Journal 0.5 mi S Benton Station, Mono Co., Calif 23 March Arrived this locality round 4 pm after driving up from Coso Junction ( Hwy 395 -> C -> Benton Sta). Type locality for m. megaphelus polionus is 2 mi S Benton Station, but it'll be damned if there's either a ranch there or suitable k-mouse habitat. Grinnell lists it as McKeever's Ranch, and Hafner calls it Taylor Ranch. Nobody heard of Taylor around here. Since BLM land is mostly east of Hwy 6, and since my first choice (west of Hwy 6) was disputed by a very unfriendly redneck (not the landowner), I've decided to trap on BLM land. Habitat is seagebrush scrub, round 2-3 ft tall, dominated by antenoxia and with various thorny shrubs. Some cholla cactus. West facing slope round 5-8°, sandy to gravelly-sandy soil. Plant cover is round 30-60% (it varies, tending toward the latter). Heteromyid burrows are abundant. Set 1 line of 40 traps from the Hwy east, one line of 30 a bit north (all roughly same locality) and 2 more lines, both 20 yards Sherman's near the 30-trap line (traps were spaced 15 m within a line and lines were from 20 to 60 m apart). 7:30 pm went into Benton for some dinner. Cafe's open but kitchen's closed. I bought one glass of wine and the rest were bought by locals. 10:30 pm stagger out of Benton. Nice folks, but they drink alot.