March, 1904. Mammals of Southern California — Elliot. 281 



that the "geological formation and vegetation are almost identical 

 with that found in the Panamint Range and many of the mammals 

 are apparently the same species, here reaching their western limit." 

 About forty specimens were taken at this place, and the camp was 

 moved to the summit of the Range and water brought up from the 

 spring, eight miles below, for their use. "At this elevation Finns 

 flexilis, the Rocky Mountain white-barked pine, and Piuns aristata, 

 the bristle-cone pine, occurred." Leaving the mountains, Mr. Heller 

 proceeded to Lone Pine, a settlement "situated at the base of the 

 Sierras on the west side of Owens Valley, a few miles north of the 

 lake. It is at an altitude of 3,800 feet, on a natural dry swale, at 

 the mouth of Lone Pine Creek. The place is separated from the 

 slopes of the Sierra by a low range of bare granite hills. The fauna 

 and flora have few desert characteristics, most of these having been 

 derived from the Sierra Nevada Range. The vegetation on this side 

 of Owens Valley consists largely of sage-brush (Artemisia tridcutata), 

 Atriplex, and various shrubby composite. The paludose vegetation 

 of the streams consists of willows, the western birch, cotton woods, 

 ash, roses, etc. Near the streams thickets of Ceanothus and Rhamnus 

 occur. The region is in the Upper Sonoran Zone. The streams do 

 not extend much beyond the base of the Range, being soon lost in 

 the sandy valley. As they depend on the melting snow, thev are 

 largest during mid-summer. The Pihon Zone of the Sierras extends 

 down to about 7,500 feet, which does not carry it even to the base 

 of the Range." 



A good number of mammals was procured at this place, among 

 which were two new forms of Peromyscits, and topotypes of Ncotoma 

 j. dispar, Microtus c, vallicola, and Tkomomys a. perpes. 



From here Mr. Heller went to Keeler, "on the east shore of 

 Owen's Lake, at an altitude of 3,622 feet. For a half-mile or more 

 before the lake is reached is a level expanse of white, sandv soil, 

 containing a large amount of soda and other salts, which have been 

 deposited as the waters receded. To this sandy margin and alkali 

 soil several species of mammals are confined and owe their coloring, 

 apparently, to the composition of the soil. Just back of the water's 

 edge is a considerable expanse of bare mud and deposit of soda, etc., 

 and beyond this occurs a growth of salt-grass about a hundred vards 

 wide, succeeded by tracts of loose sand, with a scattered growth of 

 Atriplex bushes, which gradually give way to small sand dunes and 

 creosote bushes." The mammals from this place have their colora- 

 tion intensified, and even such species as are found in other localities 

 have a much richer pelage exhibited by individuals from Keeler. 



