Hoffmeister 1942 Microtus californicus March 6 Strawberry Canyon, 1/4 mi. E. Poultry Station, along road Berkeley, Alameda, Cal. From 4:16 to 4:27 p.m. (war time) I watched 1 M. californicus at this locality along the road above the forks to the Botanical Garden. Along the embankment (on about a 45° angle), there was a fair stand 6" high barley, etc., growing. Numerous openings where visible. The embankment thus covered with openings was of a size about 25' x 35'. I saw 3 Microtus in this area and heard a good many more. I believe there were at least 8 in this space. The one I watched darted down a hole at 4:16, but I could still see its tail. I stood with my head 1/2 feet away from the opening. In about 2 minutes the mouse showed its nose; in another 3 minutes it poked its nose out; 3 minutes later it was out as far as its shoulders. It only came out slightly farther than this. (During this time I did not move, except to blink a few times or swallow once). It was nearly 10 minutes after I first started watching that the mouse first started eating a blade of grass. It ate only the green part and dropped the dry end. It manipulated the blades with the forefeet. Several flies flew around the entrance to the opening (some actual in, and within less than 1/2 inch of the nose of the animal at times), but the animal did not react. There was no fear shown by the animal when the wind violently bent and rustled the grass. However, when I finally straightened up (in my posture, from a bent posture), the mouse hesitated but did not retreat into the opening. Earlier, I saw 2 Microtus chasing each other in the grass of this plot.