254 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol.12 



The three skins agree in relative pale tone of coloration as com- 

 pared with appropriately selected material from the Pacific slope of 

 southern California (=Lynx eremicus calif ornicus) . The paleness 

 consists in more extended white-tipping to the hairs. The Mellen 

 specimen is slightly the darkest ; but there is as much or more varia- 

 tion in skins from a single locality elsewhere. 



The measurements, in-the-nesh. of the two taken in 1910 are: 



Measured on drv skin. 



There are in the Museum three skins of wildcats from Victorville 

 on the Mohave Desert, which are also somewhat pale in comparison 

 with Pacific Slope skins. Aside from this character of paleness, I am 

 unable to find any other diagnostic features in wildcats of the desert 

 region, even after carefully following Mearns's description (1S97, p. 

 457). Eremicus and calif ornicus are certainly very close, though 

 present material appears to me to warrant separate recognition (see 

 Stephens, 1896, pp. 210, 211). 



The weight of the male wildcat caught near Mellen was 18 pounds. 

 The stomach of this animal contained the fragments of at least two 

 wood-rats. These had not been chewed finely, but had been chopped 

 up into chunks about an inch long; the feet were still entire. 



Canis ochropus estor Merriam 

 Desert Coyote 



Coyotes were only fairly common along the Colorado Valley. They 

 were occasionally seen on the desert mesas by daylight, but were 

 rarely heard. It was evident from tracks on the mud bars that they 

 foraged down to the river's edge at night. 



The six specimens secured (nos. 10611-10616) represent the fol- 

 lowing localities, all on the California side : five miles south of Needles, 

 opposite The Needles, twenty miles north of Picacho, and Pilot Knob. 



The weights of three adult males were 16, 18, and 21 pounds ; of 

 two females. 18 and 20 pounds. 



