E. Raymond Hall

“ Remarks.—The specimens of Thomomys from Wyoming on which the name T. t. meritus is based were obtained by Mr. E. Lendell Cockrum and his associates with the thought that intergradation might be shown between T. t. rostralis to the east and T. t. clusius to the west. The animals showed instead, that there was a subspecies differing from each of the two mentioned subspecies in small size, dark color and slenderness of skull. Acknowledgment of assistance [Pg 222] with field work is made to the Kansas University Endowment Association. ”

“ Comparisons.—From Thomomys talpoides rostralis (North Platte River Valley, SW of Saratoga, Wyoming) , the subspecies to the east and south, T. t. meritus differs in: Lesser size, darker color, smaller and slenderer skull. The slenderness is especially noticeable in the breadth across the zygomata, mastoids, and rostrum. From Thomomys talpoides clusius (topotypes) , the subspecies to the north and west, T. t. meritus differs in: Color much darker; rostrum longer; skull narrower across mastoids and zygomata ”

“ Among small mammals accumulated, from Wyoming, in the Museum of Natural History of the University of Kansas, specimens of the wide-spread species Thomomys talpoides are abundantly represented. Subspecific names are available for most of these, but specimens from the Sierra Madre Mountain Range of Wyoming and Colorado prove upon comparison to pertain to an heretofore unnamed subspecies which may be described and named as follows:
Thomomys talpoides meritus new subspecies
Type.—Male, adult, skull and skin, no. ”