126 Merridin — Amcricdu Wood Rats. 



breast and belly (often forming a roseate pectoral collar) ; hairs plumbeous 

 at base except a pectoral patch and an irregular strip down the middle of 

 the belly, which are white throughout. Some specimens from old Fort Yuma 

 have the upper parts very pale bufly. 



Cranial characters. — Skull much smaller, thinner, and less angular than 

 that of intermedia or albigula ; mterparietal much smaller and less elongated 

 transversely ; interorbital constriction much narrower, with edges more up- 

 turned ; audital bulke much larger ; opening of posterior nares narrower ; 

 nasals truncate but less bi'oadly than in intermedia. 



Neotoma desertorum sola subsp. nov. 



Ti/pe from San Emigdio, Kern Co., California. No. 433J1 (^ ad. U. S. 

 Nat. Museum, Department of Agriculture Collection. Collected October 

 24, 1891, by E. W. Nt-lson (Original number 13(39). 



Measurements (taken in tlesh). — Tijpe (male): Total length 330 ; tail ver- 

 tebrae 148 ; hind foot 36. Ear from anterior base 29 (in dry skin). Female 

 from type locality : Total length 324 ; tail vertebrie 151 ; hind foot 33.5. 



General characters. — Similar to X. desertorum, but larger. 



Color. — Upper parts ochraceous buff, lined with black-tipped hairs ; fore 

 and hind feet and underparts white ; basal fur plumbeous on sides of belly 

 and chin ; tail bicolor, grayish brown above, white below. 



Cranial charadet^s. — Skull similar to that of desertorum but larger ; inter- 

 orbital breadth greater ; interparietal much larger; audital bullte less in- 

 flated ; nasals longer, and broader posteriorly ; ascending bi'anches of pre- 

 maxilkt shorter and slighter. 



Neotoma intermedia melanura subsp. nov. 



Ti/pe from Oktiz, Sonoua, Mexico. No, V^^i J* J'g- ii''- U. S. Nat. 

 Museum, Department of Agriculture Collection. Collected November 13, 

 1889, by Vernon Bailey (Original number (ill). 



Measurements (taken in Hesh). — Type: Total length 333 ; tail vertebi-ic 170; 

 hind foot 34. Ear from anterior base 25 (in dry skin). 



General characters. — Size rather small; ears large; coloration 

 peculiar; back olivaceus; tail hlack ahore (probably a peculiarity 

 of winter pelage) ; cranial characters of the aU>i(/i(la type. 



Color. — (Winter pelage) Upper parts olivaceus from a fine intermixtuiv of 

 black-tipped hairs on an ochraceus-buffy ground ; sides nearly clear ochraceus- 

 buti"; fore and hind feet pure white; ankles blackish m sharp contrast to 

 color of hind feet ; tail sharply bicolor, dorsal side black-, ventral side white >' 

 under parts white ; chin, throat, breast and line down middle of belly white 

 to roots of hairs ; sides of belly with plumbeus under fur. 



Craniid characters. — Skull similar to that of N. intermedia but smaller ; 

 nasals narrower posteriorly : anterior loop of m ' partly divided by aiitero- 

 internal sulcus. 



Geneal reviarks. — This animal in winter pelage looks like ini- 



