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University of California Puhlications in Zoology [Vol. 21 



In general, it may be stated that in California bushy-tailed wood 

 rats do not habitually build large houses out of sticks in the open, and 

 that the houses which are built are used as temporary refuges, the 

 real nests being more safely placed far back among the rocks. 



HIBEENA.TION 



We have no evidence that would go to indicate that bushy-tailed 

 wood rats hibernate. All the facts at hand indicate that they are 

 active the year round. 



BREEDING SEASON 



As would be expected, the breeding season of a mammal which 

 ranges from the piiion belt in the Panamints to Alpine-Arctic on the 

 summit of Momit Lyell varies greatly with altitude. Pregnant females 

 of Teonoma have been taken as early as the middle of May in the 

 piiion belt and as late as the first of September in the higher moun- 

 tains in the Mount Whitney region. 



Breeding Season of Neotoma cinerea cinerea in California, as Determined 

 FROM Pregnant Females Captured 



Locality 

 Hanaupah Cafion, 8200 ft., near Tele- 

 scope Peak, Inyo Co. 

 Little Onion Valley, 7500 ft., Inyo Co. 

 Little Onion Valley, 7500 ft., Inyo Co. 

 Little Onion Valley, 7500 ft., Inyo Co. 

 Little Onion Valley, 7500 ft., Inyo Co. 

 Onion Valley, 8500 ft., Inyo Co. 

 Jackass Meadows, 7750 ft., Tulare Co. 

 Cottonwood Lakes, 11,000 ft., Tulare Co. 



As far as we know, but one litter is raised each year. The average 

 number of young to a litter is close to four, as will be seen from 

 the preceding table. Further evidence regarding the time and extent 

 of the breeding season in these animals may be had from young 

 individuals which have been taken by collectors. While the instances 

 given in the next table are probably typical, they should not be taken 

 as providing the earliest and latest dates on which young might be 

 found. 



