306 University of Calif Qrnia Publications in Zoology [Vol. 12 



evidence either as to the occurrence of otters in the Colorado River, 

 or as to the status of the form there represented. It is practically 

 certain that decided differences exist between the race occurring to the 

 west beyond the broad expanse of waterless desert and that of the 

 Colorado basin. Rhoads' description of sonora comes near to provid- 

 ing clear proof of this, although he had evidently not had the oppor- 

 tunity to make comparisons with the Californian animal. Unfortun- 

 ately, the present writer has no specimens of sonora for examination 



Returning again to the river otter of central and northern Cali- 

 fornia, there are in the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology 

 seven specimens from this area, as follows: one (no. 4975), skin only, 

 from John's Camp, McCloud River, Shasta County, secured by E. L. 

 Furlong; one. skull only (no. 12653), from Price Creek, tributary to 

 Eel River, Humboldt County, obtained by F. Stephens; two, skulls 

 only (nos. 19153, 1915-4). and two, skins with skulls (nos. 19098, 

 19152), from Cuddeback, on tributary of the Eel River, Humboldt 

 County, all taken by H. E. "Wilder; and one, skin with complete 

 skeleton (no. 20775), from Grizzly Island, Solano County, secured by 

 Miss A. M. Alexander. In studying this Californian material the 

 writer has had access to twenty-one other specimens from Alaska, two 

 from Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, one from Vancouver 

 Island. British Columbia, and two from Klamath County. Oregon, all 

 this material being also contained in this Museum ; and throe additional 

 skulls from Oregon, two from McKenzie River, Lane County, and 

 one from Bend, Crook County, kindly loaned the writer from the 

 Oregon State Fish and Game Office by Mr. Stanley G. Jewett. 



It is believed that the above specified material, in conjunction with 

 the published measurements, plates, and descriptions by Rhoads (1898, 

 pp. 423-439, pis. 24, 25) suffices for determining the systematic 

 status of the California river otter. After an appropriate examina- 

 tion of the facts in the case I am led to conclude that we have here 

 an additional distinct subspecies, which requires naming. 



Lutra canadensis brevipilosus , subsp. now 

 California River Otter 

 Type. — Female adult, skin and complete skeleton, no. 20775, Mus. 

 Vert. Zool. ; Grizzly Island, Solano County, California ; January 26, 

 1914; secured from a local trapper by Miss Annie M. Alexander, and 

 presented by her to the Museum. 



