26 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



scapulars marked by a pale yellowish-brown suffusion ex- 

 tending nearly or quite to the tail. Orbital ring and under 

 surface of body and legs, pure wliite. 



Habitat. — Coast region of California south of San Fran- 

 cisco. 



Spermophilus grammurus atricapillus Snbsp. nov. 



Black-capped Ground Squirrel. 



In 1888 I examined several specimens of the lined-tailed 

 spermophile inhabiting the rocky region at Comondu, Lower 

 California, and brought back three skins, representing the 

 widest difference in those individuals. The striking peculiar- 

 ity of the black crown and blackish scapular region suggested 

 at once a peninsular form of this variable spermophile. 

 When revisiting Comondu, in March of this year, I engaged 

 several Mexican boys to trap ground-squirrels for me, wliich 

 they did with most satisfactory results; the entire series num- 

 bering twenty-nine complete skins and one scalp, are now be- 

 fore me, and upwards of a dozen others were examined in the 

 flesh, but not preserved. In this collection are two small 

 young, but the majority are adults. 



There is considerable individual variation shown in speci- 

 mens from the same locality. As I traveled northward I 

 found amongst the squirrels which were taken a strong ten- 

 dency to depart from the typical form and approach in color 

 aS*. grammurus. How far south on the peninsula typical 

 beecheyi may extend has never been determined; none of 

 those collected are quite referable to it. Regarding the 

 three most variable specimens (those of 1888) Dr. Merriam 

 writes: " Your Spermophilus grammurus atricapillus agrees 

 with other specimens I have seen from northern Mexico. In 

 my opinion it represents one stage in the series of inter- 

 grades wdiich should connect iypical gy^amrrmr us with typical 

 huckleyi. It has nothing to do with heeclieyi proper, although 

 I must confess that except for size one of your females agrees 



