Fes., 1912. MAMMALS OF ILLINOIS AND WIscoNSIN—CoRY. 207 
Neotoma f. rubida Bancs. (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., XXVIII, 1898, p. 185.) 
Type locality — Gibson, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. Larger than floridana, 
with larger hind feet; color of upper parts tinged with dark russet brown; tail 
not distinctly bicolor, dusky above, slightly paler beneath. 
Neotoma f. illinoensis HOWELL. Type locality — Wolf Lake, Union Co., southern 
Illinois. Description as previously given. Differs from rubida in being some- 
what lighter in color and tail more distinctly bicolor. 
The Illinois Wood Rat was lately described by Mr. Arthur H. How- 
ell, who first secured specimens near Wolf Lake, Union Co., southern 
Illinois, in May, 1909. By those unfamiliar with mammals it might 
be mistaken for a large House Rat, but it may readily be distinguished 
from that species (aside from its well-marked dental characters) by 
its hair covered tail, large ears, pure white under parts and white feet. 
Regarding the habits of this Wood Rat, Mr. Howell says: “‘The 
animals are common at Wolf Lake, inhabiting the high rocky bluffs 
which border the east side of the lake. They live in crevices and caves 
into which they carry large quantities of sticks, leaves, and other 
rubbish. Their habits in this locality are thus like those of NV. pennsyl- 
vanica and unlike those of rubida in the Southern States where this 
species lives in swamps and builds its nests in hollow logs or trees and 
in the branches of trees some distance from the ground. The swamp 
conditions were present at this northern station, but the adjacent cliffs 
evidently proved more attractive to them, as is usually the case with 
members of this genus. Three adults and one young, all in worn pelage, 
were captured at Wolf Lake, May 24, 25, and in January, 1910, eight 
more adults in full fresh pelage were secured by a local trapper.” (J. ¢., 
p. 28-29.) 
Specimens of this Rat have also been taken in northeastern Arkan- 
sas (Goldman, /. ¢., p. 23). 
The specimen identified by Mr. F. E. Wood as Neotoma floridana 
from Havana, Illinois (Bull. Ill. State Lab. Nat. Hist., VIII, 1910, p. 
550), and preserved in the collection of the Illinois State University at 
Urbana, was kindly sent to me by Dr. S. A. Forbes for examination. 
It is an alcoholic specimen and proves to be a small female Epimys 
norvegicus, somewhat abnormal in color, probably due to its having 
been kept in alcohol for a considerable time. 
Specimens examined from Illinois: 
Illinois — Wolf Lake, Union Co., 6; (B. S.) Wolf Lake, Union Co., 
2=8, 
