13/47 SPECIES A.M.N.H. No. 153471 MAMMAL DEPT. DICKAREE WATERHOLE, 10 miles south of BIRDSVILLE S.W. QUEENSLAND. East margin of Simpson Desert. AUSTRALIAN SECTION. COLLECTOR: L. MACMILLAN. Coll. No. Spirit No. 10. DATE 24th May 1940. SPECIES SEX ♂ SHOT 3 P.M. STM. CONDITION GONADS. WTHT. 13·63 gm. SKL. ♂ MOUSE TOTAL. 159 mm. TAIL 89 mm. H.F.E.U. 18 mm. HEAD. 12 mm. Small mouse, reddish sides, dark sandy back, white under. MOULT WING R. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25. Sec. L. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25. Sec. TAIL R. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. L. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. BODY UPPERS—RUMP UNDERS—VENT. LOWER BACK FLANKS UPPER BACK BELLY NAPE BREAST CROWN NECK CHEEKS CHIN ABR. W. T. W./T. SKULL Dug out. REMARKS Ears black or dark brown ?? nose pink flesh. Pads pink flesh. This is the first mouse seen hereabouts, though their tracks have been seen on the sandhills. They live in extensive warrens evidently, generally in a low mound a few inches above the surrounding plains or sandhills surface. These warrens have entrances over an area of 25 or more square feet with many entrances. Burrows do not appear to be very deep, (only one dug out; it was nowhere more than 12 to 15" deep + mostly less than 6".) The mice dig themselves out at all sorts of unexpected places while digging is going on. Nesting chambers are seen at the end of short side channels & are about 2" across (circular + domed). Generally the burrows is only an inch in diameter. Apart from these warrens smaller burrows are to be found in surrounding areas but none had any tenants when dug out.