VOL. XIV, PP. 193-194 DECEMBER 12, 1901 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



A NEW WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE FROM CALIFORNIA. 

 BY WILFRED H. OSGOOD. 



The mouse here described is a slightly characterized form of the 

 'austerus-canadensis group' which is one of several in the genus 

 Peromyscus well known to be very much in need of thorough 

 revision. Until such revision can be made it seems best to 

 treat this form as a subspecies of Peromyscus oreas* which is 

 apparently its nearest relative. It occupies the humid coast 

 strip of northern California, having a range coinciding with 

 that of a number of mammals and birds belonging to groups 

 which reach their highest development farther north. It is 

 thus the only member of the austerus-canadensis group found 

 within the State of California. 



Peromyscus oreas rubidus subsp. nov. 



Type from Mendocino City, Mendocino Co., California. Xo. 91,050 

 Biological Survey ('oil., 9 yg-ad. Collected Nov. 17, 1897 by J. A. 

 Loring. Orig. No. -1,925. 



IHxtrihiitioii. Coast region of northern California and southern Oregon, 

 extending south at least as far as Cazadero, California, or nearly through 

 1 he redwood strip. 



('liiiriK-terx. Similar to Peromyscitf* oreas but with shorter tail and 

 smaller hind foot; general color, particularly in summer, shades of ruddy 

 brown or chocolate instead of shades of brown tinged with yellowish. 

 Similar to Peromywux auaterus but somewhat larger and lighter in color. 

 Skull similar to that of P. oreax, well distinguished from that of P. 



(I It xt('t' II X. 



Color. Type (in worn summer pelage): Upperparts brownish fawn 



* Bangs. 1 !()(. Hiol. Soc. Wash. XII, 83-84, Mar. 24, 1898. 



4\ BIOT,. Soc. WASH. VOL. XIV. 1901. (193) 



