254 FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM ZOOLOGY, VOL. i. 



those procured on top of the mountains, conspicuously long. A 

 very fine series was obtained showing all stages and variations of 

 pelage from the young to the old adults. In the preliminary 

 description of this species (1. c.) I compared it with P. t. doylii, 

 but on showing my examples to Mr. G. S. Miller, he suggested 

 that P. canadensis might prove to be a nearer relative, and after 

 making a comparison with this species I am inclined to believe 

 that Mr. Miller is correct in his view. P. akeleyi is much 

 larger than canadensis and has a longer tail, but the texture of the 

 fur is very similar, and the color more nearly resembles that of 

 canadensis than it does that of boylii. The two forms, however, 

 are very distinct. The skull, compared with that of canadensis, 

 is longer, wider at the occipital region, frontals less constricted, 

 nasals broader and not rounder at the anterior end, auditory 

 bullae barely equal in size; lower edge of foramen magnum to pos- 

 terior edge of palate of greater length, and palate slightly shorter. 

 Total length from occiput to anterior end of nasals, 26 mm.; 

 nasals, 8.5; anterior edge of palate to alveolus of middle incisor 

 (inside), 7; length of palate, 4; posterior edge of palate to lower 

 edge of foramen magnum, 8; tooth row, 4; zygomatic width, 8. 



I have pleasure in bestowing upon this species the name of my 

 assistant in the field, Mr. C. E. Akeley. 



One hundred and seventy-nine examples: McDonald's Ranch, 

 Elwah River, 2; Johnson's Ranch, Elwah River, 51; Boulder 

 Creek, 49; Happy Lake, 45; Boulder Lake, 32. 



8. Neotoma occidentalis. 



Neotoma occidentalis. Baird, Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien., Phil., 

 1855, vol. vii., p. 335. 



This was the only species of wood rat seen by us. It was in no 

 place abundant, single families occupying certain localities, and 

 when these were captured there was no use trapping for them 

 any longer in that vicinity. The supply appeared to have become 

 exhausted. This animal is the typical TV. occidentalis Baird, and 

 is readily recognized by its very dark, almost black, pelage, 

 especially along the dorsal area. The young also are a very 

 dark plumbeous, almost black. The specimens from British 

 Columbia, especially those from Ducks, are of quite a different 

 coloration, being much lighter, inclining to a grey. A series of 

 the two forms placed side by side exhibits the difference in color 

 conspicuously. I am inclined to regard this animal from Ducks 



