A 43-year-old city woman was in fair condition last night after someone entered the bedroom where she was sleeping and scalped her Monday night.

Sheila Cowherd of the 1100 block of North Carey Street told police that her boyfriend had done it, and they were looking for him last night.

Ms. Cowherd was taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in critical condition about 8:30 p.m. Monday, along with a 4-inch-wide strip of scalp that had been cut off from above her left eyebrow back to the base of her neck, police said.

A hospital spokeswoman last night refused to confirm police reports that the scalp had been reattached but said the woman's condition was fair and stable.

Charlie Watkins, 62 -- a resident of the house in the 1100 block of North Carrollton Avenue, where the incident took place -- told the police that he knew the suspect and let him in about 8:10 p.m. to use the bathroom, adjacent to the room where Ms. Cowherd was sleeping. Neither Mr. Watkins, nor two people sleeping in rooms on either side of Ms. Cowherd's, said they heard any arguing or unusual noise before the man left.

Mr. Watkins told police he didn't see any blood on the man when he left, but then heard moaning. When he went upstairs, he saw the scalp lying on the floor and the victim bleeding from the head, he said.

Homicide detectives responding to the scene reported that the victim's skull was exposed at the top, and that blood covered the floor and bedding. No weapon was recovered, but police said it appeared a surgically sharp instrument had been used.

The victim appeared to be intoxicated, the officers reported, but was able to say that she had been attacked by her boyfriend, "Little."

As Ms. Cowherd's condition improved yesterday, the case was transferred from the homicide division to the Western District, where Sgt. Mary Eilerman said they were looking for Edward Littles, 63, of the 5700 block of Race Road in Elkridge, although an arrest warrant hadn't yet been issued.