WILDCAT 101 



Definite information concerning the food of the wildcat is slow in 

 accumulating. The most dependable information is that gained by exam- 

 ining the stomach contents of animals caught by trappers. But in many 

 instances the stomach of a trapped animal is empty or contains nothing 

 but the material used as bait ; had the cat been able to get its regular food 

 it would not have been drawn to the trap. Of three wildcats trapped in 

 Yosemite Valley in March, 1920, the stomach of one was empty, that of 

 the second held only bait, and the third contained the hair of a gray 

 squirrel. 



The California Wildcat is an adept climber and when tracked with 

 dogs will often take to trees, golden oaks or incense cedars being preferred, 

 probably because the dense foliage of these two affords a greater measure 

 of concealment. Whether the wildcat makes use of its climbing ability to 

 go after birds or mammals which nest or live in trees we do not know. 



The only local information which we have relative to the breeding of 

 this animal is a statement by Ranger F. S. Townsley to the effect that near 

 Big Meadows about April 20, 1916, he killed a female wildcat which con- 

 tained 4 embryos. Data at hand from other parts of California indicate 

 that this is an average number. 



House Mouse. Mus musculus Linnaeus 



Field characters. — Size small; tail about equal to head and body (pi. 25c); tail 

 nearly naked, scaly; eye small. Head and body 3 to 4 inches (75-106 mm.), tail 3 to 

 3% inches (74-92 mm.), hind foot % to % inch (17.5-20 mm.), ear from crown % 

 to % inch (11-14 mm.); weight about l^ ounce (12.7-18.8 grams). Coloration above 

 dark grayish or yellowish brown; under surface uniformly dusky brown, buff or whitish 

 in different individuals; feet dusky. 



Occurrence. — Not native; came with the white man; now common in and around 

 practically every town or settlement on west slope of Yosemite region, from Snelling 

 and Lagrange eastward to Yosemite Valley. Lives about dwellings, barns, and store- 

 houses, and also to a limited extent in grassy places away from buildings. 



The same House Mouse which is found in our cities is to be found in the 

 western part of the Yosemite region. This alien interloper, so much more 

 aggressive than most of the local rodents, is in firm possession of territory 

 in and about the towns and settlements from the San Joaquin Valley east- 

 ward through the foothills and even into Yosemite Valley. It was not 

 detected about Mono Lake, though it does occur farther to the southeast, 

 at Laws, Inyo County. 



The general appearance of the House Mouse is familiar to so many 

 people that description is scarcely necessary. It is the standard (pi. 25c) 

 by which other small animals are judged when said to be 'mouse-like.' 

 The tail comprises about half the total length and is scaly in appearance, 



