Chapter XVII: Introduction (16)

Several specimens of the smaller, inland variant (see under
"_Remarks_") are near (_l_) Antique Brown rather than near (14
_l_) Sudan Brown above and hence do not differ in this respect
from _nigriauris_.

_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 3 adults from Mendocino
County): See measurements and plates 19-23, 30. As described in
_Mustela frenata nigriauris_ except that: Weight, 6.0 (5.4-6.3)
grams; basilar length, 47.6 (46.5-48.2); length of tympanic bulla
more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row.

Female (based on no. 19723, M.V.Z., from Point Arena): See
measurements and plates 34-36, 40. As described in _M. f.
nigriauris_ except that: Weight, 3.0 grams; basilar length, 42.3.

The skull of the female is 50 per cent lighter than that of the
average male.

Compared with the skull of the male of _nevadensis_ that of _munda_ averages larger in every part measured and specimens from Point Arena are nearly as heavy again, have relatively more expanded zygomata and mastoid processes but are relatively narrower anteriorly as shown by the breadth of the rostrum, interorbital breadth and postorbital breadth. Also the braincase is less inflated anteriorly, the tympanic bullae are lower and the skull is more angular. Females show the same differences although in different degree. Compared with the skull of the male of _M. f. nigriauris_, that of _munda_ from Point Arena averages larger in every part measured except for the length of the upper tooth-rows. Relative to the basilar length, the skull of _munda_ averages broader across the mastoids and across the zygomata, is deeper through the braincase at the anterior end of the basioccipital, and has a greater development of the lambdoidal crest.

_Remarks._--The skin and part skull, no. 536/1849, U. S. Nat. Mus., taken by Lieutenant W. P. Trowbridge at San Pablo Bay, is the first specimen known to have been saved of this subspecies. Since 1899 when O. Bangs diagnosed _munda_ as of small size, the weasel of the humid costal belt north of San Francisco Bay has been regarded as smaller than bridled weasels from farther south in the State. Actually, however, the weasel of the humid costal belt shares with _M. f. pulchra_ the distinction of being one of the two largest weasels in California.

_M. f. munda_ may be a composite subspecies, for the variation in facial markings, in coloration otherwise, in external measurements and in size and shape of skull is great. At one time in the course of the present study, manuscript accounts of two subspecies were prepared for the animals now all called _munda_ and there is still much justification for recognizing two subspecies, one, along the coast proper, the larger, darker-colored animal with reduced white facial markings and large, wide, heavily ridged skull from Point Arena, and 6 miles south of Laytonville, Mendocino County, along with the specimens from 5 and 6 miles west of Inverness, Marin County, and the other, an inland race, which is a smaller, lighter-colored animal with more extensive white facial markings and a smaller, narrower, skull, known by specimens from Point Reyes [station?], Nicasio, 15 mi. north of San Rafael, Freestone, Vallejo, and Mount Sanhedrin. The differences between these two lots of specimens are of great degree. However, a female from Fort Bragg proves to be no larger than three females labeled as from Point Reyes. Also, a male from 2 miles south and one mile east of Stewarts Point on the coast has a skull no larger than the animal from Vallejo, whereas the skin alone of an adult female from 3 miles south of Stewarts Point is large and agrees with the specimens from Point Arena. Consequently, no logical ranges can be worked out for the two variants with the material now available.

Finally, the type specimen of _munda_ is a "runt," smaller than any other male seen. This specimen, purchased by E. A. and O. Bangs from C. A. Allen, who collected and sold specimens widely, was labeled as from Point Reyes. So far as this place-name is concerned, it might refer to: (1) The point of land by that name which projects out into the Pacific Ocean, (2) an abandoned ranch house bearing that name at the head of Drakes Bay, 6 miles north and 3-3/4 miles east of the actual point, or (3) the railway station by the same name at the head of Tomales Bay, 12 miles east and 4-3/4 miles north of the actual point. Allen, himself, lived near San Geronimo (then Nicasio) about nine miles southeast of the Point Reyes railway station. All these places are in Marin County, but differ markedly as regards climate and flora. The first two are treeless, windswept and have much fog, whereas Point Reyes Station is more often sunny, and is situated in a shallow valley, inland, where the open grass-covered west-facing slopes meet the east-facing wooded ones. From which one of these three places the type specimen came, I do not know. The same may be said of the three female specimens labeled Point Reyes; two of these are in the United States National Museum and one in the Field Museum.

The specimens in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy from 5 and 6 miles west of Inverness and those from near the same place in the collection of John Cushing come from within a couple of miles or less of the Point Reyes represented by the abandoned ranch house. These specimens, as remarked above, agree with those from Point Arena in large size, reduced facial markings and wide skull. These are points of difference from the smaller variant suspected of being a recognizable subspecies. It is the smaller variant which the type specimen approaches in size, and with which it agrees in relatively well-developed white facial markings. This suggests that the type specimen came from Point Reyes Station rather than from either of the two other places bearing the name "Point Reyes," from one of which, as just stated, the variant of large size is known. The three females labeled "Point Reyes" also have well-developed white facial markings and are of lesser size than the female of similar age from Point Arena, Mendocino County. The presumption is that these three females also came from Point Reyes Station.

The smaller, inland variant seems to agree in size, cranial characters, and coloration with _M. f. nigriauris_ to the southward of San Francisco Bay, but lacks the black on the head which characterizes _nigriauris_. The larger variant, on which the description here used for _munda_ is based, comprises animals which differ from _nigriauris_ in larger size, darker color, reduced white facial markings, and larger, relatively wider skull. Both of the variants mentioned above are sharply distinct from _nigriauris_ on the basis of coloration of the inside of the ear which is blackish in nigriauris like the dark facial markings, and in _munda_ is colored like the back. _M. f. munda_ lacks the dark facial markings; an occasional specimen has at most, a trace of the markings but this does not extend back so far as the ears. This difference, blackish versus non-blackish face, persists eastward of San Francisco Bay to at least as far as the Carquinez Straits, where a specimen of _munda_ is available from 4 miles north of Vallejo and one of _nigriauris_ from Glen Frazer Station on the south shore opposite Vallejo.

Intergradation with _M. f. nevadensis_ and possibly with _M. f. saturata_ is indicated by specimens from South Yolla Bolly Mountain, Trinity County. In them the external measurements and measurements of the skull are intermediate. Also the white frontal spot is much reduced in size. The white bars in front of the ears are absent in three specimens, and weakly developed in the other two. The relative proportions of the skulls as a whole are nearer those of _nevadensis_ or _saturata_ than _munda_. The skull of one of the three adult males and the skull of the adult female suggests _M. f. oregonensis_ in certain features; for example, the dorsal outline of the skull in longitudinal axis is slightly convex as it is in _oregonensis_.

None of the specimens shows malformation of the frontal sinuses such as results from infestation by parasites.

_Specimens examined._--Total number, 37, arranged by counties from
north to south. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the
Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy.

=California.= _Trinity County_: S. Yolla Bolly Mt., 3[91]; 1/2 mi.
S S. Yolla Bolly Mt., 1. _Tehama County_: 2 mi. S S. Yolla Bolly
Mt., 1. _Mendocino County_: 6 mi. N Laytonville, 1; Mt. Sanhedrin,
1[87]; Ft. Bragg, 1; Gualala, 1; Point Arena, 5. _Sonoma County_:
2 mi. S and 1 mi. E Stewarts Point, 1; 3 mi. S Stewarts Point P.
O., 1; Freestone, 1. _Napa County_: 6 mi. SSW, Napa, 1; 4 mi. N
Vallejo, 1. County in question: San Pablo Bay, 1[91]. _Marin
County_: 6 mi. W Inverness, 2; 5 mi. W Inverness, 2(1[28]); Point
Reyes, 4 (2[91] 1[60], 1[75]); Nicasio, 2 (1[60], 1[75]); Kehoes
Ranch, Pierce Point, 1[28]; Drakes Bay, 1[28]; Tomales Point,
about 1/2 mi. SW White Gulch, 1; Point Reyes School, 3-3/4 mi. W
Inverness, 1; 15 mi. (by road) N San Rafael, 1[52]; Hurley Ranch,
2 mi. W Tomales, 1. No locality more definite than California,
1[7].

=Mustela frenata xanthogenys= Gray

Long-tailed Weasel

Plates 21, 22, 23, 28, 30, 34, 35 and 36

_Mustela xanthogenys_ Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 11:118, 1843.

_Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing
animals, p. 142, 1877 (part).

_Putorius xanthogenys_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:25, June 30,
1896; Bangs, Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:56, June 9, 1899.

_Mustela xanthogenys xanthogenys_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
79:99, December 31, 1912.

_Mustela frenata xanthogenys_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington
Publ. 473:107, November 20, 1936.

_Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; skull no. 197a-43.6.4.55,
skin no. 234a-42.11.21.4, British Museum (Nat. Hist.); from the
bank of Sacramento River below mouth of Feather River, or from
north shore of San Francisco Bay, California; taken in "1837 or
1838"; presented by Captain Edward Belcher.

The skull (plate 28) lacks the occiput, the right mandible
posterior to m1, and the right pterygoid; the right zygomatic arch
is fractured. The teeth are not greatly worn. The skin was
originally mounted for exhibition (R. I. Pocock in Litt.) but in
1937 when I saw the skin, it was prepared as a conventional study
skin. The skin is in fairly good condition; some hair is missing
on the hind quarters and the skin of the tail is torn at one
place.

_Range._--Altitudinally, less than 600 feet (Fair Oaks); Lower
Sonoran and Upper Sonoran life-zones of all but southern end of
the San Joaquin Valley, and probably Sacramento Valley,
California. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and 314.

_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f.
nevadensis_ by presence of light facial markings and Buckthorn
Brown rather than near (14_n_ to _l_) Brussels Brown color of
upper parts; from _M. f. munda_ by Buckthorn Brown rather than
near (_l_) Sudan Brown, or near (_l_) Antique Brown color of upper
parts and lesser size, in adult males basilar length less than 45
and hind foot less than 47; from _M. f. nigriauris_ by lighter
color in same way as from _munda_ and also by having inside of
ears same color as back rather than much darker than back; from
_M. f. pulchra_ in hind foot of males less than 46 and narrower
skull, in males having breadth of rostrum less than 13.9 and
mastoid breadth less than 26.0, see comparison of skulls in the
account of _pulchra_.

_Description._--_Size._--Male: Three adults, from Fresno, Selma
and Los Banos, measure, respectively as follows: Total length,
425, 417, 450; length of tail, 152, 154, 180; length of hind
foot,--, 43, 44. Tail averages 61 per cent as long as head and
body. Length of hind foot less than basal length.

Female: Adults from Selma, Los Banos, and 4 mi. SW Turlock,
measure respectively as follows: Total length, 357, 365, 395;
length of tail, 133, 132, 145; length of hind foot, 40, 38, 41.
Tail averages 58 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind
foot less than basal length.

The average differences in external measurements between the two
sexes, as represented by these six specimens, are: Total length,
65; length of tail, 25; length of hind foot, 3.5. One adult male
weighs 274 grams and 2 adult females 182 and 214 grams.

_Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata nigriauris_.

_Color._--Spot between eyes, band confluent with color of
underparts on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior
to each ear, and posterior half to third of each upper lip white,
or whitish tinged with some shade of yellowish; chin and lower lip
white; dark spot posterior to each angle of mouth of varying size
but uniformly present; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts
Buckthorn Brown of Ridgway or a trifle browner than tone 4 of
Brown Pink of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 297. Upper parts of
uniform color except for slight darkening of head-markings
anterior to ears. Underparts Ochraceous-Buff to Warm Buff. Color
of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over
toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, on medial sides of
hind limbs over antiplantar faces of toes and sometimes tarsal
region. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in 9
specimens from Fresno, Selma and Los Banos, 54 (32-74) per cent of
greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in three
males (one subadult and 3 adults) averages 55 (50-60) mm. long.
Thus longer than hind foot and averaging 34 per cent of length of
tail-vertebrae.

_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 2 adults from Fresno and one
from Selma): See measurements and plates 21-23, 30. As described
in _M. f. nigriauris_ except that: Weight 3.8 grams; basilar
length, 43.7 (43.4-43.9); least width of palate more or less than
lateral length of P4; length of tympanic bulla more than length of
lower molar and premolar tooth-rows.

Female (no. 2626 W. E. Snyder, from Selma): See measurements and
plates 34-36. As described in _M. f. nigriauris_ except that:
Weight, 2.5 grams; basilar length, 39.4.

The skull of the female is 34 per cent lighter than the average
for the three males.

Compared with skulls of _nevadensis_ from the Sierra Nevada, those of the two adult males from Fresno differ as follows: M1 wider (transversely); tympanic bullae narrower; preorbital part of skull smaller. Comparison with _pulchra_ is made in the account of that subspecies. Compared with skulls of adult males of _nigriauris_, from Santa Clara County, the two skulls from Fresno are generally smaller and in basilar length, length of tooth-rows and measurements of the teeth fall below the minimum for _nigriauris_. Relative proportions of the skulls are approximately the same. Comparison with _munda_ reveals essentially the same differences as does comparison with _nigriauris_ except that the difference in size is greater.

_Remarks._--The name _Mustela xanthogenys_ Gray was long applied to all the weasels of the interior valleys of California and of the coast of that state south of San Francisco Bay. Gray, when he named the species and when referring to it in later accounts, never defined the locality whence the specimen came more definitely than "California." In 1896, Merriam (1896:25) gave the type locality as "Southern California, probably vicinity of San Diego" and later writers have not contradicted him. The type specimen was obtained in the course of the voyage of the British ship Sulphur, under command of Sir Edward Belcher. Examination of Belcher's (1843, vol. 1, p. 129) narrative of the voyage indicates the following places in California at which the specimen of weasel, described by Gray, could have been obtained: Fort Ross, Bodega, vicinity of San Francisco Bay and up Sacramento River to the mouth of the Feather River, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Buenaventura, San Pedro, San Juan, and San Diego.

Reginald I. Pocock has kindly compared the type specimen in the British Museum with several specimens sent for that purpose. In the first place, comparison of skulls shows that the type specimen is a member of one of the races north of San Diego. In the second place, comparison of skins shows that the inside of the ears are not blackish but similar in color to the back. In fact, Pocock writes under date of February 12, 1929, regarding the type specimen, that "It is practically uniformly colored from the snout to the base of the tail, there being scarcely a trace of the darkening of the head, or muzzle, observable in your specimens [those sent for comparison]." This character of coloration of the ear excludes all the weasels of the Coast region of California from San Francisco Bay southward, namely, _M. f. latirostra_ and _M. f. nigriauris_. My own examination of this type specimen at a date later than that on which Pocock compared it satisfies me as to the accuracy of his statement above.

Accordingly, the name _xanthogenys_ would seem to apply to one of the two subspecies here called _munda_ and _xanthogenys_. Perusal of Belcher's narrative of the voyage (_loc. cit._) shows that little, if any, opportunity was afforded to obtain vertebrate specimens at Fort Ross or Bodega, both localities within the range of the subspecies here called _munda_. Furthermore, the type specimen is smaller than individuals of _munda_ from 5 to 6 miles west of Inverness and from Point Arena with which the animals from Fort Ross and Bodega would be expected to agree in size. Weasels from along the north shore of San Francisco Bay are smaller than those on the coast north of the bay. Possibly the type specimen of _xanthogenys_ came from the north side of San Francisco Bay but probably it came from the bank of the Sacramento River and almost certainly not farther up stream from San Francisco Bay than the junction of the Sacramento and Feather rivers. The statement of Belcher (1843, vol. 1, p. 129), regarding the trip up the Sacramento River as far as Point Victoria, lat. 38°46´47" north, and return to San Francisco Bay, that "Cuyote or jackal--fox, racoon, land otter, weasel, and squirrel were obtained" lends strong probability to the idea that this type specimen was taken along the Sacramento River, possibly in the vicinity of the existing city of Sacramento. Unfortunately no specimens are available from the Sacramento Valley. If some were available, a comparison of them and specimens of _munda_ from along the north side of San Francisco Bay and Carquinez Straits with the type specimen of _xanthogenys_ should determine the correct application of the name. For the present it seems best to retain the name _munda_ and apply the name _xanthogenys_ to the weasels inhabiting the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley and presumably the southern part of the Sacramento Valley.

Efforts to obtain specimens of weasels from the Sacramento Valley have been in vain. A juvenal specimen taken five miles south of Fair Oaks, Sacramento County, by Mr. John Fitzgerald, Jr., in December, 1927, was examined at his home and found to agree in coloration with specimens from farther south. Geographically, this specimen probably is more nearly a topotype than any other examined.

Most of the specimens examined are immature and adequate adult cranial material has not been seen. Two adults, one of each sex, from Los Banos have skulls of large size which agree with those of _nigriauris_. The same is true of one adult and one young female from 4 miles southwest of Turlock, which, unlike the animals from Los Banos, show a darkening of the head extending in reduced degree even to the inside of the ears, as in _nigriauris_. The slightly darker than average (for _xanthogenys_) color on the back may indicate intergradation with _nevadensis_. Intergradation with _M. f. nevadensis_ is shown by specimens, from the southern part of the Sierra Nevada, mentioned in the account of _nevadensis_.

None of the skulls shows malformation of the frontal sinuses such as result from infestation by parasites.

_Specimens examined._--Total number 30, arranged by counties from
north to south.

=California.= _Sacramento County_: Bank of Sacramento River, 1[7];
5 mi. S Fair Oaks, 1[29]. _San Joaquin County_: 4 mi. W Stockton,
1[74]. _Merced County_: Tegner School, 4 mi. SW Turlock, 2; Los
Banos, 4 (2[74], 1[91] 1[87]). _Fresno County_: Mendota, 1[74];
Biola, 1[30]; Clovis, 1[55]; Fresno, 5 (1[74], 1[91], 2[55],
1[1]); 5 mi. W Fresno, 1[14]; Selma, 3 (2[50], 1[104]); 4 mi. NW
Sanger, 1[55]; 5 mi. S Selma, 1[62]. _Tulare County_: Monson,
1[74]; 1-1/2 mi. N Goshen, 1[74]; Milo, 1[91]; 2 mi. N Tipton,
1[74]; Poplar, 2[53]. No locality more definite than California,
1[4].

=Mustela frenata nigriauris= Hall

Long-tailed Weasel

Plates 22, 23, 24, 34, 35, 36 and 41

_Mustela frenata nigriauris_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington
Publ. 473:95, November 20, 1936.

_Putorius xanthogenys_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., 1858, p. 176 (part).

_Mustela xanthogenys_ Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 14(ser.
4):375, 1874 (part?).

_Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing
animals, p. 142, 1877 (part).

_Putorius xanthogenys xanthogenys_, Grinnel, Proc. California Acad.
Sciences, fourth series, 3:292, August 28, 1913.

_Mustela xanthogenys xanthogenys_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
79:99, December 31, 1912; Grinnell, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl.,
40:102, September 26, 1933.

_Type._--Male, adult, skeleton and skin; no. 32820, Mus. Vert.
Zoöl.; Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, California; received at
Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy, May 4, 1922, through A. L.
Hagedoorn, after having been in captivity a few days where death
occurred owing to injuries received in trap; original no. 1590.

The skull has each of the zygomatic arches and the anterior end of
the nasals broken through. The only part missing is the central
two millimeters of the left zygomatic arch. The teeth all are
present and entire. The skeleton appears to be complete except for
the bones of the feet, which are preserved within the skin. The
skin is well made and in good condition.

_Range._--Altitudinally, sea level to more than 4000 feet; Sonoran
and Transition life-zones of Coast Range and coast of California
from San Francisco Bay south to Point Conception, Santa Barbara
County, California. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and 314.

_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. munda_,
_xanthogenys_, and _pulchra_ by having inside of ears darker than
back rather than same color as back, and from _xanthogenys_ and
_pulchra_ in near (_l_) Antique Brown color of upper parts rather
than Buckthorn Brown or near (16 _j_) Buckthorn Brown to near
(_h_) Yellow Ocher respectively; from _M. f. latirostra_ by
postorbital breadth, of adult males and females, less, rather than
more, than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of
one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite.

_Description._--_Size._--Male: Five adults from Palo Alto, Santa
Clara County, yield average and extreme measurements as follows:
Total length, 447 (412-465); length of tail, 167 (147-175); length
of hind foot, 46 (45-47). Corresponding measurements of four
adults from San Francisco are: 412 (394-435); 153 (145-160); 43.5
(41-46). Corresponding measurements of five adults and subadults
from Berkeley, Alameda County, are: 419 (390-448); 148 (135-160);
44 (42-47). Tail averages 59 per cent as long as head and body in
series from Palo Alto and in one from San Francisco. The average
of 55 for the Berkeley series probably reflects a lesser average
age. Length of hind foot less than basal length. The type specimen
measures, 415, 150, 43. It is smaller than the mean.

Female: A subadult from Palo Alto measures: Total length, 368;
length of tail, 126; length of hind foot, 39. An adult and two
subadults from Berkeley measure, respectively, as follows: Total
length, 347, 365, 340; length of tail, 134, 123, 125; length of
hind foot, 37, 38.4, 36.5. In these four females the tail averages
55 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot less
than basal length.

The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes,
as represented by specimens from Berkeley, Alameda County, are:
Total length, 68; length of tail, 21; length of hind foot, 7.
Eight adult males weigh 249 (217-335) grams and one adult female
123 grams.

_Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae brownish like dark color of
head and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae mostly color of
underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness
of foot-soles slightly more than shown in figure 20.

_Color._--Spot between eyes, band, confluent with color of
underparts, on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior
to ear, and posterior third of each upper lip tinged with color of
underparts or, less often, pure white; chin and lower lips white;
remainder of sides and top of head posteriorly to, or a little
behind, a line connecting posterior margins of ears, blackish;
inside of pinna of ear, and sometimes outside of pinna, blackish;
dark spot posterior to each angle of mouth present on each side in
three-fourths of specimens; tip of tail black; remainder of upper
parts near (_l_) Antique Brown, and with more yellow than tone 3
of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301. Often with more
blackish and red in winter. Underparts near (_a_ to _c_)
Ochraceous-Buff or Ochraceous-Salmon. Ochraceous-Salmon in some
juveniles. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides
of forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists,
and on medial sides of hind limbs over antiplantar faces of toes.
Least width of color of underparts averaging, in 17 adult males
(Berkeley, 5; San Francisco, 5; Palo Alto, 7), 55 (40-73) per cent
of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in
same series of males averaging 51 (35-60) mm., thus averaging
longer than hind foot and 33 per cent of length of tail (Palo Alto
and San Francisco, 31 per cent; Berkeley, 35 per cent). In 8 adult
females, least color of underparts amounts to 55 (47-62) per cent
of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail
averages 41.5 (28-50) mm., thus averaging longer than hind foot
and 32 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.

_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on six adults from Stanford Univ.
and vicinity): See measurements and plates 22-24; weight (four
adults), 5.4 (5.0-5.9) grams; basilar length, 47 (46.1-48.1);
zygomatic breadth more than distance between condylar foramen and
M1, or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin
of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth more than postpalatal length;
postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars (less than
distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2) and less than
width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen
lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth not
greater than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin
of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of tympanic
bulla; least width of palate less than lateral length of P4;
anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen
ovale as width of 3 or 4 (including I3) upper incisors; height of
tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to
foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more or less than (about
equal to) length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer
or shorter (usually shorter) than rostrum; anterior margin of
masseteric fossa below anterior half of m2.

Female (based on three adults, Hayward, Palo Alto, and Morro): See
measurements and plates 34-36; weight (no. 43574, from Morro) 2.7
grams; basilar length, 41.2 (40.2-42.2); zygomatic breadth more or
less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and more or
less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior
margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth less than length of
upper premolars and less than width of basioccipital measured from
medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite;
least width of palate less than lateral length of P4; tympanic
bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 (including
I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more than distance
from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic
bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and
longer or shorter than rostrum.

The skull of the female averages 50 per cent lighter than that of
the average male.

Comparisons of the skull of the male with those of _M. f.
latirostra_, _pulchra_, _xanthogenys_, and _munda_ are made in the
accounts of those subspecies.

_Remarks._--Like _M. f. latirostra_, _nigriauris_ long bore the name _xanthogenys_. The fairly adequate lot of specimens is divided between the collections of several institutions. The most satisfactory material in any one collection is in the Stanford University Natural History Museum where local specimens have been accumulated over a period of many years.

No actual intergrade between _nigriauris_ and _xanthogenys_ has been seen, although the specimens from Los Banos, referred to _xanthogenys_, have large skulls as in _nigriauris_. Intergradation with _latirostra_ is shown by specimens, referred to _latirostra_, from the Los Angeles area. Also the one adult male from 5 miles southeast of Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo County, is of small size and in this respect approaches _latirostra_. The range of _nigriauris_ is separated from that of _munda_ by San Francisco Bay, Carquinez Straits, and I suppose by the lower part of the San Joaquin River. On the basis of color of the inside of the pinna of the ear, the two subspecies are uniformly distinct. Intergradation is assumed to occur through the subspecies _xanthogenys_.

None of the 26 adult and subadult specimens examined for evidences of infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites shows malformation of the sinuses.

_Specimens examined._--Total number, 103, arranged by counties
from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in
the Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy.

=California.= _Contra Costa County_: Glen Frazer Station, 1; 2 mi.
W Pinole, 1[13]; 1 mi. E Pinole, 1; Richmond, 1[13]; Lafayette, 1;
7 mi. E Clayton, 1; Moraga Valley, 1; Pinehurst, Redwood Canyon,
1; Concord, 1. _Alameda County_: Berkeley, 11; Oakland, 1;
Piedmont, 1; Haywards, 2; near Haywards, 2; 10 mi. E Haywards,
1[91]; Redwood Canyon, 1; Calaveras Dam, 1. _San Francisco
County_: San Francisco, 11 (5[8], 2[91], 1[60], 1[7]); Ocean View,
1[68]; Visitation Valley, 1. _San Mateo County_: Moss Beach, 1;
Half Moon Bay, 1; Redwood City, 1[87]; Menlo Park, 9 (5[87],
2[68]); no locality more definite than county, 1[8]. _Santa Clara
County_: 1/4 mi. N Milpitas, 1; 1/4 mi. S Milpitas, 1; Stanford
University, 6 (4[68], 2[91]); Palo Alto, 11 (6[41], 2[60], 1[75],
1[87]). _Santa Cruz County_: 3 mi. E Santa Cruz, 1; 2-1/2 mi. E
Santa Cruz, 1; Santa Cruz, 6 (2[91], 1[68], 1[4]). _Monterey
County_: 1 mi. E mouth Salinas River, 10 ft., 1[37]; Pacific
Grove, 1[8]; Monterey, 2 (1[7]); Carmel, 1[8]; Carmel Valley,
1[68]; Point Lobos, 1; Gonzales, 1. _San Luis Obispo County_: 5
mi. SE Santa Margarita, 1; Morro, 1[91]; 3-1/2 mi. S Oceano, 6.
_Santa Barbara County_: Santa Maria, 1[87]; 5 mi. N Las Cruces, 1;
7 mi. W Gaviota, 1; Gaviota, 1.

=Mustela frenata latirostra= Hall

Long-tailed Weasel

Plates 1, 22, 23, 24, 34, 35 and 36

_Mustela frenata latirostra_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington
Publ. 473:96, November 20, 1936.

_Putorius xanthogenys_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 176, 1858 (part);
Stephens, California mammals, p. 246, 1906; Merriam, N. Amer.
Fauna, 11:25, June 30, 1896 (part).

_Putorius (Gale) brasilianus frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing animals,
p. 142 (part).

_Mustela xanthogenys xanthogenys_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
79:99, December 31, 1912; Grinnell, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl.,
40:102, September 26, 1933.

_Mustela arizonensis_, Grinnell and Swarth, Univ. California Publ.
Zoöl. 10, 376, October 31, 1913.

_Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 3257, Mus. Vert. Zoöl.;
San Diego, San Diego County, California; May 20, 1907; obtained by
Frank X. Holzner.

Right M1 is missing and the part of the jaw bearing this tooth is
broken away. With this exception the skull is complete and
unbroken and the teeth are all present and entire. The skin is
fairly well made and in good condition except that it is slightly
soiled.

_Range._--Altitudinally sea level to 8000 feet (Tahquitz Valley,
San Jacinto Mountains); Sonoran and Transition life-zones of coast
and mountains west of Mohave and Imperial deserts of southern
California from Point Conception and Cuyama Valley southward at
least to Mexican boundary. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and
314.

_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f.
nigriauris_ by having postorbital breadth of adult males and
females, more, rather than less, than width of basioccipital
measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to
its opposite; from _M. f. pulchra_ by having tympanic bulla longer
than rostrum (orbitonasal length) and by near (_l_) Antique Brown
rather than near (16 _j_) Buckthorn Brown to near (_h_) Yellow
Ocher color of upper parts.

_Description._--_Size._--Male: Six adults and subadults from San
Diego yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total
length, 439 (428-449); length of tail, 153 (142-160); length of
hind foot, 45 (40-47). Corresponding measurements for a series of
eight adult males from the vicinity of Los Angeles are: 416
(394-428); 158 (151-166); 44 (40-47). In the series from San Diego
the tail averages 54 per cent as long as head and body. In the
series from Los Angeles the average is 61 per cent. Length of hind
foot in each series, less than basal length. The type specimen
measures, 435, 142, 42.

Female: No. 5070, adult, from San Diego, measures 367, 141, 38.
Nos. 22 and 6748 from Santa Ysabel, measure: 359, 380; 130, 140;
39, 35. No. 7194 from Jamacha measures, 358, 125, 35. Three adult
females from Los Angeles yield the following: Total length, 373,
345, 368; length of tail, 150, 122, 134; length of hind foot,--,
41, 41. In no. 5070 the tail is 62 per cent as long as the head
and body and in the three from Los Angeles it averages 60 (55-67)
per cent. Length of hind foot, in each case, less than basal
length.

The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes
as shown by the six males from San Diego and the four females
from San Diego County are: Total length, 73; length of tail, 19;
length of hind foot, 8. Corresponding differences shown by the
eight males and three females from Los Angeles are: 54, 23, 3.

_Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae brownish, like dark color
of head and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae mostly color of
underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness
of foot-soles slightly more than shown in figure 20.

_Color._--Spot between eyes, band confluent with color of
underparts on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior
to ear, and posterior third of each upper lip tinged with color of
underparts or, less often, white; chin and lower lips white;
remainder of sides and top of head posteriorly to near line
connecting posterior margins of ears, blackish; inside of pinna of
ear, and sometimes outside of pinna, blackish; dark spot posterior
to each angle of mouth present on each side in three-fourths of
specimens; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts near (_l_)
Antique Brown, and with more yellow than tone 3 of Raw Umber of
Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301. Underparts Ochraceous-Buff to
Warm Buff and in some specimens from Los Angeles and Ventura
counties Ochraceous-Orange, especially in young and juveniles.
Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of
forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists and on
medial sides of hind limbs over antiplantar faces of toes. Least
width of color of underparts averaging, in 15 adult and subadult
males from San Diego County, 54 (35-75) per cent of greatest width
of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same series of males
averaging 54.5 (46-60) mm. long. Thus averaging longer than hind
foot and 35 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.

_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 6 adults from San Diego
County). See measurements and plates 22-24. As described in _M. f.
nigriauris_ except that: Weight (4 specimens), 3.9 (3.8-4.0)
grams; basilar length 43.8 (41.9-47.0); postorbital breadth more
than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one
foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth
not less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin
of tympanic bulla; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far
posterior to foramen ovale as width of 2 to 2-1/2 (including I3)
upper incisors; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower
molar and premolar tooth-row and longer than rostrum; anterior
margin of masseteric fossa below m2.

Female (based on 4 adults from San Diego County): See
measurements. As described in _M. f. nigriauris_ except that:
Weight, 2.6 (2.2-2.8) grams; basilar length, 40.0 and 40.1;
postorbital breadth more than width of basioccipital measured from
medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite;
length of tympanic bulla more than length of rostrum.

The skull of the female averages 34 per cent lighter than that of
the average male.

The skull of the male of _latirostra_, compared with that of _nigriauris_, is by weight, more than one-fourth lighter, has a lesser basilar length, a lesser mastoid breadth, a lesser zygomatic breadth and a narrower M1. In these features no overlap has been observed between adults from the general vicinities of the type localities of the two forms. In adult males of _latirostra_ the postorbital breadth, with one exception, is more than the combined length of P4 and P3 whereas the reverse is true in adult males of _nigriauris_. Both males and females of _latirostra_ have a generally smaller skull with relatively broader interorbital and postorbital parts and the tympanic bullae are relatively larger, rounder and more inflated.

Compared with the skull of the male of _pulchra_ that of _latirostra_ is, by weight, more than one-fourth lighter, has a lesser basilar and orbitonasal length, lesser zygomatic and mastoid breadth and a more nearly flat braincase. In these features no overlap has been observed between adults from the general vicinities of the type localities of the two subspecies. Also, in _latirostra_ the tympanic bulla is longer than the rostrum whereas the opposite is true in _pulchra_. The skull of _latirostra_ is generally smaller and relatively, on the average, has the preorbital part of the skull deeper and broader with longer tooth-rows, although with shorter rostrum, while the zygomatic and mastoid breadths are less. Study of skulls of subadult females of _pulchra_ indicate that females of _latirostra_ and _pulchra_ differ in the same fashion as do males.

_Remarks._--This subspecies long has gone by the name _M. xanthogenys_ and the type locality was generally supposed to be in the vicinity of San Diego. This supposition seems to have originated with Merriam's (1896:25) statement that the type locality was "Southern California, probably vicinity of San Diego." Nevertheless, as set forth in the account of _M. f. xanthogenys_ the type specimen concerned now is thought to have come from much farther north.

Although 76 Recent specimens are available from southern California, additional adults are needed to understand the geographic variation there. _M. f. latirostra_ may be a composite--made up of more than one geographic race. Specimens from San Diego County differ so much in relative length of the tail that at one stage in the present study it was thought that a difference in this respect existed between the coastal animals and those from farther inland. Material received later did not wholly substantiate this view and because of the uniformly small size of all of the skulls from that county, the animals were later regarded as of the same subspecies. Eventually, even this supposed common feature proved to be inconstant for an adult male from Jamacha, no. 7098, of the San Diego Society of Natural History, and another adult male from San Marcos, no. 8869, collection of Ralph Ellis, were later examined and found to have skulls as large as those of average-sized, adult males of _nigriauris_.

Despite these puzzling local variations, it is established that the long-tailed weasels of southern California are smaller than those from farther north. Also, the southern animal averages smaller in weight and size of skull, and the skull is differently proportioned. Specimens in series from Los Angeles County definitely are intermediate in size and shape of skull between _latirostra_ from San Diego County and _nigriauris_ from, say, Santa Clara County, but definitely more closely resemble _latirostra_ from San Diego County than they do _nigriauris_. A skull of a young animal, not here identified to subspecies, from Potholes, in the Colorado River Valley, 10 miles northeast of Bard, Imperial County, California, may have closest relationship to _M. f. latirostra_. Additional comment on this specimen is offered in the account of _M. f. neomexicana_.

From the asphalt pits of Rancho La Brea, in Los Angeles County, a total of 57 skulls have been examined, more than half of which are reasonably complete. I have been unable to learn whether these came from pits regarded by students of the deposit as wholly Recent, from pits regarded as of Pleistocene age, or from both. Suffice to say that only two specimens were found which could be distinguished from skulls of the subspecies of weasel living in that area today.

These two specimens, lent to me by Professor Chester Stock, were with other skulls received from the Los Angeles Museum of History, Art and Science and bore identifying numbers as follows: 16/20-27, the anterior part of the skull of an adult, and 16, the skull posterior to the cribiform plate of a subadult or possibly young individual. The latter has a mastoid breadth of 28.0 millimeters, a tympanic bulla 16.1 long and other measurements in proportion. It is larger than any specimen of weasel, of any subspecies, seen from California and in the subgenus _Mustela_ seems to be exceeded in size only by certain individuals of _M. f. texensis_. _M. f. neomexicana_ attains relatively large size and comparisons were made with individuals of that subspecies. However, the young specimen from Rancho La Brea differs from _neomexicana_ in that the tympanic bullae rise less steeply on the medial sides and the inferior lip of the external auditory meatus is less developed laterally. Age considered, the sagittal crest is less developed and the mastoid processes project more abruptly from the skull. The anterior part of the skull of the adult, no. 16/20-27 is larger than any specimen seen of _M. f. latirostra_ or adjoining subspecies, and among California-taken specimens is equaled in size only by the largest males of _M. f. munda_ from the northwest coastal district in Mendocino County. This adult from Rancho La Brea differs from _neomexicana_, sex and age taken into account, in greater postorbital breadth, lesser rostral width in comparison with the interorbital breadth, and in having the temporal ridges at the anterior end of the sagittal crest spread out into a Y-shaped, rather than a T-shaped, pattern. All these differences from _neomexicana_ are features of agreement with the California bridled weasels of the subspecies _latirostra_, _nigriauris_, and _munda_. The same is true of the characters which set apart the young specimen from _neomexicana_. In summary: of 57 weasel skulls examined from the asphalt pits at Rancho La Brea, Los Angeles County, all but two are indistinguishable from the skulls of the Recent weasel living in that region today. These two skulls agree in qualitative characters with animals of the California coastal subspecies now living from Los Angeles northward to Humboldt County, but are larger. For the time being these two may be thought of as giants of the same type of animal inhabiting the Los Angeles region today.

Only one of 41 adult and subadult skulls examined for malformation of the frontal sinuses shows infestation by parasites.

_Specimens examined._--Total number, 142, listed by counties from
north to south. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the
Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy.

=California.= _Santa Barbara County_: Rincon Point, 1. _Ventura
County_: Cuyama Valley, 2200 ft., 1[91]; Nordhoff, 3[59]; Santa
Paula, 1[59]; Ventura, 7. _Los Angeles County_: near Owensmouth,
1[24]; Cahuenga, 1[91]; Llano, 10 mi. E Littlerock, 1; Flint
Ridge, Pasadena, 1[59]; Pasadena, 3; Lankershim, 1[24]; 1 mi. S
Lankershim, 1[24]; Duarte, 1[59]; Covina, 1[59]; Claremont, 1[91];
El Monte, 4 (2[75], 1[24]); Montebello, 1; Alhambra, 6 (5[2],
1[91]); El Nogal, 2[8]; Gardena, 1[26]; Palos Verdes Estate, 3;
Rancho La Brea asphalt deposits, 57[70]^{ and }[92]. _San
Bernardino County_: San Bernardino Valley, 1[75]; San Bernardino,
4 (2[20], 1[91]); Redlands, 2 (1[38]); Bluff Lake, 2 (1[59],
1[33]). _Riverside County_: West Riverside, 1; Arlington, 800 ft.,
1[17]; 3-1/2 mi. E and 1/2 mi. N Beaumont, 2600 ft., 1; Banning,
1[91]; Cabazon, 1[91]; San Jacinto Plain, 1[20]; Tahquitz Valley,
8000 ft., 1; Elsinore, 1[1]. _San Diego County_: Twin Oaks, 1[91];
San Marcos, 2 (1[87], 1[41]); Escondido, 1; Witch Creek, 1[91];
Ballena, 1[20]; Santa Ysabel, 3 (2[20], 1[87]); Julián, 1; La
Jolla, 1; Lakeside, 1[91]; El Cajon, 1[91]; El Vido (not found on
map), 1[91]; San Diego, 9 (1[91], 1[20], 1[87], 1[32]); Jamacha,
2[87]; Chula Vista, 1[20].

=Mustela frenata pulchra= Hall

Long-tailed Weasel

Plates 22, 23 and 24

_Mustela frenata pulchra_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ.
473:98, November 20, 1936.

_Type._--Male, adult, skeleton and skin; no. 16668, Mus. Vert.
Zoöl.; Buttonwillow, Kern County, California; April 30, 1912;
obtained by J. Grinnell; original no. 1953.

The skull (plates 22-24) is complete and unbroken (a fracture in
the right jugal has healed). All teeth are present and entire. The
skeleton lacks the os penis, left fibula, shaft of left tibia and
the distal three or four caudal vertebrae. Some of the bones of
the feet distal to the radius and tibia are with the skeleton, and
the remainder probably are in the skin. The skin is fairly well
made and in good condition, except for the left hind leg which was
torn when the animal was captured. A well-developed scrotal pouch
shows the specimen to have been a male.

_Range._--Altitudinally around 300 feet in San Joaquin Valley to
2500 feet at Isabella; Upper Sonoran and Lower Sonoran life-zones
of southern end of San Joaquin Valley and in mountains at southern
end of Valley, California. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and
314.

_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f.
nevadensis_ in presence of light facial markings, and from _M. f.
nevadensis_ and _M. f. inyoensis_ in near (16 _j_) Buckthorn Brown
to near (_h_) Yellow Ocher rather than near (14 _n_ to _l_)
Brussels Brown color of upper parts, and greater size with hind
foot more than 40 in females and basilar length averaging more
than 46.0 in males; from _M. f. latirostra_ in having rostrum
(orbitonasal length) longer than tympanic bulla and from _M. f.
latirostra_ and _M. f. nigriauris_ by color of upper parts as
stated above rather than near (_l_) Antique Brown, and by having
inside of ears same color as back rather than much darker than
back; from _M. f. xanthogenys_ in hind foot of males more than 46
and broader skull which in males has breadth of rostrum more than
13.9 and mastoid breadth more than 26.0.

_Description._--_Size._--Male: The type specimen and five other
adults yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total
length, 454 (428-477); length of tail, 178 (153-184); length of
hind foot, 50 (47-55). Tail averages 65 per cent as long as head
and body. Length of hind foot approximately equal to basal length.
The type specimen measures, 460, 184, 49.

Female: Three subadult topotypes yield average and extreme
measurements as follows: Total length, 399 (383-411); length of
tail, 154 (140-161); length of hind foot, 42 (41-42). Tail
averages 63 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot
less than basal length.

The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes
are: Total length, 55; length of tail, 24; length of hind foot, 8.

_Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata nigriauris_.

_Color._--Spot between eyes, band confluent with color of
underparts, on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior
to each ear, posterior third of each upper lip, lower lips and
chin white or more often darker than Ochraceous-Buff and
therefore same color as belly; dark spot posterior to each angle
of mouth present but small; tip of tail black; remainder of upper
parts near (16 _j_) Buckthorn Brown to near (_h_) Yellow Ocher and
from tone 2 to 4 of Brown Pink of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 297,
but with a trifle more reddish brown. Upper parts of uniform color
except for occasional slight darkening of nose, forehead, and
areas around eyes. Underparts darker (_a_) than Ochraceous-Buff.
Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of
forelegs over toes, onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, on
medial sides of hind limbs over antiplantar faces of toes, tarsal
region and sometimes in diluted fashion on proximal third of
underside of tail. Least width of color of underparts averaging,
in 6 male topotypes, 55 (43-81) per cent of greatest width of
color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same series of males
averaging 58 (53-63) mm. long; thus averaging longer than hind
foot and 33 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.

_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 6 ads., type and 5 topotypes):
See measurements and plates 22-24. As described in _M. f.
nigriauris_ except that: Weight (6 ads.), 5.3 (4.5-6.1) grams;
basilar length, 47.6 (46.0-48.6); (one skull, no. 335, with
postorbital breadth more than distance between posterior borders
of P4 and P2); interorbital breadth more or less than distance
between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla;
anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen
ovale as width of 2 to 3-1/2 (including I3) upper incisors; length
of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar
tooth-row and shorter than rostrum.

Female: Adult skull of typical female not seen.

As compared with the skull of the type specimen of _inyoensis_, skulls of adult males of _pulchra_ are larger throughout, relatively broader, especially in the preorbital part of the skull, have more inflated tympanic bullae, and are less convex in dorsal outline. Comparison of the skull with that of _latirostra_ has been made in discussion of that subspecies. Comparison of skulls of adult males of _nigriauris_ and _pulchra_ shows that those of _pulchra_ average larger in every measurement taken except those of m1, M1, P4, and depth of skull at posterior borders of upper molars. The basilar length is only slightly more and it follows that, relative to this length, other measurements of the skull are relatively, as well as actually, larger. In no one measurement is there an entire lack of overlap, but the skulls of adult males, and probably adult females, may be distinguished from those of _nigriauris_ by the combination of the following mentioned, average differences: Tympanic bullae larger in each of three dimensions; preorbital and interorbital parts of skull broader and notably heavier; interorbital breadth greater; zygomatic arches more expanded laterally; mastoid processes more prominent. As compared with _xanthogenys_, differences of similar nature, but of greater degree, distinguish _pulchra_. As compared with those of _nevadensis_ (represented by specimens from Mono Co., Calif.), skulls of adult males of _pulchra_ average larger in every measurement taken and no overlap exists in basilar length, orbitonasal length, mastoid breadth, zygomatic breadth, length of tympanic bulla, or depth of skull at either the anterior margin of the basioccipital or at the posterior margins of the upper molars. Relatively, the preorbital portion is about the same size in the two forms.

_Remarks._--The best material of this big weasel was obtained in 1910 and 1911 by John Wimmer and forwarded to the California Academy of Sciences through John R. Rowley, although in 1905, one specimen had been obtained by A. S. Bunnell for the collections of the United States Bureau of Biological Survey, another by J. Grinnell for the Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy in 1912, and in 1933, another by L. M. Huey, for the San Diego Society of Natural History.