122 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1898. 



entire upper parts as contrasted with M. Edward's figure* of an adult 

 specimen. This dark coloration results from the black tips of the 

 upper pelage being more strongly developed and the buff ground 

 colors less intense than in the adult stage. The peculiar markings 

 of the tail fit M. Edward's figure so well that its specific affinity to 

 annulatus is very probable. On the other hand our specimen was 

 not taken in the Mongolian desert but at an elevation of 3,550 feet 

 in a high fertile valley, on the border of the desert in the Khin Gan 

 Mountains. It is probably a dark race of annulata, as yet un- 

 named. 5 



5. Tamias (Eutamias) asiaticus (Gmelin). Asiatic- Chipmunk. 



Two adult specimens, No. 4,601 from Tung Ching Tzu and No. 

 4,602 from Sian Lang Kou, the first taken in May, the latter in June, 

 both from the Province of Pechili along the foothills of the Khin 

 Gan Range south and east of Dolonuor, are of interest when com- 

 pared with American species of the subgenus Exdamias. Founded 

 in 1880 by Trouessart as a subgenus, Eutamias has lately been con- 

 sidered by Dr. Merriam 6 as of full generic value, with T. asiaticus 

 as its type, and including several species of West American chip- 

 munks of the townsendi, speciosus and pictus groups. 



As contrasted with typical Tamias of Illiger, with our eastern 

 striatus as its type, Eutamias presents invariably a persistent second 

 upper premolar, never found in striatus and its east American con- 

 geners. This feature is the only one given by Trouessart to char- 

 acterize Eutamias, and it is worthy of mention that in his recent 

 Catalogus Mammalium that author does not recognize his Eutamias 

 even as a subgenus. It is, however, worthy of that rank and no 

 more, as its generic recognition necessitates a like subdivision of 

 Spermophilus into genera which, as such, are meaningless in nomen- 

 clature and only confuse where intended to elucidate the affinities of 

 distinct but closely related groups. 



The cranial characters of T. asiaticus do not seem to have been 

 made the basis of comparisons by any other writer than Trouessart 

 between the species of Tamias of the Old and New World. 



4 Recher. Mam., pi. X. 



5 Radde's name, Dipus jaculus var. mongolian,, in Mel. Biol. Acad. St. Pet., 

 Ill, 1861, p. 680, cited by Trouessart, may be applicable to M. Edwards' 

 species. If so it has priority over A . annulata. 



6 Proc. Biol. Soc. Washn., July, 1897, p. 189. 



