ---
& \rº- *
sº tº Vºi, 19.
*oo" * 13 J C ; , , , ,
; , ; ; ' ' ', ºr a
NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF MAMMALS FROM NORT TERN IOWA.
BY ALEXANDER Gºuthven AND NORMAN A. WOOD,
The University of Michigan Museum has acquired a considerable number of
specimens of mammals from Northwestern Iowa during the past five years.
Most of the material was Obtained by the expedition of 1907, but a number of
Specimens have been received from residents. The museum is particularly
indebted to Mr. Nels Hansen, of Ruthven, IoWa, who has sent in a considerable
amount of Valuable material.
The material obtained by the expedition was collected principally by Max M.
Peet and A. G. Ruthven in the to Wnships of Riverton, Sioux, Lake, Freeman
and Logan, Clay County, and Lost Island and Highland, Palo Alto County.*
The miscellaneous material was taken in the same region. The habitat data.
in the present paper is from the field notes of A. G. Ruthven. It should also
be mentioned that the specimens of Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii, Microtus
drummondi (?), Reithrodontomys griseus, Lepus campestris and Sylvilagus
floridanus mearmsi have been examined and so determined by E. W. Nelson
of the U. S. Biological Survey.
LIST OF SPECIES.
Didelphis virginiana (Kerr). Virginia Opossum.—No specimens of this
species Were Observed, but Various hunters and residents informed the collectors
of the expedition that it is Occasionally found in the region studied and an
authentic record Was Obtained for Gillett's Grove, Gillett’s Grove Township,
Clay County. Of its occurrence in Nebraska, Swenk” says, “The Opossum is a
typical Carolinian animal which formerly was uncommon in this state and
found only in the extreme southeastern portion, but of recent years it has
extended its range along the Wooded tributaries of the Missouri until it is
now present along nearly the whole eastern edge of the state.” It has probably
entered the region studied by Way of the timber zone along the Little Sioux
River and tributary streams.
Citellus tridecemlineatus (Mitchell). Thirteen-striped Spermophile.—A series
of twenty-Seven Specimens was obtained by the expedition. As was to be
expected, the species is very common in this part of the state. It was found in
every area of prairie and meadow land examined. The specimens are very
large. The average measurements of four males are: length 286 mm., tail
101 mm., foot 40 mm., and of seven females: length 277 mm., tail 96 mm.,
foot 40 mm., while the three largest Michigan specimens in the museum col-
lection only average, length 260 mm., tail 85 mm., foot 36 mm. In color they
Cannot be distinguished from Michigan specimens. One individual was ob-
Served eating a house mouse which was covered with fresh blood.
*For a description of the habitats in this region see Ruthven, A. G., Contributions
to the Herpetology of Iowa, Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci., XVII, pp. 198-204.
“A Preliminary Review of the Mammals of Nebraska. Studies from Zool. Lab.
Tniv. of Nebraska, No. 89, p. 14.
“once Library
G|-
7/7
R4 &

204 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
Citellus franklini (Sabine). Franklin's Spermophile.—Ten Specimens Of
this spermophile were taken in eastern Clay County by the museum collectors,
The species is less common than C. tridecemlineatus but is far from rare. It
is apparently rarer than it is, as the individuals occur principally in colonies
and usually retreat to the burrows on the first Suspicion of danger.
Mus musculus Linnaeus. House Mouse.—Common everywhere about build-
ingS. * -
Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii (Hoy and Kennicott). Baird's Field Mouse.
(Michigan Mouse).-Nine specimens of this species were Secured by the eX-
pedition. They were found in burrows in stubble fields, pastures, and on the
shores of lakes.
Reith rodontomys griseus (Bailey). Little Gray Harvest Mouse.—An adult
male was taken by Ruthven, August 22, 1907, in a stubble field in Western
Palo Alto County.
Microtus drummondi (Audubon and Bachman) 7 Prairie Meadow Vole.—A
single specimen thus identified by E. W. Nelson was taken (1907) in a low
meadow in Clay County. Only the skull was saved.
Fiber 2ibethicus (Linnaeus). Musk Rat.—The musk rat is very abundant
in Clay and Palo Alto Counties, as might be inferred from the numerous lakes.
All of the sloughs and perennial ponds still Contain numbers of houses. Three
Specimens Were secured by the museum expedition.
Geomys bursarius (Shaw). Shaw's Pocket Gopher.—Three specimens were
collected in 1907. The species is abundant throughout the region, on the prairie,
in pastures, and in cultivated fields—particularly along the fences. It seems
to avoid the low meadows, being found Only On the higher and dryer ground.
Sylvilagus floridanus mearns; (Allen). Mearn’s Cottontail.-Twelve speci-
mens were obtained by the museum expedition. The cottontail is abundant in
all of the land habitats both WOOded and graSS-COvered.
Lepus campestris (Bachman). White-tailed Jack Rabbit.—Three specimens
were secured by the museum expedition in eastern Clay County and six by
Nels Hansen in western Palo Alto County. This hare is yearly becoming more
rare in the region studied. At present it seems to be principally confined to
the restricted areas of Original prairie during the summer months, but is
frequently found in the cultivated fields in the winter. Within a few years
it will probably be entirely extinct in Clay and Palo Alto Counties.
Canis latrans Say. Barking Coyote.—The coyote was formerly quite com-
mon in Clay and Palo Alto Counties, but it is now practically extinct. About
twenty years ago Ruthven Saw Several litters of pups that were taken near
Lost Island Lake in Palo Alto County.
Taa'idea taa:ws (Schreber). Badger.—No badgers were observed by the mu-
seum expedition, but this is no indication of their abundance in view of the
secretive habits of the species. Ruthven observed it many times both in Clay
and Palo Alto Counties previous to 1903, and it is with little doubt still to be
found in favorable habitats. *
Chincha, hudsonica (Richardson). Northern Plains Skunk—Two specimens
apparently referrable to this Species were secured by the museum expedition.
The species is common and generally distributed in the two counties.
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 205
Spilogale interrupta (Rafinesque). Prairie Spotted Skunk. Four specimens
were obtained from the vicinity of Ruthven, on December 5, 1908, December
10, 1910, November, 1911, and April, 1912. The first three were taken by Hansen.
The species (locally known as the “civit cat” or “little spotted skunk”) is very
common in Clay and Palo Alto Counties. In the fall it is often found about
farm buildings. It is chiefly nocturnal, and generally has little fear of man.
A large male measures as follows: length 555 mm., tail 225 mm., hind foot
55 mm. A female taken near Ruthven, in November, 1911, measures as fol-
Iows: length 485 mm., tail vertebrae 180 mm., hind foot 48 mm.
Putorius longicaudus (Bonaparte). Long-tailed Weasel.—Hansen secured an
adult male near Ruthven, December 5, 1908, which measures: length 555 mm.,
tail 220 mm., foot 55 mm.
LaSiurus cinereus (Beauvois). Hoary Bat.—A single specimen was taken by
Nels Hansen, August 18, 1911, in a grove in Palo . Alto County. This adult
female Weighed 3 ounces and measured as follows: length 145 mm., tail 60 mm.,
hind foot 15 mm.
Šs
s
i
i. i.
º
ſ
AW, s'
*... .
ſae
t
E
§ 2. '