GROUTIDiS-THOHOMTS TALPOIDES DULBIVORUS. 



C27 



Habitat. — Pacific coast and 8lo{M!8 of the United StatcB, from Wa»liing- 

 ton Territory to Southern California. 



There is no decided dificrcnce in sisse or shape between this form and 

 the last^ except on average less development of (lie fore claws. Tiie extreme 

 of the bulbivorua branch of this species is readily recognized by a warmtli 

 and intensity of coloration not known to occur in specimens from the North- 

 ern Interior; the color varies a great deal, but is never the clear mouse-gray 

 of tfifpoidet, being an intimate mixture of yellowish-brown and dark brown 

 or blackish. Above, the pointing of the fur conceals the plumbeous bases of 

 the hairs ; below, this plumbeous shows, overlaid with a strong wash of tawny 

 or muddy-brown, unlike the hoary-)|piiy of the same parts of laljwukt. The 

 under surface is not known to be varied with patches of white,* nor is there 

 any white about the mouth, excepting the immediate border of the lips ; the 

 niouth-|)art8 being sooty or dusky, contrasting with the white which lines the 

 cheek-pouches. This is very much as in umbriitut, and quite different from 

 tafpoidct. The furc claws avei'age about 0.40 — ratlier less than more. Such 

 typical manifestation of this form I have only seen from California; it changes 

 insensibly into both talpoidea and vmhrinui. Proceeding irp the Pacific coast, 

 we find an animal still like bulbivonu in general tone of coiorotion, but in 

 which the mouth-parts have nearly or entirely lost their sootiness; the fore 

 claws also enlarge somewhat, and from this state it is but a step to true tal- 

 poidet, which meets "douglnsi^ in the interior of Oregon ami Washington. 

 In the interior of California, the opposite modification begins, tending to 

 vmbrinut, which becomes established in Arizona and New Mexico. Here 

 the dark mouth-parts are intensified, but the color grows richer till a decidedly 

 tawny or fulvous cost results. Specimens from Fort Crook and Fort Tejon, 

 Cal, and from Provo, Utah, are ambiguous, exhibiting much variation. Some 

 of the browner ones are inseparable from bulhivoru*, while the ruddiness of 

 others matches that of typical umbrinut. The intergradation of the two forms 

 in this region is complete. Some other specimens from Fort Crook are iden- 

 tical with Steilacoom ones in color; the only difference being the weaker 

 claws. To the southward, on the coast, the same intergradation occurs, 

 becomiiig established about San Diego. In Lower California, pure umbrintu 

 prevails. 



* A Ban FniDeiwui ■peeiman to • paifeot albliio— ■oow-wbile all over. 



