In the course of studies on the cestode parasites of microtine rodents by one of the authors (Hansen), specimens of mice were sent to the United State National Museum where they were identified by Dr. David H. Johnson. Two of these microtines proved to be Synaptomys cooperi gossii (Coues). These specimens of Synaptomys (U.S.N.M. Nos. 282343 and 282344), collected at Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, on September 16, 1946 (male) and November 20, 1946 (female), respectively, are the first ones to be identified from Nebraska

Fichter, Edson

Hansen, Merle F.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - LincolnDigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - LincolnBulletin of the University of Nebraska StateMuseum Museum, University of Nebraska State1947The Goss Lemming Mouse, Synaptomys cooperigossii (Goues), in NebraskaEdson FichterNebraska Game Forestation and Parks CommissionMerle F. HansenUniversity of Nebraska - LincolnFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/museumbulletinPart of the Entomology Commons, Geology Commons, Geomorphology Commons, OtherEcology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Paleobiology Commons, Paleontology Commons,and the Sedimentology CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Museum, University of Nebraska State at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska -Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum by an authorized administrator ofDigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.Fichter, Edson and Hansen, Merle F., "The Goss Lemming Mouse, Synaptomys cooperi gossii (Goues), in Nebraska" (1947). Bulletin ofthe University of Nebraska State Museum. 22.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/museumbulletin/22BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM The Goss Lemming Mouse, Synaptomys cooperi gossii (Coues), in Nebraska By Edson Fichter and Merle F. Hansen CONTRIBUTION OF THE DIVISION OF ZOOLOGY SEPTEMBER 1947 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA R. G. GUSTAVSON, Chancellor MUSEUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE C. B. SCHULTZ, Chairman and Director of Museum 1. H. BLAKE R. W. Goss J. L. CHAMPE C. H. OLDFATHER E. F. SCHRAMM F. C. BLOOD G. S. ROUND BOARD OF UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS K. O. BROADY, Chairman H. P. DAVIS F. A. LUNDY G. W. ROSENLOF R. V. SHUMATE EMILY SCHOSSBERGER, Secretary BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM VOLUME 3 LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, SEPTEMBER 1947 NUMBER 2 The Goss Lemming Mouse, Synaptomys cooperi gossii (Goues), in Nebraska EDSON FICHTER * AND MERLE F. HANSEN ** IN the course of studies on the cestode parasites of microtine rodents by one of the authors (Hansen), specimens of mice were sent to the United State National Museum where they were identified by Dr. David H. Johnson. Two of these micro-tines proved to be Synaptomys cooperi gossii (Coues). These specimens of Synaptomys (U.S.N.M. Nos. 282343 and 282344), collected at Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, on Septem-ber 16, 1946 (male) and November 20, 1946 (female), respec-tively, are the first ones to be identified from Nebraska. Examination of the mice in the collections of the University of Nebraska State Museum has revealed a skin and skull of Synaptomys cooperi gossii (No. 268, Collection of State Ento-mologist). This specimen was collected on Stephens Creek, near Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 14,1914, by Myron H. Swenk and L. M. Gates. The tag on this specimen bears no determina-tion, the identity of the mouse apparently having gone un-recognized until now. Among the specimens of micro tines in the collections of the Department of Zoology of the University of Nebraska is the skin of a mouse, taken by Watson E. Beed in the Niobrara Game Preserve, near Valentine, Cherry County, Nebraska, on June 9, 1934, of which the short tail (22 mm.), the six plantar * Biologist, Nebraska Game Forestation and Parks Commission, and Research Associate, University of Nebraska State Museum. ** Instructor, Department of Zoology, University of Nebraska. 1 2 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM BULLETIN tubercles, the configuration of the nail of the first digit of the front foot, and the general character of the pelage distinguish it as one of Synaptomys. There is, unfortunately, no skull with the skin. Under these circumstances, this specimen must be referred to cooperi gossii. Beed (1936), in his report on the mammals collected or seen by him in his studies near Valen-tine, does not record the occurrence of Synaptomys in any of the communities described by him. Howell (1927, p. 18), in his revision of the American lem-ming mice, defines the range of S. c. gossii as "the west-central Mississippi Valley country, mostly in the Upper Austral Zone, from northeastern Arkansas and southern Illinois into Iowa and extreme southeastern South Dakota." Howell's inclusion of southeastern South Dakota is based upon the statement of Hahn (1909, p. 522) that he (Hahn) had taken lemming mice, which he called gossii, on the Missouri River in that region. In addition to the localities given by Howell (loc. cit., pp. 10 and 19), Van Hyning (1913, p. 311) recorded a specimen of S. c. gossii, taken by T. Surber at Fairport, Muscatine County, Iowa, and Stoner (1918, p. 108) reported a specimen from Logan, Harrison County, Iowa. Scott (1937, p. 77) states that "there is a record of this mouse for Dickinson County, Iowa, by Stevens (1922, p. 56)." Examination of Stephens' report shows his statement to read " ... very few specimens have been taken in Iowa and none in Dickinson County." Necker and Hatfield (1941, p. 54) report specimens of S. c. gossii from Seymour and Urbana in Champaign County and Flat Rock in Crawford County, Illinois. Hibbard (1943, p. 8) writing on the occurrence of S. c. gossii in Kansas, says that the subspecies is "known only from An-derson, Douglas, Stafford, and Woodson Counties." Previous to this statement by Hibbard, specimens of this lemming mouse had been reported from Manhattan in Riley County, and from Topeka, presumably from within Shawnee County, Kansas (Linsdale, 1927, p. 51); from Leavenworth in Leaven-worth County, Kansas (Howell, loco cit., p. 19 and Linsdale, 1927, p. 51), and from Atchinson and Jackson Counties, Kansas (Burt, 1928, p. 213) . The map in Fig. 1 shows the distribution and localities of record of S. c. gossii as presented by Howell (lac. cit., p. 10), SYNAPTOMYS COOPERI GOSSII (COUES) 3 with the additional localities noted above, including the records for Nebraska here reported. ? o , I I , , ------ I I FIG. I.-Distribution of Synaptomys cooperi gossii. Solid dots indi-cate specimen records, the encircled dot the type locality, as given by Howell (1927); the shaded area shows the distribution as projected by that author. Open circles indicate localities of record given by other authors. The solid square represents the Lincoln, Nebraska, record of occurrence, the question mark the tentative Valentine, Ne-braska, record. 4 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM BULLETIN The Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska specimens were taken within the range of gossii as projected by Howell (loc. cit., p. 10). The Valentine, Cherry County, Nebraska record here reported tentatively, extends the possible range of this mouse about 180 miles to the west of "extreme southeastern South Dakota," and about 200 miles northwest of the range as mapped by Howell. (Fig. 1) From September 9, 1946 to May 14, 1947, inclusive, a total of 22 Goss lemming mice have been captured in live traps in the vicinity of Lincoln, Nebraska. Measurements of some of these specimens, together with measurements of specimens taken in Kansas as reported by Howell (loc. cit., p. 18), and Linsdale (loc. cit., p. 53) , are given in Table l. A male lemming mouse, captured November 29, 1946, was placed in a wire mesh cage measuring 31 inches on each side, where he exhibited what seemed to be an extremely nervous temperament, a characteristic previously reported by Burt (loc. cit., p. 215). The lemming repeatedly climbed the side of the cage and upon reaching the top would appear to let himself fall to the bottom. On the morning of November 30 he was found dead; his skull showed a fracture of the zygomatic arch. Another specimen, captured January 23, 1947, was kept in captivity in a cage measuring 20 x 20 x 13 inches. Until found dead on March 10, 1947, he was fed on oatmeal, lettuce, and wheat-germ diet. Synaptomys is apparently active all winter in southeastern Nebraska. Some specimens were taken at freezing tempera-tures; the minimum temperatures on November 29, 1946 and January 23, 1947 were 27 and 28 degrees Fahrenheit,* respec-tively. Burt (loc. cit., p. 214) observed that the Goss lemming mouse in Kansas was active at temperatures as low as 4 de-grees below zero Fahrenheit. On May 1, 1947, two pregnant Goss lemming mice were cap-tured. One of them contained four embryos; the smallest em-bryo measured 5.0 mm., the largest measured 10.0 mm. in length. All four of the embryos were in the right uterine horn. The other female contained six embryos; the smallest embryo measured 15.0 mm., the largest 20.0 mm. Four embryos were * Temperatures supplied by Prof. Irving H. Blake, Department of Zoology, University of Nebraska. SYNAPTOMYS COOPER! GOSSII (COUES) 5 in the right uterine horn, two were in the left. On May 10, 1947, a female was captured which contained four embryos; the smallest embryo measured 19.0 mm., the largest 20.0 mm. The right uterine horn contained three embryos, the left horn one. Several specimens of Synaptomys were taken in swinging-door traps set directly in the runway; others were taken in snap-door traps set beside the runway. An oatmeal-peanut butter mixture was used as bait. Catches in the latter set in-dicate this lemming will seek out an acceptable bait. Swan-son et. al. (1945) state that the bog lemming mouse, Synapto-mys cooperi cooperi Baird, was difficult to trap unless the traps were placed directly in its runways and that this mouse merely blundered into the trap. We have captured S. c. gossii and Microtus ochrogaster Wagner in the same runway; the mutual use of a runway by these two species was likewise observed by Burt (loc. cit., p. 213). Three of the 22 specimens secured at Lincoln in the winter of 1946-47 were taken on a south slope near the top of a hill above the valley of Salt Creek and about two miles north of the city in a fenced area where bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is the dominant species, forming a dense sod. Big bluestem (Andro-pogon furcatus) and switch grass (Panicum virgatum) are prominent in the habitat. Prairie cordgrass or slough grass (Spartina pectinata) and tall dropseed (Sporobolus asper) are also present. Ironweed (Vernonia sp.), sunflower (Helianthus splthistle (Circium sp.), and vervain (Verbena sp.) constitute the few herbs present. Wild rose (Rosa sp.) occurs scattered among the grasses and heavy thickets of sumac (Rhus sp.) are present. Scattered ash (Fraxinus sp.) , catalpa (Catalpa sp.) , and mulberry (Morus sp.) trees are in the immediate vicinity. A cornfield occurs nearby. One specimen was taken on the north slope of the same hill at a distance of about 200 yards in much the same vegetational complex, except for the proximity here of a thicket of wild plum (Prunus sp.) and a semi-wooded ravine. An occupied dwelling stands on the top of the hill about midway between these two collecting sites. This area has in the past been grazed by domestic livestock, but has been protected and unmowed for' 6 years. 6 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM BULLETIN A surface runway at the first site was examined on Febru-ary 15, 1947, by laying aside the heavy cover of dead bluegrass and big bluest em. No attempt was made to follow runways below the surface of the ground or to find nest cavities. The bases of blue grass leaves on the floor of and at the edge of the runways showed where cuttings of green food had been made. The green feces, mentioned by Burt (lac. cit., p. 215) as typical of Synaptomys, was found in the runs as well as in the live-traps. Notes on the tag accompanying the specimen taken at Lin-coln by Swenk and Gates in March, 1914, indicate that it was "caught in mouse trap set in runway in grass at edge of thicket," and that oatmeal was used for bait. Near the second collecting site described above and on the south side of an east-to-west ravine (Fig. 2) the other 18 Goss lemming mice have been taken. Due to the relatively steep north slope at this site, exposure to insolation and prevailing FIG. 2.-Habitat of Synaptomys cooperi gossii. The grassy area be-tween the low trees in the background and the sumac in the fore-ground is the site at which most of the Nebraska specimens have been taken. 8 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM BULLETIN summer winds is less than in the other sites; soil moisture values are undoubtedly higher. Field crops are produced an-nually on either side of the ravine; there has been no known grazing within recent years. Blue grass, though present, is here subordinate to the tall grasses. Sunflower, sour dock (Rumex sp.), and Aster sp. are represented by a few individ-uals. A small patch of sage (Artemisia gnaphalodes) , scattered wild roses and rather open stands of sumac complete the vege-tational complex within which these 18 mice were collected. Small elm and ash trees border this site on 2 sides, gooseberry bushes (Ribes sp.) and wild strawberries (Fragaria sp.) occur close by. This appears to constitute the most successful habitat for Synaptomys cooperi gossii yet encountered in the vicinity of Lincoln, Nebraska, and the mouse is here in considerable abundance. REFERENCES CITED Beed. Watson E. 1936. A preliminary study of the animal ecology of the Niobrara Game Preserve. Bul. 10, Cons. Dept., Cons. & Survey Div., Univ. of Nebr. Burt. W. H. 1928. Additional notes on the life history of the Goss lemming mouse. Jour. Mamm. 9:212-216. Hahn. W. L. 1909. The mammals of Indiana. Ind. Dept. Geol. Ann. Rpt. (1908) 33:417-653. Hibbard. Claude W. 1944. A checklist of Kansas mammals. 1943. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:61-88. Howell. A. Brazier. 1927. Revision of the American lemming mice. North American Fauna, No. 50. Linsdale. Jean. 1927. Notes on the life history of Synaptomys. Jour. Mamm. 8:51-54. Necker. Walter L. and Hatfield. Donald M. 1941. Mammals of Illinois. Bul. Chicago Acad. Sci. 6:17-60. Scott. Thomas G. 1937. Mammals of Iowa. Iowa State College Jour. Sci. 12:43-97. Stevens. T. C. 1922. Mammals of the lake region of Iowa. Okoboji Protective Assn. Bul. 18: 47-64. Stoner, Dayton. 1918. The rodents of Iowa. Iowa Geol. Survey, Bul. 5:1-172. Swanson, G .. Surber. T .. and Roberts. T. S. 1945. The mammals of Minnesota. Bul. Minn. Dept. of Cons. Tech., 2. Van Hyning, T. 1913. Additional mammal notes. Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci. 20:311-312. 

The Goss Lemming Mouse, \u3ci\u3eSynaptomys cooperi gossii\u3c/i\u3e
(Goues), in Nebraska

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln
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Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State
Museum Museum, University of Nebraska State
1947
The Goss Lemming Mouse, Synaptomys cooperi
gossii (Goues), in Nebraska
Edson Fichter
Nebraska Game Forestation and Parks Commission
Merle F. Hansen
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/museumbulletin
Part of the Entomology Commons, Geology Commons, Geomorphology Commons, Other
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Paleobiology Commons, Paleontology Commons,
and the Sedimentology Commons
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Museum, University of Nebraska State at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska -
Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum by an authorized administrator of
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Fichter, Edson and Hansen, Merle F., "The Goss Lemming Mouse, Synaptomys cooperi gossii (Goues), in Nebraska" (1947). Bulletin of
the University of Nebraska State Museum. 22.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/museumbulletin/22
BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM 
The Goss Lemming Mouse, 
Synaptomys cooperi gossii (Coues), 
in Nebraska 
By 
Edson Fichter and Merle F. Hansen 
CONTRIBUTION OF THE DIVISION OF ZOOLOGY 
SEPTEMBER 1947 
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA 
R. G. GUSTAVSON, Chancellor 
MUSEUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE 
C. B. SCHULTZ, Chairman 
and Director of Museum 
1. H. BLAKE 
R. W. Goss 
J. L. CHAMPE 
C. H. OLDFATHER 
E. F. SCHRAMM 
F. C. BLOOD 
G. S. ROUND 
BOARD OF UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS 
K. O. BROADY, Chairman 
H. P. DAVIS F. A. LUNDY 
G. W. ROSENLOF R. V. SHUMATE 
EMILY SCHOSSBERGER, Secretary 
BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA 
STATE MUSEUM 
VOLUME 3 LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, SEPTEMBER 1947 NUMBER 2 
The Goss Lemming Mouse, Synaptomys cooperi gossii 
(Goues), in Nebraska 
EDSON FICHTER * AND MERLE F. HANSEN ** 
IN the course of studies on the cestode parasites of microtine 
rodents by one of the authors (Hansen), specimens of mice 
were sent to the United State National Museum where they 
were identified by Dr. David H. Johnson. Two of these micro-
tines proved to be Synaptomys cooperi gossii (Coues). These 
specimens of Synaptomys (U.S.N.M. Nos. 282343 and 282344), 
collected at Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, on Septem-
ber 16, 1946 (male) and November 20, 1946 (female), respec-
tively, are the first ones to be identified from Nebraska. 
Examination of the mice in the collections of the University 
of Nebraska State Museum has revealed a skin and skull of 
Synaptomys cooperi gossii (No. 268, Collection of State Ento-
mologist). This specimen was collected on Stephens Creek, 
near Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 14,1914, by Myron H. Swenk 
and L. M. Gates. The tag on this specimen bears no determina-
tion, the identity of the mouse apparently having gone un-
recognized until now. 
Among the specimens of micro tines in the collections of the 
Department of Zoology of the University of Nebraska is the 
skin of a mouse, taken by Watson E. Beed in the Niobrara 
Game Preserve, near Valentine, Cherry County, Nebraska, on 
June 9, 1934, of which the short tail (22 mm.), the six plantar 
* Biologist, Nebraska Game Forestation and Parks Commission, and 
Research Associate, University of Nebraska State Museum. 
** Instructor, Department of Zoology, University of Nebraska. 
1 
2 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM BULLETIN 
tubercles, the configuration of the nail of the first digit of the 
front foot, and the general character of the pelage distinguish 
it as one of Synaptomys. There is, unfortunately, no skull with 
the skin. Under these circumstances, this specimen must be 
referred to cooperi gossii. Beed (1936), in his report on the 
mammals collected or seen by him in his studies near Valen-
tine, does not record the occurrence of Synaptomys in any of 
the communities described by him. 
Howell (1927, p. 18), in his revision of the American lem-
ming mice, defines the range of S. c. gossii as "the west-central 
Mississippi Valley country, mostly in the Upper Austral Zone, 
from northeastern Arkansas and southern Illinois into Iowa 
and extreme southeastern South Dakota." Howell's inclusion 
of southeastern South Dakota is based upon the statement of 
Hahn (1909, p. 522) that he (Hahn) had taken lemming mice, 
which he called gossii, on the Missouri River in that region. 
In addition to the localities given by Howell (loc. cit., pp. 10 
and 19), Van Hyning (1913, p. 311) recorded a specimen of 
S. c. gossii, taken by T. Surber at Fairport, Muscatine County, 
Iowa, and Stoner (1918, p. 108) reported a specimen from 
Logan, Harrison County, Iowa. Scott (1937, p. 77) states that 
"there is a record of this mouse for Dickinson County, Iowa, 
by Stevens (1922, p. 56)." Examination of Stephens' report 
shows his statement to read " ... very few specimens have 
been taken in Iowa and none in Dickinson County." Necker and 
Hatfield (1941, p. 54) report specimens of S. c. gossii from 
Seymour and Urbana in Champaign County and Flat Rock in 
Crawford County, Illinois. 
Hibbard (1943, p. 8) writing on the occurrence of S. c. gossii 
in Kansas, says that the subspecies is "known only from An-
derson, Douglas, Stafford, and Woodson Counties." Previous 
to this statement by Hibbard, specimens of this lemming 
mouse had been reported from Manhattan in Riley County, 
and from Topeka, presumably from within Shawnee County, 
Kansas (Linsdale, 1927, p. 51); from Leavenworth in Leaven-
worth County, Kansas (Howell, loco cit., p. 19 and Linsdale, 
1927, p. 51), and from Atchinson and Jackson Counties, Kansas 
(Burt, 1928, p. 213) . 
The map in Fig. 1 shows the distribution and localities of 
record of S. c. gossii as presented by Howell (lac. cit., p. 10), 
SYNAPTOMYS COOPERI GOSSII (COUES) 3 
with the additional localities noted above, including the records 
for Nebraska here reported. 
? 
o 
, 
I 
I , , 
------ I I 
FIG. I.-Distribution of Synaptomys cooperi gossii. Solid dots indi-
cate specimen records, the encircled dot the type locality, as given by 
Howell (1927); the shaded area shows the distribution as projected 
by that author. Open circles indicate localities of record given by 
other authors. The solid square represents the Lincoln, Nebraska, 
record of occurrence, the question mark the tentative Valentine, Ne-
braska, record. 
4 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM BULLETIN 
The Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska specimens were 
taken within the range of gossii as projected by Howell (loc. 
cit., p. 10). The Valentine, Cherry County, Nebraska record 
here reported tentatively, extends the possible range of this 
mouse about 180 miles to the west of "extreme southeastern 
South Dakota," and about 200 miles northwest of the range as 
mapped by Howell. (Fig. 1) 
From September 9, 1946 to May 14, 1947, inclusive, a total 
of 22 Goss lemming mice have been captured in live traps in 
the vicinity of Lincoln, Nebraska. Measurements of some of 
these specimens, together with measurements of specimens 
taken in Kansas as reported by Howell (loc. cit., p. 18), and 
Linsdale (loc. cit., p. 53) , are given in Table l. 
A male lemming mouse, captured November 29, 1946, was 
placed in a wire mesh cage measuring 31 inches on each side, 
where he exhibited what seemed to be an extremely nervous 
temperament, a characteristic previously reported by Burt (loc. 
cit., p. 215). The lemming repeatedly climbed the side of the 
cage and upon reaching the top would appear to let himself 
fall to the bottom. On the morning of November 30 he was 
found dead; his skull showed a fracture of the zygomatic arch. 
Another specimen, captured January 23, 1947, was kept in 
captivity in a cage measuring 20 x 20 x 13 inches. Until found 
dead on March 10, 1947, he was fed on oatmeal, lettuce, and 
wheat-germ diet. 
Synaptomys is apparently active all winter in southeastern 
Nebraska. Some specimens were taken at freezing tempera-
tures; the minimum temperatures on November 29, 1946 and 
January 23, 1947 were 27 and 28 degrees Fahrenheit,* respec-
tively. Burt (loc. cit., p. 214) observed that the Goss lemming 
mouse in Kansas was active at temperatures as low as 4 de-
grees below zero Fahrenheit. 
On May 1, 1947, two pregnant Goss lemming mice were cap-
tured. One of them contained four embryos; the smallest em-
bryo measured 5.0 mm., the largest measured 10.0 mm. in 
length. All four of the embryos were in the right uterine horn. 
The other female contained six embryos; the smallest embryo 
measured 15.0 mm., the largest 20.0 mm. Four embryos were 
* Temperatures supplied by Prof. Irving H. Blake, Department of 
Zoology, University of Nebraska. 
SYNAPTOMYS COOPER! GOSSII (COUES) 5 
in the right uterine horn, two were in the left. On May 10, 
1947, a female was captured which contained four embryos; 
the smallest embryo measured 19.0 mm., the largest 20.0 
mm. The right uterine horn contained three embryos, the left 
horn one. 
Several specimens of Synaptomys were taken in swinging-
door traps set directly in the runway; others were taken in 
snap-door traps set beside the runway. An oatmeal-peanut 
butter mixture was used as bait. Catches in the latter set in-
dicate this lemming will seek out an acceptable bait. Swan-
son et. al. (1945) state that the bog lemming mouse, Synapto-
mys cooperi cooperi Baird, was difficult to trap unless the 
traps were placed directly in its runways and that this mouse 
merely blundered into the trap. We have captured S. c. gossii 
and Microtus ochrogaster Wagner in the same runway; the 
mutual use of a runway by these two species was likewise 
observed by Burt (loc. cit., p. 213). 
Three of the 22 specimens secured at Lincoln in the winter 
of 1946-47 were taken on a south slope near the top of a hill 
above the valley of Salt Creek and about two miles north of the 
city in a fenced area where bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is the 
dominant species, forming a dense sod. Big bluestem (Andro-
pogon furcatus) and switch grass (Panicum virgatum) are 
prominent in the habitat. Prairie cordgrass or slough grass 
(Spartina pectinata) and tall dropseed (Sporobolus asper) are 
also present. Ironweed (Vernonia sp.), sunflower (Helianthus 
splthistle (Circium sp.), and vervain (Verbena sp.) constitute 
the few herbs present. Wild rose (Rosa sp.) occurs scattered 
among the grasses and heavy thickets of sumac (Rhus sp.) 
are present. Scattered ash (Fraxinus sp.) , catalpa (Catalpa 
sp.) , and mulberry (Morus sp.) trees are in the immediate 
vicinity. A cornfield occurs nearby. One specimen was taken 
on the north slope of the same hill at a distance of about 200 
yards in much the same vegetational complex, except for the 
proximity here of a thicket of wild plum (Prunus sp.) and a 
semi-wooded ravine. An occupied dwelling stands on the top 
of the hill about midway between these two collecting sites. 
This area has in the past been grazed by domestic livestock, but 
has been protected and unmowed for' 6 years. 
6 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM BULLETIN 
A surface runway at the first site was examined on Febru-
ary 15, 1947, by laying aside the heavy cover of dead bluegrass 
and big bluest em. No attempt was made to follow runways 
below the surface of the ground or to find nest cavities. The 
bases of blue grass leaves on the floor of and at the edge of 
the runways showed where cuttings of green food had been 
made. The green feces, mentioned by Burt (lac. cit., p. 215) as 
typical of Synaptomys, was found in the runs as well as in the 
live-traps. 
Notes on the tag accompanying the specimen taken at Lin-
coln by Swenk and Gates in March, 1914, indicate that it was 
"caught in mouse trap set in runway in grass at edge of 
thicket," and that oatmeal was used for bait. 
Near the second collecting site described above and on the 
south side of an east-to-west ravine (Fig. 2) the other 18 Goss 
lemming mice have been taken. Due to the relatively steep 
north slope at this site, exposure to insolation and prevailing 
FIG. 2.-Habitat of Synaptomys cooperi gossii. The grassy area be-
tween the low trees in the background and the sumac in the fore-
ground is the site at which most of the Nebraska specimens have been 
taken. 
8 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM BULLETIN 
summer winds is less than in the other sites; soil moisture 
values are undoubtedly higher. Field crops are produced an-
nually on either side of the ravine; there has been no known 
grazing within recent years. Blue grass, though present, is 
here subordinate to the tall grasses. Sunflower, sour dock 
(Rumex sp.), and Aster sp. are represented by a few individ-
uals. A small patch of sage (Artemisia gnaphalodes) , scattered 
wild roses and rather open stands of sumac complete the vege-
tational complex within which these 18 mice were collected. 
Small elm and ash trees border this site on 2 sides, gooseberry 
bushes (Ribes sp.) and wild strawberries (Fragaria sp.) occur 
close by. This appears to constitute the most successful habitat 
for Synaptomys cooperi gossii yet encountered in the vicinity 
of Lincoln, Nebraska, and the mouse is here in considerable 
abundance. 
REFERENCES CITED 
Beed. Watson E. 1936. A preliminary study of the animal ecology of 
the Niobrara Game Preserve. Bul. 10, Cons. Dept., Cons. & Survey 
Div., Univ. of Nebr. 
Burt. W. H. 1928. Additional notes on the life history of the Goss 
lemming mouse. Jour. Mamm. 9:212-216. 
Hahn. W. L. 1909. The mammals of Indiana. Ind. Dept. Geol. Ann. 
Rpt. (1908) 33:417-653. 
Hibbard. Claude W. 1944. A checklist of Kansas mammals. 1943. 
Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 47:61-88. 
Howell. A. Brazier. 1927. Revision of the American lemming mice. 
North American Fauna, No. 50. 
Linsdale. Jean. 1927. Notes on the life history of Synaptomys. Jour. 
Mamm. 8:51-54. 
Necker. Walter L. and Hatfield. Donald M. 1941. Mammals of Illinois. 
Bul. Chicago Acad. Sci. 6:17-60. 
Scott. Thomas G. 1937. Mammals of Iowa. Iowa State College Jour. 
Sci. 12:43-97. 
Stevens. T. C. 1922. Mammals of the lake region of Iowa. Okoboji 
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The Goss Lemming Mouse, \u3ci\u3eSynaptomys cooperi gossii\u3c/i\u3e (Goues), in Nebraska

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