846 University of California Publications in Zoology [yoh. 21 



of the minor geographic tendencies just referred to and the apparent 

 lack of sharp coordination of these tendencies with area, we can see 

 no reasonable course open to us at this time save to offer the following 

 nomenclatural handling of the problem. 



Lynx ruffus californicus Mearns 

 California Wildcat 



Felis riifa, Geoft'roy Saiiit-Hilaire (1846, p. 150, Atlas, pi. 9). Monterey. 

 Lynx rufus [or ruffiis], Newberry (1857, p. 36), part; and, in part at 



least, of several other authors. 

 Lynx rufus var. maculatus, Baird (1857, p. 93), part; and of some other 



authors. 

 Ly7ix fasciatus, Biyant (1891&, p. 113), part; and of some other authors, 



at least in part. 

 Lynx rufus [or ruffus] californicus Mearns (1897, p. 458) [orig. descr.] ; 



and of some other authoi's. 

 Lynx (Cervaria) fasciatus oculeus Bangs (1899, p. 23) [orig. descr.]. 

 Lynx californicus, Merriam (1899, p. 104); and of other authors. 

 Felis rufa oculeus [or oculea], Elliot (1901, p. 297); and of the same 



author elsewhere. 

 Felis rufa californica, Elliot (1901, p. 298); and of the same author else- 

 where. 

 Lynx fasciatus oculeus, Miller and Eehn (1901, p. 200); and, at least in 



part, of sevei'al other authors. 

 Lynx eremicus, Stephens (1906, p. 210), part. 

 Lynx eremicus californicus, Griunell (1913, p. 299); and of some other 



authors. 



Note. — The synonymies given for each of the subspecies treated in this 

 paper are as relating to California alone, not for the subspecies at large. 



Diagnosis. — A race of wildcat characterized by average small size, 

 small ears and tail, relatively short and moderately soft pelage, mod- 

 erately dark (grayish brown) general tone of coloration, and moderate 

 extent of dark markings; skull relatively short, rounded and weakly 

 ridged. 



Measurements. — See accompanying tables. Our material is not 

 sufficient to permit of presenting averages of measurements. The best 

 we can do now, in the interests of reducing space, is to give figures 

 for a few individual specimens, selected to be as closely comparable 

 on the basis of age and sex as is possible. Something as to the extent 

 of individual and racial variation is thus fairly indicated. 



DistribiUion.- — This race occupies the major portion of the state, 

 being the subspecies characteristic of the " Calif ornian fauna." (See 

 map, fig. A.) It occurs practically throughout the territorj^ west of 

 the Great Basin and the Mohave and Colorado deserts, and (at the 

 north) east of the extreme northern , humid coast district. Its range 

 thus extends from about the Oregon line, centrally in the Siskiyou 

 region, south to, and across, the Mexican line, in the San Diegan 

 subfaunal district. 



