diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31035-8.txt | 2415 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31035-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 44399 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31035-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 430900 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31035-h/31035-h.htm | 2576 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31035-h/images/figure1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 70593 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31035-h/images/figure2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 75781 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31035-h/images/figure3.jpg | bin | 0 -> 84509 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31035-h/images/plate1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 64713 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31035-h/images/plate2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 90638 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31035.txt | 2415 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31035.zip | bin | 0 -> 44376 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
14 files changed, 7422 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31035-8.txt b/31035-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b0a49e --- /dev/null +++ b/31035-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2415 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, +Colorado, by Sydney Anderson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado + +Author: Sydney Anderson + +Release Date: January 21, 2010 [EBook #31035] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAMMALS--MESA VERDE NAT. PARK *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, Greg Bergquist +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS +MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY + +Volume 14, No. 3, pp. 29-67, pls. 1 and 2, 3 figs. in text + +July 24, 1961 + +Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, +Colorado + +BY + +SYDNEY ANDERSON + +UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS +LAWRENCE +1961 + + + + +UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS, MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY + +Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch, +Robert W. Wilson + +Volume 14, No. 3, pp. 29-67, pls. 1 and 2, 3 figs. in text +Published July 24, 1961 + +UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS +Lawrence, Kansas + +PRINTED IN +THE STATE PRINTING PLANT +TOPEKA, KANSAS +1961 + +28-7577 + + + + +Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado + +BY + +SYDNEY ANDERSON + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +A person standing on the North Rim of the Mesa Verde in southwestern +Colorado sees a vast green plain sloping away to the south. The plain +drops 2000 feet in ten miles. On a clear evening, before the sun reaches +the horizon, the rays of the sun are reflected from great sandstone +cliffs forming the walls of deep canyons that appear as crooked yellow +lines in the distance. Canyon after canyon has cut into the sloping +green plain. These canyons are roughly parallel and all open into the +canyon of the Mancos River, which forms the southern boundary of the +Mesa Verde. If the observer turns to the north he sees the arid +Montezuma Valley 2000 feet below. A few green streaks and patches in the +brown and barren low country denote streams and irrigated areas. To the +northeast beyond the low country the towering peaks of the San Miguel +and La Plata mountains rise more than 4000 feet above the vantage point +on the North Rim at 8000 feet. To the northwest, in the hazy distance 90 +miles away in Utah, lie the isolated heights of the La Sal Mountains, +and 70 miles away, the Abajo Mountains (see Fig. 1). + +In the thirteenth century, harassed by nomadic tribes and beset by years +of drouth, village dwelling Indians left their great cliff dwellings in +the myriad canyons of the Mesa Verde, and thus ended a period of 1300 +years of occupancy. The story of those 1300 years, unfolded through +excavation and study of the dwellings along the cliffs and earlier +dwellings on the top of the Mesa, is one of the most fascinating in +ancient America. To stop destructive commercial exploitation of the +ruins, to preserve them for future generations to study and enjoy, and +to make them accessible to the public, more than 51,000 acres, including +approximately half of the Mesa, have been set aside as Mesa Verde +National Park, established in 1906. The policies of the National Park +Service provide protection, not only for the features of major interest +in each park, but for other features as well. Thus the policy in Mesa +Verde National Park is not only to preserve the many ruins, but also the +wildlife and plants. + +Five considerations prompted me to undertake a study of the mammals of +Mesa Verde National Park: First, the relative lack of disturbance; +second, the interesting position, zoogeographically, of the Mesa that +extends as a spur of higher land from the mountains of southwestern +Colorado and that is almost surrounded by arid country typical of much +of the Southwest; third, the discovery in the Park of _Microtus +mexicanus_, a species of the Southwest until then not known from +Colorado; fourth, the co-operative spirit of the personnel at the Park +when I visited there in 1955; and finally, the possibility of making a +contribution not only to our knowledge of mammals, but to the +interpretive program of the Park Service. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1. Map of the "four corners" region showing the +position of Mesa Verde National Park (in black) relative to the mass of +the Southern Rocky Mountains above 8000 feet elevation (indicated by +stippled border) to the northeast in Colorado, and the positions of +other isolated mountains in the region.] + +A Faculty Research Grant from The University of Kansas provided some +secretarial help and field expenses for August and early September, +1956, when my wife, Justine, and I spent our vacation enjoyably +collecting and studying animals in the Park. The co-operation of Dr. E. +Raymond Hall is greatly appreciated; a grant to him from the American +Heart Association provided field expenses for work by Mr. J.R. Alcorn, +collector for The University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, in +1957. + +Mr. Harold R. Shepherd of Mancos, Colorado (Senior Game Biologist for +the State of Colorado, Department of Game and Fish), provided advice in +the field, helped in identifying plants, and saved specimens of rodents +(in 1958 and 1959) taken in his studies of the effect of rodents on +browse utilized by deer. Mr. J.D. Hart, Assistant Director of the +Department of Game and Fish, issued a letter of authority to collect in +Colorado; and Superintendent O.W. Carlson approved my appointment as a +collaborator. Mr. "Don" Watson, then Park Archeologist, and Mrs. Jean M. +Pinkley, now Park Archeologist, assisted us in 1956, and since then have +provided advice and assistance, and have reviewed the manuscript of this +report. + +Geologically, the Mesa Verde is the northern edge of a Cretaceous, +coal-bearing, sandstone deposit called the Mesaverde group, which dips +beneath the San Juan Basin of New Mexico. An abrupt retreating +escarpment commonly forms on arid plateaus underlain by horizontal rocks +of unequal strength, and characterizes the borders of mesas. Such an +escarpment forms the North Rim of the Mesa Verde. However, the dip of +the rocks has channelled drainage southward and erosion has cut +numerous, deep, parallel-sided canyons rather than a simple, retreating +escarpment. The Mesa Verde therefore is, technically speaking, a cuesta +rather than a mesa. The remnants of the plateau left between the canyons +are also (and again incorrectly in the technical sense) called mesas; +Chapin Mesa and Wetherill Mesa are examples. + +Climatically, the Mesa Verde is arid; precipitation averaged 18.41 +inches per year for a period of 37 years. Precipitation may be scattered +through the year, and more important, may be erratic from month to month +and from year to year. In addition to low precipitation and periods of +drouth, a great amount of sunshine, and thin, well-drained soils on all +but the more sheltered parts of the Mesa favor vegetation that requires +neither great amounts of, nor a continuous supply of, water. + +The vegetation of the Mesa is illustrated in Plates 1 and 2, and +consists predominantly of pinyon pine, _Pinus edulis_ Engelm., and Utah +juniper, _Juniperus osteosperma_ (Torr.) Little. More sheltered areas +along the North Rim and in most of the canyons support scattered small +stands of Douglas fir, _Pseudotsuga menziesii_ (Merb.) Franco. These +are the "spruce trees" of Spruce Tree Canyon. An occasional ponderosa +pine, _Pinus ponderosa_ Laws., represents a vestige of more montane +species of plants and animals in the Park. The dusky grouse, +_Dendragapus obscurus_ (Say), occurs along the North Rim in +oak-chaparral, and is one of the few montane species of birds; several +montane mammals are discussed later. The vegetation of the Mesa Verde +has not changed appreciably in the last thousand years. The tree rings +of 13 centuries show that Douglas fir has grown essentially as it does +now, varying with precipitation from year to year, and periodically +suffering from drouth (Schulman, 1946:18). Surface ruins yield mostly +pinyon and juniper; cave ruins yield more Douglas fir than surface +ruins; and "only rarely does yellow pine [_Pinus ponderosa_] occur in +the ruins, indicating that then, as now, this tree grew only in the +northern and higher parts of the Mesa Verde, remote from most of the +ruins" (Getty, 1935:21). + +Not all areas within the Park are undisturbed. The rights of way of +roads are kept clear, as are campgrounds and other facilities in the +area of headquarters. Part of the Mancos Valley within the Park is +privately owned and is still in agricultural use. Cattle from land +belonging to the Ute Indians wander into the Park from the Mancos Canyon +along the floor of the canyon above the mouth of Weber Canyon. In +addition to the pasture near headquarters, Prater Canyon below a fence +across the canyon above Middle Well is used to pasture horses used by +visitors to the Park and belonging to the pack and saddle concessioner. +In 1956, the floor of Long Canyon was grazed by stock belonging to Utes, +and horses ranged freely onto Wetherill Mesa as far as the North Rim. +Occasionally livestock enter the floor of other canyons, for example +Navajo, Soda, Prater, Morfield, and Waters canyons, owing to inadequate +fencing, or no fencing. + +[Illustration: FIG. 2. Map of Mesa Verde National Park and vicinity. The +map and this legend provide the names of places mentioned in the +following accounts of mammals. Localities from which specimens have been +preserved are indicated by dots. Localities within 1/2 mile of each +other are not indicated by separate dots. Unnumbered dots designate some +of the places from which specimens were obtained. The numbered dots are: +(1) Prater Grade; (2) Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft.; (3) Chickaree +Draw, 8200 ft.; (4) 1/4 mi. N Middle Well, 7500 ft., Prater Canyon; (5) +east side of Morfield Canyon about one mile below the well; (6) Lower +Well, Prater Canyon; (7) Sect. 27, head of east fork Navajo Canyon; (8) +Far View, designated on various specimens as Far View Ruins, Far View +Point, and Far View House, 7700 ft.; (9) localities designated Utility +Area, and Well, "Park Well," or "Old Park Well"; (10) Headquarters, +including the designations 25 mi. [by road] SW Mancos, Museum, Hospital, +head of Spruce Tree Canyon, Spruce Tree House, and Spruce Tree Lodge; +(11) Cliff Palace, across the canyon about 1/4 mile southwest are Sun +Temple and Oak Tree Ruin; (12) Square Tower House; (13) Balcony House; +(14) Indian Cornfield, "Cornfield," or "Garden."] + +The first mammals from the Mesa to be preserved for scientific study +were seven specimens in the United States National Museum (designated +USNM in lists of specimens examined) obtained by Merritt Cary in 1907, +and mentioned in his "Biological Survey of Colorado" (Cary, 1911). In +1931 and 1932, R.L. Landberg obtained a few specimens that are in the +Denver Museum of Natural History. In 1935, C.W. Quaintance, Lloyd White, +Harold P. Pratt, and A.E. Borell prepared specimens, some of which +remain in the museum at the Park (all specimens in the museum at the +Park are designated by "MV" for Mesa Verde and by their catalogue +numbers), and some are in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the +University of California at Berkeley (designated "MVZ" in the following +accounts). Specimens in The University of Kansas Museum of Natural +History are referred to by catalogue numbers only. Specimens prepared by +D. Watson bear dates from 1936 until 1955. In 1938, Raymond F. Harlow +prepared some specimens; his Student Technician's Report of 7 typescript +pages, for July 8 to September 9, 1938, is on file at Mesa Verde +National Park. In 1944 and 1945, Dr. D.A. Sutton, then a student at the +University of Colorado, collected chipmunks for his own study, and also +some other specimens that are in the University of Colorado Museum and +the Park Museum. In 1949, Dr. R.B. Finley, then a student at The +University of Kansas, collected in and near the Park and obtained a few +specimens preserved in The University of Kansas Museum of Natural +History. Rodents preserved by Harold R. Shepherd have been mentioned. I +have examined 244 specimens that were collected by the above persons. +Between August 8 and September 4, 1956, and on July 17, 1960, I +collected 216 mammals from Mesa Verde National Park. Between November 3, +and 12, 1957, J.R. Alcorn collected 275 mammals from the Mesa. The total +of specimens examined is 735. + +Written reports by C.W. Quaintance, H.P. Pratt, and R. Harlow have been +of considerable use. A typescript report of 13 pages by Wildlife +Technician H.P. Pratt for the period from September 9 to October 15, +1935, and monthly reports comprising 40 typescript pages and 4 pages +with photographs by C.W. Quaintance for the period from February 18 +through July 17, 1935, are on file at offices of Region Four, National +Park Service, 180 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco 5, California. +Chief Ranger Wade has kindly made available the files in his office, +including reports of the Superintendent and reports of the Chief Ranger +in earlier years, and Annual or Biennial Animal Census Reports since +1930. Special reports on prairie dogs, porcupines, and deer are in the +files. These reports, and random reports that were regarded as reliable, +are recorded on card files in both the Chief Ranger's office and Park +Archeologist's office. Most of the information reported here on the +larger mammals was gleaned from the above sources. A study of population +fluctuations in porcupines by Donald A. Spencer and perhaps a study of +movements of porcupines by Spencer, Wade and Fitch are to be published +elsewhere. Other studies still in progress are mentioned in the +following accounts. + + + + +ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES + + +Sorex merriami leucogenys Osgood Merriam's Shrew + + _Specimen_: MV 7898/507, head of Navajo Canyon (locality No. 7 in + Fig. 2), October 21, 1954. + +This was the third reported specimen of the rare Merriam's shrew from +Colorado (Rodeck and Anderson, 1956:436). + + +Sorex vagrans obscurus Merriam Wandering Shrew + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 8: Morfield Canyon, 7600 ft., 75972, + 75973; Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., 69235-69238; 1/4 mi. N + Middle Well, Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., 69239-69240. + +The specimens from Prater Canyon were trapped in the grasses and sedges +of the meadow comprising the floor of the canyon. The ground and +vegetation were dry at the time of capture, September 2, 3, and 4, 1956. +_Microtus montanus_ was the only other species taken in the mouse traps +in the sedge and grass. Five of the six specimens from Prater Canyon are +young, having slightly worn teeth; the sixth is an old adult male the +teeth of which are so much worn that only a few traces of the +reddish-brown pigment remain. His testes were 5 mm. long. These +specimens are from an area of intergradation between _S. v. obscurus_ +and _S. v. monticola_. The length of the maxillary tooth-row in these +six specimens averaged 6.23 (6.1-6.4) millimeters. Comparison with +average measurements of 6.6 and 6.8 in samples of _S. v. obscurus_, and +of 5.9 in a sample of _S. v. monticola_ (Findley, 1955:64, 65) reveals +the intermediate size of the specimens from the Mesa Verde. The gap +between habitat suitable for _Sorex vagrans_ on the Mesa Verde and the +nearest record-station for _S. v. monticola_ to the south and west in +the Chuska Mountains is wider than the gap between the Mesa Verde and +the nearest record-station for _S. v. obscurus_ to the north and east, +one mile west of Mancos, 75971, 7000 feet, or at Silverton. On +geographic grounds the specimens from the Mesa Verde are referred to _S. +v. obscurus_. The two specimens from Morfield Canyon were trapped on +November 4, 1957, and are grayish above and silvery below. Their pelage +contrasts markedly with the dorsally brownish and ventrally buffy pelage +of the September-taken specimens from Prater Canyon. + + +Myotis californicus stephensi Dalquest California Myotis + + _Specimens examined._---Total, 3: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69243, + 69246, August 21 and 22, 1956; 4505 Denver Museum, within the Park + (exact locality not recorded), R.L. Landberg, July 27, 1931. + +The specimens from Rock Springs were an adult male and a non-pregnant +adult female. Both were shot over the road in pinyon and juniper. The +specimens are referred to _M. c. stephensi_ on account of their +paleness, _stephensi_ being paler than _M. c. californicus_ from east of +Mesa Verde in Colorado. + + +Myotis evotis evotis (H. Allen) Long-eared Myotis + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 4: Chickaree Draw, Prater Canyon, + 8200 ft., MV 7841/507, probably in the summer of 1935; Rock + Springs, 7400 ft., 69241, August 23, 1956, and 69249, August 18, + 1956; Museum, Headquarters, 6950 ft., 69251, August 24, 1956. + +An adult male (69241) was taken in a Japanese mist net stretched fifteen +feet across a dirt road where it entered the stand of pinyon and juniper +at the south edge of the burn on Wetherill Mesa between 7:20 and 8:30 +p.m.; at the same place and time I captured five other bats of four +species: _Myotis thysanodes_, _Myotis subulatus_, _Eptesicus fuscus_, +and _Plecotus townsendii_. A piece of mist net attached to an aluminum +hoop-net two and one half feet in diameter was used to good advantage in +capturing bats rebounding from the larger mist net, and in frightening +bats into the larger net when they approached closely. An adult male +(69249) was shot at 7:20 p.m. while flying six to eight feet from the +ground between pinyon trees up to 20 feet high; the air temperature was +70° F. A female (69251) was found seemingly exhausted on the floor in +the museum at Park Headquarters in the daytime, and was immature as +indicated by small size, open basicranial sutures, unworn teeth, weakly +ossified zygoma, and open epiphyseal sutures of phalanges. + + +Myotis subulatus melanorhinus (Merriam) Small-footed Myotis + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 8: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69242, + 69244, 69245, 69247, 69248, August 21 to 23, 1956; Hospital, Park + Headquarters, MV 7886/507, [Male], July 12, 1939; Headquarters, + MV 7877/507, [Female], August 30, 1938; 4504 Denver Museum, + within the Park (exact locality not recorded), R.L. Landberg, July + 27, 1931. + +The specimens from Rock Springs are two adult males that were shot, and +one adult male, one adult female, and one young male that were netted +at the place described in the account of _Myotis evotis_. The three +adult males are near the average color of _M. s. melanorhinus_, and +distinctly darker than the _Myotis californicus_ from the Mesa Verde. In +the female the pelage is paler and brighter, and the ears and membranes +are darker, than in _M. californicus_. + + +Myotis thysanodes thysanodes Miller Fringed Myotis + + _Specimen_: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69250, ad. [Female], August + 23, 1956; taken in net as noted in account of _Myotis evotis_. + + +Myotis volans interior Miller Long-legged Myotis + + _Specimen_: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69252, ad. [Female], August + 21, 1956; shot over road. + + +Eptesicus fuscus pallidus Young Big Brown Bat + + _Specimen_: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69253, ad. [Female], August + 23, 1956; taken in net as noted in account of _Myotis evotis_. + + +Plecotus townsendii pallescens (Miller) Townsend's Big-eared Bat + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 5: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69254, ad. + [Female], non-pregnant, August 23, 1956; Square Tower House, + 6700 ft., 69255-69258, March, 1955. + +The specimen from Rock Springs was taken in a net as noted in the +account of _Myotis evotis_. The specimens from Square Tower House were +obtained by D. Watson in a dimly lighted chamber formed by fracture in +the rocks at the bottom of the canyon wall, above the talus slope. The +bats were suspended from the wall of the chamber, which was at least six +feet wide and fifteen feet long. + + +Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana (Saussure) Brazilian Free-tailed Bat + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: Cliff Palace, 6800 ft., MV + 7862/507 and 7863/507, males, both collected by A.E. Borell, on + August 23, 1936. + + +Lepus californicus texianus Waterhouse Black-tailed Jackrabbit + +The black-tailed jackrabbit inhabits the Montezuma Valley to the north +of the Mesa Verde and the Mancos Valley to the northeast, and has been +seen occasionally on the top of the Mesa according to reports with date +and locality noted in the files at the Park for the years 1941, 1942, +1947, 1948, 1950, and 1951. In 1942 four observations were made, in 1950 +and 1951 two observations were recorded each year, and in other years +only one observation was recorded each year. Nine observations are for +Chapin Mesa south of Far View; only two observations are for higher +elevations on the North Rim. + + +Sylvilagus audubonii warreni Nelson Desert Cottontail + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: Head of Prater Canyon, MV + 7850/507; Far View Ruins, 75974, ad. [Female], non-pregnant, + November 8, 1957. + +One specimen was shot, while it was sitting near a pile of logs, by J.R. +Alcorn by means of a bow and arrow. Although _S. audubonii_ occurs on +the Mesa along with _S. nuttallii_, _S. audubonii_ is the species of the +lowlands throughout the western United States at the latitude of Mesa +Verde National Park. For example, _S. a. warreni_ (69260) but not _S. n. +pinetis_ was obtained along the east side of the Mancos River at 6200 +feet elevation (less than 50 yards outside the Park) and the same was +true at the same elevation at a place 4-1/2 mi. N of the Park (No. 69259 +from 2 mi. E Cortez). + + +Sylvilagus nuttallii pinetis (J.A. Allen) Nuttall's Cottontail + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 3: ad. [Male], 69263, skull only, + dead on road, 1-3/4 mi. N Park Headquarters, 7275 feet, August 9, + 1956; ad. [Female], 69261, no embryos, dead on road, 3/4 mi. S + and 1-3/4 mi. W Park Point, 8000 ft, August 8, 1956; ad. [Male], + 69262, shot in brushy area on the burn on Wetherill Mesa 2 mi. NNW + Rock Springs, 7900 ft., August 24, 1956. + +Nuttall's cottontail in Colorado is in general the cottontail of the +highlands, and the three localities just mentioned are on the top of the +Mesa Verde. + + +Sciurus aberti mimus Merriam Abert's Squirrel + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: [Male], MV 7872/507, prepared + by D. Watson, killed by a car "near" the Park Well on September 24, + 1937; [Female] (an unnumbered cased skin only), found dead + "near" the Park Well on June 21, 1937. + +Since 1934 these squirrels have been observed and recorded each year +except in 1938, 1943, 1947, 1953, 1957, and 1958. The 77 reported +observations can be grouped as follows: 11 from within a mile of the +entrance to the Park, 14 from the North Rim or higher parts of canyons +adjacent to it, 38 from Chapin Mesa south of Far View, and 14 not +classifiable. The large number of observations on Chapin Mesa, chiefly +in the vicinity of Park Headquarters, indicates the presence of more +observers rather than more squirrels in this area. + + +Tamiasciurus hudsonicus fremonti (Audubon and Bachman) Red Squirrel + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: MV 7843/507, Chickaree Draw, + Prater Canyon, 1935, C.W. Quaintance and Lloyd White; [Female], + 69264, no embryos, 1/4 mi. NNW Middle Well, Prater Canyon, 7600 + ft., August 31, 1956. + +Red squirrels, or chickarees as they are called in Colorado, are known +from only one place on the Mesa Verde, a side canyon on the west side of +Prater Canyon above Middle Well. This side canyon has been named +Chickaree Draw by C.W. Quaintance, who, with Lloyd White, studied the +chickaree there in 1935. Quaintance reported the small colony at 7800 +feet elevation in Douglas fir beneath which were found piles of cones +from which the seeds had been eaten by the chickarees. On May 29, 1935, +White observed a chickaree eating green oak leaves. On June 3, 1935, a +nest was found in an old hollow snag up under the rim rock; there were +four young squirrels in the nest. At least one nest was in a juniper and +was composed mostly of oak leaves and grass. One nest twenty-five feet +from the ground in a Douglas fir was composed of oak leaves and finely +shredded cedar bark. In August, 1956, I found these squirrels in the +same area and I shot one specimen. Other chickarees were seen and heard +and the characteristic piles of parts of Douglas fir cones still attest +to their presence. On September 1, 1953, D. Watson observed a pair of +chickarees in Prater Canyon. The only other specific record in the files +at the Park is of two seen in a branch of Soda Canyon in late 1956. Jean +Pinkley tells me that chickarees have been observed in 1958 and 1959 at +several other localities from Prater Canyon to the hill at the head of +Navajo Canyon. The extent to which increased observations indicate an +increase in number of chickarees is uncertain, since the amounts of time +spent in the field and the percentage of observations recorded are not +known. + + +Marmota flaviventris luteola A.H. Howell Yellow-bellied Marmot + +Records are available of observations at 14 different places in the Park +and in 19 different years between 1930 and 1960. Approximately +two-thirds of the observations have been on Prater Grade or in upper +Prater Canyon or in upper Morfield Canyon. On the morning of August 24, +1956, Harold Shepherd and I heard the whistle of an animal that he was +certain was a marmot, 2 mi. NNW of Rock Springs at the west rim of +Wetherill Mesa. Mr. Shepherd has worked in areas occupied by marmots for +years in southwestern Colorado. Wetherill Mesa is the locality farthest +west in the Park where marmots are known to occur. They occur as far +south as Cliff Palace. + + +Cynomys gunnisoni zuniensis Hollister Gunnison's Prairie Dog + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 3: MV 7836/507, Prater Canyon, 7600 + ft., C.W. Quaintance and L. White, May 24, 1935; [Female], MV + 7847/507, head of Prater Canyon, June 13, 1935, C.W. Quaintance + (the skin is on display); MV 7887/507, Prater Canyon, September 1, + 1939. + +C.W. Quaintance in reports on the results of his work in 1935 included +the following information: + +On February 20 in Prater Canyon Ranger Markley noticed that prairie dogs +were active although about three feet of snow lay on the ground. Between +April 15 and May 15 approximately 500 prairie dogs were in Prater Canyon +above Lower Well; through field glasses 350 were counted. Young were +first noted in Prater Canyon on July 12. Quaintance and Lloyd White had +under observation two bulky nests of the red-tailed hawk in the tops of +tall Douglas firs in side draws of Prater Canyon. Quaintance found near +the rimrock a quarter of a mile from the prairie-dog town the skeletons +of two prairie dogs between a sliver of a dead pinyon branch and the +branch itself. Another skeleton lay on a dead limb fifteen feet from the +ground. A red-tailed hawk once was observed to swoop down, seize a +prairie dog and fly down the canyon. The four colonies found in the Park +were in Prater Canyon, in Morfield Canyon, in the east fork of School +Section Canyon, and in Whites Canyon. The last two were smaller colonies +than the first two. + +Prairie dogs were observed away from these colonies. On June 20 a young +prairie dog ran into a culvert on the Knife Edge Section of the road. +Others were observed on the north side of the road, at the head of the +east prong of School Section Canyon, on the road west of Park Point, and +on the road at the head of Long Canyon five miles from the nearest known +colony in the Park. Possibly this last individual came from the +Montezuma Valley north of the Park. Mr. Prater, after whom Prater Canyon +is named, homesteaded on the Mesa Verde in 1899. He informed Quaintance +that prairie dogs were present in Morfield Canyon prior to 1900 but were +not in Prater Canyon in 1899. Prater said he drowned out a few that came +into Prater Canyon before 1914. In 1942, Chief Ranger Faha wrote in his +Annual Animal Census Report that he had interviewed an old time resident +(name not noted) who stated that prairie dogs were not present on the +Mesa Verde until about 1905 or 1906 and that Helen Morfield, the +daughter of Judge Morfield who homesteaded in Morfield Canyon, brought +the first prairie dogs on the Mesa Verde. Estimates of the prairie-dog +population in the Annual Animal Census Reports for 1935 through 1941 +were: 1935--800, 1936--650, 1937--650, 1938--650, 1939--no report, +1940--1500 and increasing, 1941--slight decrease. After 1942 more +adequate records were kept by Chief Ranger Wade and other Park Service +personnel. + +On August 9, 1943, occupied burrows of prairie dogs were found to be +thinly scattered down Prater Canyon from the head of the canyon at the +Maintenance Camp to a point about one hundred feet below the lower well. +The largest concentration was in the vicinity of the upper well near +Prater's Cabin. Little new digging that would indicate a spreading +population was noticed. Seemingly desirable, but unoccupied, habitat +extended at least two miles south of the inhabited area. In Morfield +Canyon, burrows were found from a point one hundred yards north of the +fence at the south boundary of Section 17, south for a mile and one-half +to a point one-third of a mile into Section 29. The greatest +concentration was in the vicinity of Morfield Well. South of this point +the burrows were found only along the narrow dry sides of the canyon and +in sage-covered areas at slightly higher elevations than the rest of the +floor of the canyon. Seemingly desirable habitat extended at least three +miles to the south and one mile to the north of the occupied area. The +report of the study in 1943 concluded with the statement that artificial +control by poisoning would be unwise and unnecessary. Requests were +being made at that time to exterminate prairie dogs in the Park on the +basis of the unproved assumption that prairie dogs move from the Park to +surrounding range land where extermination was then being attempted by +poisoning. + +On August 10, 1944, no occupied burrows were found in Whites Canyon or +the east fork of School Section Canyon. A heavy rain on August 9 made +accurate count of occupied burrows possible. In Prater Canyon the +occupied area extended 200 feet south of the area occupied in 1943. In +Morfield Canyon no change had occurred. North of the fence in Morfield +Canyon 130 occupied burrows were counted. More than one hole, if judged +to be part of the same burrow system, were counted as one. The +vegetation within the colony had continued to improve in spite of the +large population of prairie dogs. + +On August 8 and 14, 1945, although a careful search was made, the only +prairie dogs found in Prater Canyon were living in one burrow fifty +yards from the Maintenance Camp. In Morfield Canyon the colony had +decreased. Occupied burrows were found on the west side of the canyon +near the fence and above the well (17 burrows), and below the well on +the west side (estimated 30 burrows). The total population in both +canyons was estimated to be 100, compared with 800 in the preceding +year. The ground-water table was thought to be rising, and vegetation +was increasing. + +On August 12, 1946, two prairie dogs were observed in Prater Canyon, one +near the Maintenance Camp, and the other a mile to the south. In +Morfield Canyon 18 occupied burrows were found north of the fence and 36 +below the well, in the same two areas occupied in 1945. + +On August 12, 1947, two animals were seen at one of the localities +occupied a year earlier in Prater Canyon, and three burrows were +occupied. In Morfield Canyon 119 occupied burrows were counted. At least +12 dens occupied by badgers were present in 1946, and four in 1947. + +On August 9, 1948, no evidence of living prairie dogs was found in +Prater Canyon. In Morfield Canyon 45 burrows were counted north of the +fence. The grass had been increasing in abundance for several years. + +On August 18, 1949, no evidence of living prairie dogs was found in +either canyon. In 1951 five prairie dogs were said to have been seen in +Prater Canyon in June and July. No other observations have been +recorded. + +On June 22, 1956, 13 pups and 7 adult prairie dogs were released in an +enclosure in Morfield Canyon. Periodic inspections in the summer +revealed that the colony was surviving and healthy. By the following +spring no prairie dogs remained. Another reintroduction is planned this +year (1960). + +Both the history of the prairie dogs and the history of the viewpoint of +people toward them are interesting. Individual views have ranged from a +desire to exterminate all the prairie dogs to a desire to leave them +undisturbed by man. + +In review: The early history of prairie dogs on the Mesa Verde is not +well documented but reports are available of the absence of prairie dogs +before settlement by white men, and of introductions of prairie dogs. +Other reports indicate that prairie dogs have been observed far from +established colonies; therefore natural invasion may account for the +establishment of prairie dogs on the Mesa. Grazing of moderate to heavy +intensity by livestock continued in Morfield Canyon until 1941. +Cessation of grazing and above average precipitation were accompanied by +increased growth of vegetation in the colonies of prairie dogs. Mr. Wade +has suggested that flooding of burrows by ground water drove prairie +dogs from some lower parts of the floors of the canyons, and that +increased vegetation favored predators, primarily badgers and coyotes, +which further reduced the population. The abruptness of the decline, +especially in Prater Canyon, is consistent with the theory that some +epidemic disease occurred. This possibility was considered at the time +of the decline, and a Mobile Laboratory of the United States Public +Health Service spent from June 5 to June 25, 1947, in the Park +collecting rodents and their fleas for study. The primary concern was +plague, which had been detected in neighboring states. No evidence of +plague or of tularemia was reported after study of 494 small rodents +obtained from 13 localities in the Park. Only six prairie dogs (all from +Morfield Canyon) were studied. The negative report does not prove that +tularemia or some other disease was not a factor in the decimation of +the colony in Prater Canyon the year before. + +If prairie dogs were able to survive primarily because of over-grazing +by domestic animals, future introductions may fail. If disease was the +major factor in their disappearance, reintroductions may succeed. + + +Spermophilus lateralis lateralis (Say) Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 10: highway at School Section Canyon, + MV 7894/507; Sect. 27, head of east fork of Navajo Canyon, 7900 + ft., 69265; and Prater Canyon, 7600 to 7800 ft., MV 7835/507, + 7837/507, 7846/507, 7874/507, 7875/507, MVZ 74411-74413. + +In 1956, I observed _S. lateralis_ 1/2 mi. W of Park Point, 3/4 mi. WSW +Park Point, in the public campground at Park Headquarters, at the lower +well in Prater Canyon, and at two other places on the North Rim. Other +observations on file were made at Prater Grade, Park Point, "D" cut (on +North Rim 1 mi. WSW Park Point), and Morfield Canyon. A juvenile was +noted at Park Point on June 28, 1952, by Jean Pinkley, and five young +were seen together at "D" cut on July 3, 1935. The earliest observation, +also recorded by Jean Pinkley, was on February 1, 1947. All of the +localities with the exception of Park Headquarters are above 7500 feet, +and most of the localities are in vegetation that is predominantly +oak-brush. + + +Spermophilus variegatus grammurus (Say) Rock Squirrel + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 6: Head of Prater Canyon, MV + 7876/507; Chickaree Draw, Prater Canyon, MV 7843/507, 7844/507; + Headquarters Area, MV 7888/507; Ruins Road 1/2 mi. NE of Cliff + Palace, MV 7893/507; and Spruce Tree House, 4334 in Denver Museum. + +Specimen number 7893/507 had 360 Purshia seeds in its cheek-pouches +according to a note on the label. On July 18, 1960, I found a young male +rock squirrel dead on the road a mile north of headquarters that had 234 +pinyon seeds in its cheek-pouches. Young, recorded as "half-grown," have +been observed in May and July. The first appearance may be as early as +January. In 1950, D. Watson thought that they did not hibernate, except +for a few days when the weather was stormy. I observed a rock squirrel +in August in the public campground at Park Headquarters sitting on its +haunches on a branch of a juniper some twelve feet from the ground and +eating an object held in its forefeet. The rock squirrel ranges +throughout the Park in all habitats. + + +Eutamias minimus operarius Merriam Least Chipmunk + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 17: North Rim above Morfield Canyon, + MV 7856/507; Morfield Canyon, 7600 ft. (obtained on Nov. 4, 1957), + 75976; Middle Well in Prater Canyon, 7500 ft, MV 7855/507; Prater + Canyon, 7600 ft., MVZ 74414; Park Point, 8525 ft., 69267-69270; 1/4 + mi. S, 3/4 mi. W Park Point, 8300 ft., 69271-69272; Sect. 27, head + of east fork of Navajo Canyon, 7900 ft., 69273; Far View Ruins, + 7700 ft., 69274-69275, and two uncatalogued specimens in + preservative; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 ft., 69276-69277. + +Five of the fourteen specimens of known sex are females, all of which +were taken in August and September, and none of which is recorded as +having contained embryos. The skulls of the eight August-taken specimens +also suggest that young are born in late spring or early summer: the +largest skull had well-worn teeth that might indicate an age of more +than one year; four others had complete adult dentitions that were +barely worn; and three had not yet acquired complete adult dentitions. + +The records of _E. minimus_, like those of _Spermophilus lateralis_, +indicate greatest abundance in the higher parts of the Mesa Verde and in +areas of predominantly brushy vegetation. + + +Eutamias quadrivittatus hopiensis Merriam Colorado Chipmunk + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 13: Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., MV + 7838/507; Lower Well, Prater Canyon, 69278; Park Headquarters, MV + 7889/507; near the old Park Well, 7300 ft., 5468 in Univ. of + Colorado collection; Utility Area, 5469 and 5470 in Univ. of + Colorado collection; Spruce Tree House, 4352-4355 in Denver Museum; + Mesa Verde, 25 mi. [by road] SW Mancos, 149080-149081 USNM; Square + Tower House, 7000 ft., 5467 in Univ. of Colorado collection. + +Although both species occur in some of the same areas, _E. q. hopiensis_ +is more abundant than is _E. minimus_ in stands of pinyon and juniper, +along cliffs, and at low elevations. (A specimen of _hopiensis_, MV +7849/507, from 3 mi. S of the Park boundary where the 6000 foot contour +line cross the Mancos River is indicative of the occurrence at low +elevations.) + + +Thomomys bottae aureus J.A. Allen Botta's Pocket Gopher + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 35: Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., + 74408-74410 MVZ; Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., 69279; 1/4 + mi. N Middle Well, Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., 69280; Middle Well, + Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., 69281-69285, 75977; Morfield Canyon, 7600 + ft., 75978; 3/4 mi. S, 1-3/4 mi. W Park Point, 8000 ft, + 69286-69288; 1-1/4 mi. S, 1-3/4 mi. W Park Point, 8000 ft., 69289; + 1-1/2 mi. S, 2 mi. W Park Point, 8075 ft., 69290; Sect. 27, head of + east fork Navajo Canyon, 7900 ft, 69291-69292; 1/2 mi. N Far View + Ruins, 7825 ft, 69293; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69294, MV + 7852/507, 7853/507; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 ft., 69295-69298; + 2-1/2 mi. N, 1/2 mi. W Rock Springs, 8100 ft., 69299-69301; 2 mi. + N, 1/4 mi. W Rock Springs, 69302-69303; 1 mi. NNW Rock Springs, + 69304; 1/2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 69305; Mesa Verde, northern end, + 8100 ft., 149087 USNM. + +The pocket gophers of the Mesa Verde and vicinity are of one species, +_Thomomys bottae_. The distribution and variation of this species in +Colorado have been studied recently by Youngman (1958) who referred all +specimens from the Mesa Verde to _T. b. aureus_. He noted that some +specimens have dark diffuse dorsal stripes that are wide in specimens +from the Mancos River Valley. The generally darker color of the +specimens from the Mancos Valley as compared with that of specimens from +on the Mesa was noticed in the field, and is another example of the +local variability of pocket gophers. The nine specimens listed by +Youngman (1958:372) as from "Mesa Verde National Park," Mancos River, +6200 ft., are not here listed among "specimens examined" because +possibly some, or all, of the nine were trapped on the east side of the +River and therefore outside the Park. None was, however, farther than 30 +yards east of the Park. + +In the Park, pocket gophers occur both on mesa tops and in canyons. Most +of the localities listed above and others at which mounds were seen are +areas of disturbance such as the old burn on Wetherill Mesa, the rights +of way for roads, the river valley, and the grazed floor of Prater +Canyon. Little evidence of pocket gophers was found on unusually rocky +slopes, steep slopes, or in stands of pinyon and juniper or in +relatively pure stands of oak-brush. In addition to workability of the +soil, the presence of herbaceous plants, many of them weedy annuals, is +probably the most important factor governing the success of pocket +gophers in a local area. No female was recorded to have contained +embryos, but two had enlarged uteri or placental scars. This fact and +the capture of nine half-grown individuals indicate breeding prior to +late August when most specimens were trapped. + + +Dipodomys ordii longipes (Merriam) Ord's Kangaroo Rat + +Kangaroo rats have been seen crossing the highway in the Park less than +one mile from the Park entrance by Jean Pinkley. + + +Castor canadensis concisor Warren and Hall Beaver + +In 1935 Quaintance and White spent June 16 to June 20 in the Mancos +River Bottoms at the mouth of Weber Canyon, looking for sign of fresh +beaver work. They found none. Annual Animal Census Reports include the +following information based on patrols along the Mancos River at the +east boundary of the Park: 1937--estimate 4 beaver present, 1938--8, +1941--numerous bank burrows, 1942--uncommon, 1944--uncommon, 1945--most +concentrated at southeast corner, 1946--runs and two small dams seen +(flood had washed out larger dams), 1947--only in 1-1/2 miles north of +boundary with Ute Reservation, 1949--two separate colonies (each with +dams and one with a large house), 1950--none, owing to drouth and +diversion of water upstream completely drying the river at times, +1951--none, 1953--present, 1955--present. On the Mancos River, 6200 ft., +in late August, 1956, sign of beaver was abundant, numerous trees had +been cut but none within a week, and a bank den was found on the west +side of the river extending back 50 feet from the stream and caved in at +three places. In 1959 dens were still present. + + +Reithrodontomys megalotis aztecus J.A. Allen Western Harvest Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 38: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft, 75984-75986; Park Point, 8525 ft., 69316-69317; Far + View Ruins, 7700 ft, 69318-69319, 79220, MV 7897/507, and 23 + uncatalogued specimens in preservative; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 + ft., 69320-69321; 2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7900 ft., 69322-69323; 1 + mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7600 ft., 69324; 1/2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, + 7500 ft., 69325. + +The specimen listed last (69325) was an adult male recovered from the +stomach of a small (snout-vent length 334 mm., wt. 26.0 gms.) _Crotalus +viridus_ that was trapped in a Museum Special mouse-trap on a rocky +slope mostly barren of vegetation. The availability of samples taken in +August (by Anderson in 1956), in September (by Shepherd in 1958), and in +November (by Alcorn in 1957) makes the following comparison of age and +reproductive condition possible. The sample from November includes some +specimens from outside the Park as follows: 1 mi. W Mancos, Colorado, +75979-75983, and 2 mi. N La Plata [not shown on Fig. 2], San Juan +County, New Mexico, some 18 miles southeast of the Park, 75987-76000. +The data shown in Figure 3 indicate that females are pregnant at least +from in August into November. A smaller percentage of females was +pregnant in November than in August or September. The fact that all +females more than 130 mm. long were pregnant in September suggests an +autumnal peak in breeding activity. A change in the ratio of small +individuals (less than 130 mm. in length) to large individuals (130 mm. +or more in length) is indicative of a sustained breeding period +throughout the time shown. In August the ratio was 1 to 2.3, in +September the ratio was 1 to 1.2, and the ratio was 1 to 0.7 in +November. The western harvest mouse is found usually in grassy areas. + + +Peromyscus boylii rowleyi (J.A. Allen) Brush Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 14: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft., 76002-76003; Far View House, 7700 ft., MV 7851/507, + 7854/507; Far View Point, 5 uncatalogued specimens in preservative; + 1/2 mi. N Spruce Tree Lodge, 34742; 25 mi. [by road] SW Mancos, + 149094 and 149096 USNM; Oak Tree Ruin, 6700 ft., MV 7870/507; and + Cliff Palace, 6800 ft., MV 7864/507. + +The specimens were taken in August, September, and November. One adult +female trapped on September 10, 1958, had six embryos. + + +Peromyscus crinitus auripectus (J.A. Allen) Canyon Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 3: Mesa Verde [Spruce Tree Cliff + Ruins], 149095 USNM; Balcony House, MV 7865/507, 7866/507. + + +Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus (Merriam) Deer Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 396: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft., 76004-76100; Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., 76101-76144, + MV 7839/507, 7840/507; Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., + 69328-69329; Morfield Canyon, 7600 ft., 76145-76184; Park Point, + 8525 ft., 69330-69342, 69344-69360; 1-1/2 mi. E Waters Cabin, 6400 + ft. (labels on some specimens read "West Bank Mancos River, + Northeast side Mesa Verde National Park"), 69361-69376, + 76185-76204; Sect. 27, head of east fork Navajo Canyon, 7900 ft., + 69377-69380, 69422-69426; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 ft., + 69403-69410; 2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7900 ft., 69411-69412; 1 mi. + NNW Rock Springs, 7600 ft., 69413-69418; 1/2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, + 7500 ft., 69419-69421; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69386-69402; Far + View Point, 76530-76531, 79221 and 90 uncatalogued specimens in + preservative; Mancos River, 6200 ft., 69382-69385; back of Park + Museum, 6930 ft., MV 7857/507; Mesa Verde, 25 mi. [by road] SW + Mancos, 149093 USNM; Cornfield, MV 7878/507. + +The most abundant mammal is the ubiquitous deer mouse. Series of +specimens taken in August (by Anderson in 1956), in September (by +Shepherd in 1958 and 1959), and in November (by Alcorn in 1957) make +possible the following comparisons of age, reproductive conditions, and +molts. + +The specimens obtained in August and November were placed in five +categories according to age (as judged by wear on the teeth). These +categories correspond in general to those used by Hoffmeister (1951:1) +in studies of _Peromyscus truei_. From his descriptions I judge that +wear in _Peromyscus maniculatus_ differs from wear in _Peromyscus truei_ +in that the last upper molar is not worn smooth before appreciable wear +appears on the first two molars, and the lingual and labial cusps wear +more nearly concurrently. The five categories differ as follows: +category 1, last upper molar in process of erupting, showing no wear; +category 2, some wear apparent on all teeth, but most cusps little worn; +category 3, greater wear on all teeth, lingual cusps becoming rounded or +flattened; category 4, lingual cusps worn smooth, labial cusps show +considerable wear; category 5, all cusps worn smooth. The condition of +the pelage was noted for each prepared skin. Hoffmeister (_op. cit._: 4) +summarized changes in pelage that he observed in _Peromyscus truei_, and +he summarized earlier work by Collins with _Peromyscus maniculatus_. In +_P. maniculatus_ a grayish juvenal pelage is replaced by a postjuvenal +pelage in which the hairs are longer and have longer, pale, terminal or +subterminal bands giving a paler and more buffy or ochraceous hue to the +dorsal pelage. The postjuvenal pelage is replaced by an adult pelage +that is either brighter or, in some cases, is not distinguishable with +certainty from the postjuvenal pelage. Not only is the juvenal pelage +distinguishable from the postjuvenal pelage, but the sequence of +ingrowth of postjuvenal pelage follows a regular pattern that is usually +different from that of subsequent molts. The loss of juvenal hair is +less readily observed than the ingrowth of new postjuvenal hair on +account of the greater time required for the growth of any individual +hair than for the sudden loss of a hair. + +Molt was observed in some individuals no longer having juvenal pelage; +some new pelage was observed on the skins of seven mice collected in +August. Each of these was in category 4 or 5 and probably had been born +in the previous calendar year. These seven molting individuals make up +nearly 17 per cent of 42 individuals that had completed the juvenal to +postjuvenal molt. In November, 80 per cent of individuals (92 of 115) +that had previously obtained their postjuvenal or adult pelage were +molting. These mice were in age-categories 3, 4, and 5. Some of the +individuals in category 3 were developing new hair beneath a relatively +unworn bright pelage that I judge to be an adult pelage rather than a +postjuvenal pelage. If this judgment be correct and if the relatively +unworn dentition (category 3) means that these animals are young of the +year, we must conclude that individuals born in early summer may molt +from juvenal to postjuvenal, then to adult pelage, and finally in the +autumn into another adult pelage. Other individuals, six in number and +of categories 2 and 3, are simultaneously completing the juvenal to +postjuvenal molt and beginning the postjuvenal to adult molt. The +juvenal to postjuvenal molt begins, as has been described by various +authors, along the lateral line and proceeds dorsally and ventrally and +anteriorly and posteriorly, and the last patch to lose the gray juvenal +color is the top of head and nape, or less frequently the rump. In some +individuals a gray patch on the nape remained but emerging hair was not +apparent; perhaps the molt had been halted just prior to completion. The +progressing band of emerging hair is narrow in most specimens but in +some up to one-fifth of the circumference of the body has hair at the +same degree of emergence. Subsequent molts, both from postjuvenal to +adult pelage and between adult pelages, are less regular in point, or +points, of origin, width of progressing molt, and amount of surface +molting at one time. Half or more of the dorsum is oftentimes involved +in the same stage of molt at once. In some specimens the molt begins +along the lateral line, and in others in several centers on the sides. +In some skins distinct lines of molt are visible without parting the +hair, and in some others the molt is patchy in appearance. Growth of new +hair is apparent at various times of the year as a result of injury such +as that caused by bot fly larvae, cuts, scratches, or bites of other +mice. Abrasion, wear, irritation by ectoparasites, and other kinds of +injury to the skin may play a part in the development of a patchy molt. +Both breeding and molting are sources of considerable stress, and the +delay of the peak of molting activity until November when breeding +activity has decreased seems of benefit to the mice. A change in the +ratio of young mice (categories 1, 2, and 3) to old mice (categories 4 +and 5) between August and November was noted. In August, 29 per cent of +the population is composed of old mice, and in November only 6 per cent. +This change results from birth of young as well as death of old mice, +but may indicate that a mouse in November has less than one chance in +ten of being alive the following November. Some females born early in +the reproductive season breed in their first summer or autumn. For +example, a female of category 2, taken on August 12, and probably in +postjuvenal pelage, had placental scars. Undoubtedly the young of the +year contribute to the breeding population, especially late in the +season. + +[Illustration: FIG. 3. Frequency distributions, according to size, of +_Reithrodontomys megalotis_ and _Peromyscus maniculatus_ in three +samples taken in August, September, and November. Sexes and pregnancy or +nonpregnancy of females are indicated. See discussion in text.] + +In Figure 3 the proportion of females bearing embryos in August, +September, and November is shown. Of the females trapped in August, 11 +of 32 that were more than 144 mm. in total length contained embryos; an +additional 14 females were lactating or possessed placental scars or +enlarged uteri. Therefore, approximately 80 per cent of the larger +females were reproducing in August. In September two females were +pregnant and an additional sixteen of the 44 females examined showed +other evidence of reproduction; these eighteen females make up 41 per +cent of those more than 144 mm. in total length. The only reproductive +data available for November pertain to the presence or absence of +embryos. No female was pregnant although 35 females more than 144 mm. in +total length were examined. Some of the skins show prominent mammae +indicative of recent nursing, and juveniles less than a month old were +taken. The reproductive activity of deer mice on the Mesa Verde seems to +be greatly reduced in autumn. + + +Peromyscus difficilis nasutus (J.A. Allen) Rock Mouse + + _Specimen_: 1 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7600 ft., 69413, a young + individual completing the molt from juvenal to postjuvenal pelage. + + +Peromyscus truei truei (Shufeldt) Pinyon Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 42: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft., 76220-76232; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69326-69327, + 79222, and 8 uncatalogued specimens in preservative; Far View + Point, 76532-76535; Far View House, 7700 ft., 74416 MVZ; 1/2 mi. + NNW Rock Springs, 7500 ft., 69429-69430; Rock Springs, 7400 ft., + 69431-69435; Park Well, 7450 ft., 69428; Headquarters, MV 7882/507; + back of Museum, MV 7879/507, 7880/507, 7881/507; Square Tower + House, 6700 ft., 69438. + +In August three females were pregnant or lactating, or both. None of +seven adult females taken in November was pregnant. + + +Neotoma cinerea arizonae Merriam Bushy-tailed Wood Rat + + _Specimen_: Head of Prater Canyon, MV 7873/507. Another, in the + Denver Museum, from Spruce Tree House, was reported by Finley + (1958:270). + +_Neotoma cinerea_ prefers vertical crevices in high cliffs but occupies +other areas. + + +Neotoma mexicana inopinata Goldman Mexican Wood Rat + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 10: Headquarters, MV 7890/507 and + probably 7861/507, 74421 MVZ; Spruce Tree Lodge, 6950 ft., + 34802-34803; Spruce Tree House, 74419-74420 MVZ; Square Tower + House, MV 7869/507; Cliff Palace, 74422 MVZ; Balcony House, MV + 7868/507. + +The Mexican wood rat is the most common species of wood rat on the Mesa +Verde. The two specimens from Spruce Tree Lodge obtained by R.B. Finley +on September 2, 1949, are young individuals. + + Another species of the genus, the white-throated wood rat, _Neotoma + albigula_, may occur within the Park, since three specimens + (34757-34759) from the Mesa Verde were trapped on September 15, + 1949, by R.B. Finley, approximately 4-1/2 miles south of the Park + [6 mi. E, 17 mi. S Cortez, 5600 ft.--south of the area shown in + Figure 2]. Finley (1958:450) stated that at that locality he + trapped _Neotoma mexicana_ [No. 34801], that _N. albigula_ was + perhaps more common there than _N. mexicana_, that dens of _N. + albigula_ were more common than those of _N. mexicana_ under large + rocks in the talus on the south slope of the Mesa, and that dens of + _N. mexicana_ seemed to be more numerous in crevices of ledges in + the bedrock and cliffs. + + +Ondatra zibethicus osoyoosensis (Lord) Muskrat + +D. Watson (in letter of January 16, 1957) reported that he has seen +muskrat tracks many times along the Mancos River. He also relates a +report received from Chief Ranger Wade and D.A. Spencer who saw a +muskrat, no doubt a wanderer, on the Knife Edge Road on a cold winter +night. These men, both reliable observers, stopped and saw the muskrat +at a distance of two feet, where it took shelter under a power shovel +parked beside the road. Reports of dens seen along the Mancos River are +available for 1944, 1945, 1946, and 1947. + + +Microtus longicaudus mordax (Merriam) Long-tailed Vole + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 36: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft., 76233-76237; entrance to Mesa Verde National Park, + 5123-5126 in Denver Museum; Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., 76238-76244; + Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., 69441; Morfield Canyon, 7600 + ft., 76245-76259, 76261-76263; west bank Mancos River, northeast + side Mesa Verde National Park, 76260. + +The vegetation at the above-named localities is a combination of brush +and grasses that are both more luxuriant than in areas dominated by +pinyon and juniper on the more southern and altitudinally lower part of +the top of the Mesa where no _M. longicaudus_ was taken. + + +Microtus mexicanus mogollonensis (Mearns) Mexican Vole + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 22: Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., + 76283-76287; Sect. 27, head of east fork of Navajo Canyon, 7900 + ft., 69442; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69443, 79223-79224; 2 mi. NNW + Rock Springs, 7900 ft., 69444-69446; Park Well, 7450 ft., + 69447-69453; rock ledge at head of Spruce Tree Canyon, unnumbered + specimen in Denver Museum; Headquarters, MV 7895/507, 7896/507. + +The first specimen of the Mexican vole from Colorado was obtained on the +Mesa Verde and has been reported by Rodeck and Anderson (1956:436). +Specimens have now been taken at seven localities on the Mesa. Prater +Canyon is the only one of these localities at which any other species of +vole was taken. There _Microtus longicaudus_ and _Microtus montanus_ +were also obtained. Judging from the vegetation at the above localities, +_M. mexicanus_ is to be expected in drier areas with less cover than _M. +montanus_ inhabits, and in areas having less cover than those inhabited +by _M. longicaudus_. + + +Microtus montanus fusus Hall Montane Vole + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 16: Upper Well, 7575 ft., + 69454-69465; 1/4 mi. N Middle Well, 7500 ft., 69466-69469. + +The voles were trapped in the dry but dense meadow of grass and sedge +covering the floor of the canyon (see Plate 1). _Sorex vagrans_ was +trapped in the same places. Four of the females of _M. montanus_ trapped +on September 3, 1956, were pregnant. + + +Erethizon dorsatum couesi Mearns Porcupine + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: 69470, old [Female], and 69471, + her young male offspring, both obtained on August 28, 1956, in the + canyon of the Mancos River, 6200 feet, along the western side of + the River. + +I saw no other porcupine in the Park. + +In 1935, C.W. Quaintance took special notice of porcupines because of +the possibility, then being considered, of their being detrimental to +habitat conditions thought to be favorable to wild turkeys. Porcupines +were suspected of killing ponderosa pine, which occurred in only a few +places, and which was thought to be necessary for wild turkeys. +Porcupines were recorded as follows: one found dead on the road at the +North Rim on March 16; one killed in oak brush along the North Rim; one +killed between April 15 and May 15; oak brush damaged by porcupines in +Soda Canyon below the well; one seen on July 4 on the Poole Canyon +Trail; one seen at the foot of the Mesa on June 26; one seen by Lloyd +White in Moccasin Canyon on June 27; and one seen by Mrs. Sharon Spencer +on July 1 in Prater Canyon. After four months on the Mesa Verde, +Quaintance concluded that there were not so many porcupines as had been +expected and that there were more ponderosa pines than had been +expected. + +In 1946, Donald A. Spencer began a study of porcupines on the Mesa Verde +and in 1958 deposited, in the University of Colorado Library, his +results in manuscript form as a dissertation in partial fulfillment of +the requirements for a higher degree ("Porcupine population fluctuations +in past centuries revealed by dendrochronology," 108 numbered and 13 +unnumbered pages, 39 figures, and 13 tables). Dendrochronology, or the +dating of trees by studying their rings, is a technique widely used in +the southwest by archeologists, climatologists, and others. Spencer +found that porcupines damage trees in a characteristic manner, and that +damage to a pinyon pine was evident as long as the tree lived. By dating +approximately 2000 scars and plotting the year for each scar, Spencer +observed three peaks since 1865; these were in about 1885, 1905, and +1935. The increase and decrease each time were at about the same rate. +The study did not yield precise population estimates. Some porcupines +were destroyed but Spencer is of the opinion that the decline that came +in following years was independent of the control measures. Spencer +thinks that activities of porcupines on the Mesa Verde are a major +factor in maintaining a forest cover of relatively young trees, and also +in preventing invasion of trees into areas of brush. + +The general policy in regard to porcupines from 1930 to 1946 was to kill +them because they eat parts of trees. In at least the following years +porcupines were killed: 1930, 1933, 1935, 1940, 1943, 1944, and 1946. +The largest number reported killed in one year is 71 in 1933 when a crew +of men was employed for this purpose. The amount of effort devoted to +killing porcupines varied from year to year. The most frequently voiced +alarm was that the scenic value of the areas along the entrance highway +and near certain ruins was being impaired. The direst prediction was +that all pine trees on the Mesa Verde were doomed to extinction in the +near future. The last prediction has not come to pass, nor has this +extinction occurred in the past thousand years and more during which +pine trees and porcupines have existed together on the Mesa Verde. + +In 1946 the studies of Spencer, Wade, and Fitch began. Much effort was +expended in obtaining and dating scars for analysis, and the interesting +results mentioned above were the reward. Also many porcupines were +captured alive and marked with ear-tags so that they could be recognized +later. For example, in the winter of 1946 and 1947, 117 were marked in +Soda Canyon. A decline in numbers in recent years reduced the impetus +for continuation of the study by reducing the results obtained for each +day spent searching for porcupines. Information obtained on movements of +porcupines relative to season and weather conditions in these studies +may be summarized and published later. Data regarding ratio of young to +adult animals from year to year are also of interest. + +The effect of a porcupine on a single tree is often easy to assess. The +effect of a fluctuating population of porcupines on a mixed forest is +not so easy to assess, but is of more intrinsic interest. It is +desirable that studies designed to evaluate the latter effect continue +while the population remains low and also when the next cyclic increase +begins. Publication of Spencer's results would be a major step forward. + +Cahalane (1948:253) mentions the difficulty that has been experienced in +protecting aesthetically desirable trees around cliff dwellings. Perhaps +in a local area removal of porcupines is sometimes warranted, but +control of the porcupine seems undesirable to me, as a general policy, +because one purpose of a National Park is to preserve natural conditions +and that implies naturally occurring changes. + +What is needed is continued careful study of the ecological +relationships of animals and of plants. National parks provide, to the +extent that they are not disturbed or "controlled," especially favorable +places for studies of this sort. + + +Mus musculus subsp. House Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 7: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft, 76290; west bank Mancos River northeast side Mesa + Verde National Park, 76291-76296. + + +Canis latrans mearnsi Merriam Coyote + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 3: 69472, skull only of a young + individual, found dead at the top of the bank of the Mancos River, + 1-1/2 mi. E Waters Cabin, 6400 ft., August 29, 1956, probably + killed by man; ad. [Male], 76298, taken by J.R. Alcorn, November + 10, 1957, on the top of the Mesa at Square Tower House; and skin + and skull, MV 7858/507, without data. + +Tracks or scats of the coyote were seen in all parts of the Park +visited. Coyotes range throughout the area. On September 3, 1956, 35 +coyote scats were found on the dirt roads in Prater and Morfield canyons +above 7300 feet elevation and on the road crossing the divide between +these canyons. Probably none of these scats was more than a month old. +Coyote tracks were seen at some of the fresher scats. Scats associated +with fox tracks and scats of small size were not picked up. +Nevertheless, a few of the scats studied may have been those of foxes. +Judging from the contents of scats that were certainly from foxes, the +effect of inadvertent inclusion of fox scats would be to elevate the +percentage of scats containing berries (but not more than five +percentage points). Each scat was broken up and the percentage of scats +containing each of the following items was noted (figures are to the +nearest per cent). Remains of deer occurred in 48 per cent of scats, +gooseberries (_Ribes_) in 34 per cent, porcupines in 29 per cent, +insects in 11 per cent, birds in 11 per cent, unidentified hair in 9 per +cent, and unidentified material in 6 per cent. One scat (3 per cent) +contained an appreciable amount of plant debris, one contained +_Microtus_ along with other items, and one contained only _Sylvilagus_; +14 scats had material of more than one category. The percentage in each +category of the volume of each scat was estimated. Data on volume +warrant no conclusion other than one that can be drawn from the +percentages of occurrence, namely that the major food sources used in +August, 1956, by coyotes in these canyons were deer, berries, and +porcupines and that other sources, though used, were relatively +unimportant. Deer were common in the area. It is fortunate that coyotes +remain to help regulate the deer population. Wolves, _Canis lupus_, +which at one time occurred in the Park, are now gone. The coyote and +mountain lion are the only sizeable predators that remain. + + +Vulpes vulpes macroura Baird Red Fox + +D. Watson (in letter of January 16, 1957) reported that red foxes have +been seen on the Mesa by several employees of the Park. These persons +know the gray fox, which often is seen in winter feeding at their back +doors, and Mr. Watson considers the reports reliable. In the early +morning of October 24, 1943, a reddish-yellow fox having a white-tipped +tail was observed by three men, one of whom was Chief Ranger Wade, at +Park Point. In 1948, 1950, and 1953 black foxes have been reported. + + +Urocyon cinereoargenteus scottii Mearns Gray Fox + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 3: [Male], MV 7867/507, 2 mi. N of + Headquarters, 7400 ft., September 24, 1935, H.P. Pratt; [Male], + 76299, November 9, and [Female], 76300, trapped on November 12, + 1957, by J.R. Alcorn at Square Tower House. + +The gray fox is common on the Mesa. + + +Ursus americanus amblyceps Baird Black Bear + +From 1929 through 1959 at least 151 observations of bears were recorded. +Observations were unrecorded in only five years--1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, +and 1958. Most observations were in the 1940's and the peak was in 1944 +(18 observations) and 1945 (21 observations). Cubs have been recorded in +10 different years. If dated reports are tabulated by months the +following figures are obtained for the 12 months beginning with January: +0, 0, 0, 4, 15, 19, 19, 9, 10, 9, 3, 0. The peak in the summer months +and the absence of observations in the winter months are significant. +Individual bears probably enter and leave the Park in the course of +their normal wanderings; however bears probably hibernate, breed, and +bear young within the Park and should not be regarded as merely +occasionally wandering into the Park. + + +Procyon lotor pallidus Merriam Raccoon + +In December, 1959, three raccoons were seen on Prater Grade and later +three were seen in Morfield Canyon near the tunnel. I saw a dead raccoon +at the side of the highway 3 mi. WSW of Mancos, 6700 feet, on August 8, +1956. This locality is outside of the Park and not on the Mesa, but is +mentioned because it indicates that the raccoon probably occurs along +the Mancos River, which forms the eastern boundary of the Park. The +raccoon is rare in the area. Some local persons were surprised to hear +of its presence; other persons told me that raccoons were present, but +rare. + + +Bassariscus astutus flavus Rhoads Ringtail + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 4: MV 7884/507 and 7885/507, trapped + in Balcony House and prepared by D. Watson in 1939; MV 7901/507 and + 7902/507, without data. + +The cliff dwellings are favored by ringtails and in some years they are +common near occupied dwellings in the area of headquarters. Ringtails +have been seen in each major habitat within the Park. + + +Mustela frenata nevadensis Hall Long-tailed Weasel + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 5: MV 7891/507, [Male], from the + "Garden" [= Indian Cornfield]; [Female], MV 7892/507, also from + the "Cornfield"; MV 7859/507, "Killed by car on Prater Grade"; + [Male], MV 7871/507, in winter pelage, from the North Rim; and + [Male], 83464, killed on the road 1/2 mi. NE of the tunnel, + Morfield Canyon. + +C.W. Quaintance in 1935 reported that on January 11, he and Mr. Nelson +saw a weasel attack a cottontail, and on March 9, while on the snow +plow, Mr. Nelson witnessed another cottontail being killed by a weasel. +Weasels in white winter pelage have been recorded in December and +January. The brown pelage has been seen as late as November. + + +Mustela vison energumenos (Bangs) Mink + +D. Watson (in letter of January 16, 1957) wrote: "When Jack Wade, now +Chief Ranger, was doing patrol work in the Mancos Canyon back in the +1930's, he saw mink along the river at the east side of the Park. +Several years ago, the people who lived on the ranch where Weber Canyon +joins the Mancos trapped a mink." Tracks have been reported along the +Mancos River in several years. + + +Spilogale putorius gracilis Merriam Spotted Skunk + + _Specimen_: Immature [Male], MV 7860/507, Cliff Palace, August + 22, 1936, prepared by A.E. Borrell. + +In some years these little skunks have become so numerous in the area of +headquarters that they were a nuisance, and were captured in garbage +cans and released in other parts of the Park. + + +Mephitis mephitis estor Merriam Striped Skunk + +D. Watson advises me that striped skunks are fairly common around the +entrance to the Park, along the foot of the Mesa, and along the Mancos +River. Striped skunks have been reported in 1951 in Morfield Canyon, in +1952 on the Knife Edge, in 1953 at Windy Point (1/4 mi. N of Point +Lookout), and in 1959 at the head of Morfield Canyon. + +[Illustration: PLATE 1 + +UPPER: View of the North Rim of Mesa Verde, looking west from Park +Point, the highest place on the North Rim. The south-facing slope on the +left is covered with brushy vegetation, mostly oak. Sheltered parts of +the north-facing slope support stands of Douglas fir, and at a few +places some ponderosa pines. Photo taken in August, 1956, by S. +Anderson. + +LOWER LEFT: View of Rock Canyon from Wetherill Mesa, looking southwest +from a point 2 mi. NNW Rock Springs. The area in the foreground on +Wetherill Mesa was burned in 1934. Photo taken in August, 1956, by S. +Anderson. + +LOWER RIGHT: Prater Canyon, at Upper Well, 7575 feet. In the matted +grasses and sedges on the floor of the canyon _Microtus montanus_ and +_Sorex vagrans_ were captured. _Tamiasciurus hudsonicus_ was found in a +side canyon, Chickaree Draw, one half mile southwest of the place shown. +Chickaree Draw is more sheltered than the slope in the background and +has a denser stand of Douglas fir than occurs here. Photo taken in +August, 1956, by S. Anderson.] + +[Illustration: PLATE 2 + +UPPER: Relatively undisturbed stand of pinyon pine and Utah juniper 1/4 +mi. N Rock Springs, at 7400 feet elevation on Wetherill Mesa along a +service road. The vegetation shown is characteristic of the lower more +exposed parts of the top of the Mesa Verde. Photo taken in August, 1956, +by S. Anderson. + +LOWER: Wetherill Mesa, 1/2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7500 feet elevation. +This area burned in 1934. It contained no pine or juniper in 1956 +despite attempted reforestation in the thirties and the presence of a +stand of pinyon and juniper (shown above) only one quarter of a mile +away. Possibly fire in the last three or four hundred years on the +higher parts of the Mesa has been a factor in producing chaparral there, +rather than pinyon and juniper. Photo taken in August, 1956, by S. +Anderson.] + + +Taxidea taxus berlandieri Baird Badger + +Several reports, but no specimens, of the badger have been obtained. In +1935, C.W. Quaintance wrote that in School Section Canyon tracks of +cougar, bobcat, coyote, and deer were found, and that pocket gophers, +badgers, and cottontail rabbits were present. Later in 1935, H.P. Pratt +wrote that he had found evidence of badgers "at the lower well in Prater +Canyon, where on September 23, there were extensive badger diggings and +fresh tracks in the vicinity of the prairie dog colony there." Badgers +are common in the lowlands around the Mesa and they are common enough on +the Mesa to be regarded as nuisances by archeologists on account of +badgers digging in ruins. Badgers have been seen from three to six times +each year from 1950 to this date, most of them in the vicinity of the +North Rim. + + +Felis concolor hippolestes Merriam Mountain Lion + +Mountain lions range throughout the Park. There are reliable sight +records of lions and lion tracks, but no specimen has been preserved. +Early records of observations include the report of tracks seen in +Navajo Canyon by Cary (1911:165), and a lion seen in 1917. Since 1930 +the more adequate records include reports of from one to eight +observations each year for 26 of the 30 years. Young animals (recorded +as "half-grown") or cubs have been reported in four of these years. The +tabulation of dated reports by month beginning with January is: 2, 0, 3, +2, 8, 4, 6, 7, 4, 9, 5, 7. Mountain lions range more widely than bears +in their daily and seasonal activities, but like bears probably breed, +bear young, and feed in the Park. Although at any one time lions may or +may not be within the Park, it is part of their normal range and the +species should be regarded as resident and is not uncommon. + + +Lynx rufus baileyi Merriam Bobcat + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: A specimen (now mounted in Park + Museum) from the Knife Edge Road; and ad. [Female], 76302, + Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., November 12, 1957, obtained by J.R. + Alcorn. + +Bobcats are present throughout the Park. Approximately 80 observations +of bobcats are on file, from all parts of the Park and in all months. +Probably the bobcat and the gray fox are the most abundant carnivores in +the Park. In addition to known predation by mountain lions and coyotes +on porcupines, the bobcat kills porcupines. A dead porcupine and a dead +bobcat with its face, mouth, and one foot full of quills were found +together on January 31, 1952, under a boulder in front of Cliff Palace. +On August 20, 1956, I saw a bobcat hunting in sage in a draw near a +large clump of oak-brush, into which it fled, at the head of the east +fork of Navajo Canyon, Sect. 21, near the North Rim, 8100 feet. + + +Odocoileus hemionus hemionus (Rafinesque) Mule Deer + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: Young [Male], 76303, November + 8, 1957, Far View Ruins; [Female], 76304, November 12, 1957, + Spruce Tree House Ruin, both obtained by J.R. Alcorn. + +In all parts of the Park, mule deer are common. Five projects concerning +deer are in progress or have been concluded recently on the Mesa. One is +a study of the responses of different species of plants to browsing and +was begun in 1949 by Harold R. Shepherd for the Colorado Department of +Game and Fish. A number of individual plants and in some instances +groups of plants were fenced to exclude deer. Systematic clips of 20, +40, 60, 80, or 100 per cent of the annual growth are made each year. The +results of the first ten years of this study are being prepared for +publication by Shepherd. + +A study of browsing pressure was initiated in 1952 by Regional Biologist +C.M. Aldous, on eight transects in the Park. Each transect consists of +15 plots at intervals of 200 feet. The amount of use of each plant +species was recorded from time to time. The study was terminated in +1955. I have seen no summary of results of this study. + +A trapping program was begun in 1953 with the co-operation of the +Colorado Department of Game and Fish. Deer are trapped, marked, and +released. Some are released in areas other than where trapped. In this +way the excessive size of the herd near headquarters has been reduced. +Recoveries of marked deer outside the Park by hunters and retrapping +results in the Park should provide information about movements of deer +and about life expectancy. + +The "Deer Trend Study" was initiated in 1954. From November to May, +twice a day, at the same time, a count is made along the entrance road +from the Park Entrance to Headquarters. Ten drainage areas traversed are +tabulated separately. The results of four years of this study indicate +that the greatest number of deer are present in November, December, and +January, and that only about one-fourth as many are present in February +and March. Depending on severity of weather, the yearly pattern varies, +the deer arriving earlier, or leaving earlier. This change in numbers, +the recovery outside of the Park of animals marked in the Park, and +direct observations of movement indicate that the Mesa Verde is an +intermediate range rather than a summer-range or winter-range. In summer +deer tend to move northward and eastward out of the Park, and in winter +they move back through the Park toward lower and more protected areas in +canyons both in the Park and south of the Park on the Ute Reservation. +Some deer remain in the Park the entire year. Close co-operation between +personnel of the Park Service and of the Colorado Department of Game and +Fish has regulated hunting outside the Park in such a way as to provide +satisfactory control of the deer within the Park. + +A study of the effect of rodents on plants used by deer was initiated in +1956 by Harold R. Shepherd. Three acres were fenced in a fashion +designed to exclude rodents but not deer. An adjacent three acres were +fenced as a control, but not so as to exclude rodents or deer. Eight +trap lines nearby provide an index of rodent fluctuations from year to +year. These studies will need to be continued for a period of ten years +or more, and should provide much information concerning not only deer +but also rodents and their effect on vegetation. + + +Cervus canadensis nelsoni V. Bailey Wapiti + +Wapiti are seen periodically; probably they wander in from the higher +mountains to the northeast and do not remain for long. The following +note was included in the 1921 report of Mr. Jesse L. Nusbaum, then +Superintendent of the Park: "The first elk ever seen in the Park made +his appearance near the head of Navajo Canyon, August 15 of this year, +and travelled for two miles in front of a Ford car down the main road +before another car, travelling in the opposite direction, scared him +into the timber." Additional observations have been recorded as follows: +School Section Canyon ("fall" 1935), Knife Edge Road (July, 1940), West +Soda Canyon and Windy Point (December, 1949), Long Canyon (July, 1959), +and Park Entrance (December, 1959). Three of the six observations are in +July and August; therefore movement by wapiti into the Park can not be +attributed entirely to disturbance during the hunting season. + + +Ovis canadensis canadensis Shaw Bighorn + +Some early records of the bighorn were mentioned by C.W. Quaintance +(1935): In a letter of January 20, 1935, John Wetherill said that a +"Mountain Sheep Canyon" (now Rock Canyon) was named for a bunch of sheep +that wintered near their camp; and Sam Ahkeah, a Navajo, says the +Indians occasionally find remnants of sheep on the Mesa, which they take +back to their hogans. Cahalane (1948:257) reported that hunting +presumably had eliminated bighorns from the Mesa by 1896; however Jean +Pinkley reports that a large ram was killed on Point Lookout in 1906. + +On January 30, 1946, 14 sheep (3 rams, 7 ewes, and 4 lambs) from the +herd at Tarryall, Colorado, were obtained through the Colorado +Department of Game and Fish and were released at 8:30 a.m. at the edge +of the canyon south of Spruce Tree Lodge. The sheep, instead of entering +the canyon as expected, turned north, passed behind the museum, and +eventually disappeared northward on Chapin Mesa. The sheep evidently +divided into at least two bands. On April 24, 1946, three sheep were +seen 2-1/2 mi. N of Rock Springs, and on June 19, 1947, tracks were seen +in Mancos Canyon. In 1947, 1948, and 1949 farmers in Weber Canyon +reported seeing sheep many times on Weber Mountain, and watering at the +Mancos River. In May, 1949, an estimate of 27 sheep on Weber Mountain +was made after several days study by men from the state game department. +The herds continued to increase. In 1956 I saw two bighorns. On August +18, at 6:20 a.m., my wife and I briefly observed a bighorn on the rocks +below Square Tower Ruins. On August 24, I was digging with a small +shovel in rocky soil behind the cabin at Rock Springs, when hoof beats +were heard approaching in the rocky head of the canyon to the east. An +adult ewe came up to the fence around the cabin area and looked at me, +seemingly curious about the noise my shovel had been producing. I +remained motionless and called to my wife, Justine, to come from the +cabin and see the sheep. The ewe seemed not to be disturbed by my voice, +but took flight, returning in the direction from which she had come, the +moment Justine appeared from behind the cabin. Sheep can now be seen on +occasion in any of the deep canyons across the southern half of the +Park. The sheep have caused slight damage in some of the ruins by +bedding down there, and by climbing on walls. As the sheep increase in +numbers this activity may be regarded as a problem. In 1959 an estimated +75 to 100 sheep were in the Park and adjacent areas. + + + + +DISCUSSION + + +The distributions of animals are influenced by geographic, vegetational, +and altitudinal factors. The Mesa Verde is intermediate in geographic +position and altitude between the high Southern Rocky Mountains and the +low southwestern desert. For this reason, we find on the Mesa Verde (1) +a preponderance of species having wide distributions in this part of the +country, and having relatively wide ranges of tolerance for different +habitats, (2) a lesser number of exclusively montane or boreal species +than occur in the higher mountains to the northeast of the Mesa and that +may reach the limits of their ranges here, and (3) a small number of +species of southern or Sonoran affinities. Fifty-four species are +recorded above. + +Forty-one of these species are represented by specimens from the Park. +Thirteen additional species in the list have been seen in the Park. + +On the Grand Mesa, which is more elevated than, and some 110 miles north +of, the Mesa Verde (see Figure 1), 55 per cent of the species of mammals +have boreal affinities and the other 45 per cent are wide-spread species +(Anderson, 1959:414). Boreal species from the Mesa Verde are _Sorex +vagrans_, _Sylvilagus nuttallii_, _Spermophilus lateralis_, _Marmota +flaviventris_, _Tamiasciurus hudsonicus_, _Microtus montanus_, and +_Microtus longicaudus_. These seven species comprise only thirteen per +cent of the mammalian fauna of the Mesa Verde. Other boreal species that +occur in the mountains of Colorado on the Grand Mesa or elsewhere +(Findley and Anderson, 1956:80) and that do not occur on the Mesa Verde +are _Sorex cinereus_, _Sorex palustris_, _Ochotona princeps_, _Lepus +americana_, _Clethrionomys gapperi_, _Phenacomys intermedius_, _Zapus +princeps_, _Martes americana_, _Mustela erminea_, and _Lynx canadensis_. +The 47 species from the Mesa Verde that are not exclusively boreal make +up 87 per cent of the mammalian fauna. Most of these are wide-spread +species and are more abundant in the deserts or other lowlands than in +the coniferous forests of the highlands, for example the eight species +of bats, and _Sylvilagus audubonii_, _Thomomys bottae_, _Taxidea taxus_, +_Bassariscus astutus_, _Canis latrans_, _Cynomys gunnisoni_, +_Reithrodontomys megalotis_, and _Lepus californicus_. A few of the +wide-spread species are more common in the highlands than in the +lowlands, for example _Ursus americanus_, _Felis concolor_, _Castor +canadensis_, _Erethizon dorsatum_, and _Cervus canadensis_, and the +ranges of three of these, the bear, mountain lion and wapiti, are more +restricted today than formerly. A few species find their favorite +habitat and reach their greatest abundance in altitudinally and +vegetationally intermediate areas such as upon the Mesa Verde, or in +special habitats, such as the rock ledges, and crevices that are so +abundant on the Mesa. Examples of this group of species are +_Spermophilus variegatus_, _Peromyscus crinitus_, _Peromyscus truei_, +_Neotoma cinerea_, and _Neotoma mexicana_. One species, _Dipodomys +ordii_, is restricted to the desert. Species that are restricted to the +desert and that occur in Montezuma County, Colorado, but that are not +known from the Mesa Verde are _Ammospermophilus leucurus_, _Perognathus +flavus_, and _Onychomys leucogaster_. + +Species known to have changed in numbers in the past 50 years are the +mule deer that has increased, and the prairie dog that has decreased. +Possibly beaver have increased along the Mancos River. The muskrat, +mink, beaver, and raccoon usually occur only along the Mancos River, as +there is no other permanent surface water in the Park. + +Species such as the bighorn and the marmot that are rare within the +Park, or those such as the chickaree, the prairie dog, the wandering +shrew, the montane vole, and the long-tailed vole that occupy only small +areas of suitable habitat within the Park are the species most likely to +be eliminated by natural changes, or through the activities of man. For +example parasites introduced through domestic sheep that wander into the +range of bighorns within the Park might endanger the bighorn population. +An increase in grazing activity, road building, and camping in Prater +and Morfield canyons might eliminate the small areas of habitat occupied +by the montane vole and the wandering shrew. Fire in Chickaree Draw +could destroy all the Douglas fir there, and consequently much of the +habitat occupied by the chickaree. + +Probably some species inhabit the Mesa that have not yet been found, but +they are probably few, and their discovery will not alter the faunal +pattern in which the few boreal species occupy restricted habitats in +the higher parts of the Mesa, and a preponderance of geographically +wide-spread species occupy all or most of the Mesa, and surrounding +areas. Additional bats are the species most likely to be added to the +list. + + +28-7577 + + + + +LITERATURE CITED + +ANDERSON, S. +1959. Mammals of the Grand Mesa, Colorado. Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. +Nat. Hist, 9(16):405-414, 1 fig. in text. + +CAHALANE, V.H. +1948. The status of mammals in the U.S. National Park System, 1947. +Jour. Mamm., 29(3):247-259. + +CARY, M. +1911. A biological survey of Colorado. N. Amer. Fauna, 33:1-256, 39 +figs., frontispiece (map). + +FINDLEY, J.S. +1955. Speciation of the Wandering Shrew. Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. Nat. +Hist., 9(1):1-68, figs. 1-18. + +FINDLEY, J.S. and ANDERSON, S. +1956. Zoogeography of the montane mammals of Colorado. Jour. Mamm., +37(1):80-82,1 fig. in text. + +FINLEY, R.B. +1958. The wood rats of Colorado, distribution and ecology. Univ. Kansas +Publ., Mus. Nat. Hist., 10(6):213-552, 34 plates, 8 figs., 35 tables +in text. + +GETTY, H.T. +1935. New dates from Mesa Verde. Tree-ring Bulletin, 1(3):21-23. + +HOFFMEISTER, D.F. +1951. A taxonomic and evolutionary study of the piñon mouse, Peromyscus +truei. Illinois Biol. Monogr., vol. XXI(4), pp. ix + 104, 24 figs., +4 tables and 5 plates in text. + +RODECK, H.G. and ANDERSON, S. +1956. _Sorex merriami_ and _Microtus mexicanus_ in Colorado. Jour. Mamm., +37(3):436. + +SCHULMAN, E. +1946. Dendrochronology at Mesa Verde National Park. Tree-ring Bulletin, +12(3):18-24, 2 figs., 1 table in text. + +YOUNGMAN, P.M. +1958. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Thomomys bottae, in +Colorado. Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. Nat. Hist., 9(12):363-387, 7 +figs. in text. + +_Transmitted April 11, 1961._ + + + + +UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF NATIONAL HISTORY + +Institutional libraries interested in publications exchange may obtain +this series by addressing the Exchange Librarian, University of Kansas +Library, Lawrence, Kansas. Copies for individuals, persons working in a +particular field of study, may be obtained by addressing instead the +Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. There +is no provision for sale of this series by the University Library, which +meets institutional requests, or by the Museum of Natural History, which +meets the requests of individuals. However, when individuals request +copies from the Museum, 25 cents should be included, for each separate +number that is 100 pages or more in length, for the purpose of defraying +the costs of wrapping and mailing. + +* An asterisk designates those numbers of which the Museum's supply (not +the Library's supply) is exhausted. Numbers published to date, in this +series, are as follows: + +Vol. 1. Nos. 1-26 and index. Pp. 1-638, 1946-1950. + +*Vol. 2. (Complete) Mammals of Washington. By Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. +1-444, 140 figures in text. April 9, 1948. + +Vol. 3. *1. The avifauna of Micronesia, its origin, evolution, and +distribution. By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 1-359, 16 figures in text. June +12, 1951. + +*2. A quantitative study of the nocturnal migration of birds. By George +H. Lowery, Jr. Pp. 361-472, 47 figures in text. June 29, 1951. + +3. Phylogeny of the waxwings and allied birds. By M. Dale Arvey. Pp. +478-530, 49 figures in text, 18 tables. October 10, 1951. + +4. Birds from the state of Veracruz, Mexico. By George H. Lowery, Jr., +and Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 531-649, 7 figures in text, 2 tables. +October 10, 1951. + +Index. Pp. 651-681. + +*Vol. 4. (Complete) American weasels. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 1-466, 41 +plates, 31 figures in text. December 27, 1951. + +Vol. 5. Nos. 1-37 and index. Pp. 1-676, 1951-1953. + +*Vol. 6. (Complete) Mammals of Utah, _taxonomy and distribution_. By +Stephen D. Durrant. Pp. 1-549, 91 figures in text, 30 tables. August 10, +1952. + +Vol. 7. *1. Mammals of Kansas. By E. Lendell Cockrum. Pp. 1-303, 73 +figures in text, 37 tables. August 25, 1952. + +2. Ecology of the opossum on a natural area in northeastern Kansas. By +Henry S. Fitch and Lewis L. Sandidge. Pp. 305-338, 5 figures in text. +August 24, 1953. + +3. The silky pocket mice (Perognathus flavus) of Mexico. By Rollin H. +Baker. Pp. 339-347, 1 figure in text. February 15, 1954. + +4. North American jumping mice (Genus Zapus). By Philip H. Krutzsch. Pp. +349-472, 47 figures in text, 4 tables, April 21, 1954. + +5. Mammals from Southeastern Alaska. By Rollin H. Baker and James S. +Findley. Pp. 473-477. April 21, 1954. + +6. Distribution of Some Nebraskan Mammals. By J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. +479-487. April 21, 1954. + +7. Subspeciation in the montane meadow mouse. Microtus montanus, in +Wyoming and Colorado. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 489-506, 2 figures in +text. July 23, 1954. + +8. A new subspecies of bat (Myotis velifer) from southeastern California +and Arizona. By Terry A. Vaughan. Pp. 507-512. July 28, 1954. + +9. Mammals of the San Gabriel mountains of California. By Terry A. +Vaughan. Pp. 513-582, 1 figure in text, 12 tables. November 15, 1954. + +10. A new bat (Genus Pipistrellus) from northeastern Mexico. By Rollin +H. Baker. Pp. 583-586. November 15, 1954. + +11. A new subspecies of pocket mouse from Kansas. By E. Raymond Hall. +Pp. 587-590. November 15, 1954. + +12. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Cratogeomys castanops, in +Coahuila, Mexico. By Robert J. Russell and Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 591-608. +March 15, 1955. + +13. A new cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) from northeastern Mexico. +By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 609-612. April 8, 1955. + +14. Taxonomy and distribution of some American shrews. By James S. +Findley. Pp. 613-618. June 10, 1955. + +15. The pigmy woodrat, Neotoma goldmani, its distribution and systematic +position. By Dennis G. Rainey and Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 619-624, 2 +figures in text. June 10, 1955. + +Index. Pp. 625-651. + +Vol. 8. Nos. 1-10 and index. Pp. 1-675, 1954-1956. + +Vol. 9. 1. Speciation of the wandering shrew. By James S. Findley. Pp. +1-68, 18 figures in text. December 10, 1955. + +2. Additional records and extensions of ranges of mammals from Utah. By +Stephen D. Durrant, M. Raymond Lee, and Richard M. Hansen. Pp. 69-80. +December 10, 1955. + +3. A new long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) from northeastern Mexico. By +Rollin H. Baker and Howard J. Stains. Pp. 81-84. December 10, 1955. + +4. Subspeciation in the meadow mouse, Microtus pennsylvanicus, in +Wyoming. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 85-104, 2 figures in text. May 10, +1956. + +5. The condylarth genus Ellipsodon. By Robert W. Wilson. Pp. 105-116, 6 +figures in text. May 19, 1956. + +6. Additional remains of the multituberculate genus Eucosmodon. By +Robert W. Wilson. Pp. 117-123, 10 figures in text. May 19, 1956. + +7. Mammals of Coahuila, Mexico. By Rollin H. Baker, Pp. 125-335, 75 +figures in text. June 15, 1956. + +8. Comments on the taxonomic status of Apodemus peninsulae, with +description of a new subspecies from North China. By J. Knox Jones, Jr. +Pp. 337-346, 1 figure in text, 1 table. August 15, 1956. + +9. Extensions of known ranges of Mexican bats. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. +347-351. August 15, 1956. + +10. A new bat (Genus Leptonycteris) from Coahuila. By Howard J. Stains. +Pp. 353-356. January 21, 1957. + +11. A new species of pocket gopher (Genus Pappogeomys) from Jalisco, +Mexico. By Robert J. Russell Pp. 357-361. January 21, 1957. + +12. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Thomomys bottae, in +Colorado. By Phillip M. Youngman. Pp. 363-387, 7 figures in text. +February 21, 1958. + +13. New bog lemming (genus Synaptomys) from Nebraska. By J. Knox Jones, +Jr. Pp. 385-388. May 12, 1958. + +14. Pleistocene bats from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo León, Mexico. By J. +Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 389-396. December 19, 1958. + +15. New subspecies of the rodent Baiomys from Central America. By Robert +L. Packard. Pp. 397-404. December 19, 1958. + +16. Mammals of the Grand Mesa, Colorado. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. +405-414, 1 figure in text. May 20, 1959. + +17. Distribution, variation, and relationships of the montane vole, +Microtus montanus. By Emil K. Urban. Pp. 415-511. 12 figures in text, 2 +tables. August 1, 1959. + +18. Conspecificity of two pocket mice, Perognathus goldmani and P. +artus. By E. Raymond Hall and Marilyn Bailey Ogilvie. Pp. 513-518, 1 +map. January 14, 1960. + +19. Records of harvest mice, Reithrodontomys, from Central America, with +description of a new subspecies from Nicaragua. By Sydney Anderson and +J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 519-529. January 14, 1960. + +20. Small carnivores from San Josecito Cave (Pleistocene), Nuevo León, +Mexico. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 531-538, 1 figure in text. January 14, +1960. + +21. Pleistocene pocket gophers from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo León, +Mexico. By Robert J. Russell. Pp. 539-548, 1 figure in text. January 14, +1960. + +22. Review of the insectivores of Korea. By J. Knox Jones, Jr., and +David H. Johnson. Pp. 549-578. February 28, 1960. + +23. Speciation and evolution of the pygmy mice, genus Baiomys. By Robert +L. Packard. Pp. 579-670, 4 plates, 12 figures in text. June 16, 1960. + +Index Pp. 671-690. + +Vol. 10. 1. Studies of birds killed in nocturnal migration. By Harrison +B. Tordoff and Robert M. Mengel. Pp. 1-44, 6 figures in text, 2 tables. +September 12, 1956. + +2. Comparative breeding behavior of Ammospiza caudacuta and A. maritima. +By Glen E. Woolfenden. Pp. 45-75, 6 plates, 1 figure. December 20, 1956. + +3. The forest habitat of the University of Kansas Natural History +Reservation. By Henry S. Fitch and Ronald R. McGregor. Pp. 77-127, 2 +plates, 7 figures in text, 4 tables. December 31, 1956. + +4. Aspects of reproduction and development in the prairie vole (Microtus +ochrogaster). By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 129-161, 8 figures in text, 4 +tables. December 19, 1957. + +5. Birds found on the Arctic slope of northern Alaska. By James W. Bee. +Pp. 163-211, pls. 9-10, 1 figure in text. March 12, 1958. + +6. The wood rats of Colorado: distribution and ecology. By Robert B. +Finley, Jr. Pp. 213-552, 34 plates, 8 figures in text, 35 tables. +November 7, 1958. + +7. Home ranges and movements of the eastern cottontail in Kansas. By +Donald W. Janes. Pp. 558-572, 4 plates, 3 figures in text. May 4, 1959. + +8. Natural history of the salamander, Aneides hardyi. By Richard F. +Johnston and Schad Gerhard. Pp. 573-585. October 8, 1959. + +9. A new subspecies of lizard, Cnemidophorus sacki, from Michoacán, +Mexico. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 587-598, 2 figures in text. May 2, +1960. + +10. A taxonomic study of the Middle American Snake, Pituophis deppei. By +William E. Duellman. Pp. 599-612, 1 plate, 1 figure in text. May 2, +1960. + +Index Pp. 611-626. + +Vol. 11. 1. The systematic status of the colubrid snake, Leptodeira +discolor Günther. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 1-9, 4 figs. July 14, +1958. + +2. Natural history of the six-lined racerunner, Cnemidophorus +sexlineatus. By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 11-62. 9 figs., 9 tables. September +19, 1958. + +3. Home ranges, territories, and seasonal movements of vertebrates of +the Natural History Reservation. By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 63-326, 6 +plates, 24 figures in text, 3 tables. December 12, 1958. + +4. A new snake of the genus Geophis from Chihuahua, Mexico. By John M. +Legler. Pp. 327-334, 2 figures in text. January 28, 1959. + +5. A new tortoise, genus Gopherus, from north-central Mexico. By John M. +Legler. Pp. 335-343. April 24, 1959. + +6. Fishes of Chautauqua, Cowley and Elk counties, Kansas. By Artie L. +Metcalf. Pp. 345-400, 2 plates, 2 figures in text, 10 tables. May 6, +1959. + +7. Fishes of the Big Blue River Basin, Kansas. By W.L. Minckley, Pp. +401-442, 2 plates, 4 figures in text, 5 tables. May 8, 1959. + +8. Birds from Coahuila, Mexico. By Emil K. Urban. Pp. 443-516. August 1, +1959. + +9. Description of a new softshell turtle from the southeastern United +States. By Robert G. Webb. Pp. 517-525, 2 pls., 1 figure in text. August +14, 1959. + +10. Natural history of the ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata +Agassiz. By John M. Legler. Pp. 527-669, 16 pls., 29 figures in text. +March 7, 1960. + +Index Pp. 671-703. + +Vol. 12. 1. Functional morphology of three bats: Eumops, Myotis, +Macrotus. By Terry A. Vaughan. Pp. 1-153, 4 plates, 24 figures in text. +July 8, 1959. + +2. The ancestry of modern Amphibia: a review of the evidence. By +Theodore H. Eaton, Jr. Pp. 155-180, 10 figures in text. July 10, 1959. + +3. The baculum in microtine rodents. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 181-216, 49 +figures in text. February 19, 1960. + +4. A new order of fishlike Amphibia from the Pennsylvanian of Kansas. By +Theodore H. Eaton, Jr., and Peggy Lou Stewart. Pp. 217-240, 12 figures +in text. May 2, 1960. + +More numbers will appear in volume 12. + +Vol. 13. 1. Five natural hybrid combinations in minnows (Cyprinidae). By +Frank B. Cross and W.L. Minckley. Pp. 1-18. June 1, 1960. + +2. A distributional study of the amphibians of the isthmus of +Tehuantepec, Mexico. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 19-72, pls. 1-8, 3 +figs. August 16, 1960. + +3. A new subspecies of the slider turtle (Pseudemys scripta) from +Coahuila, Mexico. By John M. Legler. Pp. 73-84, pls. 9-12, 3 figures in +text. August 16, 1960. + +4. Autecology of the Copperhead. By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 85-288, pls. +13-20, 26 figures in text. November 30, 1960. + +5. Occurrence of the Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, in the Great +Plains and Rocky Mountains. By Henry S. Fitch and T. Paul Maslin. Pp. +289-308, 4 figures in text. February 10, 1961. + +6. Fishes of the Wakarusa River in Kansas. By James E. Deacon and Artie +L. Metcalf. Pp. 309-32 2, 1 figure in text. February 10, 1961. + +7. Geographic variation in the North American Cyprinid Fish, Hybopsis +gracilis. By Leonard J. Olund and Frank B. Cross. Pp. 323-348, pls. +21-24, 2 figures in text. February 10, 1961. + +8. Descriptions of two species of frogs, Genus Ptychohyla--studies of +American hylid frogs, V. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 349-357, pls. 25, 2 +figures in text. April 27, 1961. + +More numbers will appear in volume 13. + +Vol. 14. 1. Neotropical bats from western Mexico. By Sydney Anderson. +Pp. 1-8. October 24, 1960. + +2. Geographic variation in the harvest mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis +on the central Great Plains and in adjacent regions. By J. Knox Jones, +Jr. and B. Mursaloglu. Pp. 9-27, 1 figure in text. July 24, 1961. + +3. Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. By Sydney Anderson. +Pp. 29-67, pls. 1-2, 3 figures in text. July 24, 1961. + +More numbers will appear in volume 14. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, +Colorado, by Sydney Anderson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAMMALS--MESA VERDE NAT. PARK *** + +***** This file should be named 31035-8.txt or 31035-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/0/3/31035/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, Greg Bergquist +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/31035-8.zip b/31035-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a58d42e --- /dev/null +++ b/31035-8.zip diff --git a/31035-h.zip b/31035-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2868947 --- /dev/null +++ b/31035-h.zip diff --git a/31035-h/31035-h.htm b/31035-h/31035-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9521a43 --- /dev/null +++ b/31035-h/31035-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2576 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Mammals of Mesa Verde National + Park, Colorado, by Sydney Anderson. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +<!-- + p { + margin-top : 0.75em; + text-align : justify; + margin-bottom : 0.75em; + text-indent : 1.25em; + line-height : 130%; + } + + h1 { + text-align : center; + clear : both; + font-size : 2.1em; + font-weight : normal; + } + + h2 { + text-align : center; + clear : both; + font-size : 1.4em; + font-weight : normal; + } + + hr { + width : 50%; + margin-top : 2em; + margin-bottom : 2em; + margin-left : auto; + margin-right : auto; + clear : both; + } + + body { + margin-left : 10%; + margin-right : 10%; + } + + .pagenum { + display : inline; + font-size : 0.8em; + text-align : right; + position : absolute; + right : 2%; + text-indent : 0; + padding : 1px 1px; + font-style : normal; + font-family : garamond, serif; + font-variant : normal; + font-weight : normal; + text-decoration : none; + color : #000; + background-color : #ccff66; + } + + .center { + text-align : center; + text-indent : 0; + } + + .smcap { + font-variant : small-caps; + } + + .noin { + text-indent : 0; + } + + .hang { + text-indent : -1.5em; + margin-left : 2em; + } + + .blockquot { + margin-left : 5%; + margin-right : 10%; + font-size : 90%; + } + + .caption { + font-weight : normal; + font-size : 0.85em; + text-align: justify; + + } + + .figcenter { + margin : auto; + text-align : center; + } + + .index { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + +--> + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, +Colorado, by Sydney Anderson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado + +Author: Sydney Anderson + +Release Date: January 21, 2010 [EBook #31035] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAMMALS--MESA VERDE NAT. PARK *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, Greg Bergquist +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">University of Kansas Publications</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Museum of Natural History</span></p> + +<p class="center">Volume 14, No. 3, pp. 29–67, pls. 1 and 2, 3 figs. in text</p> + +<p class="center">July 24, 1961<br /><br /><br /></p> + +<h1>Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, +Colorado</h1> + +<p class="center">BY</p> + +<p class="center">SYDNEY ANDERSON<br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">University of Kansas</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Lawrence</span><br /> +1961</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History</span><br /> +<br /> +Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch,<br /> +Robert W. Wilson<br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +Volume 14, No. 3, pp. 29–67, pls. 1 and 2, 3 figs. in text<br /> +Published July 24, 1961<br /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> +<span class="smcap">University of Kansas</span><br /> +Lawrence, Kansas<br /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> +<small>PRINTED IN<br /> +THE STATE PRINTING PLANT<br /> +TOPEKA, KANSAS<br /> +1961<br /> +<br /> +28–7577<br /> +</small></p> + + + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Mammals_of_Mesa_Verde_National_Park_Colorado" id="Mammals_of_Mesa_Verde_National_Park_Colorado"></a>Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado</h2> + +<p class="center">BY<br /> + +<small>SYDNEY ANDERSON</small></p> + + + +<p class="center">INTRODUCTION</p> + + +<p>A person standing on the North Rim of the Mesa Verde in southwestern +Colorado sees a vast green plain sloping away to the south. The plain +drops 2000 feet in ten miles. On a clear evening, before the sun reaches +the horizon, the rays of the sun are reflected from great sandstone +cliffs forming the walls of deep canyons that appear as crooked yellow +lines in the distance. Canyon after canyon has cut into the sloping +green plain. These canyons are roughly parallel and all open into the +canyon of the Mancos River, which forms the southern boundary of the +Mesa Verde. If the observer turns to the north he sees the arid +Montezuma Valley 2000 feet below. A few green streaks and patches in the +brown and barren low country denote streams and irrigated areas. To the +northeast beyond the low country the towering peaks of the San Miguel +and La Plata mountains rise more than 4000 feet above the vantage point +on the North Rim at 8000 feet. To the northwest, in the hazy distance 90 +miles away in Utah, lie the isolated heights of the La Sal Mountains, +and 70 miles away, the Abajo Mountains (<a href="#Fig_1">see Fig. 1</a>).</p> + +<p>In the thirteenth century, harassed by nomadic tribes and beset by years +of drouth, village dwelling Indians left their great cliff dwellings in +the myriad canyons of the Mesa Verde, and thus ended a period of 1300 +years of occupancy. The story of those 1300 years, unfolded through +excavation and study of the dwellings along the cliffs and earlier +dwellings on the top of the Mesa, is one of the most fascinating in +ancient America. To stop destructive commercial exploitation of the +ruins, to preserve them for future generations to study and enjoy, and +to make them accessible to the public, more than 51,000 acres, including +approximately half of the Mesa, have been set aside as Mesa Verde +National Park, established in 1906. The policies of the National Park +Service provide protection, not only for the features of major interest +in each park, but for other features as well. Thus the policy in Mesa +Verde National Park is not only to preserve the many ruins, but also the +wildlife and plants.</p> + +<p>Five considerations prompted me to undertake a study of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> mammals of +Mesa Verde National Park: First, the relative lack of disturbance; +second, the interesting position, zoogeographically, of the Mesa that +extends as a spur of higher land from the mountains of southwestern +Colorado and that is almost surrounded by arid country typical of much +of the Southwest; third, the discovery in the Park of <i>Microtus +mexicanus</i>, a species of the Southwest until then not known from +Colorado; fourth, the co-operative spirit of the personnel at the Park +when I visited there in 1955; and finally, the possibility of making a +contribution not only to our knowledge of mammals, but to the +interpretive program of the Park Service.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="Fig_1" id="Fig_1"></a> +<img src="images/figure1.jpg" width="500" height="462" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 1.</span> Map of the "four corners" region showing the +position of Mesa Verde National Park (in black) relative to the mass of +the Southern Rocky Mountains above 8000 feet elevation (indicated by +stippled border) to the northeast in Colorado, and the positions of +other isolated mountains in the region.</span> +</div> + +<p>A Faculty Research Grant from The University of Kansas provided some +secretarial help and field expenses for August and early September, +1956, when my wife, Justine, and I spent our vacation enjoyably +collecting and studying animals in the Park. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>co-operation of Dr. E. +Raymond Hall is greatly appreciated; a grant to him from the American +Heart Association provided field expenses for work by Mr. J.R. Alcorn, +collector for The University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, in +1957.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harold R. Shepherd of Mancos, Colorado (Senior Game Biologist for +the State of Colorado, Department of Game and Fish), provided advice in +the field, helped in identifying plants, and saved specimens of rodents +(in 1958 and 1959) taken in his studies of the effect of rodents on +browse utilized by deer. Mr. J.D. Hart, Assistant Director of the +Department of Game and Fish, issued a letter of authority to collect in +Colorado; and Superintendent O.W. Carlson approved my appointment as a +collaborator. Mr. "Don" Watson, then Park Archeologist, and Mrs. Jean M. +Pinkley, now Park Archeologist, assisted us in 1956, and since then have +provided advice and assistance, and have reviewed the manuscript of this +report.</p> + +<p>Geologically, the Mesa Verde is the northern edge of a Cretaceous, +coal-bearing, sandstone deposit called the Mesaverde group, which dips +beneath the San Juan Basin of New Mexico. An abrupt retreating +escarpment commonly forms on arid plateaus underlain by horizontal rocks +of unequal strength, and characterizes the borders of mesas. Such an +escarpment forms the North Rim of the Mesa Verde. However, the dip of +the rocks has channelled drainage southward and erosion has cut +numerous, deep, parallel-sided canyons rather than a simple, retreating +escarpment. The Mesa Verde therefore is, technically speaking, a cuesta +rather than a mesa. The remnants of the plateau left between the canyons +are also (and again incorrectly in the technical sense) called mesas; +Chapin Mesa and Wetherill Mesa are examples.</p> + +<p>Climatically, the Mesa Verde is arid; precipitation averaged 18.41 +inches per year for a period of 37 years. Precipitation may be scattered +through the year, and more important, may be erratic from month to month +and from year to year. In addition to low precipitation and periods of +drouth, a great amount of sunshine, and thin, well-drained soils on all +but the more sheltered parts of the Mesa favor vegetation that requires +neither great amounts of, nor a continuous supply of, water.</p> + +<p>The vegetation of the Mesa is illustrated in Plates 1 and 2, and +consists predominantly of pinyon pine, <i>Pinus edulis</i> Engelm., and Utah +juniper, <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> (Torr.) Little. More sheltered areas +along the North Rim and in most of the canyons support scattered small +stands of Douglas fir, <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> (Merb.) Franco. These +are the "spruce trees" of Spruce Tree Canyon. An occasional ponderosa +pine, <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> Laws., represents a vestige of more montane +species of plants and animals in the Park. The dusky grouse, +<i>Dendragapus obscurus</i> (Say), occurs along the North Rim in +oak-chaparral, and is one of the few montane species of birds; several +montane mammals are discussed later. The vegetation of the Mesa Verde +has not changed appreciably in the last thousand years. The tree rings +of 13 centuries show that Douglas fir has grown essentially as it does +now, varying with precipitation from year to year, and periodically +suffering from drouth (Schulman, 1946:18). Surface ruins yield mostly +pinyon and juniper; cave ruins yield more Douglas fir than surface +ruins; and "only rarely does yellow pine [<i>Pinus ponderosa</i>] occur in +the ruins, indicating that then, as now, this tree grew only in the +northern and higher parts of the Mesa Verde, remote from most of the +ruins" (Getty, 1935:21).</p> + +<p>Not all areas within the Park are undisturbed. The rights of way of +roads are kept clear, as are campgrounds and other facilities in the +area of headquarters. Part of the Mancos Valley within the Park is +privately owned and is still in agricultural use. Cattle from land +belonging to the Ute Indians wander into the Park from the Mancos Canyon +along the floor of the canyon above the mouth of Weber Canyon. In +addition to the pasture near headquarters, Prater Canyon below a fence +across the canyon above Middle Well is used to pasture horses used by +visitors to the Park and belonging to the pack and saddle concessioner. +In 1956, the floor of Long Canyon was grazed by stock belonging to Utes, +and horses ranged freely onto Wetherill Mesa as far as the North Rim. +Occasionally livestock enter the floor of other canyons, for example +Navajo, Soda, Prater, Morfield, and Waters canyons, owing to inadequate +fencing, or no fencing.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="Fig_2" id="Fig_2"></a> +<img src="images/figure2.jpg" width="500" height="486" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 2.</span> Map of Mesa Verde National Park and vicinity. The +map and this legend provide the names of places mentioned in the +following accounts of mammals. Localities from which specimens have been +preserved are indicated by dots. Localities within ½ mile of each +other are not indicated by separate dots. Unnumbered dots designate some +of the places from which specimens were obtained. The numbered dots are: +(1) Prater Grade; (2) Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft.; (3) Chickaree +Draw, 8200 ft.; (4) ¼ mi. N Middle Well, 7500 ft., Prater Canyon; (5) +east side of Morfield Canyon about one mile below the well; (6) Lower +Well, Prater Canyon; (7) Sect. 27, head of east fork Navajo Canyon; (8) +Far View, designated on various specimens as Far View Ruins, Far View +Point, and Far View House, 7700 ft.; (9) localities designated Utility +Area, and Well, "Park Well," or "Old Park Well"; (10) Headquarters, +including the designations 25 mi. [by road] SW Mancos, Museum, Hospital, +head of Spruce Tree Canyon, Spruce Tree House, and Spruce Tree Lodge; +(11) Cliff Palace, across the canyon about ¼ mile southwest are Sun +Temple and Oak Tree Ruin; (12) Square Tower House; (13) Balcony House; +(14) Indian Cornfield, "Cornfield," or "Garden."</span> +</div> + +<p>The first mammals from the Mesa to be preserved for scientific study +were seven specimens in the United States National Museum (designated +USNM in lists of specimens examined) obtained by Merritt Cary in 1907, +and mentioned in his "Biological Survey of Colorado" (Cary, 1911). In +1931 and 1932, R.L. Landberg obtained a few specimens that are in the +Denver Museum of Natural History. In 1935, C.W. Quaintance, Lloyd White, +Harold P. Pratt, and A.E. Borell prepared specimens, some of which +remain in the museum at the Park (all specimens in the museum at the +Park are designated by "MV" for Mesa Verde and by their catalogue<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +numbers), and some are in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the +University of California at Berkeley (designated "MVZ" in the following +accounts). Specimens in The University of Kansas Museum of Natural +History are referred to by catalogue numbers only. Specimens prepared by +D. Watson bear dates from 1936<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> until 1955. In 1938, Raymond F. Harlow +prepared some specimens; his Student Technician's Report of 7 typescript +pages, for July 8 to September 9, 1938, is on file at Mesa Verde +National Park. In 1944 and 1945, Dr. D.A. Sutton, then a student at the +University of Colorado, collected chipmunks for his own study, and also +some other specimens that are in the University of Colorado Museum and +the Park Museum. In 1949, Dr. R.B. Finley, then a student at The +University of Kansas, collected in and near the Park and obtained a few +specimens preserved in The University of Kansas Museum of Natural +History. Rodents preserved by Harold R. Shepherd have been mentioned. I +have examined 244 specimens that were collected by the above persons. +Between August 8 and September 4, 1956, and on July 17, 1960, I +collected 216 mammals from Mesa Verde National Park. Between November 3, +and 12, 1957, J.R. Alcorn collected 275 mammals from the Mesa. The total +of specimens examined is 735.</p> + +<p>Written reports by C.W. Quaintance, H.P. Pratt, and R. Harlow have been +of considerable use. A typescript report of 13 pages by Wildlife +Technician H.P. Pratt for the period from September 9 to October 15, +1935, and monthly reports comprising 40 typescript pages and 4 pages +with photographs by C.W. Quaintance for the period from February 18 +through July 17, 1935, are on file at offices of Region Four, National +Park Service, 180 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco 5, California. +Chief Ranger Wade has kindly made available the files in his office, +including reports of the Superintendent and reports of the Chief Ranger +in earlier years, and Annual or Biennial Animal Census Reports since +1930. Special reports on prairie dogs, porcupines, and deer are in the +files. These reports, and random reports that were regarded as reliable, +are recorded on card files in both the Chief Ranger's office and Park +Archeologist's office. Most of the information reported here on the +larger mammals was gleaned from the above sources. A study of population +fluctuations in porcupines by Donald A. Spencer and perhaps a study of +movements of porcupines by Spencer, Wade and Fitch are to be published +elsewhere. Other studies still in progress are mentioned in the +following accounts.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="ACCOUNTS_OF_SPECIES" id="ACCOUNTS_OF_SPECIES"></a>ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES</h2> + + +<p class="center"><b>Sorex merriami leucogenys</b> Osgood<br /> Merriam's Shrew</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimen</i>: MV 7898/507, head of Navajo Canyon (locality No. 7 in +<a href="#Fig_2">Fig. 2</a>), October 21, 1954. </p></div> + +<p>This was the third reported specimen of the rare Merriam's shrew from +Colorado (Rodeck and Anderson, 1956:436).</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Sorex vagrans obscurus</b> Merriam<br /> Wandering Shrew</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 8: Morfield Canyon, 7600 ft., 75972, +75973; Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., 69235–69238; ¼ mi. N +Middle Well, Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., 69239–69240. </p></div> + +<p>The specimens from Prater Canyon were trapped in the grasses and sedges +of the meadow comprising the floor of the canyon. The ground and +vegetation were dry at the time of capture, September 2, 3, and 4, 1956. +<i>Microtus montanus</i> was the only other species taken in the mouse traps +in the sedge and grass. Five of the six specimens from Prater Canyon are +young, having slightly worn teeth; the sixth is an old adult male the +teeth of which are so much worn that only a few traces of the +reddish-brown pigment remain. His testes were 5 mm. long. These +specimens are from an area of intergradation between <i>S. v. obscurus</i> +and <i>S. v. monticola</i>. The length of the maxillary tooth-row in these +six specimens averaged 6.23 (6.1–6.4) millimeters. Comparison with +average measurements of 6.6 and 6.8 in samples of <i>S. v. obscurus</i>, and +of 5.9 in a sample of <i>S. v. monticola</i> (Findley, 1955:64, 65) reveals +the intermediate size of the specimens from the Mesa Verde. The gap +between habitat suitable for <i>Sorex vagrans</i> on the Mesa Verde and the +nearest record-station for <i>S. v. monticola</i> to the south and west in +the Chuska Mountains is wider than the gap between the Mesa Verde and +the nearest record-station for <i>S. v. obscurus</i> to the north and east, +one mile west of Mancos, 75971, 7000 feet, or at Silverton. On +geographic grounds the specimens from the Mesa Verde are referred to <i>S. +v. obscurus</i>. The two specimens from Morfield Canyon were trapped on +November 4, 1957, and are grayish above and silvery below. Their pelage +contrasts markedly with the dorsally brownish and ventrally buffy pelage +of the September-taken specimens from Prater Canyon.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><b>Myotis californicus stephensi</b> Dalquest<br /> California Myotis</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—-Total, 3: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69243, +69246, August 21 and 22, 1956; 4505 Denver Museum, within the Park +(exact locality not recorded), R.L. Landberg, July 27, 1931. </p></div> + +<p>The specimens from Rock Springs were an adult male and a non-pregnant +adult female. Both were shot over the road in pinyon and juniper. The +specimens are referred to <i>M. c. stephensi</i> on account of their +paleness, <i>stephensi</i> being paler than <i>M. c. californicus</i> from east of +Mesa Verde in Colorado.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Myotis evotis evotis</b> (H. Allen)<br /> Long-eared Myotis</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 4: Chickaree Draw, Prater Canyon, +8200 ft., MV 7841/507, probably in the summer of 1935; Rock +Springs, 7400 ft., 69241, August 23, 1956, and 69249, August 18, +1956; Museum, Headquarters, 6950 ft., 69251, August 24, 1956. </p></div> + +<p>An adult male (69241) was taken in a Japanese mist net stretched fifteen +feet across a dirt road where it entered the stand of pinyon and juniper +at the south edge of the burn on Wetherill Mesa between 7:20 and 8:30 +p.m.; at the same place and time I captured five other bats of four +species: <i>Myotis thysanodes</i>, <i>Myotis subulatus</i>, <i>Eptesicus fuscus</i>, +and <i>Plecotus townsendii</i>. A piece of mist net attached to an aluminum +hoop-net two and one half feet in diameter was used to good advantage in +capturing bats rebounding from the larger mist net, and in frightening +bats into the larger net when they approached closely. An adult male +(69249) was shot at 7:20 p.m. while flying six to eight feet from the +ground between pinyon trees up to 20 feet high; the air temperature was +70° F. A female (69251) was found seemingly exhausted on the floor in +the museum at Park Headquarters in the daytime, and was immature as +indicated by small size, open basicranial sutures, unworn teeth, weakly +ossified zygoma, and open epiphyseal sutures of phalanges.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Myotis subulatus melanorhinus</b> (Merriam)<br /> Small-footed Myotis</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 8: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69242, +69244, 69245, 69247, 69248, August 21 to 23, 1956; Hospital, Park +Headquarters, MV 7886/507, ♂, July 12, 1939; Headquarters, +MV 7877/507, ♀, August 30, 1938; 4504 Denver Museum, +within the Park (exact locality not recorded), R.L. Landberg, July +27, 1931. </p></div> + +<p>The specimens from Rock Springs are two adult males that were shot, and +one adult male, one adult female, and one young male<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> that were netted +at the place described in the account of <i>Myotis evotis</i>. The three +adult males are near the average color of <i>M. s. melanorhinus</i>, and +distinctly darker than the <i>Myotis californicus</i> from the Mesa Verde. In +the female the pelage is paler and brighter, and the ears and membranes +are darker, than in <i>M. californicus</i>.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Myotis thysanodes thysanodes</b> Miller<br /> Fringed Myotis</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimen</i>: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69250, ad. ♀, August +23, 1956; taken in net as noted in account of <i>Myotis evotis</i>. </p></div> + + +<p class="center"><b>Myotis volans interior</b> Miller<br /> Long-legged Myotis</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimen</i>: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69252, ad. ♀, August +21, 1956; shot over road. </p></div> + + +<p class="center"><b>Eptesicus fuscus pallidus</b> Young<br /> Big Brown Bat</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimen</i>: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69253, ad. ♀, August +23, 1956; taken in net as noted in account of <i>Myotis evotis</i>. </p></div> + + +<p class="center"><b>Plecotus townsendii pallescens</b> (Miller)<br /> Townsend's Big-eared Bat</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 5: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69254, ad. +♀, non-pregnant, August 23, 1956; Square Tower House, +6700 ft., 69255–69258, March, 1955. </p></div> + +<p>The specimen from Rock Springs was taken in a net as noted in the +account of <i>Myotis evotis</i>. The specimens from Square Tower House were +obtained by D. Watson in a dimly lighted chamber formed by fracture in +the rocks at the bottom of the canyon wall, above the talus slope. The +bats were suspended from the wall of the chamber, which was at least six +feet wide and fifteen feet long.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana</b> (Saussure)<br /> Brazilian Free-tailed Bat</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 2: Cliff Palace, 6800 ft., MV +7862/507 and 7863/507, males, both collected by A.E. Borell, on +August 23, 1936. </p></div> + + +<p class="center"><b>Lepus californicus texianus</b> Waterhouse<br /> Black-tailed Jackrabbit</p> + +<p>The black-tailed jackrabbit inhabits the Montezuma Valley to the north +of the Mesa Verde and the Mancos Valley to the northeast, and has been +seen occasionally on the top of the Mesa according to reports with date +and locality noted in the files at the Park for the years 1941, 1942, +1947, 1948, 1950, and 1951. In 1942 four observations were made, in 1950 +and 1951 two observations were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> recorded each year, and in other years +only one observation was recorded each year. Nine observations are for +Chapin Mesa south of Far View; only two observations are for higher +elevations on the North Rim.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Sylvilagus audubonii warreni</b> Nelson<br /> Desert Cottontail</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 2: Head of Prater Canyon, MV +7850/507; Far View Ruins, 75974, ad. ♀, non-pregnant, +November 8, 1957. </p></div> + +<p>One specimen was shot, while it was sitting near a pile of logs, by J.R. +Alcorn by means of a bow and arrow. Although <i>S. audubonii</i> occurs on +the Mesa along with <i>S. nuttallii</i>, <i>S. audubonii</i> is the species of the +lowlands throughout the western United States at the latitude of Mesa +Verde National Park. For example, <i>S. a. warreni</i> (69260) but not <i>S. n. +pinetis</i> was obtained along the east side of the Mancos River at 6200 +feet elevation (less than 50 yards outside the Park) and the same was +true at the same elevation at a place 4½ mi. N of the Park (No. 69259 +from 2 mi. E Cortez).</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Sylvilagus nuttallii pinetis</b> (J.A. Allen)<br /> Nuttall's Cottontail</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 3: ad. ♂, 69263, skull only, +dead on road, 1¾ mi. N Park Headquarters, 7275 feet, August 9, +1956; ad. ♀, 69261, no embryos, dead on road, ¾ mi. S +and 1¾ mi. W Park Point, 8000 ft, August 8, 1956; ad. ♂, +69262, shot in brushy area on the burn on Wetherill Mesa 2 mi. NNW +Rock Springs, 7900 ft., August 24, 1956. </p></div> + +<p>Nuttall's cottontail in Colorado is in general the cottontail of the +highlands, and the three localities just mentioned are on the top of the +Mesa Verde.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Sciurus aberti mimus</b> Merriam<br /> Abert's Squirrel</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 2: ♂, MV 7872/507, prepared +by D. Watson, killed by a car "near" the Park Well on September 24, +1937; ♀ (an unnumbered cased skin only), found dead +"near" the Park Well on June 21, 1937. </p></div> + +<p>Since 1934 these squirrels have been observed and recorded each year +except in 1938, 1943, 1947, 1953, 1957, and 1958. The 77 reported +observations can be grouped as follows: 11 from within a mile of the +entrance to the Park, 14 from the North Rim or higher parts of canyons +adjacent to it, 38 from Chapin Mesa south of Far View, and 14 not +classifiable. The large number of observations on Chapin Mesa, chiefly +in the vicinity of Park Headquarters, indicates the presence of more +observers rather than more squirrels in this area.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><b>Tamiasciurus hudsonicus fremonti</b> (Audubon and Bachman)<br /> Red Squirrel</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 2: MV 7843/507, Chickaree Draw, +Prater Canyon, 1935, C.W. Quaintance and Lloyd White; ♀, +69264, no embryos, ¼ mi. NNW Middle Well, Prater Canyon, 7600 +ft., August 31, 1956. </p></div> + +<p>Red squirrels, or chickarees as they are called in Colorado, are known +from only one place on the Mesa Verde, a side canyon on the west side of +Prater Canyon above Middle Well. This side canyon has been named +Chickaree Draw by C.W. Quaintance, who, with Lloyd White, studied the +chickaree there in 1935. Quaintance reported the small colony at 7800 +feet elevation in Douglas fir beneath which were found piles of cones +from which the seeds had been eaten by the chickarees. On May 29, 1935, +White observed a chickaree eating green oak leaves. On June 3, 1935, a +nest was found in an old hollow snag up under the rim rock; there were +four young squirrels in the nest. At least one nest was in a juniper and +was composed mostly of oak leaves and grass. One nest twenty-five feet +from the ground in a Douglas fir was composed of oak leaves and finely +shredded cedar bark. In August, 1956, I found these squirrels in the +same area and I shot one specimen. Other chickarees were seen and heard +and the characteristic piles of parts of Douglas fir cones still attest +to their presence. On September 1, 1953, D. Watson observed a pair of +chickarees in Prater Canyon. The only other specific record in the files +at the Park is of two seen in a branch of Soda Canyon in late 1956. Jean +Pinkley tells me that chickarees have been observed in 1958 and 1959 at +several other localities from Prater Canyon to the hill at the head of +Navajo Canyon. The extent to which increased observations indicate an +increase in number of chickarees is uncertain, since the amounts of time +spent in the field and the percentage of observations recorded are not +known.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Marmota flaviventris luteola</b> A.H. Howell<br /> Yellow-bellied Marmot</p> + +<p>Records are available of observations at 14 different places in the Park +and in 19 different years between 1930 and 1960. Approximately +two-thirds of the observations have been on Prater Grade or in upper +Prater Canyon or in upper Morfield Canyon. On the morning of August 24, +1956, Harold Shepherd and I heard the whistle of an animal that he was +certain was a marmot, 2 mi. NNW of Rock Springs at the west rim of +Wetherill Mesa. Mr. Shepherd has worked in areas occupied by marmots for +years in southwestern<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> Colorado. Wetherill Mesa is the locality farthest +west in the Park where marmots are known to occur. They occur as far +south as Cliff Palace.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Cynomys gunnisoni zuniensis</b> Hollister<br /> Gunnison's Prairie Dog</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 3: MV 7836/507, Prater Canyon, 7600 +ft., C.W. Quaintance and L. White, May 24, 1935; ♀, MV +7847/507, head of Prater Canyon, June 13, 1935, C.W. Quaintance +(the skin is on display); MV 7887/507, Prater Canyon, September 1, +1939. </p></div> + +<p>C.W. Quaintance in reports on the results of his work in 1935 included +the following information:</p> + +<p>On February 20 in Prater Canyon Ranger Markley noticed that prairie dogs +were active although about three feet of snow lay on the ground. Between +April 15 and May 15 approximately 500 prairie dogs were in Prater Canyon +above Lower Well; through field glasses 350 were counted. Young were +first noted in Prater Canyon on July 12. Quaintance and Lloyd White had +under observation two bulky nests of the red-tailed hawk in the tops of +tall Douglas firs in side draws of Prater Canyon. Quaintance found near +the rimrock a quarter of a mile from the prairie-dog town the skeletons +of two prairie dogs between a sliver of a dead pinyon branch and the +branch itself. Another skeleton lay on a dead limb fifteen feet from the +ground. A red-tailed hawk once was observed to swoop down, seize a +prairie dog and fly down the canyon. The four colonies found in the Park +were in Prater Canyon, in Morfield Canyon, in the east fork of School +Section Canyon, and in Whites Canyon. The last two were smaller colonies +than the first two.</p> + +<p>Prairie dogs were observed away from these colonies. On June 20 a young +prairie dog ran into a culvert on the Knife Edge Section of the road. +Others were observed on the north side of the road, at the head of the +east prong of School Section Canyon, on the road west of Park Point, and +on the road at the head of Long Canyon five miles from the nearest known +colony in the Park. Possibly this last individual came from the +Montezuma Valley north of the Park. Mr. Prater, after whom Prater Canyon +is named, homesteaded on the Mesa Verde in 1899. He informed Quaintance +that prairie dogs were present in Morfield Canyon prior to 1900 but were +not in Prater Canyon in 1899. Prater said he drowned out a few that came +into Prater Canyon before 1914. In 1942, Chief Ranger Faha wrote in his +Annual Animal Census Report that he had interviewed an old time resident +(name not noted) who stated that prairie dogs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> were not present on the +Mesa Verde until about 1905 or 1906 and that Helen Morfield, the +daughter of Judge Morfield who homesteaded in Morfield Canyon, brought +the first prairie dogs on the Mesa Verde. Estimates of the prairie-dog +population in the Annual Animal Census Reports for 1935 through 1941 +were: 1935—800, 1936—650, 1937—650, 1938—650, 1939—no report, +1940—1500 and increasing, 1941—slight decrease. After 1942 more +adequate records were kept by Chief Ranger Wade and other Park Service +personnel.</p> + +<p>On August 9, 1943, occupied burrows of prairie dogs were found to be +thinly scattered down Prater Canyon from the head of the canyon at the +Maintenance Camp to a point about one hundred feet below the lower well. +The largest concentration was in the vicinity of the upper well near +Prater's Cabin. Little new digging that would indicate a spreading +population was noticed. Seemingly desirable, but unoccupied, habitat +extended at least two miles south of the inhabited area. In Morfield +Canyon, burrows were found from a point one hundred yards north of the +fence at the south boundary of Section 17, south for a mile and one-half +to a point one-third of a mile into Section 29. The greatest +concentration was in the vicinity of Morfield Well. South of this point +the burrows were found only along the narrow dry sides of the canyon and +in sage-covered areas at slightly higher elevations than the rest of the +floor of the canyon. Seemingly desirable habitat extended at least three +miles to the south and one mile to the north of the occupied area. The +report of the study in 1943 concluded with the statement that artificial +control by poisoning would be unwise and unnecessary. Requests were +being made at that time to exterminate prairie dogs in the Park on the +basis of the unproved assumption that prairie dogs move from the Park to +surrounding range land where extermination was then being attempted by +poisoning.</p> + +<p>On August 10, 1944, no occupied burrows were found in Whites Canyon or +the east fork of School Section Canyon. A heavy rain on August 9 made +accurate count of occupied burrows possible. In Prater Canyon the +occupied area extended 200 feet south of the area occupied in 1943. In +Morfield Canyon no change had occurred. North of the fence in Morfield +Canyon 130 occupied burrows were counted. More than one hole, if judged +to be part of the same burrow system, were counted as one. The +vegetation within the colony had continued to improve in spite of the +large population of prairie dogs.</p> + +<p>On August 8 and 14, 1945, although a careful search was made,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> the only +prairie dogs found in Prater Canyon were living in one burrow fifty +yards from the Maintenance Camp. In Morfield Canyon the colony had +decreased. Occupied burrows were found on the west side of the canyon +near the fence and above the well (17 burrows), and below the well on +the west side (estimated 30 burrows). The total population in both +canyons was estimated to be 100, compared with 800 in the preceding +year. The ground-water table was thought to be rising, and vegetation +was increasing.</p> + +<p>On August 12, 1946, two prairie dogs were observed in Prater Canyon, one +near the Maintenance Camp, and the other a mile to the south. In +Morfield Canyon 18 occupied burrows were found north of the fence and 36 +below the well, in the same two areas occupied in 1945.</p> + +<p>On August 12, 1947, two animals were seen at one of the localities +occupied a year earlier in Prater Canyon, and three burrows were +occupied. In Morfield Canyon 119 occupied burrows were counted. At least +12 dens occupied by badgers were present in 1946, and four in 1947.</p> + +<p>On August 9, 1948, no evidence of living prairie dogs was found in +Prater Canyon. In Morfield Canyon 45 burrows were counted north of the +fence. The grass had been increasing in abundance for several years.</p> + +<p>On August 18, 1949, no evidence of living prairie dogs was found in +either canyon. In 1951 five prairie dogs were said to have been seen in +Prater Canyon in June and July. No other observations have been +recorded.</p> + +<p>On June 22, 1956, 13 pups and 7 adult prairie dogs were released in an +enclosure in Morfield Canyon. Periodic inspections in the summer +revealed that the colony was surviving and healthy. By the following +spring no prairie dogs remained. Another reintroduction is planned this +year (1960).</p> + +<p>Both the history of the prairie dogs and the history of the viewpoint of +people toward them are interesting. Individual views have ranged from a +desire to exterminate all the prairie dogs to a desire to leave them +undisturbed by man.</p> + +<p>In review: The early history of prairie dogs on the Mesa Verde is not +well documented but reports are available of the absence of prairie dogs +before settlement by white men, and of introductions of prairie dogs. +Other reports indicate that prairie dogs have been observed far from +established colonies; therefore natural invasion may account for the +establishment of prairie dogs on the Mesa.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> Grazing of moderate to heavy +intensity by livestock continued in Morfield Canyon until 1941. +Cessation of grazing and above average precipitation were accompanied by +increased growth of vegetation in the colonies of prairie dogs. Mr. Wade +has suggested that flooding of burrows by ground water drove prairie +dogs from some lower parts of the floors of the canyons, and that +increased vegetation favored predators, primarily badgers and coyotes, +which further reduced the population. The abruptness of the decline, +especially in Prater Canyon, is consistent with the theory that some +epidemic disease occurred. This possibility was considered at the time +of the decline, and a Mobile Laboratory of the United States Public +Health Service spent from June 5 to June 25, 1947, in the Park +collecting rodents and their fleas for study. The primary concern was +plague, which had been detected in neighboring states. No evidence of +plague or of tularemia was reported after study of 494 small rodents +obtained from 13 localities in the Park. Only six prairie dogs (all from +Morfield Canyon) were studied. The negative report does not prove that +tularemia or some other disease was not a factor in the decimation of +the colony in Prater Canyon the year before.</p> + +<p>If prairie dogs were able to survive primarily because of over-grazing +by domestic animals, future introductions may fail. If disease was the +major factor in their disappearance, reintroductions may succeed.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Spermophilus lateralis lateralis</b> (Say)<br /> Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 10: highway at School Section Canyon, +MV 7894/507; Sect. 27, head of east fork of Navajo Canyon, 7900 +ft., 69265; and Prater Canyon, 7600 to 7800 ft., MV 7835/507, +7837/507, 7846/507, 7874/507, 7875/507, MVZ 74411–74413. </p></div> + +<p>In 1956, I observed <i>S. lateralis</i> ½ mi. W of Park Point, ¾ mi. WSW +Park Point, in the public campground at Park Headquarters, at the lower +well in Prater Canyon, and at two other places on the North Rim. Other +observations on file were made at Prater Grade, Park Point, "D" cut (on +North Rim 1 mi. WSW Park Point), and Morfield Canyon. A juvenile was +noted at Park Point on June 28, 1952, by Jean Pinkley, and five young +were seen together at "D" cut on July 3, 1935. The earliest observation, +also recorded by Jean Pinkley, was on February 1, 1947. All of the +localities with the exception of Park Headquarters are above 7500 feet, +and most of the localities are in vegetation that is predominantly +oak-brush.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><b>Spermophilus variegatus grammurus</b> (Say)<br /> Rock Squirrel</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 6: Head of Prater Canyon, MV +7876/507; Chickaree Draw, Prater Canyon, MV 7843/507, 7844/507; +Headquarters Area, MV 7888/507; Ruins Road ½ mi. NE of Cliff +Palace, MV 7893/507; and Spruce Tree House, 4334 in Denver Museum. </p></div> + +<p>Specimen number 7893/507 had 360 Purshia seeds in its cheek-pouches +according to a note on the label. On July 18, 1960, I found a young male +rock squirrel dead on the road a mile north of headquarters that had 234 +pinyon seeds in its cheek-pouches. Young, recorded as "half-grown," have +been observed in May and July. The first appearance may be as early as +January. In 1950, D. Watson thought that they did not hibernate, except +for a few days when the weather was stormy. I observed a rock squirrel +in August in the public campground at Park Headquarters sitting on its +haunches on a branch of a juniper some twelve feet from the ground and +eating an object held in its forefeet. The rock squirrel ranges +throughout the Park in all habitats.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Eutamias minimus operarius</b> Merriam<br /> Least Chipmunk</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 17: North Rim above Morfield Canyon, +MV 7856/507; Morfield Canyon, 7600 ft. (obtained on Nov. 4, 1957), +75976; Middle Well in Prater Canyon, 7500 ft, MV 7855/507; Prater +Canyon, 7600 ft., MVZ 74414; Park Point, 8525 ft., 69267–69270; ¼ +mi. S, ¾ mi. W Park Point, 8300 ft., 69271–69272; Sect. 27, head +of east fork of Navajo Canyon, 7900 ft., 69273; Far View Ruins, +7700 ft., 69274–69275, and two uncatalogued specimens in +preservative; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 ft., 69276–69277. </p></div> + +<p>Five of the fourteen specimens of known sex are females, all of which +were taken in August and September, and none of which is recorded as +having contained embryos. The skulls of the eight August-taken specimens +also suggest that young are born in late spring or early summer: the +largest skull had well-worn teeth that might indicate an age of more +than one year; four others had complete adult dentitions that were +barely worn; and three had not yet acquired complete adult dentitions.</p> + +<p>The records of <i>E. minimus</i>, like those of <i>Spermophilus lateralis</i>, +indicate greatest abundance in the higher parts of the Mesa Verde and in +areas of predominantly brushy vegetation.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Eutamias quadrivittatus hopiensis</b> Merriam<br /> Colorado Chipmunk</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 13: Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., MV +7838/507; Lower Well, Prater Canyon, 69278; Park Headquarters, MV +7889/507; near the old Park Well, 7300 ft., 5468 in Univ. of +Colorado collection; Utility Area,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> 5469 and 5470 in Univ. of +Colorado collection; Spruce Tree House, 4352–4355 in Denver Museum; +Mesa Verde, 25 mi. [by road] SW Mancos, 149080–149081 USNM; Square +Tower House, 7000 ft., 5467 in Univ. of Colorado collection. </p></div> + +<p>Although both species occur in some of the same areas, <i>E. q. hopiensis</i> +is more abundant than is <i>E. minimus</i> in stands of pinyon and juniper, +along cliffs, and at low elevations. (A specimen of <i>hopiensis</i>, MV +7849/507, from 3 mi. S of the Park boundary where the 6000 foot contour +line cross the Mancos River is indicative of the occurrence at low +elevations.)</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Thomomys bottae aureus</b> J.A. Allen<br /> Botta's Pocket Gopher</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 35: Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., +74408–74410 MVZ; Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., 69279; ¼ +mi. N Middle Well, Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., 69280; Middle Well, +Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., 69281–69285, 75977; Morfield Canyon, 7600 +ft., 75978; ¾ mi. S, 1¾ mi. W Park Point, 8000 ft, +69286–69288; 1¼ mi. S, 1¾ mi. W Park Point, 8000 ft., 69289; +1½ mi. S, 2 mi. W Park Point, 8075 ft., 69290; Sect. 27, head of +east fork Navajo Canyon, 7900 ft, 69291–69292; ½ mi. N Far View +Ruins, 7825 ft, 69293; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69294, MV +7852/507, 7853/507; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 ft., 69295–69298; +2½ mi. N, ½ mi. W Rock Springs, 8100 ft., 69299–69301; 2 mi. +N, ¼ mi. W Rock Springs, 69302–69303; 1 mi. NNW Rock Springs, +69304; ½ mi. NNW Rock Springs, 69305; Mesa Verde, northern end, +8100 ft., 149087 USNM. </p></div> + +<p>The pocket gophers of the Mesa Verde and vicinity are of one species, +<i>Thomomys bottae</i>. The distribution and variation of this species in +Colorado have been studied recently by Youngman (1958) who referred all +specimens from the Mesa Verde to <i>T. b. aureus</i>. He noted that some +specimens have dark diffuse dorsal stripes that are wide in specimens +from the Mancos River Valley. The generally darker color of the +specimens from the Mancos Valley as compared with that of specimens from +on the Mesa was noticed in the field, and is another example of the +local variability of pocket gophers. The nine specimens listed by +Youngman (1958:372) as from "Mesa Verde National Park," Mancos River, +6200 ft., are not here listed among "specimens examined" because +possibly some, or all, of the nine were trapped on the east side of the +River and therefore outside the Park. None was, however, farther than 30 +yards east of the Park.</p> + +<p>In the Park, pocket gophers occur both on mesa tops and in canyons. Most +of the localities listed above and others at which mounds were seen are +areas of disturbance such as the old burn on Wetherill Mesa, the rights +of way for roads, the river valley, and the grazed floor of Prater +Canyon. Little evidence of pocket gophers was found on unusually rocky +slopes, steep slopes, or in stands of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> pinyon and juniper or in +relatively pure stands of oak-brush. In addition to workability of the +soil, the presence of herbaceous plants, many of them weedy annuals, is +probably the most important factor governing the success of pocket +gophers in a local area. No female was recorded to have contained +embryos, but two had enlarged uteri or placental scars. This fact and +the capture of nine half-grown individuals indicate breeding prior to +late August when most specimens were trapped.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Dipodomys ordii longipes</b> (Merriam)<br /> Ord's Kangaroo Rat</p> + +<p>Kangaroo rats have been seen crossing the highway in the Park less than +one mile from the Park entrance by Jean Pinkley.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Castor canadensis concisor</b> Warren and Hall<br /> Beaver</p> + +<p>In 1935 Quaintance and White spent June 16 to June 20 in the Mancos +River Bottoms at the mouth of Weber Canyon, looking for sign of fresh +beaver work. They found none. Annual Animal Census Reports include the +following information based on patrols along the Mancos River at the +east boundary of the Park: 1937—estimate 4 beaver present, 1938—8, +1941—numerous bank burrows, 1942—uncommon, 1944—uncommon, 1945—most +concentrated at southeast corner, 1946—runs and two small dams seen +(flood had washed out larger dams), 1947—only in 1½ miles north of +boundary with Ute Reservation, 1949—two separate colonies (each with +dams and one with a large house), 1950—none, owing to drouth and +diversion of water upstream completely drying the river at times, +1951—none, 1953—present, 1955—present. On the Mancos River, 6200 ft., +in late August, 1956, sign of beaver was abundant, numerous trees had +been cut but none within a week, and a bank den was found on the west +side of the river extending back 50 feet from the stream and caved in at +three places. In 1959 dens were still present.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Reithrodontomys megalotis aztecus</b> J.A. Allen<br /> Western Harvest Mouse</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 38: North end Mesa Verde National +Park, 7000 ft, 75984–75986; Park Point, 8525 ft., 69316–69317; Far +View Ruins, 7700 ft, 69318–69319, 79220, MV 7897/507, and 23 +uncatalogued specimens in preservative; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 +ft., 69320–69321; 2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7900 ft., 69322–69323; 1 +mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7600 ft., 69324; ½ mi. NNW Rock Springs, +7500 ft., 69325. </p></div> + +<p>The specimen listed last (69325) was an adult male recovered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> from the +stomach of a small (snout-vent length 334 mm., wt. 26.0 gms.) <i>Crotalus +viridus</i> that was trapped in a Museum Special mouse-trap on a rocky +slope mostly barren of vegetation. The availability of samples taken in +August (by Anderson in 1956), in September (by Shepherd in 1958), and in +November (by Alcorn in 1957) makes the following comparison of age and +reproductive condition possible. The sample from November includes some +specimens from outside the Park as follows: 1 mi. W Mancos, Colorado, +75979–75983, and 2 mi. N La Plata [not shown on <a href="#Fig_2">Fig. 2</a>], San Juan +County, New Mexico, some 18 miles southeast of the Park, 75987–76000. +The data shown in <a href="#Fig_3">Figure 3</a> indicate that females are pregnant at least +from in August into November. A smaller percentage of females was +pregnant in November than in August or September. The fact that all +females more than 130 mm. long were pregnant in September suggests an +autumnal peak in breeding activity. A change in the ratio of small +individuals (less than 130 mm. in length) to large individuals (130 mm. +or more in length) is indicative of a sustained breeding period +throughout the time shown. In August the ratio was 1 to 2.3, in +September the ratio was 1 to 1.2, and the ratio was 1 to 0.7 in +November. The western harvest mouse is found usually in grassy areas.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Peromyscus boylii rowleyi</b> (J.A. Allen)<br /> Brush Mouse</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 14: North end Mesa Verde National +Park, 7000 ft., 76002–76003; Far View House, 7700 ft., MV 7851/507, +7854/507; Far View Point, 5 uncatalogued specimens in preservative; +½ mi. N Spruce Tree Lodge, 34742; 25 mi. [by road] SW Mancos, +149094 and 149096 USNM; Oak Tree Ruin, 6700 ft., MV 7870/507; and +Cliff Palace, 6800 ft., MV 7864/507. </p></div> + +<p>The specimens were taken in August, September, and November. One adult +female trapped on September 10, 1958, had six embryos.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Peromyscus crinitus auripectus</b> (J.A. Allen)<br /> Canyon Mouse</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 3: Mesa Verde [Spruce Tree Cliff +Ruins], 149095 USNM; Balcony House, MV 7865/507, 7866/507. </p></div> + + +<p class="center"><b>Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus</b> (Merriam)<br /> Deer Mouse</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 396: North end Mesa Verde National +Park, 7000 ft., 76004–76100; Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., 76101–76144, +MV 7839/507, 7840/507; Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., +69328–69329; Morfield Canyon, 7600 ft., 76145–76184; Park Point, +8525 ft., 69330–69342, 69344–69360; 1½ mi. E Waters Cabin, 6400 +ft. (labels on some specimens read "West Bank<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> Mancos River, +Northeast side Mesa Verde National Park"), 69361–69376, +76185–76204; Sect. 27, head of east fork Navajo Canyon, 7900 ft., +69377–69380, 69422–69426; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 ft., +69403–69410; 2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7900 ft., 69411–69412; 1 mi. +NNW Rock Springs, 7600 ft., 69413–69418; ½ mi. NNW Rock Springs, +7500 ft., 69419–69421; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69386–69402; Far +View Point, 76530–76531, 79221 and 90 uncatalogued specimens in +preservative; Mancos River, 6200 ft., 69382–69385; back of Park +Museum, 6930 ft., MV 7857/507; Mesa Verde, 25 mi. [by road] SW +Mancos, 149093 USNM; Cornfield, MV 7878/507. </p></div> + +<p>The most abundant mammal is the ubiquitous deer mouse. Series of +specimens taken in August (by Anderson in 1956), in September (by +Shepherd in 1958 and 1959), and in November (by Alcorn in 1957) make +possible the following comparisons of age, reproductive conditions, and +molts.</p> + +<p>The specimens obtained in August and November were placed in five +categories according to age (as judged by wear on the teeth). These +categories correspond in general to those used by Hoffmeister (1951:1) +in studies of <i>Peromyscus truei</i>. From his descriptions I judge that +wear in <i>Peromyscus maniculatus</i> differs from wear in <i>Peromyscus truei</i> +in that the last upper molar is not worn smooth before appreciable wear +appears on the first two molars, and the lingual and labial cusps wear +more nearly concurrently. The five categories differ as follows: +category 1, last upper molar in process of erupting, showing no wear; +category 2, some wear apparent on all teeth, but most cusps little worn; +category 3, greater wear on all teeth, lingual cusps becoming rounded or +flattened; category 4, lingual cusps worn smooth, labial cusps show +considerable wear; category 5, all cusps worn smooth. The condition of +the pelage was noted for each prepared skin. Hoffmeister (<i>op. cit.</i>: 4) +summarized changes in pelage that he observed in <i>Peromyscus truei</i>, and +he summarized earlier work by Collins with <i>Peromyscus maniculatus</i>. In +<i>P. maniculatus</i> a grayish juvenal pelage is replaced by a postjuvenal +pelage in which the hairs are longer and have longer, pale, terminal or +subterminal bands giving a paler and more buffy or ochraceous hue to the +dorsal pelage. The postjuvenal pelage is replaced by an adult pelage +that is either brighter or, in some cases, is not distinguishable with +certainty from the postjuvenal pelage. Not only is the juvenal pelage +distinguishable from the postjuvenal pelage, but the sequence of +ingrowth of postjuvenal pelage follows a regular pattern that is usually +different from that of subsequent molts. The loss of juvenal hair is +less readily observed than the ingrowth of new postjuvenal hair on +account of the greater time required for the growth of any individual +hair than for the sudden loss of a hair.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p><p>Molt was observed in some individuals no longer having juvenal pelage; +some new pelage was observed on the skins of seven mice collected in +August. Each of these was in category 4 or 5 and probably had been born +in the previous calendar year. These seven molting individuals make up +nearly 17 per cent of 42 individuals that had completed the juvenal to +postjuvenal molt. In November, 80 per cent of individuals (92 of 115) +that had previously obtained their postjuvenal or adult pelage were +molting. These mice were in age-categories 3, 4, and 5. Some of the +individuals in category 3 were developing new hair beneath a relatively +unworn bright pelage that I judge to be an adult pelage rather than a +postjuvenal pelage. If this judgment be correct and if the relatively +unworn dentition (category 3) means that these animals are young of the +year, we must conclude that individuals born in early summer may molt +from juvenal to postjuvenal, then to adult pelage, and finally in the +autumn into another adult pelage. Other individuals, six in number and +of categories 2 and 3, are simultaneously completing the juvenal to +postjuvenal molt and beginning the postjuvenal to adult molt. The +juvenal to postjuvenal molt begins, as has been described by various +authors, along the lateral line and proceeds dorsally and ventrally and +anteriorly and posteriorly, and the last patch to lose the gray juvenal +color is the top of head and nape, or less frequently the rump. In some +individuals a gray patch on the nape remained but emerging hair was not +apparent; perhaps the molt had been halted just prior to completion. The +progressing band of emerging hair is narrow in most specimens but in +some up to one-fifth of the circumference of the body has hair at the +same degree of emergence. Subsequent molts, both from postjuvenal to +adult pelage and between adult pelages, are less regular in point, or +points, of origin, width of progressing molt, and amount of surface +molting at one time. Half or more of the dorsum is oftentimes involved +in the same stage of molt at once. In some specimens the molt begins +along the lateral line, and in others in several centers on the sides. +In some skins distinct lines of molt are visible without parting the +hair, and in some others the molt is patchy in appearance. Growth of new +hair is apparent at various times of the year as a result of injury such +as that caused by bot fly larvae, cuts, scratches, or bites of other +mice. Abrasion, wear, irritation by ectoparasites, and other kinds of +injury to the skin may play a part in the development of a patchy molt. +Both breeding and molting are sources of considerable stress, and the +delay of the peak of molting activity until November when breeding +activity has decreased seems of benefit to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> the mice. A change in the +ratio of young mice (categories 1, 2, and 3) to old mice (categories 4 +and 5) between August and November was noted. In August, 29 per cent of +the population is composed of old mice, and in November only 6 per cent. +This change results from birth of young as well as death of old mice, +but may indicate that a mouse in November has less than one chance in +ten of being alive the following November. Some females born early in +the reproductive season breed in their first summer or autumn. For +example, a female of category 2, taken on August 12, and probably in +postjuvenal pelage, had placental scars. Undoubtedly the young of the +year contribute to the breeding population, especially late in the +season.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="Fig_3" id="Fig_3"></a> +<img src="images/figure3.jpg" width="600" height="848" alt="Fig. 3." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 3.</span> Frequency distributions, according to size, of +<i>Reithrodontomys megalotis</i> and <i>Peromyscus maniculatus</i> in three +samples taken in August, September, and November. Sexes and pregnancy or +nonpregnancy of females are indicated. See discussion in text.</span> +</div> + +<p>In <a href="#Fig_3">Figure 3</a> the proportion of females bearing embryos in August, +September, and November is shown. Of the females trapped in August, 11 +of 32 that were more than 144 mm. in total length contained embryos; an +additional 14 females were lactating or possessed placental scars or +enlarged uteri. Therefore, approximately 80 per cent of the larger +females were reproducing in August. In September two females were +pregnant and an additional sixteen of the 44 females examined showed +other evidence of reproduction; these eighteen females make up 41 per +cent of those more than 144 mm. in total length. The only reproductive +data available for November pertain to the presence or absence of +embryos. No female was pregnant although 35 females more than 144 mm. in +total length were examined. Some of the skins show prominent mammae +indicative of recent nursing, and juveniles less than a month old were +taken. The reproductive activity of deer mice on the Mesa Verde seems to +be greatly reduced in autumn.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Peromyscus difficilis nasutus</b> (J.A. Allen)<br /> Rock Mouse</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimen</i>: 1 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7600 ft., 69413, a young +individual completing the molt from juvenal to postjuvenal pelage. </p></div> + + +<p class="center"><b>Peromyscus truei truei</b> (Shufeldt)<br /> Pinyon Mouse</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 42: North end Mesa Verde National +Park, 7000 ft., 76220–76232; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69326–69327, +79222, and 8 uncatalogued specimens in preservative; Far View +Point, 76532–76535; Far View House, 7700 ft., 74416 MVZ; ½ mi. +NNW Rock Springs, 7500 ft., 69429–69430; Rock Springs, 7400 ft., +69431–69435; Park Well, 7450 ft., 69428; Headquarters, MV 7882/507; +back of Museum, MV 7879/507, 7880/507, 7881/507; Square Tower +House, 6700 ft., 69438. </p></div> + +<p>In August three females were pregnant or lactating, or both. None of +seven adult females taken in November was pregnant.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><b>Neotoma cinerea arizonae</b> Merriam<br /> Bushy-tailed Wood Rat</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimen</i>: Head of Prater Canyon, MV 7873/507. Another, in the +Denver Museum, from Spruce Tree House, was reported by Finley +(1958:270). </p></div> + +<p><i>Neotoma cinerea</i> prefers vertical crevices in high cliffs but occupies +other areas.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Neotoma mexicana inopinata</b> Goldman<br /> Mexican Wood Rat</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 10: Headquarters, MV 7890/507 and +probably 7861/507, 74421 MVZ; Spruce Tree Lodge, 6950 ft., +34802–34803; Spruce Tree House, 74419–74420 MVZ; Square Tower +House, MV 7869/507; Cliff Palace, 74422 MVZ; Balcony House, MV +7868/507. </p></div> + +<p>The Mexican wood rat is the most common species of wood rat on the Mesa +Verde. The two specimens from Spruce Tree Lodge obtained by R.B. Finley +on September 2, 1949, are young individuals.</p> + +<p><small>Another species of the genus, the white-throated wood rat, <i>Neotoma +albigula</i>, may occur within the Park, since three specimens +(34757–34759) from the Mesa Verde were trapped on September 15, +1949, by R.B. Finley, approximately 4½ miles south of the Park +[6 mi. E, 17 mi. S Cortez, 5600 ft.—south of the area shown in +<a href="#Fig_2">Figure 2</a>]. Finley (1958:450) stated that at that locality he +trapped <i>Neotoma mexicana</i> [No. 34801], that <i>N. albigula</i> was +perhaps more common there than <i>N. mexicana</i>, that dens of <i>N. +albigula</i> were more common than those of <i>N. mexicana</i> under large +rocks in the talus on the south slope of the Mesa, and that dens of +<i>N. mexicana</i> seemed to be more numerous in crevices of ledges in +the bedrock and cliffs.</small></p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Ondatra zibethicus osoyoosensis</b> (Lord)<br /> Muskrat</p> + +<p>D. Watson (in letter of January 16, 1957) reported that he has seen +muskrat tracks many times along the Mancos River. He also relates a +report received from Chief Ranger Wade and D.A. Spencer who saw a +muskrat, no doubt a wanderer, on the Knife Edge Road on a cold winter +night. These men, both reliable observers, stopped and saw the muskrat +at a distance of two feet, where it took shelter under a power shovel +parked beside the road. Reports of dens seen along the Mancos River are +available for 1944, 1945, 1946, and 1947.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Microtus longicaudus mordax</b> (Merriam)<br /> Long-tailed Vole</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 36: North end Mesa Verde National +Park, 7000 ft., 76233–76237; entrance to Mesa Verde National Park, +5123–5126 in Denver Museum; Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., 76238–76244; +Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., 69441; Morfield Canyon, 7600 +ft., 76245–76259, 76261–76263; west bank Mancos River, northeast +side Mesa Verde National Park, 76260. </p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p><p>The vegetation at the above-named localities is a combination of brush +and grasses that are both more luxuriant than in areas dominated by +pinyon and juniper on the more southern and altitudinally lower part of +the top of the Mesa where no <i>M. longicaudus</i> was taken.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Microtus mexicanus mogollonensis</b> (Mearns)<br /> Mexican Vole</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 22: Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., +76283–76287; Sect. 27, head of east fork of Navajo Canyon, 7900 +ft., 69442; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69443, 79223–79224; 2 mi. NNW +Rock Springs, 7900 ft., 69444–69446; Park Well, 7450 ft., +69447–69453; rock ledge at head of Spruce Tree Canyon, unnumbered +specimen in Denver Museum; Headquarters, MV 7895/507, 7896/507.</p></div> + +<p>The first specimen of the Mexican vole from Colorado was obtained on the +Mesa Verde and has been reported by Rodeck and Anderson (1956:436). +Specimens have now been taken at seven localities on the Mesa. Prater +Canyon is the only one of these localities at which any other species of +vole was taken. There <i>Microtus longicaudus</i> and <i>Microtus montanus</i> +were also obtained. Judging from the vegetation at the above localities, +<i>M. mexicanus</i> is to be expected in drier areas with less cover than <i>M. +montanus</i> inhabits, and in areas having less cover than those inhabited +by <i>M. longicaudus</i>.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Microtus montanus fusus</b> Hall<br /> Montane Vole</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 16: Upper Well, 7575 ft., +69454–69465; ¼ mi. N Middle Well, 7500 ft., 69466–69469. </p></div> + +<p>The voles were trapped in the dry but dense meadow of grass and sedge +covering the floor of the canyon (see Plate 1). <i>Sorex vagrans</i> was +trapped in the same places. Four of the females of <i>M. montanus</i> trapped +on September 3, 1956, were pregnant.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Erethizon dorsatum couesi</b> Mearns<br /> Porcupine</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 2: 69470, old ♀, and 69471, +her young male offspring, both obtained on August 28, 1956, in the +canyon of the Mancos River, 6200 feet, along the western side of +the River. </p></div> + +<p>I saw no other porcupine in the Park.</p> + +<p>In 1935, C.W. Quaintance took special notice of porcupines because of +the possibility, then being considered, of their being detrimental to +habitat conditions thought to be favorable to wild turkeys. Porcupines +were suspected of killing ponderosa pine,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> which occurred in only a few +places, and which was thought to be necessary for wild turkeys. +Porcupines were recorded as follows: one found dead on the road at the +North Rim on March 16; one killed in oak brush along the North Rim; one +killed between April 15 and May 15; oak brush damaged by porcupines in +Soda Canyon below the well; one seen on July 4 on the Poole Canyon +Trail; one seen at the foot of the Mesa on June 26; one seen by Lloyd +White in Moccasin Canyon on June 27; and one seen by Mrs. Sharon Spencer +on July 1 in Prater Canyon. After four months on the Mesa Verde, +Quaintance concluded that there were not so many porcupines as had been +expected and that there were more ponderosa pines than had been +expected.</p> + +<p>In 1946, Donald A. Spencer began a study of porcupines on the Mesa Verde +and in 1958 deposited, in the University of Colorado Library, his +results in manuscript form as a dissertation in partial fulfillment of +the requirements for a higher degree ("Porcupine population fluctuations +in past centuries revealed by dendrochronology," 108 numbered and 13 +unnumbered pages, 39 figures, and 13 tables). Dendrochronology, or the +dating of trees by studying their rings, is a technique widely used in +the southwest by archeologists, climatologists, and others. Spencer +found that porcupines damage trees in a characteristic manner, and that +damage to a pinyon pine was evident as long as the tree lived. By dating +approximately 2000 scars and plotting the year for each scar, Spencer +observed three peaks since 1865; these were in about 1885, 1905, and +1935. The increase and decrease each time were at about the same rate. +The study did not yield precise population estimates. Some porcupines +were destroyed but Spencer is of the opinion that the decline that came +in following years was independent of the control measures. Spencer +thinks that activities of porcupines on the Mesa Verde are a major +factor in maintaining a forest cover of relatively young trees, and also +in preventing invasion of trees into areas of brush.</p> + +<p>The general policy in regard to porcupines from 1930 to 1946 was to kill +them because they eat parts of trees. In at least the following years +porcupines were killed: 1930, 1933, 1935, 1940, 1943, 1944, and 1946. +The largest number reported killed in one year is 71 in 1933 when a crew +of men was employed for this purpose. The amount of effort devoted to +killing porcupines varied from year to year. The most frequently voiced +alarm was that the scenic value of the areas along the entrance highway +and near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> certain ruins was being impaired. The direst prediction was +that all pine trees on the Mesa Verde were doomed to extinction in the +near future. The last prediction has not come to pass, nor has this +extinction occurred in the past thousand years and more during which +pine trees and porcupines have existed together on the Mesa Verde.</p> + +<p>In 1946 the studies of Spencer, Wade, and Fitch began. Much effort was +expended in obtaining and dating scars for analysis, and the interesting +results mentioned above were the reward. Also many porcupines were +captured alive and marked with ear-tags so that they could be recognized +later. For example, in the winter of 1946 and 1947, 117 were marked in +Soda Canyon. A decline in numbers in recent years reduced the impetus +for continuation of the study by reducing the results obtained for each +day spent searching for porcupines. Information obtained on movements of +porcupines relative to season and weather conditions in these studies +may be summarized and published later. Data regarding ratio of young to +adult animals from year to year are also of interest.</p> + +<p>The effect of a porcupine on a single tree is often easy to assess. The +effect of a fluctuating population of porcupines on a mixed forest is +not so easy to assess, but is of more intrinsic interest. It is +desirable that studies designed to evaluate the latter effect continue +while the population remains low and also when the next cyclic increase +begins. Publication of Spencer's results would be a major step forward.</p> + +<p>Cahalane (1948:253) mentions the difficulty that has been experienced in +protecting aesthetically desirable trees around cliff dwellings. Perhaps +in a local area removal of porcupines is sometimes warranted, but +control of the porcupine seems undesirable to me, as a general policy, +because one purpose of a National Park is to preserve natural conditions +and that implies naturally occurring changes.</p> + +<p>What is needed is continued careful study of the ecological +relationships of animals and of plants. National parks provide, to the +extent that they are not disturbed or "controlled," especially favorable +places for studies of this sort.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Mus musculus</b> subsp.<br /> House Mouse</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 7: North end Mesa Verde National +Park, 7000 ft, 76290; west bank Mancos River northeast side Mesa +Verde National Park, 76291–76296. </p></div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><b>Canis latrans mearnsi</b> Merriam<br /> Coyote</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 3: 69472, skull only of a young +individual, found dead at the top of the bank of the Mancos River, +1½ mi. E Waters Cabin, 6400 ft., August 29, 1956, probably +killed by man; ad. ♂, 76298, taken by J.R. Alcorn, November +10, 1957, on the top of the Mesa at Square Tower House; and skin +and skull, MV 7858/507, without data. </p></div> + +<p>Tracks or scats of the coyote were seen in all parts of the Park +visited. Coyotes range throughout the area. On September 3, 1956, 35 +coyote scats were found on the dirt roads in Prater and Morfield canyons +above 7300 feet elevation and on the road crossing the divide between +these canyons. Probably none of these scats was more than a month old. +Coyote tracks were seen at some of the fresher scats. Scats associated +with fox tracks and scats of small size were not picked up. +Nevertheless, a few of the scats studied may have been those of foxes. +Judging from the contents of scats that were certainly from foxes, the +effect of inadvertent inclusion of fox scats would be to elevate the +percentage of scats containing berries (but not more than five +percentage points). Each scat was broken up and the percentage of scats +containing each of the following items was noted (figures are to the +nearest per cent). Remains of deer occurred in 48 per cent of scats, +gooseberries (<i>Ribes</i>) in 34 per cent, porcupines in 29 per cent, +insects in 11 per cent, birds in 11 per cent, unidentified hair in 9 per +cent, and unidentified material in 6 per cent. One scat (3 per cent) +contained an appreciable amount of plant debris, one contained +<i>Microtus</i> along with other items, and one contained only <i>Sylvilagus</i>; +14 scats had material of more than one category. The percentage in each +category of the volume of each scat was estimated. Data on volume +warrant no conclusion other than one that can be drawn from the +percentages of occurrence, namely that the major food sources used in +August, 1956, by coyotes in these canyons were deer, berries, and +porcupines and that other sources, though used, were relatively +unimportant. Deer were common in the area. It is fortunate that coyotes +remain to help regulate the deer population. Wolves, <i>Canis lupus</i>, +which at one time occurred in the Park, are now gone. The coyote and +mountain lion are the only sizeable predators that remain.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Vulpes vulpes macroura</b> Baird<br /> Red Fox</p> + +<p>D. Watson (in letter of January 16, 1957) reported that red foxes have +been seen on the Mesa by several employees of the Park. These persons +know the gray fox, which often is seen in winter feeding at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> their back +doors, and Mr. Watson considers the reports reliable. In the early +morning of October 24, 1943, a reddish-yellow fox having a white-tipped +tail was observed by three men, one of whom was Chief Ranger Wade, at +Park Point. In 1948, 1950, and 1953 black foxes have been reported.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Urocyon cinereoargenteus scottii</b> Mearns<br /> Gray Fox</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 3: ♂, MV 7867/507, 2 mi. N of +Headquarters, 7400 ft., September 24, 1935, H.P. Pratt; ♂, +76299, November 9, and ♀, 76300, trapped on November 12, +1957, by J.R. Alcorn at Square Tower House. </p></div> + +<p>The gray fox is common on the Mesa.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Ursus americanus amblyceps</b> Baird<br /> Black Bear</p> + +<p>From 1929 through 1959 at least 151 observations of bears were recorded. +Observations were unrecorded in only five years—1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, +and 1958. Most observations were in the 1940's and the peak was in 1944 +(18 observations) and 1945 (21 observations). Cubs have been recorded in +10 different years. If dated reports are tabulated by months the +following figures are obtained for the 12 months beginning with January: +0, 0, 0, 4, 15, 19, 19, 9, 10, 9, 3, 0. The peak in the summer months +and the absence of observations in the winter months are significant. +Individual bears probably enter and leave the Park in the course of +their normal wanderings; however bears probably hibernate, breed, and +bear young within the Park and should not be regarded as merely +occasionally wandering into the Park.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Procyon lotor pallidus</b> Merriam<br /> Raccoon</p> + +<p>In December, 1959, three raccoons were seen on Prater Grade and later +three were seen in Morfield Canyon near the tunnel. I saw a dead raccoon +at the side of the highway 3 mi. WSW of Mancos, 6700 feet, on August 8, +1956. This locality is outside of the Park and not on the Mesa, but is +mentioned because it indicates that the raccoon probably occurs along +the Mancos River, which forms the eastern boundary of the Park. The +raccoon is rare in the area. Some local persons were surprised to hear +of its presence; other persons told me that raccoons were present, but +rare.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><b>Bassariscus astutus flavus</b> Rhoads<br /> Ringtail</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 4: MV 7884/507 and 7885/507, trapped +in Balcony House and prepared by D. Watson in 1939; MV 7901/507 and +7902/507, without data. </p></div> + +<p>The cliff dwellings are favored by ringtails and in some years they are +common near occupied dwellings in the area of headquarters. Ringtails +have been seen in each major habitat within the Park.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Mustela frenata nevadensis</b> Hall<br /> Long-tailed Weasel</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 5: MV 7891/507, ♂, from the +"Garden" [= Indian Cornfield]; ♀, MV 7892/507, also from +the "Cornfield"; MV 7859/507, "Killed by car on Prater Grade"; ♂, MV 7871/507, in winter pelage, from the North Rim; and +♂, 83464, killed on the road ½ mi. NE of the tunnel, Morfield +Canyon. </p></div> + +<p>C.W. Quaintance in 1935 reported that on January 11, he and Mr. Nelson +saw a weasel attack a cottontail, and on March 9, while on the snow +plow, Mr. Nelson witnessed another cottontail being killed by a weasel. +Weasels in white winter pelage have been recorded in December and +January. The brown pelage has been seen as late as November.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Mustela vison energumenos</b> (Bangs)<br /> Mink</p> + +<p>D. Watson (in letter of January 16, 1957) wrote: "When Jack Wade, now +Chief Ranger, was doing patrol work in the Mancos Canyon back in the +1930's, he saw mink along the river at the east side of the Park. +Several years ago, the people who lived on the ranch where Weber Canyon +joins the Mancos trapped a mink." Tracks have been reported along the +Mancos River in several years.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Spilogale putorius gracilis</b> Merriam<br /> Spotted Skunk</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimen</i>: Immature ♂, MV 7860/507, Cliff Palace, August +22, 1936, prepared by A.E. Borrell. </p></div> + +<p>In some years these little skunks have become so numerous in the area of +headquarters that they were a nuisance, and were captured in garbage +cans and released in other parts of the Park.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Mephitis mephitis estor</b> Merriam<br /> Striped Skunk</p> + +<p>D. Watson advises me that striped skunks are fairly common around the +entrance to the Park, along the foot of the Mesa, and along the Mancos +River. Striped skunks have been reported in 1951 in Morfield Canyon, in +1952 on the Knife Edge, in 1953 at Windy Point (¼ mi. N of Point +Lookout), and in 1959 at the head of Morfield Canyon.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="PLATE_1" id="PLATE_1"></a> +<img src="images/plate1.jpg" width="600" height="667" alt="PLATE_1" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><big>PLATE 1</big><br /><br /> + +<span class="smcap">Upper:</span> View of the North Rim of Mesa Verde, looking west from Park +Point, the highest place on the North Rim. The south-facing slope on the +left is covered with brushy vegetation, mostly oak. Sheltered parts of +the north-facing slope support stands of Douglas fir, and at a few +places some ponderosa pines. Photo taken in August, 1956, by S. +Anderson.<br /><br /> + +<span class="smcap">Lower Left:</span> View of Rock Canyon from Wetherill Mesa, looking southwest +from a point 2 mi. NNW Rock Springs. The area in the foreground on +Wetherill Mesa was burned in 1934. Photo taken in August, 1956, by S. +Anderson.<br /><br /> + +<span class="smcap">Lower Right:</span> Prater Canyon, at Upper Well, 7575 feet. In the matted +grasses and sedges on the floor of the canyon <i>Microtus montanus</i> and +Sorex vagrans were captured. <i>Tamiasciurus hudsonicus</i> was found in a +side canyon, Chickaree Draw, one half mile southwest of the place shown. +Chickaree Draw is more sheltered than the slope in the background and +has a denser stand of Douglas fir than occurs here. Photo taken in +August, 1956, by S. Anderson.</span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><br /><br /><a name="PLATE_2" id="PLATE_2"></a> +<img src="images/plate2.jpg" width="600" height="828" alt="PLATE 2" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><big>PLATE 2</big><br /><br /> + +<span class="smcap">Upper:</span> Relatively undisturbed stand of pinyon pine and Utah juniper ¼ +mi. N Rock Springs, at 7400 feet elevation on Wetherill Mesa along a +service road. The vegetation shown is characteristic of the lower more +exposed parts of the top of the Mesa Verde. Photo taken in August, 1956, +by S. Anderson.<br /><br /> + +<span class="smcap">Lower:</span> Wetherill Mesa, ½ mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7500 feet elevation. +This area burned in 1934. It contained no pine or juniper in 1956 +despite attempted reforestation in the thirties and the presence of a +stand of pinyon and juniper (shown above) only one quarter of a mile +away. Possibly fire in the last three or four hundred years on the +higher parts of the Mesa has been a factor in producing chaparral there, +rather than pinyon and juniper. Photo taken in August, 1956, by S. +Anderson.</span> +</div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><b>Taxidea taxus berlandieri</b> Baird<br /> Badger</p> + +<p>Several reports, but no specimens, of the badger have been obtained. In +1935, C.W. Quaintance wrote that in School Section Canyon tracks of +cougar, bobcat, coyote, and deer were found, and that pocket gophers, +badgers, and cottontail rabbits were present. Later in 1935, H.P. Pratt +wrote that he had found evidence of badgers "at the lower well in Prater +Canyon, where on September 23, there were extensive badger diggings and +fresh tracks in the vicinity of the prairie dog colony there." Badgers +are common in the lowlands around the Mesa and they are common enough on +the Mesa to be regarded as nuisances by archeologists on account of +badgers digging in ruins. Badgers have been seen from three to six times +each year from 1950 to this date, most of them in the vicinity of the +North Rim.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Felis concolor hippolestes</b> Merriam<br /> Mountain Lion</p> + +<p>Mountain lions range throughout the Park. There are reliable sight +records of lions and lion tracks, but no specimen has been preserved. +Early records of observations include the report of tracks seen in +Navajo Canyon by Cary (1911:165), and a lion seen in 1917. Since 1930 +the more adequate records include reports of from one to eight +observations each year for 26 of the 30 years. Young animals (recorded +as "half-grown") or cubs have been reported in four of these years. The +tabulation of dated reports by month beginning with January is: 2, 0, 3, +2, 8, 4, 6, 7, 4, 9, 5, 7. Mountain lions range more widely than bears +in their daily and seasonal activities, but like bears probably breed, +bear young, and feed in the Park. Although at any one time lions may or +may not be within the Park, it is part of their normal range and the +species should be regarded as resident and is not uncommon.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Lynx rufus baileyi</b> Merriam<br /> Bobcat</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 2: A specimen (now mounted in Park +Museum) from the Knife Edge Road; and ad. ♀, 76302, +Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., November 12, 1957, obtained by J.R. +Alcorn. </p></div> + +<p>Bobcats are present throughout the Park. Approximately 80 observations +of bobcats are on file, from all parts of the Park and in all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> months. +Probably the bobcat and the gray fox are the most abundant carnivores in +the Park. In addition to known predation by mountain lions and coyotes +on porcupines, the bobcat kills porcupines. A dead porcupine and a dead +bobcat with its face, mouth, and one foot full of quills were found +together on January 31, 1952, under a boulder in front of Cliff Palace. +On August 20, 1956, I saw a bobcat hunting in sage in a draw near a +large clump of oak-brush, into which it fled, at the head of the east +fork of Navajo Canyon, Sect. 21, near the North Rim, 8100 feet.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Odocoileus hemionus hemionus</b> (Rafinesque)<br /> Mule Deer</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Specimens examined.</i>—Total, 2: Young ♂, 76303, November +8, 1957, Far View Ruins; ♀, 76304, November 12, 1957, +Spruce Tree House Ruin, both obtained by J.R. Alcorn. </p></div> + +<p>In all parts of the Park, mule deer are common. Five projects concerning +deer are in progress or have been concluded recently on the Mesa. One is +a study of the responses of different species of plants to browsing and +was begun in 1949 by Harold R. Shepherd for the Colorado Department of +Game and Fish. A number of individual plants and in some instances +groups of plants were fenced to exclude deer. Systematic clips of 20, +40, 60, 80, or 100 per cent of the annual growth are made each year. The +results of the first ten years of this study are being prepared for +publication by Shepherd.</p> + +<p>A study of browsing pressure was initiated in 1952 by Regional Biologist +C.M. Aldous, on eight transects in the Park. Each transect consists of +15 plots at intervals of 200 feet. The amount of use of each plant +species was recorded from time to time. The study was terminated in +1955. I have seen no summary of results of this study.</p> + +<p>A trapping program was begun in 1953 with the co-operation of the +Colorado Department of Game and Fish. Deer are trapped, marked, and +released. Some are released in areas other than where trapped. In this +way the excessive size of the herd near headquarters has been reduced. +Recoveries of marked deer outside the Park by hunters and retrapping +results in the Park should provide information about movements of deer +and about life expectancy.</p> + +<p>The "Deer Trend Study" was initiated in 1954. From November to May, +twice a day, at the same time, a count is made along the entrance road +from the Park Entrance to Headquarters. Ten drainage areas traversed are +tabulated separately. The results of four years of this study indicate +that the greatest number of deer are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> present in November, December, and +January, and that only about one-fourth as many are present in February +and March. Depending on severity of weather, the yearly pattern varies, +the deer arriving earlier, or leaving earlier. This change in numbers, +the recovery outside of the Park of animals marked in the Park, and +direct observations of movement indicate that the Mesa Verde is an +intermediate range rather than a summer-range or winter-range. In summer +deer tend to move northward and eastward out of the Park, and in winter +they move back through the Park toward lower and more protected areas in +canyons both in the Park and south of the Park on the Ute Reservation. +Some deer remain in the Park the entire year. Close co-operation between +personnel of the Park Service and of the Colorado Department of Game and +Fish has regulated hunting outside the Park in such a way as to provide +satisfactory control of the deer within the Park.</p> + +<p>A study of the effect of rodents on plants used by deer was initiated in +1956 by Harold R. Shepherd. Three acres were fenced in a fashion +designed to exclude rodents but not deer. An adjacent three acres were +fenced as a control, but not so as to exclude rodents or deer. Eight +trap lines nearby provide an index of rodent fluctuations from year to +year. These studies will need to be continued for a period of ten years +or more, and should provide much information concerning not only deer +but also rodents and their effect on vegetation.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>Cervus canadensis nelsoni</b> V. Bailey<br /> Wapiti</p> + +<p>Wapiti are seen periodically; probably they wander in from the higher +mountains to the northeast and do not remain for long. The following +note was included in the 1921 report of Mr. Jesse L. Nusbaum, then +Superintendent of the Park: "The first elk ever seen in the Park made +his appearance near the head of Navajo Canyon, August 15 of this year, +and travelled for two miles in front of a Ford car down the main road +before another car, travelling in the opposite direction, scared him +into the timber." Additional observations have been recorded as follows: +School Section Canyon ("fall" 1935), Knife Edge Road (July, 1940), West +Soda Canyon and Windy Point (December, 1949), Long Canyon (July, 1959), +and Park Entrance (December, 1959). Three of the six observations are in +July and August; therefore movement by wapiti into the Park can not be +attributed entirely to disturbance during the hunting season.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><b>Ovis canadensis canadensis</b> Shaw<br /> Bighorn</p> + +<p>Some early records of the bighorn were mentioned by C.W. Quaintance +(1935): In a letter of January 20, 1935, John Wetherill said that a +"Mountain Sheep Canyon" (now Rock Canyon) was named for a bunch of sheep +that wintered near their camp; and Sam Ahkeah, a Navajo, says the +Indians occasionally find remnants of sheep on the Mesa, which they take +back to their hogans. Cahalane (1948:257) reported that hunting +presumably had eliminated bighorns from the Mesa by 1896; however Jean +Pinkley reports that a large ram was killed on Point Lookout in 1906.</p> + +<p>On January 30, 1946, 14 sheep (3 rams, 7 ewes, and 4 lambs) from the +herd at Tarryall, Colorado, were obtained through the Colorado +Department of Game and Fish and were released at 8:30 a.m. at the edge +of the canyon south of Spruce Tree Lodge. The sheep, instead of entering +the canyon as expected, turned north, passed behind the museum, and +eventually disappeared northward on Chapin Mesa. The sheep evidently +divided into at least two bands. On April 24, 1946, three sheep were +seen 2½ mi. N of Rock Springs, and on June 19, 1947, tracks were seen +in Mancos Canyon. In 1947, 1948, and 1949 farmers in Weber Canyon +reported seeing sheep many times on Weber Mountain, and watering at the +Mancos River. In May, 1949, an estimate of 27 sheep on Weber Mountain +was made after several days study by men from the state game department. +The herds continued to increase. In 1956 I saw two bighorns. On August +18, at 6:20 a.m., my wife and I briefly observed a bighorn on the rocks +below Square Tower Ruins. On August 24, I was digging with a small +shovel in rocky soil behind the cabin at Rock Springs, when hoof beats +were heard approaching in the rocky head of the canyon to the east. An +adult ewe came up to the fence around the cabin area and looked at me, +seemingly curious about the noise my shovel had been producing. I +remained motionless and called to my wife, Justine, to come from the +cabin and see the sheep. The ewe seemed not to be disturbed by my voice, +but took flight, returning in the direction from which she had come, the +moment Justine appeared from behind the cabin. Sheep can now be seen on +occasion in any of the deep canyons across the southern half of the +Park. The sheep have caused slight damage in some of the ruins by +bedding down there, and by climbing on walls. As the sheep increase in +numbers this activity may be regarded as a problem. In 1959 an estimated +75 to 100 sheep were in the Park and adjacent areas.<br /><br /></p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">DISCUSSION</p> + + +<p>The distributions of animals are influenced by geographic, vegetational, +and altitudinal factors. The Mesa Verde is intermediate in geographic +position and altitude between the high Southern Rocky Mountains and the +low southwestern desert. For this reason, we find on the Mesa Verde (1) +a preponderance of species having wide distributions in this part of the +country, and having relatively wide ranges of tolerance for different +habitats, (2) a lesser number of exclusively montane or boreal species +than occur in the higher mountains to the northeast of the Mesa and that +may reach the limits of their ranges here, and (3) a small number of +species of southern or Sonoran affinities. Fifty-four species are +recorded above.</p> + +<p>Forty-one of these species are represented by specimens from the Park. +Thirteen additional species in the list have been seen in the Park.</p> + +<p>On the Grand Mesa, which is more elevated than, and some 110 miles north +of, the Mesa Verde (<a href="#Fig_1">see Figure 1</a>), 55 per cent of the species of mammals +have boreal affinities and the other 45 per cent are wide-spread species +(Anderson, 1959:414). Boreal species from the Mesa Verde are <i>Sorex +vagrans</i>, <i>Sylvilagus nuttallii</i>, <i>Spermophilus lateralis</i>, <i>Marmota +flaviventris</i>, <i>Tamiasciurus hudsonicus</i>, <i>Microtus montanus</i>, and +<i>Microtus longicaudus</i>. These seven species comprise only thirteen per +cent of the mammalian fauna of the Mesa Verde. Other boreal species that +occur in the mountains of Colorado on the Grand Mesa or elsewhere +(Findley and Anderson, 1956:80) and that do not occur on the Mesa Verde +are <i>Sorex cinereus</i>, <i>Sorex palustris</i>, <i>Ochotona princeps</i>, <i>Lepus +americana</i>, <i>Clethrionomys gapperi</i>, <i>Phenacomys intermedius</i>, <i>Zapus +princeps</i>, <i>Martes americana</i>, <i>Mustela erminea</i>, and <i>Lynx canadensis</i>. +The 47 species from the Mesa Verde that are not exclusively boreal make +up 87 per cent of the mammalian fauna. Most of these are wide-spread +species and are more abundant in the deserts or other lowlands than in +the coniferous forests of the highlands, for example the eight species +of bats, and <i>Sylvilagus audubonii</i>, <i>Thomomys bottae</i>, <i>Taxidea taxus</i>, +<i>Bassariscus astutus</i>, <i>Canis latrans</i>, <i>Cynomys gunnisoni</i>, +<i>Reithrodontomys megalotis</i>, and <i>Lepus californicus</i>. A few of the +wide-spread species are more common in the highlands than in the +lowlands, for example <i>Ursus americanus</i>, <i>Felis concolor</i>, <i>Castor +canadensis</i>, <i>Erethizon dorsatum</i>, and <i>Cervus canadensis</i>, and the +ranges of three of these, the bear, mountain lion and wapiti, are more +restricted today than formerly. A few species find their favorite +habitat and reach their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> greatest abundance in altitudinally and +vegetationally intermediate areas such as upon the Mesa Verde, or in +special habitats, such as the rock ledges, and crevices that are so +abundant on the Mesa. Examples of this group of species are +<i>Spermophilus variegatus</i>, <i>Peromyscus crinitus</i>, <i>Peromyscus truei</i>, +<i>Neotoma cinerea</i>, and <i>Neotoma mexicana</i>. One species, <i>Dipodomys +ordii</i>, is restricted to the desert. Species that are restricted to the +desert and that occur in Montezuma County, Colorado, but that are not +known from the Mesa Verde are <i>Ammospermophilus leucurus</i>, <i>Perognathus +flavus</i>, and <i>Onychomys leucogaster</i>.</p> + +<p>Species known to have changed in numbers in the past 50 years are the +mule deer that has increased, and the prairie dog that has decreased. +Possibly beaver have increased along the Mancos River. The muskrat, +mink, beaver, and raccoon usually occur only along the Mancos River, as +there is no other permanent surface water in the Park.</p> + +<p>Species such as the bighorn and the marmot that are rare within the +Park, or those such as the chickaree, the prairie dog, the wandering +shrew, the montane vole, and the long-tailed vole that occupy only small +areas of suitable habitat within the Park are the species most likely to +be eliminated by natural changes, or through the activities of man. For +example parasites introduced through domestic sheep that wander into the +range of bighorns within the Park might endanger the bighorn population. +An increase in grazing activity, road building, and camping in Prater +and Morfield canyons might eliminate the small areas of habitat occupied +by the montane vole and the wandering shrew. Fire in Chickaree Draw +could destroy all the Douglas fir there, and consequently much of the +habitat occupied by the chickaree.</p> + +<p>Probably some species inhabit the Mesa that have not yet been found, but +they are probably few, and their discovery will not alter the faunal +pattern in which the few boreal species occupy restricted habitats in +the higher parts of the Mesa, and a preponderance of geographically +wide-spread species occupy all or most of the Mesa, and surrounding +areas. Additional bats are the species most likely to be added to the +list.</p> + + +<p class="center">28–7577</p> + + + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><big>LITERATURE CITED</big></p> + +<p class="noin"> +<span class="smcap">Anderson, S.</span><br /> +1959. Mammals of the Grand Mesa, Colorado. Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus.<br /> +Nat. Hist, 9(16):405–414, 1 fig. in text.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cahalane, V.H.</span><br /> +1948. The status of mammals in the U.S. National Park System, 1947.<br /> +Jour. Mamm., 29(3):247–259.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cary, M.</span><br /> +1911. A biological survey of Colorado. N. Amer. Fauna, 33:1–256, 39<br /> +figs., frontispiece (map).<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Findley, J.S.</span><br /> +1955. Speciation of the Wandering Shrew. Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. Nat.<br /> +Hist., 9(1):1–68, figs. 1–18.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Findley, J.S.</span> and <span class="smcap">Anderson, S.</span><br /> +1956. Zoogeography of the montane mammals of Colorado. Jour. Mamm.,<br /> +37(1):80–82, 1 fig. in text.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Finley, R.B.</span><br /> +1958. The wood rats of Colorado, distribution and ecology. Univ. Kansas<br /> +Publ., Mus. Nat. Hist., 10(6):213–552, 34 plates, 8 figs., 35 tables<br /> +in text.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Getty, H.T.</span><br /> +1935. New dates from Mesa Verde. Tree-ring Bulletin, 1(3):21–23.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hoffmeister, D.F.</span><br /> +1951. A taxonomic and evolutionary study of the piñon mouse, Peromyscus<br /> +truei. Illinois Biol. Monogr., vol. XXI(4), pp. ix + 104, 24 figs.,<br /> +4 tables and 5 plates in text.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rodeck, H.G.</span> and <span class="smcap">Anderson, S.</span><br /> +1956. <i>Sorex merriami</i> and <i>Microtus mexicanus</i> in Colorado. Jour. Mamm.,<br /> +37(3):436.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Schulman, E.</span><br /> +1946. Dendrochronology at Mesa Verde National Park. Tree-ring Bulletin,<br /> +12(3):18–24, 2 figs., 1 table in text.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Youngman, P.M.</span><br /> +1958. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Thomomys bottae, in<br /> +Colorado. Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. Nat. Hist., 9(12):363–387, 7<br /> +figs. in text.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +<i>Transmitted April 11, 1961.</i><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p class="center">UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS<br /> MUSEUM OF NATIONAL HISTORY</p> + +<p>Institutional libraries interested in publications exchange may obtain +this series by addressing the Exchange Librarian, University of Kansas +Library, Lawrence, Kansas. Copies for individuals, persons working in a +particular field of study, may be obtained by addressing instead the +Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. There +is no provision for sale of this series by the University Library, which +meets institutional requests, or by the Museum of Natural History, which +meets the requests of individuals. However, when individuals request +copies from the Museum, 25 cents should be included, for each separate +number that is 100 pages or more in length, for the purpose of defraying +the costs of wrapping and mailing.</p> + +<p class="hang">* An asterisk designates those numbers of which the Museum's supply (not +the Library's supply) is exhausted. Numbers published to date, in this +series, are as follows:</p> + +<p class="hang">Vol. 1. Nos. 1–26 and index. Pp. 1–638, 1946–1950.</p> + +<p class="hang">*Vol. 2. (Complete) Mammals of Washington. By Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. +1–444, 140 figures in text. April 9, 1948.</p> + +<p class="hang">Vol. 3. *1. The avifauna of Micronesia, its origin, evolution, and +distribution. By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 1–359, 16 figures in text. June +12, 1951.</p> + +<div class="index"><p class="hang">*2. A quantitative study of the nocturnal migration of birds. By George +H. Lowery, Jr. Pp. 361–472, 47 figures in text. June 29, 1951.</p> + +<p class="hang">3. Phylogeny of the waxwings and allied birds. By M. Dale Arvey. Pp. +478–530, 49 figures in text, 18 tables. October 10, 1951.</p> + +<p class="hang">4. Birds from the state of Veracruz, Mexico. By George H. Lowery, Jr., +and Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 531–649, 7 figures in text, 2 tables. +October 10, 1951.</p> + +<p class="hang">Index. Pp. 651–681.</p></div> + +<p class="hang">*Vol. 4. (Complete) American weasels. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 1–466, 41 +plates, 31 figures in text. December 27, 1951.</p> + +<p class="hang">Vol. 5. Nos. 1–37 and index. Pp. 1–676, 1951–1953.</p> + +<p class="hang">*Vol. 6. (Complete) Mammals of Utah, <i>taxonomy and distribution</i>. By +Stephen D. Durrant. Pp. 1–549, 91 figures in text, 30 tables. August 10, +1952.</p> + +<p class="hang">Vol. 7. *1. Mammals of Kansas. By E. Lendell Cockrum. Pp. 1–303, 73 +figures in text, 37 tables. August 25, 1952.</p> + +<div class="index"><p class="hang">2. Ecology of the opossum on a natural area in northeastern Kansas. By +Henry S. Fitch and Lewis L. Sandidge. Pp. 305–338, 5 figures in text. +August 24, 1953.</p> + +<p class="hang">3. The silky pocket mice (Perognathus flavus) of Mexico. By Rollin H. +Baker. Pp. 339–347, 1 figure in text. February 15, 1954.</p> + +<p class="hang">4. North American jumping mice (Genus Zapus). By Philip H. Krutzsch. Pp. +349–472, 47 figures in text, 4 tables, April 21, 1954.</p> + +<p class="hang">5. Mammals from Southeastern Alaska. By Rollin H. Baker and James S. +Findley. Pp. 473–477. April 21, 1954.</p> + +<p class="hang">6. Distribution of Some Nebraskan Mammals. By J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. +479–487. April 21, 1954.</p> + +<p class="hang">7. Subspeciation in the montane meadow mouse. Microtus montanus, in +Wyoming and Colorado. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 489–506, 2 figures in +text. July 23, 1954.</p> + +<p class="hang">8. A new subspecies of bat (Myotis velifer) from southeastern California +and Arizona. By Terry A. Vaughan. Pp. 507–512. July 28, 1954.</p> + +<p class="hang">9. Mammals of the San Gabriel mountains of California. By Terry A. +Vaughan. Pp. 513–582, 1 figure in text, 12 tables. November 15, 1954.</p> + +<p class="hang">10. A new bat (Genus Pipistrellus) from northeastern Mexico. By Rollin +H. Baker. Pp. 583–586. November 15, 1954.</p> + +<p class="hang">11. A new subspecies of pocket mouse from Kansas. By E. Raymond Hall. +Pp. 587–590. November 15, 1954.</p> + +<p class="hang">12. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Cratogeomys castanops, in +Coahuila, Mexico. By Robert J. Russell and Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 591–608. +March 15, 1955.</p> + +<p class="hang">13. A new cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) from northeastern Mexico. +By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 609–612. April 8, 1955.</p> + +<p class="hang">14. Taxonomy and distribution of some American shrews. By James S. +Findley. Pp. 613–618. June 10, 1955.</p> + +<p class="hang">15. The pigmy woodrat, Neotoma goldmani, its distribution and systematic +position. By Dennis G. Rainey and Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 619–624, 2 +figures in text. June 10, 1955.</p> + +<p class="hang">Index. Pp. 625–651.</p></div> + +<p class="hang">Vol. 8. Nos. 1–10 and index. Pp. 1–675, 1954–1956.</p> + +<p class="hang">Vol. 9. 1. Speciation of the wandering shrew. By James S. Findley. Pp. +1–68, 18 figures in text. December 10, 1955.</p> + +<div class="index"><p class="hang">2. Additional records and extensions of ranges of mammals from Utah. By +Stephen D. Durrant, M. Raymond Lee, and Richard M. Hansen. Pp. 69–80. +December 10, 1955.</p> + +<p class="hang">3. A new long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) from northeastern Mexico. By +Rollin H. Baker and Howard J. Stains. Pp. 81–84. December 10, 1955.</p> + +<p class="hang">4. Subspeciation in the meadow mouse, Microtus pennsylvanicus, in +Wyoming. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 85–104, 2 figures in text. May 10, +1956.</p> + +<p class="hang">5. The condylarth genus Ellipsodon. By Robert W. Wilson. Pp. 105–116, 6 +figures in text. May 19, 1956.</p> + +<p class="hang">6. Additional remains of the multituberculate genus Eucosmodon. By +Robert W. Wilson. Pp. 117–123, 10 figures in text. May 19, 1956.</p> + +<p class="hang">7. Mammals of Coahuila, Mexico. By Rollin H. Baker, Pp. 125–335, 75 +figures in text. June 15, 1956.</p> + +<p class="hang">8. Comments on the taxonomic status of Apodemus peninsulae, with +description of a new subspecies from North China. By J. Knox Jones, Jr. +Pp. 337–346, 1 figure in text, 1 table. August 15, 1956.</p> + +<p class="hang">9. Extensions of known ranges of Mexican bats. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. +347–351. August 15, 1956.</p> + +<p class="hang">10. A new bat (Genus Leptonycteris) from Coahuila. By Howard J. Stains. +Pp. 353–356. January 21, 1957.</p> + +<p class="hang">11. A new species of pocket gopher (Genus Pappogeomys) from Jalisco, +Mexico. By Robert J. Russell Pp. 357–361. January 21, 1957.</p> + +<p class="hang">12. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Thomomys bottae, in +Colorado. By Phillip M. Youngman. Pp. 363–387, 7 figures in text. +February 21, 1958.</p> + +<p class="hang">13. New bog lemming (genus Synaptomys) from Nebraska. By J. Knox Jones, +Jr. Pp. 385–388. May 12, 1958.</p> + +<p class="hang">14. Pleistocene bats from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo León, Mexico. By J. +Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 389–396. December 19, 1958.</p> + +<p class="hang">15. New subspecies of the rodent Baiomys from Central America. By Robert +L. Packard. Pp. 397–404. December 19, 1958.</p> + +<p class="hang">16. Mammals of the Grand Mesa, Colorado. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. +405–414, 1 figure in text. May 20, 1959.</p> + +<p class="hang">17. Distribution, variation, and relationships of the montane vole, +Microtus montanus. By Emil K. Urban. Pp. 415–511. 12 figures in text, 2 +tables. August 1, 1959.</p> + +<p class="hang">18. Conspecificity of two pocket mice, Perognathus goldmani and P. +artus. By E. Raymond Hall and Marilyn Bailey Ogilvie. Pp. 513–518, 1 +map. January 14, 1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">19. Records of harvest mice, Reithrodontomys, from Central America, with +description of a new subspecies from Nicaragua. By Sydney Anderson and +J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 519–529. January 14, 1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">20. Small carnivores from San Josecito Cave (Pleistocene), Nuevo León, +Mexico. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 531–538, 1 figure in text. January 14, +1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">21. Pleistocene pocket gophers from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo León, +Mexico. By Robert J. Russell. Pp. 539–548, 1 figure in text. January 14, +1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">22. Review of the insectivores of Korea. By J. Knox Jones, Jr., and +David H. Johnson. Pp. 549–578. February 28, 1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">23. Speciation and evolution of the pygmy mice, genus Baiomys. By Robert +L. Packard. Pp. 579–670, 4 plates, 12 figures in text. June 16, 1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">Index Pp. 671–690.</p></div> + +<p class="hang">Vol. 10. 1. Studies of birds killed in nocturnal migration. By Harrison +B. Tordoff and Robert M. Mengel. Pp. 1–44, 6 figures in text, 2 tables. +September 12, 1956.</p> + +<div class="index"><p class="hang">2. Comparative breeding behavior of Ammospiza caudacuta and A. maritima. +By Glen E. Woolfenden. Pp. 45–75, 6 plates, 1 figure. December 20, 1956.</p> + +<p class="hang">3. The forest habitat of the University of Kansas Natural History +Reservation. By Henry S. Fitch and Ronald R. McGregor. Pp. 77–127, 2 +plates, 7 figures in text, 4 tables. December 31, 1956.</p> + +<p class="hang">4. Aspects of reproduction and development in the prairie vole (Microtus +ochrogaster). By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 129–161, 8 figures in text, 4 +tables. December 19, 1957.</p> + +<p class="hang">5. Birds found on the Arctic slope of northern Alaska. By James W. Bee. +Pp. 163–211, pls. 9–10, 1 figure in text. March 12, 1958.</p> + +<p class="hang">6. The wood rats of Colorado: distribution and ecology. By Robert B. +Finley, Jr. Pp. 213–552, 34 plates, 8 figures in text, 35 tables. +November 7, 1958.</p> + +<p class="hang">7. Home ranges and movements of the eastern cottontail in Kansas. By +Donald W. Janes. Pp. 558–572, 4 plates, 3 figures in text. May 4, 1959.</p> + +<p class="hang">8. Natural history of the salamander, Aneides hardyi. By Richard F. +Johnston and Schad Gerhard. Pp. 573–585. October 8, 1959.</p> + +<p class="hang">9. A new subspecies of lizard, Cnemidophorus sacki, from Michoacán, +Mexico. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 587–598, 2 figures in text. May 2, +1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">10. A taxonomic study of the Middle American Snake, Pituophis deppei. By +William E. Duellman. Pp. 599–612, 1 plate, 1 figure in text. May 2, +1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">Index Pp. 611–626.</p></div> + +<p class="hang">Vol. 11. 1. The systematic status of the colubrid snake, Leptodeira +discolor Günther. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 1–9, 4 figs. July 14, +1958.</p> + +<div class="index"><p class="hang">2. Natural history of the six-lined racerunner, Cnemidophorus +sexlineatus. By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 11–62. 9 figs., 9 tables. September +19, 1958.</p> + +<p class="hang">3. Home ranges, territories, and seasonal movements of vertebrates of +the Natural History Reservation. By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 63–326, 6 +plates, 24 figures in text, 3 tables. December 12, 1958.</p> + +<p class="hang">4. A new snake of the genus Geophis from Chihuahua, Mexico. By John M. +Legler. Pp. 327–334, 2 figures in text. January 28, 1959.</p> + +<p class="hang">5. A new tortoise, genus Gopherus, from north-central Mexico. By John M. +Legler. Pp. 335–343. April 24, 1959.</p> + +<p class="hang">6. Fishes of Chautauqua, Cowley and Elk counties, Kansas. By Artie L. +Metcalf. Pp. 345–400, 2 plates, 2 figures in text, 10 tables. May 6, +1959.</p> + +<p class="hang">7. Fishes of the Big Blue River Basin, Kansas. By W.L. Minckley, Pp. +401–442, 2 plates, 4 figures in text, 5 tables. May 8, 1959.</p> + +<p class="hang">8. Birds from Coahuila, Mexico. By Emil K. Urban. Pp. 443–516. August 1, +1959.</p> + +<p class="hang">9. Description of a new softshell turtle from the southeastern United +States. By Robert G. Webb. Pp. 517–525, 2 pls., 1 figure in text. August +14, 1959.</p> + +<p class="hang">10. Natural history of the ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata +Agassiz. By John M. Legler. Pp. 527–669, 16 pls., 29 figures in text. +March 7, 1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">Index Pp. 671–703.</p></div> + +<p class="hang">Vol. 12. 1. Functional morphology of three bats: Eumops, Myotis, +Macrotus. By Terry A. Vaughan. Pp. 1–153, 4 plates, 24 figures in text. +July 8, 1959.</p> + +<div class="index"><p class="hang">2. The ancestry of modern Amphibia: a review of the evidence. By +Theodore H. Eaton, Jr. Pp. 155–180, 10 figures in text. July 10, 1959.</p> + +<p class="hang">3. The baculum in microtine rodents. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 181–216, 49 +figures in text. February 19, 1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">4. A new order of fishlike Amphibia from the Pennsylvanian of Kansas. By +Theodore H. Eaton, Jr., and Peggy Lou Stewart. Pp. 217–240, 12 figures +in text. May 2, 1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">More numbers will appear in volume 12.</p></div> + +<p class="hang">Vol. 13. 1. Five natural hybrid combinations in minnows (Cyprinidae). By +Frank B. Cross and W.L. Minckley. Pp. 1–18. June 1, 1960.</p> + +<div class="index"><p class="hang">2. A distributional study of the amphibians of the isthmus of +Tehuantepec, Mexico. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 19–72, pls. 1–8, 3 +figs. August 16, 1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">3. A new subspecies of the slider turtle (Pseudemys scripta) from +Coahuila, Mexico. By John M. Legler. Pp. 73–84, pls. 9–12, 3 figures in +text. August 16, 1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">4. Autecology of the Copperhead. By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 85–288, pls. +13–20, 26 figures in text. November 30, 1960.</p> + +<p class="hang">5. Occurrence of the Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, in the Great +Plains and Rocky Mountains. By Henry S. Fitch and T. Paul Maslin. Pp. +289–308, 4 figures in text. February 10, 1961.</p> + +<p class="hang">6. Fishes of the Wakarusa River in Kansas. By James E. Deacon and Artie +L. Metcalf. Pp. 309–32 2, 1 figure in text. February 10, 1961.</p> + +<p class="hang">7. Geographic variation in the North American Cyprinid Fish, Hybopsis +gracilis. By Leonard J. Olund and Frank B. Cross. Pp. 323–348, pls. +21–24, 2 figures in text. February 10, 1961.</p> + +<p class="hang">8. Descriptions of two species of frogs, Genus Ptychohyla—studies of +American hylid frogs, V. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 349–357, pls. 25, 2 +figures in text. April 27, 1961.</p> + +<p class="hang">More numbers will appear in volume 13.</p></div> + +<p class="hang">Vol. 14. 1. Neotropical bats from western Mexico. By Sydney Anderson. +Pp. 1–8. October 24, 1960.</p> + +<div class="index"><p class="hang">2. Geographic variation in the harvest mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis +on the central Great Plains and in adjacent regions. By J. Knox Jones, +Jr. and B. Mursaloglu. Pp. 9–27, 1 figure in text. July 24, 1961.</p> + +<p class="hang">3. Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. By Sydney Anderson. +Pp. 29–67, pls. 1–2, 3 figures in text. July 24, 1961.</p> + +<p class="hang">More numbers will appear in volume 14.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, +Colorado, by Sydney Anderson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAMMALS--MESA VERDE NAT. PARK *** + +***** This file should be named 31035-h.htm or 31035-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/0/3/31035/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, Greg Bergquist +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/31035-h/images/figure1.jpg b/31035-h/images/figure1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..907ee77 --- /dev/null +++ b/31035-h/images/figure1.jpg diff --git a/31035-h/images/figure2.jpg b/31035-h/images/figure2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..14e921f --- /dev/null +++ b/31035-h/images/figure2.jpg diff --git a/31035-h/images/figure3.jpg b/31035-h/images/figure3.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e7b966 --- /dev/null +++ b/31035-h/images/figure3.jpg diff --git a/31035-h/images/plate1.jpg b/31035-h/images/plate1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4e5c087 --- /dev/null +++ b/31035-h/images/plate1.jpg diff --git a/31035-h/images/plate2.jpg b/31035-h/images/plate2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..894fb56 --- /dev/null +++ b/31035-h/images/plate2.jpg diff --git a/31035.txt b/31035.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..da4ef2e --- /dev/null +++ b/31035.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2415 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, +Colorado, by Sydney Anderson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado + +Author: Sydney Anderson + +Release Date: January 21, 2010 [EBook #31035] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAMMALS--MESA VERDE NAT. PARK *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, Greg Bergquist +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS +MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY + +Volume 14, No. 3, pp. 29-67, pls. 1 and 2, 3 figs. in text + +July 24, 1961 + +Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, +Colorado + +BY + +SYDNEY ANDERSON + +UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS +LAWRENCE +1961 + + + + +UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS, MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY + +Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch, +Robert W. Wilson + +Volume 14, No. 3, pp. 29-67, pls. 1 and 2, 3 figs. in text +Published July 24, 1961 + +UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS +Lawrence, Kansas + +PRINTED IN +THE STATE PRINTING PLANT +TOPEKA, KANSAS +1961 + +28-7577 + + + + +Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado + +BY + +SYDNEY ANDERSON + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +A person standing on the North Rim of the Mesa Verde in southwestern +Colorado sees a vast green plain sloping away to the south. The plain +drops 2000 feet in ten miles. On a clear evening, before the sun reaches +the horizon, the rays of the sun are reflected from great sandstone +cliffs forming the walls of deep canyons that appear as crooked yellow +lines in the distance. Canyon after canyon has cut into the sloping +green plain. These canyons are roughly parallel and all open into the +canyon of the Mancos River, which forms the southern boundary of the +Mesa Verde. If the observer turns to the north he sees the arid +Montezuma Valley 2000 feet below. A few green streaks and patches in the +brown and barren low country denote streams and irrigated areas. To the +northeast beyond the low country the towering peaks of the San Miguel +and La Plata mountains rise more than 4000 feet above the vantage point +on the North Rim at 8000 feet. To the northwest, in the hazy distance 90 +miles away in Utah, lie the isolated heights of the La Sal Mountains, +and 70 miles away, the Abajo Mountains (see Fig. 1). + +In the thirteenth century, harassed by nomadic tribes and beset by years +of drouth, village dwelling Indians left their great cliff dwellings in +the myriad canyons of the Mesa Verde, and thus ended a period of 1300 +years of occupancy. The story of those 1300 years, unfolded through +excavation and study of the dwellings along the cliffs and earlier +dwellings on the top of the Mesa, is one of the most fascinating in +ancient America. To stop destructive commercial exploitation of the +ruins, to preserve them for future generations to study and enjoy, and +to make them accessible to the public, more than 51,000 acres, including +approximately half of the Mesa, have been set aside as Mesa Verde +National Park, established in 1906. The policies of the National Park +Service provide protection, not only for the features of major interest +in each park, but for other features as well. Thus the policy in Mesa +Verde National Park is not only to preserve the many ruins, but also the +wildlife and plants. + +Five considerations prompted me to undertake a study of the mammals of +Mesa Verde National Park: First, the relative lack of disturbance; +second, the interesting position, zoogeographically, of the Mesa that +extends as a spur of higher land from the mountains of southwestern +Colorado and that is almost surrounded by arid country typical of much +of the Southwest; third, the discovery in the Park of _Microtus +mexicanus_, a species of the Southwest until then not known from +Colorado; fourth, the co-operative spirit of the personnel at the Park +when I visited there in 1955; and finally, the possibility of making a +contribution not only to our knowledge of mammals, but to the +interpretive program of the Park Service. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1. Map of the "four corners" region showing the +position of Mesa Verde National Park (in black) relative to the mass of +the Southern Rocky Mountains above 8000 feet elevation (indicated by +stippled border) to the northeast in Colorado, and the positions of +other isolated mountains in the region.] + +A Faculty Research Grant from The University of Kansas provided some +secretarial help and field expenses for August and early September, +1956, when my wife, Justine, and I spent our vacation enjoyably +collecting and studying animals in the Park. The co-operation of Dr. E. +Raymond Hall is greatly appreciated; a grant to him from the American +Heart Association provided field expenses for work by Mr. J.R. Alcorn, +collector for The University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, in +1957. + +Mr. Harold R. Shepherd of Mancos, Colorado (Senior Game Biologist for +the State of Colorado, Department of Game and Fish), provided advice in +the field, helped in identifying plants, and saved specimens of rodents +(in 1958 and 1959) taken in his studies of the effect of rodents on +browse utilized by deer. Mr. J.D. Hart, Assistant Director of the +Department of Game and Fish, issued a letter of authority to collect in +Colorado; and Superintendent O.W. Carlson approved my appointment as a +collaborator. Mr. "Don" Watson, then Park Archeologist, and Mrs. Jean M. +Pinkley, now Park Archeologist, assisted us in 1956, and since then have +provided advice and assistance, and have reviewed the manuscript of this +report. + +Geologically, the Mesa Verde is the northern edge of a Cretaceous, +coal-bearing, sandstone deposit called the Mesaverde group, which dips +beneath the San Juan Basin of New Mexico. An abrupt retreating +escarpment commonly forms on arid plateaus underlain by horizontal rocks +of unequal strength, and characterizes the borders of mesas. Such an +escarpment forms the North Rim of the Mesa Verde. However, the dip of +the rocks has channelled drainage southward and erosion has cut +numerous, deep, parallel-sided canyons rather than a simple, retreating +escarpment. The Mesa Verde therefore is, technically speaking, a cuesta +rather than a mesa. The remnants of the plateau left between the canyons +are also (and again incorrectly in the technical sense) called mesas; +Chapin Mesa and Wetherill Mesa are examples. + +Climatically, the Mesa Verde is arid; precipitation averaged 18.41 +inches per year for a period of 37 years. Precipitation may be scattered +through the year, and more important, may be erratic from month to month +and from year to year. In addition to low precipitation and periods of +drouth, a great amount of sunshine, and thin, well-drained soils on all +but the more sheltered parts of the Mesa favor vegetation that requires +neither great amounts of, nor a continuous supply of, water. + +The vegetation of the Mesa is illustrated in Plates 1 and 2, and +consists predominantly of pinyon pine, _Pinus edulis_ Engelm., and Utah +juniper, _Juniperus osteosperma_ (Torr.) Little. More sheltered areas +along the North Rim and in most of the canyons support scattered small +stands of Douglas fir, _Pseudotsuga menziesii_ (Merb.) Franco. These +are the "spruce trees" of Spruce Tree Canyon. An occasional ponderosa +pine, _Pinus ponderosa_ Laws., represents a vestige of more montane +species of plants and animals in the Park. The dusky grouse, +_Dendragapus obscurus_ (Say), occurs along the North Rim in +oak-chaparral, and is one of the few montane species of birds; several +montane mammals are discussed later. The vegetation of the Mesa Verde +has not changed appreciably in the last thousand years. The tree rings +of 13 centuries show that Douglas fir has grown essentially as it does +now, varying with precipitation from year to year, and periodically +suffering from drouth (Schulman, 1946:18). Surface ruins yield mostly +pinyon and juniper; cave ruins yield more Douglas fir than surface +ruins; and "only rarely does yellow pine [_Pinus ponderosa_] occur in +the ruins, indicating that then, as now, this tree grew only in the +northern and higher parts of the Mesa Verde, remote from most of the +ruins" (Getty, 1935:21). + +Not all areas within the Park are undisturbed. The rights of way of +roads are kept clear, as are campgrounds and other facilities in the +area of headquarters. Part of the Mancos Valley within the Park is +privately owned and is still in agricultural use. Cattle from land +belonging to the Ute Indians wander into the Park from the Mancos Canyon +along the floor of the canyon above the mouth of Weber Canyon. In +addition to the pasture near headquarters, Prater Canyon below a fence +across the canyon above Middle Well is used to pasture horses used by +visitors to the Park and belonging to the pack and saddle concessioner. +In 1956, the floor of Long Canyon was grazed by stock belonging to Utes, +and horses ranged freely onto Wetherill Mesa as far as the North Rim. +Occasionally livestock enter the floor of other canyons, for example +Navajo, Soda, Prater, Morfield, and Waters canyons, owing to inadequate +fencing, or no fencing. + +[Illustration: FIG. 2. Map of Mesa Verde National Park and vicinity. The +map and this legend provide the names of places mentioned in the +following accounts of mammals. Localities from which specimens have been +preserved are indicated by dots. Localities within 1/2 mile of each +other are not indicated by separate dots. Unnumbered dots designate some +of the places from which specimens were obtained. The numbered dots are: +(1) Prater Grade; (2) Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft.; (3) Chickaree +Draw, 8200 ft.; (4) 1/4 mi. N Middle Well, 7500 ft., Prater Canyon; (5) +east side of Morfield Canyon about one mile below the well; (6) Lower +Well, Prater Canyon; (7) Sect. 27, head of east fork Navajo Canyon; (8) +Far View, designated on various specimens as Far View Ruins, Far View +Point, and Far View House, 7700 ft.; (9) localities designated Utility +Area, and Well, "Park Well," or "Old Park Well"; (10) Headquarters, +including the designations 25 mi. [by road] SW Mancos, Museum, Hospital, +head of Spruce Tree Canyon, Spruce Tree House, and Spruce Tree Lodge; +(11) Cliff Palace, across the canyon about 1/4 mile southwest are Sun +Temple and Oak Tree Ruin; (12) Square Tower House; (13) Balcony House; +(14) Indian Cornfield, "Cornfield," or "Garden."] + +The first mammals from the Mesa to be preserved for scientific study +were seven specimens in the United States National Museum (designated +USNM in lists of specimens examined) obtained by Merritt Cary in 1907, +and mentioned in his "Biological Survey of Colorado" (Cary, 1911). In +1931 and 1932, R.L. Landberg obtained a few specimens that are in the +Denver Museum of Natural History. In 1935, C.W. Quaintance, Lloyd White, +Harold P. Pratt, and A.E. Borell prepared specimens, some of which +remain in the museum at the Park (all specimens in the museum at the +Park are designated by "MV" for Mesa Verde and by their catalogue +numbers), and some are in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the +University of California at Berkeley (designated "MVZ" in the following +accounts). Specimens in The University of Kansas Museum of Natural +History are referred to by catalogue numbers only. Specimens prepared by +D. Watson bear dates from 1936 until 1955. In 1938, Raymond F. Harlow +prepared some specimens; his Student Technician's Report of 7 typescript +pages, for July 8 to September 9, 1938, is on file at Mesa Verde +National Park. In 1944 and 1945, Dr. D.A. Sutton, then a student at the +University of Colorado, collected chipmunks for his own study, and also +some other specimens that are in the University of Colorado Museum and +the Park Museum. In 1949, Dr. R.B. Finley, then a student at The +University of Kansas, collected in and near the Park and obtained a few +specimens preserved in The University of Kansas Museum of Natural +History. Rodents preserved by Harold R. Shepherd have been mentioned. I +have examined 244 specimens that were collected by the above persons. +Between August 8 and September 4, 1956, and on July 17, 1960, I +collected 216 mammals from Mesa Verde National Park. Between November 3, +and 12, 1957, J.R. Alcorn collected 275 mammals from the Mesa. The total +of specimens examined is 735. + +Written reports by C.W. Quaintance, H.P. Pratt, and R. Harlow have been +of considerable use. A typescript report of 13 pages by Wildlife +Technician H.P. Pratt for the period from September 9 to October 15, +1935, and monthly reports comprising 40 typescript pages and 4 pages +with photographs by C.W. Quaintance for the period from February 18 +through July 17, 1935, are on file at offices of Region Four, National +Park Service, 180 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco 5, California. +Chief Ranger Wade has kindly made available the files in his office, +including reports of the Superintendent and reports of the Chief Ranger +in earlier years, and Annual or Biennial Animal Census Reports since +1930. Special reports on prairie dogs, porcupines, and deer are in the +files. These reports, and random reports that were regarded as reliable, +are recorded on card files in both the Chief Ranger's office and Park +Archeologist's office. Most of the information reported here on the +larger mammals was gleaned from the above sources. A study of population +fluctuations in porcupines by Donald A. Spencer and perhaps a study of +movements of porcupines by Spencer, Wade and Fitch are to be published +elsewhere. Other studies still in progress are mentioned in the +following accounts. + + + + +ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES + + +Sorex merriami leucogenys Osgood Merriam's Shrew + + _Specimen_: MV 7898/507, head of Navajo Canyon (locality No. 7 in + Fig. 2), October 21, 1954. + +This was the third reported specimen of the rare Merriam's shrew from +Colorado (Rodeck and Anderson, 1956:436). + + +Sorex vagrans obscurus Merriam Wandering Shrew + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 8: Morfield Canyon, 7600 ft., 75972, + 75973; Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., 69235-69238; 1/4 mi. N + Middle Well, Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., 69239-69240. + +The specimens from Prater Canyon were trapped in the grasses and sedges +of the meadow comprising the floor of the canyon. The ground and +vegetation were dry at the time of capture, September 2, 3, and 4, 1956. +_Microtus montanus_ was the only other species taken in the mouse traps +in the sedge and grass. Five of the six specimens from Prater Canyon are +young, having slightly worn teeth; the sixth is an old adult male the +teeth of which are so much worn that only a few traces of the +reddish-brown pigment remain. His testes were 5 mm. long. These +specimens are from an area of intergradation between _S. v. obscurus_ +and _S. v. monticola_. The length of the maxillary tooth-row in these +six specimens averaged 6.23 (6.1-6.4) millimeters. Comparison with +average measurements of 6.6 and 6.8 in samples of _S. v. obscurus_, and +of 5.9 in a sample of _S. v. monticola_ (Findley, 1955:64, 65) reveals +the intermediate size of the specimens from the Mesa Verde. The gap +between habitat suitable for _Sorex vagrans_ on the Mesa Verde and the +nearest record-station for _S. v. monticola_ to the south and west in +the Chuska Mountains is wider than the gap between the Mesa Verde and +the nearest record-station for _S. v. obscurus_ to the north and east, +one mile west of Mancos, 75971, 7000 feet, or at Silverton. On +geographic grounds the specimens from the Mesa Verde are referred to _S. +v. obscurus_. The two specimens from Morfield Canyon were trapped on +November 4, 1957, and are grayish above and silvery below. Their pelage +contrasts markedly with the dorsally brownish and ventrally buffy pelage +of the September-taken specimens from Prater Canyon. + + +Myotis californicus stephensi Dalquest California Myotis + + _Specimens examined._---Total, 3: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69243, + 69246, August 21 and 22, 1956; 4505 Denver Museum, within the Park + (exact locality not recorded), R.L. Landberg, July 27, 1931. + +The specimens from Rock Springs were an adult male and a non-pregnant +adult female. Both were shot over the road in pinyon and juniper. The +specimens are referred to _M. c. stephensi_ on account of their +paleness, _stephensi_ being paler than _M. c. californicus_ from east of +Mesa Verde in Colorado. + + +Myotis evotis evotis (H. Allen) Long-eared Myotis + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 4: Chickaree Draw, Prater Canyon, + 8200 ft., MV 7841/507, probably in the summer of 1935; Rock + Springs, 7400 ft., 69241, August 23, 1956, and 69249, August 18, + 1956; Museum, Headquarters, 6950 ft., 69251, August 24, 1956. + +An adult male (69241) was taken in a Japanese mist net stretched fifteen +feet across a dirt road where it entered the stand of pinyon and juniper +at the south edge of the burn on Wetherill Mesa between 7:20 and 8:30 +p.m.; at the same place and time I captured five other bats of four +species: _Myotis thysanodes_, _Myotis subulatus_, _Eptesicus fuscus_, +and _Plecotus townsendii_. A piece of mist net attached to an aluminum +hoop-net two and one half feet in diameter was used to good advantage in +capturing bats rebounding from the larger mist net, and in frightening +bats into the larger net when they approached closely. An adult male +(69249) was shot at 7:20 p.m. while flying six to eight feet from the +ground between pinyon trees up to 20 feet high; the air temperature was +70 deg. F. A female (69251) was found seemingly exhausted on the floor in +the museum at Park Headquarters in the daytime, and was immature as +indicated by small size, open basicranial sutures, unworn teeth, weakly +ossified zygoma, and open epiphyseal sutures of phalanges. + + +Myotis subulatus melanorhinus (Merriam) Small-footed Myotis + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 8: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69242, + 69244, 69245, 69247, 69248, August 21 to 23, 1956; Hospital, Park + Headquarters, MV 7886/507, [Male], July 12, 1939; Headquarters, + MV 7877/507, [Female], August 30, 1938; 4504 Denver Museum, + within the Park (exact locality not recorded), R.L. Landberg, July + 27, 1931. + +The specimens from Rock Springs are two adult males that were shot, and +one adult male, one adult female, and one young male that were netted +at the place described in the account of _Myotis evotis_. The three +adult males are near the average color of _M. s. melanorhinus_, and +distinctly darker than the _Myotis californicus_ from the Mesa Verde. In +the female the pelage is paler and brighter, and the ears and membranes +are darker, than in _M. californicus_. + + +Myotis thysanodes thysanodes Miller Fringed Myotis + + _Specimen_: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69250, ad. [Female], August + 23, 1956; taken in net as noted in account of _Myotis evotis_. + + +Myotis volans interior Miller Long-legged Myotis + + _Specimen_: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69252, ad. [Female], August + 21, 1956; shot over road. + + +Eptesicus fuscus pallidus Young Big Brown Bat + + _Specimen_: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69253, ad. [Female], August + 23, 1956; taken in net as noted in account of _Myotis evotis_. + + +Plecotus townsendii pallescens (Miller) Townsend's Big-eared Bat + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 5: Rock Springs, 7400 ft., 69254, ad. + [Female], non-pregnant, August 23, 1956; Square Tower House, + 6700 ft., 69255-69258, March, 1955. + +The specimen from Rock Springs was taken in a net as noted in the +account of _Myotis evotis_. The specimens from Square Tower House were +obtained by D. Watson in a dimly lighted chamber formed by fracture in +the rocks at the bottom of the canyon wall, above the talus slope. The +bats were suspended from the wall of the chamber, which was at least six +feet wide and fifteen feet long. + + +Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana (Saussure) Brazilian Free-tailed Bat + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: Cliff Palace, 6800 ft., MV + 7862/507 and 7863/507, males, both collected by A.E. Borell, on + August 23, 1936. + + +Lepus californicus texianus Waterhouse Black-tailed Jackrabbit + +The black-tailed jackrabbit inhabits the Montezuma Valley to the north +of the Mesa Verde and the Mancos Valley to the northeast, and has been +seen occasionally on the top of the Mesa according to reports with date +and locality noted in the files at the Park for the years 1941, 1942, +1947, 1948, 1950, and 1951. In 1942 four observations were made, in 1950 +and 1951 two observations were recorded each year, and in other years +only one observation was recorded each year. Nine observations are for +Chapin Mesa south of Far View; only two observations are for higher +elevations on the North Rim. + + +Sylvilagus audubonii warreni Nelson Desert Cottontail + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: Head of Prater Canyon, MV + 7850/507; Far View Ruins, 75974, ad. [Female], non-pregnant, + November 8, 1957. + +One specimen was shot, while it was sitting near a pile of logs, by J.R. +Alcorn by means of a bow and arrow. Although _S. audubonii_ occurs on +the Mesa along with _S. nuttallii_, _S. audubonii_ is the species of the +lowlands throughout the western United States at the latitude of Mesa +Verde National Park. For example, _S. a. warreni_ (69260) but not _S. n. +pinetis_ was obtained along the east side of the Mancos River at 6200 +feet elevation (less than 50 yards outside the Park) and the same was +true at the same elevation at a place 4-1/2 mi. N of the Park (No. 69259 +from 2 mi. E Cortez). + + +Sylvilagus nuttallii pinetis (J.A. Allen) Nuttall's Cottontail + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 3: ad. [Male], 69263, skull only, + dead on road, 1-3/4 mi. N Park Headquarters, 7275 feet, August 9, + 1956; ad. [Female], 69261, no embryos, dead on road, 3/4 mi. S + and 1-3/4 mi. W Park Point, 8000 ft, August 8, 1956; ad. [Male], + 69262, shot in brushy area on the burn on Wetherill Mesa 2 mi. NNW + Rock Springs, 7900 ft., August 24, 1956. + +Nuttall's cottontail in Colorado is in general the cottontail of the +highlands, and the three localities just mentioned are on the top of the +Mesa Verde. + + +Sciurus aberti mimus Merriam Abert's Squirrel + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: [Male], MV 7872/507, prepared + by D. Watson, killed by a car "near" the Park Well on September 24, + 1937; [Female] (an unnumbered cased skin only), found dead + "near" the Park Well on June 21, 1937. + +Since 1934 these squirrels have been observed and recorded each year +except in 1938, 1943, 1947, 1953, 1957, and 1958. The 77 reported +observations can be grouped as follows: 11 from within a mile of the +entrance to the Park, 14 from the North Rim or higher parts of canyons +adjacent to it, 38 from Chapin Mesa south of Far View, and 14 not +classifiable. The large number of observations on Chapin Mesa, chiefly +in the vicinity of Park Headquarters, indicates the presence of more +observers rather than more squirrels in this area. + + +Tamiasciurus hudsonicus fremonti (Audubon and Bachman) Red Squirrel + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: MV 7843/507, Chickaree Draw, + Prater Canyon, 1935, C.W. Quaintance and Lloyd White; [Female], + 69264, no embryos, 1/4 mi. NNW Middle Well, Prater Canyon, 7600 + ft., August 31, 1956. + +Red squirrels, or chickarees as they are called in Colorado, are known +from only one place on the Mesa Verde, a side canyon on the west side of +Prater Canyon above Middle Well. This side canyon has been named +Chickaree Draw by C.W. Quaintance, who, with Lloyd White, studied the +chickaree there in 1935. Quaintance reported the small colony at 7800 +feet elevation in Douglas fir beneath which were found piles of cones +from which the seeds had been eaten by the chickarees. On May 29, 1935, +White observed a chickaree eating green oak leaves. On June 3, 1935, a +nest was found in an old hollow snag up under the rim rock; there were +four young squirrels in the nest. At least one nest was in a juniper and +was composed mostly of oak leaves and grass. One nest twenty-five feet +from the ground in a Douglas fir was composed of oak leaves and finely +shredded cedar bark. In August, 1956, I found these squirrels in the +same area and I shot one specimen. Other chickarees were seen and heard +and the characteristic piles of parts of Douglas fir cones still attest +to their presence. On September 1, 1953, D. Watson observed a pair of +chickarees in Prater Canyon. The only other specific record in the files +at the Park is of two seen in a branch of Soda Canyon in late 1956. Jean +Pinkley tells me that chickarees have been observed in 1958 and 1959 at +several other localities from Prater Canyon to the hill at the head of +Navajo Canyon. The extent to which increased observations indicate an +increase in number of chickarees is uncertain, since the amounts of time +spent in the field and the percentage of observations recorded are not +known. + + +Marmota flaviventris luteola A.H. Howell Yellow-bellied Marmot + +Records are available of observations at 14 different places in the Park +and in 19 different years between 1930 and 1960. Approximately +two-thirds of the observations have been on Prater Grade or in upper +Prater Canyon or in upper Morfield Canyon. On the morning of August 24, +1956, Harold Shepherd and I heard the whistle of an animal that he was +certain was a marmot, 2 mi. NNW of Rock Springs at the west rim of +Wetherill Mesa. Mr. Shepherd has worked in areas occupied by marmots for +years in southwestern Colorado. Wetherill Mesa is the locality farthest +west in the Park where marmots are known to occur. They occur as far +south as Cliff Palace. + + +Cynomys gunnisoni zuniensis Hollister Gunnison's Prairie Dog + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 3: MV 7836/507, Prater Canyon, 7600 + ft., C.W. Quaintance and L. White, May 24, 1935; [Female], MV + 7847/507, head of Prater Canyon, June 13, 1935, C.W. Quaintance + (the skin is on display); MV 7887/507, Prater Canyon, September 1, + 1939. + +C.W. Quaintance in reports on the results of his work in 1935 included +the following information: + +On February 20 in Prater Canyon Ranger Markley noticed that prairie dogs +were active although about three feet of snow lay on the ground. Between +April 15 and May 15 approximately 500 prairie dogs were in Prater Canyon +above Lower Well; through field glasses 350 were counted. Young were +first noted in Prater Canyon on July 12. Quaintance and Lloyd White had +under observation two bulky nests of the red-tailed hawk in the tops of +tall Douglas firs in side draws of Prater Canyon. Quaintance found near +the rimrock a quarter of a mile from the prairie-dog town the skeletons +of two prairie dogs between a sliver of a dead pinyon branch and the +branch itself. Another skeleton lay on a dead limb fifteen feet from the +ground. A red-tailed hawk once was observed to swoop down, seize a +prairie dog and fly down the canyon. The four colonies found in the Park +were in Prater Canyon, in Morfield Canyon, in the east fork of School +Section Canyon, and in Whites Canyon. The last two were smaller colonies +than the first two. + +Prairie dogs were observed away from these colonies. On June 20 a young +prairie dog ran into a culvert on the Knife Edge Section of the road. +Others were observed on the north side of the road, at the head of the +east prong of School Section Canyon, on the road west of Park Point, and +on the road at the head of Long Canyon five miles from the nearest known +colony in the Park. Possibly this last individual came from the +Montezuma Valley north of the Park. Mr. Prater, after whom Prater Canyon +is named, homesteaded on the Mesa Verde in 1899. He informed Quaintance +that prairie dogs were present in Morfield Canyon prior to 1900 but were +not in Prater Canyon in 1899. Prater said he drowned out a few that came +into Prater Canyon before 1914. In 1942, Chief Ranger Faha wrote in his +Annual Animal Census Report that he had interviewed an old time resident +(name not noted) who stated that prairie dogs were not present on the +Mesa Verde until about 1905 or 1906 and that Helen Morfield, the +daughter of Judge Morfield who homesteaded in Morfield Canyon, brought +the first prairie dogs on the Mesa Verde. Estimates of the prairie-dog +population in the Annual Animal Census Reports for 1935 through 1941 +were: 1935--800, 1936--650, 1937--650, 1938--650, 1939--no report, +1940--1500 and increasing, 1941--slight decrease. After 1942 more +adequate records were kept by Chief Ranger Wade and other Park Service +personnel. + +On August 9, 1943, occupied burrows of prairie dogs were found to be +thinly scattered down Prater Canyon from the head of the canyon at the +Maintenance Camp to a point about one hundred feet below the lower well. +The largest concentration was in the vicinity of the upper well near +Prater's Cabin. Little new digging that would indicate a spreading +population was noticed. Seemingly desirable, but unoccupied, habitat +extended at least two miles south of the inhabited area. In Morfield +Canyon, burrows were found from a point one hundred yards north of the +fence at the south boundary of Section 17, south for a mile and one-half +to a point one-third of a mile into Section 29. The greatest +concentration was in the vicinity of Morfield Well. South of this point +the burrows were found only along the narrow dry sides of the canyon and +in sage-covered areas at slightly higher elevations than the rest of the +floor of the canyon. Seemingly desirable habitat extended at least three +miles to the south and one mile to the north of the occupied area. The +report of the study in 1943 concluded with the statement that artificial +control by poisoning would be unwise and unnecessary. Requests were +being made at that time to exterminate prairie dogs in the Park on the +basis of the unproved assumption that prairie dogs move from the Park to +surrounding range land where extermination was then being attempted by +poisoning. + +On August 10, 1944, no occupied burrows were found in Whites Canyon or +the east fork of School Section Canyon. A heavy rain on August 9 made +accurate count of occupied burrows possible. In Prater Canyon the +occupied area extended 200 feet south of the area occupied in 1943. In +Morfield Canyon no change had occurred. North of the fence in Morfield +Canyon 130 occupied burrows were counted. More than one hole, if judged +to be part of the same burrow system, were counted as one. The +vegetation within the colony had continued to improve in spite of the +large population of prairie dogs. + +On August 8 and 14, 1945, although a careful search was made, the only +prairie dogs found in Prater Canyon were living in one burrow fifty +yards from the Maintenance Camp. In Morfield Canyon the colony had +decreased. Occupied burrows were found on the west side of the canyon +near the fence and above the well (17 burrows), and below the well on +the west side (estimated 30 burrows). The total population in both +canyons was estimated to be 100, compared with 800 in the preceding +year. The ground-water table was thought to be rising, and vegetation +was increasing. + +On August 12, 1946, two prairie dogs were observed in Prater Canyon, one +near the Maintenance Camp, and the other a mile to the south. In +Morfield Canyon 18 occupied burrows were found north of the fence and 36 +below the well, in the same two areas occupied in 1945. + +On August 12, 1947, two animals were seen at one of the localities +occupied a year earlier in Prater Canyon, and three burrows were +occupied. In Morfield Canyon 119 occupied burrows were counted. At least +12 dens occupied by badgers were present in 1946, and four in 1947. + +On August 9, 1948, no evidence of living prairie dogs was found in +Prater Canyon. In Morfield Canyon 45 burrows were counted north of the +fence. The grass had been increasing in abundance for several years. + +On August 18, 1949, no evidence of living prairie dogs was found in +either canyon. In 1951 five prairie dogs were said to have been seen in +Prater Canyon in June and July. No other observations have been +recorded. + +On June 22, 1956, 13 pups and 7 adult prairie dogs were released in an +enclosure in Morfield Canyon. Periodic inspections in the summer +revealed that the colony was surviving and healthy. By the following +spring no prairie dogs remained. Another reintroduction is planned this +year (1960). + +Both the history of the prairie dogs and the history of the viewpoint of +people toward them are interesting. Individual views have ranged from a +desire to exterminate all the prairie dogs to a desire to leave them +undisturbed by man. + +In review: The early history of prairie dogs on the Mesa Verde is not +well documented but reports are available of the absence of prairie dogs +before settlement by white men, and of introductions of prairie dogs. +Other reports indicate that prairie dogs have been observed far from +established colonies; therefore natural invasion may account for the +establishment of prairie dogs on the Mesa. Grazing of moderate to heavy +intensity by livestock continued in Morfield Canyon until 1941. +Cessation of grazing and above average precipitation were accompanied by +increased growth of vegetation in the colonies of prairie dogs. Mr. Wade +has suggested that flooding of burrows by ground water drove prairie +dogs from some lower parts of the floors of the canyons, and that +increased vegetation favored predators, primarily badgers and coyotes, +which further reduced the population. The abruptness of the decline, +especially in Prater Canyon, is consistent with the theory that some +epidemic disease occurred. This possibility was considered at the time +of the decline, and a Mobile Laboratory of the United States Public +Health Service spent from June 5 to June 25, 1947, in the Park +collecting rodents and their fleas for study. The primary concern was +plague, which had been detected in neighboring states. No evidence of +plague or of tularemia was reported after study of 494 small rodents +obtained from 13 localities in the Park. Only six prairie dogs (all from +Morfield Canyon) were studied. The negative report does not prove that +tularemia or some other disease was not a factor in the decimation of +the colony in Prater Canyon the year before. + +If prairie dogs were able to survive primarily because of over-grazing +by domestic animals, future introductions may fail. If disease was the +major factor in their disappearance, reintroductions may succeed. + + +Spermophilus lateralis lateralis (Say) Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 10: highway at School Section Canyon, + MV 7894/507; Sect. 27, head of east fork of Navajo Canyon, 7900 + ft., 69265; and Prater Canyon, 7600 to 7800 ft., MV 7835/507, + 7837/507, 7846/507, 7874/507, 7875/507, MVZ 74411-74413. + +In 1956, I observed _S. lateralis_ 1/2 mi. W of Park Point, 3/4 mi. WSW +Park Point, in the public campground at Park Headquarters, at the lower +well in Prater Canyon, and at two other places on the North Rim. Other +observations on file were made at Prater Grade, Park Point, "D" cut (on +North Rim 1 mi. WSW Park Point), and Morfield Canyon. A juvenile was +noted at Park Point on June 28, 1952, by Jean Pinkley, and five young +were seen together at "D" cut on July 3, 1935. The earliest observation, +also recorded by Jean Pinkley, was on February 1, 1947. All of the +localities with the exception of Park Headquarters are above 7500 feet, +and most of the localities are in vegetation that is predominantly +oak-brush. + + +Spermophilus variegatus grammurus (Say) Rock Squirrel + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 6: Head of Prater Canyon, MV + 7876/507; Chickaree Draw, Prater Canyon, MV 7843/507, 7844/507; + Headquarters Area, MV 7888/507; Ruins Road 1/2 mi. NE of Cliff + Palace, MV 7893/507; and Spruce Tree House, 4334 in Denver Museum. + +Specimen number 7893/507 had 360 Purshia seeds in its cheek-pouches +according to a note on the label. On July 18, 1960, I found a young male +rock squirrel dead on the road a mile north of headquarters that had 234 +pinyon seeds in its cheek-pouches. Young, recorded as "half-grown," have +been observed in May and July. The first appearance may be as early as +January. In 1950, D. Watson thought that they did not hibernate, except +for a few days when the weather was stormy. I observed a rock squirrel +in August in the public campground at Park Headquarters sitting on its +haunches on a branch of a juniper some twelve feet from the ground and +eating an object held in its forefeet. The rock squirrel ranges +throughout the Park in all habitats. + + +Eutamias minimus operarius Merriam Least Chipmunk + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 17: North Rim above Morfield Canyon, + MV 7856/507; Morfield Canyon, 7600 ft. (obtained on Nov. 4, 1957), + 75976; Middle Well in Prater Canyon, 7500 ft, MV 7855/507; Prater + Canyon, 7600 ft., MVZ 74414; Park Point, 8525 ft., 69267-69270; 1/4 + mi. S, 3/4 mi. W Park Point, 8300 ft., 69271-69272; Sect. 27, head + of east fork of Navajo Canyon, 7900 ft., 69273; Far View Ruins, + 7700 ft., 69274-69275, and two uncatalogued specimens in + preservative; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 ft., 69276-69277. + +Five of the fourteen specimens of known sex are females, all of which +were taken in August and September, and none of which is recorded as +having contained embryos. The skulls of the eight August-taken specimens +also suggest that young are born in late spring or early summer: the +largest skull had well-worn teeth that might indicate an age of more +than one year; four others had complete adult dentitions that were +barely worn; and three had not yet acquired complete adult dentitions. + +The records of _E. minimus_, like those of _Spermophilus lateralis_, +indicate greatest abundance in the higher parts of the Mesa Verde and in +areas of predominantly brushy vegetation. + + +Eutamias quadrivittatus hopiensis Merriam Colorado Chipmunk + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 13: Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., MV + 7838/507; Lower Well, Prater Canyon, 69278; Park Headquarters, MV + 7889/507; near the old Park Well, 7300 ft., 5468 in Univ. of + Colorado collection; Utility Area, 5469 and 5470 in Univ. of + Colorado collection; Spruce Tree House, 4352-4355 in Denver Museum; + Mesa Verde, 25 mi. [by road] SW Mancos, 149080-149081 USNM; Square + Tower House, 7000 ft., 5467 in Univ. of Colorado collection. + +Although both species occur in some of the same areas, _E. q. hopiensis_ +is more abundant than is _E. minimus_ in stands of pinyon and juniper, +along cliffs, and at low elevations. (A specimen of _hopiensis_, MV +7849/507, from 3 mi. S of the Park boundary where the 6000 foot contour +line cross the Mancos River is indicative of the occurrence at low +elevations.) + + +Thomomys bottae aureus J.A. Allen Botta's Pocket Gopher + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 35: Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., + 74408-74410 MVZ; Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., 69279; 1/4 + mi. N Middle Well, Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., 69280; Middle Well, + Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., 69281-69285, 75977; Morfield Canyon, 7600 + ft., 75978; 3/4 mi. S, 1-3/4 mi. W Park Point, 8000 ft, + 69286-69288; 1-1/4 mi. S, 1-3/4 mi. W Park Point, 8000 ft., 69289; + 1-1/2 mi. S, 2 mi. W Park Point, 8075 ft., 69290; Sect. 27, head of + east fork Navajo Canyon, 7900 ft, 69291-69292; 1/2 mi. N Far View + Ruins, 7825 ft, 69293; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69294, MV + 7852/507, 7853/507; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 ft., 69295-69298; + 2-1/2 mi. N, 1/2 mi. W Rock Springs, 8100 ft., 69299-69301; 2 mi. + N, 1/4 mi. W Rock Springs, 69302-69303; 1 mi. NNW Rock Springs, + 69304; 1/2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 69305; Mesa Verde, northern end, + 8100 ft., 149087 USNM. + +The pocket gophers of the Mesa Verde and vicinity are of one species, +_Thomomys bottae_. The distribution and variation of this species in +Colorado have been studied recently by Youngman (1958) who referred all +specimens from the Mesa Verde to _T. b. aureus_. He noted that some +specimens have dark diffuse dorsal stripes that are wide in specimens +from the Mancos River Valley. The generally darker color of the +specimens from the Mancos Valley as compared with that of specimens from +on the Mesa was noticed in the field, and is another example of the +local variability of pocket gophers. The nine specimens listed by +Youngman (1958:372) as from "Mesa Verde National Park," Mancos River, +6200 ft., are not here listed among "specimens examined" because +possibly some, or all, of the nine were trapped on the east side of the +River and therefore outside the Park. None was, however, farther than 30 +yards east of the Park. + +In the Park, pocket gophers occur both on mesa tops and in canyons. Most +of the localities listed above and others at which mounds were seen are +areas of disturbance such as the old burn on Wetherill Mesa, the rights +of way for roads, the river valley, and the grazed floor of Prater +Canyon. Little evidence of pocket gophers was found on unusually rocky +slopes, steep slopes, or in stands of pinyon and juniper or in +relatively pure stands of oak-brush. In addition to workability of the +soil, the presence of herbaceous plants, many of them weedy annuals, is +probably the most important factor governing the success of pocket +gophers in a local area. No female was recorded to have contained +embryos, but two had enlarged uteri or placental scars. This fact and +the capture of nine half-grown individuals indicate breeding prior to +late August when most specimens were trapped. + + +Dipodomys ordii longipes (Merriam) Ord's Kangaroo Rat + +Kangaroo rats have been seen crossing the highway in the Park less than +one mile from the Park entrance by Jean Pinkley. + + +Castor canadensis concisor Warren and Hall Beaver + +In 1935 Quaintance and White spent June 16 to June 20 in the Mancos +River Bottoms at the mouth of Weber Canyon, looking for sign of fresh +beaver work. They found none. Annual Animal Census Reports include the +following information based on patrols along the Mancos River at the +east boundary of the Park: 1937--estimate 4 beaver present, 1938--8, +1941--numerous bank burrows, 1942--uncommon, 1944--uncommon, 1945--most +concentrated at southeast corner, 1946--runs and two small dams seen +(flood had washed out larger dams), 1947--only in 1-1/2 miles north of +boundary with Ute Reservation, 1949--two separate colonies (each with +dams and one with a large house), 1950--none, owing to drouth and +diversion of water upstream completely drying the river at times, +1951--none, 1953--present, 1955--present. On the Mancos River, 6200 ft., +in late August, 1956, sign of beaver was abundant, numerous trees had +been cut but none within a week, and a bank den was found on the west +side of the river extending back 50 feet from the stream and caved in at +three places. In 1959 dens were still present. + + +Reithrodontomys megalotis aztecus J.A. Allen Western Harvest Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 38: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft, 75984-75986; Park Point, 8525 ft., 69316-69317; Far + View Ruins, 7700 ft, 69318-69319, 79220, MV 7897/507, and 23 + uncatalogued specimens in preservative; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 + ft., 69320-69321; 2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7900 ft., 69322-69323; 1 + mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7600 ft., 69324; 1/2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, + 7500 ft., 69325. + +The specimen listed last (69325) was an adult male recovered from the +stomach of a small (snout-vent length 334 mm., wt. 26.0 gms.) _Crotalus +viridus_ that was trapped in a Museum Special mouse-trap on a rocky +slope mostly barren of vegetation. The availability of samples taken in +August (by Anderson in 1956), in September (by Shepherd in 1958), and in +November (by Alcorn in 1957) makes the following comparison of age and +reproductive condition possible. The sample from November includes some +specimens from outside the Park as follows: 1 mi. W Mancos, Colorado, +75979-75983, and 2 mi. N La Plata [not shown on Fig. 2], San Juan +County, New Mexico, some 18 miles southeast of the Park, 75987-76000. +The data shown in Figure 3 indicate that females are pregnant at least +from in August into November. A smaller percentage of females was +pregnant in November than in August or September. The fact that all +females more than 130 mm. long were pregnant in September suggests an +autumnal peak in breeding activity. A change in the ratio of small +individuals (less than 130 mm. in length) to large individuals (130 mm. +or more in length) is indicative of a sustained breeding period +throughout the time shown. In August the ratio was 1 to 2.3, in +September the ratio was 1 to 1.2, and the ratio was 1 to 0.7 in +November. The western harvest mouse is found usually in grassy areas. + + +Peromyscus boylii rowleyi (J.A. Allen) Brush Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 14: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft., 76002-76003; Far View House, 7700 ft., MV 7851/507, + 7854/507; Far View Point, 5 uncatalogued specimens in preservative; + 1/2 mi. N Spruce Tree Lodge, 34742; 25 mi. [by road] SW Mancos, + 149094 and 149096 USNM; Oak Tree Ruin, 6700 ft., MV 7870/507; and + Cliff Palace, 6800 ft., MV 7864/507. + +The specimens were taken in August, September, and November. One adult +female trapped on September 10, 1958, had six embryos. + + +Peromyscus crinitus auripectus (J.A. Allen) Canyon Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 3: Mesa Verde [Spruce Tree Cliff + Ruins], 149095 USNM; Balcony House, MV 7865/507, 7866/507. + + +Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus (Merriam) Deer Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 396: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft., 76004-76100; Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., 76101-76144, + MV 7839/507, 7840/507; Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., + 69328-69329; Morfield Canyon, 7600 ft., 76145-76184; Park Point, + 8525 ft., 69330-69342, 69344-69360; 1-1/2 mi. E Waters Cabin, 6400 + ft. (labels on some specimens read "West Bank Mancos River, + Northeast side Mesa Verde National Park"), 69361-69376, + 76185-76204; Sect. 27, head of east fork Navajo Canyon, 7900 ft., + 69377-69380, 69422-69426; 3 mi. N Rock Springs, 8200 ft., + 69403-69410; 2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7900 ft., 69411-69412; 1 mi. + NNW Rock Springs, 7600 ft., 69413-69418; 1/2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, + 7500 ft., 69419-69421; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69386-69402; Far + View Point, 76530-76531, 79221 and 90 uncatalogued specimens in + preservative; Mancos River, 6200 ft., 69382-69385; back of Park + Museum, 6930 ft., MV 7857/507; Mesa Verde, 25 mi. [by road] SW + Mancos, 149093 USNM; Cornfield, MV 7878/507. + +The most abundant mammal is the ubiquitous deer mouse. Series of +specimens taken in August (by Anderson in 1956), in September (by +Shepherd in 1958 and 1959), and in November (by Alcorn in 1957) make +possible the following comparisons of age, reproductive conditions, and +molts. + +The specimens obtained in August and November were placed in five +categories according to age (as judged by wear on the teeth). These +categories correspond in general to those used by Hoffmeister (1951:1) +in studies of _Peromyscus truei_. From his descriptions I judge that +wear in _Peromyscus maniculatus_ differs from wear in _Peromyscus truei_ +in that the last upper molar is not worn smooth before appreciable wear +appears on the first two molars, and the lingual and labial cusps wear +more nearly concurrently. The five categories differ as follows: +category 1, last upper molar in process of erupting, showing no wear; +category 2, some wear apparent on all teeth, but most cusps little worn; +category 3, greater wear on all teeth, lingual cusps becoming rounded or +flattened; category 4, lingual cusps worn smooth, labial cusps show +considerable wear; category 5, all cusps worn smooth. The condition of +the pelage was noted for each prepared skin. Hoffmeister (_op. cit._: 4) +summarized changes in pelage that he observed in _Peromyscus truei_, and +he summarized earlier work by Collins with _Peromyscus maniculatus_. In +_P. maniculatus_ a grayish juvenal pelage is replaced by a postjuvenal +pelage in which the hairs are longer and have longer, pale, terminal or +subterminal bands giving a paler and more buffy or ochraceous hue to the +dorsal pelage. The postjuvenal pelage is replaced by an adult pelage +that is either brighter or, in some cases, is not distinguishable with +certainty from the postjuvenal pelage. Not only is the juvenal pelage +distinguishable from the postjuvenal pelage, but the sequence of +ingrowth of postjuvenal pelage follows a regular pattern that is usually +different from that of subsequent molts. The loss of juvenal hair is +less readily observed than the ingrowth of new postjuvenal hair on +account of the greater time required for the growth of any individual +hair than for the sudden loss of a hair. + +Molt was observed in some individuals no longer having juvenal pelage; +some new pelage was observed on the skins of seven mice collected in +August. Each of these was in category 4 or 5 and probably had been born +in the previous calendar year. These seven molting individuals make up +nearly 17 per cent of 42 individuals that had completed the juvenal to +postjuvenal molt. In November, 80 per cent of individuals (92 of 115) +that had previously obtained their postjuvenal or adult pelage were +molting. These mice were in age-categories 3, 4, and 5. Some of the +individuals in category 3 were developing new hair beneath a relatively +unworn bright pelage that I judge to be an adult pelage rather than a +postjuvenal pelage. If this judgment be correct and if the relatively +unworn dentition (category 3) means that these animals are young of the +year, we must conclude that individuals born in early summer may molt +from juvenal to postjuvenal, then to adult pelage, and finally in the +autumn into another adult pelage. Other individuals, six in number and +of categories 2 and 3, are simultaneously completing the juvenal to +postjuvenal molt and beginning the postjuvenal to adult molt. The +juvenal to postjuvenal molt begins, as has been described by various +authors, along the lateral line and proceeds dorsally and ventrally and +anteriorly and posteriorly, and the last patch to lose the gray juvenal +color is the top of head and nape, or less frequently the rump. In some +individuals a gray patch on the nape remained but emerging hair was not +apparent; perhaps the molt had been halted just prior to completion. The +progressing band of emerging hair is narrow in most specimens but in +some up to one-fifth of the circumference of the body has hair at the +same degree of emergence. Subsequent molts, both from postjuvenal to +adult pelage and between adult pelages, are less regular in point, or +points, of origin, width of progressing molt, and amount of surface +molting at one time. Half or more of the dorsum is oftentimes involved +in the same stage of molt at once. In some specimens the molt begins +along the lateral line, and in others in several centers on the sides. +In some skins distinct lines of molt are visible without parting the +hair, and in some others the molt is patchy in appearance. Growth of new +hair is apparent at various times of the year as a result of injury such +as that caused by bot fly larvae, cuts, scratches, or bites of other +mice. Abrasion, wear, irritation by ectoparasites, and other kinds of +injury to the skin may play a part in the development of a patchy molt. +Both breeding and molting are sources of considerable stress, and the +delay of the peak of molting activity until November when breeding +activity has decreased seems of benefit to the mice. A change in the +ratio of young mice (categories 1, 2, and 3) to old mice (categories 4 +and 5) between August and November was noted. In August, 29 per cent of +the population is composed of old mice, and in November only 6 per cent. +This change results from birth of young as well as death of old mice, +but may indicate that a mouse in November has less than one chance in +ten of being alive the following November. Some females born early in +the reproductive season breed in their first summer or autumn. For +example, a female of category 2, taken on August 12, and probably in +postjuvenal pelage, had placental scars. Undoubtedly the young of the +year contribute to the breeding population, especially late in the +season. + +[Illustration: FIG. 3. Frequency distributions, according to size, of +_Reithrodontomys megalotis_ and _Peromyscus maniculatus_ in three +samples taken in August, September, and November. Sexes and pregnancy or +nonpregnancy of females are indicated. See discussion in text.] + +In Figure 3 the proportion of females bearing embryos in August, +September, and November is shown. Of the females trapped in August, 11 +of 32 that were more than 144 mm. in total length contained embryos; an +additional 14 females were lactating or possessed placental scars or +enlarged uteri. Therefore, approximately 80 per cent of the larger +females were reproducing in August. In September two females were +pregnant and an additional sixteen of the 44 females examined showed +other evidence of reproduction; these eighteen females make up 41 per +cent of those more than 144 mm. in total length. The only reproductive +data available for November pertain to the presence or absence of +embryos. No female was pregnant although 35 females more than 144 mm. in +total length were examined. Some of the skins show prominent mammae +indicative of recent nursing, and juveniles less than a month old were +taken. The reproductive activity of deer mice on the Mesa Verde seems to +be greatly reduced in autumn. + + +Peromyscus difficilis nasutus (J.A. Allen) Rock Mouse + + _Specimen_: 1 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7600 ft., 69413, a young + individual completing the molt from juvenal to postjuvenal pelage. + + +Peromyscus truei truei (Shufeldt) Pinyon Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 42: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft., 76220-76232; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69326-69327, + 79222, and 8 uncatalogued specimens in preservative; Far View + Point, 76532-76535; Far View House, 7700 ft., 74416 MVZ; 1/2 mi. + NNW Rock Springs, 7500 ft., 69429-69430; Rock Springs, 7400 ft., + 69431-69435; Park Well, 7450 ft., 69428; Headquarters, MV 7882/507; + back of Museum, MV 7879/507, 7880/507, 7881/507; Square Tower + House, 6700 ft., 69438. + +In August three females were pregnant or lactating, or both. None of +seven adult females taken in November was pregnant. + + +Neotoma cinerea arizonae Merriam Bushy-tailed Wood Rat + + _Specimen_: Head of Prater Canyon, MV 7873/507. Another, in the + Denver Museum, from Spruce Tree House, was reported by Finley + (1958:270). + +_Neotoma cinerea_ prefers vertical crevices in high cliffs but occupies +other areas. + + +Neotoma mexicana inopinata Goldman Mexican Wood Rat + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 10: Headquarters, MV 7890/507 and + probably 7861/507, 74421 MVZ; Spruce Tree Lodge, 6950 ft., + 34802-34803; Spruce Tree House, 74419-74420 MVZ; Square Tower + House, MV 7869/507; Cliff Palace, 74422 MVZ; Balcony House, MV + 7868/507. + +The Mexican wood rat is the most common species of wood rat on the Mesa +Verde. The two specimens from Spruce Tree Lodge obtained by R.B. Finley +on September 2, 1949, are young individuals. + + Another species of the genus, the white-throated wood rat, _Neotoma + albigula_, may occur within the Park, since three specimens + (34757-34759) from the Mesa Verde were trapped on September 15, + 1949, by R.B. Finley, approximately 4-1/2 miles south of the Park + [6 mi. E, 17 mi. S Cortez, 5600 ft.--south of the area shown in + Figure 2]. Finley (1958:450) stated that at that locality he + trapped _Neotoma mexicana_ [No. 34801], that _N. albigula_ was + perhaps more common there than _N. mexicana_, that dens of _N. + albigula_ were more common than those of _N. mexicana_ under large + rocks in the talus on the south slope of the Mesa, and that dens of + _N. mexicana_ seemed to be more numerous in crevices of ledges in + the bedrock and cliffs. + + +Ondatra zibethicus osoyoosensis (Lord) Muskrat + +D. Watson (in letter of January 16, 1957) reported that he has seen +muskrat tracks many times along the Mancos River. He also relates a +report received from Chief Ranger Wade and D.A. Spencer who saw a +muskrat, no doubt a wanderer, on the Knife Edge Road on a cold winter +night. These men, both reliable observers, stopped and saw the muskrat +at a distance of two feet, where it took shelter under a power shovel +parked beside the road. Reports of dens seen along the Mancos River are +available for 1944, 1945, 1946, and 1947. + + +Microtus longicaudus mordax (Merriam) Long-tailed Vole + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 36: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft., 76233-76237; entrance to Mesa Verde National Park, + 5123-5126 in Denver Museum; Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., 76238-76244; + Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., 69441; Morfield Canyon, 7600 + ft., 76245-76259, 76261-76263; west bank Mancos River, northeast + side Mesa Verde National Park, 76260. + +The vegetation at the above-named localities is a combination of brush +and grasses that are both more luxuriant than in areas dominated by +pinyon and juniper on the more southern and altitudinally lower part of +the top of the Mesa where no _M. longicaudus_ was taken. + + +Microtus mexicanus mogollonensis (Mearns) Mexican Vole + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 22: Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., + 76283-76287; Sect. 27, head of east fork of Navajo Canyon, 7900 + ft., 69442; Far View Ruins, 7700 ft., 69443, 79223-79224; 2 mi. NNW + Rock Springs, 7900 ft., 69444-69446; Park Well, 7450 ft., + 69447-69453; rock ledge at head of Spruce Tree Canyon, unnumbered + specimen in Denver Museum; Headquarters, MV 7895/507, 7896/507. + +The first specimen of the Mexican vole from Colorado was obtained on the +Mesa Verde and has been reported by Rodeck and Anderson (1956:436). +Specimens have now been taken at seven localities on the Mesa. Prater +Canyon is the only one of these localities at which any other species of +vole was taken. There _Microtus longicaudus_ and _Microtus montanus_ +were also obtained. Judging from the vegetation at the above localities, +_M. mexicanus_ is to be expected in drier areas with less cover than _M. +montanus_ inhabits, and in areas having less cover than those inhabited +by _M. longicaudus_. + + +Microtus montanus fusus Hall Montane Vole + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 16: Upper Well, 7575 ft., + 69454-69465; 1/4 mi. N Middle Well, 7500 ft., 69466-69469. + +The voles were trapped in the dry but dense meadow of grass and sedge +covering the floor of the canyon (see Plate 1). _Sorex vagrans_ was +trapped in the same places. Four of the females of _M. montanus_ trapped +on September 3, 1956, were pregnant. + + +Erethizon dorsatum couesi Mearns Porcupine + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: 69470, old [Female], and 69471, + her young male offspring, both obtained on August 28, 1956, in the + canyon of the Mancos River, 6200 feet, along the western side of + the River. + +I saw no other porcupine in the Park. + +In 1935, C.W. Quaintance took special notice of porcupines because of +the possibility, then being considered, of their being detrimental to +habitat conditions thought to be favorable to wild turkeys. Porcupines +were suspected of killing ponderosa pine, which occurred in only a few +places, and which was thought to be necessary for wild turkeys. +Porcupines were recorded as follows: one found dead on the road at the +North Rim on March 16; one killed in oak brush along the North Rim; one +killed between April 15 and May 15; oak brush damaged by porcupines in +Soda Canyon below the well; one seen on July 4 on the Poole Canyon +Trail; one seen at the foot of the Mesa on June 26; one seen by Lloyd +White in Moccasin Canyon on June 27; and one seen by Mrs. Sharon Spencer +on July 1 in Prater Canyon. After four months on the Mesa Verde, +Quaintance concluded that there were not so many porcupines as had been +expected and that there were more ponderosa pines than had been +expected. + +In 1946, Donald A. Spencer began a study of porcupines on the Mesa Verde +and in 1958 deposited, in the University of Colorado Library, his +results in manuscript form as a dissertation in partial fulfillment of +the requirements for a higher degree ("Porcupine population fluctuations +in past centuries revealed by dendrochronology," 108 numbered and 13 +unnumbered pages, 39 figures, and 13 tables). Dendrochronology, or the +dating of trees by studying their rings, is a technique widely used in +the southwest by archeologists, climatologists, and others. Spencer +found that porcupines damage trees in a characteristic manner, and that +damage to a pinyon pine was evident as long as the tree lived. By dating +approximately 2000 scars and plotting the year for each scar, Spencer +observed three peaks since 1865; these were in about 1885, 1905, and +1935. The increase and decrease each time were at about the same rate. +The study did not yield precise population estimates. Some porcupines +were destroyed but Spencer is of the opinion that the decline that came +in following years was independent of the control measures. Spencer +thinks that activities of porcupines on the Mesa Verde are a major +factor in maintaining a forest cover of relatively young trees, and also +in preventing invasion of trees into areas of brush. + +The general policy in regard to porcupines from 1930 to 1946 was to kill +them because they eat parts of trees. In at least the following years +porcupines were killed: 1930, 1933, 1935, 1940, 1943, 1944, and 1946. +The largest number reported killed in one year is 71 in 1933 when a crew +of men was employed for this purpose. The amount of effort devoted to +killing porcupines varied from year to year. The most frequently voiced +alarm was that the scenic value of the areas along the entrance highway +and near certain ruins was being impaired. The direst prediction was +that all pine trees on the Mesa Verde were doomed to extinction in the +near future. The last prediction has not come to pass, nor has this +extinction occurred in the past thousand years and more during which +pine trees and porcupines have existed together on the Mesa Verde. + +In 1946 the studies of Spencer, Wade, and Fitch began. Much effort was +expended in obtaining and dating scars for analysis, and the interesting +results mentioned above were the reward. Also many porcupines were +captured alive and marked with ear-tags so that they could be recognized +later. For example, in the winter of 1946 and 1947, 117 were marked in +Soda Canyon. A decline in numbers in recent years reduced the impetus +for continuation of the study by reducing the results obtained for each +day spent searching for porcupines. Information obtained on movements of +porcupines relative to season and weather conditions in these studies +may be summarized and published later. Data regarding ratio of young to +adult animals from year to year are also of interest. + +The effect of a porcupine on a single tree is often easy to assess. The +effect of a fluctuating population of porcupines on a mixed forest is +not so easy to assess, but is of more intrinsic interest. It is +desirable that studies designed to evaluate the latter effect continue +while the population remains low and also when the next cyclic increase +begins. Publication of Spencer's results would be a major step forward. + +Cahalane (1948:253) mentions the difficulty that has been experienced in +protecting aesthetically desirable trees around cliff dwellings. Perhaps +in a local area removal of porcupines is sometimes warranted, but +control of the porcupine seems undesirable to me, as a general policy, +because one purpose of a National Park is to preserve natural conditions +and that implies naturally occurring changes. + +What is needed is continued careful study of the ecological +relationships of animals and of plants. National parks provide, to the +extent that they are not disturbed or "controlled," especially favorable +places for studies of this sort. + + +Mus musculus subsp. House Mouse + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 7: North end Mesa Verde National + Park, 7000 ft, 76290; west bank Mancos River northeast side Mesa + Verde National Park, 76291-76296. + + +Canis latrans mearnsi Merriam Coyote + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 3: 69472, skull only of a young + individual, found dead at the top of the bank of the Mancos River, + 1-1/2 mi. E Waters Cabin, 6400 ft., August 29, 1956, probably + killed by man; ad. [Male], 76298, taken by J.R. Alcorn, November + 10, 1957, on the top of the Mesa at Square Tower House; and skin + and skull, MV 7858/507, without data. + +Tracks or scats of the coyote were seen in all parts of the Park +visited. Coyotes range throughout the area. On September 3, 1956, 35 +coyote scats were found on the dirt roads in Prater and Morfield canyons +above 7300 feet elevation and on the road crossing the divide between +these canyons. Probably none of these scats was more than a month old. +Coyote tracks were seen at some of the fresher scats. Scats associated +with fox tracks and scats of small size were not picked up. +Nevertheless, a few of the scats studied may have been those of foxes. +Judging from the contents of scats that were certainly from foxes, the +effect of inadvertent inclusion of fox scats would be to elevate the +percentage of scats containing berries (but not more than five +percentage points). Each scat was broken up and the percentage of scats +containing each of the following items was noted (figures are to the +nearest per cent). Remains of deer occurred in 48 per cent of scats, +gooseberries (_Ribes_) in 34 per cent, porcupines in 29 per cent, +insects in 11 per cent, birds in 11 per cent, unidentified hair in 9 per +cent, and unidentified material in 6 per cent. One scat (3 per cent) +contained an appreciable amount of plant debris, one contained +_Microtus_ along with other items, and one contained only _Sylvilagus_; +14 scats had material of more than one category. The percentage in each +category of the volume of each scat was estimated. Data on volume +warrant no conclusion other than one that can be drawn from the +percentages of occurrence, namely that the major food sources used in +August, 1956, by coyotes in these canyons were deer, berries, and +porcupines and that other sources, though used, were relatively +unimportant. Deer were common in the area. It is fortunate that coyotes +remain to help regulate the deer population. Wolves, _Canis lupus_, +which at one time occurred in the Park, are now gone. The coyote and +mountain lion are the only sizeable predators that remain. + + +Vulpes vulpes macroura Baird Red Fox + +D. Watson (in letter of January 16, 1957) reported that red foxes have +been seen on the Mesa by several employees of the Park. These persons +know the gray fox, which often is seen in winter feeding at their back +doors, and Mr. Watson considers the reports reliable. In the early +morning of October 24, 1943, a reddish-yellow fox having a white-tipped +tail was observed by three men, one of whom was Chief Ranger Wade, at +Park Point. In 1948, 1950, and 1953 black foxes have been reported. + + +Urocyon cinereoargenteus scottii Mearns Gray Fox + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 3: [Male], MV 7867/507, 2 mi. N of + Headquarters, 7400 ft., September 24, 1935, H.P. Pratt; [Male], + 76299, November 9, and [Female], 76300, trapped on November 12, + 1957, by J.R. Alcorn at Square Tower House. + +The gray fox is common on the Mesa. + + +Ursus americanus amblyceps Baird Black Bear + +From 1929 through 1959 at least 151 observations of bears were recorded. +Observations were unrecorded in only five years--1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, +and 1958. Most observations were in the 1940's and the peak was in 1944 +(18 observations) and 1945 (21 observations). Cubs have been recorded in +10 different years. If dated reports are tabulated by months the +following figures are obtained for the 12 months beginning with January: +0, 0, 0, 4, 15, 19, 19, 9, 10, 9, 3, 0. The peak in the summer months +and the absence of observations in the winter months are significant. +Individual bears probably enter and leave the Park in the course of +their normal wanderings; however bears probably hibernate, breed, and +bear young within the Park and should not be regarded as merely +occasionally wandering into the Park. + + +Procyon lotor pallidus Merriam Raccoon + +In December, 1959, three raccoons were seen on Prater Grade and later +three were seen in Morfield Canyon near the tunnel. I saw a dead raccoon +at the side of the highway 3 mi. WSW of Mancos, 6700 feet, on August 8, +1956. This locality is outside of the Park and not on the Mesa, but is +mentioned because it indicates that the raccoon probably occurs along +the Mancos River, which forms the eastern boundary of the Park. The +raccoon is rare in the area. Some local persons were surprised to hear +of its presence; other persons told me that raccoons were present, but +rare. + + +Bassariscus astutus flavus Rhoads Ringtail + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 4: MV 7884/507 and 7885/507, trapped + in Balcony House and prepared by D. Watson in 1939; MV 7901/507 and + 7902/507, without data. + +The cliff dwellings are favored by ringtails and in some years they are +common near occupied dwellings in the area of headquarters. Ringtails +have been seen in each major habitat within the Park. + + +Mustela frenata nevadensis Hall Long-tailed Weasel + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 5: MV 7891/507, [Male], from the + "Garden" [= Indian Cornfield]; [Female], MV 7892/507, also from + the "Cornfield"; MV 7859/507, "Killed by car on Prater Grade"; + [Male], MV 7871/507, in winter pelage, from the North Rim; and + [Male], 83464, killed on the road 1/2 mi. NE of the tunnel, + Morfield Canyon. + +C.W. Quaintance in 1935 reported that on January 11, he and Mr. Nelson +saw a weasel attack a cottontail, and on March 9, while on the snow +plow, Mr. Nelson witnessed another cottontail being killed by a weasel. +Weasels in white winter pelage have been recorded in December and +January. The brown pelage has been seen as late as November. + + +Mustela vison energumenos (Bangs) Mink + +D. Watson (in letter of January 16, 1957) wrote: "When Jack Wade, now +Chief Ranger, was doing patrol work in the Mancos Canyon back in the +1930's, he saw mink along the river at the east side of the Park. +Several years ago, the people who lived on the ranch where Weber Canyon +joins the Mancos trapped a mink." Tracks have been reported along the +Mancos River in several years. + + +Spilogale putorius gracilis Merriam Spotted Skunk + + _Specimen_: Immature [Male], MV 7860/507, Cliff Palace, August + 22, 1936, prepared by A.E. Borrell. + +In some years these little skunks have become so numerous in the area of +headquarters that they were a nuisance, and were captured in garbage +cans and released in other parts of the Park. + + +Mephitis mephitis estor Merriam Striped Skunk + +D. Watson advises me that striped skunks are fairly common around the +entrance to the Park, along the foot of the Mesa, and along the Mancos +River. Striped skunks have been reported in 1951 in Morfield Canyon, in +1952 on the Knife Edge, in 1953 at Windy Point (1/4 mi. N of Point +Lookout), and in 1959 at the head of Morfield Canyon. + +[Illustration: PLATE 1 + +UPPER: View of the North Rim of Mesa Verde, looking west from Park +Point, the highest place on the North Rim. The south-facing slope on the +left is covered with brushy vegetation, mostly oak. Sheltered parts of +the north-facing slope support stands of Douglas fir, and at a few +places some ponderosa pines. Photo taken in August, 1956, by S. +Anderson. + +LOWER LEFT: View of Rock Canyon from Wetherill Mesa, looking southwest +from a point 2 mi. NNW Rock Springs. The area in the foreground on +Wetherill Mesa was burned in 1934. Photo taken in August, 1956, by S. +Anderson. + +LOWER RIGHT: Prater Canyon, at Upper Well, 7575 feet. In the matted +grasses and sedges on the floor of the canyon _Microtus montanus_ and +_Sorex vagrans_ were captured. _Tamiasciurus hudsonicus_ was found in a +side canyon, Chickaree Draw, one half mile southwest of the place shown. +Chickaree Draw is more sheltered than the slope in the background and +has a denser stand of Douglas fir than occurs here. Photo taken in +August, 1956, by S. Anderson.] + +[Illustration: PLATE 2 + +UPPER: Relatively undisturbed stand of pinyon pine and Utah juniper 1/4 +mi. N Rock Springs, at 7400 feet elevation on Wetherill Mesa along a +service road. The vegetation shown is characteristic of the lower more +exposed parts of the top of the Mesa Verde. Photo taken in August, 1956, +by S. Anderson. + +LOWER: Wetherill Mesa, 1/2 mi. NNW Rock Springs, 7500 feet elevation. +This area burned in 1934. It contained no pine or juniper in 1956 +despite attempted reforestation in the thirties and the presence of a +stand of pinyon and juniper (shown above) only one quarter of a mile +away. Possibly fire in the last three or four hundred years on the +higher parts of the Mesa has been a factor in producing chaparral there, +rather than pinyon and juniper. Photo taken in August, 1956, by S. +Anderson.] + + +Taxidea taxus berlandieri Baird Badger + +Several reports, but no specimens, of the badger have been obtained. In +1935, C.W. Quaintance wrote that in School Section Canyon tracks of +cougar, bobcat, coyote, and deer were found, and that pocket gophers, +badgers, and cottontail rabbits were present. Later in 1935, H.P. Pratt +wrote that he had found evidence of badgers "at the lower well in Prater +Canyon, where on September 23, there were extensive badger diggings and +fresh tracks in the vicinity of the prairie dog colony there." Badgers +are common in the lowlands around the Mesa and they are common enough on +the Mesa to be regarded as nuisances by archeologists on account of +badgers digging in ruins. Badgers have been seen from three to six times +each year from 1950 to this date, most of them in the vicinity of the +North Rim. + + +Felis concolor hippolestes Merriam Mountain Lion + +Mountain lions range throughout the Park. There are reliable sight +records of lions and lion tracks, but no specimen has been preserved. +Early records of observations include the report of tracks seen in +Navajo Canyon by Cary (1911:165), and a lion seen in 1917. Since 1930 +the more adequate records include reports of from one to eight +observations each year for 26 of the 30 years. Young animals (recorded +as "half-grown") or cubs have been reported in four of these years. The +tabulation of dated reports by month beginning with January is: 2, 0, 3, +2, 8, 4, 6, 7, 4, 9, 5, 7. Mountain lions range more widely than bears +in their daily and seasonal activities, but like bears probably breed, +bear young, and feed in the Park. Although at any one time lions may or +may not be within the Park, it is part of their normal range and the +species should be regarded as resident and is not uncommon. + + +Lynx rufus baileyi Merriam Bobcat + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: A specimen (now mounted in Park + Museum) from the Knife Edge Road; and ad. [Female], 76302, + Prater Canyon, 7500 ft., November 12, 1957, obtained by J.R. + Alcorn. + +Bobcats are present throughout the Park. Approximately 80 observations +of bobcats are on file, from all parts of the Park and in all months. +Probably the bobcat and the gray fox are the most abundant carnivores in +the Park. In addition to known predation by mountain lions and coyotes +on porcupines, the bobcat kills porcupines. A dead porcupine and a dead +bobcat with its face, mouth, and one foot full of quills were found +together on January 31, 1952, under a boulder in front of Cliff Palace. +On August 20, 1956, I saw a bobcat hunting in sage in a draw near a +large clump of oak-brush, into which it fled, at the head of the east +fork of Navajo Canyon, Sect. 21, near the North Rim, 8100 feet. + + +Odocoileus hemionus hemionus (Rafinesque) Mule Deer + + _Specimens examined._--Total, 2: Young [Male], 76303, November + 8, 1957, Far View Ruins; [Female], 76304, November 12, 1957, + Spruce Tree House Ruin, both obtained by J.R. Alcorn. + +In all parts of the Park, mule deer are common. Five projects concerning +deer are in progress or have been concluded recently on the Mesa. One is +a study of the responses of different species of plants to browsing and +was begun in 1949 by Harold R. Shepherd for the Colorado Department of +Game and Fish. A number of individual plants and in some instances +groups of plants were fenced to exclude deer. Systematic clips of 20, +40, 60, 80, or 100 per cent of the annual growth are made each year. The +results of the first ten years of this study are being prepared for +publication by Shepherd. + +A study of browsing pressure was initiated in 1952 by Regional Biologist +C.M. Aldous, on eight transects in the Park. Each transect consists of +15 plots at intervals of 200 feet. The amount of use of each plant +species was recorded from time to time. The study was terminated in +1955. I have seen no summary of results of this study. + +A trapping program was begun in 1953 with the co-operation of the +Colorado Department of Game and Fish. Deer are trapped, marked, and +released. Some are released in areas other than where trapped. In this +way the excessive size of the herd near headquarters has been reduced. +Recoveries of marked deer outside the Park by hunters and retrapping +results in the Park should provide information about movements of deer +and about life expectancy. + +The "Deer Trend Study" was initiated in 1954. From November to May, +twice a day, at the same time, a count is made along the entrance road +from the Park Entrance to Headquarters. Ten drainage areas traversed are +tabulated separately. The results of four years of this study indicate +that the greatest number of deer are present in November, December, and +January, and that only about one-fourth as many are present in February +and March. Depending on severity of weather, the yearly pattern varies, +the deer arriving earlier, or leaving earlier. This change in numbers, +the recovery outside of the Park of animals marked in the Park, and +direct observations of movement indicate that the Mesa Verde is an +intermediate range rather than a summer-range or winter-range. In summer +deer tend to move northward and eastward out of the Park, and in winter +they move back through the Park toward lower and more protected areas in +canyons both in the Park and south of the Park on the Ute Reservation. +Some deer remain in the Park the entire year. Close co-operation between +personnel of the Park Service and of the Colorado Department of Game and +Fish has regulated hunting outside the Park in such a way as to provide +satisfactory control of the deer within the Park. + +A study of the effect of rodents on plants used by deer was initiated in +1956 by Harold R. Shepherd. Three acres were fenced in a fashion +designed to exclude rodents but not deer. An adjacent three acres were +fenced as a control, but not so as to exclude rodents or deer. Eight +trap lines nearby provide an index of rodent fluctuations from year to +year. These studies will need to be continued for a period of ten years +or more, and should provide much information concerning not only deer +but also rodents and their effect on vegetation. + + +Cervus canadensis nelsoni V. Bailey Wapiti + +Wapiti are seen periodically; probably they wander in from the higher +mountains to the northeast and do not remain for long. The following +note was included in the 1921 report of Mr. Jesse L. Nusbaum, then +Superintendent of the Park: "The first elk ever seen in the Park made +his appearance near the head of Navajo Canyon, August 15 of this year, +and travelled for two miles in front of a Ford car down the main road +before another car, travelling in the opposite direction, scared him +into the timber." Additional observations have been recorded as follows: +School Section Canyon ("fall" 1935), Knife Edge Road (July, 1940), West +Soda Canyon and Windy Point (December, 1949), Long Canyon (July, 1959), +and Park Entrance (December, 1959). Three of the six observations are in +July and August; therefore movement by wapiti into the Park can not be +attributed entirely to disturbance during the hunting season. + + +Ovis canadensis canadensis Shaw Bighorn + +Some early records of the bighorn were mentioned by C.W. Quaintance +(1935): In a letter of January 20, 1935, John Wetherill said that a +"Mountain Sheep Canyon" (now Rock Canyon) was named for a bunch of sheep +that wintered near their camp; and Sam Ahkeah, a Navajo, says the +Indians occasionally find remnants of sheep on the Mesa, which they take +back to their hogans. Cahalane (1948:257) reported that hunting +presumably had eliminated bighorns from the Mesa by 1896; however Jean +Pinkley reports that a large ram was killed on Point Lookout in 1906. + +On January 30, 1946, 14 sheep (3 rams, 7 ewes, and 4 lambs) from the +herd at Tarryall, Colorado, were obtained through the Colorado +Department of Game and Fish and were released at 8:30 a.m. at the edge +of the canyon south of Spruce Tree Lodge. The sheep, instead of entering +the canyon as expected, turned north, passed behind the museum, and +eventually disappeared northward on Chapin Mesa. The sheep evidently +divided into at least two bands. On April 24, 1946, three sheep were +seen 2-1/2 mi. N of Rock Springs, and on June 19, 1947, tracks were seen +in Mancos Canyon. In 1947, 1948, and 1949 farmers in Weber Canyon +reported seeing sheep many times on Weber Mountain, and watering at the +Mancos River. In May, 1949, an estimate of 27 sheep on Weber Mountain +was made after several days study by men from the state game department. +The herds continued to increase. In 1956 I saw two bighorns. On August +18, at 6:20 a.m., my wife and I briefly observed a bighorn on the rocks +below Square Tower Ruins. On August 24, I was digging with a small +shovel in rocky soil behind the cabin at Rock Springs, when hoof beats +were heard approaching in the rocky head of the canyon to the east. An +adult ewe came up to the fence around the cabin area and looked at me, +seemingly curious about the noise my shovel had been producing. I +remained motionless and called to my wife, Justine, to come from the +cabin and see the sheep. The ewe seemed not to be disturbed by my voice, +but took flight, returning in the direction from which she had come, the +moment Justine appeared from behind the cabin. Sheep can now be seen on +occasion in any of the deep canyons across the southern half of the +Park. The sheep have caused slight damage in some of the ruins by +bedding down there, and by climbing on walls. As the sheep increase in +numbers this activity may be regarded as a problem. In 1959 an estimated +75 to 100 sheep were in the Park and adjacent areas. + + + + +DISCUSSION + + +The distributions of animals are influenced by geographic, vegetational, +and altitudinal factors. The Mesa Verde is intermediate in geographic +position and altitude between the high Southern Rocky Mountains and the +low southwestern desert. For this reason, we find on the Mesa Verde (1) +a preponderance of species having wide distributions in this part of the +country, and having relatively wide ranges of tolerance for different +habitats, (2) a lesser number of exclusively montane or boreal species +than occur in the higher mountains to the northeast of the Mesa and that +may reach the limits of their ranges here, and (3) a small number of +species of southern or Sonoran affinities. Fifty-four species are +recorded above. + +Forty-one of these species are represented by specimens from the Park. +Thirteen additional species in the list have been seen in the Park. + +On the Grand Mesa, which is more elevated than, and some 110 miles north +of, the Mesa Verde (see Figure 1), 55 per cent of the species of mammals +have boreal affinities and the other 45 per cent are wide-spread species +(Anderson, 1959:414). Boreal species from the Mesa Verde are _Sorex +vagrans_, _Sylvilagus nuttallii_, _Spermophilus lateralis_, _Marmota +flaviventris_, _Tamiasciurus hudsonicus_, _Microtus montanus_, and +_Microtus longicaudus_. These seven species comprise only thirteen per +cent of the mammalian fauna of the Mesa Verde. Other boreal species that +occur in the mountains of Colorado on the Grand Mesa or elsewhere +(Findley and Anderson, 1956:80) and that do not occur on the Mesa Verde +are _Sorex cinereus_, _Sorex palustris_, _Ochotona princeps_, _Lepus +americana_, _Clethrionomys gapperi_, _Phenacomys intermedius_, _Zapus +princeps_, _Martes americana_, _Mustela erminea_, and _Lynx canadensis_. +The 47 species from the Mesa Verde that are not exclusively boreal make +up 87 per cent of the mammalian fauna. Most of these are wide-spread +species and are more abundant in the deserts or other lowlands than in +the coniferous forests of the highlands, for example the eight species +of bats, and _Sylvilagus audubonii_, _Thomomys bottae_, _Taxidea taxus_, +_Bassariscus astutus_, _Canis latrans_, _Cynomys gunnisoni_, +_Reithrodontomys megalotis_, and _Lepus californicus_. A few of the +wide-spread species are more common in the highlands than in the +lowlands, for example _Ursus americanus_, _Felis concolor_, _Castor +canadensis_, _Erethizon dorsatum_, and _Cervus canadensis_, and the +ranges of three of these, the bear, mountain lion and wapiti, are more +restricted today than formerly. A few species find their favorite +habitat and reach their greatest abundance in altitudinally and +vegetationally intermediate areas such as upon the Mesa Verde, or in +special habitats, such as the rock ledges, and crevices that are so +abundant on the Mesa. Examples of this group of species are +_Spermophilus variegatus_, _Peromyscus crinitus_, _Peromyscus truei_, +_Neotoma cinerea_, and _Neotoma mexicana_. One species, _Dipodomys +ordii_, is restricted to the desert. Species that are restricted to the +desert and that occur in Montezuma County, Colorado, but that are not +known from the Mesa Verde are _Ammospermophilus leucurus_, _Perognathus +flavus_, and _Onychomys leucogaster_. + +Species known to have changed in numbers in the past 50 years are the +mule deer that has increased, and the prairie dog that has decreased. +Possibly beaver have increased along the Mancos River. The muskrat, +mink, beaver, and raccoon usually occur only along the Mancos River, as +there is no other permanent surface water in the Park. + +Species such as the bighorn and the marmot that are rare within the +Park, or those such as the chickaree, the prairie dog, the wandering +shrew, the montane vole, and the long-tailed vole that occupy only small +areas of suitable habitat within the Park are the species most likely to +be eliminated by natural changes, or through the activities of man. For +example parasites introduced through domestic sheep that wander into the +range of bighorns within the Park might endanger the bighorn population. +An increase in grazing activity, road building, and camping in Prater +and Morfield canyons might eliminate the small areas of habitat occupied +by the montane vole and the wandering shrew. Fire in Chickaree Draw +could destroy all the Douglas fir there, and consequently much of the +habitat occupied by the chickaree. + +Probably some species inhabit the Mesa that have not yet been found, but +they are probably few, and their discovery will not alter the faunal +pattern in which the few boreal species occupy restricted habitats in +the higher parts of the Mesa, and a preponderance of geographically +wide-spread species occupy all or most of the Mesa, and surrounding +areas. Additional bats are the species most likely to be added to the +list. + + +28-7577 + + + + +LITERATURE CITED + +ANDERSON, S. +1959. Mammals of the Grand Mesa, Colorado. Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. +Nat. Hist, 9(16):405-414, 1 fig. in text. + +CAHALANE, V.H. +1948. The status of mammals in the U.S. National Park System, 1947. +Jour. Mamm., 29(3):247-259. + +CARY, M. +1911. A biological survey of Colorado. N. Amer. Fauna, 33:1-256, 39 +figs., frontispiece (map). + +FINDLEY, J.S. +1955. Speciation of the Wandering Shrew. Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. Nat. +Hist., 9(1):1-68, figs. 1-18. + +FINDLEY, J.S. and ANDERSON, S. +1956. Zoogeography of the montane mammals of Colorado. Jour. Mamm., +37(1):80-82,1 fig. in text. + +FINLEY, R.B. +1958. The wood rats of Colorado, distribution and ecology. Univ. Kansas +Publ., Mus. Nat. Hist., 10(6):213-552, 34 plates, 8 figs., 35 tables +in text. + +GETTY, H.T. +1935. New dates from Mesa Verde. Tree-ring Bulletin, 1(3):21-23. + +HOFFMEISTER, D.F. +1951. A taxonomic and evolutionary study of the pinon mouse, Peromyscus +truei. Illinois Biol. Monogr., vol. XXI(4), pp. ix + 104, 24 figs., +4 tables and 5 plates in text. + +RODECK, H.G. and ANDERSON, S. +1956. _Sorex merriami_ and _Microtus mexicanus_ in Colorado. Jour. Mamm., +37(3):436. + +SCHULMAN, E. +1946. Dendrochronology at Mesa Verde National Park. Tree-ring Bulletin, +12(3):18-24, 2 figs., 1 table in text. + +YOUNGMAN, P.M. +1958. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Thomomys bottae, in +Colorado. Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. Nat. Hist., 9(12):363-387, 7 +figs. in text. + +_Transmitted April 11, 1961._ + + + + +UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF NATIONAL HISTORY + +Institutional libraries interested in publications exchange may obtain +this series by addressing the Exchange Librarian, University of Kansas +Library, Lawrence, Kansas. Copies for individuals, persons working in a +particular field of study, may be obtained by addressing instead the +Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. There +is no provision for sale of this series by the University Library, which +meets institutional requests, or by the Museum of Natural History, which +meets the requests of individuals. However, when individuals request +copies from the Museum, 25 cents should be included, for each separate +number that is 100 pages or more in length, for the purpose of defraying +the costs of wrapping and mailing. + +* An asterisk designates those numbers of which the Museum's supply (not +the Library's supply) is exhausted. Numbers published to date, in this +series, are as follows: + +Vol. 1. Nos. 1-26 and index. Pp. 1-638, 1946-1950. + +*Vol. 2. (Complete) Mammals of Washington. By Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. +1-444, 140 figures in text. April 9, 1948. + +Vol. 3. *1. The avifauna of Micronesia, its origin, evolution, and +distribution. By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 1-359, 16 figures in text. June +12, 1951. + +*2. A quantitative study of the nocturnal migration of birds. By George +H. Lowery, Jr. Pp. 361-472, 47 figures in text. June 29, 1951. + +3. Phylogeny of the waxwings and allied birds. By M. Dale Arvey. Pp. +478-530, 49 figures in text, 18 tables. October 10, 1951. + +4. Birds from the state of Veracruz, Mexico. By George H. Lowery, Jr., +and Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 531-649, 7 figures in text, 2 tables. +October 10, 1951. + +Index. Pp. 651-681. + +*Vol. 4. (Complete) American weasels. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 1-466, 41 +plates, 31 figures in text. December 27, 1951. + +Vol. 5. Nos. 1-37 and index. Pp. 1-676, 1951-1953. + +*Vol. 6. (Complete) Mammals of Utah, _taxonomy and distribution_. By +Stephen D. Durrant. Pp. 1-549, 91 figures in text, 30 tables. August 10, +1952. + +Vol. 7. *1. Mammals of Kansas. By E. Lendell Cockrum. Pp. 1-303, 73 +figures in text, 37 tables. August 25, 1952. + +2. Ecology of the opossum on a natural area in northeastern Kansas. By +Henry S. Fitch and Lewis L. Sandidge. Pp. 305-338, 5 figures in text. +August 24, 1953. + +3. The silky pocket mice (Perognathus flavus) of Mexico. By Rollin H. +Baker. Pp. 339-347, 1 figure in text. February 15, 1954. + +4. North American jumping mice (Genus Zapus). By Philip H. Krutzsch. Pp. +349-472, 47 figures in text, 4 tables, April 21, 1954. + +5. Mammals from Southeastern Alaska. By Rollin H. Baker and James S. +Findley. Pp. 473-477. April 21, 1954. + +6. Distribution of Some Nebraskan Mammals. By J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. +479-487. April 21, 1954. + +7. Subspeciation in the montane meadow mouse. Microtus montanus, in +Wyoming and Colorado. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 489-506, 2 figures in +text. July 23, 1954. + +8. A new subspecies of bat (Myotis velifer) from southeastern California +and Arizona. By Terry A. Vaughan. Pp. 507-512. July 28, 1954. + +9. Mammals of the San Gabriel mountains of California. By Terry A. +Vaughan. Pp. 513-582, 1 figure in text, 12 tables. November 15, 1954. + +10. A new bat (Genus Pipistrellus) from northeastern Mexico. By Rollin +H. Baker. Pp. 583-586. November 15, 1954. + +11. A new subspecies of pocket mouse from Kansas. By E. Raymond Hall. +Pp. 587-590. November 15, 1954. + +12. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Cratogeomys castanops, in +Coahuila, Mexico. By Robert J. Russell and Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 591-608. +March 15, 1955. + +13. A new cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) from northeastern Mexico. +By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 609-612. April 8, 1955. + +14. Taxonomy and distribution of some American shrews. By James S. +Findley. Pp. 613-618. June 10, 1955. + +15. The pigmy woodrat, Neotoma goldmani, its distribution and systematic +position. By Dennis G. Rainey and Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 619-624, 2 +figures in text. June 10, 1955. + +Index. Pp. 625-651. + +Vol. 8. Nos. 1-10 and index. Pp. 1-675, 1954-1956. + +Vol. 9. 1. Speciation of the wandering shrew. By James S. Findley. Pp. +1-68, 18 figures in text. December 10, 1955. + +2. Additional records and extensions of ranges of mammals from Utah. By +Stephen D. Durrant, M. Raymond Lee, and Richard M. Hansen. Pp. 69-80. +December 10, 1955. + +3. A new long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) from northeastern Mexico. By +Rollin H. Baker and Howard J. Stains. Pp. 81-84. December 10, 1955. + +4. Subspeciation in the meadow mouse, Microtus pennsylvanicus, in +Wyoming. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 85-104, 2 figures in text. May 10, +1956. + +5. The condylarth genus Ellipsodon. By Robert W. Wilson. Pp. 105-116, 6 +figures in text. May 19, 1956. + +6. Additional remains of the multituberculate genus Eucosmodon. By +Robert W. Wilson. Pp. 117-123, 10 figures in text. May 19, 1956. + +7. Mammals of Coahuila, Mexico. By Rollin H. Baker, Pp. 125-335, 75 +figures in text. June 15, 1956. + +8. Comments on the taxonomic status of Apodemus peninsulae, with +description of a new subspecies from North China. By J. Knox Jones, Jr. +Pp. 337-346, 1 figure in text, 1 table. August 15, 1956. + +9. Extensions of known ranges of Mexican bats. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. +347-351. August 15, 1956. + +10. A new bat (Genus Leptonycteris) from Coahuila. By Howard J. Stains. +Pp. 353-356. January 21, 1957. + +11. A new species of pocket gopher (Genus Pappogeomys) from Jalisco, +Mexico. By Robert J. Russell Pp. 357-361. January 21, 1957. + +12. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Thomomys bottae, in +Colorado. By Phillip M. Youngman. Pp. 363-387, 7 figures in text. +February 21, 1958. + +13. New bog lemming (genus Synaptomys) from Nebraska. By J. Knox Jones, +Jr. Pp. 385-388. May 12, 1958. + +14. Pleistocene bats from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. By J. +Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 389-396. December 19, 1958. + +15. New subspecies of the rodent Baiomys from Central America. By Robert +L. Packard. Pp. 397-404. December 19, 1958. + +16. Mammals of the Grand Mesa, Colorado. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. +405-414, 1 figure in text. May 20, 1959. + +17. Distribution, variation, and relationships of the montane vole, +Microtus montanus. By Emil K. Urban. Pp. 415-511. 12 figures in text, 2 +tables. August 1, 1959. + +18. Conspecificity of two pocket mice, Perognathus goldmani and P. +artus. By E. Raymond Hall and Marilyn Bailey Ogilvie. Pp. 513-518, 1 +map. January 14, 1960. + +19. Records of harvest mice, Reithrodontomys, from Central America, with +description of a new subspecies from Nicaragua. By Sydney Anderson and +J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 519-529. January 14, 1960. + +20. Small carnivores from San Josecito Cave (Pleistocene), Nuevo Leon, +Mexico. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 531-538, 1 figure in text. January 14, +1960. + +21. Pleistocene pocket gophers from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo Leon, +Mexico. By Robert J. Russell. Pp. 539-548, 1 figure in text. January 14, +1960. + +22. Review of the insectivores of Korea. By J. Knox Jones, Jr., and +David H. Johnson. Pp. 549-578. February 28, 1960. + +23. Speciation and evolution of the pygmy mice, genus Baiomys. By Robert +L. Packard. Pp. 579-670, 4 plates, 12 figures in text. June 16, 1960. + +Index Pp. 671-690. + +Vol. 10. 1. Studies of birds killed in nocturnal migration. By Harrison +B. Tordoff and Robert M. Mengel. Pp. 1-44, 6 figures in text, 2 tables. +September 12, 1956. + +2. Comparative breeding behavior of Ammospiza caudacuta and A. maritima. +By Glen E. Woolfenden. Pp. 45-75, 6 plates, 1 figure. December 20, 1956. + +3. The forest habitat of the University of Kansas Natural History +Reservation. By Henry S. Fitch and Ronald R. McGregor. Pp. 77-127, 2 +plates, 7 figures in text, 4 tables. December 31, 1956. + +4. Aspects of reproduction and development in the prairie vole (Microtus +ochrogaster). By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 129-161, 8 figures in text, 4 +tables. December 19, 1957. + +5. Birds found on the Arctic slope of northern Alaska. By James W. Bee. +Pp. 163-211, pls. 9-10, 1 figure in text. March 12, 1958. + +6. The wood rats of Colorado: distribution and ecology. By Robert B. +Finley, Jr. Pp. 213-552, 34 plates, 8 figures in text, 35 tables. +November 7, 1958. + +7. Home ranges and movements of the eastern cottontail in Kansas. By +Donald W. Janes. Pp. 558-572, 4 plates, 3 figures in text. May 4, 1959. + +8. Natural history of the salamander, Aneides hardyi. By Richard F. +Johnston and Schad Gerhard. Pp. 573-585. October 8, 1959. + +9. A new subspecies of lizard, Cnemidophorus sacki, from Michoacan, +Mexico. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 587-598, 2 figures in text. May 2, +1960. + +10. A taxonomic study of the Middle American Snake, Pituophis deppei. By +William E. Duellman. Pp. 599-612, 1 plate, 1 figure in text. May 2, +1960. + +Index Pp. 611-626. + +Vol. 11. 1. The systematic status of the colubrid snake, Leptodeira +discolor Guenther. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 1-9, 4 figs. July 14, +1958. + +2. Natural history of the six-lined racerunner, Cnemidophorus +sexlineatus. By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 11-62. 9 figs., 9 tables. September +19, 1958. + +3. Home ranges, territories, and seasonal movements of vertebrates of +the Natural History Reservation. By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 63-326, 6 +plates, 24 figures in text, 3 tables. December 12, 1958. + +4. A new snake of the genus Geophis from Chihuahua, Mexico. By John M. +Legler. Pp. 327-334, 2 figures in text. January 28, 1959. + +5. A new tortoise, genus Gopherus, from north-central Mexico. By John M. +Legler. Pp. 335-343. April 24, 1959. + +6. Fishes of Chautauqua, Cowley and Elk counties, Kansas. By Artie L. +Metcalf. Pp. 345-400, 2 plates, 2 figures in text, 10 tables. May 6, +1959. + +7. Fishes of the Big Blue River Basin, Kansas. By W.L. Minckley, Pp. +401-442, 2 plates, 4 figures in text, 5 tables. May 8, 1959. + +8. Birds from Coahuila, Mexico. By Emil K. Urban. Pp. 443-516. August 1, +1959. + +9. Description of a new softshell turtle from the southeastern United +States. By Robert G. Webb. Pp. 517-525, 2 pls., 1 figure in text. August +14, 1959. + +10. Natural history of the ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata +Agassiz. By John M. Legler. Pp. 527-669, 16 pls., 29 figures in text. +March 7, 1960. + +Index Pp. 671-703. + +Vol. 12. 1. Functional morphology of three bats: Eumops, Myotis, +Macrotus. By Terry A. Vaughan. Pp. 1-153, 4 plates, 24 figures in text. +July 8, 1959. + +2. The ancestry of modern Amphibia: a review of the evidence. By +Theodore H. Eaton, Jr. Pp. 155-180, 10 figures in text. July 10, 1959. + +3. The baculum in microtine rodents. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 181-216, 49 +figures in text. February 19, 1960. + +4. A new order of fishlike Amphibia from the Pennsylvanian of Kansas. By +Theodore H. Eaton, Jr., and Peggy Lou Stewart. Pp. 217-240, 12 figures +in text. May 2, 1960. + +More numbers will appear in volume 12. + +Vol. 13. 1. Five natural hybrid combinations in minnows (Cyprinidae). By +Frank B. Cross and W.L. Minckley. Pp. 1-18. June 1, 1960. + +2. A distributional study of the amphibians of the isthmus of +Tehuantepec, Mexico. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 19-72, pls. 1-8, 3 +figs. August 16, 1960. + +3. A new subspecies of the slider turtle (Pseudemys scripta) from +Coahuila, Mexico. By John M. Legler. Pp. 73-84, pls. 9-12, 3 figures in +text. August 16, 1960. + +4. Autecology of the Copperhead. By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 85-288, pls. +13-20, 26 figures in text. November 30, 1960. + +5. Occurrence of the Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, in the Great +Plains and Rocky Mountains. By Henry S. Fitch and T. Paul Maslin. Pp. +289-308, 4 figures in text. February 10, 1961. + +6. Fishes of the Wakarusa River in Kansas. By James E. Deacon and Artie +L. Metcalf. Pp. 309-32 2, 1 figure in text. February 10, 1961. + +7. Geographic variation in the North American Cyprinid Fish, Hybopsis +gracilis. By Leonard J. Olund and Frank B. Cross. Pp. 323-348, pls. +21-24, 2 figures in text. February 10, 1961. + +8. Descriptions of two species of frogs, Genus Ptychohyla--studies of +American hylid frogs, V. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 349-357, pls. 25, 2 +figures in text. April 27, 1961. + +More numbers will appear in volume 13. + +Vol. 14. 1. Neotropical bats from western Mexico. By Sydney Anderson. +Pp. 1-8. October 24, 1960. + +2. Geographic variation in the harvest mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis +on the central Great Plains and in adjacent regions. By J. Knox Jones, +Jr. and B. Mursaloglu. Pp. 9-27, 1 figure in text. July 24, 1961. + +3. Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. By Sydney Anderson. +Pp. 29-67, pls. 1-2, 3 figures in text. July 24, 1961. + +More numbers will appear in volume 14. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, +Colorado, by Sydney Anderson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAMMALS--MESA VERDE NAT. PARK *** + +***** This file should be named 31035.txt or 31035.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/0/3/31035/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, Greg Bergquist +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/31035.zip b/31035.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..990cd38 --- /dev/null +++ b/31035.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e8e9b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #31035 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31035) |
