FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Species of the genus Lemmus 



American Lemming ; Back Lemming. — Lemmus trimucronatus 

 (Richardson) . 

 As described. Found on the Melville Peninsula, Booth 

 Peninsula, northern shores of Hudson Bay, and adjacent 

 territory; west to Great Bear Lake and Anderson River; 

 limits of range unknown. Named Back Lemming for Capt. 

 Back. 



Tawny Lemming. — Lemmus helvolus (Richardson). 



Yellower and more tawny than trimucronatus which it equals 

 in size. Upperparts yellowish brown, grizzled with gray 

 and dusky on head and shoulders. Found in alpine swamps 

 and meadows of Rocky Mountain district about the head- 

 waters of the southern Peace River, Alberta; has been 

 recorded from Telegraph Creek, British Columbia ; limits of 

 range unknown. 



Point Barrow Lemming.^ — Lemmus alascensis Merriam. 



In coloration somewhat intermediate between trimucronatus 

 and helvolus. Upperparts warm yellowish brown with 

 tendency toward rusty on the rump; head and shoulders 

 grizzled buffy, grayish, and blackish. In winter the pelage 

 is more fulvous and with less ochraceous tinge. Total 

 length, 6.2 inches; tail vertebras, .9 inch; hind foot, .83 inch. 

 Found in Alaska, from Point Barrow south ; limits of range 

 unknown. 



Yukon Lemming. — Lemmus yukonensis Merriam. 



"Size small, ears relatively large; general color dark anteri- 

 orly, with bright fulvous or rufous rump and flanks; audital 

 bullae immense." (Merriam) Total length, 5.2 inches; tail 

 vertebra, .7 inch; hind foot, .8 inch. Found in Alaska in 

 the region of Charlie Creek, Yukon River. 



Osgood Lemming. — Lemmus minusculus Osgood. 



Like alascensis, but smaller and with less difference between 

 color of head and shoulders as compared with rump. Upper- 

 parts ochraceous mixed with blackish ; rump hazel to chest- 

 nut; sides and underparts clear ochraceous. Total length, 

 5.2 inches; tail vertebrae, .5 inch; hind foot, .75 inch. Found 

 in the region of the Upper Nushagak River drainage, base of 

 Alaska Peninsula. 



Black-footed Lemming. — Lemmus nigripes (True). 



Cinnamon-gray above; sides clear tawny brown; underparts 

 paler tawny; black on nose, upperside of forefeet, upper and 

 lower sides of hind feet and upperside of tail. Total length, 

 5.8 inches; tail vertebras, .5 inch; hind foot, .8 inch. Found 

 on St. George Island, Pribilof Islands, Alaska. 



Preble, in North American Fauna, No 22, page 54, gives the 

 following account of habits, writing of trimucronatus. 



"We found this fine species at but one locality, near the 

 400 



