Klein, Karen 1988 Peromyscus californicus #1135♀ Hastings Natural History Reserve, Carmel Valley, Monterey Co., California. May 7 (cont.) chopped apple, and 12 bay nuts. May 8 wt = 46.5g, imperforate. Vaginal smear revealed mostly cornified epithelial cells with some nucleated epithelial cells. The female persists in sleeping in one of the boxes under the cotton; while the male has tunneled out a nest in the big piece of cotton laying free. Also found a bay tree nut shell in the 5's cotton nest. May 9 wt = 45g. Pinkish in vagina, @ct not perforate. Defensive signs of Bay tree nut consumption May 11 Since I'll be gone for several days, I left her a whole apple, some lettuce, and bay tree nuts for food. The female is imperforate. May 17 wt = 46g, clitoral area, but vagina very loose, easily penetrated. Took a vaginal smear with 1) a toothpick and 2) plastic tube flush. Both were excellent smears indicating ~50% nucleated epithelial cells, ~40% leukocytes (based on smaller size than epithelial cells), and <1% cornified epithelial cells. May 18 wt = 40.5g. Vaginal smear collected. Predominately leukocytes (90%) I think? These cells are smaller (1/2 size of nucleated epithelial cells), but don't have the dumb-bell shaped nucleus as in diagrams. This smear seems to have collected some uterine lining. I saved this mount by lining the edge of the cover slip with Permount. May 19 Cleaned out cage today. wt = 40.5g. Vaginal smear collected. Poor success. All that is usable indicates 50% leukocytes; 50% cornified epithelium cells. May 20 Moved cage to lower barn today. Vaginal smear collected. 99% leukocytes (I think) and <1% cornified epithelium cells (saved slide). May 22 wt = 46g. Vaginal smear: mostly leukocytes (3), 5% cornified, 5% nucleated epithelium