This kangaroo rat barely enters the area under consideration and is
almost restricted to the Joshua tree association, for only a few
individuals were taken at the lower edge of the juniper benches. This
species inhabits the Joshua tree belt all along the desert base of the
San Gabriels.
As mentioned in the description of the Joshua tree association, the
relative numbers of _Dipodomys merriami_ and _D. panamintinus_ shifted
from 1948 to 1951, possibly concurrent with the seasons of low rainfall
in this period. Whereas in 1948 _merriami_ was decidedly less abundant
than _panamintinus_ in the Joshua tree belt, in 1951 the numbers were
reversed.
In December, 1951, it was found by tending the traps in the early
evening that _merriami_ foraged fairly early before the ground had
frozen solidly.
_Specimens examined._--Los Angeles County: 2 mi. NW mouth of
Graham Canyon, 3500 ft., 5 (PC).
=Dipodomys merriami parvus= Rhoads