March, 1904. Mammals of Southern California — Elliot. 297 



Neotoma desertorum. 



Neotoma desertorum Merr.. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 1894. 

 p. 125. Elliot, Svn. N. Am. Mamm., iqoi. pp. 161, 42g. 



3g Specimens: 3 Copper City, 5 Lone Willow Spring, g Fur- 

 nace Creek, Death Valley (topotypes), 6 Hannopee Canon, 

 3 Coal Kilns, Panamint Mountains; 2 Coso Mountains, 5 Bever- 

 idge Canon, and 3 at summit of Inyo Mountains east of Lone 

 Pine, 3 Lone Pine. 



In the Synopsis, page 42g, I mentioned the statement of 

 Mr. Bangs that Mr. G. S. Miller, Jr., had examined the type of 

 N. lepida Thomas, and was of the opinion that that species and 

 desertorum were the same. If Mr. Miller had compared specimens 

 of desertorum and lepida, it would have been more satisfactory, 

 for it is very difficult to carry in qne's mind the appearance of a 

 Neotoma, or indeed that of any animal not particularly con- 

 spicuous, sufficiently well to determine its identity; and as 

 Mr. Miller merely states it is his opinion, it would seem wise 

 before making desertorum a synonym of lepida, to wait until the 

 two can be brought together. A description alone is a very 

 unsatisfactory medium upon which to decide the status of these 

 wood rats, and Mr. Thomas's measurements of his species proves 

 that it is a smaller animal than desertorum, although an average 

 of several specimens might show there is not much difference in 

 size between them. Mr. Thomas's description is perplexing 

 also in certain points, as when he says the tail is "thickly haired," 

 causing a doubt as to whether it is a Neotoma or Teouoma. 

 While desertorum has a hairy tail, there is no doubt it belongs to 

 Neotoma. Under the circumstances, therefore, it seems best, for 

 the present at least, to retain the name given by Dr. Merriam to 

 the species. Mr. Heller states that this "is an abundant species 

 on the desert, ranging from the lowest valleys to the summits of 

 the highest desert ranges. On the Panamint Mountains they 

 were taken up to 9,000 feet, which elevation also marked their 

 upper limit on the Inyo Mountains. The extreme upper limit 

 of the pinon pine coincides with the upper limit of their range. 

 The nest is unusually small, and composed of sticks, brush. 

 cacti, etc., piled in the crevices between rocks, or more rarely in 

 thorny vegetation." 



Neotoma desertorum sola. 



Neotoma d. sola Merr., Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., i8g4, p. 126. 

 Elliot, Syn. X. Am. Mamm., igoi, p. 161. 



