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Endangered species: - .. . l-< 0.. -e f all th e strange and variegated subspecies o f fau na that Nature has created fro m her abundance to inhabit the pl anet , the Califo rnia Desert Racer (Nob ius Califo micus] is pe rhaps t he rarest and most exotic speci ma n kno wn to science. T he first species we re n o ted early in the decade by Pro f. Larsen E. So use of CSULB , wh o observed tracks left by the crea t ures fo r years befo re he was ab le to trap o ne for scie nt ific st udy. Although the speciman was somewhat damaged in capture, it provided zoology wi th priceless knowledge of this vani shing creat ure. N o bius Califomicus br ee ds in apparen t ly rand om fashio n in severa l populat ed areas of t he west ern U.S. Triggere d perh ap s by so me DN A mo lec u le, at a certain age t he young Nobius grows a tough o u te r h ide, resem bli ng goatskin, and sprouts a horny crest t hat cove rs its entire head. In some mysterious fashion, Nobius acquires a propulsio n system, fue led with nect ar gat he re d from certain bobbing plants that grow o n Signal Hill. When fu lly mature, the N obius Califomicus begin weekly migrat ions to the Mojave Desert , where they buzz around in herds, pe rformi ng rituals for reasons that have yet -to be fat home d by science. One theory is that the scampe rin g is part o f th eir courtship, while Dr. So use maintains that it has to do with feed ing, since the speciman he dissected had seve ra l sma ll insects lodged in its teeth. Ch an ces fo r the eve ntual survival of this colorful desert species lo ok grim at the mo ment. Its natural hab itat is rap idl y be ing reduced by co m mercial develop men t and it is being forced to co m pete wit h other, hard ier species o n a sm aller a nd dwindling ra nge . Alth ough it has no nat ural ene mies, hunter s and pr edators have taken the ir toll o f the Nobius Californic us, and its migrat io n ro utes are becomi ng stra ngled by fen ces and t aco stands. Unless so me th ing is d one soon t o protect t heir natural h abit at : t he Califo rn ia Desert Racer may short ly be come ext inc t, a nd th e w o rld will be th e worse off with ou t its dis t in ct ive " ch ir-r-p " o n a Mojave Sunday m o rn ing and th e co lorful flash o f its crest as it flick er s amo ng th e creoso te bushes . DEPT. SUB. P.O. BOX 498 LONG BEACH. CALIFORNIA 90801 • • CYCLE NEWS WEST (1 yr.) ••• • •. . $12 .50 CYCLE NEWS WEST 12 Yrs.) . . 22 .00 CYCLE NEWS WEST (3 yrs.l 30 .00 V ia 1st class mail for one year 40.00 Via air mail for one year • • . . . . . . . . . . 50.00 Thi s is a Renewal • ••• • •• • • •• • • . . • • •. • • • Please bill me I enclose check or money order •. . • . . . .• •. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Name (~1.8" print leQi lv ) b Add ress CitY Zi p • • 9