50 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol.21 



of this group of rodents (subgenus Teonoma of genus Neotoma) have 

 already been given full attention by Goldman (1910). This phase of 

 treatment is therefore here reduced to a minimum. 



Two subspecies of the one species, Neotoma cvnerea, occur in Cali- 

 fornia. These are so closely similar to one another in structural 

 features that their natural history may well be treated in one account. 

 But first, some of the diagnostic features of the two races will be set 

 forth in some detail. 



THE TWO SUBSPECIES IN CALIFORNIA 



Neotoma cinerea cinerea (Ord) 

 Gray Bushy-tailed Wood Rat 

 Mus cinereus Orel (1815, p. 292). Original description. 

 Neotoma cinerea, Baird (1857, p. 499). 

 Teonoma cinerea, Elliot (1903b, p. 247). 

 Teonoma cinerea acraia Elliot (1903b, pp. 247-248). Original description 



of supposed new form from vicinity of Mount Whitney, California. 

 Teonoma cinerea acraea, Elliot (1904, p. 280). 

 Teonoma acraea, Elliot (1905, p. 221). 

 Neotoma cinerea cinerea, Miller (1912, p. 201). 



Type locality. — Great Falls, Cascade Count}^, Montana {fide Gold- 

 man, 1910, p. 95). 



Diagnosis (as compared with the round-tailed wood rats, subgenera 

 Neotoma and Homodontomys) . — Size large. Average total length of 

 adults, in millimeters: males 370, females 352; average weight of 

 adults, in grams: males 295.6, females 252.2. Tail long, averaging 

 43 per cent of total length; average length of tail, in millimeters: 

 males 159, females 152. Tail squirrel-like, bushy; hairs on each side 

 of tail about 30 millimeters long. Skull with rostrum and incisive 

 foramina long ; sphenopalatine vacuities usually absent. A persistent 

 musky odor is especially characteristic of this animal. 



Pelage. — Of whole body, dense, long and soft. Dorsal surface, 

 sides of body, and top and sides of tail, covered with soft underfur 

 which is well concealed by the long overhairs. Sole of hind foot 

 normally furred from heel to posterior tubercle (see fig. A). 



Fig. A. Hind foot of Neotoma cinerea cinerea, to show hairing on sole. This 

 is seen to extend as far forward as the posterior tubercle. 



In California the regular annual molt of Neotoma cinerea cinerea 

 takes place in September and early October. Although there is nor- 

 mally but one change, of pelage each year, prompt regeneration of 



