Lepus americanus macfarlani Merriam, Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., 2:30, March 14, 1900. (Type from Fort Anderson, near mouth of Anderson River, Mackenzie, Canada.)
Specimens examined.—Total 3, as follows: Yukon Territory: W side Lewes River, 2150 ft., 2 mi. S Whitehorse, 1; 5 mi. W Teslin River, 2400 ft., 16 mi. S and 53 mi. E Whitehorse, 1. British Columbia: 14 mi. N Fort Halkett, W side Smith River, 1.
Remarks.—Alcorn reports seeing few hares on his two trips to Alaska. Near the Miniker River, a geologist told him that the numbers of these animals had steadily declined since 1943. One of three seen in a spruce forest on July 8, 1947, near Whitehorse was taken by Alcorn. A young one was captured in a rat trap in a building near the Teslin River on July 5 of the same year.
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus columbiensis A. H. Howell
Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus columbiensis A. H. Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 49:135, August 22, 1936. (Type from Raspberry Creek, about 30 mi. SE of Telegraph Creek, northern British Columbia.)
Specimens examined.—Total 18, as follows: Yukon Territory: McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 1; W side Lewes River, 2150 ft., 2 mi. SW Whitehorse, 1; 2 mi. W Teslin River, 2400 ft., 16 mi. E Whitehorse, 1. British Columbia: 1 mi. NW jct. Irons Creek and Liard River, 1; ¼ mi. S jct. Trout River and Liard River, 3; S side Toad River, 10 mi. S and 21 mi. E Muncho Lake, 3; Summit Pass, 4200 ft., 10 mi. S and 70 mi. W Fort Nelson, 8.
Remarks.—Rand (1944:42) experienced difficulty in assigning subspecific names to red squirrels taken along the Alaska Highway in northern British Columbia. Some variability as found by Rand is noted in adults taken by Alcorn in this area. All of the specimens assigned to T. h. columbiensis have a darker tail and more tawny feet than T. h. preblei. The average of skulls of adults is smaller than the skull of an adult of T. h. preblei from Yerrick Creek, Alaska.
Alcorn obtained most of the squirrels in rat traps and steel traps, using "chewed" rolled oats as well as bits of fish and mouse bodies as bait.
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus petulans (Osgood)