48 CALIFORNIA MAMMALiS. 



The type, a two year old male, measured, length 2030 mm. 

 (80 inches) ; tail vertebrae 140 (5.50) ; hind foot 620 (24.40). 



Type locality, Buttonwillow Ranch, Kern County, Califor- 

 nia. 



The California Wapiti are now limited to^ a small band run- 

 ning in Kern County. This is the pitiful remnant of the thous- 

 ands that ranged over the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys 

 when the first gold hunters came to this region. The chief ot 

 the U. S. Biological Survey (Dr. Merriam) made an unsuccess- 

 ful attempt to place this band in the Sequoia National Park in 

 the autumn of 1904. It is to be hoped that some means will be 

 found to preserve the few individuals left. This seems to be a 

 small, valley-loving species, and is not known to have occurred 

 outside of California. So far as known, their habits are like 

 those of other Wapiti, except that they often frequent marshy lo- 

 calities. 



Genus Odocoileus Rapinesque. (Tooth — hollow.) 

 Antlers, on male only, less than twice as long as head, round, 

 branched, not palmated, brow tine some distance above base of 

 antler; posterior nares divided by a bony septum (vomer) ; up- 

 per canines absent; lachrymal pit large; ears medium or large; 

 interdigital "glands" present; metatarsal and tarsal glands pres- 

 ent on hind leg; hoof narrow and pointed; tail of medium length. 



Dental formula, I, o — 4; C, o — o; P, 3 — 3 ; M, 3 — 3X2=32. 

 Odocoileus hemionus Rafinesque. (Mule.; 



MULE DEER. 



Antlers usually dividing in two subequal forks and each fork 

 disposed to branch again; tail vertebrae shorter than the ear; a 

 strip of naked skin on underside of tail; metatarsal gland (on 

 outside of hind leg) five to six inches long; ears verv large. 

 Winter pelage; dark gray above, fading as the season advances; 

 breast blackish ; a large patch surrounding the tail, from the rump 



