NO. 1101. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MVSEVM. 57 



shows no tendency toward a diminution iu size at that point. The 

 same is the case with A', orarius, if we except the evidence^ supplied by 

 the 1'ort Walla Walla specimens. If these specimens represent an 

 offshoot of aS'. orarius, as 1 have supposed, it may be shown hereafter 

 that a large form of orarius occupies the western border of the Colum- 

 bia plains. 



The California mole, like the Eastern iScalops aquaticus, presents a 

 wide range of variation in size. Along" the northern coast we find the 

 maximum. Toward the south there is a gradual falling off, until in the 

 southern counties a minimum is reached. The conditions in the Sierra 

 xsevadas, as far as can be determined from the very few specimens 

 available, are somewhat different. In the Sierras themselves the 

 species appears to maintain a comparativelj' large size throngliout. 

 Specimens from Baird, Fort Crook, and Bijou (Lake Tahoe) are about 

 the same size as the single one from Tehachapi, at the extreme south 

 of the Sierras, while on the other hand they are smaller than specimens 

 from northern localities on tlie coast. 



The specimens from Olancha, Owens Lake, elevation 3,700 feet, on 

 the east slope of the Sierras, and considerably north of the latitude of 

 Teha<'hapi, are very small, almost at the minimum, although the real 

 minimum on the coast is found much, farther south. 



The variation iu color in 8. californicus, making due allowance for 

 seasonal changes, can not be considered very great. Si)ecimens from 

 Los Angeles County are a little browner than those from the vicinity 

 of San Francisco Bay, and the Owens Lake specimens, are, ])erhaps, 

 paler. The only very pale specimen, however, is one from the peak 

 of St. Bernardino, which has the fresh winter i:)elage. This is very 

 silvery, and is comparable to si)ecimens of Scalops aquaticus from 

 Wisconsin. 



*S'. anthoiii/i is the smallest form of Scapamis on the Pacific Coast 

 and is at the point farthest south in the range. The type is an old 

 individual, as stated by Dr. Allen, having the depressed cranium, short 

 interparietal, and worn teeth, indicative of age. It is darker than 

 sjieeimens from various parts of southern California, but is al)Out 

 cijualed by one from Pacific Grove, Mendocino County. In other 

 resi)ects there does not seem to l)e any distinction between iS. anthoiii/i 

 and ordinary California moles. Dr. Allen does not give any other char- 

 acters except one relating to the dentition. The premolars are only 

 three in each side of the upper and lower jaws. If this is constant, it 

 forms a inarked characteristic of the species. With only one specimen 

 at hand, however, nothing can be certainly determined. 



I am strongly inclined to regard this species as merely an outlying 

 geographical race of S. californicHS, l)ut as material from southern Cali- 

 fornia is not so abundant as could be desired, and the species itself is 

 represented only by the type specimen, I have thought best to pre- 

 serve its status as established by the describer. Those naturalists who 

 regard isolation as a guarantee of specific distinctness will probably 



