1908.] 



MAMMALS. 



16T 



August 31 to September 5. Most of the specimens are changing from 

 summer to fall pelage, a few having the intense chestnut mantle and 

 nearly all showing traces of it. 



Eutamias borealis ( Allen). Liarcl Eiver Chipmunk. 



Chipmunks referred to this species occur rather commonly in the 

 Athabaska. Slave, and upj^er Mackenzie valleys. In the original 

 description of Tamias osiatkus borealis'' the name "was allowed to 

 cover the Old World T. askiticus as well as the form of the American 

 fur countries." In 1S90. when Allen restricted the name to the 

 American form, he designated as the type Xo. 6506. U. S. Xat. Mus., 

 from Fort Liard. remarking that Xo. 3991 (coll. C. Hart Merriam) 

 was practically identical with it.'^^ In now using the name E. horealis 

 for the chipmunk of the Athabaska and upper Mackenzie region this 

 remark plays an important part, since the type specimen is not now 

 available, and the discovery of the fact that Eutamkis caniceps in- 

 habits the Xahanni Mountains (which range extends close to Fort 

 Liard). within less than 150 miles of that post, indicates that the 

 Fort Liard animal may possibly be the same form. The specimen 

 mentioned by Allen, however. Xo. 399J: (coll. C. Hart Merriam). 

 taken at Deadwood, South Dakota, whether or not specifically identi- 

 cal with the Athabaska animal, resembles comparable specimens of it 

 much more closely than it does specimens of E. cankeps. At present, 

 therefore, it seems advisable to retain the name Ijorecdh for the 

 animal which for some years has borne it. 



In 1901 we noted several about 200 miles north of Edmonton, and 

 near Sturgeon River, on ^lay 2. One seen near the latter place was 

 feeding on willow buds, which with great dexterity it gathered from 

 the slender branchlets. While we Avere descending the Athabaska 

 we saw a few individuals at Brule and Cascade rapids on May 12 

 and 13. AVe saw none at Fort Chipewyan. but found them rather 

 common at our camps on the west bank of Slave River 10 and 25 

 miles below the mouth of the Peace, and collected several on June 9 

 and 13. The anim.al was rather common at Smith Landing, but 

 during several days* collecting on the opposite bank of the river we 

 did not see it. and in fact did not note the species anywhere on the 

 eastern bank of Slave River. We observed a number on Smith Port- 

 age, and collected several at Fort Smith. June 22 to 28. At Fort 

 Resolution we noted a few and took specimens there on July 5 and 8. 

 On our return trip we collected two at Fort Smith, August 5. and 

 foimd it common about the rocky hills at Smith Landing on the fol- 

 lowing day. collecting a number. We noted the species also at Big 



Monographs X. A. Kodentia, p. 794, 1877. 

 6 Bull. Am. Mus. Xat. Hist., Ill, p. 109, 1-8.90. 

 Ibid., p. 109, 1890. 



