These little mammals are all members of a family of rodents which are
set apart by their stocky, clumsy build, small ears, blunt heads, and
certain skeletal differences. They have a decided preference for the
colder regions of the globe and are generally a populous group in the
world of rodents, the most numerous and widely distributed of which are
the meadow voles. They are merely listed here to show the variety that
have been found in the Park and to give an indication of their relative
abundance. The final identification of some of them is possible only on
close examination and measurement. For identifying characters, consult
the reference mentioned in the preface.