Vol. 44, pp. 101-104 October 17, 1931 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



THE LEMMING OF NUNIVAK ISLAND, ALASKA. 

 BY HARRY S. SWARTH. 



During the summer and fall of 1927 Mr. C. G. Harrold was 

 occupied collecting birds and mammals in Alaska for the 

 CaHfornia Academy of Sciences, mostly upon Nunivak Island. 

 A series of Lemmus that he obtained upon that island appears 

 to represent an tmnamed form. This may be designated 



Lemmus harroldi,* new species. 



Type. — Male adult, skin and skull, no. 6294, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci.; 

 collected by C. G. Harrold (orig. no. 244); Nunivak Island, Alaska; July 14, 

 1927. Measurements of type: Total length, 156.0; tail vertebrse, 15.0; 

 hind foot, 21.0. 



Diagnosis. — A lemming of the group that is otherwise represented in 

 Alaska by the described forms alascensis (Point Barrow), yiikonensis 

 (Charlie Creek, Yukon River), minuscidus (Kakhtul River, Alaska Penin- 

 sula), and nigripes (St. George Island, Pribilof Group). Coloration dull 

 blackish brown, with sUght suggestion of the bright ruddy hue of alascensis 

 and yukonensis; similar to the color of nigripes. SkuU smaller than in 

 alascensis, but more massive than in yukonensis and nigripes. Audital 

 buUee larger than in nigripes, as is the case in the mainland forms; not quite 

 as large as in yukonensis. 



Remarks. — ^The several Alaskan forms of Lemmiis mU. probably turn out 

 to be only subspecificaUy separable, but until suflBcient material and data 

 are gathered to prove this supposition the Nunivak Island Lemming may 

 be accorded specific standing with the rest. It is in general terms similar 

 to the Pribilof Island nigripes in coloration, like the mainland animals in 

 skuU characters. The following specimens have been available for com- 

 parisons: 



Lemmus harroldi. California Academy of Sciences collection, 11 skins 

 with skulls, 1 dessicated carcass, entire. 



Lemmus nigripes. California Academy of Sciences collection, 8 skins 

 with skulls; 3, skins only; 2, skulls only. 



Lemmus alascensis. CaUfomia Academy of Sciences collection, 2 skins 

 only. Biological Survey collection, 5 skins with skulls. 



iNamed in memory of the collector of the type series, the late Cyril Guy Harrold, a 

 gifted natviralist and a remarkably able collector. 



26— Pboo. Biol. Soo. Wash., Vol. 44, 1931. (101) 



