_Batrachoseps pacificus_ was described by Professor Cope, in 1865, from a specimen said to have been collected at Santa Barbara, California. Two specimens from San Francisco were afterward referred to this species. All of the specimens I have examined from both these localities are of the common form known as _B. attenuatus_. I was, therefore, inclined to doubt the existence of _B. pacificus_ as a distinct species until I examined eight specimens collected by Dr. Eisen on Santa Rosa Island in 1897. In March, 1903, Mr. R. H. Beck secured on San Miguel a large series of a _Batrachoseps_ which seems to differ in no respect from that found on Santa Rosa Island, but which is very distinct from the species of the mainland. These island salamanders agree in all important points with the original description of _B. pacificus_, but since the published descriptions of this species are not very complete, I sent a specimen from San Miguel Island to my friend Dr. Stejneger with a request that he compare it directly with the type. This he has very kindly done, and his conclusion is as follows: "I have carefully compared it with the type of _Batrachoseps pacificus_ and find them to agree completely. I have no doubt they represent the same species. As for the origin of our specimen I can only say that our record book shows the following entry: '6733. _Batrichoseps pacificus_ (Type) Santa Barbara Cal. Dr. Hayes. 1881 Oct. 28. 1.' This entry is evidently made many years after the numbering of the specimen which took place in 1866, probably at the time tin-tags were substituted for the old labels most of which were destroyed as in this case. The entry is in an unknown boyish hand and is probably made from the destroyed label. The double error, _i_ in _Batrachoseps_ and _e_ in Hays, shows that it was made by an ignoramus. I can find no other record of specimens received from the same source, but in the S. I. reports from 1864-67 I find noted that a Dr. W. W. Hays sent birds and fishes to the museum from 'Southern California'. The Santa Barbara locality is therefore not above suspicion. The other two specimens credited in Cope's Man. Batr. p. 130 to _B. pacificus_, viz. No. 4006 San Francisco, Cal. R. D. Cutts, have not been seen here since I took charge of the collection in 1889. In the record book there is entered in the remark column 'Destroyed (C)' (C) standing for Cope. The specific name _Batrachoseps pacificus_ is in Cope's handwriting, while the locality San Francisco and the name of the collector are in Prof. Baird's hand." In the light of all this it appears that the type of _Batrachoseps pacificus_ may perhaps have been secured on some fishing trip from Santa Barbara to Santa Rosa or San Miguel, and that the specimens from San Francisco most probably were misidentified by Cope.