1924] Grinnell-Dixon: The Genus Lynx in California 349 



midway between the two forms on a character basis. In other words, 

 the northwestern Californian animals are nearer fasciatus than 

 col if amicus. 



Lynx ruffus bailejd Merriam 

 Desert Wildcat 



Lynx rufus var. maculatus, Baird (1857, p. 96), part. 



Lynx rufus, Cooper (1870, p. 74). 



Lynx maculatus, Bryant (1891a, p. 360). 



Lynx baileyi, Biyant (1891b, p. 113). 



Lynx rufus [ov ruffus] eremicus Mearns (1897, p. 457) [orig. descr.] ; and 

 of some other authors. 



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

 where. 



Felis rufa texensis, Elliot (1901, p. 298). 



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



Lynx eremicus eremicus, Grinnell (1913, p. 299); and of the same author 

 elsewhere. 



Diagnosis. — A race of wildcat characterized by average moderate 

 size, fairly long and soft pelage, pale (brownish gray) general tone of 

 coloration, and reduced extent of dark markings; skull moderately 

 elongated and with ridges moderately developed. 



Measureme7its. — See accompanying tables. 



Distrihution. — Occupies a range inclusive of the Colorado and 

 Mohave deserts, north through the Inyo region; thence occurs east 

 through southern Nevada and Arizona to an unknown distance 

 beyond ; perhaps, also, across the Mexican line south into Lower 

 California east of the Coast Ranges, and into Sonora. 



Specimens, skins-with-skulls or skulls only, are in the Museum of 

 Vertebrate Zoology from California as f oIIoavs : Inyo County : near 

 Big Pine, 1 ; east slope Mount Baxter (at 5500 feet), 1 ; Onion Valley, 

 1 ; Carroll Creek (at 5500 feet), 1 ; Cottonwood Lakes (at 11.000 feet), 

 1; near Jackass Spring (at 6200 feet) in Panamint Mountains, 1; 

 Death Valley (at — 178 feet), 2. San Bernardino County : Victorville. 

 3 ; near Needles, 1. Imperial County : Palo Verde, 1 ; near Imperial, 

 1. San Diego County : Vallecito, 1. Total, 15 specimens. 



Comments. — Lynx rufus eremicus Mearns (1897, p. 457) was 

 described from New River, in the Imperial Valley a little north of the 

 Mexican line. We have not seen the type, nor have we seen any exact 

 typotypes. But the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology has specimens 

 from several points elsewhere in the Colorado and Mohave deserts. 

 These are sufficiently different from californicus of the San Diegan 

 district to merit the recognition of eremicus. as a separate subspecies; 

 only we are unable to justify separate recognition of eremicus from 

 haileyi (described from northern Arizona). So in our judgment the 

 name eremicus falls as a synonym of the older name. Lynx haileyi 

 Merriam (1890, p. 79). 



