This woodrat built no nests in rocky areas; however, in the Joshua tree belt N. l. lepida often built small nests at the bases of large standing or prostrate Joshua trees. There sticks from creosote bushes, along with cow dung and small stones were favorite building materials. Judging from the large number of unused woodrat nests in the Joshua tree flats it seemed that this rat was formerly far more common than it was in the period of this study.
Specimens examined.—Total, 9, distributed as follows: Los Angeles County: 6 mi. E and 1 mi. S Llano, 3500 ft., 4; Mescal Wash, 4200 ft., 5 (3PC).
Neotoma fuscipes macrotis Thomas
Dusky-footed Woodrat
This subspecies was widely distributed along the coastal slope of the mountains from the coastal sage belt, at roughly 1600 feet, up to 6500 feet at the lower edge of the yellow pine forest and was most common in the chaparral association.
In the coastal sage belt these woodrats are restricted to wash areas where large chaparral plants such as lemonadeberry and laurel sumac are used as nesting sites. In San Antonio Wash the occasional large juniper trees almost invariably harbor the nests of fuscipes. The general absence of suitable nesting sites in the sage belt probably limits the spread of fuscipes in this area.
In the upper part of the chaparral belt in talus these woodrats live beneath the angular boulders and build no visible houses. Several areas of talus occupied by woodrats were examined carefully and no sign of houses was noted.
Two juveniles were found in the stomach of a rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis helleri) killed in May, 1948, at the mouth of Evey Canyon. Remains of woodrats were found in feces of the coyote and gray fox.
Lactating females of this species were taken on March 16, and October 2, 1951.