================+===========+=============+=======+=======+====+===== | A | B | C | D | E | F ----------------+-----------+-------------+-------+-------+----+----- | (.262) | (5.70) | | | | _P. m. rufinus_ | .124-.699 | 2.71-15.07 | 20-23 | low | 23 | [A] | | | | | | _P. m. rufinus_ | (.101) | (2.39) | 20-25 | 24-47 | | [B] | | | | | | _P. m. osgoodi_ | .16-.25 | 3.2-4.3 | 18-22 | 10-20 | 23 | [C] | | | | | | | (.126) | (1.74) | | | | _P. m. bairdii_ | .082-.177 | 1.12-2.72 | 21 | 25-68 | | [D] | | | | | | _P. m. bairdii_ | .124-.182 | (2.37-3.17) | 20-25 | 24-47 | | [B] | | | | | | | (.372) | (10.80) | | | | _P. t. truei_ | .224-.561 | 7.0-16.92 | 20-23 | low | 23 | [A] | | | | | | _P. t. truei_ | (.085) | (2.77) | 20-25 | 24-47 | | [B] | | | | | | _P. l. nov._ | .057-.117 | 1.36-2.29 | 21 | 25-68 | | [D] | | | | | | _P. l. nov._ | | (5.36) | 18 | 62.5 | | [E] ----------------+-----------+-------------+-------+-------+----+----- [A] Douglas [B] Lindeborg, 1952 [C] Williams, 1959 [D] Dice, 1922 [E] Chew, 1951 Table 8 shows average water consumption for several species of _Peromyscus_ as reported in the literature, and as determined in my study. It is difficult to compare my results with most of the data in the literature, because of a lack of information as to protein, fat, carbohydrate, and mineral contents of foods used in other studies. Lindeborg (1952) and Dice (1922) fed mice on a mixture of rolled oats, meat scraps, dry skimmed milk, wheat germ, etc. described by Dice (1934). Their data on water consumption in _P. maniculatus_ indicate that this mixture probably is lower in protein content than Purina Laboratory Chow, that was used in my experiments and those of Williams' (tables 8 and 9). The amount of dietary protein consumed under natural conditions is not known for most wild animals. One index of the minimum amount of protein necessary is the amount required for an animal to maintain its weight. At best, this can be only an approximation of the required amount, for other factors, such as stress, disease, change in tissues during oestrus or gonadal descent, and changes in constituents of the diet other than protein, would all be expected to affect the body weight (Chew, 1965:145-147).