Stephen D. Durrant

Hall, E. Raymond. Handbook of Mammals of Kansas. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Miscellaneous Publications No. 7, pages 1–303, 99 numbered figures and other illustrations, December 13, 1955. Paper bound,

E. Raymond Hall. Handbook of Mammals of Kansas. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Miscellaneous Publications No. 7, pages 1–303, 99 numbered figures and other illustrations, December 13, 1955. Paper bound,

1.50 postpaid (

1.50 postpaid (

4.00 cloth)

4.00 cloth). This is one of the most complete and elaborate handbooks ever to be prepared for the mammals from one state, and treats individually 79 species of native mammals known to occur in Kansas since the advent of white man into the state. In addition, three introduced species are also considered. Taxonomically, each kind is classified to order, family, genus and species. Appropriate keys are provided from order to species. The account of each species is headed by the common name, followed by the scientific name and author. There is a drawing of the animal immediately under the title. There then follows a section on life history, habits, behavior, economic importance, etc. This section is good and is probably the most interesting and valuable …

Distribution Patterns and Phylogeny of Some Western Ground Squirrels

T IS well known that many kinds of mammals attain their distributional limits in the intermontane West. In Utah in particular many species reach their limits, and along the margins of the ranges, many small populations have developed under semi-isolation into recognizable subspecies in relatively short periods of time. We have been making a detailed study of ground squirrels of the subgenus Citellus (Oken) for the past several years. The study of taxonomy and speciation has to date been largely restricted to data concerning the morphological features of the animals. While plotting the ranges of these species, and studying competition between different species at the interphases of their ranges, we have made many observations which lead us to believe that a significant supplement to the morphological data may be obtained by field studies of the distribution and ecology of related species under intense competition. Within the given genus, what are the relationships as indicated between degrees of allopatry and sympatry? What does competition indicate about the rate of differentiation and selection? The ground squirrels of North America belong to the genus Citellus and are divided into eight subgenera. The group here reported upon is that of the shorttailed ground squirrels of the subgenus Citellus (Oken). We are not concerned at present with all the species of this subgenus, but only with the following: C. armatus, C. beldingi, C. richardsoni, C. columbianus, and C. townsendii and its allies. Generally speaking C. armatus is a northern species that attains its southern limits in Utah; C. beldingi is a northwestern species that attains its southeastern limits in Utah, in the extreme northwestern part of the state; C. richardsoni is a northern and eastern species that has its southern limits in Colorado and Utah and its western limits in Nevada; C. columbianus is also a northern species that extends as far south as southeentral Idaho; and C. townsendii and its allies are western and northern animals that extend as far east as central Utah (Fig. 1). Students of these shorttailed ground squirrels are familiar with the fact that within their ranges they occupy several types of habitats ranging from dry hillsides to lush, moist meadows. Members of all of the aforementioned species apparently prefer moist, lush meadows when they are available. Within the ranges of the several species of this subgenus, members of each species always occupy a wider variety of habitats if that species is the only representative of the subgenus present. Intraspecific competition appears to be of lesser degree than does interspecific competition. We have noted that where the ranges of C. richardsoni and C. armatus come into contact in Rich and Daggett counties, Utah, each species occupies a narrower variety of habitats than it would if it occurred there alone. At these localities, where the ranges of the two come into contact, colonies of C. richardsoni occupy the dry, open areas between stands of sagebrush and greasewood, while those of C. armatus occupy the grassy meadows. It is noteworthy that at this zone of contact between the ranges of these two species, the competition is extreme; the burrows and feeding areas of the animals of one species being in some instances but a

Rare Shrews from Utah and Wyoming

The collection of mammals in the Museum of Zoology, University of Utah, contains representatives of two rare species of shrews of the genus Sorex . These specimens were obtained from Utah and Wyoming during 1952–1954. Because of their rarity, and inasmuch as their localities of capture extend the known areas of occurrence, we considered it worthwhile to report upon them. This research was financed in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Sorex merriami leucogenys Osgood.—Osgood (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 22: 52, April 17, 1909), on the basis of a single specimen, named this subspecies as Sorex leucogenys . The type locality is “Mouth of the canyon of Beaver River, about 3 miles east of Beaver, Beaver County, Utah.” Despite intensive collecting, no additional specimens were reported for 26 years, when Benson (Univ. California Pubis. Zool., 40: 439–455, December 31, 1935), reported upon five specimens from War God Spring, Navajo Mountain, San Juan County, Utah. Since 1935, although …