DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF CHIPMUNK 

 FROM CALIFORNIA (Tamias macrorhabdotes sp. nov.). 



BY DR. C. HART MERRIAM. 



(Read December 26; 1885.) 



I have recently secured, from the Sierra Nevada mountains of 

 central California, a series of Chipmunks or Ground Squirrels 

 which differ markedly from any known species. In size they 

 closely approach typical examples of Tamias asiaticus toivn- 

 scndi ; and in coloration they are in some respects intermediate 

 between vars. toivnscndi and borealis* while in other respects 

 they are peculiar. They may be distinguished at a glance from 

 all other described forms by the great length of the ear, the 

 clearness and sharpness of definition of the light stripe which 

 occupies its posterior half, and by the large size and whiteness of 

 the spot behind its base. 



Tamias macrorhabdotes* sp. nov. LONG-EARED CHIPMUNK. 



DIAGNOSIS. Ears exceedingly long, measuring from 16 to 17 

 mm. in height from the occiput (average of ten. 16.20 mm.). 

 Crown grizzled grayish-brown, more or less mixed with rusty ; 

 convex surface of ears sharply bicolor vertically, anterior half 

 sooty-brown, with a slight admixture of rusty near the anterior 

 margin, posterior half ashy-white in striking contrast ; a large 

 white spot (nearly as large as the ear itself) on each side of the 

 neck just behind the ear and continuous with its ashy-white pos 

 terior half and with the white cheek-stripe under the eye, and 

 almost continuous posteriorly with the external lateral white 



* Macro-rhabd-6tes : //x^9, long; fidfidos, stripe ; u?, (trw^, ear, in 

 allusion to the long, striped ear, which is diagnostic of the species. 



