S3 Page 57

S3 Page 57

Collector: Grinnell - 1925
Location: San Jose, 2500 ft., lat. 31°
Date: Oct. 21
Page Number: 2600

“This bear we will label for convenience Ursus
Californiensis, because the title of Ursus Americanus
has dignified the small black bear of the Eastern
states.” Etc. This is surely a “good” scientific
name and ought to be recognized, at least in
synonymy. The status of this name in view
of Merriam's (1896?) Ursus Californicus for a
grizzly needs looking into!

I have just asked Mr. Meling about bears in
Lower California. He says he has never heard that they
were ever here; and the Indians have no knowledge of them.
Badgers occur in all the valleys in one section; Meling
has seen them here and in San Telmo Valley, as well as
elsewhere. Ring-tailed Cats occur in the oak belt. He
saw a skin taken at Concepcion, “about 4 miles up
against the mountain from Socorro.” Coons are
very common here, coming into the orchard and
corn-fields; I have seen numerous tracks myself.

Striped Skunks are also common, but Spotted Skunks
not known to Mr. Meling from this side “the mountain.”
6579 Russet-backed Thrush (female sign) im. 26.8g. Shot in willow.
6580 Alaska Hermit Thrush (male sign) im. 24.2g. “ “ “
6581 Spotted Towhee (male sign) im. 36.5g. Shot in elder-berry.
6582 Brown Towhee (male sign) ad. 46.0g. in fat. Shot from sage-bush.

Oct. 22
Rained a good deal during the night. Still overcast;
warm and sultry. Barometer, 27.20 inches. Annual
vegetation in starting up everywhere, much to the stockmen’s joy.