Family CRICETIDAE 



171 



Usually there is a urinating station nearby, as well as numerous 

 droppings, each about ^ inch long. The nest of the wood rat 

 is described in the section on life history. 



Distribution. — The wood rat is known from very few locali- 

 ties in Illinois but is common where present. In this state, it has 

 been collected only on the Mississippi River bluffs in Jackson 

 and Union counties. The subspecies occurring in Illinois is 

 Ncotoma floridana illinoetisis Howell. The range of the species 

 covers an area of irregular shape, principally in the south- 



Fig. 95. — Habitat of eastern wood rat in Illinois: rocky bluffs 

 along the Mississippi River near Wolf Lake, Union County. 



