1008.] MAMMALS. 167 



August 31 to September .">. Most of the specimens are changing from 

 summer to fall pelage, a few having the intense chestnut mantle and 

 nearly all showing traces of it. 



Eutamias borealis (Allen). Liard River Chipmunk. 



Chipmunks referred to this species occur rather commonly in the 

 Athabaska, Slave, and upper Mackenzie valleys. In the original 

 description of Tamias asiaticus borealis the name "was allowed to 

 cover the Old World T. asiaticus as well as the form of the American 

 fur countries."'' In L890, when Allen restricted the name to the 

 American form, he designated as the type No. 6506, V. S. Nat. Mus., 

 from Fort Liard, remarking that No. 3994 (coll. C. Hart Merriam) 

 was practically identical with it.' In now using the name K. /><,/■<<//!■•< 

 for the chipmunk of the Athabaska and upper Mackenzie region this 

 remark plays an important part, since the type specimen is not now- 

 available, and the discovery of the fact that Eutamias caniceps in- 

 habits the Nahanni Mountains (which range extends close to Fort 

 Liard), within less than L50 miles of that post, indicates that the 

 Fort Liard animal may possibly be the same form. The specimen 

 mentioned by Allen, however. No. 3994 (coll. C. Hart Merriam). 

 taken at Deadwood, South Dakota, whether or not specifically identi- 

 cal with the Athabaska animal, resembles comparable specimens of it 

 much more closely than it does specimens of K. caniceps. At present, 

 therefore, it seems advisable to retain the name h<>r<<tlh for the 

 animal which for some years has borne it. 



In 1901 we noted several about 200 miles north of Edmonton, and 

 near Sturgeon River, on May 2. One seen near the latter place was 

 feeding on willow buds, which with great dexterity it gathered from 

 the slender branchlets. While we were descending the Athabaska 

 we saw a few individuals at Brule and Cascade rapids on May 12 

 and 13. We saw none at Fort Chipewyan, but found them rather 

 common at our camps on the west bank of Slave River 1<> and 23 

 miles below the mouth of the Peace, and collected several on dune 9 

 and 13. The animal was rather common at Smith Landing, but 

 during several days' collecting on the opposite bank of the river we 

 did not see it, and in fact did not note the species anywhere on the 

 eastern bank of Slave River. We observed a number on Smith Tort- 

 age, and collected several at Fort Smith. June 22 to 28. At Fort 

 Resolution we noted a few and took specimens there on July 5 and s . 

 On our return trip we collected two at Fori Smith. August 5, and 

 found it common about the rocky hills at Smith Landing on the fol- 

 lowing day. collecting a number. We noted the species also at Big 



"Monographs X. A. Rodentia, p. Tin. is77. 

 ''Mull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.. 111. p. L09, L890. 

 • [bid., i». 109, 1890. 



