Mar. 1899. MAMMALS OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS ELLIOT. 259 



long for the size of the animal, and the color varies slightly, 

 one specimen being somewhat lighter than the others. Possibly 

 this may be due to age. 



Three examples from Happy Lake. The figures exhibit the 

 lower surface of skull, natural size, and upper tooth row en- 

 larged six times. The skull of the type was so badly broken 

 that it could not be figured, and so that of topotype No. 286 

 has been figured in its place. 



FAM. GEOMYID.E. 



14. Thomomys melanops. 



Thomomys melanops, Merr. Proc. Biol. Soc. ,Wash., 1899, p. 21. 



I was inclined to refer this gopher to T. mazama. Merr., but 

 on receipt of a topotype of this species from Crater Lake, Oregon, 

 kindly loaned me by Dr. Merriam, I find that the color of my 

 specimens, although taken at nearly the same time of the 

 year, is very different, and the skulls vary in many particu- 

 lars. Dr. Merriam compares the skull of T. melanops with that 

 of T. douglassi, from the north side of the Columbia River. 

 Unfortunately, I have no specimens of T. douglassi. Dr. Mer- 

 riam kindly sent me a topotype of T. melanops, and I find 

 the same difference of coloration prevails with that species as 

 exists between my specimens and T. mazama. Mine are a pale 

 brown, while T. melanops is a reddish animal, with a good deal 

 of black about the face and head. I have eight specimens all 

 lighter than T. melanops. Those collected by me were taken 

 on the east of the Divide, while Dr. Merriam's came from the 

 Solduck River, toward its upper part, on the west side of the 

 Divide. I forwarded one of my examples to Dr. Merriam to 

 compare with his type, and in the opinion of himself and 

 Mr. Vernon Bailey there was but one species, although in its 

 lighter color and larger size, mine was distinguishable. 



This gopher lives in small colonies, and is distributed gener- 

 ally over the mountains at or near timber line. Its presence 

 is indicated by small mounds, similar to those thrown up by 

 the mole; but there are no galleries beneath them, and it is 



