MAMMALS OF MARYLAND 



101 



same year, five nests of this species were discovered beneath, the cabin 

 on the island. 



Wetmore (1923) describes the nests of the eastern wood rat on 

 Plummers Island as being composed of bits of finely shredded cedar 

 bark and similar materials that formed a flattened mass 12 to 15 inches 

 across with a small depression in the center. As it was warm weather 

 the cavities were open above, but the walls were so arranged that they 

 could be pulled out to form a domed covering if the need for greater 

 warmth arose. 



Wood rats eat practically any vegetation they can obtain, including 

 fruits and berries, fungi, ferns, rhododendron, and a host of others. 

 The species breeds from spring until fall, and as many as three broods 

 may be raised annually. The gestation period is 30 to 36 days, and one 

 to three young are usually born. 



Specimens examined, — Allegany County: Mount Savage, 1 (Coll. 

 U. Md.) ; Oldtown, 9 miles E, 1. Garrett County: Backbone Mountain, 

 Savage Kiver Dam Site, 2 (Coll. U. Md.) . Montgomery County: Plum- 

 mers Island, 2. Washington Comity: Bear Creek, just north of U.S. 

 40,1 (Coll.U.Md.). 



Other records and reports. — Montgomery County: Perry's Island 

 (Wetmore, 1923 : 187) ; Woodside (Wetmore, 1923 : 187). 



RED-BACKED MOUSE 

 Clethrionotnys gapperi gapperi (Vigors) 



Arvicola gapperi Vigors, Zool. Jour., 5 : 204, 1830. 



Type locality. — Between York [Toronto] and Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. 



General distribution. — Massachusetts south in the Appalachians to western 

 Virginia and west through New York, northern Michigan, and southern Ontario 

 to eastern Minnesota. 



Distribution i/n Marylamd. — Occurs on the cooler forested slopes in 

 the Ridge and Valley and Allegheny Mountain sections. 



Distinguishing characteristics. — Teeth 1/1, 0/0, 0/0, 3/3, = 16; 

 cheek teeth rooted in adults; size medium; coloration of upper parts 

 rusty red, becoming buffy on the sides and around the face; under- 

 parts buffy white; tail less than a third of total length of animal, and 

 bicolored, blackish above, paler below. 



This mouse may be distinguished from most other Maryland mice 

 by its reddish coloration and short tail. It resembles the pine mouse, 

 however, in both these characters, but differs in that the reddish 

 coloration is confined to the dorsum, whereas in the pine mouse the 

 reddish coloration extends onto the sides. In addition, the ears of the 

 red-backed mouse are larger, the tail is considerably longer, and the 

 fur is longer, coarser, and less mole-like. 



