Fig. 108. Distribution of the bushy-tailed wood rat in Washington. A. Neotoma cinerea occidentalis. B. Neotoma cinerea alticola.

The food of the bushy-tailed wood rat is varied and includes insects and vegetation. A captive specimen that escaped in the University of Washington Zoölogical Laboratories killed and ate a number of lizards.

Embryos found from April 18 to June 14 varied in number from 3 to 5.

Neotoma cinerea occidentalis [Baird]

Neotoma occidentalis [Baird], Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, p. 335, 1855.

Neotoma cinerea occidentalis [Merriam], N. Amer. Fauna, 5:58, July 30, 1891.

Type.—Obtained at Shoalwater Bay (Willapa Bay), Pacific County, Washington, by J. G. Cooper, in June, 1854; type in United States National Museum.

Racial characters.—Size large; color of upper parts cinnamon brown.