These woodrats were present in rocky situations along the desert slope
from the lower edge of the juniper belt down into the desert. Specimens
were taken in piles of boulders in Mescal Wash, and amid rock
outcroppings on the steep, barren, south slopes at the base of Grandview
Canyon, whereas none was found on the juniper-clad benches.
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