1912] Grinnell-Swarth : The Mole of Southern California 133 



The accompanying drawings, as well as the tables of measure- 

 ments serve to show differences in size between la lima mix and 

 occultus. The extremely small hands with relatively weak claws 

 constitute an excellent character of the newly named form. 



Both Allen and True had examples of the southern Cali- 

 fornia mole. The former referred casually to his single speci- 

 men from San Bernardino as "similar" to his anthonyi. True 

 (1896, pp. 57, 66, 67) includes the few southern California 

 examples at his disposal under "califomicus" (= latimanus), 

 remarking upon the "wide range in variation in size." The 

 series in the Museum collection indicate that all the individuals 

 of the species of Scapanus under discussion from any one 

 geographic area show extremely narrow range in variation. This 

 is not only true of size but of proportions of skull, and colora- 

 tion. In judging of color tone it is almost superfluous to urge 

 that age and state of wear of pelage should always be given 

 due consideration. 



Scapanus califomicus {—latiinunus i minusculus Bangs 

 (1899, p. 70) was described from a single specimen from Fyffe, 

 Eldorado County, California. Of course it is quite possible that 

 a separate race of latimanus occupies the Sierra Nevada area. 

 Bangs 's description, and our single example from Yosemite 

 Valley, leave no doubt in our minds, however, that a previously 

 named Sierran form would in no degree compromise the separate 

 recognition of the southern California mole; there appear to be 

 adequate characters to distinguish the two. 



Besides the ten specimens of S. I. occultus listed in the table 

 of measurements, there are four other skins in the Museum not 

 listed because of imperfect data or lack of skull. These are as 

 follows: nos. 7758, 7759, Los Angeles, April 13, 1909; no. 9058, 

 Arroyo Seco near Pasadena, November 30, 1906 ; no. 4036, Ven- 

 tura, May 6, 1906. The latter is without skull or collector's 

 measurements, but in size of hands and feet and in color is (as 

 are the other three) typically occultus. 



We would be quite justified in using a binomial name for 

 the new form if it were not for a specimen of intermediate 

 nature towards latimanus and obtained in an interlying region 

 between the ranges of occultus and latimanus. This is no. 14645, 



