Vol. VIII, pp. 129-138 



December 28, 1893 



PROCEEDINGS 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, 



DESCRIPTIONS OF EIGHT NEW GROUND SQUIRRELS 



OF THE GENERA SPERMOPHILUS AND TAMIAS 



FROM CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, AND MEXICO. 



BY C. HART MERRIAM, M. D. 



Among the undescriljed rodents now in the collection of the 

 Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy of the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture are eight new ground squirrels of the genera 

 Spermophilas and Tamias. Five of these are specifically distinct 

 from any heretofore described ; the remaining three are well- 

 marked subspecies. They are here described in advance of the 

 more formal publications in which their relations and distribu- 

 tion will l)e discussed at length. 



Spermophilus nelsoni sp. nov. 

 nelson's spermophile. 



Type from Tipton, San Joaquin Valley, California. No. 54651 (^ ad. 

 United States National Museum, Department of Agriculture collection. 

 Collected June 24, 1893, by C. P. Streator (original number, 2968). 



Measurements (taken in flesh). — Type specimen, J^ : total length, 228; 

 tail vertebrae, 71 ; hind foot, 41. Mean of 29 speciment? from type locality : 

 total length, 228.6; tail vertebra-, 68.4; hind foot, 40.4. 



General Ch.arnclers. — Belongs to the subgenus Ammospermoph- 

 ■Hiih; similar to S. leucurus in form and pattern of markings, but 

 somewhat larger and widely different in color, the upper parts 

 being yellowish-brown. 



20-B[or,. Soc. Wash., Vot,. VIH, 1803. (129) 



