UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS 



ZOOLOGY 



Vol. 12, No. 9, pp. 31 1-316 November 21, 1914 



FOUR NEW POCKET GOPHERS FROM 

 CALIFORNIA 



BY 



JOSEPH GEINNELL 



(Contribution from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of California) 



The pocket gophers (genus Tkomomys) offer an interesting prob- 

 lem in distribution and speeiation. Reduced power of locomotion 

 appears to have accentuated the action of barriers. Particularly in 

 California, where topographical and climatic conditions are so varied. 

 has differentiation of species proceeded to an extreme degree. 



For the past seven years, particular attention has been paid by 

 the staff of the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology to obtaining 

 material in this group, with the result that we now have 1749 speci- 

 mens from localities within the state. But even this amount of 

 material is far from sufficient for exhaustive and accurate treatment. 

 There is, however, sufficient ground for placing on record at this time 

 characterizations of certain new species and subspecies. 



During a recent visit to this museum, Mr. Vernon Bailey, of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, went over our gophers for 

 the purpose of gathering distributional data contributory to a revision 

 of the North America gophers which he now has under way. The 

 writer was privileged to work over part of the material with Mr. 

 Bailey, and submit to him various questions. The validity of the 

 supposed new forms was discussed, and during these discussions sonic 

 of the writer's impressions were emended or corrected. The writer- 

 takes this opportunity to thank Mr. Bailey for his friendly and helpful 

 suggestions in these regards. 



