Distribution in Tamaulipas.—Known only by the three specimens mentioned in the original description from two barrier islands in northeastern part of state.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 3: 88 mi. S, 10 mi. W Matamoros, 2; 90 mi. S, 10 mi. W Matamoros, 1.
Lepus californicus merriami Mearns
1896. Lepus merriami Mearns, Preliminary diagnoses of new mammals from the Mexican border of the United States, p. 2, March 25, type from Fort Clark, Kinney Co., Texas.
1909. Lepus californicus merriami, Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, 29:148, August 31.
Distribution in Tamaulipas.—Northern and western parts of state.
The two specimens examined, an adult female and a young male, from the barrier beach 33 miles south of Washington Beach are intergrades between L. c. merriami, reported from the mainland from as near as Matamoros, and L. c. curti, which occurs farther to the south on the same series of barrier beaches. Of seven characters that seem to differentiate the two subspecies, the adult female from 33 miles south of Washington beach resembles merriami in four as follows: tips of ears black (white in curti); nasals long; hind foot long; and supraoccipital process broad. The specimen resembles curti in shortness of tail and in having small auditory bullae. Breadth of rostrum above premolars, the seventh character, is less than in typical specimens of either of the two subspecies. More material is needed from the barrier beach in order to establish with certainty the relationships between jack rabbits occurring there.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 4: 33 mi. S Washington Beach, 2; 12 mi. NW San Carlos, 1300 ft., 2.
Additional records: Nuevo Laredo (Nelson, 1909:150); Mier (ibid.); Camargo (ibid.); Matamoros (Hall, 1951:185); Tamaulipeca, San Carlos Mts. (ibid.).