46 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 12 



Tablk 16. — Tendency to sandbathe at same locus during a male-female encounter 



Species 



Gerhillus nanus 

 Allactaga elator - 

 Meriones unguiculatus 



Number of 

 encounters 



with 

 sandbathlng 



10 

 3 

 9 



Average Average Percent of 



number of number of overlap 



male loci female loci 



1.3 

 1.0 

 1.0 



1.2 



1.25 



50 



1 For similar data from the Heteromyidae, see Elsenberg, 1963c. 



2 These species have been known to exchange sandbathing loci, but this tendency Is of Infrequent 

 occurrence. 



3 Side rubbing only. 



Table 17. — Comparisons of male contact-promoting and sexual behaviors for selected 

 species of rodents (Data from male-female encounters when female in pro-estrus 

 or estrus; see table 12 for abbreviations) 



Grooming generally occurs during mounting but was not scored separately. 

 ■ Noted in other series with anestrous females l^iut of infrequent occurrence. 



