PROCEEDINGS
OF THK
Biological Society of Washington
VOLUME XII
1898
WASHINGTON
PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY
1898
COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS
c. HART MERRIAM, Cliairman
T. s. PALMER F- "■ KNOWLTON
Jubd & I MnwF.n.Eii. Printers
(ii)
CONTENTS
Page
< (fficers and committees for 1898 v
Proceedings vii-xii
Notes on Fishes Collected by E. \V. Nelson on the Tres Marias
Islands and in Sinaloa and .Jalisco. Mexico, by B. \V. Ever-
niann I -:;
New Birds from the Tres Marias islands, by E. W. Nelson 5-11
Mammals of the Tres Marias Islands, by 0. Hart Merriam 13-19
A New Species of Evotomys from British Columbia, by Vernon
Bailey ' ..'. '21-22
A New Deer (Dorcelaphus texanus) from Texas and Northern
Mexico, by Edgar A. Mearns 23-26
Three New Fresh-water Crabs of the Genus Potamon, by Mary
J. Rathbun .'. 27-30
Two New Skunks of the Genus Mephitis, by Outram Bangs 31-33
The Newfoundland Otter and Red Fox, by Outram Bangs 35-38
A New Parasitic Isopod of the Genus Mga from the Southern
( 'oast of the United States, by Harriet Richardson 3(.)-40
The Arcturidse in the U. S. National Museum, by James E. Ben-
edict 41-51
Two New Isopods of the Genus Idotea from the Coast of Califor-
nia, by .lames E. Benedict 53 55
New Birds from Mexico, with a Revision of the Genus Dactyl-
ortyx, by E. \V. Nelson . 57-68
Six New Ground Squirrels from the Western United States, by
C. Hart Merriam 69-71
A New Rodent of the Genus Idiurus, by Gerrit S. Miller, Jr. . . . 73-70
The Eastern Races of the American Varying Hare, by Outram
Bangs 77-82
A New White-footed Mouse from the Mount Baker Range, Brit-
ish Columbia, by Outram Bangs 83-84
Eleven New Species and Subspecies of Voles, by Vernon Bailey. 85 90
A New Raccoon from Nassau Island, Bahamas, by Outram
Bangs
A New Fox from Santa Marta, Colombia, by Outram Bangs . ..
A New Murine Opossum from Margarita Island, by Outram
Bangs
A New Rabbit from Margarita Island, Venezuela, by Gerrit S.
Miller, Jr " '
The Earliest Generic Name for the North American Deer, with
I descriptions of Five New Species, by C. Hart Merriam U9-104
Two New Subgenera and Three New Species of Microtus from
Mexico and Guatemala, by C. Hart Merriam 105-108
Random Notes on the Nomenclature of the Chiroptera, by T. S.
Palmer .. 109-114
Twenty New Species and a New Subgenus of Peromyscus from
Mexico and Guatemala, by C. Hart Merriam 115-125
A New Genus [Neotomodon) and Three New Species of Murine
Rodents from the Mountains of Southern Mexico, by ('. Hart
Merriam ' 127-129
Birds from Santa Marta. Colombia, by OutramBangs 131-144
New Squirrels from Mexico and Central America, by E. W.
Nelson " 145-156
liii.
91-
93-
-92
-94
95-
'.it,
97
us
iv Contents and Illustration*.
Page
Birds from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia, by Out ram Bangs. 157-160
New Mammals from the Siena Nevada de Santa Marta, Colom-
bia, by Outram Bangs 161-165
A New Hare of the Little Harvest Mouse from West Virginia,
by Outram Bangs 1 67-1 68
A New Weasel from the Queen Charlotte Islands, B. C, by Ed-
ward A. Preble 169-1 70
Birds from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, by
(Hitram Pangs 171-182
Sciurus variabilis from the Santa Marta Region of Colombia, by
Outram Bangs 183-186
A New Rock Vole from Labrador, by Outram Bangs 187-188
A New Siqmodon from the Santa Marta Region of Colombia, by
Outram' Bangs 189-190
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PLATES
I. Polamon abbolti Rathbun.
II. Potamon macropus Rathbun and /'. levicervix Rathbun.
TEXT FIGURES
Page
Figure 1 . JEga ecarinata 39
2. Legs of Mga ecarinata 40
.'!. Arcturus feildeni 44
4. A returns longispinis 45
5. A returns glabrus 46
6. Arcturus beringianus 46
7. Arcturus tenuispinis 47
S. A re/urns multispinis 48
9. A returns murdochi 49
10. Astacilla diomedea 51
1 1. Astacilla area , 51
12. Idotea rostrata 54
1 :{. Idotea stenops 54
14. Bills of Guiraca chiapensis and Ouiraca ccerulea'eurhyncha. 62
15. Front foot of Idiurus macrotis 74
16. Base of tail of Idiurus macrotis 74
17. Ear of Idiurus macrotis 74
is. Skull of Idiurus macrotis 75
19. Teeth of Idiurus macrotis 75
20. Skull of Megadontomys thomasi 125
OFFICERS AND COUNCIL
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
For 1898
(ELECTED DECEMBER 18, 1897
OFFICERS
President
L. 0. HOWARD
Vice-Presidents
RICHARD RATHBUN B. E. FERNOW
CHAS. D. WALCOTT FREDERICK Y. COVILLE
Recording Si crt tary
CHARLES L. POLLARD
( 'orresponding Secrt tary
F. A. LUCAS
Treasurer
F. H KNOWLTON
COUNCIL
\VM. H. ASHMEAD GEORGE M. STERNBERG*
WILLIAM H. DALL* CH. WARDELL STILES
THEODORE GILL* FREDERICK W. TRUE
EDWARD L. GREENE M. B. WAITE
C. HART MERRIAM LESTER F. WARD-
CHARLES A. WHITE*
STANDING COMMITTEES— 1838
Commitlei "u Communications
B. E. Fernow, ' 'hair man
Frederick V. Coville M. B. Waite
E. A. De Schweinitz W. H. Ashmead
Committei <>n Publications
C. Hart Merriam, Chairman
T. S. Palmer F. II. Knowlton
* Ex-Presidents of the Society.
(V)
Vol. XII. pp. vii-xn December 30, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
PROCEEDINGS,
The Society meets in the Assembly Hall of the Cosmos Club
on alternate Saturdays at 8 p. m. Brief notices of the meetings,
with abstracts of communications, are published in Science.
January 7, 1898— Special Meeting.
The President, Dr. L. 0. Howard, delivered the annual address
at Columbian University on the topic, "The Gypsy Moth in
Massachusetts: A. Great Experiment in Economic Entomology.'*
Januaiy 15, 1898 — 285th Meeting.
The President in the chair and 51 persons present.
('. Hart Merriam discussed a recently issued biography of
Audubon.
The program for the evening consisted of a symposium on
the topic. ' Recent Additions to our Knowledge of the Cell,' with
the following speakers: Frank Baker, D. G. Fairchild, H. J.
Webber, and W. T. Swingle. The communications were illus-
trated by diagrams and lantern slides.
January 29, 1898— 236th Meeting,
The President in the chair and 24 persons present.
The following communications were presented :
William Palmer: The Birds of the Pribilof Islands, f
*Bull. No. 11, New Series, Division of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agri-
culture.
t 'Avifauna of the Pribilof Islands,' to be published as a chapter in the
Report on the Fur Seal Island-, by David Starr Jordan, U. S. Treasury
Department.
(vii)
viii The Biological Society of Washington.
L. 0. Howard: The European Hornet in America.
The remainder of the evening was occupied with an informal
discussion on the classification of birds, F. A. Lucas, Theodore
Gill, W. H. Ashmead, and William Palmer participating.
February 12, 1898— 287th Meeting.
The President in the chair and 27 persons present.
L. 0. Howard exhibited specimens of Mantidse and Locus-
tidse collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott at Trong, Lower Siam, com-
menting particularly on the prevalence of aggressive resem-
blances among tropical Mantids.
The following communications were presented :
E. A. De Schweinitz : The Treatment of Animal Diseases with
Antitoxic Serums.*
0. P. Hay: The Protospondyli and Aethiospondyli of A. S.
Woodward.f
Theodore Gill : Classification of the Astacoidean Crustaceans.
February 26, 1898 — 288th Meeting.
The President in the chair and 57 persons present.
The evening was devoted to a symposium upon the topic,
' The Teaching of Biology,' with the following speakers : E. L.
Morris, W. H. Dall, Erwin F. Smith, Theodore Gill, H. J. Web-
ber, B. W. Evermann, Ch. Warded Stiles, and Edward L. Greene.
March 12, 1898— 289th Meeting.
The President in the chair and 26 persons present.
Theodore Gill exhibited and discussed a new text-book on
zoology by Parker and Haswell.
M. B. Waite gave an illustration of fasciation in the black
locust.
The following communications were presented :
Ch. Warded Stiles : Practical Suggestions in Regard to Trichi-
nosis.
Erwin F. Smith : Migula's ' System der Bakterien.'
F. C. Ken}7on : Some Recent Advances in our Knowledge of
the Nervous System.
* To be published as a Report of the Bureau of Animal Industry,
t Am. Nat,, XXXII, No. 377, pp. 341-1:54!), May, 1898, under the title,
' Classification of the Amioid ami Lepisosteoid Fishes.
/'mn flings. ix
March 26, 1898— 290th Meeting.
The President in the chair and 4o persons present.
The evening- was devoted to a symposium on ' The Compara-
tive Value of Factors Influencing the Distribution of Life,' with
the following speakers : C. Hart Merriam, L. 0. Howard, \V. H.
Dall, V. V. Coville, Theodore Gill, B. E. Fernow. B. W. Ever-
mann, and F. W. True.
April 9, 1898— 291st Meeting.
Ex-President Theodore Gill in the chair and 28 persons
[•resent.
Vernon Bailey exhibited specimens of sticks cut by beavers,
explaining the methods pursued by the animal in this operation.
The following communications were presented :
0. P. Hay: Observations on the Cretaceous Fishes called by
Professor Cope ' Porthei.isJ*
W '. H. Osgood : Notes on the Natural History of the Farallon
Islands. (Illustrated by lantern slides.)
William Palmer: A Phase of Feather Repigmentation.
April 23, 1898— 292d Meeting.
Ex-President \Y. IT. Dall in the chair and 65 persons present.
Charles L. Pollard exhibited the fruit of Poinciana regia and
of Osssolpinia bonducella, commenting on their occurrence in south
Florida.
The following communications were presented :
C. Hart Merriam : Life Zone Conformities in the Distribution
of Oregon Ground Squirrels.
Ernest Seton Thompson: The Personality of Some of Our
Wild Animals. (Illustrated by lantern slides.)
May 7, 1898— 293d Meeting.
Vice-President B. E. Fernow in the chair and 60 persons
present.
The topic for the evening was 'The Fauna and Flora of the
Florida Keys.' illustrated by lantern slides, the speakers being
0. F. Cook, E. L. Morris, and Charles L. Pollard. t
* Zoological Bull., 2, No. 1, pp. -25-54, 1898.
t A portion of the topics discussed in this communication will form the
basis for a report to be published in Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb.
II— Bioi,. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898
x The Biological Society of Washington.
May 24. 1898— 294th Meeting.
The President in the chair and 20 persons present.
The following communications were presented :
F. C. Kenyon : Recent Experiments on the Nervous System
of Arthropods, their Significance, and the Problems that Remain
Unsolved.
Nathan Banks: The Scorpions of the Eastern United States.*
Gilbert H. Hicks : The Vitality of Seeds.
H. J. Webber: Researches on the Reproduction of Cycada-
ceous Plants.
October 22, 1898-295th Meeting.
The President in the chair and 37 persons present.
E. L. Morris commented on the frequency with which speci-
mens of Colocasia esculenta in cultivation in Washington had
bloomed during the past summer. He also cited a case of morn-
ing flowering in Cereus grandiflorus.
T. A. Williams noted the occurrence of a rare lichen, Hydro-
thyria venosa, at several localities in the West.
T. S. Palmer spoke of Nanny/mini), an alleged living representa-
tive of a family of extinct edentates.
The following communications were presented :
J. N. Rose: Proposed Rearrangement of the Subfamily Aga-
vese. ( Illustrated by numerous living plants.) f
F. A. Lucas: The Fossil Bison of North America, with De-
scription of a New Species. £
A. J. Pieters : Problems of Aquatic Vegetation. §
Gilbert H. Hicks : The Effect of Certain Fertilizers on the
Germination of Seeds.
November 5, 1898— 296th Meeting.
The President in the chair and 42 persons present.
F. V. Coville exhibited a piece of lava from Mt. St. Helens,
bearing the impression of the hark of a, pine.
* To be published probably in Trans. Am. Ent. Soc.
t To be published in Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb.
t To be published in Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.
'i To be published as a Bulletin of the Division of Botany, U. S. Dept.
of Agriculture.
Proceedings. xi
Albert F. Woods exhibited some leaves skeletonized by the
small fresh-water crustacean Cypridopsis.
IT. J. Webber noted the occurrence of seed production in some
seedlings from a sport of Clarhia pulchella.
The following communications were presented :
D. G. Fairchild : The Dutch Botanical Gardens at Buiten-
zorg, Java. (Illustrated by numerous photographs.)
L. 0. Howard : The Outbreak of the Fluted Scale in Portugal
and Its Results.*
Chas. T. Simpson : The Destruction of the Pearly Fresh-water
Mussels.f
F. A. Lucas: The Occurrence of Mammoth Remains on the
Pribilof Islands. t
November 19, 1898— 297th Meeting.
The President in the chair and 31 persons present.
E. L. Morris gave an account of the ascent by a small snake
of the polished nickel surface of a vertical stand-pipe.
F. W. True exhibited a copy of an entomological journal pub-
lished in Japan, stating that it was probably the first journal of
this nature issued in that country.
L. 0. Howard exhibited posters prepared by the German gov-
ernment describing and figuring the Colorado potato beetle and
the San Jose scale, and also one issued by the Russian govern-
ment describing a destructive Russian grain beetle, Anisoplict
austriaca.
The following communications were presented :
Cleveland Abbe: Climate and the Corn Crop.
H. J.Webber: A Comparison of Types of Fecundation of
Flowering Plants.
December 3, 1898— 298th Meeting.
The President in the chair and 40 persons present.
Upon invitation Professor A. D. Hopkins, of West Virginia,
addressed the Society briefly, explaining a new method of illus-
trating specific and generic relationships by means of diagrams.
* To be published as Bull. 18, New Series, Division of Entomology, Dept.
of Agriculture.
t Substance embodied in a paper to be published by the U. S. Fish
Commission.
J To be published in Science.
xii The Biological Society of Washington.
The following communications were presented :
Charles L. Pollard: Floral Asymmetry in Chamsecrista.
H. J. Webber: The Affinities of Casuarina.
0. F. Cook : Four Categories of Species.*
December 17, 1898— 299th Meeting.
(nineteenth annual meeting.)
The President in the chair and 32 persons present.
The annual reports of the Recording Secretary and Treasurer
for the year 1S9S were presented, and officers for the year 1899
were elected as follows :
President — Frederick V. Coville.
Vice-Presidents— Wm. H. Ashmead, Ch. Warded Stiles, B. W.
Evermann, F. A. Lucas.
Recording Secretary — H. J. Webber.
Corresponding Secretary — 0. F. Cook.
Treasurer — F. H. Knowlton.
Additional Members of the Council — C. L. Marlatt, T. S. Palmer,
Charles L. Pollard, F. W. True, M. B. Waite.
The following standing committees were appointed by the
Chair :
On Communications — F. A. Lucas, chairman ; Win. H. Ash-
mead, L. II. Dewey, E. A. De Schweinitz, A. F. Woods.
On Publications — C. Hart Merriam, chairman ; T. S. Palmer,
F. PL Knowlton.
To be published in the American Naturalist
Vol. XII, pp. 1-3 January 27, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
NOTES ON FISHES COLLECTED BY E. W. NELSON ON
THE TRES MARIAS ISLANDS AND IN SINALOA
AND JALISCO, MEXICO.
BY BARTON WARREN EVERMANN,
Ichthyologist, V. S. Fish Commission.
While engaged in collecting other objects of natural history
in Mexico during the summer of 1897, Mr. Nelson obtained a
few fishes, which were submitted to the writer for identification
and report.
The collection contains four species, one of which proves to be
new. The specimens were obtained at Rosario, Ixtapa, La La-
guna de Juanacatlan and the Tres Marias Islands.
Rosario is situated about 80 miles southeast from Mazatlan
and about 18 miles from the sea. The specimens from that place
were obtained from freshwater pools left by the drying up of that
portion of the Rosario River. The exact locality was about 15
miles above tide.
Ixtapa is in the State of Jalisco, on the Ixtapa River, about
12 miles above the head of the Bay of Banderas. The specimens
from Maria Magdalena Island came from the interior about 250
feet above tide level, from a small stream which communicates
with the sea during the rainy season. Those from Maria Cleofa
came from a small freshwater stream close to the sea, but com-
municating with it only in wet weather. Maria Magdalena and
Maria Cleofa islands are the two most southern of the Tres Marias
group, situated about 60 miles off the coast of Jalisco. La
Laguna de Juanacatlan is in the Sierra de Juanacatlan, in west-
ern Jalisco, at an altitude of 6,500 to 7,000 feet.
1— Biol. Soc, Wash., Vol, XII, 189S (1)
2 Evenuann — Notes on Fishes of Mexico.
This collection, though small, is of interest, in that it increases
our knowledge of the distribution of the species, and probably
indicates a close relation between the freshwater fish fauna of
the Tres Marias Islands and that of the adjacent mainland.
LIST OF SPECIES.
Family Atherinidae. The Silversides.
1. Chirostoma humboldtianum (Cuvier & Velenciennes).
The collection contains 5 specimens of this species. They do not differ
materially from specimens from the City of Mexico, the type locality.
Head Sj to 4^ in length of fish ; depth 4£ to 5J ; eye 3f to 4g in head ;
snout 3 to 3%. Dorsal IV-I, 10 to 12 ; Anal I, 16 to 19; scales 46, 13 to
15 in a transverse series.
Family Mugilidae. The Mullets.
2. Agonostomus nasulus Giinther.
The collection contains one specimen from Ixtapa, 3 from Maria Mag-
dalena, and 2 from Maria Cleofa.
The specimen from the mainland agrees well with those from the
islands.
The specimens are from 2J to 4j inches in length and present the fol-
lowing measurements: Head 3] to 4; depth o'l to 4; eye 3| to ih in
head ; snout 3| to 4 ; interorbital width 2| to 31 ; maxillary 3} to 3£.
Dorsal IV-I, 8 ; Anal II, 9; scales 42 or 43, 11 in transverse series.
Type locality, Rio Geronimo, Central America.
Family Cichlidae. The Cichlids.
3. Hero* band Jordan.
Eleven specimens of this common species obtained at Rosario, July 27,
in the same pools from which the specimens of A in mux nelsoni were taken.
Head 2;; ; depth 2\ ; eye 4; snout 2^. Dorsal XV, 11 ; Anal V, 7;
scales 6-30-11 ; pores in lateral line 19 -f 11.
Type locality, Mazatlan, Sinaloa.
Family Gobiidae. The Gobies.
4. Aivaous nelsoni, new species.
The collection contains 8 specimens of a goby which proves to be an
undescribed species of Awaous.
Type locality, Rosario River, at Rosario, Sinaloa, Mexico. Collector,
E. W. Nelson, July 27, 1897.
Type No. 48836, U. S. Nat. Mus. Cotypes Nos. 48837, U. S. Nat, Mus. ;
533 U. S. Fish' Conim. ; and 5793, L. S. Jr. Univ. Mus. Collector's
No. 839.
Notes on Fishes of Mexico. 3
Awaous nelsoni Evermann.
Head 3-V ; depth 6 ; eye .">] in head ; snout 3 ; maxillary •_';. D. VI-11 ;
A. 11 ; scales about 63. Body long, compressed, and tapering posteriorly ;
head large, quadrate; mouth large, nearly horizontal, lower jaw in-
eluded; snout abruptly decurved ; top of head flat, the interorbital with
a slight median groove with a thin, raised edge on each side; maxillary
reaching about to vertical of anterior edge of pupil. Teeth in bands
on jaws, very small, the outer somewhat enlarged. Pectoral rays normal,
the longest 1J in head ; ventrals completely united, the disk free from
belly, If in head. Dorsal fins separated by a space about § diameter of
eye ; dorsal spines slender, weak, about If in head ; soft dorsal and anal
similar, each free from caudal; caudal fin rather short and rounded, its
middle rays about l£ in head. Inner edge of shoulder girdle with 3 der-
mal papillae ; gill-membranes broadly united to the isthmus ; eye mod-
erate, high up, the interorbital width equal to the eye's diameter. Scales
ctenoid, very small, and irregularly crowded anteriorly, much larger
posteriorly, about 15 rows counting from origin of soft dorsal downward
and backward to the anal fin; head naked, but with slight indication
of a few minute embedded scales on opercles. Color grayish ; head
mottled and blotched with dark; side with 7 or 8 black blotches, the
largest under middle of pectoral fin ; dorsals pale, crossed by several lines
of black spots; caudal pale, with about G or 7 dark cross-bars; ventrals
and anal pale; pectorals pale, dusted with dark specks and with a small
dark blotch at base of upper rays. Length, 4 inches.
The 7 specimens taken as cotypes do not show any considerable varia-
tions from the type. The more important variations are indicated in the
following description : Head 3| to .'!-; ; depth 5 to 65 ; eye 5 to 6 in head ;
snout 2f to 3. D. VI-11 ; A. 10 or 11 ; scales 60 to 70.
The number of scales seems to be the most unstable character, but this
is partly due to the difficulty of counting them accurately. They are so
crowded and irregularly arranged anteriorly as to make definite counting
impossible.
Awaous nelsoni seems most closely related to A. taiasica (Lichtenstein),
from which it differs in the larger scales on posterior part of body, the
broader interorbital, the longer snout, and the darker coloration.
I take pleasure in naming this interesting species for Mr. Edward Wil-
liam Nelson, the well-known ornithologist, in recognition of his early
work upon the fishes of Illinois, in 1874-5.
Vol. XII. pp. 5-1 1 January 27, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
/£
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
3
DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW BIRDS FROM THE TRES
MARIAS ISLANDS, WESTERN MEXICO.
BY E. \V. NELSON.
The specimens upon which the present paper is based were
obtained by myself and my assistant, Mr. E. A. Goldman, on the
Tres Marias Islands, off the west coast of Mexico, during May,
1897. Our visit there was a continuation of the work carried on
in Mexico by the Biological Survey of the Department of Agri-
culture.
Special efforts were made to secure series of the resident land
birds, in which we were quite successful. The study of these
series, in connection with our collection from the adjacent main-
land during the same season, indicates that most of the resident
land birds of the islands, not already described, differ in a more
or less marked degree from their nearest mainland relatives. In
most cases the island birds cannot be considered more than geo-
graphical races, although a few differ sufficiently to be treated as
species. Not a single species has been found on the islands which
has not a closely related form on the mainland. The bird fauna
as a whole will be treated in detail in a paper now in course of
preparation.
Previous work on the Tres Marias maybe briefly summarized
as follows: In 1865-1867 the group was visited three times by
Colonel A. J. Grayson, who made extensive collections of birds for
the Smithsonian Institution. From these collections a number of
new species and subspecies have been described at various times
by Baird, Cassin, Lawrence, and Ridgway. In addition, Von
2— Biol Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (5)
6 Nelson — New Birds from Western Mexico.
Madarasz has described a Vireo from a collection made there in
1881 by Mr. A. Forrer. Mr. Xantus is supposed to have visited
the islands during his stay on the west coast of Mexico, but we
have no definite information in regard to his trip.
I am indebted to Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Chief of the Biological
Survey, for the opportunity to prepare the present paper. My
thanks are due also to Mr. Robert Ridgway, Curator, and Dr.
Chas. W. Richmond, Assistant Curator, of Birds in the U. 8.
National Museum, for continued favors during the progress of
my work on Mexican birds.
All of the birds described below, except the Magdalena Wren,
which seemed to be restricted to Magdalena Island, were taken
on Maria Madre Island, and probably occur on the other islands
also.
All measurements are in millimeters.
Columba flavirostris madrensis subsp. now Tres Marias Pigeon.
Type No. 156698, IT. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll., tf ad., Maria
Madre Island, Mexico, May 13, 1897. Collected by E. W. Nelson and
E. A. Goldman.
Description. — Differs from typical C. flavirostris in somewhat larger size;
decidedly larger and longer bill and generally paler colors; lower border
of greater wing coverts broadly margined with white as in Columba gym-
nophthalma. Dimensions of type: wing, 209; tail, 138; culmen, 17;
tarsus, 26.
Average measurements of Columba flavirostris. — $ (4 specimens) : wing,
195.5; tail, 123.5; culmen, 13.7; tarsus, 24.7. 9 (3 specimens): wing,
193; tail, 120.6; culmen, 14.1; tarsus, 25.3.
Average measurements of C. flavirostris madrensis. — <$ (4 specimens) :
wing, 202.7; tail, 129; culmen, 15.7; tarsus, 27.1. 9 (3 specimens):
wing, 201 ; tail, 127; culmen, 16.6; tarsus, 26.3.
A single specimen from the islands lacks the white margins on the
greater wing en verts, but has all the other characters of the insular race,
such as the large hill and pale colors. This is the only one among a dozen
in- more specimens examined which lacked this marking. The mainland
yellow-billed pigeon not infrequently has a narrow margin of white on
the borders of the greater coverts, but I have never seen one in which
this character is so striking as on the ordinary island birds.
Leptotila capitalis subsp. now Tres Marias Dove.
Type No. 156709, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll., ad. tf,
Maria Madre Island, Mexico, May 6, 1897. Collected by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman.
Description of type. — Forehead, and crown to line between middle of
New Birds from Western Mexico. 7
orbits, pale creamy drab, shading abruptly into the purplish iridescence
which overlies remainder of crown and back of neck. This purplish
iridescence on the neck ends abruptly just in front of shoulders, and is
bordered by a narrow band of feathers tipped with greenish iridescence.
Entire dorsal surface, including wings and middle pair of tail feathers,
brown with an olive wash, except on tail and upper tail coverts. Throat
distinctly whitish ; remainder of lower side of neck and thence back over
chest delicate creamy lilac ; abdomen and under tail coverts white with
a pale wash of huffy brown on edges of some of the feathers. Flanks dull
huffy brown ; tail feathers, except middle pair, blackish tipped with
white —this tipping broadest on outer pair of feathers ; under wing coverts
and axillars pale cinnamon. Dimensions of type: wing, 152; tail, 109 ;
culmen, 18.5 ; tarsus, :;:;.
Averages of Leptotila fulvlventris brachyptera. — $ (5 specimens) : wing,
147.8; tail, 108.8; culmen, 16; tarsus, 31.3. $ (3 specimens): wing,
144 3; tail, 104.6; culmen, 15.6; tarsus, 30.6.
Averages of L. capitalis. — $ (5 specimens): wing, 152.5; tail, 110.6;
culmen, 17.9; tarsus, 32 2. $ (3 specimens): wing, 151.6; tail, 107;
culmen, 18.8; tarsus, 30.6.
This species can he distinguished at once from its nearest mainland
relatives, P. fulvlventris said P. fulvlventris brachyptera, by its paler colors
and larger bill. Stragglers of typical brachyptera occur on the islands, as
shown by a specimen obtained there by Col. Grayson, now in the Na-
tional Museum. This specimen is identical with the mainland bird and
shows no sign of approach to the insular species.
Buteo borealis fumosus subsp. now Tres Marias Red-tailed Hawk.
Type No. 156714, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll., ad. <j\
Maria Madre Island, Mexico, May 6, 1897. Collected by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman.
Description. — Entire head and neck nearly uniform smoky brown, with
scarcely a trace of lighter markings on throat or chin. Back and wings
blackish brown; breast and remainder of lower surface, except neck,
heavily marked with dull rusty, smoky brown, and dull whitish or buffy ;
no sign of lighter area on breast; the markings on ventral surface are in
the form of indistinct barrings which are most clearly defined on the
tibia. Dimensions of type : wing, 375; tail, 206; culmen, 26; tarsus, 81.
Averages of Buteo b. socorroensls. — tf (2 specimens) : wing, 387.5; tail,
207.5; culmen, 25; tarsus, 80. $ (1 specimen): wing, 425; tail, 221;
culmen, 30 ; tarsus, 86.
Averages of B. borealis fumosus. — cT (3 specimens): wing, 373.3; tail,
207.3; culmen, 26; tarsus, 81.3. 9 (1 specimen): wing, 412; tail, 214;
culmen, 30 ; tarsus, 84.
The Tres Marias form is darker and more uniformly marked below,
and lacks the lighter areas on throat and breast that are found in B.
borealis socorroensls. On the dorsal surface fumosus is readily distinguish-
able from socorroensls by the uniformly smoky brown head and neck, the
8 Nelson — New Birds from Western Mexico.
rusty edgings to the neck and wing feathers of the latter bird being en.
tirely absent. Curiously enough, although the Tres Marias Islands are
only about one-fifth as far from the coast as Socorro Island, yet the Tres
Marias race is more distinct from B. borealis calurus than is socorroensis.
Polyborus cheriway pallidus subsp. nov. Tres Marias Caracara.
Type No. 156715, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll., J1 ad., Maria
Madre Island, Mexico, May 3, 1897. Collected by E. W. Nelson and
E. A. Goldman.
Description. — General pattern of coloration as in P. cheriway, but much
paler or lighter brown. The darkest adult from the islands is somewhat
paler than the palest adult from the mainland in the considerable series
I have examined. The same proportionately paler colors prevail on im-
mature birds from the islands. The terminal black band on the tail of
the island bird averages narrower, and the other dark bars on the tail are
fainter. The light and dark markings on back at base of neck are in the
form of regular bars instead of being broken into a roughly wavy pattern
by the oval form of the black areas on the featliers, as in specimens of
cheriway from the mainland of Mexico. The wing, tail, and tarsus aver-
age shorter than in cheriway of the Mexican mainland, bill about the
same. Dimensions of type : wing, 370; tail, 198 ; culmen, 32; tarsus, 86-
Averages of Polyborus cheriway (from mainland of Mexico). — r^ (4 speci-
mens): wing, 392; tail, 208.7; culmen, 32.5; tarsus, 90.7. 9 (2 speci-
mens): wing, 396.5; tail, 217.5; culmen, 33.5; tarsus, 89.
Averages of P. cheriway pallidus. — tf (4 specimens): wing, 370.7; tail,
194; culmen, 32 ; tarsus, 86.5. $ (4 specimens) : wing, 386.5; tail, 205 ;
culmen, 32.7 ; tarsus, 88.
A specimen from the mainland adjacent to the Tres Marias group ap-
proximates the island form, and a series might prove the birds from that
district to be intermediate.
Trogon ambiguus goldmani subsp. nov. Goldman's Trogon.
Type No. 156752, U. S. Nat, Mus., Biological Survey Coll., ad. cT,
Maria Madre Island, Mexico, May 10, L897. Collected by E. YV. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman.
Description. — Males decidedly greener above than typical ambiguus, with
very little of the coppery iridescence characteristic of the latter. Females
and young differ still more, their backs being decidedly ashy and having
much paler rufous on middle tail feathers ; exposed parts of scapulars,
tertiaries, and wing coverts gray, mottled with fine, wavy, black lines
with slight indication of the brown which forms the main color of these
feathers in ambiguus proper; colors of lower parts decidedly paler. In
size the two forms differ but little. Dimensions of type : wing, 128;
tail, 148; culmen, 20; tarsus, 17.
Averages of Trogon ambiguus. — (^ (4 specimens) : wing, 131 ; tail, 161.2;
culmen, 19.5; tarsus, 16.7. 9 (1 specimen) : wing, 127; tail, 170; cul-
men, 18.5 ; tarsus, 17.
Neiu Birds from Western Mexico. 0
Averages of T. ambiguus goldmani. — -f (4 specimens) : wing, 130.7 ;
tail, 153.2 : culmen, 19.7 ; tarsus, 17. $ CI specimen) : wing, 134; tail,
167; culmen, 19; tarsus, IS.
Nyctidrornus albicollis insularis subsp. nov. Tres Marias Parauque.
Type No. 156765, U. S. Nat, Mus., Biological Survey Coll., ad. cT>
-Maria Madre Island, Mexico, May JO, 1S97. Collected by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman.
Description. — The island birds can be distinguished from N. albicollis, of
the adjacent mainland, by uniformly duller, more grayish brown colors
of entire dorsal surface and broader transverse dark 'bars on lower sur-
face, especially on abdomen and flanks. The culmen and tarsus are rel-
atively shorter and wings and tail longer. Dimensions of type : wing,
173; tail, 169; culmen, 11 ; tarsus, 26.
Averages of Nyctidrornus albicollis (from mainland of Mexico). — $ (5
specimens): wing, 158.4; tail, 146.6; culmen, 11.2; tarsus, 26.5. $ (5
specimens): wing, 152.6; tail, 136; culmen, 11; tarsus, 25.9.
Averages of N. alb ',<■<, His insularis. — c? (5 specimens) : wing, 170.6 ; tail,
162.4; culmen, 10.9; tarsus, 25.9. 9 (5 specimens) : wing, 168.4; tail,
154.4; culmen, 11.6; tarsus, 25.8.
A notable feature of insularis, shown in the series before me, is its re-
markable constancy of coloration compared with the amount of variation
in the large number of mainland specimens examined. The latter show
a wide range of color from grayish to rufous. A single specimen in the
island series has a slight rufous shading, but agrees with the others in
size. In the mainland series a specimen from Ixtapa, Jalisco, is colored
like insularis, but agrees with other birds from the same region in its
smaller size.
Myiopagis placens minimus subsp. nov. Little Green Flycatcher.
Type No. 156817, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll., ad. -f , Maria
Madre Island, Mexico, May 10, 1807. Collected by E. W. Nelson and
E. A. Goldman.
Description. — Similar to M. placens, but grayer, especially about head
and neck ; top of head and neck lighter than rest of dorsal surface in-
stead of darker, as in the mainland form. The island form averages
smaller than true placens. Dimensions of type: wing, 64.5; tail, 66;
culmen, 12; tarsus, 19.5.
Averages of Myiopagis placens. — $ and 9 (8 specimens) : wing, 68.2 ;
tail, 65.8; culmen, 11.2; tarsus, 19.1.
Averages of M. placens minimus. — $ (? specimens): wing, 64.9; tail,
64.8; culmen, 11.8; tarsus, 19.4. ? (5 specimens) : wing, 65.5; tail, 63 ;
culmen, 11.6; tarsus, 19.2.
In the National Museum is a typical specimen of placens taken on the
Tres Marias by Col. Grayson, showing that it occurs there as a straggler.
10 Nelson — New Birds from Western Mexico.
Cardiualis cardinalis mariae subsp. nov. Tres Maria Cardinal.
Type No. 1561)07, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll., ad. rj\ Maria
Madre Island, Mexico, May 3, 1897. Collected by E. W. Nelson and
E. A. Goldman.
Description. — Males most like tbose of C. cardinalis igneus, but red of
under parts deeper and richer, lacking tbe pinkish suffusion notable in
igneus; color of back also richer, and feathers less edged with gray.
The females of the two forms are more distinct than the males. ('.
mariae has a large whitish throat area, and the entire abdomen is whitish,
thus confining the main huffy area of lower parts to a broad pectoral
band. The bill is more swollen ; the wing is longer and tail shorter than
in igneus. Dimensions of type: wing, 101; tail, 103; culmen, 20; tarsus,
29.
Averages of Cardinalis c. igneus. — cj (4 specimens): wing, 94.5 ; tail,
106; culmen, 20; tarsus, 26.6. 9 (3 specimens) : wing, 91.6; tail, 104.3;
culmen, 20; tarsus, 26.8.
Averages of C. c. mariae. — $ (4 specimens): wing, 97.7; tail, 98.7;
culmen, 20.5; tarsus, 28.9. 9 (4 specimens): wing, 91.7; tail, 89.7;
culmen, 19.9; tarsus, 28.2.
Vireo hypochryseus soididus subsp. nov. Tres Marias Yireo.
Type No. 156898, IT. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll., ad. J1, Maria
Madre Island, Mexico, May 13, 1897. Collected by E. W. Nelson and
E. A. Goldman.
Description. — Differs from V. hypochryseus in duller, more olive green on
dorsal surface, and dingier, more greenish yellow under parts. The bill
is darker horn color and larger than in true hypochryseus. Dimensions of
type: wing, 66; tail, 61 ; culmen, 13; tarsus, 21.
Averages of Vireo hypochryseus. — $ (5 specimens): wing, 63.4; tail,
57.8; culmen, 12.4; tarsus, 19.5. 9 (2 specimens) : wing, 63 ; tail, 55.5;
culmen, 12; tarsus, 20.
Averages of V. hypochryseus sordidus. — -tf (7 specimens): wing, 67.3;
tail, 60.3; culmen, 13.3; tarsus, 21. 9 (3 specimens): wing, 66.3; tail,
60.7; culmen, 12.7; tarsus, 21.1.
Melanotis caerulescens longirostiis subsp. nov. Tres Marias Blue
Mockingbird.
Type No. 156923, IT. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll., ad tf, Maria
Madre Island, Mexico, May 4, 1897. Collected by E. W. Nelson and
E. A. Goldman.
Description of type. — General color dull slaty blue with a grayish cast;
top of head and all of neck and breast paler than rest of body ; remainder
of lower parts dull grayish blue (becoming smoky bluish in some speci-
mens) ; back, rump, scapulars, and wing coverts dull slaty blue. Two
central tail feathers and outer web of other rectrices same as back ; rest
New Birds from Western Mexico. 11
of tail dull black ; lores, ear coverts, and fore part of chin black. Dimen-
sions of type: wing, 101 ; tail, 104; culmen, 29; tarsus, 32.
Averages of Melanotis cserulescens. — tf (4 specimens): wing, 115.5; tail,
125.5 ; culmen, 24.9 ; tarsus, 31.2. $ (1 specimen) : wing, 106 ; tail, 111;
culmen, 24.5; tarsus, 29.
Averages of M. cserulescens longirostris. — rf (3 specimens) : wing, 104.6;
tail, 105; culmen, 29; tarsus, 30.6. 9 (1 specimen): wing, 108; tail,
102; culmen, 29; tarsus, 32.
The grayer colors, smaller size, and larger bill are the main points dis-
tinguishing this form from typical cserulescens.
Thryothorus lawrencii magdalenae subsp. now Magdalena Island
Wren.
Type No. 156943, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll., ad. $, Mag-
dalena Island, Mexico, May 28, 1897. Collected by E. W. Nelson and
E. A. Goldman.
Description of type. — Back warm umber brown with a slight grayish wash;
top of head and neck deeper, purer rufescent than back ; rump and upper
tail coverts lighter, brighter rufescent than back ; wings and middle tail
feathers rufous brown ; tail irregularly barred with blackish brown and
whitish, the latter color more or less heavily shaded with dull rufous
brown ; a distinct white supra-loral stripe from base of bill to nape ; sides
of head and neck indistinctly marked with blackish lines ; chin, throat,
breast, and middle of abdomen white; sides of breast and flanks reddish
brown; under tail coverts whitish with a shaft line and spot (or bar) of
blackish In-own near tips. Dimensions of type: wing, .55; tail, 55; cul-
men, 16.5; tarsus, 21.
Average of 3 adult males of Thryothorus lawrencii. — Wing, 60 ; tail, 55.6 ;
culmen, 17.2; tarsus, 22.
This form combines certain characters of typical T. felix with those of
T. lawrencii. The rufous on the crown and nape is even deeper than in
typical felix, while the white lower parts are as in true lawrencii.
Compared with a specimen of felix from Ometepec, Guerrero, believed
to be typical, magdalense has a pure white area covering most of lower
parts in place of the rich rufous of felix. The rufous of the flanks is paler ;
under tail coverts less barred ; crown and rump nearly the same shade of
rufous; back a little grayer; sides of head much less heavily streaked
with black.
From lawrencii it may be distinguished by its much richer colored or
more rufous upper parts, by somewhat heavier dark streaking on the side
of the head and neck, and by the richer wash of rufous on the flanks.
Vol. XII, pp. 13-19 January 27, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
MAMMALS OF TRES MARIAS ISLANDS, OFF WESTERN
MEXICO.
BY C. HART MERRIAM.
Mr. E. W. Nelson spent the month of May, 1897, on the Tres
Marias Islands in the interest of the Biological Survey of the
U. S. Department of Agriculture. This visit has resulted in a
la rue increase in knowledge of the fauna and flora of the islands.
The new birds are described b}r Mr. Nelson in a preceding bro-
chure of the present volume; the new mammals are named in
the present paper.
In the Mammal volume of the ' Biologia Centrali-Americana '
it is stated that according to Mr. Forrer, a collector who visited
the islands in 1881, only three indigenous land mammals, be-
sides bats, occur there. These are a rabbit, a raccoon, and a
pigmy opossum. Mr. Nelson obtained all of these and two addi-
tional genera, a rat (Oryzomys) and a white- footed mouse (Per-
omyscus), and these in spite of Mr. Forrer's statement that "the
inhabitants know of no rats or mice whatever in the islands,
except, of course, the cosmopolitan Mas decumanus " (p. 212).
The introduced rat brought back by Mr. Nelson is not the com-
mon or Norway rat (Mus decumanus), but the Roof rat or gray
phase of the Black rat (Mas rattus).
Mr. Nelson and his assistant, Mr. E. A. Goldman, collected 146
specimens of mammals, representing nine species, of which the
introduced rat is one, three are bats, and five are indigenous ter-
restrial land mammals. Of the latter, the rabbit is peculiar to
the islands, and was described by Allen in 1877 ; the remaining
four I have compared critically with the most closel}' related
3— Bior.. Sue. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (13)
14 Merriam — Mammals from Tres Marias Islands.
species from the mainland, and find that they differ in such pro-
nounced characters that I am forced to describe them as distinct.
One of the bats also is here described as new.
The raccoon was recorded in ' Biologia ' as the South Ameri-
can Procyon cancrivorus, but with a series of eight specimens before
me I am unable to detect any characters by which it can be re-
ferred to that species. Its affinities, on the other hand, are dis-
tinctly with P. loto'r and P. lotor hernandezi, of which it appears
to be merely a pale form, possessing slight though constant
cranial differences. In view of these facts, I have described it
as a new subspecies of lotor. Those who insist on intergradation
as the touchstone of subspecies will have to set it up as a full
species.
The alleged occurrence of P. cancrivorus on the Tres Marias is
cited in ' Biologia ' " as furnishing another instance of the pecu-
liar affinity of their fauna to that of Southern Central America ''
(p. 209). Mr. Nelson's collections, however, show that not only
the raccoon and all the other mammals, but also the birds, rep-
tiles, and plants, are closely related to species now living on the
adjacent mainland of Mexico.
One of the bats obtained by Mr. Forrer is recorded by Mr.
Thomas as a young specimen of Chceronycleris mexicanus. Inas-
much as this species was not obtained by Mr. Nelson, whereas
the commonest bat of the island, a Glossophaga, was not recorded
from Forrer's collection, and since the two genera are closely re-
lated, is it not possible that a reexamination of the Forrer speci-
men will show it to be a Glossopha.ga instead of a CJu~e.ro nycter is f
Assuming tins to be the case, 10 indigenous land mammals are
known from the islands. Of these, five, or exactly half, are bats ;
of the others, one is a Marsupial ; one a Carnivore, and three are
Rodents.
Of marine mammals three are recorded, a seal and two por-
poises, but since only one of these was obtained, the identifica-
tion of the other two is uncertain.
Maimosa insularis sp. now Tres Marias Pigmy Opossum,
Type from Maria Madre Island Mexico. No. 89215 J1 ad., U. S. Nat.
Mas., Biological Survey Coll. Collected May 16, 1897, by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman. Original No. 11028.
Characters. — Size and general appearance as in .1/. canescens, but ears
larger, tail longer, fore feet smaller, color more fulvous, skull longer and
more slender.
Mammals from Tres Marias Islands. 15
Color. — Upper parts drab brown suffused with pale dull fulvous, purest
and strongest on sides of neck ; black rings around eyes broader, and
reaching farther forward on sides of nose, than in M. canescens ; median
facial stripe huffy fulvous, narrower and more sharply defined than in
canescens ; under parts huffy yellow, deepest on throat and breast. In the
4 specimens examined there is no white on the tail ; canescens commonly
has the terminal part white.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of canescens but longer, de-
cidedly narrower and more slender; brain case more rounded; rostrum,
palate, and base of skull between audital bullae conspicuously narrower.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 270; tail vertebras 167;
hind foot 19.5. Average of 3 males from type locality : Total length 285;
tail vertebrae 170 ; hind foot 20.
Remarks. — Five specimens of this pretty little opossum were obtained
on Maria Madre Island and present practically no individual variation.
Mr. Nelson states that the species was common in the forest on top of the
ridge which extends along the middle of Maria Madre Island.
Oryzomys nelsoni sp. now Nelson's Rice Rat.
Type from Maria Madre Island, Tres Marias Islands, Mexico. No.
89200 cT ad., U. S. Nat. Mas., Biological Survey Collection. Collected
May 13, 1897, by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Original No. 11022.
Characters. — Size large (decidedly larger than O. meodcanus) ; tail exceed-
ingly long and nearly naked ; ears medium, scant haired and rattier pale ;
color yellowish fulvous ; skull large and massive.
Color. — Upper parts dull yellowish fulvous, slightly darkened on head
and back by blackish hairs, becoming pale huffy ochraceous on flanks
and thighs ; underparts white, the plumbeous underfill' showing through
in places ; tail dark except on proximal J or \ of under side which is pale
yellowish ; hind feet scantily haired with whitish hairs.
Cranial and dental characters. — -Skull very large and massive, increasing
in length (but not in breadth) with age ; interparietal very broad antero-
P< interiorly. Contrasted with O. meodcanus Allen, the skull is very much
larger and heavier (even the 9 being much larger than the rf of meod-
canus) ; the rostrum decidedly larger ; the interparietal broader antero-
posterior^, and the molar teeth relatively as well as actually much
broader.
Measurements. — Type specimen, <$ ad. : Total length 342 ; tail vertebras
190 ; hind foot 38. An adult $ : Total length 320 ; tail vertebra 185 ;
hind foot 37. Average of 2 adult males from type locality : Total length
343; tail vertebras 190.5; hind foot 38.5.
Remarks. — Mr. Nelson found this new species living in damp thickets
and about springs near the summit of Maria Madre Island, where four
specimens were obtained.
16 Merriam — Mammals from Tres Marias Islands.
Peromyscus madrensis sp. now Tres Marias Mouse.
Type from Maria Madre Id., Tres Marias Islands, Mexico. No. 89223
c? ad. U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected May 18, 1897,
by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 11040.
diameters. — Size rather large ; tail long and scant haired ; ears medium ;
color dull pale fulvous; skull without superciliary ridges. In general,
similar to P. spicilegus Allen, but much larger, with longer tail and shorter
ears.
Color. — Upper parts pale dull fulvous (almost ochraceous buff] with an
indistinct darker dorsal band on posterior half of back ; under parts, lips
and feet white ; a salmon or fulvous pectoral spot or streak usually pres-
ent; a dark spot on upper side of ankle ; eyelids dark; ears essentially
same color as body ; tail dark above and at tip all round ; whitish below.
Cranial characters. — Skull rather flat and smoothly rounded; rostrum
elongate ; no supraorbital ridges. Compared with P. spicilegus, its nearest
known ally from the mainland of Mexico, the skull of P. madrensis is
larger, the brain case decidedly broader and flatter ; the molar series of
teeth actually of the same length (relatively shorter) and somewhat
broader.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 222; tail vertebra? 119;
hind foot 26. Average of 12 specimens from type locality : Total length
224; tail vertebra 120; hind foot 26.
Remarks — This mouse, according to Mr. Nelson's notes, is the most com-
mon rodent on the islands. He says: " Specimens were taken on all
three islands. They were generally distributed in the forest above the
shore belt wdiich is infested by land crabs, and were found more com-
monly about the fig trees on the high interior ridge of Maria Madre than
elsewhere." Specimens from Cleofa Id. are larger than those from Maria
Madre Id. (average of 3: total length 229.5 ; tail vertebrae 120; hind foot
27.8) and have larger and heavier skulls. Two specimens from Magda-
lena Id. have a pale saffron-yellow wash on the belly, probably due to
staining.
Mus rattus Linn. Introduced Rat.
Mr. Nelson states that this introduced rat, of which he brought back
two specimens, was found in small numbers over most parts of Maria
Madre Id., where it lives in the forest like the native mice.
Lepus graysoni Allen. Tres Marias Cottontail.
Lepus graysoni Allen, Monog. N. Am. Rodentia, 347-348, 1877. Type from
Tres Marias Ids., Mexico.
Mr. Nelson obtained 16 specimens of this very desirable rabbit. He
states that the species occurs abundantly on the two larger islands, Maria
Madre and Magdalena, and the small San Juanito, and is reported to
occur on Maria Cleofa Island also.
Mammals from. Tres Marias Islands. \i
Procyon lotor insularis subsp. nov. Tres Marias Raccoon.
Type from Maria Madre Island, Tres Marias Ids., Mexico. No. 88978
c? old, IT. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected May 10, 1897,
by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Grig. No. 10985.
Characters. — Similar to P. lotor and hernandezi but smaller and paler;
ears smaller and only slightly marked at base ; top of head grayer.
Cranial characters. — Skull in general similar to those of /'. lotor ami her-
nandezi but relatively shorter ; frontals at and behind plane of postorbital
processes broader ; squamosal arm of Z3'gomatic arch more expanded ver-
tically; mastoid processes decidedly shor er and thicker; pterygoids
squarely truncate anteriorly and of even breadth throughout (as seen
from below), instead of tapering anteriorly to a thin point or scale as in
both lotor and hernandi :i ; audital bulbe slightly smaller than in hernan-
dezi, decidedly smaller an 1 less inflated than in lotor.
Dental characters. — Premolars somewhat larger and more crowded than
inlotor; upper carnassial as in lotor — smaller than in hernandezi ; first
upper molar about the same size as in lotor and similar in form, smaller
than in hernandezi and much less quadrate.
Measurements. — Type specimen $ ad. : Total length 854 ; tail vertebrae
28(5; hind foot 132. An adult J : Total length 735; tail vertebrae 232;
hind foot 120. Average of 5 adult males from type locality : Total length
841 ; tail vertebrae 287; hind foot 131.
Remarks. — Mr. Nelson found the Raccoon common on the two larger
islands, Maria Madre and Maria Magdalena, but saw no signs of them on
Maria Cleofa although told that they occur there sparingly.
? Zalophus callforuianus (Lesson). Sea-Lion.
In the absence of positive knowledge as to the identity of the Tres
Marias seal, it is referred provisionally to the above species. It is of
course possible that the Guadalupe fur-seal [Arctocephalus townsendi) may
occur here also.
Mr. Nelson's notes contain the following: "A large seal or sea-lion,
called lobo marino or sea wolf by the Mexicans, was reported to occur at
several places on the rocky shores of Maria Magdalena and Maria Cleofa
Islands. We beard of them first before leaving San Bias and again when
we reached the islands. From the accounts received it was evident that
they had been hunted for sport by various visitors until they had become
comparatively scarce. We made careful inquiries, and, after learning of
the location of the places most frequented by them on both islands, vis-
ited these places under the guidance of a tortoise-shell hunter who was
very familiar with the shore. Only a single seal was seen ; it was on a
rocky islet off the shore of Maria Cleofa, and took to the water and dis-
appeared before we could get a shot. Cur guide informed me that at
times the seals disappear from the islands for a few days, and this may
account for our failure to find them in their usual haunts. The consensus
of opinion among the residents of Maria Madre Island was that these
animals are now very scarce. Formerly they were found at many places,
18 Merriam — Mammals from Tres Marias Islands.
but at present a rocky point on the northwest side, and a jutting reef on
the south side of Maria Magdalena Island, and some islets off the west
shore of Maria Cleofa, are the landing places used by the remnants of the
considerable number that once lived here. They are doubtless doomed
to speedy extinction."
Rhogeessa parvula H. Allen. Tres Marias Rhogeessa.
Rhogeessa parvula H. Allen, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 285, 1866. Type
from Tres Marias Ids., Mexico.
A single badly mutilated specimen of this little known bat was shot on
Maria Madre Id., where, according to Mr. Nelson's notes, it is " not un-
common in the forest."
Myotis nigricans (Maximilian). Maximilian's Black Bat.
Mr. Thomas states that " a specimen of this species was obtained by
Mr. Forrer in the Tres Marias Islands." (Biologia Centrali-Americana,
Mammalia, 206. 1881.)
Otopterus mexicanus (Saussure). Big-eared Bat.
Macrotus mexicanus Saussure, Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 2e ser. XII, 486-487,
1860. Type from Yautepec, Morelos, Mexico.
This large long-eared bat is very common on Maria Madre Id., where
Mr. Nelson collected 52 specimens. He found it in the daytime in two
or three caves, and also in an old unused warehouse. The females were
heavy with young at the time of his visit (May, 1897). I have compared
Mr. Nelson's Tres Marias specimens with specimens collected by him
near the type locality of Saussure' s 'Macrotus mexicanus' in the State of
Morelos, Mexico, and find no tangible differences except that the ears of
the island specimens are slightly the larger. I have also compared both
series with a fine series of topotypes of Otopterus bulleri (II. Allen) from
BolafLos, Jalisco, and am unable to find any characters on which the
latter form can stand.
Glossophaga mutica sp. nov. Tres Marias Glossophaga.
Type from Maria Madre Id. , Tres Marias Ids. , Mexico. No. 89271 <$ ad. ,
U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected May 8, 1S97, by E. W.
Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 10976.
Characters. — Similar to G. soricina (Pallas) and G. truei H. Allen, but
differing in proportions and color — reddish brown instead of gray or
sooty.
Color. — Fur of upper parts with basal £ dull white ; apical \ dull cinna-
mon brown ; under parts similar but much paler.
Cranial and dental characters. — In the absence of authentic skulls of
G. soricina and truei for comparison it is impossible to differentiate the
cranial characters of G. mutica. The rostrum is rather broad, flat, and
swollen ; a rounded protuberance over each orbit marks the junction of
the rostrum with the braincase ; the braincase is abruptly elevated and
Mammals from Tres Marias Islands. 19
strongly inflated and arched ; the basisphenoid is strongly keeled along
the median line and its posterior fourth is abruptly elevated and has a
pocket or fossa on each side between the audital bullae, and on the same
plane with the basioccipital ; the zygomatic arches are slender, nearly
parallel, rods ; the upper canines divaricate so strongly that they are con-
spicuous when the skull is viewed from above ; the premolars are narrow
and well spaced ; the molars are small and weak.
Measurements of type specimen, $ a(^- : Total length (in flesh) 65 mm. ;
tail vertebrae (in flesh) 8 ; [following measurements from dry skin] fore-
arm 35.5 ; metacarpal of 3d (longest) digit 35.5 ; tibia 14 ; ear from ante-
rior basal angle 9 ; tragus from outer base 4.5.
Remark*. — Mr. Nelson obtained 37 specimens of this new Glossophaga
on Maria Madre Id., where he found it inhabiting caves. Many of the
females contained partly developed embryos.
Chceronycteris mexicana Tschudi. Tschudi's Hat.
Chceronycteris mexicana Tschudi, Fauna Peruana, I, 72-73, 1844. Type
from Mexico.
"An immature specimen of this somewhat rare species is contained in
Mr. Forrei-'s Tres Marias collection." — (Mr. Thomas in Biologia Centrali-
Americana, 207, 1881). As already suggested, it would be worth while
to reexamine this specimen with reference to the possibility of its being
Glossophaga mutica.
Lasiuius borealis mexicana (Sauss.). Mexican Red Bat.
Alalapha mexicana Saussure, Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 2e ser. XIII, 91,
March, 1861. Type from Mexico.
This species was not obtained by Mr. Nelson, but is recorded by Thomas
(under the old name Atalapha frantzii) as collected by Forrer on the Tres
Marias. (Biologia, Mammalia, 205, 1881.)
? Phocaena communis Lesson. Common Porpoise.
Mr. Nelson states that "a porpoise, supposed to be this species, was
common around the shores of the Tres Marias Islands, and also in bays
and at the mouths of sti'eams or lagoons along the coast of the mainland.
They were always seen in the belt of shallow discolored water within a
short distance of shore. As soon as the blue water was reached, with a
depth of over 40 fathoms, the other species, Prodelphinus longirostris, was
encountered. The present species was seen in school's of from ten to
thirty or forty individuals swimming in loose order. At Maria Madre
they came into the bay and close along shore early in the morning."
Prodelphinus longirostris (Gray). Long-nosed Porpoise.
Mr. Goldman shot a porpoise 12 to 15 miles off the islands, which Mr.
F. W. True has kindly identified as Prodelphinus longirostris (Gray). Mr.
Nelson states that there were probably 200 in the school from which this
specimen was secured, and that a number of such schools were seen
between San Bias and the islands.
Vol. XII, pp. 21-22 January 27, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
A NEW SPECIES OF EVOTOMYS FROM BRITISH
COLUMBIA.
BY VERNON BAILEY.
Since the publication of my revision of the genus Evotomys in
the Proceedings of the Biological Society last May,* a large series
of specimens has been collected in the Pacific Coast region from
northern California northward into British Columbia. The known
ranges of several species have been considerably extended, and
one form, inhabiting the low coast country of southern British
Columbia, proves to be undescribed. It seems to be entirely dis-
tinct from neighboring species and worthy of full specific rank.
In external characters it most nearly resembles E. wrangeli,bu.t
in cranial characters shows the opposite extreme of develop-
ment in the short, wide skull. With its geographically nearest
neighbors, E. occidentalis and E. satufatus, on the south, it shows
no close affinities, being distinguished from them at a glance by
its very short tail and smaller size.
Evotomys caurinus sp. rtov.
Type from Lund, east shore of Malaspina Inlet, British Columbia. No.
89460, $ ad., U. S. Nat. Mas., Biological Survey Coll. Collected July 18,
1897, by Edward A. Preble. Original No. 2147.
Geographic distribution. — The coast region of British Columbia east of
the Strait of Georgia and south to the Frazer River.
General characters. — -Size rather small; colors dark; tail very short;
skull short and wide, with narrow rostrum and rather small audital bulla?.
Color. — In summer : dorsal area well defined, dark, rich, chestnut dark-
*Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XI, 113-138, May 13, 1897.
4— Hioi. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (21)
22 Bailey — New Species of Evotomys from British Columbia.
ened with black tipped hairs; sides sepia gray tinged with pale buff;
spots over side glands of males whitish or dusky ; face clear dark gray ;
belly washed with whitish or rarely huffy ; ears dusky, scantily haired ;
tail bicolor, chestnut or dusky above with blackish tip, buffy below ; feet
soiled whitish or slightly dusky. In winter: dorsal area brighter, more
rufescent than in summer ; sides clearer gray. Young : darker than adults,
with dusky bellies, feet and tails.
Cranial characters. — Skull short and wide with spreading zygomata and
very narrow nasals and rostrum ; nasals truncate posteriorly and ter-
minating even with ends of premaxillae ; audital bullae small and flat-
tened compared with those of occidentalis or saturatus, about equal to
those of wrangeli but wider and flatter ; incisors small and slender ;
molars small and crowded longitudinally ; anterior loop of second and
third upper molars usually indented; middle pair of triangles usually
confluent in each lower molar.
Measurements of type specimen. — (Measured in flesh by E. A. Preble) :
total length, 135; tail vertebrae, 34; hind foot, 18. Average of 5 adults
from type locality: total length, 135; tail vertebrae, 36; hind foot, 18.
Skull of type: basal length, 21; nasals, 6.2; zygomatic breadth, 13.3;
mastoid breadth, 10.8 ; alveolar length of upper molar series, 4.9.
Remarks. — The type series of 10 specimens shows only summer pelage
and young; a specimen taken at Agassiz, B. C, Dec. 6, is in nearly full
winter pelage.
Vol. XII, pp. 23-26 January 27, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
5L
V,
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW DEER (DORCELAPHUS
TEXANUS) FROM TEXAS AND NORTHERN MEXICO.
BY EDGAR A. MEARNS.
The small white-tailed deer of Texas differs so materially in
size, proportions, coloration, and cranial characters from the other
members of the Dorcelaphus americanus* group as to necessitate
its separation. It may be known by the following description :
Dorcelaphus texanus new species. Texan Deer.
Type from Fort Clark, Kinney County, Texas. No. 4288, author's col-
lection.! Adult male. Collected December 25, 1897, by Dr. Edgar A.
Mearns.
General characters. — Size small; ears relatively small, with black on
edges and tip ; horns small and strongly incurved ; limbs relatively short ;
molar and premolar teeth very large; general color pale; coat fine and
long.
* In the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, vol. X,
February, 1896, page 25, Mr. Outram Bangs reverted to the specific name
americanus with the following remark: "The name Cervm virginianus
Boddaert is so well known and has stood for our eastern deer so long that
it seems like sacrilege to change it, but it is antedated by seven years by
Erxlehen's name Cervus dama americana. Erxleben proposed this name
on page 312 of his Syst. Regni Animalis, Mammalia, 1777. In a separate
paragraph at the end of his article on Cervus dama he asks if americanus
is different, as supposed by Pennant (Differtne vere americanus vti Pen.
nanto videtur ?). He quotes a part of Pennant's description and gives
synonomy, so that the name will have to stand. He gives its distribution
as Virginia and Carolina."
t The type and other specimens collected will be placed, as soon as pos-
sible, in the collection of the U. S. National Museum, at Washington, D. C.
o— Hiol. Sou. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (23)
24 Mearns — A New Deer from Terns and Northern Mexico.
Color. — In the type, which is in complete winter coat, the upper sur-
face is superficially a pepper-and-salt mixture of Mack, yellowish white,
and gray. A distinctly blackish area begins anteriorly on the crown, be-
tween the horns and ears, and extends posteriorly almost to the root of
the tail. The color gradually pales to light yellowish ash on the sides.
All of the hairs of the upper surface are white at extreme base, plumbe-
ous ash in the middle, black apically, and subterminally ringed with yel-
lowish white, these whitish annul i increasing in width from the verte-
bral area downwards. Under surface pure white on the axillae, inner
surface of thighs, and abdomen; fuliginous on the chest. Tail white
below, black above, the black of the upper surface much obscured by
broad yellowish brown subterminal annuli to the hairs. Head, with
naked nose-pad, and front of under lip, plumbeous-black. Iris yellowish
hazel. Upper jaw white anteriorly, next to the naked muffle, becoming
light ash further back, with an intervening area of black, which latter
forms a triangular area, with its base applied to the posterior margin of
the nostril and its apex crossing the middle of the upper lip and extend-
ing over the under jaw to form a small black spot behind the pure white
chin. Throat white, mixed with ash where the basal coloring of the
hair is exposed, between the white tips. Upper side of head black, much
obscured on the forehead by dirty white and reddish subterminal annuli.
Orbits and base of ear externally whitish. Concavity of ear densely
clothed with long wdiite hair; convexity tipped and bordered by black,
except at base anteriorly, the black enclosing an area of pepper-and-salt
gray ; base of ear posteriorly clear ash-gray. Sides of head ash-gray,
thickly annulated with whitish. Brows and bristles about eyes all black ;
those about muzzle black and white. Limbs reddish fawn, more or less
mixed with gray and black anteriorly, whitish or pale fawn color pos-
teriorly, and white around hoofs and between toes. Hoofs plumbeous,
horn color where worn off at apex. The metatarsal gland, which meas-
ures 15 mm. in length, is surrounded by a tuft of reversed hair, which is
white in the middle, bordered by dark brown.
A young male, an old female, and a young female (Nos. 4289, 4290, and
4291, author's collection) killed with the type December 25, 1897, and
also in full winter pelage, agree essentially in coloration with the adult
male described above, except that the ears and crown of head are blacker,
and the light annulations on the upper side of the tail nearly or quite
wanting, leaving that part clear black.
The summer coat, as usual, is reddish.
Horn*. — The horns of the type approach those of the Sonoran deer, Dor-
celaphus couesi (Coues and Yarrow), in size and form. There are two basal
snags, one directed upward and backward (length 75 mm.), and one for-
ward (length 37 mm.), with four additional points to each horn, making
twelve points in all. The length of the beam, measured to end of anterior
point, following the curves of the horn, is 440 mm. The horns are symmet-
rical, their longest points measuring 175 mm. in height. The beam is
strongly curved upward, forward, and inward, the tips of the anterior tines
.1 New Deer from Texas and Northern Mexico. 25
approaching within 70 mm. of each other. The total expanse of the horns
is 330 mm. ; the circumference of heam, at hase, 80 mm.
Measurements of type. — Length, measured from end of muzzle to end of
last caudal vertebra, 15S5 mm. ; tail vertebrae, 265 (to end of hairs 345) ;
ear from crown, 160; ear from base of opening, 140; girth of chest, 800;
from tip of nose to angle of mouth, 90; to eye, 152; to center of pupil,
170; to base of ear, 225 ; to base of horn, 220; to occiput, 280 ; diameter
of eye, 2(i ; fore limb, from coracoid process of scapula to end of hoof,
700; from olecranon, 575; length of maims, 325; hind limb, from knee-
joint to end of hoof, 625 ; length of pes, 430 ; height of animal at shoulder,
880; height at hips, 900; from great trochanter to coracoid, 710.
Cranial ami dental characters. — The skull is narrow, with elongate nasals.
That of the type, an old male in which the permanent premolars are con-
siderably worn, presents the following measurements: basilar length
(basion to front of premaxillary), 244 mm.; zygomatic breadth (across
middle of orbits), 114; occipito-nasal length, 208; least interorbital
breadth, 71 ; greatest length of nasals, 81 ; greatest breadth of nasals, 31 ;
least breadth of nasals, 18.5; greatest diameter of orbit, 38 ; length of
upper lateral tooth-row, 24. The skull of an old female (Xo. 4290, author's
collection) presents these dimensions : basilar length, 241 mm. ; zygo-
matic breadth, 96 ; greatest length of nasals, 81; greatest breadth of
nasals, 26; greatest diameter of orbit, 35. In the type specimen the
nasal and premaxillary bones are separated by a space of 10 mm., which
is occupied by a forward arm of the maxillary. In a young male (No.
4289, author's collection), having three points and a basal snag to each
horn, the nasal and premaxillary bones barely meet. In an old female
(No. 4290, authors collection) and a yearling female (Xo. 4291, author's
collection), the premaxillaries articulate broadly with the nasals.
Remarks. — Numerous skins of this deer from Texas, and Mexico south
to San Luis Potosi, have been examined and found to agree in size and
coloration with those above described. The horns vary within ordinary
limits; but those of the type represent the usual size and form, except
that there is more often but one basal snag. The bucks weigh in the
neighborhood of 100 pounds, and the does about 75 pounds.
While the Texan deer differs sufficiently from the white-tailed deer of
southern Mexico and Central America, as well as from the forms recog-
nized in the United States, to warrant its separation, the available mate-
rial is insufficient to furnish a reliable indication as to its intergradation
with them. Therefore, forthe present, it is proper to regard it as a species.
Comparisons. — The type locality of Dorcelaphus americanus (Erxleben)
was given as Virginia and Carolina. Compared with specimens from
that general region, D. texanus is found to differ in being much smaller
and paler, with actually as well as relatively heavier dentition. Between
the ranges of these two, a very different form is interposed in the low-
lands of Louisiana.
The Floridan deer, Dorcelaphus osceola (Bangs) is even darker in color
than D. americanus. Compared with the present form, it is larger, with
26 Mearns — A Neiv Deer from Texas and Northern Mexico.
relatively longer limbs, larger horns, smaller teeth, and more elongate
rostrum.
Dorcelaphus macrourus (Rafinesque) is a large pallid form of the northern
plains region, characterized by restriction of the dark, and corresponding
ex | nmsion of the light areas. It has widely branching, often scraggy
horns, very different from those of D. texanus.
The only remaining deer of the United States requiring comparison
with the small Texan species is the Sonoran deer, Dorcelaphus couesi
(Coues and Yarrow), a still smaller and more pallid animal, having much
larger ears, on which the black edging and tips were wanting. The den-
tition of D. texanus is much heavier, and the tail considerably shorter,
than in D. couesi.
The only Mexican deer with which the present form requires compari-
son is the animal that has been known by the specific name mexicanus.
This name was first applied by Gmelin.* According to Dr J. A. Allen, t
" the Cervus mexicanus of Gmelin, however, is a vague composite species,
only in part referable to Deer from Mexico, and in all probability has
no relation to the little Sonoran Deer described by Baird."} The name
mexicanus may, however, be regarded as fixed to a deer of southern Mex-
ico, very different from the Texan deer, by Lichtenstein, who descrihed
and figured the species $ from specimens sent alive to Berlin, in 1S25, by
Herr Graf, from ' Mexico,' without indication of the exact locality at which
they were taken.
*Syst. Nat., I, 1788, p. 179.
t Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., VII, June 29, 1895, p. 200.
X Kept. Pacific R. R. Expl. and Surveys, VIII, Mammals, 1857, pp.
653-655, pi. XXIV, fig. 2.
I Darstellung, 1827-'34, pi. XVIII.
PROC. BIOL. SOC. WASH., XII, 1898
PL. I
Potamon abbotti I'athhmi.
Vol. XII, pp. 27-30 January 27, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW SPECIES OF FRESH-
WATER CRABS OF THE GENUS POTAMON*
BY MARY J. RATHBUN,
Of the three species here described, one is a typical Potamon,
in which the postfrontal crest is developed but interrupted ; the
other two belong to the subgenus Geothelphusa, without a post-
frontal crest. The first, P. abbotti, is from the Malayan Peninsula,
and is related to a group of Indian species described by Wood-
Mason. The second, P. {Geothelphusa) levicervix, was taken at
the Loo Choo Islands with P. ((?.) dehaanii (White) and P. (6r.)
obtusipes (Stimpson), by a Japanese collector, Mr. F. Sakamoto,
and forwarded to the U. S. National Museum by Mr. Garrett
Droppers. The third species, P. (67.) macropus, is notable as
being the first member of the subgenus taken on the west coast
of Africa. The other African species of Geothelphusa are Potamon
(Geothelphusa) berardi (Savigny) from Egypt, P. (G.) socotrensis
(Hilgendorf) from Socotra, and P. (G.) emini (Hilgendorf) from
Victoria Nyanza. This last has faint indications of a crest, but
so also has P. dehaanii (White), which is one of the two original
species of Geothelphusa. On account of the presence of this
feeble crest in P. dehaanii, it were better to consider P. obtusipes
(Stimpson) as the type of the subgenus Geothelphusa.
Potamon abbotti sp. nov.
PL I.
Cervical .-mure obsolete; subbranchial regions distended laterally ; merus oj
maxillipeds as !<>n</ us wide.
* Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution.
6— Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XII, 1898 (27)
28 Rathbun — Three New Species of Fresh-water Crabs.
Carapace rather narrow, about four-fifths as long as broad, very con-
vex in an antero-posterior direction, nearly level transversely in the
widest part. Surface granulate and punctate, anterior and antero -lateral
portions tuberculate or rugose. Cervical suture obsolete, except its poste-
rior third. Fostfrontal crest interrupted, tuberculate. Protogastric lobes
oval, depressed, in advance of the remainder of the postfrontal ci'est and
separated from it by a sulcus behind the inner angle of the orbit; the
outer portion of the crest is concave forward and subparallel to the orbital
margin, and terminates laterally in an acute epibranchial tooth, 2 mm.
behind the orbital tooth. Behind the epibranchial tooth there is a
raised tuberculate and convex margin extending half-way back on the
carapace. The carapace is swollen laterally outside of and beneath this
margin. Front (fig. 2) about one-fourth the entire width of the carapace ;
lower margin straight, sides oblique. The median suture is not continued
in front of the protogastric lobes. Frontal and orbital margins strongly
rimmed. Superior orbital margin sinuous; outer tooth broad, acute,
separated from the crenulated inferior margin by a deep rounded sinus.
Subbranchial regions crossed obliquely by short tuberculated rugse which
extend up to the postero-lateral margins. Suborbital region sparsely
tuberculated on its posterior half.
The sides of the penultimate segment of the abdomen of the male are
convex; terminal segment with slightly sinuous margins (fig 3).
Maxillipeds (fig. 4) with merus as long as wide, outer margins oblique,
converging anteriorly. Chelipeds unequal in both sexes, very rough.
Outer surface of merus rugose ; margins with blunt teeth. Carpus rugose,
a very strong inner tooth with denticles beneath . Hands very rough on
the outer side, less so on the inner side. Fingers bent down, those of
larger hand gaping a little at base. Ambulatory legs long and narrow.
Dimensions. — Male, length 35.5 mm., width 44, width between margins
41.5, inferior width of front 10.4; female, length 30 mm., width 37.5,
width between margins 36, inferior width of front 9.5 mm.
Type locality. — Trong, Malay Peninsula; Dr. W. L. Abbott, 1896; one
male, three females (U. S. Nat Mus. No. 20041).
This species approaches nearest to P. pealianus (Wood-Mason) of Sib-
saugor, Assam, but is separated from it by a number of prominent charac-
ters, viz., obliteration of cervical suture, swollen subbranchial area, elon-
gate merus of the maxillipeds, slenderer legs, and narrower carapace.
Potamon (Geothelphusa) levicervix sp. nov.
PL II, figs. 5-8.
Postfrontal crest and cervical suture obsolete; epibranchial tooth blunt; leys
limy (iikI narrow.
Carapace about three-fourths as long as broad, thick, very convex in a
longitudinal direction, and less convex although distinctly and regularly so
in a transverse direction. Surface smooth and punctate, with a few larger
depressions on the anterior half. Cervical suture obsolete. Branchio-
cardiac depressions deep. Postfrontal crest absent; protogastric lobes in-
PROC. BIOL. SOC. WASH., XII, 1898
PL. II
TTt^.O 1_* TX.tr.
Three New Species of Fresh-water ('nibs. 29
dicated only by depressions in front of their normal position. Epibran-
chial tooth 7 mm. from the orbit, very broad, obtuse, its outer margin a
curve continuous with the curve from the tooth to the orbit, tooth bounded
anteriorly by a broad notch. Equidistant from this notch and from the
orbital angle and directly behind the latter is a deep transverse and some-
what triangular depression.
Antero-lateral margin tuberculate; subbranchial region visible outside
the margin as a narrow rim. Front about one-fourth the width of the
carapace, margin nearly straight and not visible in a dorsal view ; the
median suture does not extend to the margin. Orbits oblique in a front
view (fig. 6), superior margin sinuous, directed outward and forward in a
dorsal view, outer angle prominent, acute. Inferior regions of the cara-
pace smooth, punctate ; subcervical groove very deep. In the abdomen of
the male (fig. 7) the sides of the sixth segment are oblique, of the seventh
sinuous. The merus of the outer maxilliped is broad, with regularly
rounded antero-lateral outline (fig. 8).
Chelipeds very unequal. Merus with outer surface and upper and outer
margins somewhat rugose ; inner and lower surfaces and inner margin
smooth. Carpus slightly roughened, with a stout, triangular, blunt inner
tooth, below which is a low swelling ; anterior half marked by an irreg-
ular longitudinal depression. Larger hand very wide and thick, slightly
rough, the raised lines forming reticulating lines which are punctate, the
punctse connected by minute impressed lines ; space enclosed by the lines
of a darker color; fingers long; pollex bent at an angle of 45° with the
palm ; fingers gaping to the tips. Smaller hand punctate, almost smooth
and without conspicuous color marks ; fingers slightly bent and little
gaping. Ambulatory legs very long ; surface slightly rough ; merus
joints with entire margins ; carpal joints with a few spinules at the distal
extremity ; propodal joints with upper margins spinulous in the first and
fourth pairs, distal and lower margins more or less spinulous in all.
Dimensions. — Male, length 48.5 mm., width 6o.3, width between mar-
gins 61.5, width of front below 14.2.
Type, locality. — Loo Choo Islands; F. Sakamoto; one male (U. S. Nat.
Mus. No. 20642).
This species comes nearest to P. (G.) transversus von Martens, but is so
different that they cannot be confused. The form of the abdomen and
legs alone sufficiently differentiates them.
Potamon (Geothelphusa) macropus sp. nov.
PI. II, figs. 1-4.
Postfrontal crest obsolete ; cervical suture present; epibranchial tooth acute;
ambulatory legs long and narrow.
Carapace very convex antero-posteriorly, slightly so transversely ;
about one-third broader than long; branchial regions much swollen
laterally ; posterior width greater than exorbital width. The surface is
very finely granulate, and covered with small punctee visible to the naked
eye. The sutures of the carapace are shallow and the surface along their
30 Rathbun — -Three New Species of Fresh-water Crabs.
boundaries is drawn in fine wrinkles. The cervical suture if continued
would cross the orbital margin at its middle. The protogastric lobes are
small but prominent. The front is about one-fourth the width of the
carapace, deflexed, deepest in the middle, margin sinuous. The orbits
are inclined obliquely downward and outward (fig. 2); superior margin
sinuous and directed forward and outward, terminating at the outer angle
in a prominent acute tooth. Margin of front and superior margin of
orbit strongly rimmed. Inferior margin of orbit crenulate. Epibranchial
tooth small, tuberculate, situated as far from the tip of the orbital tooth
as half the width of the orbit; and succeeded on the lateral margin by
small irregular tubercles for about half the length of the branchial region.
Siibbranchial region visible laterally outside the branchial margin and cov-
ered with short oblique granulated ridges. Suborbital area comparatively
smooth, but with fine scattered granules ; jugal area coarsely tuberculate.
The ischium of the outer maxillipeds (fig. 3) has a deep median furrow
and large punctse ; merus rougher, slightly longer than wide, and its an-
tero-lateral margin is obtusely rounded. The sixth abdominal segment
of the male (Jig. 4) is longer than the seventh and its proximal margin is
convex, so that the fifth segment is longer laterally than in the middle.
Chelipeds very unequal. Men elongate; margins armed with strong
teetli ; lower surface near antero-distal angle furnished with a stout down-
ward projecting tooth. The carpi are covered with granulated rugae and
the inner margin is spinous, the distal spine much the larger; outer in-
ferior angle with a downward-pointing tooth. The propodi are coveted
with minute scabrous granules, among which are scattered larger gran-
ules set in punctse ; inner surface rougher than the outer. Pollex bent
down. Both fingers deeply grooved ; prehensile edges armed with very
irregular blunt teeth ; little gaping, the projections of the one finger in
general fitting into the cavities of the other.
Ambulatory legs very long; meral joints compressed, upper margins
spinulous ; both margins of the propodal joints spinulous.
Dimensions.— Length 23.5, width 32, exorbital width 20.2, posterior
width 23.2, width o'f front 8.8 mm.
Type locality. — Mouth of Mesurado River, Monrovia ; 0. F. Cook ; one
male (U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 20(343).
EXPLANATION OF PLATES.
Pl. I. Potamon abbotti.
Fig. 1. Dorsal view, X f. 2. Front view, X i-
3. Abdomen of male, X If. 4. Outer maxilliped, X If.
Pi.. II. Potamon macropus and levicervix.
Fig. 1 . P. macropus, dorsal view, X |. 2. Front view, X
3. ( (titer maxilliped, X 1|. 4. Abdomen of male, X 1A.
5. P. levicervix, dorsal view, X i- 6. Front view, X ]■
7. Abdomen of male, X |. S. Outer maxilliped, X f.
Vol. XII, pp. 31-33 March 24, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SKUNKS OF THE
GENUS MEPHITIS.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
Mephitis spissigrada sp. nov.
Type from Sumas, B. C. No. 3699, 9 adult, coll. of E. A. and 0.
Bangs. Collected September 30, 1895, by Allan 0. Brooks.
General characters. — Externally, with much the general appearance of
M. hudsonica and M. occidentalis, large size and long tail, peculiar to all
the skunks of this group. Heel densely hairy ; skull differing from that
of either M. hudsonica or }[. occidentalis in having a very short palate, the
end falling at or forward of a line across posterior alveoli of last upper
molars; palate ending in an even curve dike that of M. hudsonica and
M. mephitica mephtiica) without reentrant notch (as in if. occidentalis) or
median spine (as in M. mephitica scrutator and .1/. elongata).
Color. — As usual in the hudsonica group. Black all over, with white
frontal stripe, nuchal patch, and lateral stripes extending from nuchal
patch to and down sides of tail ; the long white hairs of sides of (ail over-
lie the shorter hairs and fall to the end of the blunt brushdike terminus
of the tail.
Measurements.
Total length. Tail vert. Hin<l foot.
No. 3699, type, $ adult , 640 240 75
No. .3700, topotype, $ adult 610 231 1 75
No. 5548, topotype, -? old adult ... 270 85
Skull. — Type, 9 ad. Basal length 68; occi pi to nasal length 69.6; zygo-
matic breadth 49.6; mastoid breadth 41 ; greatest length of single half of
mandible 50.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of M. In Isonica and .1/. occi-
dentalis, but differing from both these in being shorter and broader and
having shorter rostral region and shorter palate, the end of palate falling
at or anterior to a line drawn across posterior alveoli of last upper molars
7— Biol. Soc. Wash, Vol. XII, 1S98 (;;!)
32 Bangs — Descriptions of Two New Skunks.
(in M. hudsonica and .1/. occidentalis the end of the palate falls well behind
such a line). From M. occidentalis it differs still farther in having larger,
rounder audital bullae and the palate ending in an even curve (.1/. occi-
dentalis having a reentrant median notch), and from M. hudsonica in
having much shorter, broader rostrum, wider nasals, and wider, flatter
frontals.
Remarks. — Mr. Allan C. Brooks has sent me three skins and skulls and
one extra skull ( rf old ad. ) of this form, all collected by himself at Sumas,
British Columbia. The species belongs to the very distinct hudsonica
group, but seems different enough from either hudsonica or occidentalis to
merit separation, though it may intergrade with both of them.
Mephitis avia sp. now
Type from San Jose, Illinois, No. 5747, rj1 adult, coll. of E. A. & 0.
Bangs. Collected March 10, 1897 ; skinned, measured, and sexed by
H. II. & C. S. Brimley.
General characters. — Size rather small; tail very short; foot of medium
length ; heel clothed with long hairs along the sides, a narrow medial
strip naked; colors as usual. Skull peculiar.
Valor. — Black all over, except white frontal stripe, nuchal patch, and
two lateral stripes extending back from nuchal patch. Tail very short
and bushy, black externally, most of the hairs white at base.
Measurements.
Total length. Tail vert. Hind foot.
No. 5747, type, $ adult 675 190 65
No. 5783, topotype, cT adult 607 177 65
Skull. — The type $ adult. Basal length, 62 ; occipito nasal length 65 ;
zygomatic breadth 44.6; mastoid breadth 35.4 ; greatest length of single
half of mandible 46.4.
Cranial characters. — Skull short and heavy; highly arched in frontal
region ; palate broad at end and without median spine; zygoma broadly
expanded at posterior end, then slanting abruptly forward (very different
in shape from the more even curve seen in M- mephilicr, M. scrutatoo, etc.) ;
mastoid and paroccipital processes very much reduced; mastoid bullae
very large and much inflated ; (these two last characters give this part of
the skull somewhat the appearance of the skull of Spilogale.) Sagittal
crest high ; dentition normal, with the exception of upper carnassial tooth,
which is unusually large.
Remarks. — Mephitis avia needs comparison with but one form, its nearest
geographical ally, M. niephilica scrutator. It differs very much from that
form in many ways. The short tail, the broad palate without median
spine, the large much inflated mastoid bullae, and peculiarly shaped
zygoma distinguishing it.
I have a fine adult female skunk from Denver, Indiana, that is in every
way exactly like examples of M. mephitcia scrutator from Massachusetts
Descriptions of Two New Skunks. 33
and Connecticut. So that it is probable that the range of .V. aria does
not extend very far to the east of the type locality. Undoubtedly it is
the form of the central prairie region, being replaced in the north by
M. hudsoirica and in the east by M. mephitica scrutator.
Scrutator apparently reaches the height of differentiation in Louisiana.
The series of skunks from Cartville and Point mix Loups Springs, Acadia
Parish, Louisiana, from which I selected the type of M. mephitica scrutator,
shows about the proportion of tail to total length found in specimens
from the central Atlantic States. They are smaller, however, than ex-
amples from Massachusetts and Connecticut, ami have smaller, lighter
skulls and weaker dentition. Although they do not approach very nearly
the larger, shorter-tailed M. aria with its heavy peculiar skull, still it is
possible that intergradation may take place somewhere.
Vol. XII, pp. 35-38 March 24, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND OTTER
AND RED FON.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
The following descriptions of the otter and the red fox of New-
foundland are based on material collected by Ernest Doane,
now in the Bangs collection. Of the otter, he has sent a fine pair
of adult skins with skulls, and two extra skulls; of the fox, six
skins with skulls, and nine extra skulls. In addition to these I
have examined a large series of unsexed otter skulls from New-
foundland in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge.
Lutra degener sp. nov.
Type from Bay St. George, Newfoundland, No. 6905, tf young adult,
Coll. of E. A. & 0. Bangs. Collected April 23, 1897, by Ernest Doane.
General da in idem. — Size small, tail short, skull small and weak, with
very light zygoma and narrow frontal and rostral regions.
Color. — Deep, lustrous seal brown to black all over, except cheeks, upper
lips, chin, and under side of neck, which are grizzled brown, palest on
cheeks ; under fur light grayish brown at base and gradually darkening
to deep rich brown at tips.
Cranial diameters. — Skull as compared with that of L. hudsonica small
and weak; whole frontal and rostral region narrow; postorbital pro-
cesses long and slender; distance from last upper molar tooth to end of
pterygoid process short; zygoma short and very slender ; audital bullae
small ; dentition normal.
Measurements. — $ young adult (type) ; total length 90S ; tail vertebrae
358 ; hind foot 126. 9 old adult, (topotype) No. 6966. Total length
990 ; tail vertebrae 352 ; hind foot 109.
Skull, J' young adult, (type); basal length 94.6; zygomatic breadth
66.8; mastoid breadth 60; interorbital constriction 22.2; greatest con-
8— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (35)
o
6 Bangs — Tlie Newfoundland Otter and Red Fox.
striction behind postorbital processes IS. 8; distance across postorbital
process 32.4; last upper molar to end of pterygoid process 26 ; foramen
magnum to end of palate 46.4 ; greatest length of single half of mandible
6.Z.
9 old adult (topotype) No. 6966; basal length 95.4; zygomatic breadth
70; mastoid breadth 63; interorbital constriction 22.8 ; greatest constric-
tion behind postorbital processes 19.4 ; distance across postorbital pro-
cess 33.6 ; last upper molar to end of pterygoid process 26.8 ; foramen
magnum to end of palate 46.6 ; greatest length of single half of mandible
65. S.
Remarks. — The characters that separate Lutra hudsonica and Lutra
degener are constant and well marked so far as my series goes. I have
fine skins and skulls of L. hudsonica from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, but unfortunately have seen but
one skull, an imperfect one, from Labrador, though otter are common
there.
I believe the Newfoundland otter is an island species, though I cannot
he sure of this; possibly it occurs also in Labrador, as otter might easily
swim the distance that separates Newfoundland from the continent if
they so chose.
Henry Reeks, however, says of the Newfoundland otter:* "Both
traders and settlers make two varieties or species (?) of the Newfound-
land otters: one, which is called the 'country otter,' and principally fre-
quents inland brooks and rivers, has the fur of a beautiful shining dark
liver-brown, almost black on the back, while the other variety, called
the 'salt-water' otter, is said (for I was unfortunate in not getting a
specimen) to have the fur of a rusty brown c dor and to be considerably
larger than the 'country otter,' although the skin is not nearly so valu-
able, rarely realizing more than three or four dollars, whereas good skins
of the smaller and darker variety fetch from five to seven dollars."
Perhaps the 'salt-water' otter may be true L. hudsonica that occa-
sionally visits the shores of Newfoundland and does not intermingle with
the resident form there, L. degener.
Vulpes deletrix sp. nov.
Type from Bay St. George, Newfoundland. No. 6967, $ middle-aged
adult, coll. of E. A. and 0. Bangs. Collected April 24, 1897, by Ernest
Doane.
General characters. — Size rather small ; tail short; hind foot very large;
feet and hands densely hairy beneath and armed with extremely long
and stout claws; ears large, very woolly, and rounder than the ears of
V. pennsylvanica. Color very variable ; in ' red phase' pale ocher yellow
(like the prairie fox). Skull but slightly different, from that of V. pennsyl-
vanica; dentition very strong, the carnassial tooth in particular being very
large.
* Zoologist, March, 1870, page 2037.
The Newfoundland Otter and Red Fox. 37
Color* — Type in 'red phase.' Pelage extremely long and loose. Upper
parts pale ocher yellow, to straw color, becoming darker and more rusty
on inside of flanks, about shoulder, and on sides of face. Under parts
dull white, including a narrow border to upper lip, the color of the upper
parts extending down over sides and nearly meeting across middle of
belly ; chin dull brown ; feet and hands black above as far as ankles and
wrists, dull brownish yellow below, and densely haired with long loose
hair, entirely obscuring the pads.
Tail short, pale, dull yellow with white tip, and irregularly overlaid in
places with black tipped hairs ; ears large and more rounded than in V.
pennsylvanica, very thickly covered with woolly hairs, dull black above,
yellowish white inside, and yellow at base. Under fur dull yellowish
gray at base and yellow at tips, darker on flanks, rump, and under side
of neck, and paler on back, shoulders, and belly.
No. 1178, 9 very old ; is a fine silver gray, being black all over except
the back, which is beautifully variegated with silvery hairs. No. 6969,
9 young adult, is a patch fox, being dark reddisli brown all over, includ-
ing tail, legs, and arms, except sides, top of head, parts of middle of back,
and base of tail, where it has some yellow hairs intermixed. No. 6968,
old nursing 9 . is about intermediate in color between the type and No.
6969, but has base of tail, inside of flanks, and region about fore shoulders
a bright orange ochraceous. It is in worn pelade, with much of the long
hair gone. A young, about one-third grown, No. 1180, is uniform deep
black all over, tip of tail white, and a young, about one-half grown, No.
1179, is dull brownish ferruginous, with much black on legs, arms, tail,
and under parts.
Cranial characters. — The skull differs but little from that of typical Vulpes
pennsylvanica, except in being slightly wider and heavier and in having
the whole rostral portion rather heavier and the audita! bullae constantly
though slightly larger. The dentition is very much heavier throughout,
the carnassial teeth in particular being very large and strong.
Measurements. — Type, $ middle-aged adult. Total length 959; tail
vertebrae 336 ; hind foot 161 ; ear from notch 79. Average of four adult
females: total length 958.5; tail vertebrae 342.5 ; hind foot 158 ; ear from
notch 78.
skull.— Type, $ middle-aged adult. Basal length 123.4; zygomatic
breadth 72; mastoid breadth 47; least interorbital width 26.2; greatest
length of single half of mandible 99.8. No. 6968, 9 old adult topotype.
Basal length 123 ; zygomatic breadth 72.8 ; mastoid breadth 46 ; least in-
terorbital width 26.6; greatest length of single half of mandible 99.6.
cT young adult topotype. Basal length 127.2; zygomatic breadth 70.2;
mastoid breadth 46 ; least interorbital width 26 ; greatest length of single
half of mandible 101.4.
*A11 red foxes are somewhat brighter and more ferruginous in their
fresh autumnal coats than they are in the spring. The hairs seem to be-
come rather lighter and more yellowish as the tips wear off. This dif-
ference is slight, however, and even in full autumnal pelage the ' red
phase ' of the Newfoundland fox must be very pale.
38 Bangs — The Newfoundland Otter and Red Fox,.
Remarks. — The Newfoundland fox is easily distinguished from either
typical V. pennsylvanica or V. pennsylvanica rubricosa by its very large hind
foot, with long strong toes and tremendous claws. No. 1178, a very
old 9- taken June 9, 1894, at Codroy, is in worn summer pelage, and the
long hairs on the under sides of the feet have worn down so that one pad
on each foot can be seen. The long toes and heavy long claws are brought
into great prominence, and make indeed a singular foot for a fox. As
regards size and proportions, it needs no comparison with either V. penn-
sylvanica or the large, long-tailed, dark red form of Nova Scotia, V.penn-
sylvanicus rubricosa.
In color, the type and only specimen I have in the red phase (which
I suppose to be normal) nearly matches many skins of the light yellow
fox* of the northern prairies, from which form V. deletrix can be distin-
guished by much shorter tail, smaller size, proportionately larger foot,
and heavy claws.
Vulpes deletrix is probably an island form, although there are occasion-
ally times when it might cross from the mainland of Labrador to New-
foundland, or vice versa, on the ice ; and as foxes do not hesitate to travel
such distances on the open ice, it would not be surprising to find this form
existing also in Labrador.
* Whether the yellow fox of the northern and central prairies is iden-
tical with Vulpes macroura, which Baird originally described from a
specimen from Great Salt Lake, Utah, is doubtful, although Baird him-
self, in 1857, included many specimens of the yellow form from Nebraska,
Oregon, and Wyoming under that specific name. Vulpes macroura has
also been applied to the yellow prairie fox by both Dr. Allen and Dr.
Merriam, when either has had occasion recently to mention this animal.
Vol. XII, pp. 39-40 March 24, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
/&
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW PARASITIC ISOPOD OF THE
GENUS .EGA FROM THE SOUTHERN COAST OF THE
UNITED STATES.*
BY HARRIET RICHARDSON.
Two specimens of a species of sEga, heretofore undescribed,
were obtained by the U. S. Fish Commission steamer 'Albatross'
during its cruises in 1885 and 1886 — one off Little Bahama Bank
and the other between the delta of the Missis-
sippi and Cedar Keys, Florida. They present
no unusual characters, but differ from any of
the known species of JEga.
-33ga ecarinata gp. nov.
Body elongate and narrow. Length more than
three times greater than breadth. Surface punctate.
Frontal margin of head Insinuated, the acumen sepa-
rating the first pair of antenna?. Eyes large and ob-
long and situated at a small distance apart. First pair
of antennae extending almost to the flagellum of the
second pair of antennae ; the first two joints of pedun-
cle very broad ; second joint extending anteriorly over
the third joint, reaching almost to the extremity of
that joint ; third joint two-thirds narrower than first
and second ; the flagellum containing nine articles.
Second pair of antennas extending to the middle of
the first thoracic segment; flagellum containing ten
articles.
Fig. l.—JEga ecarinata
(X25).
-7
Epimera of all the thoracic segments narrow, the
first two being rounded, the other four more acute at
their extremities. First two pairs of prehensile legs rather stout; third
* Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution.
9— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898. (39)
40 Richardson — Description of a New Parasitic Isopod.
pair less so, and the propodns of this, pair is furnished with a large cultri-
form process. Five spines are present on the merus
of all three pairs. Gressorial legs slender and sparsely
spinulose.
All the abdominal segments are visible in a dorsal
view. Terminal segment broad and posteriorly In-
sinuated, forming three teeth with rounded extremi-
ties; its surface entirely smooth.
Outer branch of uropods narrower and somewhat
shorter than the inner branch ; its extremity is
rounded. Inner branch obliquely truncate and crenu-
late on posterior margin. Uropods and terminal ab-
dominal segment all fringed with a few hairs.
Two individuals of tins species were found — one be-
tween the delta of the Mississippi and Cedar Keys,
Fig.2.— Mga eearinata Florida, Station 2401), depth SS fathoms; the other,
(X53). the type (No. 21001, U. S. Nat. Mus.), oft' Little Ba-
re. Leg of 1st pair. hania Bank, Station 2655, depth 338 fathoms.
b. Leg of 3d pair. This species is closely related to .1. tridens* Leach,
c. Leg of 7th pair. ". . . .
but presents many specific differences: in the relative
length and breadth of the body, the length being more than three times
greater than the breadth in A. eearinata, while in A. tridens Leach the
length is only two and one-half times greater than the breadth; in the
number of joints in the 1st and 2d pairs of antenme, ten in the 1st pair
and nineteen in the 2d pair being characteristic of A. tridens Leach,
nine in the 1st and ten in the 2d pair being true of our species ; in the
presence of a cultriform process on the propodus of the third pair of pre-
hensile legs, which process is entirely wanting in A. tridens Leach ; and
in the perfectly smooth surface in the present species of the terminal
segment of the abdomen, which in the other species is tricarinated.
* For synonymy, see Naturhistorisk Tidsskrift, vol. XII, 1879-'80,
Schicedte & Meinert, 'Symbolsead Monographiura Cymothoaruin, Crus-
taceorum Isopodum Familise,' p. 340-341.
Vol. XII, pp. 41-51 March 24, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
THE ARCTURIDjE IN THE U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM*
BY JAMES E. BENEDICT,
Assistant Curator, Division of Marine Invertebrates, U. S. National Museum.
When Mr. Beddard wrote the Report on the Isopoda collected
by the 'Challenger' in 18S6, hut five species of Arcturus had
been recognized. He added thirteen. Since his report no addi-
tional species have been described. In this paper five species
taken by the 'Albatross ' and one by the Point Barrow Expedi-
tion are described as new and a subspecies is raised to specific
rank.
The structure and habits of the Arcturida) are such that deep-
water species are likely to occupy only restricted areas. The
young are few in a brood and are cared for by the parent until
well able to care for themselves, clinging to the mother's antenna?
until ready to undertake a more independent existence, perhaps
on the very object on which the mother is foraging for herself
and brood. With habits of this kind the chances of a wide dis-
tribution for any one species must lie very much less than is the
case where free-swimming young arc produced in large numbers.
The character of the marsupium of Arcturus is sufficient to
separate this genus from Astacilla. The dactyls of some species
of Arcturus are biungulate as in Astacilla.
Two species of Astacilla are described as new, one from the
Straits of Magellan and a blind species from deep water (1,825
fathoms oil' Martha's Vineyard. The finding of a blind Astacilla
in deep water is a matter of no little interest. Mr. Beddard
* Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion.
10— Biol Soc. Wash., Vol.. XII, 1898 (41)
42 Benedict — Arcturidse in the U. S. National Museum.
truly says of deep-sea Isopoda : * "Although the number of deep-
sea species which have well-developed eyes is so large, they
nearly all (all except three) belong to the two allied genera Arc-
turus and Astacilla, which thus form almost the only exception
to the general statement that deep-sea Isopoda are blind." Of
Astacilla he says : f " Unlike Arcturus, Astacilla is almost exclu-
sively an inhabitant of the shallow waters, only one species, in-
deed, Astacilla granulata, ranging into deep water."
Key to tfie Species of Arcturus.
a. End of the abdomen notched, as seen from above.
b. Body smooth and free from spines . beringanus.
1/. Body spiny.
c. Plead and six segments of the thorax each with a
pair of spines on the dorsum longispinis.
c/. Head and segments of the thorax with not less
than two pairs of spines to the segment.
d. Second and third articles of the antennae with-
out spines except at the articulations hystrix-
cY. Second and third articles of the antennae with
spines on the bodies of the articles murdochi.
a'. End of the abdomen without notch.
b. Thorax without spines above the epimera.
c. Abdomen acute or subacute at extremity.
d. Eyes elevated on peduncles oculatus.
(V. Eyes not elevated on peduncles.
e. Extremity of abdomen notched in a lat-
eral view.
f. Thorax very tubercular stebbingi.
P. Thorax not tubercular abyssicola.
e'. Extremity of abdomen without notch,
f. Fourth segment of the thorax much
longer than the preceding segments . glabrus.
f. Fourth segment of the thorax but little
longer than the preceding segments,
g. Thorax with large swellings or
tubercles tuberosus.
g'. Thorax without tubercles myops.
c'. Abdomen rounded at extremity.
d. Abdomen notched at its extremity in lateral
view spinifrons.
d/. Abdomen without notch at its extremity.
e. Epimeral spines present anna.
e'. Epimeral spines wanting coppingeri.
* Report on the Isopoda collected by the 'Challenger,' p. !(><>.
f Op. tit., p. 107.
Arcturidse in the U. S. National Museum. 43
Thorax with spines above the epimera.
c. Spines present in front of the ocular space.
d. Spines, spinules, or spiny tubercles very nu-
merous on the thorax.
e. Spines all long and slender multispinis.
e'. Spines all short or with a few long ones,
f. All spines short.
g. Third segment of antennae spinu-
lose furcatus.
g'. Third segment not spinulose. . . . glacialis.
i' . Spines long and short.
g. With three spines extending back
from the abdomen spinosns.
g'. With two spines extending back
from the abdomen americanus.
d/. Spines of the thorax comparatively few.
e. Last segment of the abdomen with a cate-
nate median line,
f. Second segment of abdomen with
spines cornutus.
f '. Second segment without spines tenuispinis.
e'. Last segment without carina.
f. Abdomen armed with a long median
spine which projects beyond the
end of the segment.
g. Upper surfaceof abdomen smooth . purpureus.
g'. Upper surface spinulose studeri.
F. Abdomen without median spine brunneus.
c'. Spines absent in front of the ocular space.
d. Head free from spines feiideni.
d/. Head with spines present be; ween the eyes. . baffini.
Arcturus baffini (Sabine).
Idothea baffini Sabine, Appendix to Parry's First Voyage, p. 50, pi. i,
figs. 4-6, 1824.
Arcturus tuberculatus Latreille in Cuvier, Regne Animal, ed. 2, IV, p. 139,
1829.
Arcturus baffini Westwood, Trans. Entom. Soc. Lond., vol. I, p. 72, 1836.
Milne-Edwards, Hist. Nat. Crust., Ill, p. 123, pi. xxxi, fig. 1, 1840.
Sars, Crust. Norw. North Atlantic Expd., p. 97, pi. ix, figs. 1-21,
1885.
Beddard, Report on the Isopoda collected by the ' Challenger,' pi.
xx, fig. 12, 1886.
The best figures of this species are, in my opinion, those of Professor
Sars. It is the oldest and best known species of the genus, and lias been
taken over a larger range than any other. Its characters are so well
marked that it can be readily separated from any other species in the
collection.
44 Benedict— Arcturida in the U. S. National Museum.
Arcturus feildeni Miers.
Arcturus baffini var. feildeni Miers, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist, (4) XX 64
1S77.
The head is a little broader than long when the length is measured on
the side ; the surface presents three areolations, two circular ones a little
in front of the line of the eyes and a long transverse one behind the eyes.
The antenna? are equal to the body in length— 36 mm. ; the fourth and
fifth joints are each 11 mm.
The four anterior segments of the thorax are
without spines or tubercles ; two slight areo-
lations near the anterior border of the second
and third segments do not correspond to the
spines of baffini, as they exist on that species
in addition to the spines. The fourth segment
is equal in length to the two preceding. The
three posterior segments of the thorax and the
two anterior segments of the abdomen are each
provided with a pair of small blunt spines.
The middle surface of the abdomen is with-
out any indication of the prominent spiny pro-
jections of baffini; the median line, on the other
hand, shows when dried a slight irregular me-
dian groove. The conical lateral projections of
baffini are altogether wanting in this species.
The epimera are also much modified in feildeni ;
they are much less pointed, and are directed
downwards, making them inconspicuous from
a dorsal view. The surface of the body is gla-
brous. The above description is based on a
single specimen labeled 'Camp Clay, Cape
Sabine; Lieut, [now General] A. W. Greelv.'
( No. 12416, U. S. X. M.) A much larger and less
typical specimen is labeled ' Arcturus baffini var.
tuberosus, Davis Straits.' This is identical with
the Cape Sabine specimen, except that the spines of the posterior seg-
ments are reduced to very low tubercles. The range of variation, as in-
dicated by the two specimens, is easily within specific limits; both are
far removed from A. baffini. Length of specimen from the front to the
abdomen 50 mm. (No. 20333, U. S. N. M.).
Fig. :;.
-Arcturus feildt m
(X%)'
Arcturus longispinis sp. nov.
This species, though well marked, partakes strongly of the characters
of baffini, the type of the genus.
The head is deeply concave in front; the margin does not form a true
curve, but shows slight projections between the median and outer an-
tenna.'. The eyes are triangular and conspicuously protruding. The
Arcturichi in tin V. S. National Museum.
45
basal joints of the median antenna? are oblong and flattened ; the outer
antennae are 52 mm. in length ; the first two joints are but little longer
than broad, while the three distal joints are long; all are unarmed; the
flagellum is composed of about 12 short segments.
The spines of the head and dorsal region are placed like those of
baffini ; with the exception of those on the posterior portion of the thorax,
they are much longer than in any specimen of baffini that I have seen ;
the spines of the head are 6.5 mm. in length, while those of the second,
third, and fourth segments are hut little shorter. The spines on these
segments are united at the base by a low ridge which curves up on the
spines, giving them the appearance of parts of a single structure. Be-
tween the anterior spines and the epimeral projections on their respective
segments are low protuberances ; ridges also
run from the bases of the spines along the
margins to the posterior angle of the segments,
leaving a deep transverse groove below the
spine. The spines of the first thoracic seg-
ment are very small and inconspicuous ; it is
possible that this segment may not be normal
in regard to the spines, as it is partially over-
grown by a colony of Polyzoa.
The epimera of the second, third, and fourth
segments increase in size posteriorly ; they are
flattened on the exposed surface and evenly
rounded below ; there is a depression on the
exposed face. Viewed from above, the epim-
eral projections are covered by large rounded
tubercles on the lower margins of the seg.
ments. The epimera of the fifth, sixth, and
seventh segments decrease in size posteriorly,
and are broad and wedge-shaped ; the spines
of these segments are the same in character as
those of the anterior segments, but are much
smaller, measuring on the fiftli :! mm., the
sixth 2.3 mm., seventh 2 nun.
The first abdominal segment is very short,
with two small spines above and two conical
projections below ; the second segment has
two long spines above, pointed backward, and
none below ; the terminal segment has two
spines pointing backward inserted at about the middle of the dorsal sur-
face ; at this point the segment is rapidly depressed to the terminal points;
the lower margin has two pairs of triangular projections ; A. baffini has
but one pair.
Station 3599, latitude 52° 05' 00" N., longitude 177° 40' 00" W., 55
fathoms. Type (No. 20530, U. S. X. M.)'-
Fig. 4.-
-Arcturus longispinis.
(X ltf.)
46 Benedict — Arcturida in the U. S. National Museum.
Arcturus glabrus gp. nov.
The head is wider than long, measured in the constriction in front of
the eyes and on the median line, but longer than wide if the side of the
head is taken.
The antenna- are longer than the body in both sexes ; much longer in
the female than in the male.
There are no spines or tubercles on the head or posterior to it. The
segments of the thorax and abdomen are smooth
to the eye and are finely reticulated under a lens.
The fourth segment differs in the sexes; in the
male it is a little longer and more slender than
the two preceding segments taken together; in
the female it is shorter and stouter ; so different
is the appearance that the sexes can be readily
separated in a dorsal view. The anterior margins
of the second, third, and fourth segments are
notched on the median line.
The abdomen is composed of two segments, an-
chylosed, the usual second segment being only in-
dicated by a swelling above and a short suture at
the side. There are no lateral projections on the
abdomen ; the epimera of the posterior part of the
thorax cannot be seen from above. The dactyls
of the posterior feet are biungulate. The length
of the body of a male is 31 mm. ; of the antenna?
38 mm. ; female, body 28 mm. ; antennae45 mm. ;
female, body 24 mm. ; antenna' .".'.) mm.
A number of specimens of this species were
taken by the 'Albatross' at Station 3599, in Bering
Pig. b.-Areturus glabrus, f. Sea, lat. N. 52° 05', long. W. L77°40',in 55 fathoms
(No. 20529 U. S.N. M.).
(xiMO
Arcturus beiinganus sp. nov.
The head is excavated in front ; the lateral projections are broad ; deep
constrictions or depressions exist both in front and behind the eyes. The
antenna' when laid off on the body reach the base of the abdomen ; the
fourth and fifth articles are very long; the flagellum is composed of seven
or eight articles; the anten-
nulse reach to the end of the
second article of the antennae.
The first and last three seg-
ments of the thorax are near-
ly equal in length ; the fourth
segment is a little more than Fu
twice as long as any of the others.
ments are concave on each side of the median line to the posterior angle
of the segments, making a more or less acute point at the middle of the
segment and lobate posterior angles.
;. <;. — Arcturus beringanus. ( ■ %%■)
The posterior margins of the seg-
Arduridse in the U. S. National Museum.
47
The abdomen is elongated and slender ; the first and second segments
arc clearly defined ; a third is indicated by a deep and irregular constric-
tion ; the terminus is incised.
A large number of specimens show a light line running along the me-
dian line of the dorsal surface and along the sides in line with the eyes.
The dark colored or shaded portions of the surface are made up of nu-
merous black spots. Now and then a large female is veiy light in color,
the lines being but slightly indicated.
The largest specimens are IS mm. in length.
Station 3252, lat. 57° 22' 20" N., long. 164° 24/ 40/' \V. ; depth L'it.l
fathoms; specimens very numerous. (Type, No. 20529, U. S. N. M.)
Station 3253, lat. 57° 05/ 50" N, long. 164° 27/ 15" W. ; depth 36 fathoms ;
four specimens. Station 3637, lat, 57° 06' 30" N., long. 170° 28' 00" W. ;
depth 32 fathoms; one female with a single young clinging to the an-
tennae.
Arcturus tenuispinis sp. now
This species is very close to A. cm- untax Beddard. The head is deeply
excavated in front ; a pair of spines arise in front of the interocular space
and extend forward, diverging a little
more than those <>f A. cornutus. The
first segment of the antennae extends be-
yond the lateral projections of the head
not more than 0.2 of a mm. ; the second
joint measures about 1.4 mm. on the
upper surface, the third joint 5 mm.,
and the fourth 13 mm. in length ; the
fifth joint is lost or broken in both spec-
imens. The antennulse reach the mid-
dle of the third segment of the antennae.
The first and second thoracic segments
are both armed with epimeral spines
and a pair farther back and higher up
on the segment; the other segments of
the thorax have epimeral spines only ;
the first segment of the abdomen has a
pair of spines in line with the epimeral
spines of the thorax; the second seg-
ment is altogether unarmed; the last
segment has two paired spines and one
unpaired ; the latter is at the terminus
of a dorsal carina which can only he
made out with difficulty. The largest
spines on the body are the pair at the
sides on the proximal end ; the spines at
the distal end are slender ; the terminal outline of the segment is rounded.
A. tenuispinis can be distinguished from cornutus by the more slender
spines, by the lack of the extra pair on the third and fourth segments of
the thorax, the unarmed second segment of the abdomen, the lack of
Fig. 7. — Arcturus tenuispinis. (X 2.)
48 Benedict — Arduridse in the U. S. National Museum.
spines on the joints of the anterior series of ambulatory legs, and by the
outline of the abdomen. Length of the largest specimen 23 mm.
Station 2756, off Cape St. Roque, Brazil, hit. 3° 22' 00" S., long. 37°
49' 00" W., 417 fathoms; two males (No. 21252, U. S. N. M.).
Aicturus americanus Beddard.
Arcturus americanus Beddard, Report on the Isopoda collected by the
'Challenger,' p. 104, pi. xxiii, tigs. 5-8, L886.
Color of specimens in alcohol : Body light straw color; the head is
shaded with purple ; this shade continues in two broken lines to the sixth
segment, where the lines are united, spreading again on the abdomen.
Another broken line runs along the second, third, and fourth segments
at a little distance above the epimera ; on the posterior segments the line
is continued close to the epimera. There are two purple rings on the
third joint of the antennas and a broad hand near the distal ends of the
fourth and fifth joints.
Specimens were obtained at two stations off the east coast of Patagonia :
Station 2768, lat, 42° 24/ 00" S., long. 61° 38' 30" W., 43 fathoms;
Station 2770, lat. 48° 37' 00" S., long. 65° 41/ 00" W., 58 fathoms ; four
specimens.
Aicturus multispinis sp. nov.
The head is a little elongated ; the front is concave. The eyes are round
and stand out from the sides of the
head as hemispheres. Two spines
are placed near the front in advance
of the line of the eyes and a trans-
verse line of six a little behind the
eyes ; the terminal spines of the row
are much smaller than the others.
The antennae are 2S mm. in length
and slender in comparison with
those of the Arctic forms ; there are
two spines on the second segment
and two on the third segment of one,
and three on the other; the fourth
segment is armed with .a single spine
at its articulation with the fifth seg-
ment; the fifth segment is consid-
erably longer than the fourth; the
flagellum is short and without joints.
The two spines near the front form
the anterior ends of two rows that
extend to the last segment of the
abdomen; the first four segments
of the thorax have a transverse con-
striction making them in appearance
double segments ; both the anterior
Fig. 8.— Arcturus multispinis. (X 2%.) and posterior portions of these seg-
ments furnish a pair of spines for the lateral dorsal lines of spines ; after
Aretnrithi in flic U. S. National Museum.
49
the fourth segment there is but a single pair to a segment ; the lines are
not continued on the last segment, but are here replaced by a row of five
spines on the median line of this elongated segment.
Tin- second segment of the thorax is soldered to the head as in other
species, otherwise its dorsal armature is like that of the three following
segments. The epimera of the four anterior segments of the thorax are
moderately extended and bear from two to four spines; between the
epimera and the lateral dorsal lines are two spines ; there is another spine
just behind the epimera.
The three posterior thoracic segments are much shorter and narrower
than the preceding segments; the epimera bear but a single spine; the
spines of the lateral dorsal lines are smaller than the anterior spines of
the line; on the fifth segment, between the line and the epimera, are
three spines; on the sixth two spines, on the seventh one spine. The
Hist two segments of the abdomen are dorsally like the last segment of
the thorax ; the last segment is elongated and bears \\\e rows of spines —
one on the median line and two on each side; there is a longitudinal row
of live spines on each valve of the operculum. Length of body 23 nun.
Station 2807, off the Galapagos Islands, lat, 0° 24' 00" S., long. 89°
06' 00" W., 812 fathoms. One female with eggs (No. 21253, V . S. X. M.).
Arctuius murdochi sp. nov.
Arctunis hystrix Harger in Murdoch, Report Expedition to Point Barrow,
Alaska, p. 142, 1885.
This species is closely related to A. hystrix, Sars, from off Helgoland and
Lofoten, from depths ranging from 350 to 457 fathoms.
Both specimens of -4. murdochi came from 13^ fathoms
10 miles west of Point Franklin, Alaska, collected by
the Point Barrow Expedition.
The head is deeply concave in front ; the sides of the
head extend forward in front of the eyes and end in
bifurcate projections. On the front margin of the
head is a single spine, conspicuous in being the only
spine occupying the median line throughout the length
of the animal. A spine on each side of the median
spine divides the space between the eyes, making a
row of three spines on the front of the head just in ad-
vance of the anterior line of the eyes. The median
spine is a little in advance of the other two. A row
of eight spines occupies the posterior part of the head ;
four of them are higher up than the eyes — one pair
behind the eyes and one below on the margin of the
head ; the spines behind the eyes are the smallest.
The antennuhe are very short and small, hardly
reaching the antepenultimate joints of the large an- fig
tenure; the basal joints are wider and shorter than
those shown by Professor Sars in his figures of hystrix.
The basal joints of the antennae are small and are con cealed from a dorsal
view by the lateral projections of the head.
11— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898
9. — .1 returns ,nur-
dochi.
(X 3%.)
50 Benedict — Arcturidtc in the U. S. National Museum.
The second joint is about as broad as long and is armed with three short
spines ; the third joint is armed with two spines pointing outward and
upward; the fourth and fifth joints are long and slender, unarmed; the
flagellum has but three joints. The first thoracic segment, as in hystrix,
lias a transverse row of eight spines; the thin sides of the segment ex-
tend forward under the head ; the second and third segments also have
eight spines arranged as in the first. The fourth segment is so constricted
in the middle as to give it the appearance of two segments anchylosed ;
this segment has a double row of eight spines ; between the two median
spines of the posterior row and the constriction are two additional spines;
these spines are smaller than those of the median rows, taking the ar-
rangement longitudinally. The fifth, sixth, and seventh segments have
spines regularly placed on each side of the median line; next farther
down on the segment are two spines longitudinally placed ; next, on the
margin, are three spines united at the base, the middle one largest. The
first abdominal segment is very short, with a transverse row of six spines ;
on the second segment spines are placed on the two median lines only ;
these are doubled and crowded. On the terminal segment there are two
rows of small spines regularly placed on one specimen and disarranged
on the other. The abdomen is terminated by two blunt divergent spines.
The specimens are sparsely set with short, stiff hair. All of the legs are
armed with a single spine on the basal joint.
This species can readily be distinguished from hystrix by the median
spine of the head, by the extra pair of spines on the fourth segment of
the thorax, by the armature of the antennae, and by the arrangement of
the spines on the abdomen.
As Professor Sars suggests, hystrix may be made the type of a new
genus; it will then be necessary to place this species with it. (No. 7915,
U. S. N. M.)
Astacilla granulata (G. 0. Sars).
Leachia granulata G. O. Sars, Arch. Math. Nat.. II, p. 351, 1S77.
Astacilla <<iitn-ic<tn<i Harger, Am. Journ. Sei., (.'J) XV, p. 374, 1878.
Astacilla granulata Harger, Proc. IT. S. Nat, Mus., II, p. 161, 1N7!>.
Astacilla granulata Sars, Nor. N. Atlan. Expd., Crust., p. 1(17, pi. ix. fi^s.
27-35, 1885.
One specimen from the Gloucester fishermen, Grand Banks.
Astacilla diomedeae sp. nov.
The head is excavated in front, nearly rectangular, a little broader be-
hind than in front, The eyes are but little swollen, are round, and are
situated a little anterior to the middle of the margin.
The antennas are closely like those of Astacilla nodosa (Dana).
The first segment of the thorax has the same width as the head ; the
second and third segments are successively wider and also shorter than
the first ; the fourth segment is very wide at the anterior end, as in
nodosa ; like the latter, it tapers gradually backward to the fifth segment.
The segments posterior to the fourth are longer than the first three and
are successivelv narrower.
Arduridse in the U. S. National Museum.
51
Fig. LO.— Astacilla
diomi 'I' a . ( 0. i
The abdomen is constricted at the base and lias sub-
parallel sides ; from the slight postero lateral protuber-
ance it narrows rapidly to the apex.
The animal is throughout smooth and glabrous ; the
median line is light in color: on the fourth segment
the light color broadens out and the sides are blotched
with dark shadings made up of small black spots ; all
the articles of the antenna] peduncles have a narrow
ring of black at the distal ends, except the fifth.
Described from a single female dredged by the 'Al-
batross ' in the Straits of Magellan from a depth of 17
fathoms (Station 2774). The marsupium is filled with
eggs (No. 21251, U. S. N. M.).
Astacilla caeca sp. nov.
The head is deeply excavated to receive the anten-
nulse; the excavation is deeper atthesides than on the
median line: a rostriform point extends between the
antennulse. The lateral prolongations of the head have
two paired digital processes near the lower margin;
one pair oidy can be seen from above. The antennae
reach hack to the end of the sixth segment. As in
other species of the genus, the first thoracic segment
is solidly united to the head ; the lower marginsof the
segment are tubercular. The second thoracic segment
is short and narrow; the third is a little longer and
wider; the fourth or long segment is yet wider at the
anterior end, caused by the swellings at the insertions
of the legs ; after this it tapers gradually to near the
posterior end, where the taper is more rapid. The
fifth, sixth, and seventh segments are successively
narrower. The median line of the head and thorax
is tubercular; the head has one tubercle near the front
and another on the postcephalic lobe ; all thoracic seg-
ments have a tubercle on the line; the lateral mar-
gins of all are angular ; above the epimeral projections
of the fifth segment are four paired tubercles. The
first segment of the abdomen is narrow and forms a
neck between the thorax and the broad and angular terminal segment.
The terminal segment has a pair of angular projections on each side of
the margin ; between the angles the margin is but little arcuate ; posterior
to the last angular projection the outline is that of an equilateral triangle.
Attached to the carapace are several specimens of Foraminifera which
Dr. Flint tells me belong to the genus Truncatulina.
Both specimens have been repeatedly examined for a trace of eyes with-
out success.
Length of the large specimen (female) H nun., measured from the front.
Station 2714, lat. 38° 22' 00" N., long. 70° 17' 30" W., 1825 fathoms
(No. 12026, U. S.N. M.).
Fig. LI.— Astacilla
caeca. (X 3.)
Vol. XII. pp. 53-55 March 24, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
/Cr> ~
TWO NEW ISOPODS OF THE GENUS IDOTEA FROM
THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA*
BY JAMES E. BENEDICT,
Assistant Curator, Division of Marine Invertebrates, U. S. National Museum.
The two species described in this paper come within the limits
of Idotea as recognized by E. J. Miers in his monograph of the
Idoteidavj" If several more species are found with the epimeral
characters of Idotea carinata Lucas and /. rodrata here described,
the former species may become the type of a distinct genus.
At present the division would, in my opinion, be unwarranted.
Idotea rostrata sp. now
This species is probably more nearly related to Idotea carinata Lucas J
than to any other described Idotea.
The head is excavated in front; the anterodateral angles are rounded
and upturned. The eyes are lateral, large and very slightly projecting.
Above the eyes the head is elevated. The head projects forward on the
median line forming a tubercular rostrum. In the larger specimen the
occipital suture is an irregular impressed line ; the entire surface of the
bead is minutely rugose. The articles of the peduncle of the antenna are
short and stout ; the length of any article not being more than two or two
and one-half times its greatest width. The tiagellum on one side is com-
posed of seven stout and distinct segments, on the other side of six.
* Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion.
f Journ. Linn. Soc. Lond., XVI, pp. 1-88, 1883.
% Lucas, Hist. Nat. des Anim. in Expl. Sci. Algerie, Crust., p. 60, pi.
vi, fig. 1, 1849. Miers, Journ. Linn. Soc. Lond., XVI, p. 58, 1883.
12— Biol. Sue. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (53)
54 Benedict — Two New Isopods from Coast of California.
The antennulse reach the distal margin of the third segment of the an-
tennae ; their basal joints are broad.
The thorax is convex and nearly smooth ; the
first, sixth, and seventh segments are about equal
in length ; the third, fourth, and fifth are broadest;
the second is intermediate ; the first segment, as in
carinata, is deeply excavated, the antero-lateral lobes
reaching to the eyes; both lateral angles of the
other segments are about equally rounded. The
epimera show only on the three posterior segments ;
on the fifth it shows slightly on the middle of the
margin ; on the sixth it occupies the posterior two-
thirds ami is quite broad posteriorly ; on the sev-
enth its occupies one-half the margin and is tri-
angular in form.
The legs are moderately slender. With the ex-
ception of the first pair, the basal articles of all have a small tubercular
protuberance.
The abdomen tapers with the body and is evenly rounded behind ; it
consists of a single segment with a suture near the base as in St/nidotea.
The operculum is not crossed by an oblique line. There is a broad shad-
ing of purple along the dorsum. The margins of the articles of the an-
tennae and the dactyls are rosy.
This description is made from two females from San Pedro, California,
presented by Mr. S. J. Holmes. The larger specimen is 12 mm. in length.
The sides of both are arcuate as is usual in the females of Idotea.
Ki
12. — Idotea rostrata.
(X3.)
Idotea stenops sjx nov.
A single large female Idotea is in the collection from Monterey, Cali
fornia, where it was taken by Mr. Henry Hemphill.
In general appearance the species closely resem-
bles /. ochotensis,but more careful examination shows
it to be specifically distinct. The outline of the
body is similar to that of the female of ochotensis.
The head is more deeply excavated on the anterior
margin than in that species. The posterior margin
is concave.
The eyes are situated a little behind the middle
of the exposed lateral margin and are five times
longer than broad, placed transversely just anterior
to the eye, the surface and margin excavated.
The antenme are similar to those of ochotensis,
but the flagellum has 15 articles.
The thorax is widest at the third and fourth seg-
ments. The epimera of the second segment reaches
the postlateral angle and is much wider in the
Fiii. 13. — Idotea stenops.
(Natural size.)
anterior portion. The epimera of the third and fourth segments are
Two New Isopods from Coast of California. 55
widest in the middle and cover the ends of the segments with the ex-
ception of the apex of the posterior angles. The epimera of the fifth,
sixth, and seventh segments cover the ends of the segments and are very
wide on their posterior margins.
The epimera of ochotensis are strikingly different. In the second seg-
ment they occupy the anterior half of the margin, in the third about
three-fifths, anil in the fourth the anterior three-quarters. The epimera
of the fifth segment covers all but the apex of the posterior angle. The
margins of the sixth and seventh segments are covered by the epimera.
In the last three segments the anterior part of the epimera is narrow
where in stamps it is wide.
The abdomen of stenops is composed of three segments. Another seg-
ment is indicated by a suture. The basal half of the abdomen is taper-
ing ; the posterior half has parallel sides ; the posterior angles are rounded
and very slightly produced behind. The apex is acute. The surface of
the body below the median line is flattened, forming an obtuse ridge
from the base of the head to the apex of the abdomen.
Vol. XII, pp. 57-68 March 24. 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTION OF NEW BIRDS FROM MEXICO, WITH
A REVISION OF THE GENUS DACTYLORTYX.
BY E. W. NELSON.
Further study of the Mexican birds in the collection of the
Biological Surve3r, U. S. Department of Agriculture, reveals the
presence of several apparently undescribed species and sub-
species. These new forms, like those already described from this
collection, were obtained by Mr. E. A. Goldman and myself dur-
ing our explorations in Mexico for the Biological Survey. Our
work has covered a large portion of that country, and although
far from exhaustive has been conducted systematically, with the
desire to secure series of specimens from various altitudes and
areas with a view to determining the faunal relationships of the
different sections. Up to the time our work began, some six
years ago. ornithologists had given little consideration to the fact
that Mexico has various well-defined climatic areas aside from
the two main divisions of highland or temperate, and lowland or
tropical. The fact is that the highlands contain several definite
faunal areas, and the same is true of the lower tropical lands.
Faunal work in the United States has shown very clearly the
differentiation produced in wide ranging species by varied cli-
matic conditions. In many instances this variation is so gradual
that the different extremes are given subspecific rank ; in others
the resultant forms are sufficiently segregated to be accepted as
full species. Precisely the same state of affairs exists in Mexico.
The material collected illustrates these conditions, and will aid
materially in working out the subordinate faunal areas of that
country.
13— Riot,. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (57)
58 Nelson — Description of New Birds from Mexico.
I have to acknowledge again my indebtedness to Dr. C. Hart
Merriam, Chief of the Biological Survey, for his interest in the
work on Mexican Birds, and to Mr. Robert Ridgway, Curator,
and Dr. Chas. W. Richmond, Assistant Curator, of Birds in the
National Museum, for continued favors at their hands.
All measurements are in millimeters.
Heleodytes brunneicapillus obscurus subsp. nov. Mexican Cactus
Wren.
Type No. 142789, U. S. Nat. Mas., Biological Survey Coll. Ad. tf, Tula,
Hidalgo, Mexico, March 9, 1893. Collected by E. W. Nelson and E. A.
Goldman.
Distribution. — Tableland of Mexico.
Description. — Similar to H. brunneicapillus, from which it differs mainly
in its smaller size, darker crown, grayer back, more spotted chin, and the
obsolescence of white streaks on back.
Average dimensions of II. brunneicapillus obscurus:
Ad. (^ (5 specimens) : wing 85.8; tail 77.8; culmen 22.8; tarsus 27.6.
" ? (5 " ): " 84.4; " 77.4; " 21.6; " 26.4.
Averages of H. brunneicapillus (from southern California and
Arizona) :
Ad. $ (5 specimens) : wing 90.4; tail 84.4; culmen 23.2; tarsus 29.2.
" 9 (5 " ): " 85.2; " 81.8; " 21.0; " 27.2.
The crown and nape on birds from the Mexican tablelands "are sepia or
clove brown instead of burnt umber, as in those from southern California
and the southern border of the United States in general. This southern
form is dark grayish-brown on the back, lacking the paler or more rufous
shade of brunneicapillus proper. The white shaft lines of the dorsal
feathers are much reduced in width and are commonly broken up into
isolated spots. In viewing the dorsal surface of a series of the two forms
placed side by side the notable amount of streaking on typical brunnei-
capillus contrasts strongly with the broken streaks and ij-regular white
spotting on the backs of obscurus.
Specimens from northern Zacatecas show an approach to the1 northern
bird; those from the State of Nuevo Leon, in northeastern Mexico, are
intermediate in some characters, but may possibly represent a form pe-
culiar to the Tamaulipan region. Nearly typical representatives of H.
brunneicapillus and //. b. obscurus are represented in the U. S. National
Museum series from southern New Mexico, and it is possible that both
may occur there, each having its range limited to certain altitudes. In
this case I should expect to find true brunneicapillus ranging below obscurus.
The distribution of the two forms, so far as the material at hand allows
me to determine, is as follows:
Description of New Birds from Mexico. 59
H. brunneicapillus. — Southern border of the United States from south-
western Utah and southern California to Sonora, Mexico, and possibly to
the lower Rio Grande, and the states of Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas,
.Mexico
H. brunneicapillus obscurus. — Tableland of Mexico from near northern
boundary to the Valley of Mexico and northern Puebla. This range in-
cludes all or a large part of the states of Mexico, Hidalgo, Michoacan
(northern portion), Queretaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Zacatecas, Aguas Cali-
entes, San Luis Potosi, Durango, Chihuahua, and Coahuila.
Several specimens in the series from the southwestern United States,
representing true brunneicapillus, as well as others from the region occu-
pied by obscurus, have a butty suffusion extending over the upper part of
the hreast and becoming gradually deeper in shade thence back to the
flanks. This appears to be merely a high condition of plumage.
Vireo nanus sp. now Dwarf Vireo.
Type No. 144S90, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Ad. J>,
Querendaro, Michoacan, Mexico, Aug. 9, 1802. Collected by E. W. Nelson.
Distribution. — Southern border of the Mexican tableland, in Michoacan.
Description of type. — Entire dorsal surface grayish olive-green, becoming
browner on head and shoulders and greener on rump and upper tail
coverts. Wings and tail blackish-brown, outer borders of feathers edged
with olive-green; lores and superciliary stripe grayish-white ; ear coverts
and sides of neck olive-gray. Lower parts white with a faint .grayish shade
across breast. Two narrow wing bars formed by white edges to primary
and secondary coverts ; first primary half the length of second ; fourth
primary longest; tail about four-fifths the length of wing; bill black;
legs and toes blackish. Wing 54; tail 43; culmen 10; tarsus 17.
The type and only known specimen of this bird is in badly worn sum-
mer plumage. The perfect plumage is probably clearer green than shown
by the type. The bill is more slender and terete than in any species of
Vireo known to me, and is not typically vireonine in this character;
otherwise the bird seems to belong in the genus where it is placed.
Progne sinaloae sp. nov. Sinaloa Martin.
Type No. 157171, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Ad. tf,
Plomosas, Sinaloa, Mexico, July 18, 1897. Collected by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman.
Distribution. — Western slope of the Sierra Madre, Sinaloa (between 2500
and 4000 feet alt.).
Description of adult mole. — Entire head, neck, breast, flanks, and dorsal
surface uniformly glossy blue-black, thinly overlaid with wash of glossy
black formed by black edges of feathers; chest, abdomen, under tail
i'o verts, and concealed spot on each side of back pure white. Wings and
tail Mack.
Dimensions of type. — Wing 136; tail 71 ; culmen 10; tarsus 12.5; depth
of fork of tail 20.
60 Nelson — Description of New Birds from Mexico.
Averages of 4 males: wing 134.2; tail 72; oilmen 11.1; tarsus 13.2;
depth of fork of tail 18.2.
Averages of 4 males of Progne dominicensis (from West Indies) : wing
144.5; tail 75; culmen 11.9; tarsus 15.1 ; depth of fork of tail 20.5.
P. dominicensis (Gmel. ) of the West Indies is the only species with which
P. sinalose need he compared. The latter may he distinguished hy its
smaller size, pure white under tail coverts, glossy hlack tips of feathers
on dorsal surface (overlying the glossy blue-black of general color), and
the steel-blue-black as contrasted with the decidedly purplish-blue-black
of dominicensis. The general appearance of the two species is very similar.
We found P. shadow at an altitude of about 3500 feet on the western
slope of the Sierra Madre in Sinaloa. They were seen in only one place,
at the upper border of the tropical zone about the point of a ridge facing
the hot lowlands. A flock of from twenty to thirty passed several hours
each day, circling about the hillslope in pursuit of insects. The flock
was made up entirely of males and no females were seen. A native
hunter living near the place where the birds were found told me that
they occur at this point throughout the year. He could give no infor-
mation about their nesting haunts, which were probably not far from
this place. We looked for them without success when we went into the
same mountain a little farther to the south.
It was unexpected to find in northwestern Mexico a species so like the
West Indian one and so different from the two species of the genus which
range over the mainland of central and eastern Mexico.
Phcenicothraupis rubicoides roseus subsp. nov. Rosy Tanager.
Type No. 156121, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Ad. J\
Arroyo de Juan Sanchez (50 miles north of Ixtapa, Jalisco), Territory of
Tepic, Mexico, April 5, 1897. Collected hy E. W. Nelson and E. A.
Goldman.
Distribution. — Basal slopes of mountains in western Tepic and Jalisco,
.Mexico.
Description of type.— Crown rich dark vermilion- red, bordered along the
sides by black ; forehead, sides of head, neck, and remainder of dorsal
surface dull red with a wash of rose color; wing feathers dark brown bor-
dered externally with same color as back ; tail dull red. - Entire under
surface dull rose-red, deepest on throat and breast, lightest and clearest
on abdomen and crissum ; flanks washed with brown. Dimensions of
type : wing 92 ; tail 87 ; culmen 18 ; tarsus 26.
In general the male of this bird has the rosy color of a pale specimen
of Phcenicothraupis rubra, very different from the brick-red of typical
P. rubicoides. It is nearer J', rubicoides affinis, from which the male is
distinguishable by its paler colors. The crest differs also in being a
deeper, more brilliant red than in either of the two other forms. The
female of P. r. roseus, compared with those of P. rubicoides and P. r. affinis,
lias a more olive-green back with little trace of the brown so characteristic
of the others ; the yellow crest is much less strongly marked and has hut
Description of New Birds from Mexico. 61
slight traces of a blackish border; the under surface is olive-brown, of a
much clearer or greener shade. It is decidedly smaller with much smaller
bill.
Contrasted with typical rubicoides, this form is very different, but our
series of specimens from various localities in Vera Cruz, and thence
through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and up the west coast to Jalisco,
show that it is merely a geographical race of that species.
Amphispiza bilineata grisea subsp. nov. Mexican Black-throated
Sparrow.
Type No. 136006, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. ad. tf, Tula,
Hidalgo, Mexico, March 9, 1893. Collected by E. W. Nelson.
Distribution. — Southern part of Mexican tableland from northern San
Luis Potosi to northern end of Valley of Mexico.
Differs from typical A. bilineata in larger size, proportionately shorter
bill and tarsus, darker and grayer dorsal surface, and smaller white areas
on ends of tail feathers.
Averages of typical Amphispiza bilineata (southern Texas and north-
eastern Mexico) :
Ad. J1 (5 specimens) : wing 64.4 ; tail 57.8 ; culmen 10.6 ; tarsus 18.9.
" ? (2 " ): " 62; " 57; " 10.7; " 19.
Averages of A. bilineata grisea (San Luis Potosi and Hidalgo) :
Ad. cf (8 specimens) : wing 69.1 ; tail 63.4 ; culmen 10.5 ; tarsus 19.
" 9 (3 " ): " 66.6; " 60.6; " 10.8; " 19.
The present race inhabits a region in which the species was previously
unknown, thus leaving it without definite synonymy. The following
citations, however, might be doubtfully referred to it:
Poospiza bilineata (nee Sclater, 1850) Scl., Cat. Am. Birds, 110, 1862
(Mexico); Scl. and Salv. Norn. Av. Neotrop., 30 part (Mexico), 1873.
Guiraca chiapensis sp. nov. Chiapas Grosbeak.
Type No. 144319, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Ad. $,
Ocozocuautla, Chiapas, Mexico, August 19, 1895. Collected by E. W.
Nelson and E. A. Goldman.
Distribution. — The type and only known specimen was taken on the
low tableland of western Chiapas at, an altitude of about 3000 feet.
Description of type. — Entire dorsal surface dark brown, upper tail coverts
shaded with grayish ; feathers of back darkest along shafts with narrow,
indistinct edging of lighter brown ; top of head and neck nearly uniform
dark brown witli distinct gloss of blue; this blue gloss is faintly visible
also on sides of neck and shoulders. Wings slightly darker brown than
back and crossed by two bands of dull buffy formed by narrow tips to
greater and lesser coverts ; the band on lesser coverts broadest. Ear
coverts and cheeks dark, dingy buffy-brown ; feathers on middle of chin
62
Nelson — Description of New Birds from Mexico.
and throat whitish at base and dull buffy on outer half; feathers on sides
of chin, throat, and under surface of neck and breast dull brownish with
dingy buffy edges. Rest of lower parts much lighter, the feathers with
dark shaft lines and bordered along edges by pale grayish and buffy.
Dimensions: Wing 90; tail 72; eulmen 21 ; greatest depth of bill 16;
greatest width of under mandible 14 ; tarsus 2o.
Average dimensions of four adult females of Guiraca cozrulea eurhyncha
(from central and southern Mexico) : wing 87.5 ; tail 67 ; eulmen 17.2 ;
greatest depth of bill 12.9; greatest width of under mandible 11.2; tarsus
21.5.
Averages of four adult females of Guiraca c. eurhyncha (from southern
Arizona): wing 84.5; tail 65.2 ; eulmen 16.9; greatest depth of bill 13.1;
greatest width of under mandible 11 ; tarsus 21.4.
The type of G. chiapensis is in worn breeding plumage and is very sim-
ilar in color to a female
of eurhyncha taken at
the same season in
southern Arizona, but
may be distinguished
at once by its huge bill,
as shown in the accom-
panying figure (fig. 14 a);
it is lighter and less
burly on lower parts,
particularly on breast
and neck. This species
is probably a resident
of central Chiapas and
perhaps bears the same
relationship to Guiraca
eurhyncha in size and range that Passerina sumichrasti does to /'. parellina.
In the district where the type of G. chiapensis was taken, Blue Gros-
beaks were common and probably were all or nearly all of this species.
Unfortunately, not having distinguished the latter from eurhyncha at the
time of our visit, we failed to secure other specimens.
Fig. 14. — a, Quiraca chiapensis.
/., Quiraca coerulea eurhyncha.
G-rallaria ochraceiventris sp. nov. BufF-bellied Ant Thrush.
Type No. 156013, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Ad. cf, San
Sebastian, Jalisco, Mexico, March 16, 1897. Collected by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman.
Distribution. — Heavy forests in western Jalisco, and perhaps elsewhere
in western Mexico north of Tehuantepec.
Description of type. — Feathers of crown and back olive-brown, shaded
with fulvous, and narrowly margined with black ; sides of crown, back of
orbits, and nape olive-brown with a dark ashy shade most marked on
sides of crown ; forehead paler or more fulvous brown. Tertiaries and
secondaries dull rusty brown ; outer vanes of primaries shading from dull
Description of Neiu Birds from Mexico. 63
rusty brown to dull tawny brown on outer quills ; wing coverts dull brown
with shaft lines and spots of dull tawny brown at tips. Under coverts
and axillars pale buffy ; inner webs of quills at base still paler buffy, be-
coming grayish brown on outer half; tail and upper tail coverts light
rusty brown. Lores and malar patch pale, dull grayish-white, shaded
with dingy fulvous ; under eyelids blackish ; ear coverts dark olive-brown
washed with blackish; chin, throat, and patch on middle of breast whitish
washed with fulvous; feathers bordering breast-patch scantily black
tipped; sides of throat, breast (except whitish patch), chest, and flanks
dingy butty. Abdomen pale buffy, crissum darker, richer buffy.
Dim, nsions of type. — Wing 114 ; tail 43 ; culmen 28 ; tarsus 47.
This species is most like G. me.cicana, from which it is distinguishable
by its generally paler colors ; obsolescence of ashy on crown and nape ;
much scantier black margins to feathers on dorsal surface, and shorter
tarsus.
Amazilia cinnamomea saturata subsp. now Chiapas Humming Bird.
Type No. 155297, U. S. Xat. Mus. Biological Survey Coll. Ad. tf, Hue-
huetan, Chiapas, Mexico, March 2, 1890. Collected by E. W. Nelson and
E. A. Goldman.
Distribution.— Heavily forested foothills on Pacific coast of Chiapas, near
border of Guatemala.
Description. — Back and wing coverts dark coppery bronze; wings dark
purplish ; entire lower parts rich dark cinnamon, approaching chestnut,
throat a little paler; tail very dark chestnut with broad tips of dark
bronze.
Measurements of type. — Wing 55 ; tail 36; culmen 22.5.
The following average measurements show the relative sizes of Amazilia
cinnamomea from western Mexico, north of Tehuantepec, and the new
form :
A. cinnamomea, adult $ (7 specimens) : wing 57.9 ; tail 36.6 ; culmen 22.
A. c. saturata, adult $ (3 specimens from Huehuetan, Chiapas) : wing 55 ;
tail 35; culmen 22.3.
This form differs from typical cinnamomea mainly in its much darker or
more intense colors ; its wings and tail are a little shorter, and the bill is
proportionately longer.
At first I was inclined to consider this bird Trochilus corallirostris Bourc.
and Muls. (Ann. Sci. Phys. et Nat., Lyons, IX, p. 328, 1841)), which was
described from a specimen taken at Escuintla, Guatemala. Upon looking
the matter up, however, I find that Mr. Elliot described the type of T.
corallirostris in his Synopsis of the Humming Birds (p. 119) under Amazilia
cinnamomea. The measurements of Bounder's type, as given by Elliot and
reduced to millimeters, are as follows : Wing 57.1 ; tail 44.5 ; culmen 22.2.
These measurements indicate that it is true cinnamomea. The discrepancy
in the length of the tail compared with my averages is due to a difference
in methods of measuring. The series of true A. cinnamomea contains
specimens from various localities in western Mexico between Mazatlan
64 Nelson — Description of New Birds from Mexico.
and Tehuantepec ; also from Yucatan, Honduras, Salvador, and Nicaragua.
Throughout this wide range the species holds its characters with surpris-
ingly little variation. A. cinnamomea inhabits areas overgrown with
scrubby forest of an arid tropical character. .1. c. saturata was found in
the borders of the great humid tropical forests of the foothills in southern
Chiapas, and probably ranges along the slopes of these mountains into
western Guatemala. A single specimen from Tehuantepec is intermediate
between true cinnamomea and saturata, upon the strength of which I have
given the present bird subspecific rank.
Revision of the genus DACTYLORTYX Ogilvie-Grant.
Dactylortyx Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XXII, 429, 1893. Type
Ortyx thoracicus Gambel.
In the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences for 1848
(vol. IV, p. 77), Dr. Gambel described Ortyx thoracicus from a specimen
obtained by Mr. Pease at Jalapa, Vera Cruz, Mexico. In 1850 Mr.
Gould published his Odontophorus lineolatus, giving a colored figure of both
sexes and a description of the female (Mon. Odont. Ill, pi. 32, with text,
1850). ( lould's figures and description were based on a pair of birds in
the Berlin Museum, labeled by Lichtenstein with the unpublished name
Perdix lineolata- These birds came from Mexico without any definite
locality, and Gould considered them identical with Gambel's species, but
used Lichtenstein' s manuscript name. In 1893 Ogilvie-Grant made the
genus Dactylortyx to receive the birds described by Gambel and Gould,
which lie considered identical and called Dactylortyx thoracicus. He gave
the range of D. thoracicus as 'Central America; southern Mexico, Yuca-
tan, Guatemala, and San Salvador.' There is good reason to doubt that
any species of grouse or partridge ranges over this area. The material at
hand proves that Ogilvie-Grant's D. thoracicus is a composite species in-
cluding several distinct birds.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Wittner Stone, Conservator of the Orni-
thological Section of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, I
have examined two specimens of true D. thoracicus from Jalapa, Mexico,
one of which is Dr. Gambel's type. Unfortunately both are females and
1 have no male of the typical form to compare with the males of the
others recognized below. The amount of individual variation does not
appear to be great, judging from the two specimens of D. thoracicus and
four specimens of the species in Chiapas and Guatemala, here described
as D. chiapensis. After comparing the two typical specimens of 1>. th<>-
racicus (Gambel) with Gould's plate and description of the female of his
0. lineolatus, 1 am satisfied that they represent birds which are at least
subspecifically distinct. The left-hand figure in Gould's plate represents
a male and agrees very closely with a specimen in the U. S. National Mu-
seum, obtained by Mr. Sumichrast on the (Jineta Mt., near Santa Efigenia,
Oaxaca. This place is on the Pacific slope of Mexico near the border of
Chiapas and gives a definite locality for the birds of this form. The
species and subspecies recognizable in the material before me may be
briefly characterized as follows:
Description of New Birds from Mexico. 65
Dactylortyx thoracicus (Gambel). Male unknown.
Female: Breast and flanks light rufous with shafts of feathers dis-
tinctly lighter, but with no definite shaft lines. Feathers of rump with
heavy Mack cross-bars.
I>. thoracicus lineolatus (Gould). Male : Breast and flanks ash-gray
faintly washed posteriorly with buffy, and with broad well-marked white
shaft lines.
Female: Similar to typical thoracicus, but breast and flanks with well-
marked pale shaft lines.
D. chiapensis sp. now Male: Breast and flanks dark plumbeous-gray;
feathers with narrow bright white shaft lines and indistinctly edged and
barred with brown and blackish.
Female : Breast and flanks dark, dingy brownish-red washed with ashy
on flanks; feathers with pale narrow shaft lines; no black bars on rump.
T). thriiis sp. now Male : Breast feathers dull ashy, broadly bordered
with dull rufous and with fine white shaft lines. Flanks dull rufous with
fine black mottling and wash of dull fulvous.
Female: Unknown.
Dactylortyx thoracicus (Gambel). Jalapa Partridge.
Orti/.r thoracicus Gambel, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., IV, p. 77 (1848).
Odontophorus lineolatus Gray, List Gallinee Brit. Mus., p. 73, 1867 (part,
Cordova).
Dactylortyx thoracicus Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XXII, p. 429,
1893 i part).
Distribution. — Mountain slopes of eastern Mexico (north of Isthmus of
Tehuan tepee? ).
Description <>)' type. — No. 12404, Coll. Phila. Acad. Sciences, ad. $ , Jalapa,
Vera Cruz, Mexico. Collected by Mr. Pease.
Entire top of head blackish, variegated indistinctly with dark rufous
and with paler shaft streaks which are dull rufous posteriorly. Feathers
on back of neck dull rufous, heavily overlaid with black tips and bars;
feathers of mantle with ashy centers and heavy borders of dark rufous
brown, finely and indistinctly mottled with blackish. Scapulars with pale
golden-buffy shaft streaks, lower webs pale ashy variegated and bordered
with black and dark buffy, upper webs black, variegated with chestnut.
Hump and upper tail coverts olivaceous brown, paler and more buffy on
rump and darker brown on coverts; entire rump and upper tail coverts
heavily barred and marked with black ; tertials dark chestnut, hand-
somely variegated with black, and with black borders below and dark
buffy borders above ; wing coverts marked much as scapulars, but darker
on lower webs. Primaries dark gray with dull buffy mottling along outer
webs ; secondaries dark gray, slightly mottled on inner and heavily mot-
tled on outer webs with blackish, dull rufous and buffy. Tail dingy
blackish variegated with buffy and dull rusty. Chin and throat whitish
with wash of ashy and faint edging of blackish ; sides of head with ear
covers and superciliary stripe dark ashy. Sides of neck, breast all round,
and flanks bright rufous, shafts of feathers a little paler. Feathers on
14— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898
66 Nelson — Description of New Birds from Mexico.
sides of head and neck, including ear coverts, finely tipped or barred with
black. Abdomen white ; under tail coverts dark fulvous with heavy
black subterminal markings.
The other female from Jalapa is similarly colored in every particular
except on mantle where the rufous borders of feathers are duller and the
gray centers more conspicuous.
The dimensions of these specimens are as follows : No. 12404, 9 (type
of species), wing 128: tail 48 ; culmen 14; tarsus 34. No. 12405, 9 (topo-
type), wing 135; tail 50; culmen 14 ; tarsus 35.
Dactylortyx thoracic us lineolatus (Gould). Striped Partridge.
Odontophorus lineolatus Gray, Genera of birds, III, p. 513 (1847), nomen
nudum; Gould [Perdix lineolata, Licht. MS. in Mus. Berl). Mon.
Odont. Ill, pi. 32, with text (1850); Bon., Compt. Rend., XLII, p.
883 (1856).
Strophiortyx lineolatus Gray, Hand List Birds, II, 272 (1870).
' Dactylortyx thoracicus Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XXII, p. 429,
1893 (part).
Distribution. — Mountain slopes of southwestern Oaxaca and adjacent
part of Chiapas.
Description of adult maZe.— (No. 11033S, U. S. Nat. Mus. Santa Efigenia,
Oaxaca, Mexico, Nov., 1880. Collected by F. Sumichrast). Lower neck,
breast, and flanks gray with faint wash of buffy-brown anteriorly, be-
coming heavier along flanks ; feathers marked with broad white shaft
streaks. Crown dark brown witli very fine shaft lines of pale huffy ;
nape feathers streaked with broad huffy shaft lines and black borders ;
feathers of mantle with narrow white shaft streaks and gray webs, mot-
tled with dull chestnut and black along borders. Scapulars, tertials,
and wing coverts with shaft lines of white or pale bufty ; upper webs of
these feathers irregularly mottled and barred with 1 thick and rich chest-
nut; lower webs grayish with wash of brown and marked with black
lines along borders. Primaries and secondaries dark gray mottled with
bully along borders of primaries; secondaries more distinctly mottled
and barred with bufl'y and blackish on outer webs. Back, rump, and
upper tail coverts nearly uniform buffy-brown witli line dark mottling.
Tail dark gray with blackish and bully mottling in irregular cross-bars
Dimensions: Wing 132; tail 55 ; culmen 14; tarsus 35. -
Dactylortyx chiapensis sp. nov. Chiapas Partridge.
Odontophorus thoracicus Scl. & Sal v., Ibis, p. 276,1860 (Volcan de Fuego,
Guatemala). ?
Odontophorus lineolatus Gray , List Gal linse Brit. Mus., p. 73, 1867 (part,
< matemala).
Dactylortyx thoracicus Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus , XX IT, p. 429,
1893 (part).
Type No. 155539, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Ad. cf, San
Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico, Sept. 25, L895. Collected by E. YV. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman.
Description of New Birds from Mexico. 67
Description of type. — Crown and nape mottled with black and dark
chestnut ; feathers on mantle with line whitish shaft lines ; webs grayish
next shaft lines and shading outwardly into fine black mottling and then
into a wash of dark vandyke-brown, deepest on borders. Back mottled
with dull buffy-gray and blackish, former color predominating anteriorly ;
rump and upper tail coverts dark gray mottled with huffy and blackish,
heaviest on tail coverts where some feathers have heavy shaft spots or
lines. Tail blackish with irregular bars of grayish and burly mottling.
Scapulars, tertials, and wing coverts with bright narrow shaft lines of
pale huffy ; upper webs of scapulars and wing coverts heavily marked
with transverse bands of black and dark reddish-brown, lower webs gray
with irregular brown and black lines along edges; tertials rich reddish-
brown mottled with blackish and broadly bordered with black and edged
with a golden-huffy line. Primaries and secondaries gray, former with
pale huffy spots along outer webs ; latter barred irregularly with brown
and buffy mottling. A broad superciliary stripe of rufous-buffy extends
from bill to sides of nape, palest posteriorly. Ear coverts mottled black
and brown; lores white; some feathers of lores and line below eyes
tipped with black; feathers on sides of neck, just back of ear coverts,
heavily tipped with black; chin, throat, and cheeks rich reddish-buffy.
Lower neck, breast, and flanks gray with wash of dull olive-brown on
edges of feathers and heaviest on flanks ; the feathers have fine, sharply
defined white shaft lines with transverse series of fine dark mottlings.
Chest and abdomen white; feathers of under tail coverts buff with heavy,
irregular dark bars and mottlings on basal two-thirds.
Dimensions. — Wing 121) ; tail 49 ; culmen 14 ; tarsus 36.
Description of f< mule. — Differs from male in having the rufous and rufous-
buff areas on head replaced by dark ashy-gray, and the gray area on
breast and flanks replaced by rufous. Crown, dark grayish-brown, finely
mottled with black and faint traces of rufous; feathers of nape black,
barred subterminally with dark reddish-brown ; a broad gray superciliary
stripe terminates in a buffy line on each side of nape; ear coverts black
in front, gray posteriorly. Feathers on hind neck gray and dull rufous-
brown with whitish shafts and black spots near tips. Mantle with paler
shade of gray and buffy markings. Pattern on scapulars, tertials, and
wing coverts similar, but the brown decidedly redder and more pro-
nounced. Back, rump, and upper tail coverts very similar, but tail coverts
richer huffy with heavier black centers. Tail black, irregularly mottled
transversely with gray, rufous, and buff. Chin and throat ashy, feathers
black-tipped on sides of throat. Bides and lower part of neck, breast,
and flanks marked with fine pale shaft streaks ; general color of this area
dull reddish-brown, richest on sides of neck and breast, duller and grayer
posteriorly. Middle of chest and abdomen pale buffy ; under tail coverts
buffy, with heavy black markings. Dimensions: Wing 130; tail 45 ; cul-
men 13.5 ; tarsus 34.
A female from the Volcano of Santa Maria, Guatemala, is very similar
to the one from San Cristobal, but is a trifle more rufous, with abdomen
pure white and lower webs of scapulars and wing coverts brown and
68 Nelson — Description of New Birds from Mexico.
buffy instead of brown and ashy as on the bird just described. Dimen-
sions: Wing 132; tail 50 ; cuhnen 14; tarsus 34.
Dactylortyx devius sp. nov. Brown -flanked Partridge.
Dactylortyx thoracicus Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XXII, p. 429,
L893 (part).
TypeNo. 155938, U. S. Nat, Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Ad. J, San
Sebastian, Jalisco, Mexico, March 17, 1897. Collected by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman.
Distribution. — Forests of western Jalisco, and probably other parts of
western Mexico.
Description of type. —Middle of crown and nape dark chestnut-brown
with blackish mottling ; back of neck mottled coarsely with black and
dark rufous ; broad superciliary stripe from bill to nape dark buffy, con-
tinued on sides of nape by broad buffy-whitish shaft streaks on feathers
bordered by black and dark rufous. Lores gray with fine black tips ;
chin, throat, and cheeks rich rufous-buffy ; feathers from lores back under
eye and along sides of neck tipped with black ; ear coverts brown with
pale shafts and dark tips. Feathers of hind neck and mantle with
brownish gray centers, bordered with dark rufous-brown and finely mot-
tled with black ; scapulars finely barred with dark rufous-brown and
edged with black ; back rump and upper tail coverts grayish brown, finely
mottled with buffy and blackish, the gray clearest on back ; the buffy
and dark mottling becomes gradually more intense posteriorly and the
tail coverts are almost rufous. Tail blackish, finely mottled with brown,
dark buffy and gray. Scapulars, tertials, and wing coverts with narrow,
pale, buffy shaft streaks ; upper webs black, barred and mottled witb ru-
fous ; lower webs light gray, mottled with darker near shafts and black
and brown near borders. Primaries dark gray with pale buffy spots
along outer web; secondaries blackish, irregularly barred with bully-
brown mottlings on outer webs and across tips. Bower neck, breast, and
flanks- with line white shaft lines. Webs of feathers on neck and middle
of breast gray next shaft lines, shading externally into dull reddish-
brown ; same pattern on sides of breast and flanks, but reddish-brown
more intense and spread over most of feathers. Chest and sides of abdo-
men buffy ; middle of abdomen white; under tail coverts black, broadly
tipped and mottled with dark buffy.
Dimensions: Wing 137 ; tail 57; culmenlo; tarsus 34.
Female unknown.
Vol. XII, pp. 69-71 March 24, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
V;s
DESCRIPTIONS OF SIX NEW GROUND SQUIRRELS
FROM THE WESTERN UNITED STATES.
BY C. HART MERRIAM.
Of the six new Spermophiles here described, one (pregonus)
belongs to the armatus-beldingi group, three are subspecies of
mollis, and two subspecies of tridecemlineatus.
Spermophilus oregonus sp. nov.
Tijjir from Swan Lake Valley, Klamath Basin, Oregon. No. 89177, 9
ad., U. IS. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll., June 12, 1897. Collected by
Vernon Bailey. Orig. No. 0005.
Characters. — Similar to S. beldingi in size and general characters but
grayer and lacking the red dorsal area and head patch. Similar to S. ar-
matus in color of upper parts, but under side of tail chestnut instead of
grizzled gray and black.
Color. — Upper parts buffy-gray, grizzled with black hairs, sometimes
becoming pale dull burly-fulvous on middle of back; under parts buffy
or burly-yellowish, the dark basal fur showing through ; nose sometimes
pale buffy-fulvous ; feet bufFy-whitish ; tail above: basal ly like back, dis-
tal I y becoming grizzled black and fulvous, with black tip and edged all
round with hoary; tail below: deep chestnut bordered with black and
edged with hoary, the black border forming a broad band across end.
Cranial characters. — Skull like that of S. beldingi but rostrum more slen-
der, ascending arms of premaxillse narrower, palate longer behind molars,
palatine bones shorter anteriorly, reaching only to plane of middle of 2d
molars [in beldingi they reach plane of interspace between 1st and 2d
molars].
Measurements.— Type specimen: Total length 205; tail vertebra? 57;
hind foot 42.
Spermophilus mollis stephensi subsp. nov.
Type from Queen Station, near head of OwensValley, Nevada. No. ffff f ,
C? ad., July 12, 1891. Collected by F. Stephens. Orig. No. 718. (Alt.
about 6000 ft.)
15— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (69)
70 Mcrr'nt m. — Descriptions of Six New Ground Squirrels.
Characters. — Similar to S. mollis, but in summer pelage head and neck
to shoulders uniform pinkish buff [of Ridgway's Color Nomenclature].
< 'olor. — Sum mi r pelage: Entire head and neck and fore-back to shoulders
uniform pinkish-buff, becoming yellowish-buff below ; rest of back vina-
ceous-buff slightly mixed with brown; under parts and fore legs and feet
buti'y ; hind feet soiled whitish ; tail above and below buffy, grizzled with
dark hairs and edged with buffy.
Cranial characters. — Skull like that of mollis, but braincase broader
across mastoids; ascending arms of premaxillse narrower and more
pointed ; tooth row shorter.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 209; tail vertebra? 49;
hind foot 32. Average of 9 specimens from Owens Valley, Calif. : Total
length 212 ; tail vertebrae 50 ; hind foot 32.4.
Spermophilus mollis yakimensis subsp. now
Type from Mabton, Yakima Co., Washington. No. 89331, rT ad., U. S.
Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll , July 16, 1897. Collected by Walter
K. Fisher. Orig. No. 323.
Characters. — Similar to S. mollis in size and general appearance, but tail
slightly shorter; color grayer and less buff}-, but not so gray as fauns.
Nasal bones very much longer than in either mollis or canus.
Color. — Upper parts buffy -gray, finely grizzled with dusky; nose dull
rusty fulvous ; cheeks and sides of neck grayish, sometimes suffused with
pale buffy-yellowish, but never approaching the strong buffy-ochraceous
of mollis; under parts buffy; feet whitish; tail grizzled fulvous as in
mollis.
Cranial characters. — Skull like that of mollis in size and general charac-
ters, but nasal bones much longer, passing backward considerably beyond
premaxilhe and ending in a wedge-shaped point ; audital bullae more in-
Hated below plane of meatus (i. e., less flattened); basioccipital slightly
broader ; incisors heavier.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 215; tail vertebrae 48;
hind foot 33. Average of 10 specimens from type locality and adjacent
plain: Total length 213; tail vertebrae 46 ; hind foot 34.2.
Spermophilus mollis canus subsp. now
Type from Antelope, Wasco Co., Oregon. No. 78681, 9 ad., U. S. Nat.
Mus., biological Survey Coll., June 21, 1896. Collected by Vernon Bailey.
Original No. 5561.
Characters. — Similar to S. mollis, but grayer, slightly smaller, with
shorter hind feet and decidedly shorter tail ; skull smaller and relatively
broader, with much shorter rostrum.
Color. —Upper parts finely grizzled gray and dusky without buffy suf-
fusion; nose dull rusty fulvous; cheeks and sides of neck grayish (not
buffy-ochraceous as in mollis) ; thighs dark, with a dull fulvous suffusion
very different from the pale buffy-ochraceous of mollis ; under parts buffy
or buffy -gray, more or less grizzled with dark hairs on breast and middle
Descriptions of Six New Ground Squirrels. 71
of belly; feet soiled whitish; tail grayer and lsss fulvous than in mollis.
Young similar to young of mollis, but decidedly darker ; head and neck
pale dull-fulvous instead of buffy-ochraceous ; tail strikingly shorter and
darker.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of mollis, but shorter and rela-
tively broader; rostrum conspicuously shorter ; molariform teeth smaller
(tooth row 1 mm. shorter) ; nasals shorter but variable, usually ending
behind plane of premaxiltee.
Measurements. — Type specimen : Total length 198 ; tail vertebrae 38 ; hind
foot 30. Average of 3 specimens from type locality : Total length 194.3 ;
tail vertebrae 40 ; hind foot 30.3.
Spermophilus tridecemlineatus alleni* subsp. nov.
T;/pe from Bighorn Mts., Wyoming. No. 56050, J\ U. S. Nat. Mus.,
Biological Survey Coll., Sept. 18, 1893. Collected by Vernon Bailey.
Original No. 4383.
Characters. — Size small (nearly as small as parvus) ; ground color of
upper parts fully as dark as in typical tridecemlineatus ; li^'ht spots in
dorsal rows relatively larger and tail darker and much less reddish than
in tridecemlineatus.
Cranial characters. — Skull and teeth similar to those of parvus (perhaps
very slightly larger), but audital bullae very much smaller.
Measurements. —Type specimen: Total length 211; tail vertebrae 74 ;
hind foot 32.
Spermophilus tridecemlineatus texensis subsp. nov.
Type from Gainesville, Cooke Co., Texas. No. IHf> c? ad., Merriam
collection, April 15, 1SS6. Collected by G. H. Ragsdale.
Characters. — Similar to S. tridecemlineatus, but smaller; ground color of
upper parts, including base of tail, redder ; middle stripe of under side of
tail uniform deep reddish, not grizzled with black ; no yellowish-olive
tinge in any pelage and less seasonal difference in color than in any of
the other forms.
Color. — Winter pelage : Ground color of upper parts, including base of
tail, rich deep ferruginous or rusty, slightly grizzled with black hairs ;
nose grayish, slightly grizzled with rusty; sides of neck, feet, and under
parts buffy ; head marblings, dorsal stripes and spots, chin and lips
huffy-white ; rusty under side of tail sometimes partly hidden by buffy
tips. Summer pelage : Similar to winter pelage, but ground color duller
and light stripes and spots more buffy.
* In honor of Dr. J. A. Allen, who first defined and named the sub-
genus Ictidomys to which the tridecemlineatus group belongs, and to whom
we are indebted for its two best marked members —pallidus and parvus.
Vol. XII, pp. 73-76 March 24, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW RODENT OF THE GENUS
IDIURUS*
BY GERRIT S. MILLER, JR.
Among some African birds recently purchased by the United
States National Museum were found a few mammal skins from
Efulen, in the Cameroon district. Two of these are referable to
the rodent genus described by Mr. Paul Matschie under the name
Iiliurns.j Although taken within seventy miles of Yaunde
Station, the type locality of Idiurus zenkeri, these specimens are
referable to a species quite distinct from the one represented by
Mr. Matschie's unique type. The new form may be called:
Idiurus macrotis gp. now
Type No. 83625, United States National Museum, $ young adult, col-
lected at Efulen, Cameroon district, West Africa, June 18, 1895, by G. L.
Bates. Original No. 4.
General characters. — Much larger than Idiurus zenkeri .Matschie ; tail and
ears relatively longer; color apparently darker; skull larger ; bony palate
narrower; second lower molar distinctly larger than first.
/•'///■ and color. — Pelage formed of hairs of two kinds. Main body of fur
composed of soft densely set hairs about 9 mm. in length. Interspersed
with these are hairs about double as long and closely resembling those
of the wrist and foot tufts. These hairs occur on the dorsal surface only,
and are most numerous along the sides. Dorsal surface of membranes
covered with fur somewhat less dense than that on body ; extreme edges
of membranes bare. Ventral surface of membranes very sparsely haired.
Distribution of hair on tail and feet exactly as described in /. zenkeri.
* Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution.
t Sitzungs-Berichte Gesellschaft Xaturforschender Etvuude ZU Berlin,
1894, p. 194.
16-Bjol. Soc Wash., Vol. XII. I§9S (73)
71
Miller — Description of a New Rodent.
Fig. 1."'. — Front foot of Idiu
rus vine rot is. (X 1/^-)
Color above sepia, slightly grayer on posterior half of back, and dark-
ening to nearly black on membranes. A faintly indicated dark stripe
from base of ear to muzzle. This is perceptible in certain lights only.
Throughout the body fur the hairs are dusky plumbeous to within about
J iniii. of tip. This darker color appears every-
where irregularly at the surface. Ventral surface
pale yellowish wood brown, irregularly darkened
by the plumbeous bases of the hairs. Hairs on
under side of membranes very dark brown and
with none of the silver gray appearance described
in I. zenkeri. Dorsum of manus and pes with short, scattered, dark brown
hairs. Fringe on wrist (rig. 15) and side of hind foot dark brown. Tail
dark chestnut brown, slightly tinged with yellowish near base.
Feet. — So far as can be determined from dry specimens, the feet are
essentially as in" Idiurus zenkeri. The front foot with its equal digits, rudi-
mentary thumb, and fringed wrist is
shown in figure 15.
Tail.— The generic characters of the
tail, as described by Mr. Matschie in
the type of Idiurus zenkeri, are exactly
reproduced in J. macrotis (fig. 16). The
pad of projecting scales occupies a space
about 17 mm. in length and 4 mm. in
width. The proximal end of the pad
is about 25 mm. behind the anus. The
lateral fringes begin on each side of the
proximal end of the scale pad, but the
ventral fringe reaches only to a point
about 15 mm. behind the pad. The
three fringes continue distinct to near
the tip of the tail, where the hairs of
which they are composed gradually be-
come longer and finally blend with the
long sparse hairs of the dorsal surface
to form the terminal pencil. The hairs
of all three fringes are about 4 mm. in
length, those of the ventral fringe closely
appressed. Long hairs on dorsal sur-
face of tail 30-4o mm. in length.
Ear. — The ears
(fig. 17) are much
larger than in 1.
zenkeri and wholly naked both within and with-
out, except on the external basal third, which
is covered with fur similar to that of the head.
With a lens a few very small hairs may be de-
tected on the anterior border, but these are in-
visible to the unaided eye. In form the ear is
very simple and strongly suggestive of that of
Fig.
10. — Base of tail I under side i of
Idiurus macrotis. (X !%•)
Fig. 17. — Ear of Idiurus ma
crotis. (X iya.)
Description of a New Rodent.
75
some of the smaller bats. Near the base of the auricle on the inner side
are three well developed cross-ridges, and a fourth which is less distinct,
Skull. — Th* skull (fig. 18) is in general similar to that of Idiurus :< nh ri.
The bony palate, however, is
at its widest point scarcely
wider than the first molar,
while at its narrowest point it
is decidedly narrower than this
tooth. In I. zenkeri the palate
is about double as wide as the
tooth row.* Surface of frontals
slightly and evenly convex,
with scarcely a trace of the
six protuberances mentioned
in the description of /. zenkeri ;
orbital edges knifedike and
slightly overhanging. Incis-
ive foramen a narrow slit, 1
mm. long and about one-third
as wide.
Mandible very short and
deep, the greatest depth con-
tained only one and one-half
times in greatest length. Cor-
onoid process joined with artic-
ular process by a thick bridge FlG- Ls-~ Skull of Idiurus macrotis. (X 1%).
below which the bone is thin and semitransparent, but not fenestrate as
in the type of /. zenh ri.j
Teelh. -Upper molar rows slightly convergent anteriorly. Combined
iength of three true- molars equal to anteropos-
terior diameter of incisor. Premolar about three-
fourths as large as first molar, which is the lamest
upper tooth. Second molar distinctly smaller
than first and about twice as large as third. The
crowns of the premolars and the first and second
c3dJ>/' 7 molars are each crossed by two ridges of enamel,
isolating three narrow depressions, the posterior
of which is so narrow as to be practically invisible
to the unaided eye (fig. 19, a). Third molar with
one ridge and two depressions in the type, two
ridges and three depressions in an older specimen
with very much worn teeth.
First and second lower molars (tig. 19, b.) essentially equal in size, but
second slightly the larger. Third molar considerably smaller than second
Fig. 19.— Teeth of Idiurus
macrotis; a upper, b
lower. (X1%.)
* " Gaumenbein fast doppelt so breit wie die Zahnreihe . . ."
t The fenestration in /. zenkeri may be due to injury during prepara-
tion of the specimen.
76
Miller — Description of a New Rodent.
and about equal to premolar. Enamel pattern essentially as in the max-
llary teeth, but less regular.
General remarks. — The type of Idiurus zenkeri is an old *adult female
i "' cm sehr altes W-eibchen "), while the two specimens of 1. macrotis are
males, one young adult, the other old. Yet the differences between the
two forms are too great to be ascribed to sexual variation. That two or
more species of a genus so peculiar as Idiurus should occur in the Came-
roon district is not at all improbable. Neither can it he' wondered at
that animals so perfectly protected by color and form (the general appear-
ance is well shown in Mr. Matschie's figure) should successfully escape
notice, especially if, as is probably the case, they are strictly nocturnal in
habits.
Measurements of Idiurus macrotis and I. zenkeri.
I. zenkeri.
I. macrotis.
Number
83625
<?
241
83626
Sex . .
O
-t-
228
Total length
Head and body
65
100
30
15
12.5*
Tail vertebra'
133
36
21
18
16
L0.6
123
1 'enci 1
38
Hind foot
Ear : from meatus
22
17
from crown
15.5
width
10
Skull : Basal length. . .
17
22
13
9
6
5
3.25
8.75
6
2.8
2t
Zygomatic breadth
26
15
9.6
7
7
3.25
10
6
" Q
• >.o
2.2
1.2"
1.4
15
10
4
27
10
Length of frontals
9.8
Length of nasals
7
7
Greatest breadth of nasals
Tip of nasals to gnathion .....
Incisor to premolar
o.o
9.8
6.8
Upper tooth row
4
Greatest distance between inner
border of molars (in. 3)
Least distance between inner
border of molars (m. 1)
Width of first true molar. .
2
1.2
1.6
Mandible : Greatest length
11.5
8
2.5
l(i
< Greatest depth
Lower tooth row
10.6
4
* By ' Ohr ' Mr. Matschie may mean ear from crown.
t " Entfernnng der inneren Rander der beiden Reihen."
Vol. XII, pp. 77-82 March 24, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
DNu LI
THE EASTERN RACES OF THE AMERICAN VARYING
HARE, WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SUBSPE-
CIES FROM NOVA SCOTIA.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
The American Varying Hare {Lepus americanus), with its
various forms, occupies the whole of the northern part of North
America north to the limit of trees. It is distinctively an in-
habitant of the cool, damp, coniferous forest, differing in this
respect from its congeners that prefer more open and grassy
country.
Its food consists principally of the young, tender shoots of
conifers— spruce, fir, etc. — hut it also eats the twigs and buds of
the alder and other shrubs. In summer, grasses, reeds, and her-
baceous plants form part of its diet; but even at this season the
young branches and leaves of conifers are generally found in its
stomach. Its flesh usually has a strong and, to me, unpleasant
sprucy taste.
In eastern North America the Varying Hare may be divided
into three geographical races :
1. Lepus americanus americanus Erxl., occupying Labrador.
2. Lepus americanus virginianus ( Harlan), occupying the cool, damp forests
and swamps of the Hudsonian, Canadian, and Transition zones. In
the Alleidianies it extends south to Virginia and West Virginia.
3. Lepus americanus siruthopus Bangs, occupying the peninsula of Nova
Scotia.
In all three races a white pelage, which is more complete in
17— Bk.l. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (77)
78 Bangs — The 'American Varying Hares.
northern than southern localities, is assumed at the approach of
winter*
The three eastern races are as follows :
Lepus americanus ameiicanus (Erxleben).
Lepus americanus Erxl. Syst. Anini., p. 330, 1777.
Type locality. — Hudson Strait, south side.
Geographic distribution. — Labrador and perhaps the higher Hudsonian
regions of central North America.
Subspecific characters. — Hind foot large; general color of upper parts (in
summer pelage) shades of light yellowish brown and drab; a conspic-
uous white border to ear, all around, even in the young; skull short and
broad, not deeply constricted behind postorbital processes; incisor teeth
very slender and slightly projected outward.
Color. -Adult in summer pelage: upper parts varying individually
from hair-brown and drab to tawny clay color, many black tipped hairs
*This peculiarity of not turning completely white in winter has been
given as one of the principal characteristics of the southern race ( L. amer-
icanus virginianus) , but it does not seem a difference of any great impor-
tance and surely not one on which a subspecies could be based. The
problem of how the winter coat is acquired lias given rise to a good deal
of discussion among naturalists, some taking the view that it is due to a
change in the color of the hair itself, and others that it is brought about
by a moult, Dr. J. A. Allen (Bull. Am. Mus. of Nat Hist., vol. VI,
p. 107, 1894), who studied the question carefully and with considerable
material, is firmly convinced that the latter view is the correct one. It
seems to me that the bottom of the question has not yet been reached.
In spring the case is clear enough, and the change from the white
winter to the brown summer dress is wholly due to a moult. The long
white hairs fall out, leaving the animal clothed in a coat consisting
mainly of the underfur, through which can be seen patches of the in-
coming brown hairs of summer. The case is not so clear in autumn. In
late summer we find the adult hares in such short and worn pelage that
in places the skin often shows through. When the eOol weather of
autumn comes and the hares stop breeding, a moult begins, in which the
change is not to a white winter dress, but to a long full coat of brown,
like that of summer. Before this moult is complete, however, the animal
gradually begins to turn white. During this process many of the new
hairs are white from the time they first appear, but what happens to the
new brown hairs that have just been grown is a question. Does it seem
that in the economy of nature these should again be shed before they
have served their purpose? If hair and feathers can change color, as
many suppose, does it not seem reasonable to assume that the American
Varying Hare comes by his winter coat in two ways? Some hairs are
white from the time they first appear, but others, which at first are
brown, grow to their full length and then change to white.
The American Varying Hares. 7(.)
intermixed along back and on top of head ; flanks, arms, pectoraLband,
and often lower sides, rather brighter, more tawny ochraceous; belly and
chin to pectoral hand dull white; ears dusky toward tips, bordered by a
very conspicuous white hand ; leys and feet (sometimes hands also) dull
white irregularly blotched by patches of tawny and ochraceous-buff; soles
dusky, often stained, sometimes having an olivaceous cast. Young not
essentially different, except that the legs and feet are not white, but pale
tawny or ochraeeous-buff. Winter pelage : pure white.
Cranial characters. — Skull short and broad, not deeply constricted be-
hind postorbital processes; nasals wide and flattened on upper surface;
incisor teeth very slender and slightly projected outward.
The skull is difficult to tell from that of L. virginianus, except by its
much more slender incisors, which in all 1 have examined have never
failed to distinguish it.
Measurements. — Averages of nine fully adult specimens of both sexes
from Hamilton Inlet (near Rigoulette), Labrador: Total length, 471.33;
tail vertebras 34.22; hind foot, 146.77. (For individual measurements
see table. )
Remarks. — Lepus americanus americanus has a more northern and 1
think a more restricted distribution than has usually been attributed to
it. I have seen no specimens except from Labrador. However, it may
occur around the shores of James Bay and thence westward into the in-
terior. One specimen collected by Gerrit S. Miller, Jr., at North Bay,
Ontario, is apparently an intergrade, though much nearer virginianus,
since it has the broad incisor teeth and more constricted interorbital re-
gion characteristic of that subspecies. In color it is nearer true ameri-
canus, but the white border of the ears is not as pronounced as in that
form. Specimens from Mt. Forest, Ontario, and Lake Edward, Quebec,
are nearly alike and differ widely from true americanus. In March, 1893,
Mr. Will C. Colt collected a series of varying hares for me at Osier,
Saskatchewan. All of these specimens are in winter pelage. They are
not true americanus, and perhaps represent still another race. They are
small, with small skulls, having rather narrow nasals and very broad and
strong incisor teeth. It thus appears that if true am ricanus finds its way
far into the interior of the country, it must be restricted to the high
Hudsonian regions near the limit of trees.
L. americanus americanus is very abundant throughout the wooded re-
gion of the Labrador peninsula.
I have a series of fourteen specimens collected near Rigoulette, Ham-
ilton Inlet, in the summer of 1895, by C. H. Goldthwaite.
Lepus americanus virginianus (Harlan).
Lepus virginianus Harlan. Fauna Americana, p. 196, 1825.
Type locality. — Blue Mountains, Pennsylvania.
Geographic distribution. — Lower Hudsonian, whole of Canadian and
much of Transition zones of eastern North America, except Nova Scotia.
From Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick it ranges south on the coast
80 Bangs — The American Varying Hares.
to southern Massachusetts and northern Connecticut and formerly, per-
haps, men to New Jersey ; in the Alleghany Mountains to Virginia and
West Virginia.
Subspecific characters. - Size of or slightly larger than L. americanus ameri-
canus ; hind foot shorter; skull longer and more deeply constricted be-
hind postorbital processes ; incisor teeth much broader and more curved
backward; general color of upper parts (in summer pelage) shades of
rich reddish brown, russet, and dull ferruginous; white border of ear
narrow and inconspicuous, often wanting.
Color. — Adult in summer pelage : upper parts varying individually from
russet to dull, deep ferruginous, generally with a copious intermixture of
black tipped hairs along back and on top of head ; belly and chin white;
pectoral band colored like back, but without black tipped hairs; ears
without white border or with a narrow and inconspicuous one ; legs, feet,
hands, and arms seldom white, though sometimes irregularly blotched
with white or buff. Young, similar to adults. Winter pelage: white,
the under fur and some of the longer hairs often retaining part of their
color throughout the winter, especially in more southern localities.
Cranial characters. — Skull longer and narrower than that of L. america-
nus americanus ; more deeply constricted behind postorbital processes;
nasals narrower, longer, and less flattened ; incisor teeth broad and strong
and more curved backward. The character of the incisor teeth will always
serve to distinguish skulls of L. americanus americanus from those of L.
americanus virginianus.
Measurements. — Average of nine fully adult specimens, males and fe-
males, from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts: total length,
475 ; tail vertebrae, 41.22 ; hind foot, 140.55 (for individual measurements
see table).
General remarks. — Lepus americanus virginianus has an extensive distri-
bution, being the form found over the greater part of the range of the
species in eastern North America. In the southeastern part of its range,
in Massachusetts and Connecticut where it was formerly very common,
it is year by year becoming rarer and more local. In this region it is
only found in cool, dark woods, extensive tracts of white cedar and white
pine being its favorite home. Gradually but steadily, as spots suited to
its needs become fewer and smaller, it is being replaced by its more pro-
gressive and adaptive cousin, the cotton-tail. Farther ncfrth, where the
continuous forest of spruce and fir a fib ids it an immense range, it still
occurs in great abundance.
Unfortunately, I have seen no specimens from Pennsylvania, nor from
the southern Alleghany Mountains. Mr. Thaddeus Surber writes me
that it still occurs in the heavy hemlock and spruce forests of some of
the higher mountains near White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Lepus americanus virginianus varies but little in the large area it occu-
pies. Specimens from New Brunswick are exactly like those from Mas-
sachusetts, and some of the most extreme and richly colored examples 1
have seen came from Mt. Forest, Ontario, and Lake Edward, Quebec.
This is easily accounted for by the animal's peculiar requirements and
The Aim ricn a Varying Hares. 81
mode of life, which are the same throughout its range. In Transition
country it only occurs in deep, dark, moist woods, where the conditions
are the same as those offered by a much more northern climate. That
it has but a weak hold upon a place in the fauna of the Transition zone
is shown by the rapidity with which it disappears when the conditions
that enabled it to exist there are slightly changed.
I have specimens from Quebec. Ontario, New Brunswick, Maine, New
Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
Lepus americanus struthopus subsp. nov.
Type from Digby, Nova Scotia. No. 2025, 9 ad., coll. of E. A. and 0.
Bangs. Collected August 4, 1894, by Outram Bangs.
Geographic distribution. — Province of Nova Scotia.
Subspecific characters. — Size of L. americanus virginianus ; hind foot much
smaller; color (in summer pelage) darker and duller, rarely showing the
reddish brown shades seen in virginianus ; otherwise similar to virginianus.
( 'olor. — Adult in summer pelage : Upper parts varying individually from
raw umber to bistre, sometimes shaded ahout head, neck, and on flanks
with dull ferruginous ; black tipped hairs not numerous, often arranging
themselves into a narrow dorsal stripe: belly and chin to pectoral band
dull white; ears dark brown above, becoming dusky or black at tips,
narrowly bordered by a yellowish brown band ; hands and feet irregu-
larly marked with dusky and sometimes with whitish blotches. Young
similar to adults. Winter pelage, white.
Cranial characters. — The skull of/., americanus struthopus is in all essen-
tial characters like that of L. americanus virginianus. The audital bullae
are constantly a little smaller.
Measurements. — Average of nine fully adult specimens, males and females,
from Nova Scotia : Total length, 474.77; tail vertebras, 49.83; hind foot,
127..'!^. (For individual measurements see table.)
Remarks. — Lepus americanus struthopus is a peninsular form confined to
the Province of Nova Scotia. It probably intergrades with L. americanus
virginianus, though 1 have seen no specimens from that part of Nova
Scotia adjoining New Brunswick. The principal character that distin-
guishes the Nova Scotia bare is its remarkably small hind foot. The
color of the summer pelage is usually much darker and duller than in
L. americanus virginianus. In my series of twelve in full summer pelage
one specimen only is about the color of average specimens of virginianus,
all the others being much darker. The dusky markings on feet, hands,
nape, and top of head so common in struthopus are rarely, if ever, present
in virginianus.
Lepus americanus struthopus is exceedingly abundant throughout the
Province of Nova Scotia, except on the hard-wood ridges.
Within a few years this form has been introduced into Newfoundland,
and rinding there a region exactly suited to its needs, with no indigenous
competitor, it has increased with great rapidity, so that now it is quite
generally distributed throughout the southern part of the island. I am
82
Bangs — The American Varying Hares.
told that these hares were caught near Halifax. It will he interesting to
watch their career in Newfoundland and see how long it will take the
modifying influences of the new island home to work a change. If 1
might hazard a guess, tins will he in the direction of still darker color-
ation.
Measurements of the eastern races <>f Lepus americanus {adult specimens).
Locality.
No.
Sex.
Total
length.
Tail ver-
tebrae.
Hind
foot.
Lepus americanus americanus Erxl.
Labrador, Hamilton Inlet.
4152
9
415:;
r?
4160
V
4164
r?
4154
;
4156
9
4161
9
4155
c?
4163
&
Lepus americanus virginianus (HarL
Massachusetts, Middleboro. .
New Hampshire, Webster..
Maine, Bucksport
Maine, Upton
Maine, < Sreenville.
( hitario, Mt. Forest. . . ,
li ( t C £
Quebec, Lake Edward.
1730
9
5815
r?
5814
rT
4245
9
4105
r?
-1003
r?
40157
C?
4066
1
7273
9
1785
rO
1786
c?
382J
rT
3822
o
47(5
3(5
155
475
40
150
4S3
33
142
486
37
152
475
35
146
460
37
143
4(53
150
403
25
142
455
m).
452
32
141
46
137
465
44
141
505
44
146
462
46
131
475
35
140
400
50
140
463
53
130
400
50
142
473
43
140
485
47
147
457
40
133
481
44
153
482
40
143
Lepus americanus struthopus Bungs.
Nova Scotia, James River
Nova Scotia, 1 >igbv-
type
2028
9
120
9
121
r?
123
.
124
rif
110
ct
122
r?
2025
9
2026
&
483,
511
460
401
4(54
470
467
474
465
50
54
48
51
5-1.5
55
54
50
131
137.
125.
129.
118
125
120
125
126
Vol. XII, pp. 83-84 March 24, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE
FROM THE MOUNT BAKER RANGE, BRITISH CO-
LUMBIA.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
Several mice from the northwest belonging to the very distinct
austerus-canadensis group of the genus Peromyscus have already
been brought to notice. The subject of the present description
is another that seems entitled to recognition. The group to
which it belongs is a boreal one, and is distinguished from the
leucopus group externally by a long hairy, sharply bicolored tail
(as long or longer than the head and body), with decided pencil,
and cranially by a broad flattened braincase and elongate slen-
der rostrum. It probably has a transcontinental range and its
members are all forest-dwellers.
The recognized forms are as follows:
o
Peromyscus auslerus (Baird).
Coast lowlands and valleys of Washington and British Columbia ;
Transition Zone.
/'. keeni (Rhoads).
Queen Charlotte Islands, B. C.
P. macrorhinus (Rhoads).
Skeena River, B. C.
P. siikensis Merriam.
Sitka, Alaska.
P. oreas Bangs.
Cascade Mountains of Washington and southern British Colum-
bia ; Boreal Zone.
P. canadensis canadensis (Miller).
Cool, dark forests of Canadian and Transition Zones in eastern
North America.-
18- Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (83)
84 Bangs — Description of a New White-footed Mouse.
P. canadensis abietorum Bangs.
Hudsonian and upper Canadian Zones of eastern North America.
P. canadensis umbrinus Miller.
North shore of Lake Superior.
P. canadensis nubilerrie Rhoads.
Higher Alleghany Mountains of North Carolina, Tennessee, West
Virginia, and northward to Pennsylvania.
Peromyscus oreas * sp. now
Type from Mt. Baker Range, 49th parallel, British Columbia. Altitude,
6500 ft. No. 3696, 9 ad., coll. of E. A. and O. Bangs. Collected August
29, 1896, by Allan C. Brooks.
General characters. — Size medium (smaller than P. macrorhinus) ; color
of upper parts rich reddish-brown ; skull smaller and less exaggerated in
character than that of P. macrorhinus.
Color. — Upper parts in adult, rich brown (varying from Prouts' brown
to russets), slightly darkened along middle back by the admixture of black-
tipped hairs, forming an indistinct darker dorsal stripe; orbital ring black,
narrow, and inconspicuous ; under parts dull white, the plumbeous under
fur showing through ; feet and hands white; ears large, dusky, in fresh
pelage with narrow white edges; tail long, sharply bicolor, black above,
white below, a long pencil at end. Younger individuals are somewhat
darker and less reddish brown above.
Oranial characters. — The skull is smaller than that of /'. macrorhinus,
but has the flat, broad braincase and long slender rostrum peculiar to the
group. These characters are rather less pronounced in J', oreas than in
P. macrorhinus.
Measurements. — Type, 9 ad.; total length, 200; tail vertebra1, 101;
hind foot, 24. Topotype, No. 3694, ,-f ad.: total length, 207; tail ver-
tebrae, 114 ; hind foot, 24.
Skull of type, \ ad.: basilar length of Hens'el, 20.6; zygomatic breadth ,
13.4; incisors to postpalatal notch, 10.8; length of nasals, 11.8.
Remarks. — P. ureas appears to be specifically distinct from P. austerus,
the smaller and very much darker form of the adjacent lowlands.
Mr. Brooks took /'. austerus at Sumas, B. C. ; while in the high moun-
tains of the Mount Baker range he got P. oreas. I have also a series of
fifty specimens of /'. oreas taken in the mountains above Hope, B. C, in
1<S<»4, by Will C. Colt, These are exactly like the Mount Baker exam-
ples, and it is therefore probable that /'. oreas occupies all the higher
mountains of northern Washington and southern British Columbia.
It is probable that P. oreas intergrades with J', macrorhinus. It is dis-
tinguished from that form by smaller size, more reddish brown color, and
smaller skull, with the peculiar characters less exaggerated. With the
enormous /'. sitkensis, it needs no comparison, nor does it with /'. keeni, the
type of which I have examined and found to be quite close to /'. austerus.
* Oreas = a mountain nymph, Oread.
Vol. XII, pp. 85-90 April 30, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF TIIK
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTIONS OF ELEVEN NEW SPECIES AND
SUBSPECIES OF VOLES.
BY VERNON BAILEY.
The following brief descriptions of new species and subspecies
of Microtus are here published in advance of a more extended
paper on the group, in which all the known American species
are discussed. All of the new forms here described are in the
Biological Survey Collection and the private collection of Dr.
C. Hart Merriam, both in the U. S. National Museum.
Microtus dutcheri* sp. now
Type from Big Cottonwood Meadows, near Mt. Whitney, Calif. (10,000
ft. alt.). No ff J!f, cT ad., U. S. Nat. Mas., Biological Survey Coll. Col-
lected July 10, 1891, by B. H. Dutcher. Orig. No. 69.
General characters. — Size rather small ; tailshort ; cars small, nearly con-
cealed by fur ; colors dark above and below ; lips (and usually nose) white ;
hip glands present in adult males.
Color. — Summer pelage : Above, dark bister with brown tips to the long
hairs ; below, dull cinnamon or huffy-brown ; feet whitish or plumbeous-
gray ; tail bicolor, whitish below, brown or blackish above ; lips and usu-
ally tip of nose white. Winter pelagi unknown. Young, dull brown above
and scarcely lighter below ; feet and tail blackish; lips and nose usually
white.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of M. montanus, but differing
in many details; rostrum slightly longer ; bulla? smaller and less glob-
ular; lateral pits of palate shallower; dentition the same.
Measurements. — Type, $ ad.: Total length 167; tail vertebrae 35; hind
foot 20. Average of 10 adult specimens from type locality : Total length
* Named in honor of Dr. B. H. Dutcher, who collected the type series.
19— Biol Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (85)
86 Bailey — New Species and Subspecies of Voles.
163; tail vertebrae 37 ; hind foot 20.6. Skull of type: Basal length 27.4;
nasals 8; zygomatic breadth 1(5.7; mastoid breadth 12.2; alveolar length
of upper molar series '1.5.
Microtus insularis sp. nov.
Type from Great Gull Island, New York, No. f|jr§, $ im., Merriam
Coll. Collected Aug. (i, 1888, by B. H. Dutcher.
General characters. — Size of pennsylvanicus ; colors darker; skull shorter
and wider with spreading zygoma and deep prezygomatic notches.
Color. — August pelage: Above, dark yellowish bister heavily mixed with
black hairs, darkest on nose and face ; belly dusky, washed with cinna-
mon; feet blackish ; tail black above, color of belly below.
Cranial characters. — The skull differs from that of pennsylvanicus in
shorter, wider brain case; wider and more abruptly spreading zygomatic
arches; broader zygomatic shield; smaller audita! bullae; palate short
with a median point or spur and deep lateral pits. Posterior upper molar
with second inner and outer angles approximately opposite and conflu-
ent; dentition otherwise similar to that of pennsylvanicus.
Measurements. — Type, measured from dry skin : Tail 2!); hind foot 20-
Skull, No. 43969, from Little Gull Island: Basal length 26; zygomatic
breadth, 16.2; mastoid breadth 12.3; alveolar length of upper molar
series 6.8.
Microtus angusticeps sp. nov.
Type from Crescent City, California. No. H§oi> c? a^-, U. S. Nat. Mus.,
Biological Survey Coll. Collected June 16, 1889, by T. S. Palmer. Orig.
No. 151.
General characters. — Smaller and darker than typical mordax, with very
narrow, slender skull and small audita! bulla1.
Color. — Summer pelage : Upper parts dark bister, lined with black hairs,
darkest on face and nose ; sides paler; belly washed with creamy white ;
feet plumbeous-gray; tail distinctly bicolor, blackish above, soiled white
below.
Cranial characters. — Skull small and very narrow, distinctly ridged in
adults; nasals projecting in front of incisors; incisive foramina short;
audital bulhe very small and constricted ; coronoid notch of mandible
narrow; incisors slender; molars small with narrow, sharp angles;
enamel pattern as in M. moi'dax.
Measurements. — Type, $ ad. : Total length 170 ; tail vertebra? 56 ; hind
foot 22. Skull of type: Basal length 23.4; nasals 7.6; zygomatic breadth
13.5; mastoid breadth 10.8; alveolar length of upper molar series 6.
Microtus nevaderrsis sp. nov.
Type from Ash Meadows, Nye Co., Nevada. No. UUh 9 ad., U. S.
Nat, .Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected March 2, 1891, by E. W.
Nelson. Orig. No. 577.
New Species and Subspecies of Voles. 8^
Gem red charactt rs. — Size large ; ears small ; tail rather short ; fur coarse
and lax ; colors dark ; hip glands conspicuous in adult males. Skull mas-
sive and angular; incisive foramina narrow and closing to a point pos-
teriorly.
( 'olor. — March specimens: Above dark sepia or bister, much obscured by
blackish hairs: sides lighter; belly smoky gray; feet dark gray; tail in-
distinctly bicolor, blackish above, gray or brownish below; lips usually
white; tip of nose in adult usually whitish. Young with a blackish
dorsal stripe and dusky feet and tail.
Cranial characters. — Skull heavy, angular, and much ridged; frontals
high; rostrum bent downward ; incisive foramina short, rather narrow
and constricted to a point posteriorly; dentition heavy; upper incisors
curved abruptly downward; first upper molar with 5 closed triangles;
second with 4 triangles in 8 out of 16 specimens; in the other 8, with a
slight inner lobe or loop at base of posterior triangle ; third with anterior
crescent, three closed triangles and a posterior loop with two inner lobes
or horns.
Measurements.— Typi specimen: Total length 210; tail vertebrae 55 ; hind
foot 25.5. Average of 8 specimens from type locality : Total length 17ii :
tail vertebra? 47 ; hind foot 23. Skull of type : Basal length 32; nasals 10.2;
zygomatic breadth 19.3; mastoid breadth 14.3; alveolar length of upper
molar series 8.
Microtus nevadensis rivularis subsp. now
Type from St. George, Utah, Xo. -f||f, cj ad., Merriam Coll. Collected
Jan. 6, 1889, by Vernon Bailey. Orig. No. 493.
General characters. — Smaller and lighter colored than its nearest rela-
tive, M. nevadensis i skull less rigid and angular; bullae larger ; incisive
foramina longer and narrower; ears small, nearly concealed by fur.
Color. — Winter pelage : Upper parts dull bister, darkened with blackish
tipped hairs (similar to californicas) ; sides scarcely paler; belly washed
with whitish; feet dull grayish; tail bicolor, grayish below, blackish
above. Young darker than adults, but not black backed.
Cranial characters. — Skull smaller and slenderer than skulls of nevadensis
of equal age ; audital bullae much larger and fuller ; anterior end of basi-
occipital narrower; incisive foramina narrower and actually as well as
relatively longer; angular process of lower jaw longer and slenderer ; in-
cisors much slenderer ; molar pattern essentially the same.
Measurements. — Type: Total length 179; tail vertebrae 48 ; hind foot 23.
Stall of type : Basal length 28.2 ; nasals S.'d ; zygomatic breadth 17 ; mas-
toid breadth 13.3 ; alveolar length of upper molar series 7.3.
Microtus nanus canescens subsp. now
Type from Conconully, Washington. Xo. 90577, $ ad., U. S. Nat. Mus.,
Biolo-ical Survey Coll. Collected Sept. 12, ls',>7, by J. Alden boring.
Orig. Xo. 41 .54.
8<S Balky — New Species and Subspecies of Voles.
General characters. — Like nanus but paler, clearer gray; skull with
larger bullae and greater mastoid breadth ; zygomatic arches less widely
spreading; upper incisors bent more abruptly downward. Hip glands
conspicuous in adult males.
Color. — Summer pelage: Above, clear dark grayish, formed by pale huffy
and black tipped hairs ; sides shading to lighter gray and belly to white ;
feet dark gray ; tail bicolor, grayish below; blackish above.
Cranial cluiracters. — Skull slightly narrower and more elongate than in
nanus ; interparietal averaging longer ; bullae decidedly larger and fuller ;
mastoid breadth relatively greater; incisors scarcely reaching beyond
nasals; molar pattern as in nanus.
Measurements. — Type: Total length 149; tail vertebra? 42; hind foot 20.
Skull of t</]>(> : Occipital condyle to anterior base of molars 17.4; posterior
tip of nasals to foramen magnum 19.2; zygomatic breadth 15; mastoid
breadth 12.3; alveolar length of upper molar series 6.3.
Microtus montanus arizonensis subsp. nov.
Type from Springerville, Arizona. No. Ifrft, C? a(l-> U". S. Nat. Mus. ,
Biological Survey Coll. Collected Nov. 7, 1890, by E. W. Nelson. Orig.
No. 153.
General characters. — Similar to M. montanus, but brighter and more fer-
ruginous; lateral pits of palate shallower.
Color. — October and November pelage: Above, yellowish or rusty
brown; belly washed with white; feet dark grayish; tail bicolor, gray-
ish below; blackish above ; lips whitish. Slightly immature specimens
are a little duller in color than adults.
Cranial characters. — Skull very similar to that of montanus, but easily
distinguished by the flatter palate with shallower lateral pits, and by
thicker pterygoids ; condyloid process of mandible slightly shorter ;
dentition not different.
Measurements, — Type: Total length 1S4 ; tail vertebras 55 ; hind foot 20.
Average of 7 specimens from type locality : Total length 158 ; tail verte-
bra? 41 ; hind foot 20.6. Skull of type: Basal length 27.3 ; nasals 8 ; zygo-
matic breadth 10; mastoid breadth 12.2; alveolar length of upper molar
series 6.5.
Microtus pennsylvanicus labradoiius subsp. nov.
Type from Ft. Chimo, Ungava, Labrador. No. \\\\, + ad., Merriam
Coll. Collected Nov. 15, 1882, by L. 31. Turner.
General characters. — Size and proportions approximately as in Microtus
drummondi. Skull flatter with much smaller audital bullae and more
protruding upper incisors.
Color. — (Much changed by alcohol) : Above, dark brownish ; belly
whitish ; tail bicolor ; feet pale.
Cranial characters. — Skull flattened, not much ridged or angled; post-
orbital ridge prominent; nasals short, cuneate, and scarcely reaching
New Species and Subspecies of Voles. 80
base of incisors : audita! bulla? small ; incisive foramina short ; first u ] > po r
molar usually with a posterior lobe on inner side; molar pattern other-
wise as in pennsylvanicus. The skull is readily distinguishable from either
drummondi or fontigenus by the protruding incisors and small audita]
bulla'.
Measurements. — Type, 9 ad., measured from alcohol : Total length 139;
tail vertebra- 39 : hind foot 20. Average of 7 specimens from type local-
ity, measured from alcohol: Total length 137; tail vertebrae 37; hind
foot 19. Skull of type: Basal length 24.3 ; nasals 6.7; zygomatic breadth
14.4; mastoid breadth 11 ; alveolar length of upper molar series 6.2.
Microtias californicus vallicola subsp. now
Type from Lone Pine, Inyo Co., California. No. Iff ft, 9 ad., U. S.
Nat. Mas., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Dec. 23, 1890, by E. W.
Nelson. Orig. No. 149.
General characters. — Similar to M. californicus but averaging slightly
larger and darker; proportions the same.
Color. — Summer pelage : Upper parts dull sepia, darkened by black
tipped hairs — darker and with less yellowish suffusion than in californicus ;
below dull grayish or smoky plumbeous ; feet dusky ; tail bicolor, grayish
below ; blackish above. Winter pelage: darker throughout, with black
hairs of back longer and more conspicuous.
Cranial characters. — Skull like that of californicus, but audital bulla? usu-
ally smaller; occiput more abruptly truncate ; nasals reaching nearer to
tips of premaxillre ; middle upper molar with lobe at base of 4th triangle
often developed into a loop.
Measurements. — Type, 9 ad.: Total length 200; tail vertebrae 57 ; hind
foot 23. Average of 7 specimens from type locality: Total length 188;
tail vertebrae 5(5 ; hind foot 23. Skull of type : Basal length, 29.4; nasals
9.5; zygomatic breadth 17.6; mastoid breadth 13.4; alveolar length of
upper molar series 7.4.
Microtus pinetoium nemoralis subsp. nov.
Type from Stilwell (Boston Mts.), Indian Territory, No. 87246, 9 ad.,
U. S. Nat. Museum, Biological Survey Coll. Collected April 7, 1897, by
J. Alden Loring. Orig. No. 3905.
General characters. — Size, largest of the subgenus Pitymys in the United
States; ears large; fur long and coarse ; colors duller than in pinetorum,
but hot so dark as in scalopsoides.
Color. — Upper parts dull chestnut, slightly lined with blackish tipped
hairs on back and rump, becoming paler on sides ; belly washed with
cinnamon rufous over the plumbeous underfur ; tail indistinctly bicolor,
agreeing with dorsal and ventral colors of body ; feet thinly clothed with
pale buffy or sometimes dusky hairs.
Cranial characters.— Skull large and relatively elongated ; supraoccipital
sloping ; interparietal narrow ; mastoids and audital bullae large and pro-
90 Bailey — New Species mid Subspecies of Voles.
jecting farther back than in pinetorvm ; palate often with a posterior point
projecting into the TJ-shaped interpterygoid fossa; molar series long;
third upper molar with three tightly closed triangles and an irregular
posterior loop; first lower molar with opposite reentrant angles meeting
behind the anterior loop.
Measure merits.— Type specimen: Total length 130; tail vertebrae 24;
hind foot 18. Average of five females and five males from type locality:
Total length 135; tail vertebrae 25 ; hind foot 18.1. Skull of type: Basal
length 25.3; nasals 7.7: zygomatic breadth 16.5; mastoid breadth 13.4;
alveolar length of upper molar series 7.
Microtus pinetorum auricularis subsp. now
Type from Washington. Miss., No. |f£f|, ^ ad., U. S. Nat. Mus., Biolog-
ical Survey Coll. Collected May 26, 1892, by Vernon Bailey. Orig. No.
3649.
General characters. — Size small, about equalling pinetorum; ears very
large for a Pitymys and conspicuous above fur ; colors dark and rich ; fur
short and dense like that of pinetorum.
Color. — Upper parts dark rich chestnut darkened by dusky tipped hairs ;
under parts washed with paler chestnut over dark under fur; projecting
tip of ear with scattered dusky hairs ; tail not bicolor, scarcely darker
above, like the back or slightly darker; feet dull brownish.
Cranial charactt rs. — Skull like that of pirn torum in general form and char-
acters, hut interpterygoid fossa normally U-shaped instead of V-shaped;
third upper molar with three closed triangles : first lower molar with first
pair of reentrant angles meeting behind anterior loop.
Measurement. — Type: Total length 120; tail vertebrae 22 ; hind foot 16.
Skull of type: Basal length 22.3 ; nasals 7 : zygomatic breadth 15.2; mas-
toid breadth 12.3 ; alveolar length of molar series 6.
Vol. XII. pp. 91-92 April 30, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
A NEW RACCOON FROM NASSAU ISLAND, BAHAMAS.
BY OUTRAM BAXGS.
The announcement lately made by Mr. Oldfield Thomas* of
the existence of two distinct species of indigenous Muridse in
the West Indies, Oryzowiii* antillarum, of Jamaica, and 0. victus,
of St. Vincent, has somewhat changed our ideas of the mamma-
lian fauna of these islands. Mr. C. J. Maynard has. moreover,
known for many years that a raccoon was abundant on Nassau
Island.
Before Mr. Maynard started on his last trip to the Bahamas I
begged him to get specimens of this raccoon. But his time was
so occupied in collecting other objects of natural history, in which
he was more interested, that it is doubtful if he would have
secured one at all if just before he started for home some negroes
had not brought him a female that they had caught alive. Mr.
Maynard brought her home alive, and on the voyage she gave
birth to one young, also a female. The two are now alive and
well at Mr. Maynard's place in Newton. Mass., where I went last
summer to see them. I was at once struck by the small size of
these raccoons, and got Mr. Maynard to write to his friend. Mr.
Herbert L. Claridge, at Nassau, to get me a specimen. In due
course Mr. Claridge sent me one. a young male, unfortunately
with the back part of the skull smashed. The small size of- this
specimen, together with the peculiarities of the unbroken part
of the skull, are sufficient to distinguish the animal as a distinct
island form.
There is no tradition among the inhabitants of Nassau that
"Aim. and Mag. Xat. Hist., ser. 7. vol. I, Feb., 1898, p. 17<>.
20-Biot,. Sue Wash., Vol. XIT, 189 (nl)
92 Bangs — A New Raccoon from Nassau Island, Bahamas.
the raccoon was ever introduced upon the island, and I am un-
able to say from what continental stock it was derived.
The raccoon is abundant upon Nassau, but Mr. Maynard be-
lieves that it does not exist upon any of the other islands of the
Bahama group.
The Nassau raccoon may well bear the name of its discoverer,
who has done, and is doing, so much work on the Bahamas.
Procyon maynardi sp. nov.
Type from Nassau Island, Bahamas. No. 7750, $ young, coll. of E. A.
and 0. Bangs. Collected in August, 1897, by Herbert L. Claridge.
Specific characters. — Size small ; hind foot small ; colors and markings
as usual ; shoulder patch not so intensely colored and more overlaid by
black hairs than in the Florida form (P. lotor elucus). Skull small ; pal-
atine extension very short and narrow ; upper carnassial and molar teeth
small and less square than in P. lotor, especially on the inner sides, which
are much less truncate and more pointed.
Cranial characters. — The skull of the type and only specimen, a young
male with the second teeth fully developed but unworn, consists of the
forward parts of the skull only ; the back from behind the nasals and be-
hind the palatine extension is missing. Compared with skulls of P. lotor
of the same age, it is smaller ; palate narrower ; palatine extension much
shorter and narrower; malar slender and weak; infraorbital foramen
large. The best character is the short narrow palatine extension. Prob-
ably a more perfect skull would show other characters.
Dental characters. — The teeth of P. maynardi are small and the upper
carnassial and molar teeth quite differently shaped from those of P. lotor.
They are shorter and broader — i. e., much less square. The inside edges
of these teeth in P. lotor are truncate, in P. maynardi they slope off from
front and back into a rounding point, the last molar showing this pecu-
liarity most strongly.
Measurements. — The type, tf young (from dried skin, apparently a little
shrunken) : Total length, 623; tail vertebrae, 210; hind foot, 96. Skull:
length of nasals, 28.6 ; length of palate, 58.2 ; width of palate at middle
of carnassial tooth, 17.2; length of palatine extension from a line across
alveoli of last upper molars to end of pterygoid process, 23.8; to end of
palate, 12.6; least width of palatine extension, 13.6; length of single half
of mandible, 72.2.
Vol. XII, pp. 93-94 April 30, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW FOX FROM SANTA MARTA.
COLOMBIA.
BY OTJTRAM BANGS.
Among a small lot of mammals just received from Wilmot W.
Brown, Jr., who is making collections in the Santa Marta Moun-
tains, Colombia, for the Bangs collection, are two examples of
an interesting new fox. which may lie known as —
TJrocyon aquilus* sp. now
*
Type from Santa Marta Mountains, Colombia, altitnde between 2000 and
3000 feet, rj old adult, Xo. 8001, coll. of E. A. and O. Bangs. Collected
Feb. 10, 1S9S, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Orig. No. 58.
Specific characters. — Similar in general external appearance to U. cinereo-
argt nt, us; colors dark, black the predominating color of upper parts, dull
ochraceous buff of under parts; size small; tail short; skull large and
massive, differing much from that of the North American gray foxes
I true Vrocyon).
Color ami pelage. — Upper parts: Pelage short, hispid, the hairs banded,
mostly with four distinct rings — wood-brown at base, then black, then
wood-brown and black tipped, the black tips deeper along hack from
behind ears to base of tail, shorter and less conspicuous on sides and top
of head, the black predominating on dorsal region and mixed black and
dull brownish on sides ; under fur mouse-gray at base, yellowish at tips ;
sides'of neck behind ears tawny, under parts dull ochraceous huff with
a decided vinaceous tint on lower belly, at base of tail and between arms ;
chin grizzled black ; toes and fingers dull brownish black ; ears brownish
black, dull tawny around edges, nearly naked inside: tail very short,
narrow, not bushy, black above and at tip, dull clay color below.
*Aquilus = dark-colored.
21— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (<i3)
94 Bangs — .1 New Fox from Santa Marta, Colombia.
Cranial characters. — The skull of 11. aquilus is large (very large for the
size of the animal) and massive; the region enclosed between the tem-
poral ridges is narrow ami the ridges themselves less strongly marked
than in U. cinereoargenteus; nodepression between postorbital process and
frontal, the frontals beinsj evenly rounded ; postorbital processes small ;
zygomatic arch heavy and very low and straight, the malar very low
down, leaving little space between it and molar teeth; palate broad;
audital bullae short, deep, and round (very differently shaped from those
of U. cinereoargenteus) ; mandible like that of U. cinereoargenteus, with the
peculiar narrow, straight, tapering rami, except that the notch at poste-
rior end of lower side of ramus is not so strongly marked.
The dentition, though heavy throughout, is normal.
Measurements.
Total Tail Hind Ear from
No- Sex' length, vert, foot, notch.
8001, type d" old ad. 900 300 120 60
8002, topotype 9 yg. ad. 860 290 125 65
Skull, (type, $ old adult) : Basal length, 122; zygomatic breadth, 74.6;
mastoid breadth, 48; breadth across postorbital processes, 42 ; breadth
of palate at middle of last molar, 22.8; length of palate, 63.6; greatest
length of single half of mandible, 101.
Remarks. — Among South American Canidie there appears to be a wide
variety of type forms that probably completely bridge over the differences
between Urocyon and the fox-like wolves of the subgenus Thous. Such
species as Canis azarse, C. fulvipes, and C. urostictus appear to be connect-
ing links, showing a strange mixture of characters.
I can find no notice of any species like the subject of the present de-
scription. While V. aquilus undoubtedly belongs in the genus Urocyon,
it differs cranially very much from U. cinereoargenteus, the type of the
L'enus. Its external characters are wholly those of Urocyon.
Vol. XII, pp. 95-96
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTO
April 30, 1898
ANEW MURINE OPOSSUM FROM MARGARITA ISLAND.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
While on the Island of Margarita, Venezuela, in the summer
of 1895, Lieutenant Wirt Robinson, U. S. Army, collected five
murine opossums. Four of these he presented to the National
Museum at Washington and one to me. These specimens rep-
resent a very pallid insular race that may he known as—
Marmosa robinsoni sp. now
Type from Margarita Island, Venezuela, $ adult, Xo. 7749, coll. of E.
A. and 0. Bangs. Collected July 12, 1895, by Lieut. Wirt Robinson, U. S.
Army. Orig. No. 506.
Gem nd characters. — Similar to M. murina, but much paler and more
yellow; black mark through eye less extensive; ear (in dried skins)
considerably smaller ; skull similar to that of M. murina.
Color. — Upper parts, clay color, becoming paler and more yellowish on
sides ; sides of neck and top of nose back to between eyes dull buffy yel-
low ; black mark through eye less extensive and duller than in M. mu-
rina. Under parts, dull straw yellow to base of hairs; line of demarka-
tion between colors of upper and under parts much less distinct than in
.1/. murina; feet and hands dull yellowish white.
Measurements.
Number.
Sex.
Total
length.
Tail
verte-
brate.
Hind
foot.
7749*
rf adult
374.9
370.8
320
203
210.8
175.3
63209 f..
rf adult
24.13
63210
$ adult
*Coll. of E. A. and O. Bangs.
fColl. of National Museum, Washington.
22— Biot. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898
(95)
96 Bangs — A New Murine Opossomfrom Margarita Island.
Remarks. — This insular murine opossum, which I have named in honor
of its discoverer, may be readily distinguished from M. murvna by its
much paler, more yellow color and smaller ear. With M. murina mexi-
cana, M. robinsoni agrees in having the middle of the face back to the
eyes decidedly paler than the rest of the upper parts and in having
small ears. It differs from ^[. mexicana quite as much in color as it does
from true murina, and can be told at a glance from either.
Vol. XII. pp. 97-98 April 30, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OK THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
A NEW RABBIT FROM MARGARITA ISLAND,
VENEZUELA.*
BY GERRIT S. MILLER, JR.
The small collection of mammals taken on Margarita Island,
Venezuela, by Lieut. Will Robinson during the summer of 1895
proves to be exceptionally rich in novelties. Of the six species
that it contains, two f have already been described in these Pro-
ceedings as new, while I now find that a third, the rabbit pre-
viously recorded as Lepus brasiliensis, differs specifically from its
mainland representative. It may stand as :
Lepus niaigaritae sp. now
Lepus brasiliensis Robinson, Proc. U. S. National .Museum, XVIII, p. 651.
Type No. 63217, United States National Museum, $ adult, collected on
Margarita Island, Venezuela, .July 1, 1895, by Lieut. Wirt Robinson,
U. S. Army. Original number 369.
General characters. — In size, cranial characters, and general appearance
most like Lepuz cumanicus Thomas j of the adjacent mainland, but with
underside of tail dull yellowish brown instead of white, rump strongly
suffused with rufous, and sides of head without eonspicuous black spot
between eye and base of ear.
Color. — General color of back and sides a conspicuous grizzle of black-
ish brown and pale whitish buff, the buff slightly paler on sides, and the
black somewhat heavier on hack. Soft, woolly under fur light plum-
* Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion.
t Rhogeessa minviilla Miller, and Marmosa robinsoni Bangs.
X Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 6th ser., XX, p. 552, December, 1897.
23— Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XII, 1898 [97)
98 Miller — A New Rabbit from Margarita Island.
beous. Shoulders, rump, upper surface (if tail and outer sides of all four
legs strongly suffused with rufous. Nape patch clear rufous. Crown es-
sentially like back, only more finely grizzled and the buff darker. Whole
side of head light gray, shaded with dark brown, the gray clearer around
eve ( where it forms an indistinct ring) and on sides of muzzle, the brown
most conspicuous on cheeks below and behind eye. Whole under parts,
with the exception of a broad buffy collar, dull white, faintly darkened
by the plumbeous bases of the hairs. The white extends on inner side
of front legs to wrists and on hind legs to base of claws. Tail colored like
the rump, slightly paler and less rufous ventrally than dorsally.
Measurements. — Total length (skin), 350; length to end of outstretched
hind feet, 445;* tail to end of hairs, 35.6;* hind foot, 8(5; ear from
crown, 70; width of ear, 38. Skull: greatest length, 79 ; basilar length,
61 ; zygomatic breadth, 30.4; nasals, length 36.8 ; combined width, 18 ;
incisive foramen, 12.4 x 7.4 ; maxillary tooth row (alveoli), 15 ; mandible,
58; mandibular tooth row (alveoli), 15.
General remarks. — Were it not for its longer ears, slightly smaller size,
and short, dark colored tail, Lepus margaritse would bear a very strong
superficial resemblance to L. sylvaticus transitionalis Bangs. Its relation-
ships, however, are, as already pointed out, with its nearest geographical
ally, L. cumanicus.
* From fresh specimen by collector.
Vol. XII, pp. 99-104 April 30, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
THE EARLIEST GENERIC NAME FOR THE NORTH
AMERICAN DEER, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF FIVE
NEW SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES.
BY C. HART MERRIAM.
For many years the generic name Qariacus Lesson, 1842, stood
unchallenged for our Virginia Deer and its allies. In February,
1895, Mr. Oldfield Thomas reinstated Gloger's Dorcelaphus, as
having one year priority, hut stated that it was by no means
clear that this name would stand, since it was antedated, he was
informed by Dr. T. S. Palmer, by two of Rafinesque's names' —
Panallodon, 1831, and Odocoileus, 183*2. I have not been able to
see a copy of the rare publication in which Rafinesque's Pqnallo-
don appeared. It is entitled ' Enumeration and Account of some
remarkable natural objects of the Cabinet of Professor Rafinesque,
in Philadelphia,' and is said to have been published in Philadel-
phia in November, 1831. In a review in ' The Monthly Amer-
ican Journal of Geology and Natural Science ' for May, 1832
(Vol. I, No. 11, pp. 509-510), it is said that Panallodon " owes its
existence to a jawbone, six inches long, found in a Solar temple
in Kentucky. He [Rafinesque] thinks this akin to mazama,
which was somewhat similar to the antelopes, but having teeth
'more like some carnivorous animals, but no canine tooth.'"
Apart from the insufficiency of the diagnosis, the small size of
the jaw and character of the teeth indicate that the animal could
not have been a deer.
Rejecting Panallodon as untenable, the name next in order of
Ji— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (99)
100 Merriarn — New North American Deer.
date is Odocoileus.* This name was based on the second or third
(probably the third) left upper premolar of the Virginia deer, or a
closely related form, found in a cave near Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Fortunately there is no room for doubt as to the animal to which
the tooth belonged, for Rafinesque described it in detail and pub-
lished natural-size figures of both outer and inner faces of the
tooth. Since the name Odocoileus was published 9 years earlier
than Dorcelaphus of Gloger, and 10 years earlier than Cariacus
Lesson, it appears to be the earliest generic name for the Amer-
ican deer of which 0. speleus Raf. [= 0. virginianus (Bodd.)] is
the type species. The earliest generic name for the South Ameri-
can deer of the group typified by Cervus rufus I have previously
shown to be Mazama Rafinesque, 1817. f
Five new deer in the collection of the Biological Survey are
here described : Two of these, one from Sitka, Alaska, the other
from southern California, are northern and southern representa-
tives of the Columbia Blacktail (Odocoileus columbianus), to which
they are closely related ; the third, from Cerros Island, Mexico,
is a strongly marked insular species of the Mule Deer group, of
which Odocoileus hemionus is the type. The remaining two, from
southern Mexico, appear to be very distinct.
Odocoileus columbianus sitkensis subsp. nov.
Type from Sitka, Alaska, No. 74383, $ im., U. S. Nat. Mus., Biolog-
ical Survey Coll. Collected Aug. 8, 1895, by C. P. Streator. Original
No. 4707.
Characters. — Similar to 0. columbianus, but smaller, with smaller skull
and teeth, and much shorter ears (in type: from anterior base 125; from
notch 105) ; black of upper side of tail replaced on basal half with ful-
vous hairs, like those of back.
Color. — -Type specimen at end of summer (with patches of gray winter
coat coming in irregularly through worn red summer coat) : upper parts
from forehead to base of tail, including outer sides of legs and feet, ful-
vous; face grizzled gray, becoming pale dull fulvous inferiorly ; eyelids
black ; a Y-shaped mark extending from eyes half way to nose, dusky;
space between eyes grizzled fulvous and black ; ears grizzled gray and
dusky, not becoming blackish anteriorly ; inside of ears white. Chin and
under lip, except bar between angles of mouth, white; posterior part of
belly, inguinal region, inner side of thigh, and a disconnected strip along
posterior aspect of foreleg, white ; throat grayish fulvous ; rest of under
* Atlantic Journal, vol. I, No. 3, p. 109, "Autumn of 1832."
t Science, NS, I, 208, Feb. 22, 1895.
New North American Deer. 101
parts pale fulvous; tarsal -land blackish in middle, surrounded by ful-
vous. Tail: above, basal half fulvous like back; terminal half (except
white tip) black ; under side white, the white at tip showing from above.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of columbianus, but somewhat
smaller; tooth row shorter; lachrymal pit short and very deep ; ante-
orbital vacuity relatively small.
Odocoileus columbianus scaphiotus subsp. nov.
Type from Laguna Ranch, Gabilan Range, Calif, No. 65162, <^ ad., U. S.
Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected April 24, 1894, by J. E. Mc-
Lellan. Orig. No. 797.
( 'haracters. — Similar to 0. columbianus, but ears very much larger ; color-
ation paler.
Color. — Type specimen in worn winter pelage (April 24) : upper parts
uniform grizzled gray; under parts with white areas as in columbianus;
ears longer and very much broader than those of columbianus.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of columbianus, but lachrymal
pit narrower and more elongate anteriorly ; anteorbital vacuity much
larger; teeth larger and heavier.
Measurements. — Type specimen (in flesh) : Total length 1465; tail verte-
bra 135 ; hind foot 452. Ear in dry skin : length from anterior base 178 ;
from notch 168 ; breadth 106.
Odocoileus cerrosensis sp. nov.
Type from Cerros (or Cedros) Id. off Lower California, Mexico, No.
80782, rf ad., U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected August
9, 1896, by A. W. Anthony.
Characters. — Similar in general to the California Mule Deer, Odocoileus
hemionus calif ornicus, but smaller.
Color. — Upper parts dark grizzled gray with scattered hairs of pale ful-
vous; a blackish band along median line from occiput to rump and on
upper surface of tail, usually but not always interrupted on rump ; muz-
zle grayish-white, becoming gray on sides of face ; a small dusky spot on
top of nose close to nose pad, and another on each side just behind nos-
tril ; a dark transverse band between eyes anteriorly, curving back over
eyes and reaching posteriorly to behind plane of eyes, thus forming a
broadly U-shaped mark ; ears grizzled gray with a darker area on ante-
rior face just above middle ; inside of ears white ; under lip and chin
whitish, with a small elongate black spot on each side of middle of lip,
and a small dark triangle on middle of chin ; throat and neck dark dusky
gray, becoming blackish between forelegs and along middle of breast:
sides of breast and belly grizzled -ray like back ; inguinal region and
posterior third of middle of belly whitish, becoming huffy on thigh and
reaching down on inner side of leg a little below heel; posterior aspect
of forelegs and feet huffy ; rest of legs and feet buffy fulvous. Tail : basal
two-thirds whitish, usually with dark band above ; terminal third abruptly
102 Merriam — New North American Deer.
blackish and enlarged, and with some fulvous hairs on upper side. Tarsal
gland normal, on inner side of calcaneum : metatarsal gland about 75-80
mm. in length, occupying approximately middle third (really a little
above middle third) of outer side of metatarsus.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar in general to that of 0. hemionus cali-
fornicus hut smaller and lighter, with. decidedly longer nasals and very much
smaller teeth. The nasals are very narrow anteriorly, and are produced so
far posteriorly as to reach within 3 or 4 mm. of plane of hinder border
of anteorbital vacuities. The postero-lateral edge of the nasals abutting
against the anteorbital vacuity is nearly straight and so elongated that
its length equals the combined breadth of nasals on fronto-nasal suture.
The lachrymal pit is deep, but less so than in 0. h. californicus. The
anteorbital vacuity is decidedly larger than in californicus ; the orbitosphe-
noid decidedly narrower, and the anterior (sublachrymal) extension of
the jugal equally broad. The external openings of both of the lachrymal
ducts are on the inner side of the orbital rim.
A ntlers. — The antlers are small, well bowed outward, with incurved tips,
and have only a single branch which is given off from the upper third of
the main tine and projects backward and upward. The largest antler of
five apparently adult' bucks in the collection measures only 190 mm.
from burr to tip in a straight line ; the spread between the tips is 230;
greatest spread at base of incurved tips 260.
Measurements. — Type specimen, measured from dry skin: Total length
1560; tail vertebrae 180; hind foot 380 ; ear from crown anteriorly 180.
Odocoileus thomasi sp. nov.
Type from Huehuetan, Chiapas, Mexico, No. 77866, r? ad., U. S. Nat.
Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Feb. 22, 1806, by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman, Orig. No. 9359.
( 'haracters. —Size rather large ; color red all the year round ; tail as in the
Virginia Deer; metatarsal gland a very small spot on postero-external
aspect of metatarsus about midway between calcaneum and hoofs.
Color. — Winter pelage (type specimen): Upper parts including side of
belly, middle of breast and neck all round, fulvous, becoming bright
grizzled golden fulvous on back; muzzle grayish dusky; forehead mixed
fulvous and black, becoming solid black in front of plane of ears, with a
fulvous spot over each eye posteriorly; chin white with a black spot on
each side of middle of lip, the spots nearly meeting on median line; in-
guinal region, inner side of thighs, middle part of belly, and posterior
aspect of forelegs, white. Tail: upper surface bright fulvous ; under sur-
face white. Summer pelage (Tonala, Chiapas, Aug. 10) : Similar, but
upper parts simply fulvous, lacking the grizzled golden appearance of
winter pelage ; forehead fulvous like rest of upper parts (lacking the black
of winter) ; muzzle dark grayish with a small dusky spot just behind nose
pad and another behind each nostril. [It is possible that the Tonala
specimen is not 0. thomasi.]
New North American, Deer. 103
Cranial characters. — Skull and teeth similar in general to those of Cari-
acus clavatus True [= Odocoileus truei]* from Honduras but somewhat
larger, skull broader, nasals shorter, anteorbital vacuities larger; antlers
larger (about 120 mm. long) and in one specimen (from Tonala, Chiapas)
developing a short prong on inner side midway of the length of the tine.
The skull of an old buck (No. 74885), with mature antlers in the velvet,
was collected by Mr. Nelson at Santa Efigenia, Oaxaca, July 21, 1895.
The antlers are unlike those of any deer known to me, and I incline
to the belief that they are those of 0. thomasi when full grown. They
measure 200 mm. in straight line from burr to tip and 240 over curve, and
slope directly hack ward almost on plane of face, the tips curving inward
and slightly forward (spread between tips 110; greatest spread 165).
They give off a spike on inner side about (>0 mm. from burr, which curves
inward and forward (agreeing with curvature of beam) and reaches back
about 1 10 from burr. These spikes are symmetrical on the two sides and
their incurving tips are only 50 mm. apart. The left beam gives off pos-
teriorly a prong 70 mm. below the tip and 50 mm. in length, which is
directed backward and slightly inward. The burrs are very large and,
with the basal part of the beams, very rugose. The skull bearing these
antlers is somewhat smaller than the type of thomasi, and the rostrum
and nasals~are narrow, as usual in old age. The flesh measurements of
this animal were: Total length 1400; tail vertebras 165; hind foot 378;
height at shoulder 780.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 1544; tail vertebrae 153;
hind foot 425.
Odocoileus nelsoni sp. nov.
Type from San Cristobal, highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. No. 76201, cT
2d year, IT. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Oct, 1, 1895,
by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 8524.
Characters. — Size medium ; color dark brownish gray, with top of head
and dorsal band blackish ; antlers (2d year) small sub-cylindrical spikes
65 mm. in length.
Color. — Upper parts dark grizzled brownish-gray, the tips of hair becom-
ing pale fulvous posteriorly; a black stripe from nose pad to forehead,
bifurcating and sending a narrow band over each eye in type specimen
leaving top of head grizzled gray and black [in another specimen whole
top of head blackish, the difference probably seasonal] ; a blackish dorsal
band from top of head to middle of back on rump ; ears grizzled gray ;
tail like that of Virginia Deer ; fulvous above, white below. A black band
*In 1888 Mr. F. W. True described anew deer from Honduras under
the name Cariacus clavatus. But the specific name clavatus for a deer of
this group is preoccupied by Cervus clavatus Ham. Smith (in Griffith's
Cuvier, Animal Kingdom, V, 315, 1827). Hence it is necessary to rename
Mr. True's deer, which I take pleasure in doing in honor of its describer.
It may he known as Odocoilrus tnu i.
104 Merriam — New North American Deer.
across white chin; sides of face and neck all round dark grizzled gray,
becoming dusky between forelegs ; axillary and inguinal regions, posterior
aspect of forelegs and inner side of thigh white ; sides of belly and legs
pale grayish-fulvous. Metatarsal gland a small spot 10 mm. long sur-
rounded by white hairs, on outer side of metatarsus midway between end
of calcaneum and tip of hoof. Tarsal gland normal.
Cranial characters. — Skull small and light with short nasals, small ante-
orbital vacuities, shallow lachrymal pits, broad anterior (sublachrymal)
extension of jugals, broad orbitosphenoids, and remarkably small and
narrow audital bullae. The skull and teeth resemble those of 0. acapul-
C( lists more closely than they do any other deer known to me, but may
he distinguished from acapulcensis by the shortness of the nasals, great
breadth of the orbitosphenoid anteriorly and of the anterior extension of
the jugal, and the small size of the audital bullse.
Measurements. — Type specimen, tf of 2d year, not full grown ; measured
in flesh: Total length 1250 ; tail vertebrce 170 ; hind foot 360. Height at
shoulder 650. Ear in dry skin : from anterior base 140 ; from notch 120.
Vol. XII, pp. 105-108
PROCEEDINGS
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SUBGENERA AND
THREE NEW SPECIES OF MICROTUS FROM
MEXICO AND GUATEMALA.
BY C. HART MERRIAM.
Among the mammals collected in Mexico and Guatemala by
Mr. E. W. Nelson and his assistant, Mr. E. A. Goldman, are 462
specimens of Voles of the genus Microtus. These animals were
found on most of the mountains visited and series were obtained
at 34 localities.
Up to the present time only three species of Microtus have been
described from Mexico, namely, mexicanus (Sanssure), from Mt.
Orizaba, phseus (Merriam), from the Sierra Nevada de Colima,
Jalisco, and quasiater (Coues), from Jalapa, Vera Cruz. M. mex-
icanus and phseus belong to the subgenus Microtus ; M. quasiater
to the subgenus Pitymys. Mr. Nelson's collection contains large
series of topotypes of these three species, and additional speci-
mens from numerous new localities ; it contains also three new
species, one of which (fulviventer) belongs to the subgenus Mi-
crotus proper; the others differ so widely from the previously
known groups and from each other that it is necessary to erect
two new subgenera for their reception. The two animals agree
in the character of the fur, which is long and soft, and in the
number of closed triangles on the first and last lower molars ;
they differ in the enamel pattern of the last upper molar, the
degree of inflation of the triangles and loops of all the teeth,
and in striking cranial characters. One is a long-tailed vole
from Mt. Zempoaltepec, Oaxaca; the other a short-tailed animal
25— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII. 1S9S (105)
106 M&rriam — Neiv Microtus from Mexico and Guatemala.
from Todos Santos, Guatemala. Both localities are considerably
farther south than the southernmost published record of any
member of the genus.
Subgenus MICROTUS Schrank.
Type, Microtus ur calls (Pailas) from Europe.
Microtus fulviventer sp. now
Type from Cerro San Felipe, Oaxaea, Mexico (alt. 10200 ft,). No. 68250,
c? ad., TJ. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Aug. 22, 1894,
by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 6601.
Characters.— Similar to M. mexicanus in size and general characters, but
upper parts very much 'redder' and under parts fulvous instead of
whitish ; tail short ; ears conspicuous.
Color. — Upper parts uniform dark umber brown mixed with black
hairs; under parts dark fulvous or chestnut-fulvous ; tail indistinctly bi-
color, blackish above, pale fulvous below, darkening toward tip.
( 'ranial and dental characters. — Skull and teeth similar to those of M. mex-
icanus, hut slightly larger; interorbital region broader; incisive foramina
longer ; molars heavier.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 154; tail vertebrae 38;
hind foot 20.
Subgenus ORTHRIOMYS* nobis.
Type, Microtus umbrosus sp. nov., from Mt. Zempoaltepec, Oaxaea,
Mexico.
( 'haracters. — Palate normal ; interorbital constriction rather broad ; mT
with 3 closed triangles (2 on inner and 1 on outer side) and 2 open trian-
gles, the latter forming the wings of the anterior trefoil ; m3 with 2 com-
pletely closed triangles (1 on each side) and 2 obliquely transverse loops
(anterior and posterior) both on inner side; the outer triangle immedi-
ately followed by a deep reentrant angle which completely cuts it off from
inner triangle ; m^ with 1 closed triangle on each side. Mammae 4: pec-
toral | = 4. Fur long and soft, only extreme tip colored..
Remarks. — In the type and only known species, M. umbrosus, m1 has
only 2 closed triangles and a posterior open trefoil ; the molars are very
broad and heavy, the breadth relatively greatest posteriorly ; the enamel
loops and triangles are very large, full, and broadly rounded, enclosing
large islands of dark osteodentine, and so crowded as to exceed the inter-
spaces. The crowns of the molars resemble those of Phenacomys in the
polish of the enamel, darkness of the osteodentine and of the crowns as
* opOpios, early; [w<s, mouse. In main' respects Orthriomys suggests an
ancient type intermediate between Phenacomys and the microtine sub-
genera Pedomys and Arvicola; in the character of its molar crowns it is
nearest Phenacomys.
New Microtiis from Mexico and Guatemala. 107
a whole (contrasted with the whitish molars of Mierotus) ; large size and
fullness of the loops and triangles (in this respect exceeding Phenacomys) ;
pyriform shape of anterior loop in m^ and in1 ; enamel pattern of upper
molars, including m-; only slightly modified enamel pattern of lower
molars, and great breadth of molar series (above and below) posteriorly.
They differ from those of Phenacomys in having the outer triangle of niy
completely isolated ; two less triangles on m1; less dispai'ity in depth be-
tween the reentrant angles of the two sides in the lower molars, and in
the total absence of roots.
Mierotus umbiosus sp. nov.
Type from Mt. Zempoaltepec, Oaxaca (alt. 8200 ft,). No. 68480, $ ad.,
U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected July 10, 1894, by
E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 6412.
Characters. — Size medium or rather large ; tail long and scantily haired ;
ears rather short and nearly concealed by fur ; color very dark ; fur long,
soft, and full ; dentition peculiar.
Color. — Upper parts uniform dusky with tips of hairs brown; under
parts dark slate, washed with pale dull fulvous.
Cranial and denial characters. — Skull rather long ; braincase long; ante-
rior roots of zygomata not notched in front ; zygomata not widely spread-
ing, sides parallel ; jugal not expanded ; audital bullae small ; palatine
pits deep ; postpalatal notch square ; interorbital constriction broad ;
premaxilhe reaching posteriori}' considerably beyond nasals ; nasals nar-
rowing posteriorly; incisive foramina rather short. Molars large and
broad ; m1 with 1 closed triangle on each side, and a short posterior tre-
foil or v presenting one open salient angle on each side [remaining teeth
described under subgenus].
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 1S4; tail vertebne 65;
hind foot 23. Average of 7 specimens from type locality : Total length
177 ; tail vertebra? 61 ; hind foot 23.5.
Subgenus HERPETOMYS* nobis.
Type, Mierotus guatemalensis sp. nov., from Todos Santos, Guatemala,
Characters. — Palate normal ; mT with 3 closed triangles (2 on inner and
1 on outer side) and 2 open triangles, the latter forming the wings of the
anterior trefoil ; mT with 2 completely closed triangles (Ion each side)
and 2 obliquely transverse loops (anterior and posterior) both on inner
side ; m^- with 3 closed triangles (2 on outer and 1 on inner side) and a
long posterior crescentic loop with both horns projecting on inner side.
Mammae 6: pectoral |, inguinal \ (the latter not functional). Plantar
tubercles 5. Fur long and soft with only extreme tip colored,
Remarks. — This animal, while agreeing with Orthriomys in the number
of enamel loops and triangles of the lower molars, differs strikingly in
* s^7"??, ip7ZTtTo?} creeper ; [w<?} mouse.
108 Merriam — New Microtus from Mexico and Guatemala.
those of the last upper molar (which agrees with Microtus proper) and in
the general appearance of the molar crowns, which resemble Microtus
instead of Phenacomys.
Microtus guatemalensis sp. nov.
Type from Todos Santos, Huehuetenango, Guatemala (alt. 10000 ft.).
No. 76777, J1 ad., U. S. Nat. Mas., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Dec.
30, 1895, by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 8960.
Characters. — Size medium ; coloration very dark ; end of nose blackish ;
lips white ; tail short and rather scantily haired ; fur very long and soft,
nearly hiding the ears.
Color. — Under parts everywhere slate black; extreme tips of hairs on
upper parts mixed dark golden fulvous and black, the resulting color diffi-
cult to describe but near the ' mummy brown ' of Ridgway's ' Nomen-
clature of Colors ' ; end of nose surrounding nose pad blackish ; edges of
lips white ; tail concolor, blackish.
Cranial and dental characters. — General appearance of skull as in Microtus
pennsylvanicus or mexicanus but less constricted interorbitally ; audital
bullse very large and swollen ; jugal rather broadly expanded vertically ;
incisive foramina very rectangular — of nearly equal breadth throughout
and truncate at both ends; anterior root of zygoma rather strongly notched
in front and standing out squarely so that the jugals are nearly parallel.
Dentition peculiar: incisors broad and long; molars broad and heavy :
ma with 2 completely closed triangles on outer and 1 on inner side, with
open posterior loop elongated and curved to form 2 salient angles on inner
side.
Measurements. — Type specimen : Total length 155 ; tail vertebra' 40 ; hind
foot 21. Average of 20 specimens from type locality : Total length 150 ;
tail vertebrae 37 ; hind foot 21.
Vol. XII, pp. 109-114 April 30, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
RANDOM NOTES ON THE NOMENCLATURE OF
THE CHIROPTERA.
BY T. S. PALMER.
A careful examination of the names of bats now in common
use shows that many changes must be made before the nomen-
clature will lie placed on a stable basis. . Some of these changes
have already been pointed out by Miller in his recent revision
of the Vespertilionidae.* But errors no less glaring still pass
current in other families, and it is the purpose of this paper to
call attention to a few which have come to light while compiling
a list of the family and generic names of Chiroptera.
Bats are now usually divided into six families: Emballo-
nuridse, Nycteridre, Pl^dlostomatidae, Pteropodidte, Rhinolo-
phidse, and Vespertilionidse. A rigid adherence to the rule of
priority requires a change in at least two of these names, as well
as in the designations of several subfamilies, genera, and species.
NOCTILIONIDiE ( Emballonuridie).
The free-tailed bats received the commonly accepted name of
Emballonuridse from Dobson in 1875. f Gray, however, in 1821 %
* North American Fauna, No. 13, 1897; Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., Gtli
ser. , XX, p. 379, 1897. Most of the references to generic and specific
names were furnished Mr. Miller by the Biological .Survey of the U. S.
Dept. of Agriculture, the generic names forming part of my forthcoming
index to the genera of mammals.
t Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., 4th ser., XVI, p. 317, Nov., 1875.
X London Medical Repository, XV, p. 299, Apr. 1, 1821.
26-Bior,. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (109)
110 Palmer — Notes on the Nomenclature of the Chiroptera.
proposed the term Noctilionidre based on another genus of the
same family, and this name having priority of more than half a
century should he adopted instead of Emballonuridse.
The genus Saccopteryx, according to Dobson, contains 4 sub-
genera, one of winch. Centronycteris, was based on Vespertilio
calcaratus from Brazil. This species was named by Wied in
1821 * but is preoccupied b}^ Vespertilio calcaratus Rafinesquef
described in 1818, a North American species belonging to an-
other family. Since the Brazilian bat now known as Saccopteryx
calcarata does not seem to have received any other specific name,
it may be called Saccopteryx wiedi in honor of its discoverer,
Maximilian, Prince of Wied.
MEGADERMATID/E (Nycteikbe).
The family Nycterida1, also named by Dobson in 1875, contains
but two genera, Megaderma and Nycteris, each the type of a dis-
tinct subfamily. Harrison Allen published the name Megader-
matidse in 1864 J; Peters used the term Megadermata as early
as 1865, and Gill adopted it in a modified form Megadermidse,
in 1872. Although Harrison Allen merely used the name inci-
dentally for a genus which is now known to belong to another
group, there can be no doubt as to the genus on which it was
based. Consequently there seems to be no reason why Megader-
matidse should not be adopted for the family, since it has 11
years' priority over Nycterida^.
PHYLLOSTOMATIDiE.
Several changes in current generic names of leaf-nosed bats are
also necessary. Anoura Gray, 1838, should replace Glossonycteris
Peters. 1868, as recently shown by Thomas and Trouessart; Phyl-
loderma may be antedated by Guandira; and Lophostoma must
give way to Tonatia. The Cayenne Bat, called Phylloderma stenops
by Peters in 1865, § was previously named Guandira cayanensis
by Gray in 1843, but apparently was not described until 1866 ||
*Schinz, Das Thierreich, I, p. 180, 1821.
t Am. Monthly Mag., Ill, p. 445, Oct., 1818.
JMon. Bats North Am., p. XXIII, L864.
§ Monatsber. K. Preuss. Akad. Wiss., Berlin, p. 513, 1865.
|| List Spec. Mamm. Brit. Mas., p. 194, 1843; Proa Zool. Sac. London,
1866, p. 114.
Notes on the Nomenclature of the Chiroptera. ill
and therefore remained anomen nudum until one year after the
appearance of Peters' description. If Gray has anywhere de-
scribed the species prior to I860, his name Quandira will of
course take precedence over Phylloderma.
Lophostoma D'Orhigny, * is antedated at least nine years hy
Tonatia Gray, 1827. Lophostoma was based on L. sylvicolum (=
Phyllostoma amblyotis Wagner, 1843), and according to Dobson,
contains two other species — Vampyrus bidens Spix and Lopho-
stoma brasiliense Peters. V. bidens, however, is the type of Tonatia
Gray. The genus was published in volume V of Griffith's Cuvier,
Animal Kingdom, as follows: " Vampyrus, it is understood, was
long ago appropriated by M. Geo£froy(in a MS. communication
to Dr. Leach) as a generic name to V. spectrum of Linnaeus ; but
Spix in his splendid work on the animals of Brazil, now pub-
lishing, has adopted it for three species there described, the
Cirrhosus, Soricinus, and Bidens. * * * Mr. Gray proposes * * *
to divide the three species of Spix's genus Vampyrus above men-
tioned into two genera, the one under the name Istiophorus, in-
cluding Oirrhosus and Soricinus, and the other under that of
Tonatia, including Bidens only."f
PTEROPODIDvE.
Among the fruit-eating bats, changes are inevitable in the
well-known genera Macroglossus (or Qarponycteris), Qynonycteris
(or Xantharpyid), Harpyia, and Cephalotes. Macroglossus, preoc-
cupied in Entomology, was replaced in 1891 by Carponycteris, Ly-
dekker. This latter name is antedated by Kiodotus, proposed in
1840 by Blyth,J who had previously discovered that Macroglossus
was not available, and suggested a Latinized form of the common
name as a substitute. The adoption of Kiodotus necessitates a
new name for the subfamily Macroglossinse or Carponycterina?,
which may be called Kiodotinae. This subfamily includes the
* First published on plates of D'Orbigny's 'Voyage dans l'Amerique
meridionale,' which were distributed separately in 1836. In 1838 Gray
quoted the genus with a brief diagnosis, merely mentioning the species
by name. The specific name, however, dates from 1847, the year when
the text accompanying the plates appeared.
f P. 71, foot-note, 1827.
fCuvier's Animal Kingdom, 69 footnote, 1840; new ed., 69 footnote,
1849. The first edition not seen; Mr. F. H. Waterhouse, Librarian of
the Zoological Society of London, has kindly verified the reference forme.
112 Palmer — Notes on the Nomenclature of the Chiroptera.
genera Callinycteris, Eonycteris, Kiodotus, Melonycteris, Nesonycteris,
Notopteris, and Trygenycteris.
The genus known as Cynonycteris by Peters and Dobson, and
as Xantharpyia by Lydekker, must give way to Rouseltus Gray,
1821,* which has more than 20 years1 priority. Rousetlus was
based on Pteropus aegyptiacus; Xantharpyia Gray, 1843, in-
cluded P. amplexicaudatus, P. aegyptiacus, and P. sir •amine as ; and
Cynonycteris Peters, 1852, had for its type P. collaris. As all
these species are now considered congeneric, it is simply a mat-
ter of selecting the earliest name.
Harpyia is preoccupied in Entomology, and in the case of
Cephalotes an unfortunate transfer of the name must be made
similar to that of Vespertilio, to which Miller has already called
attention. Cephalotes and Harpyia are closely related, and may
therefore be considered together. Cephalotes was proposed by
Geoffroy in 1810 f for two species, Cephalotes peronii Geoffroy,
from the island of Timor, and Cephalotes pallasii Geoffroy, a new
name for Vespertilio cephalotes Pallas. Illiger in the following
year, 1811. based his Harpyia, on Vespertilio cephalotes. But, as
already stated, Harpyia is preoccupied in Entomology, since
Ochsenheimer selected it in 1810 for a group of European moths
and gave a detailed description of the genus and several species
in his work entitled 'Die Schmetterlinge von Europa' (vol. Ill,
p. 19). Harpyia is therefore not available either for the bat or
the eagle, to which it has so long been applied. Even were this
not the case, it could hardly claim recognition, as it is in reality
merely a synonym of Cephalotes.
It may be claimed that Geoffroy did not name the type of his
genus Cephalotes, and under the rule that the first reviser of a
genus has the right to fix the type when none has been desig-
nated by the original describer, Illiger could select Vespertilio
cephalotes as the type of Harpyia (thus leaving Cephalotes peronii
as the type of the genus Cephalotes), and his verdict would be
final. Certain it is that he has been followed by Temminck,
Gray, Dobson and others, until C. peronii has become almost
universally associated with Cephalotes and V. cephalotes with Har-
pyia. It may well be questioned whether the type of Cephalotes
was really left in uncertainty, and whether Illiger deliberately
* London Medical Repository, XV, p. 299, Apr. 1, 1821,
f Ann. Mus. d'Hist Nat. Paris, XV, pp. 101-108.
Notes on the Nomenclature of the Chiroptera. 113
• fixed ' it, or, not having seen Geoffroy's paper,* simply based
Harpyia on Vespertilio cephalotes, which he recognized as distinct
from other species of Vespertilio. The original description seems
to leave little doubt that Geoffroy intended cephalotes and not
peronii as the type of his genus, for he sa}7s : " Nous donnons ce
nom a la cephalote de Pallas et a une nouvelle espece du vo}?age
aux terres australes, qui out une tres-grande affinite avec les
rousettes, mais qui en different assez pour ne pouvoir etre
comprises dans le meme genre" (p. 101). Again: "Pallas m'a
fourni le nom de cephalote " (p. 104). If this is not con-
clusive, it is only necessary to refer to Isidore Geoffroy's expla-
nation of the case,f in which he calls attention to Illiger's trans-
position of the type, stating that Vespertilio cephalotes was actually
the type of Cephalotes, and that Geoffroy afterwards perceiving
that cephalotes and peronii were generically distinct proposed
Hypoderma for the latter species. He says: " Ce genre [Cepha-
lotes], etabli par Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, a pour type une espece
tres-remarquable par son systeme dentaire, le Vespertilio Cepha-
lotes de Pallas. * * * Depuis cette epoque, de nouvelles ob-
servations ont demontre la necessite de separer ces deux Chauve-
Souris, semblables a quelques egards, mais differant l'une de
l'autre par de nombreux et importans caracteres. Cette sepa-
ration a ete effectuee par Geoffroy dans un travail public tout
recemment (Lecons stenog.), ou le groupe pen nature! des Cepha-
lotes est partage en deux genres, Tun conservant le nom de Ceph-
alotes, e'est celui qui a pour type le Vespertilio Cephalotes; l'autre
nomme Hypoderma, e'est celui qui a pour type la Cephalote de
Peron. * * * Quelques auteurs, ayant deja senti la necessite
de separer les deux Cephalotes, ont propose de donner le nom
(VHarpya cree par Illiger, a la veritable Cephalote, le Vespertilio
Cephalotes de Pallas, et de transporter le nom Cephalotes a 1 'espece
de Peron." Hypoderma, like Harpyia, is preoccupied in Ento-
mology,! and since no other generic name seems to have been
proposed for Cephcdotes peronii, a new name is required for the
* Illiger does not refer to the paper or to Geoffroy's species Cephalotes
/>, ronii.
tDict. Olassique d'Hist. Nat., XIY, p. 706, 1828.
X According to Agassiz the name was proposed by Clark, in 1815, in his
' Essays on the Bots of Horses and other Animals.' I have been unable
to find the name in this paper, but it was subsequently used by Latreille
in 1825, in his ' Fam. Nat. du Regne Animal,' V, p. 503.
114 Palmer — Notes on the Nomenclature of the Chiroptera.
group. The genus may therefore he called Dobsonia in honor
of the late Dr. George E. Dohson who devoted much attention to
the study of the Chiroptera.
Thomas has recently adopted Uronycteris to replace Harpy ia,*
but this name was based on Cynopterus albiventer Gray, which,
according to Dobson, is synonymous with Vespertilio cephalotes.
Uronycteris is therefore a synonym of Cephalotes Geoffroy. Trans-
ferring Cephalotes to the species to which it really belongs, the
forms usually referred to it will- stand Dobsonia peronii (Geoff.)
and Dobsonia minor (Dobson), while those usually placed in
Harpyia will stand, Cephalotes cephalotes (Pallas) and Cephalotes
major (Dobson).
*Novitates Zoologies?, II, p. 163, 1895.
Vol. XII, pp. 115-125 April 30, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTIONS OF TWENTY NEW SPECIES AND
A NEW SUBGENUS OF PEROMYSCUS FROM
MEXICO AND GUATEMALA.
BY C. HART MERRIAM.
The enormous collection of mice of the genus Peromyscus made
in Mexico and Guatemala by Mr. E. W. Nelson and his assistant,
Mr. E. A. Goldman, contains many novelties, some of which are
here described. Two of the new species, the largest yet discov-
ered, are separated subgenerically under the name Megadontomys.
Seven of the others belong to a well marked group distinguished
by rather large size, long, soft and very dense fur, dark color, and
a general agreement in cranial and dental characters.* It is but
a step from P. guatemalensis of this series to totontepecus of the
mexicanus series, and another step covers the related tehuantepecus
and oaxacensis. Three others (felipensis, gratus, and levipes) be-
long to the truei-difficilis group, of which P. hylocetes may be an
aberrant member, and one (muscidoides) is distantly connected
with the leucopus series. Standing widely apart from all of these
is P. mekisturus, an extraordinary long-tailed animal, perhaps
arboreal, from the mountain slope at Chalchicomula, Puebla.
Subgenus MEGADONTOMYS nobis,.
Type, Peromyscus (Megadontomys) thomasi sp. nov., from Mts. near Chil-
pancingo, Guerrero, Mexico.
Characters. — Size large (the two known species as large as roof rats) ; ears
and tail long and very scantily haired ; pelage long, soft, and very dense.
*The new species in the series in question are: zahrynchus, guatemalen-
sis, Upturns, and the slightly divergent megalops, aurUus, and comptus.
27— Blot.. Soc. Wash, Vol. XII. 1898 (115)
116 Merriam — New Mice from Mexico and Guatemala.
Skull similar in general to that of Peromyscux, but very large and massive ;
rostrum and nasals much produced, the latter expanded anteriorly and
projecting far beyond incisors. Molars very large and heavy (the upper
series in type species measuring 6.4 mm.), with short tubercles which
wear off while the animal is still young, leaving flat crowns; 1st and 2d
lower molars with a supplementary narrow enamel loop on each side ;
3d lower molar with 3 salient and 2 renetrant angles on each side. Plan-
tar tubercles 7. Mammae 6: pectoral \, inguinal §.
Peromyscus (Megadontomys) thomasi sp. nov.
Type from Mts. near Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico (alt. 9700 ft.).
No. 70142, tf old, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected
Dec. 24, 1894, by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Grig. No 7250.
Characters. — Size very large; ears large and nearly naked; tail very
long (longer than head and body) and nearly naked ; whiskers large and
long, reaching shoulders; hind foot very long (34 mm.); pelage long and
rather coarse. Similar to nelsoni, but more fulvous.
Color. — End of nose black ; upper parts from nose to tail fulvous, bright-
est and purest on cheeks and sides, darkest and abundantly mixed with
black hairs on back; a blackish ring round eye; under parts white, the
basal plumbeous fur showing through ; pectoral region in some specimens
suffused with salmon-fulvous ; fore and hind feet white ; ankles blackish.
Cranial and denial characters. — Skull very much elongated, particularly
the rostrum and nasals ; nasals produced and expanded anteriorly ; supra-
orbital ridges strongly developed ; anteorbital vacuities drawn out on side
of rostrum and only slightly notching root of zygoma ; interparietal very
large and broad, subtriangular ; incisive foramina very large ; postpalatal
notch broad. Molars large with flat crowns (except in young), measur-
ing about 6.5 mm.; crown of last lower molar elongate with enamel much
convoluted, presenting 3 salient and 2 reentrant angles on each side. So
far as known species are concerned, the skull of thomasi requires compar-
ison with only a single species— nelsoni. It differs from nelsoni in greater
massiveness, in the possession of prominent supraorbital ridges, and in
the stronger development of the posterior reentrant angle of thedast lower
molar.
Measurements. — Type specimen : Total length 350; tail yertebrye 188:
hind foot 34. Average of 7 specimens from type locality: Total length
330; tail vertebra 175; hind foot 32.8.
Peromyscus (Megadontomys) nelsoni sp. nov.
Type from Jico, Vera Cruz, Mexico (alt. 6000 ft.). No. 55024, ? ad.,
U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected July 10, 1893, by E. W.
Nelson. Orig. No. 5202.
Characters. — Size large; ears large and nearly naked ; tail very long and
scantily haired. Similar to thomasi, but darker and less fulvous; skull
lacking the supraorbital beads.
Color. — Upper parts grayish brown, becoming dusky on nose, around
New Mice from Mexico and Guatemala. 117
eves, and along middle of back ; under parts white, the plumbeous basal
fur showing through; wrists, ankles, and tail dusky; fore feet white ;
hind feet whitish strongly clouded with dusky.
Cranial characters. — Skull like that of thomasi, but less massive, lacking
the supraorbital ridges, and with the posterior reentrant angle on inner
side of irij less pronounced. In thomasi the supraorbital ridges slightly
overhang the orbits so that they intercept the dividers in taking the in-
terorbital breadth ; in nelsoni the upper surface of the frontal interor-
bitally is so much narrower that in taking this measurement the dividers
rest on the vertical plane of the orbit about 2 mm. below the top of the
frontal.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 302; tail vertebra 172;
hind foot 35. Average of 2 specimens from type locality : Total length
Peroniyscus zarhynchus sp. now
Type from Tumbala, Chiapas, Mexico. No. 76119, $ ad., U. S. Nat.
Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Oct. 20, 1895, by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 8606.
CharacU rs. — size very large ; ears large and nearly naked ; tail very long
and appearing naked ; hind feet long and slender; coloration dark.
Color. — Upper parts dusky, becoming seal brown on sides (sometimes
chestnut fulvous on flanks); under parts whitish, the plumbeous basal
fur showing through ; pectoral region strongly washed with chestnut, the
chestnut suffusion sometimes spreading over belly ; tail (skin) dusky-
above, yellowish white below ; fore and hind feet whitish, the latter
slightly clouded.
Cranial characters. — Skull very large and long with exceedingly elongated
rostrum ; small audital bulla' ; weak and slender zygomata ; zygomata nar-
row anteriorly, and only slightly notched by anteorbital slit, which is
drawn out on side of rostrum as in Megadontomys. The skull resembles
that of Megadontomys nelsoni in size and general appearance, but is dis-
tinguishable by the much greater length of rostrum and incisive foramina,
narrower interparietal, less flaring nasals, and much smaller molar teeth.
It does not require close comparison with any known species.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 324; tail vertebrae 176;
hind foot 35. Average of 13 specimens from type locality: Total length
314 ; tail vertebrae 169 ; hind foot 35.4.
Peromyscus zarhynchus cristobalensis subsp. now
Type from San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico. No. 76109, 9 ad., U. S.
Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Oct. 2, 1895, by E. W. Nel-
son and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 8536.
Characters. — Similar to r. zarhynchus from Tumbala, but paler and more
fulvous, with slightly smaller skull.
Color. — Upper parts dusky brown, becoming dusky on nose, around
eyes, and along middle of back and everywhere mixed with fulvous tipped
118 Merriwm — New Mice from Mexico and Guatemala.
hairs, the fulvous predominating on cheeks and sides; under parts, feet,
and tail as in P. zarhynchus.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of P. zarhynchus, hut slightly
shorter (averaging 30-31 instead of 32-33), with braincase broader and
zygomata stronger and more spreading anteriorly.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 322; tail vertebrae 170;
hind foot 34. Average of 10 specimens from type locality: Total length
312; tail vertebrae 166; hind foot 33.8.
Peromyscus guatemalensis sp. now
Type from Todos Santos, Guatemala (alt, 10,000 ft. ). No. 76861, tf ad.,
U. S. Nat. Mus. , Biological Survey Coll. Collected Dec. 31, 1895, by E. W.
Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 8991.
Characters. — Size medium (larger than mexicanus, but decidedly smaller
than zarhyncus) ; tail long and scantily haired; ears medium; furlong,
soft, and lax ; color very dark.
Color. — Upper parts dusky, finely mixed with grayish; an ill defined
blackish band from side of nose to car; cheeks and flanks dull brownish
fulvous ; under parts white, the plumbeous basal fur showing through ; a
salmon fulvous pectoral patch ; wrists and ankles blackish ; fore feet
white ; hind feet dusky at base, then white ; tail dusky, irregularly paler
below (sometimes white or yellowish). Some specimens have the middle
part of the back nearly black and much blackish on nose. Specimens
from Pinabete, Chiapas, agree closely with those from the type locality.
Specimens from Calel, Zunil, and Volcan Santa Maria, Guatemala, are
somewhat paler.
Cranial characters. — Skull and rostrum large and elongate, intermediate
in size between mexicanus and crislobalensis ; audital bullae as in the latter
(decidedly larger than in mexicanus).
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 273; tail vertebra? 141;
hind foot 31. Average of 10 specimens from type locality : Total length
268; tail vertebr;e 138; hind foot 30.5.
Peromyscus leptuius sp. nov.
Type from Mt. Zempoaltepec, Oaxaca, Mexico (alt, 8200 ft,). No. 6S612,
C? ad., U. S. Nat, Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected July 8, 1894,
by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 6381.
Characters. — A miniature of P. quatemalensis : size small (smaller than
mexicanus) ; ears medium and nearly naked ; tail about as long as head
and body, slender and rather scantily haired ; molars large; fur long and
rather soft ; color dark.
Color. — Upperparts brownish with a broad dusky dorsal area, becoming
brownish-fulvous on cheeks and sides ; nose ami ring round eye dusky ;
underparts, fore feet, and small spot on end of nose whitish ; wrists and
ankles dusky; hind feet clouded with dusky, toes white; tail dusky
above, paler below. Other specimens are so much darker as to appear
dusky all over when seen from above, although the sides are always
more or less brownish.
New Mice from Mexico and Guatemala. 110
Cranial and dental characters. — Skull small and short (compared with
others of the series); braincase rather broadly rounded and flattened;
zygomata weak and not strongly notched by anteorbital slit: audital
bullae small but slightly larger than in the decidedly larger P. mexicanus;
molars slightly larger than in mexicanus and series of same length, though
narrower than, in the allied hut very much larger P. guatemalensis.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 238 ; tail vertebrae 114:
hind foot 28. Average of 5 specimens from type localitv: Total length
230; tail vertehne 112; hind foot 27.:;.
Remarks. — P. lepturus might easily he mistaken for the young of the
dark form of mexicanus (totontepecus) which also occurs on Mt. Zempoal-
tepec, hut a glance at the skull- is sufficient to distinguish them, that of
P. lepturus being hardly three-fourths as large as totontepecus while its
molar teeth are even larger than those of totontepecus.
Peromyscus megalops sp. nov.
Type from Mts. near Ozolotepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. No. 71592, tf old,
U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected March 26, 1895, by
E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 7733.
Characters. — Size rather large : ears rather short ; tail long and scantily
haired: fur long and soft ; coloration dark with a rich chestnut fulvous
suffusion.
Color. — Upperparts finely mixed black and dark fulvous, the black pre-
dominating between ears and along hack: the salmon-fulvous predomi-
nating on sides and cheeks; underparts whitish, the plumbeous basal fur
showing through; pectoral region salmon-fulvous; wrists and ankles
dusky; fore feet whitish; hind feet clouded.
Cranial characters.— Skull huge and long, resembling that of guatema-
lensis in size and general characters hut audital bullae decidedly smaller;
incisive foramina much more widely open : frontals conspicuously broader
and developing a distinct supraorbital bead.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 282; tail vertebra.' 15();
hind foot 31. Average of 5 specimens from type locality : Total length
278; tail vertebrae 147 ; hind foot 31.
Peromyscus auritus sp. nov.
Tijpe from Mts. 15 miles west of Oaxaca, State of Oaxaca, Mexico. No.
68438, ? old, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Sept.
17, 1S94, by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. G795.
Characters. — Similar to P. megalops, hut ears anil audital bullae very much
larger and coloration duller. Similar to P. guatemalensis, but paler and
less fulvous, and frontal much narrower between orbits.
Color. — Upper parts grayish brown, becoming dusky on sides of nose,
around eyes, and on back, with a pale dull fulvous wash on cheeks and
sides; under parts whitish, the plumbeous basal fur showing through ;
wrists and ankles dusky ; fore and hind feet whitish; tail dusky above,
whitish beneath.
120 Merriam — New Mice from Mexico and Guatemala.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of auritus, but audited bullae
larger; nasals longer and more pointed posteriorly (exceeding pre-
maxilhe), and incisive foramina less broadly open. Similar to guatema-
lensis, but frontal very much broader between orbits and with a distinct
supraorbital bead.
Measurements. —Type specimen: Total length 288; tail vertebrae 148;
bind foot 30.5. Average of 4 specimens from type locality : Total length
281 ; tail vertebrae 148 ; hind foot 31.5.
Peromyscus comptus sp. nov.
Type from Mts. near Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico. No. 70191,
tf ad., U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Dec. 24, 1894,
by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 7266.
( naracU rs.— Size rather large ; ears large; tail rather long and scantily
haired ; fur long and relatively harsh ; color in winter pelage bright
golden-fulvous. Similar to P. auritus, but pelage coarser and color much
more fulvous, with much less blackish on nose and side of face, and much
whiter belly.
Color.— (Adults in Dec): Upper parts from nose to tail rich golden-
fulvous, the back and rump liberally lined with black hairs; black on
nose reduced to a very small spot on top and a spot at base of whiskers ;
blackish ring round eye very small ; under parts milk-white, sometimes
tinged with yellowish; wrists and ankles dusky ; fore feet white ; hind
feet whitish, more or less clouded; tail dusky above, whitish below.
Cranial characters.— Skull like that of auritus, but rostrum and nasals
shorter, the latter less pointed behind ; molars slightly smaller.
Measurements.— Type specimen: Total length 285; tail vertebrae 150;
hind foot 31. Average of 10 specimens from type locality : Total length
27:;; tail vertebra' 14:!; hind foot 30.4.
Peromyscus mexicanus totontepecus subsp. nov.
Type from Totontepec, Oaxaca. Mexico (alt. 6500 ft.). No. 08624, $ ad.,
U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected July 16, 1894, by E.W.
Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 6465.
Characters.— Similar to /'. mexicanus, but larger and darker, with slightly
shorter ears and denser fur.
Color.— -Upper parts dusky brown becoming dull fulvous-brown on
cheeks and sides ; under parts whitish, the plumbeous basal fur every-
where showing through; a salmon pectoral patch sometimes present;
fore feet whitish ; ankles and basal part of hind feet dusky, rest of hind
feet whitish; tail dusky above, irregularly whitish or yellowish below.
According to season, the prevailing color varies from dull fulvous-brown
to dusky with a blackish dorsal area.
Cranial characters.— Skull like that of mexicanus, but interparietal and
audital bullee averaging larger, and anterior root of zygoma even less
notched by anteorbital slit.
Measurements,— Type specimen: Total length 261 ; tail vertebrae 136 ;
New Miii from Mexico and Guatemala. 121
hind foot 28. Average of 10 specimens from type locality : Total length
25-1 ; tail vertebra 130; hind foot 2S.6.
Remarks. — This animal is only a mountain form of mexicanus, which it
closely resembles. It differs far more from the geographically nearer
mexicanus orizabse than from true mexicanus.
Peromyscus mexicanus saxatilis subsp. nov.
Type from Jacaltenango, Huehuetenango, Guatemala. No. 77296, cf
ad., U. S. Nat. Mas., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Dec. 19, 1895, by
E. \Y. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 8824.
Characters. — Similar to P. mexicanus, but paler, upper parts more dis-
tinctly lined with black hairs, under parts whiter.
Color. — Upper parts grayish fulvous (in some specimens fulvous), every-
where conspicuously lined with black hairs, which on middle of back
form a distinctly darker area; cheeks and sides fulvous, usually pale;
face between eyes grayish, slightly tinged with pale fulvous and grizzled
by dark hairs ; endof nose (except whitish tip), patch at baseof whiskers,
and narrow ring round eye blackish ; under parts, including lips, wrists.
and fore feet, white; ankles dusky; hind feet white; tail dusky above,
irregularly whitish or yellowish below.
Cranial characters. — Skull like that of mexicanus, but with even less dis-
tinct supraorbital beads, smaller incisive foramina, ami smaller molars.
Measun nn nts. — Type specimen: Total length 238 ; tail vertebrae 122; hind
foot 27.5. Average of 10 specimens from type locality : Total length 245.5 :
tail vertebrae 127.5; hind foot 27.5.
Peromyscus mexicanus orizabae subsp. nov.
Type from Orizaba, Vera Cruz, Mexico (alt. 4200 ft,). No. 58197,
$ ad., U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Jan. 29, 1894,
by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 5787.
Characters. — Size medium; ears large and nearly naked : tail long and
nearly naked ; coloration dark. Skull with broadly spreading zygomata.
Similar to P. mexicanus, but differing in slightly larger size, decidedly
longer tail and hind fret, slightly more white on land feet, and decidedly
more spreading zygomata.
Color. — Upper parts: top of head and back dusky seal-brown from in-
timate mixture of black and chestnut, the black predominating and shad-
ing into dull chestnut- fulvous on sides and cheeks ; top and sides of nose
and ring round eye dusk}' ; underparts, including lips, wrists, and fore
feet, white; ankles dusky ; hind feet whitish, clouded basally with dusky ;
a pale salmon suffusion on pectoral region, sometimes extending over
breast; tail dusky above, irregularly whitish or yellowish below.
( ranial characU rs. — Skull like that of mexicanus, but zygomata decidedly
stronger, more squarely and widely spreading anteriorly, and more deeply
notched by anteorbital slits; the vertical lamina on outer side of slit
much more prominent.
Measurements. — Type specimen : Total length 257: tail vertebrae 139 ;
122 Merriam — New Mice from Mexico and Guatemala.
hind foot 29.5. Average of 10 specimens from type locality : Total length
258; tail vertebrae 138; hind foot 29.
Peromyscus tehuantepecus sp. nov.
Type from Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. No. 75:!02, tf ad., U. S. Nat.
Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected May 23, 1895, by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 7980.
Characters. — Size medium; ears medium and nearly naked; tail me-
dium, scantily haired ; color brownish or buffy-fulvous. Similar to P.
mexicanus, but very much paler and with distinctive cranial characters.
Color. — Upper parts pale brownish-fulvous, slightly darkened on back
by admixture of black hairs, becoming pure buffy-fulvous on cheeks and
sides ; under parts and lips whitish, often tinged with yellowish or huffy
and with a buffy-salmon suffusion on pectoral region; ankles dusky in
front, the dusky reaching out a short distance on metatarsus ; fore and
bind feet whitish ; tail dusky, its under side irregularly marked with
yellowish.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of mexicanus, but braincase and
zygomata narrower; rostrum larger; interparietal decidedly larger.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 243; tail vertebras 124;
hind foot 2(>. Average of 4 specimens from type locality : Total length
24S.5; tail vertebrae 127; bind foot 27.
Peromyscus oaxacensis sp. nov.
Typefrqm ( lerroSan Felipe, Oaxaca, Mexico (alt, 10,000 ft.). No. 6842(i,
r? yg. ad. U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Sept. 1,
1894, by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. (>700.
Characters. — Size medium, about equalling P. mexicanus ; ears medium
and nearly naked : tail long and scant haired but decidedly more hairy
than in mexicanus and its subspecies, from which it differs further in
being sharply bicolor.
Color. — Upperparts from nose to tail dull fulvous, darkened on back by
admixture of black hairs; a very narrow dusky ring round eye; under-
parts, lips, and fore feet white; ankles dusky ; hind feet white except at
extreme base, where dusky of ankles reaches down a short distance ; tail
dusky above, white below. Specimens from Mts. 15 miles west of Oaxaca
show two pelages, one considerably darker than that here described.
Cranial and dental characters. — Skull similar to that of mexicanus, but
postpalatal notch much broader; audital bullae larger; m1 narrower and
less bellied on inner side behind anterior cusp ; mT with a supplementary
narrow enamel loop on outer side in front of posterior cusp.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 242; tail vertebrae 122;
hind foot 27.
Peromyscus felipensis sp. nov.
Type from Cerro San Felipe, Oaxaca, Mexico (alt. 10,200 ft.). No. 68409,
$ ad. U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Aug. 22, 1894,
by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 6611.
New Mice from Mexico and Guatemala. 123
Characters. — Similar to P. difficilis Allen, but slightly larger and very
much darker, with slightly smaller ears and much coarser pelage. Ears
large and appearing naked ; tail long and well haired ; bieolor.
Color. — Upper parts dusky grayish ; under parts, lips, and sides of nose
white, the plumbeous basal fur showing through ; pectoral region usually
salmon ; ring round eye dusky ; ankles dusky ; fore and hind feet white •
tail bieolor, dusky above, whitish below.
Cranial characters. — Skull rather large ; braincase well rounded ; audital
bullae large and inflated. Compared with P. difficilis the skull is slightly
larger and the rostrum slightly heavier.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 238; tail vertebrae 125;
hind foot 27.5. Average of 10 specimens from type locality : Total length
241.5; tail vertebra 127; hind foot 26.8.
Peromyscus gratus sp. nov.
Type from Tlalpam, Valley of Mexico. No. 50619, ? , U. S. Nat, Mus.,
Biological Survey Coll. Collected Nov. 30, 1892, by E. W. Nelson. Orig.
No. 3927.
Characters. — Size small; ears large ; tail a little longer than head and
body and well haired; color pale fulvous. Similar to P. truei, hut more
highly colored ; ears shorter and tail longer.
Color. — Upper parts pale buffy-fulvous, everywhere darkened by ad-
mixture of black hairs ; under parts milk-white ; ankles dusky all round
except along outer side of calcaneum, which is white ; fore and hind feet
white; tail dusky, indistinctly paler on under side.
Cranial characters. — Skull small ; braincase very globular and smoothly
rounded ; frontals rather broad interorbitally, but without trace of supra-
orbital bead ; rostrum small ; zygomata rather weak but strongly notched
by anteorbital slit ; audital bulla? very large and inflated. The skull re-
semhles that of truei, but is smaller, with decidedly smaller rostrum and
shorter palate.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 209; tail vertebra? 114;
hind foot 23. Average of 10 specimens from type locality : Total length
204; tail vertebrae 110.5; hind foot 22.8.
Peromyscus levipes sp. nov.
Type from Mt. Malinche, Tlaxcala, Mexico (alt. 8400 ft.). No. 53673,
c? ad., U. S. Nat, Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected May 12, 1893,
by E. W. Nelson. Orig. No. 4799.
Characters. — Size medium or rather small; ears rather large; tail
slightly longer than head and body, well haired and bieolor. Similar to
P. gratus, but color duller, tail sharply bieolor instead of only faintly
paler below, and skull different.
Color. — Upper parts grayish-brown becoming pale buffy-fulvous on
cheeks and lower sides; under parts and lips white with a salmon suf-
fusion on pectoral region ; ankles dusky ; fore and hind feet white ; tail
dusk}' above, whitish below.
28— Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XII, 1898
124 Merriam — New Mice from Mexico and Guatemala.
Crania! characters. — Skull resembling that of P. gratus, but larger, brain-
case flatter ; zygomata more spreading and less notched by anteorbital
slit; rostrum heavier as seen from below; audita! bullae smaller; nasals
longer.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 200; tail vertebrae 102;
hind foot 23.5.
Peromyscus hylocetes sp. nov.
Type from Patzcuaro, Miehoacan, Mexico (alt. about 8000 ft.). No.
50423, $ ad., U. S.Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected July
27, 1892, by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 2901.
Character*. — Size medium ; ears medium; tail shorter than head and
body well haired and sharply bicolor. Color grayish.
Color. — Upperparts huffy gray becoming huffy ochraceous on sides and
with a broad dark dorsal area resulting from bountiful admixture of black
hairs ; underparts, lips, and fore feet whitish ; wrists and ankles dusky,
the color of latter spreading over basal part of hind foot; tail dusky
above, white below.
Cranial characters. — Skull rather broad,, and short, with moderately
spreading zygomata and no supraorbital beads : braincase rather full and
broadly rounded ; audita! bullae smaller than in the truei-difficilis group,
but larger than in mexicanus and slightly larger than oaxacensis.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 238; tail vertebra? 114;
hind foot 25. Average of 3 specimens from type locality : Total length
232; tail vertebrae 112; hind foot 26
Peromyscus musculoides sp. nov.
Type from Cuicatlan, Oaxaca, Mexico (alt. 1800 ft.). No. 69661, cf old,
U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Oct. 14, 1894, by E. W.
Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 6892.
Characters. — Size a little larger than Mas musculus, which it greatly re-
sembles; pelage short, close and rather coarse; ears rather short; tail
shorter than head and body, moderately haired, bicolor.
Color.— Upperparts drab gray, becoming brownish on sides ; underparts,
lips and sides of nose milk-white; ankles dusky; fore and hind feet
white; tail brownish above, whitish below.
Cranial characters. — Skull small ; braincase rounded ; frontals broad be-
tween orbits but without trace of ' bead ' ; zygomata strongly notched by
anteorbital slits ; audital bullae small.
Measurements.— Type specimen: Total length 187; tail vertebrae 88;
hind foot 22.5. Average of 10 specimens from type locality : Total length
185; tail vertebras 84.5 ; hind foot 22.5.
Peromyscus mekisturus sp. nov.
Type from Chalchicomula, Puebla, Mexico (alt. 8400 ft.). No. 64108,
$ ad., U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected March 16,
1894, by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 5951.
New Mice from Mexico and Guatemala.
125
Characters. — Size small; ears large; tail enormously elongated and
moderately haired ; fur long and soft ; color grayish-fulvous.
Color. — Upper parts gray anteriorly, becoming more and more suffused
with olivaceous-fulvous to the rump, which is pale fulvous; hack slightly
darkened by black hairs, but no dark dorsal area: nose gray, with a
small whitish deck on extreme tip; ring round eve dusky ; under parts
butty-whitish, becoming huffy on pectoral region and whitish on chin,
lips, and sides of nose; wrists dusky; fore feet white; front of ankles
and upper two-thirds of metatarsus dusky; rest of hind feet, toes, and
sides of ankles white ; tail dusky, indistinctly paler below.
Cranial characters. — Skull small; rostrum short and narrow ; zygomata
squarely but narrowly spreading anteriorly, the outer sides strongly con-
vergent anteriorly ; frontals narrow interorbitally without trace of supra-
orbital bead; braincase broad and rather flat; interparietal narrow;
audital bulla? small.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 249; tail vertebrae 155;
hind foot 24.
Fig. 20. — Skull of Megadontomys /ho, nasi (X 1%).
See page 115.
Vol. XII, pp. 127-129 April 30, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
A NEW GENUS (KEOTOMODON) AND THREE NEW
SPECIES OF MURINE RODENTS FROM THE
MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN MEXICO.
BY C. HART MERRIAM.
Still another genus — and one strikingly different from an)7
heretofore described — is represented by 57 specimens in Mr.
E. W. Nelson's rich collections from southern Mexico. The
animals were found living among dense grass at high elevations
on Mt. Orizaba, Puebla ; the Cofre de Perote, Vera Cruz ; the
mountains at Nahuatzin, Michoacan; and on Mt. Popocatapetl,
Mt. Toluca. and others about the valley of Mexico. Those from
Mt. Orizaba and the Cofre de Perote are distinct species ; all the
others may be classed together as a third species.
Genus NEOTOMODON nobis.
Type, Neotomodon alstoni sp. now , from Nahuatzin, Michoacan, Mexico.
Characters. — Size of a large Microtus ; ears large and nearly naked ; tail
medium or rather short ; fur soft and dense ; plantar tubercles 6; mammpe
6; pectoral \ ; inguinal f; general appearance intermediate between. Mi-
crotus and Peromyscus of the guati malt nsis group. Skull and teeth unique ;
skull broad and rather high ; braincase short and rounded [in X alstoni
angular and truncate posteriorly in old age] ; zygomata large and broadly
spreading, the anterior root deeply notched by anteorbital slit, the outer
lamina of which is produced far forward ; incisive foramina very long
and open; diastema J the basal length of skull. Molars rooted, large,
and very massive, with flat crowns and heavy enamel as in Neoloma;
enamel loops open throughout; m^ and m3 essentially alike, each with
3 salient enamel loops and 2 deep reentrant angles on outer side and 2
salient loops and 1 shallow reentrant angle on inner side, as in Neotoma
desertorum, from which the teeth differ in having the loops more nearly
29— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (127).
128 Merriam — New Murine Rodents from Mexico.
transverse and the two ends of each crown more alike ; m- a cylindrical
peg ; enamel pattern of lower molars in general like that of Hodomys,
with differences in detail : mT and iru with 3 salient loops and 2 reen-
trant angles on each side, the middle loops of the two sides not opposite ;
m., with anterior loop on outer side narrow and followed by a shallow
•reentrant angle ; raj shaped much like letter S : outer side with 2 prom-
inent and strongly convex loops and 1 deep reentrant angle ; inner side
with a convex anterior loop, a moderately deep reentrant angle, and a
long flat heel which curves outward posteriorly to form posterior loop on
outer side.
The enamel pattern of the crowns of the middle upper and 1st and 2d
lower molars changes rapidly with wear; that of the last lower molar
more slowly ; in m1 the anterior reentrant angle on outer side disappears,
leaving a large anterior and small posterior lobe, with a small enamel
island in the former ; in mr and nio the anterior reentrant angle on outer
side and posterior reentrant angle on inner side disappear, converting
the ci'own into two large lobes not unlike a figure 8 turned sideways ; in
nig the resulting shape is more like the letter S ; in m, the reentrant
angle on inner side disappears with age, leaving the inner side plain.
The upper molars seem too large for the jaw, and the middle ones are
sometimes tilted out of line.
Neotomodon alstoni sp. now
Type from Nahuatzin, Michoacan, Mexico (alt. 8500 ft.). No. 50534,
$ old, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Oct. 12, 1892,
by E. W. Nelson. Orig. No. 3580.
Characters. — Size of a rather large Microtus pennsylvanicus ; ears large
and scantily haired ; hind feet rather long and slender; tail shorter than
head and body, sharply bicolor, and moderately haired ; color dusky
grayish. A. alstoni is the largest of the three species here described.
Color. — Upper parts dusky grayish, darkened on hack, and varying
with season to dull fulvous brown ; under parts dark plumbeous, washed
with white and with a rather faint Imli'v suffusion on pectoral region ;
wrists and ankles dusky, the dusky extending out a short distance on
metatarsus ; fore and hind feet white ; tail bicolor, dusky above, whitish
below.
Cfanial characters. — The cranial and dental characters have been fully
described under the genus and need not be repeated. Compared with
the other known species of the genus, perotensis and orizabse, the skull is
larger and heavier, and when old much more angular.
Measurements. — Type specimen (c? old) : Total length 225 ; tail vertebra?
103; hind foot 28. Average of 7 specimens from type locality: Total
length 220; tail vertebrae 101 ; hind foot 26.5.
Remark*. —Specimens referred to this species were collected by Mr.
Nelson at Nahuatzin, Michoacan, Huitzilac, Morelos, and the following
places in the State of Mexico: Amecameca, Ajusco, north slope of Volcan
Toluca, Toluca Valley, Salazar, and Mt. Popocatapetl.
New Murine Rodents from Mexico. 1'29
Neotomodon perotensis sp. nov.
Type from Cofre de Perote, Vera Cruz, Mexico (alt. 9500 ft.). No.
54398, $ ad., U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected May
29, 1893, by E. \V. Nelson. Orig. No. 4897.
CJiaracters. — Similar to N. alstoni, but eai-s and tail shorter; color paler,
with a distinct blackish dorsal stripe in summer pelage.
Color. — Upper parts in fresh summer pelage (end of May) grayish buff,
grayest on head, buffy on sides, with a distinct (but not sharply limited)
blackish band on back ; under parts white, suffused with buffy on pec-
toral region, and with the plumbeous basal fur slightly showing through ;
wrists and ankles dusky ; fore and hind feet white ; tail sharply bicolor,
dusky above, white below. Specimens in left-over winter pelage are
much darker and resemble X a/stun i.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of X alstoni, but slightly
smaller, and in old age not becoming so angular.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 212; tail vertebrae 91;
hind foot 24. Average of 4 specimens from type locality : Total length
213 ; tail vertebrae 92.5 ;. hind foot 25.
Neotoniodon orizabae sp. nov.
Type from Mt. Orizaba, Puebla, Mexico (alt. 9500 ft.). No. 53486, tf
old, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected April 20, 1893,
by E. W. Nelson. Orig. No. 4747.
Characters. — Similar to X alstoni and perotensis, but much smaller and
grayer, with slightly smaller ears and decidedly shorter tail. Resembles
a gray Microtus.
Color. — Upper parts uniform buffy-gray ; under parts white, suffused
with buffy on pectoral region, with plumbeous basal fur showing through ;
wrists and ankles dusky ; foreand hindfeet whitish ; tail sharply bicolor,
brownish above, white below.
Cranial characters. — Skull like thatof pt roti nsis, but smaller and weaker.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length l'.)4 ; tail vertebrae Si;
hind foot 24. Average of 4 specimens from type locality : Total length
194 ; tail vertebras 82 ; hind foot 25.
Vol. XII, pp. 131-144 June 3, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
ON SOME BIRDS FROM SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA
BY OUTRAM BANGS
Mr. W. W. Brown, Jr., who is collecting in the Santa Marta
region of Colombia for the Bangs Collection, sent a short time
ago nearly seven hundred beautifully made bird skins as the re-
sult of his first two months' work — from middle of Dec, 1897,
to middle of Feb., 1898. These birds were all taken within fif-
teen miles of Santa Marta and at elevations ranging from 500 to
nearly 6000 feet, the larger part, however, being from the low-
lands. Mr. Brown has not yet visited any of the higher moun-
tains. I have thought it best to publish briefly on the collections
as they come in, describing the forms which appear to be new
and giving mere lists of the better known species. These prelim-
inary notices may he followed by a more elaborate paper when
the whole region of the Santa Marta Mountains has been cov-
ered.
I am much indebted to the unfailing kindness of Mr. Robert
Ridgway and Dr. Chas. W. Richmond in helping me identify
the birds and allowing me to work in the National Museum and
make comparisons with the material in that collection.
A series of the birds has been presented to the United States
National Museum ; the rest of the collection, including the types
of the new forms, remain in the Bangs collection.
(Note. — All measurements are in millimeters.)
Crypturus columbianus Salvad.
1 specimen. At the time the British Museum Catalogue appeared this
bird was known by the type specimen alone. The one example so far
sent agrees exactly with the description of the species.
30— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vor,. XII, 1898 (131)
132 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia.
Cryptuius pileatus Bodd.
1 specimen, 9 ad. This one specimen is very different from the gen-
eral run of C. pileatus, and probably represents a good race, at least. It
is much deeper in color. The lower parts are a deep rich cinnamon with-
out grayer pectoral band.
Crax alberti Fraser.
1 specimen, $ ad.
Penelope argyrotis (Bona}).)
1 specimen, <$ ad.
Leptotila verreauxi Bonap.
2 specimens, <$ $.
Columbigallina passerina pallescens (Baird).
1 specimen, <j\
Columbigallina rufipennis (Bonap.)
3 specimens, c? d\ 9-
Buteo latissimus (Wils.)
3 specimens, J* and 9 ad., 9 yg-i winter residents.
Rupornis magnirostris (Gmel.)
1 specimen, 9 ad.
Micrastur semitorquatus (Vieill.) ?
1 specimen, cj1.
Syrnium perspicillatum (Latham).
1 specimen, <$.
Ara chloroptera Gray.
1 specimen, 9-
Ara militaris (Linn.)
2 specimens, cf, 9 •
Brotogeris jugularis (Mull.)
16 specimens, J* cf, 9 9-
Pionus menstruus (Linn.)
2 specimens, cJ, 9-
On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia. L33
Pionus sordidus (Linn.)
•_' specimens. -', 9- At an altitude of 5000 ft. Mr. Brown took, Feb.
12 and 13, 1898, a pair of this rare parrot, known before only from Vene-
zuela. These birds agree exactly in measurements, color of bill and gen-
eral coloration with the descriptions of P. sordidus. An actual comparison
of specimens, however, might well show the Santa Marta examples to
represent a different race.
Crotophaga sulcirostris Sw.
2 specimens, (f c?.
Piaya cayana mehleri (Bonap.)
7 specimens, r? d\ 9 ?•
Momotus subrufescens Scl.
23 specimens, c? (J1, 9 9- Topotypes.
Ceryle torquata (Linn.)
2 specimens, 9 9-
Ceryle amazona (Lath.)
1 specimen, 9-
Ceryle americana (Gmel.)
2 specimens, 9 9-
Bucco iuficollis (Waul. )
8 specimens, ^J1 J, ? $.
Malacoptila mystacalis (Lafr.)
2 specimens, <j\ 9-
Galbula ruficauda pallens subsp. nov.
17 specimens, cf cT, 9 9-
Type from Santa Marta, Colombia, No. 5073, coll. of E. A. and O.
Bangs, tf adult. Collected Dec. 27, 1897, by W. W. Brown, Jr.
Subspecifie cliaraeters. — Size of true G. ruficauda; bill longer; sexes very
different, the female being much paler below than the male ; colors above
about as in true G. ruficauda ; below, in cj\ throat white, slightly washed
with pale orange rufous; belly and sides, back of green pectoral band,
orange rufous ; in $, throat white, extensively washed with orange buff;
belly and sides, back of green pectoral band, orange buff
Size. — 5\ wing, 85.6; tail, 122; exposed culmen, 56. 9, wing, 84; tail,
111 ; exposed culmen, 58.
Remarks. — There is but a very slight individual variation in size, length
134 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia.
of bill, and color in this series, and the long bill, great sexual difference
in color, and paler under parts in both sexes distinguish the birds of the
Santa Marta region as a good subspecies of G. ruficauda.
Ramphastos bievicarinatus Gould.
4 specimens, cJ1 d\ 9 9-
Pteroglossus torquatus (Gmel.)
11 specimens, (J cf, 9 9-
Aulacorhamphus calorhynchus Gould.
1 specimen, ?. Topotype.
Campephilus malherbii Gray.
6 specimens, <? d\ 9 9-
Ceophloeus lineatus (Linn.)
2 specimens, (J <j\
Melanerpes wagleri sanctae-martae subsp. nov.
11 specimens, c? c?> 9 9-
Type from Santa Marta, Colombia, No. 5103, coll. of E. A. and O. Bangs.
$ ad. Collected Feb. S, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr.
Subsperijir diameters. — Similar to M. wagleri of Panama, but much
smaller; much more white on inner tail feathers, the inner webs being
white to the quill, with three or four small black spots and black tips ;
much larger than M. negleetus, with much longer bill.
s;ze.— (f, wing, 107. G; tail, 51. G; exposed culmen, 24. $,wing, 104;
tail, 40.4; exposed culmen, 22.2.
Remarks. — M. wagleri of Panama seems to be specifically distinct from
M. subelegans of Venezuela, the former having the crown patch contin-
uous red from crown to nape, while in the latter the crown patch is
broken by brownish between crown and nape. Unfortunately there are
no males of M. neglectus in the National Museum collection, but this bird
is so much smaller than M. sanctse-martse and has such a very short bill as
to lie at once distinguished from it. M. sandx-martse is a small race of
M. wagleri, with much more white on the inner pair of tail feathers, the
black markings being usually spots, not bars.
Glaucis hirsuta (Gould.)
2 specimens, cf, 9-
Phcethoinis longirostris (Less, and De Lat.)
1 specimen, tf.
On Some Birdsfrom Santa Marin, Colombia. L35
Phcethomis anthophilus (Bourc. and Muls.)
5 specimens, (J1 d\ 9 9-
Lampomis violicauda (Bodd.)
3 specimens, 9 9 .
Hypuroptila buffoni (Less. I
11 specimens, r? d\ 9 9 •
Florisuga mellivora (Linn.)
16 specimens, c? d\ 9 9 •
Petasophora delphinae (Less.)
1 specimen, rj\
Floricola longirostris (Vieill.)
1 specimen, ^ ; altitude 6000 ft.
Thalurania columbica (Bourc.)
12 specimens ; 9, tf tf ; 3, 9 $ .
Amazilia fuscicaudata (Fraser).
9 specimens, c? d\ 9 9-
Amazilia waiszeweizi (Cab. and Heine.)
43 specimens, c? d\ 9 9-
Hylocharis cyanea (Vieill.)
12 specimens, $ $, 9 9- This hummer, so far as I know, has not
before been taken in this region.
Nyctidiomus albicollis (Gmel.)
3 specimens, <$ d*-
Sayornis cineracea (Lafr.)
2 specimens, cT and 9 .
Todirostium nigriceps Scl.
1 specimen, 9 .
Todirostrum schistaceiceps Scl.
1 specimen, J1.
13(3 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia.
Euscarthmus irnpiger Scl. & Salv.
2 specimens, c? c?.
Colopterus pilaris Cab.
2 specimens, $ 9-
Mionectes oleagineus (Licht.)
4 specimens, c? d\ 9 9-
Myiopatis semifuscus (Scl.)
6 specimens, c? cJ1, 9 9- Topotypes. The specimen from La Guayra,
Venez., recorded in Lieut. Robinson's paper, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.,
XVIII, p. (584, as a Pogonotriccus, is an example of this species in imma-
ture plumage.
Ornithion pusillum (Cab. & Heine.)
1 specimen, 9-
Tyranniscus griseiceps Scl. & Salv.
1 specimen, $.
Elainea pagana (Licht.)
6 specimens, tf tf, 9 9-
Myiopagis placens (Scl.)
3 specimens, c^ d\ 9-
Myiopagis macilvainii (Lawr. )
2 specimens, <$ and 9-
Sublegatus glaber Scl. cV. Salv.
1 specimen, rf- Wing (2.90 inches), 73.66 mm., corresponding with
S. glaber and not with the form called S. platyrhynchus of winch Sclater
records a specimen from Santa Marta, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., XIV, p. 159.
Myiozetetes texensis colombianus (Cab. and Heine.)
1 specimen, 9-
Rhynchocyclus sulphurescens (Spix.)
1 specimen, tf.
Rhynchocyclus flaviventris (Max.)
10 specimens, cf d\ 9 9-
On Smut Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia. 137
Pitangus derbianus rufipennis (Lafr. )
2 specimens, $ <j\
Myiodynastes audax nobilis (Scl.)
3 specimens, cf d\ 9-
Megarhynchus pitangua (Linn."
9 specimens, J1 cf, 9 9-
Muscivora mexicana Scl.
3 specimens, <$ cf, 9 •
Empidonax virescens (Vieill.)
1 specimen, ^ . Winter resident.
Contopus brachy tarsus (Scl.)
1 specimen, 9-
Myiarchus crinitus (Linn.)
1 specimen, 9 • Winter resident.
Myiarchus erythrocercus Scl. & Salv.
26 specimens, c^ c^> 9 9 •
Myiarchus ferox (Gmel.)
5 specimens c? d\ 9 9 •
Myiarchus nigriceps Scl.
3 specimens, <5\ 9 9-
Tyrannus melancholicus satrapa (Licht.)
7 specimens, (J1 cT, $ ?.
Milvulus tyrannus (Linn.)
1 specimen, ^.
Pipra auricapilla Licht.
5 specimens, tf (J1, 9 9 ■
Chiroxiphia lanceolata Wagl.
20 specimens, J1^, ? ? and young.
Manacus manacus (Linn.)
8 specimens, $ <$.
138 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia.
Thamnophilus melanonotus Scl.
9 specimens, $ <-?, 9 9 • Topotypes.
Thamnophilus naevius (Gniel.)
2 specimens, <j" <j\
Eriodora intermedia Cab.
3 specimens, tf cP-
Myrmeciza boucardi Berl.
2 specimens, rf $.
Rhamphocaenus rufiventris sanctae-marthae Scl.
1 specimen, $ ad. Topotype.
Dendroplex picirostiis (Lafr.)
4 specimens, c? c?> 9 9-
Dendrocincla olivacea anguina subsp. nov.
1 specimen.
Type from Santa Marta, Colombia, No. 5327, <$ adult, coll. of E. A. and
O. Bangs. Collected Feb. 15, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Altitude,
5000 ft.
Subspecific characters. — As compared with specimens of true D. olivacea
from Panama, bill much smaller ; wing a trifle longer ; tail longer; colors
above more olivaceous; wings darker, more olive, less rufous.
Size. — <j\ wing, 106.4; tail, 87.2; exposed culmen, 24.
Remarks. — in birds from Nicaragua the bill is still larger than in true
D. olivacea and the wing considerably shorter. They appear to represent
another good subspecies.
Furnarius agnatus Scl. & Sal v.
1 specimen, rj\
Xenops genibarbis 111.
I specimen.
Cyanocorax affinis Pelzeln.
9 specimens, tf $ , 9 9-
Cassicus persicus (Linn.)
5 specimens, <$ tf, 9 9 •
Icterus xanthornus (Linn.)
II specimens, J1^, ? $. .
On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia. 139
Icterus auricapillus Cassin.
9 specimens, f cf , 9 9-
Icterus galbula (Linn.)
1 specimen, <j\ Winter resident.
Chrysomitris mexicana (Sw.)
1 specimen, rf adult. Perfectly typical of this form.
Chrysomitris columbiana (Lafr. )
1 specimen, tf adult. Perfectly typical of this form.
Volatinia jacarini splendens (Vieill.)
2 specimens, rf and 9 .
Sycalis browni sp. nov.
2 specimens, $ and 9 young.
Type from Santa Marta, Colombia, No. 5359, J1 adult, coll. of E. A.
and O. Bangs. Collected Feb. 2, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Altitude
5000 ft.
Specific characters. — rf adult, size very small ; bill slender and small ;
much white on two outer pairs of tail feathers ; wings dusky, edged with
greenish yellow ; tail dusky, outer feather with the inner web white for
its terminal half, second feather with the inner web white for its terminal
third ; nape and interscapulum dull olive green with dusky markings on
shafts of feathers; crown patch shining chrome yellow; rump and upper
tail-<overts wax yellow ; under parts, from chin to under tail coverts, dull
gamboge yellow, slightly more olivaceous on flanks.
Size. — rf adult, wing, 00.4 ; tail, 44 ; exposed culmen, 7.8.
Remarks. — Mr. Brown took at an altitude of 5000 ft. the type of this
species, and at 3000 ft., Feb. 19, 1898, a young female in nestling plumage.
This new Sycalis, which I have named for Mr. Brown, is not closely re-
lated to any known species, its very small delicate bill, small size, the
great amount of white in its tail feathers, and its peculiar coloring dis-
tinguishing it from all others.
'o
Cyanocompsa concreta sanctae-martae subsp. nov.
5 specimens, d" d\ 9 •
Type from Santa Marta, Colombia, No. 5301, tf adult, coll. of E. A.
and O. Bangs. Collected Feb. 2, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Altitude
3000 feet.
Subspecific characters. — Similar to C. concreta cyanescens, but adult male
still more decidedly blue, the general color dull grayish blue (interme-
31 — Biol. Sue. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898
140 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia.
diate between indigo blue and dull china blue). Adult female similar to
that of C. eoncreta cyanescens, but duller brown (upper parts nearer bistre
than vandyke brown, under parts between light bistre and raw umber).
Size.— $ adult, length (skins), 143-149.5 ; wing, 77-82.5; tail, 64.5-68.5;
exposed culmen, 17.5-18.5; depth of bill at base, 15.5-16.5; width of
mandible at base, 13; tarsus, 20-21 ; middle toe, 13-15* 9 adult, length
(skin), 147; wing, 79; tail, 64; exposed culmen, 18.5; depth of bill at
base, 16.5; width of mandible at base, 13; tarsus, 20.5; middle toe, 14. t
Remarks. — Mr. Brown obtained five specimens of this form at altitudes
of 1800 to 5000 feet,
Zamelodia ludoviciana (Linn.)
5 specimens, c? d\ 9 9- Winter resident.
Spiza americana (Gmel.)
5 specimens, cT c?, 9 9- Winter resident,
Arremonops conirostris canens subsp. nov.
3 specimens, (j\ 9 9-
Type from Santa Marta, Colombia, No. 5371, $ adult, coll. of E. A.
and 0. Bangs. Collected Jan. 15, 1808, by W. W. Brown, Jr.
Subspeeific characters. — Smaller than A. conirostris; wings and tail
darker, more dusky, less greenish ; back much grayer, the feathers
tipped and edged with gray; nape and head between the black stripes
clear gray without any olive or greenish.
Size. — c? adult, wing, 76.2; tail, 64.6; exposed culmen, 14; 9 adult,
wing, 66; tail, 57; exposed culmen, 14.
Remarks. — A. conirostris canens differs so much in color from true A. co-
nirostris besides being considerably smaller, that it may prove to be a dis-
tinct species, though for the present I prefer to treat it as a subspecies.
Saltator magnus (Gmel.)
1 specimen, adult $. This one example is not at all typical, and if
others from the same region are found to agree with it, the form deserves
separation as a subspecies.
Saltator striatipectus Lafr.
1 specimen, ^ adult.
Arremon schlegeli Bp.
5 specimens, $ <j\ 9 9 •
*Four specimens.
f One specimen. . .
Oh Some Bird* from Santa Marta, Colombia. 141
Emberizoides macrurus (Gmel.)
1 specimen, o'. The type locality of E. macrurus is Cayenne. The
one Santa Marta specimen differs from birds from that region in having
yellow instead of white throat, being richer in color throughout and in
having a shorter wing. Should other specimens bear out these charac-
ters, then the Santa Marta bird must he separated as a subspecies.
Euphonia trinitatis Strick.
1 specimen, cf.
Euphonia ciassirostris Scl.
27 specimens, rf $, 9 9 ana young.
Calospiza desmaresti ((hay).
5 specimens, $ cf .
Calospiza sp. ?
1 specimen, $. I have been unable to identify this skin. The bird
has a very large, thick bill and may represent a new species. A good
male specimen is necessary, however, before this can be settled.
Tanagra cana Sw.
23 specimens, c? (J\ 9 9-
Tanagra palmarum melanoptera (Haiti.)
1 specimen, $.
Ramphocelus dimidiatus Lafr.
25 specimens, rj1 rj~ , 9 9 and young cf cT-
Piianga rubra (Linn.)
7 specimens, cf c?, 9 9- Winter resident.
Piianga faceta sp. now
2 specimens, cj adult, 9 adult.
Type from Santa Marta, Colombia, No. 5452, r^ adult, coll. of E. A. and
O. Bangs. Collected Feb. 4, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Altitude 3000 ft.
Specific characters. — -J\ size rather small (about the size of I', hsemalea) ;
tail long; hill very small, much smaller than that of P. hsemalea or P.
testacea, and not so swollen ; tooth on edge of upper mandible very prom-
inent; upper parts deep brownish red, more intense (shading towards
dark carmin ) on head ; wings dusky, the feathers edged with dark red,
without wing bars; under parts bright orange vermilion, browner on
flanks and more scarlet on throat ; 9 slightly smallei than the c? ; colors
142 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Maria, Colombia.
above dee]) olive green, sides of forehead more yellow; below bright
olive yellow, shaded with olive on sides and flanks.
Size. — tf adult, wing, 89; tail, 70; exposed culmen, 16.6; breadth of
bill at nostril, 8.2. 9 adult, wing, 85.8; tail, 72. 6; exposed culmen, 16;
breadth of bill at nostril, 8.2.
Remarks. — On Feb. 4, 1898, Mr. Brown took a pair of this beautiful new
tanager, the female at 4000 ft. and the male at :!000 ft. I', faceta scarcely
needs comparison with any other form, its bright orange vermilion under
parts and small bill at once distinguishing it from P. lestacea or P. hsemalea.
Eucometis cristata (Du Bus.)
6 specimens, d" d\ 9 9-
Stelgidopteiyx uropygialis (Lawr. )
6 specimens, (J cf> 9 9-
Cyclarhis flavipectus canticus subsp. nov.
5 specimens, c? d\ 9 9-
lype from Santa Marta, Colombia, No. 5462, ^ adult, coll. of E. A. and
0. Bangs. Collected Jan. 28, 1808, by W. W. Brown, Jr.
Subspecific characters. — Similar to true C. flavipectus of Trinidad, but
slightly smaller ; wing shorter ; color of throat and breast much purer,
deeper, more golden, less greenish yellow, being in C. canticus nearly pure
canary yellow.
Size. — <$ adult, wing, 75.2; tail, 58; exposed culmen, 17. $ adult,
wing, 72.4; tail, 61; exposed culmen, 16.6.
Remarks. — This is the form over which there has been so much discus-
sion. Count Von Berlepsch, Ibis, 1888, p. 85, first noticed the differences,
saying "specimens of C. flavipectus from Bogota generally show a much
purer and deeper golden yellow on the under parts than those from Ven-
ezuela and Trinidad." Santa Marta skins seem even more strongly to
show these differences than Bogota skins. Dr. J. A. Allen, in Bull. Am.
Mus., Vol. IT, p. 130, June, 1889, renamed the Trinidad bird, calling it
C. flavipectus trinilatis. Mr. Frank M. Chapman, when he corrected this
mistake in his list of Trinidad birds, Bull. Am. Mus., Vol. VI, \>. 27, ltS'.>4,
referred the Colombia birds to the Costa Rican form C. subflavescens, from
which they appear to me to be perfectly distinct.
Vireo chivi agilis (Licht.)
8 specimens, c? d*> $ 9-
Hylophilus aurantiifrons Lawr.
4 specimens, $ J\ 9 9-
Hylophilus flavipes Lafr.
5 specimens, c? d\ 9 9-
On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia. 148
Dacnis napaea sp. nov.
2 specimens, adult rj\ young -?, in plumage like that of 9-
Type from Santa Marta, Colombia, No. 5478, rf adult, coll. of E. A.
and O. Hangs. Collected Jan. 18, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr.
Specific characters. — Adult rf , about the size of I), ccerebicolor or rather
larger; wing about the same or longer; bill much larger — longer and
stouter; color pattern the same; the blue color an intense cobalt blue,
very different from the dark purplish blue of D. coerebicolor ; feet flesh
color.
Size.— (J adult, wing, 69 ; tail, 47 ; exposed culmen, 7.6.
Remark*. — D. napsea needs comparison with but one species, D. ccerebi-
color. This comparison I have been able to make, the National Museum
having a considerable series of Bogota skins. The very large bill and
bright blue color of D. napsea mark the Santa Marta bird as specifically
distinct from the small-billed dark purplish blue I), ccerebicolor of Bogota.
Aibelorhina cyanea eximia (Caban.)
15 specimens, c? d\ ?•
Arbelorhina ccerulea microrhyncha Berl.
42 specimens, c? cf > 9 9 an(l young.
Coereba luteola (Caban.)
6 specimens, cf d\ 9 9-
Mniotilta varia (Linn.)
1 specimen, 9- Winter resident.
Protonotaria citiea (Bodd.)
21 specimens, rf $, 9 9- Winter resident.
Helminthophila peiegrina ( Wils.)
1 specimen, rj1. Winter resident.
Compsothlypis pitiayumi pacifica (Berl.)
2 specimens, 9 9 •
Dendroica aestiva (Gmel.)
;] specimens, cf d\ 9- Winter resident.
Seiurus motacilla (Vieill.)
1 specimen, r$ . Winter resident.
144 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia.
Geothlypis formosa (Wils.)
1 specimen, tf. Winter resident.
Basileuterus mesochrysus Scl.
5 specimens, <$ $, 9 9-
Basileuterus cabanisi Berl.
. 1 specimen, adult $ . This is apparently a rare bird in collections.
Setophaga ruticilla (Linn.)
2 specimens, rj1, 9- Winter resident.
Thryophilus minlosi Berl.
2 specimens. <$ ad., cf yg.
Polioptila bilineata (Bonap.)
1 specimen, 9 adult.
Turdus aliciae Haird.
2 specimens, ($•<$. Winter resident.
Merula incompta sp. nov.
4 specimens, c? d\ 9 9-
Type from Santa Marta, Colombia, No. 5560, 9 adult, coll. of E. A.
and 0. Bangs. Collected Jan. 22, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr.
Specific characters. — Size rather small; sexes alike; bill yellow above
and below, darker at base ; no eye stripe; 4th and 5th primaries nearly
equal and longest, 3rd and 6th nearly equal, next, 2nd and 7th equal ;
legs, feet and claws pale brownish ; color above uniform rich olive brown,
including lores, ear-coverts, tail and wings, except primaries and inner
webs of secondaries, which are more dusky; below, breast and sides
olivaceous wood brown ; center of belly and under tail-coverts clear buff;
throat dull whitish with pale olive brown streaks; under wing-coverts
dull orange buff.
Size. — 9 adult, wing, J 12.6; tail, 91 ; exposed culmen, 20. cf adult,
wing, 114.6; tail, 92.6; exposed culmen, 19.8.
Remarks. — The Santa Marta thrush is most like M. gymnophthahnus in
general coloration, but can be told from that species by not having the
naked eye spots and the under tail-coverts not being streaked. The only
other species that it needs to be compared with is M. ignobilis, from which
its smaller size, yellow bill, and many differences in detail of coloration
at once distinguish it.
Vol. XII, pp. 145-156 June 3. 1898
PROCEEDINGS
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SQUIRRELS FROM MEXICO
AND CENTRAL AMERICA.
BY E. W. NELSON.
During explorations made in Mexico and parts of Central
America for the Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agricult-
ure, an extraordinarily fine series of squirrels has been secured.
The collection contains topotypes of all but two or three of the
large number of species described from Mexico, besides speci-
mens from scores of widely scattered localities. After my return
from the field a few months ago, Dr. C. Hart Merriam. Chief of
the Biological Survey, who had already done some work on the
group, generously placed this rich material in my hands for
elaboration. In order that I might cover the ground more satis-
factorily, Mr. F. W. True, Executive Curator of the U. S. National
Museum, placed the entire Museum series of tropical American
Squirrels at my disposal, and Dr. J. A. Allen, Curator of Mam-
mals in the American Museum of Natural History, New York,
loaned me the series in the collection under his charge. With-
out the material furnished by Dr. Allen and Mr. True I could
not have reached satisfactory conclusions concerning the Central
American species, and I wish to express my appreciation of their
kindness.
I am also under special obligations to Mr. Oldfield Thomas,
Curator of Mammals in the British Museum, for his courtesy in
comparing specimens in our collection with type specimens in
the British Museum, thus identifying Gray's numerous names
with forms from known localities, and furnishing a safe basis for
future work.
32-Bior,. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (X45)
1 46 Nelson — New Squirrels from Mexico and Central America.
Revisers of tropical American Squirrels have hitherto worked
at great disadvantage, owing to scanty and unsatisfactory ma-
terial. The collections studied in the present connection contain
over six hundred and fifty specimens from Mexico and Central
America, besides many from the United States and South
America. The large number of topotypes in these collections,
together with my personal knowledge of the geographical features
of the area covered, have rendered it a comparatively simple
matter to disentangle the complications of synonymy that have
puzzled former workers. It was a surprise to find that while
many of the old names apply to perfectly valid species or suit-
species, a considerable number of forms remain to be described.
As it will be some time before my revision of the group can be
published, it seems advisable to describe the new species and
subspecies in this preliminary paper.
Sciurus iichmondi sp. no v. Richmond's Squirrel.
Type from Escondido River, Nicaragua. No. |ff||, ? ad., U. S. Nat.
Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected October 4, 1892, by Chas. W.
Richmond. Orig. No. 118.
Distribution.— Bluefields and Escondido River region.
Characters.— A small squirrel resembling S. sestuaiis, but hack darker
brown, lower surface richer, more reddish-fulvous; tail narrow, black,
thinly washed with dull fulvous. 1 upper premolar.
Color.— Upper parts from nose to base of tail, including upper surface
of fore and hind feet, finely grizzled bLack and dark fulvous, the fulvous
brightest and inclining to rusty on sides of neck and thighs; eyes sur-
rounded by a dull fulvous ring ; cheeks dingy grizzled-fulvous, paler than
top of head ; a small patch of dull fulvous fur behind base of ears. Under
parts varying from dingy fulvous to bright reddish -buffy, usually bright-
est on neck and breast. Anal region and base of tail all round like back ;
rest of upper surface of tail black, thinly washed with dingy fulvous;
under side of tail with a median band of grizzled black and dull rufous,
bordered by a blackish band and edged with fulvous.
measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 384; tail vertebras 181;
hind foot 53.5. Average of 5 adults: Total length 368.6; tail vertebra
178; hind foot 50.3.
Remarks.— In summer pelage the lower surface is deeper colored than
in winter, but there appears to be no other seasonal difference. Individ-
ual variation is not marked ; the intensity of the fulvous above and below
varies from a dingy to a bright reddish-burly, and there is no trace of
whitish or gray on any of the twenty specimens examined. The upper
surfaces of the feet are sometimes like the back and sometimes a little
brighter fulvous; the ears are scantily covered with short dark hairs.
New Squirrels from Mexico and Central America. 147
& richmondi has a superficial resemblance to S. deppei, but is darker and
tin- gray is replaced by fulvous or reddish-buffy.
From S. xstaans hoffmanni, to which it is most closely related, it may be
readily distinguished by the paler under surface, and especially by the
dull fulvous wash, instead of the rich bright rufous on the tail. The
general color of dorsal surface is much the same in both, and in intensity
of lower surface richmondi sometimes approaches closely to hoffmanni.
The difference between the color edging the tail appears to be constant.
So far this species is known only from the lower Escondido River, above
Bluerields, Nicaragua, but it undoubtedly has a much wider range. It is
probable that when the intermediate country between the known ranges
of S. richmondi and S. sestuans hoffmanni is worked they will be found to
intergrade, in which case <S'. richmondi will become a subspecies of S. ces-
tuans. This squirrel is named in honor of Dr. Chas. W. Richmond, As-
sistant Curator of Birds in the IT. S. National Museum, who collected the
series upon which the description is based.
Sciurus negligens sp. nov. Tampico Squirrel.
Type from Alta Mira, Tamaulipas, Mexico. No. 93028, $ ad., U. S.
Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected April 18, 1898. by E. A.
Goldman. Orig. No. 12319.
Distribution. — State of Tamaulipas, Mexico (from Tampico to Victoria).
( haracters. — Size of »S'. deppei, to which it is closely related. Above ful-
vous-olive-gray ; below white, often shading to pale buffy posteriorly.
Forelegs and shoulders gray ; tail rather full, black, washed with white
on upper surface. 1 upper premolar.
Color. — Upper parts from nose to base of tail, including upper surface
of hind feet, finely grizzled Mack and pale olivaceous-fulvous, brightest
on flanks and thighs. Sides of head and neck dingy grizzled gray and
fulvous; ears slightly rufous; an indistinct ring of pale dull fulvous
around eyes. Lower surface white, nearly pure on chin, throat and
breast, becoming grayer or shaded with buffy posteriorly. Tops of fore.
feet, forelegs and shoulders gray ; inside of legs paler gray ; a gray border
sometimes extending from forelegs back along flanks and side of hind
legs separating grizzled dorsal area from the paler lower surface. Anal
region and base of tail all round like back. Upper surface of tail black,
washed with white, the pale yellowish-brown basal color showing through ;
median band on under surface grizzled pale buffy and black, the buffy
predominating and bordered by a black band ; a thin edging of white
around border. Small patch of white and pale buffy fur behind base of
ears.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 403; tail vertebrae 195;
hind foot -V).
Sciurus alleni sp. nov. Allen's Squirrel.
Type from Monterey, Tamaulipas, Mexico. No. ffyfxi cf a(1-, U s.
Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll Collected Feb. 22, 1891, by C. F,
Streator. Orig. No. 563.
14S Nelson — New /Squirrels from Mexico and Central America,
Distribution. — Nuevo Leon and Tarnaulipas, Mexico.
Characters. — Size and general appearance much like pale specimens of
Sciurus carolinensis fuliginosus ; forelegs and tops of fore and hind feet
grayish white; tail bushy, black, washed with white above. 1 upper
premolar.
Color. — Entire upper parts, except upper surface of feet and forelegs,
finely grizzled with grayish-white, dark fulvous and black ; the fulvous
darkest on crown and rump, but differing slightly in shade on rest of
upper surface. Sides of body and thighs somewhat grayer than back ;
forelegs to body and fore and hind feet grayish- white, the hairs having
black bases and whitish tips; a small indistinct patch of fulvous some-
times present in middle of gray on upper surface of hind foot. Under
surface of body pure white. Eyes surrounded by ring of pale fulvous ;
ears like top of head except for a pale, dingy-fulvous patch behind base
in some specimens. Tail moderately bushy, washed with white on upper
surface with black and dark fulvous showing through ; below a broad
median band of dark fulvous grizzled with black and bordered on sides
by a narrow band of black ; edged externally with white.
Cranial characters. — The skull of this species is most like that of <S'. ocu-
latus, from which it differs in smaller size, slightly stouter rostrum, and
larger foramen ovale.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 466; tail vertebra; 220;
hind foot 63. Average of five adults: Total length 475; tail vertebrae
22:i. S; hind foot 62.6.
Remark*. — The little variation in the series before me appears to be
purely individual and is produced by the slightly varying intensity of the
fulvous. The series examined consists of winter and spring specimens.
Its nearest Mexican relative is S. oculatus, from which it is perfectly dis-
tinct. In size and color it is most like the form of Sciurus carolinensis,
found in northern and eastern Texas, but the grayish white feet and
absence of .second premolar serve to distinguish it at once. The absence
of tho second premolar throws it with S. arizonensis and S. oculatus, from
winch its much smaller size, the grizzled blackish-fulvous upper surface,
and grayish white feet distinguish it. The lack of a second premolar and
darker and much liner grizzled dorsal surface distinguish it sharply from
,S'. yucatanensis.
s. alleni is a well-defined species of the Arid Tropical zone and is re-
stricted to a portion of the Tamaulipan faunal district.
I take pleasure in dedicating this species to Dr. J. A. Allen, Curator of
Mammals in the American Museum of Natural History, New York.
Sciurus oculatus tolucae subsp. now Toluca Squirrel.
'/'///« from north slope of Volcano of Toluca, Mexico, Mex. No. 55927,
ad., U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Sept, 8, 1893,
by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 5419.
Distribution. — Pine and fir forests on north slope of Volcano of Toluca,
and thence north on adjacent east slope of mountains in State of Mexico
Wir Squirrels from Mexico and Central America. 14(.»
to mountains of central Queretero and Guanajuato, and perhaps reaching
the mountains of southwestern San Luis Potosi.
Characters. — A large squirrel, differing from typical S. oculalus in not
having a black dorsal area and in having tops of feet and entire lower
surface whitish or very pale fulvous. 1 upper premolar.
<'<>l<>r. — Similar to S. oculatus, but without any definite black area on
upper surface and always white or nearly white below. The dorsal sur-
face is darker than the sides, and the fulvous shade, which is barely per-
ceptible on dorsal surface of typical & oculalus, becomes distinct on crown
and middle of back. Ear patches uniformly dirty whitish. Tops of feet
vary from whitish to pale huffy : ring around eyes dingy whitish with a
huffy shade at outer border.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 565; tail vertebrae 266;
hind foot 72.
Remarks. — Typical Sciurus oculatus Peters, of which Sciurus melanonotus
Thomas is a synonym, is a common species of the pine forests in the
mountains along the eastern border of the Mexican tableland from Mt.
Orizaba, Puebla, to eastern San Luis Potosi.
Sciurus goldmani sp. nov. Goldman's Squirrel.
Type from Huehuetan, Chiapas, Mexico. No. 77903, tf ad., U. S. Nat.
Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Feb. 28, 1896, by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman, brig. No. 9435.
Distribution. — Pacific Coast lowlands of Guatemala, ranging north to
Huehuetan, Chiapas. Mexico.
Characters.— A large slender species with coarse harsh hair, resembling
S. coUiei. Upper surface dark iron-gray ; lower surface white ; ears black
rimmed, rufous-tufted, with large white patch behind base: tail long,
slender, above black washed with white. 2 upper premolars.
Color. — Winter pelage (Huehuetan) : Upper surface from nose to base of
tail, including flanks, outer side of forelegs and thighs, coarsely grizzled
black and pale fulvous gray, the fulvous sometimes becoming intensified
to a dull orange-bully. There is usually a thin black wash over dorsal
surface, which becomes decidedly heavier on some specimens, with the
pale buffy-yellow showing through. Sides of head a little paler than
back ; ears dingy grayish on inner side and edged with black ; a scanty
tuft of dark ferruginous hairs on back of ear and a large, conspicuous
patch of white behind base ; a small but distinct white spot on side of
head just below ear. Tops of toes dingy whitish : tops of feet pale iron
gray. Upper surface of tail basally like back, rest black thinly washed
with white; below grizzled black and gray, dull fulvous or orange-buffy.
Under side of body and inside of legs white. Under fur on back dark
plumbeous, on ventral surface white or pale plumbeous.
Measurements.— Type specimen: Total length 520; tail vertebrae 264;
hind foot 65. Average of 5 adults: Total length 546.8; tail vertebrae
283.8; hind foot 66.6.
&
150 Nelson — New Squirrels from Mexico and Central America.
Remarks. — In general appearance this species is very similar to S. colli 1 1,
from which it may he distinguished hy the distinct black borders and
large basal white patches of the ears; the extension of color of hack over
outside of legs and thighs and the decidedly white upper surface of feet
and toes. The under fur is darker on hack, with scarcely a trace of
lighter tips, and whiter on belly. The back and sides are the same in
goldmani but for a little heavier wash of black on middle of back. The
most intensely colored specimens are as huffy on dorsal surface as the
brightest specimens of S. colliei, but this added shade of huffy is brightest
on nape and ears in colliei and on the rump of goldmani. The ears of
colliei are uniform or differ but little in color, while in goldmani the varied
markings are strong characters.
This species is named in honor of my field assistant, Mr. E. A. Gold-
man, to whose faithful aid is due much of the success of our explorations
in Mexico.
Sciuius boothiae managuensis subsp. now Managua Squirrel.
Type from Managua River, Guatemala. No. 62476, J* ad., U. S. Nat.
Mus. Coll. Collected Feb. 12, 1895, by Mrs. C. McElroy.
Distribution. — Managua River, eastern Guatemala.
Characters. — Smaller than typical S. boothix, with coarse, harsh hairs;
blackish yellow on dorsal surface, huffy-yellow below. 2 upper premo-
lars.
Color. — Above, including top of head, outside of legs, flanks and base
of tail, grizzled black and dingy fulvous, rather grayish ; top of head and
hack washed with black, the subterminal yellowish showing through;
legs usually deeper yellowish, in marked contrast; top of feet shading
into grizzled huffy. Sides of nose, cheeks, chin, and sometimes throat,
dingy grayish with a dull fulvous shade ; rest of lower parts bright huffy-
yellow. Ears distinctly margined with black, a conspicuous patch of
buffy-yellow fur behind base and a thin tuft of rufous hairs near tip. Tail
flattened and rather narrow: above, black washed with white; below,
grizzled with grayish-fulvous along middle with a hand of black along
each side, heaviest at tip and bordered externally with white.
Measurements. — Type specimen : Total length 512.5 ; tail vertebras 250.5 ;
hind foot 57.
Remarks. — Among the four specimens examined two agree closely in
color with the type, the other, apparently immature, is much grayer
above and the color of the back extends down on the legs to the feet,
the latter being washed with huffy ; below it is dingy-buffy.
Sciuius albipes queicinus subsp. now Oak Woods Squirrel.
Type from mountains on west side of Valley of Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mex-
ico. No. 68202, V ad , U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected
Sept. 15, 1894, by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 6768,
New Squirrels front Mexico and Central America, 151
Distribution. — The pine and oak forests on mountains along western side
of Valley of Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Characters.— Size of S. albipes, but differs in having the back mizzled
yellowish-gray, and the lower surface white or sometimes pale buffy. 2
upper premolars.
Color. — Very similar to S. albipes nemoralis from mountains near Patz-
cuaro, Michoacan, but differing in paler, more yellowish-white dorsal
surface; median band on underside of tail commonly butty or reddish
fulvous, bordered with the usual black hand edged externally with white.
No melanistic phase.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 550; tail vertebrae 285 :
hind foot 70. Average of five adults: Total length 545.6; tail vertebras
274.8; land foot 69.8.
Remarks. — Some specimens are very close to S. albipes nemoralis and
have the under side of tail nearly as gray as in that form. The feet and
under parts are usually white, varying to butty or fulvous on one out of
every 4 or 5 specimens. This is not a strongly defined race, but the char-
acters given are sufficient to distinguish most specimens without difficulty,
and in view of its isolation from its nearest related form it appears worthy
of recognition.
Sciurus albipes nemoralis subsp. now Michoacan Squirrel.
Type from Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico. No. f?|||, rf ad., U. S.
Nat. Mns., Biological Survey Coll. Collected July 23, 1892, by E. YV.
Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 2905.
Distribution. — Sierra Madre, southeast of the Sierra Nevada de Colima,
Jalisco, to Volcano of Toluca, State of Mexico (Nahautzin and Patzcuaro,
Michoacan and Volcano af Toluca).
Characters. — Size of S. albipes, but differs in having back of a clearer
iron-gray ; lower surface white ; under side of tail gray or fulvous-gray.
2 upper premolars.
Color. — Top of nose and crown blackish or dark iron-gray, rest of dorsal
surface, including outside of fore and hind legs, grizzled black, gray, or
grayish white with an indistinct mixture of dingy fulvous; the fulvous
mixture darkest on nape and rump, forming poorly defined patches vary-
ing in intensity and sometimes scarcely appreciable ; outside of legs and
flanks grayer than middle of hack; feet white; ears like crown, with
conspicuous white patch behind base; eyes surrounded by dull grayish-
fulvous ring; cheeks and sides of nose grizzled gray with dingy fulvous
shade ; lower surface of body white. Base of tail, above like rump, below
grizzled gray; rest of upper surface black, heavily washed with white;
lower surface with broad median hand of grizzled gray or pale fulvous-
gray and black, bordered by a hand of black and edged externally with
white; on some specimens the lower surface of tail is washed with white.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 500; tail vertebras 295;
hind foot 70. Average of 5 adults; Total length 550.0; tail vertebras
280.6; hind foot 70.
152 Nelson — New Squirrels from Mexico and Central America.
Sciurus albipes colimensis subsp. nov. Colima Squirrel.
Type from the Hacienda Magdalena, Colima, Mexico. No. fH§|, cT
ad., U. S. Nat. Mas., Biological Survey Coll. Collected March 19, 1892,
by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 2239.
Distribution. — Arid tropical forests of Colima, ascending river valleys to
Plantinar, Jalisco. Ranging from sea level to 8000 feet.
( 'haracters. — A little smaller, slenderer, and tail narrower than S. albipes,
from which it differs in having distinct nape and rump patches ; rest of
back clearer and lighter gray; tops of feet iron-gray; under surface of
body white; under surface of tail grizzled iron-gray. 2 upper premolars.
Color. — Upper surface, including tops of fore and hind feet, excepting
nape and ramp patches, grizzled white or gray and black with a scanty
intermixture of rusty or buffy-rufous. Under fur tipped with gray or
fulvous according to color on longer hairs. Nose and fore part of crown
usually blacker than back ; ears similar to nape with patch of dingy
white behind base; eyes surrounded with dingy whitish ring; side of
nose and cheek to behind eyes gray, sometimes tinged with bnffy on
cheeks. Tops of feet vary from dark iron-gray to grayish white. Nape
and rump patches generally very distinct, and vary from dark rufous to
bright rusty-red or dark reddish-butty, and sometimes dull fulvous.
Lower surface of body white. Anal region and base of tail below like
middle of back ; top of tail at base like rump patch ; rest of upper surface
of tail black heavily washed with white; below a grizzled iron-gray
median band narrowly bordered by band of black and edged externally
with grayish white. Tail rather narrow.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 525; tail vertebrae 260;
hind foot 65. Average of 5 adults : Total length 522 ; tail vertebrae 267 ;
hind tout <>7. (>.
Sciurus albipes effugius subsp. nov. Guerrero Squirrel.
Type from mountain near Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico. No. 70288,
$ ad., U. S. Nat. Mas., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Dec. 24, 1894,
by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 7271.
Distribution. — High pine region of the Cordillera del Sur, near Chilpan-
cingo, Guerrero, Mexico.
Characters. — Size of S. albipes, from which it differs in the strongly
marked nape patch, unusually large, conspicuous patches of white behind
base of ear and rich rufous color on under side of tail. 2 upper pre-
molars.
Color. — Winter pelage: Upper surface from nose to base of tail, except-
ing nape patch and tops of fore and hind feet, grizzled grayish white,
black, and rufous, the latter color usually obscured by the overlying
grayish. Top of head and nape occupied by a well-marked patch of dark
rufous, almost chestnut, washed with black; nape patch shading into a
duller colored area extending below eyes on sides of head and neck and
surrounding ears; rump patch absent or reduced to small area at base of
New Squirrels from Mexico and Central America. 153
tail, same color as nape. Ears grizzled grayish or dull rusty rufous on
inner side: behind rufous or rusty gray anteriorly, posteriorly covered
with long white fur, forming part of the conspicuous white patch behind
base. Eyes surrounded by rings of fulvous and whitish; sides of nose
and lower part of cheeks gray, varying in intensity. Tops of fore and
hind feet white, shading through gray on legs to color of body. Anal
region and base of tail all round like adjacent part of rump. Upper sur-
face of tail black, washed with white, the bright rufous basal color some-
times showing through : below a median band of deep, rich rufous with
scarcely a trace of dark grizzling, but bordered on each side by narrow
hand of black, edged with white. Chin white; sides of throat some-
times shaded with same ; anal region gray ; rest of lower parts deep rich
rufous, very uniform in the series before me.
Measurements. —Type specimen: Total length 502; tail vertebrae 247:
hind foot 68. Average of 5 adults : Total length 496.8 ; tail vertebrae 249 ;
hind foot 68.
Remarks. — An old female in worn fur taken with the other specimens
the last of December may represent the summer pelage. The rump patch
is as conspicuous as the nape patch and agrees with it in color. The tops
of fore and hind feet are dark gray : inside of legs dingy whitish shading
into the dull whitish-rufous that covers throat, breast, and abdomen ex-
cept ring of white around mammae; chin white. The lower surface of
tail is darker rufous than body and distinctly grizzled with black. Top
of nose and area between nape and rump patches grizzled gray, black,
and rusty rufous, the gray most conspicuous.
Among five adult winter specimens in the perfect pelage described
above one is darker than the others on dorsal surface, owing to an increase
in amount of black on tips of hairs. Another specimen has the rufous of
under surface extending up on sides behind fore legs and uniting with a
backward extension of the nuchal patch much like S. aureogaster. The
rest of dorsal surface is less heavily grizzled with gray than usual and
rusty-red predominates, so that the prevailing shade is dull rusty-red
thinly grizzled with grayish white. The white on tops of feet is washed
with reddish. Two half-grown young taken the last of December are in
the same pelage as the adults, agreeing with the average adults except in
having only the toes white and rest of feet gray. The nearest ally of this
subspecies appears to be typical & albipes. The white ear patches are
more conspicuous than in any Mexican squirrel known to me.
Sciuius nelaoni hirtus subsp. nov. Popocatepetl Squirrel.
Type from Tochimilco, Puebla, Mexico. No. 55325, rj ad., U. S. Nat.
Mus, Biological Survey Coll. Collected Aug. 7, 1893, by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Coldman. Orig. No. 5295.
Distribittion.— Volcanoes of Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl, in States of
Mexico and Puebla, Mexico.
Characters.— Size of S. nelsoni, but distinguished by distinct patches of
dingy fulvous on nape and rump ; by iron-gray color on middle of back
:::;— Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XII, 1898
154 Nelson — New Squirrels from Mexico and Central America.
and dingy rufous on under side of body. Ears and feet dark iron-gray.
2 upper premolars.
Color.— Dorsal surface from nose to base of tail, including tops of fore
and bind feet, excepting nape and rump patches, finely grizzled with
black and gray, the latter obscurely mixed with dull fulvous; gray of
crown, nape, and rump mostly replaced by fulvous, thus producing dis-
tinct patches of dull dingy fulvous grizzled with black. Ears like nuchal
area, with distinct patch of white fur behind base; chin dingy gray.
Lower surface, including inside of forelegs and thighs, dark dingy rufous.
Upper surface of tail black heavily washed with white; median band on
lower surface varying from grizzled black and pale fulvous gray to black
and rich bufty-fulvous ; with a heavy band of black on each side edged
externally with white. The tail has a remarkably broad full brush.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 498; tail vertebrae 243;
hind foot 67. Average of five adults : Total length 514.2 ; tail vertebra?
256.8; hind foot 68.
Sciurus auieogastei frumentor subsp. nov. Perote Squirrel.
Type from Las Vigas, Vera Cruz, Mexico. No 54259, tf ad., U. S. Nat.
Mns., Biological Survey Coll. Collected June 18, 1893, by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman. Orig. No. 5073.
Distribution.— East slope of Cofre de Perote, Vera Cruz, Mexico, from
near Las Vigas (7500 ft.) to Jico and Jalapa (4400 ft.).
Characters. — Size of S. aureogaster, from which typical specimens differ
in having very distinct rufous patches on nape and rump, and grizzled
gray lower surface. 2 upper premolars-
Color.— Summer pelage (Las Vigas) : Top of nose and fore part of crown
grizzled black and gray, sometimes slightly mixed with fulvous; nape
and rump patches large and conspicuous, varying from dark orange-buff'y
to dark ferruginous; rest of back and sides, including tops of feet and
legs, grizzled black and gray, or black, gray, and orange-buffy, the gray
overlying the other colors. Tops of feet darker than back and usually
blackish, thinly grizzled with gray. Ears generally like nape patch, but
often grizzled with gray and sometimes with a whitish tuft behind base ;
narrow ring of dingy huffy round eye. Side of head between eye and
ear, up to border of nape patch in front of ear, dark, dingy orange-bufly.
Lower surface dingy grizzled black and gray nearly as on back, but paler
on chin, lower cheeks, throat, and breast. Base of tail all round like
rump. Upper surface of tail black, washed with white ; below with a
dark rufous median band broadly bordered on each side by black and
edged externally with white.
Measurements.— Type specimen: Total length 500; tail vertebras 253;
hind foot 69. Average of 5 adults: Total length 504.6; tail vertebras
249.8; bind foot liS.6.
Remarks. — Winter pelage : Two specimens taken in April at Jalapa are
in winter pelage and differ from the large series of summer skins taken
at Las Vigas and Jico in the greater amount of gray on the dorsal surface.
New Squirrels from Mexico and Central America. 155
This overlies and obscures the nape and rump patches ; the feet also are
grayer. The under surface varies from grizzled gray to gray washed with
dull rufous, and in two summer specimens from Las Vigas is dingy fer-
ruginous In the series of 25 specimens from Jico and Jalapa only two are
distinctly gray below and three are dingy reddish, washed with grayish.
All of the others are intense ferruginous, which in some specimens ex-
tends up on sides, behind the forelegs, almost as in true aureogaster. The
nape and rump patches, while averaging less uniformly distinct than in
Las Vigas specimens, are almost invariably strongly marked and separate
these specimens from true aureogaster. There is a tendency for the gray
to extend over the nape and rump and so obscure these patches. The
base and upper part of the tail is as in Las Vigas specimens ; below the
black lateral bands are broader and often reduce the rufous central stripe
to a narrow streak on basal half. The rufous on tail is deeper than in
Las Vigas specimens, varying from deep orange rufous to ferruginous.
These specimens are intergrades between frumentor and true aureogaster,
but the presence of distinct rump patches places them nearest frumentor.
No melanistic phase is known.
Sciurus socialis cocos subsp. now Acapulco Squirrel.
Type from Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. No. 70644, J1 ad. , U. S. Nat.
Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected Jan. 11, 1895, by E. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman. Oris. No. 7360.
Distribution. — Pacific Coast district of Guerrero and adjacent part of
Oaxaca (from Acapulco to Jamil tepee), Mexico.
Characters. — Distinguished from all Mexican squirrels by the sharp con-
trast between the bright rufous patches on nape and rump and the un-
usually pale or whitish color on rest of dorsal surface. 2 upper premolars.
Color. — Upper parts from nose to base of tail, except feet and patches
on nape and rump, grizzled grayish-white, sometimes with slight mixture
of rufous ; darkest on nose and fore part of crown ; on back and flanks,
between the nape and rump patches, often almost white, contrasting
strikingly with sharply defined patches on nape and rump, which vary
from dark almost chestnut-rufous to deep orange-buffy, washed lightly
with black. Eyes surrounded by dull fulvous ring in the middle of a
fulvous or reddish-brown area which extends back on sides of head to
ears and joins rufous nuchal patch on crown just in front of ears. Ears
like nuchal patch, with a small patch of rufous or buffy fur behind base.
Sides of nose and lower parts of cheeks grayish-white, this color often
extending up to lower border of ears and back along sides of neck. Tops
of feet white or pale grayish-white ; chin white ; rest of lower parts vary-
ing from white to pale creamy-bufly or rich buffy-rufous. Base of tail
above like rump patch ; below with anal region like middle of back ; rest
of tail on upper surface black, heavily washed with white with the rufous
or orange-red under color showing through ; below the median band
varies from deep rufous to orange-rufous with a narrow black border
edged externally and often more or less overlaid with white ; sometimes
156 Nelson- — New Squirrels from Mexico and Central America.
heavily washed with white below and above. The amount of white on
tail agrees with purity of white on dorsal surface.
Measurements. — Type specimen: Total length 506; tail vertebra? 261 ;
hind foot 67. Average of 5 adults: Total length, 515.4; tail vertebrae
2(13.2; hind foot, 67.
Remarks.— The most common or typical forms of this extremely vari-
able squirrel are described above. They are notable among all of the
species and races of the group having nape and rami) patches for the
sharp contrast between the rich dark color of these patches and the
whitish or whitish-gray color on rest of upper surface which brings them
out in sharp relief.
Vol. XII, pp. 157-160 August 10. 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
ON SOME BIRDS FROM PUEBLO VIEJO, COLOMBIA.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
Mr. W. W. Brown, Jr., has just sent to the Bangs collection
the results of about two weeks' collecting at the village of Pueblo
Viejo, in the high Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.
The number of birds obtained was rather small, as his time was
principally occupied in collecting mammals, which were found
in much greater numbers than at the lower altitudes previously
worked. All the birds here recorded, with the exception of one
Hemiprocne zonaris, were taken at Pueblo Viejo, at about 8000
feet altitude, in the latter part of March, 1898.
I am deeply indebted to Dr. Chas. W. Richmond, of the
United States National Museum, for his great kindness in look-
ing over the birds and comparing them with skins in the Na-
tional Museum collection. Indeed, without his valuable assist-
ance I should have been unable to identify many of the species.
(Note. — All measurements are in millimeters.)
Porzana albigularis (Lawr.).
One adult, unsexed, taken Mar. 28, 1898.
Geotrygon linearis (Pre v. & Knip).
One adult male, Mar. 28, 1898.
Syrnium virgatum Cassin.
One female, just emerging from immature plumage, Mar. 21, 1898.
Ramphastos brevicarinatus Gould.
( )ne specimen.
:i4— Bioi,. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (157)
158 Bangs — Birds from I'm bio Viejo, Colombia.
Aulacorhamphus calorhynchus Gould.
Four males. All have larger bills than the one female I refolded in
my last paper* from Santa Marta, the type locality of the species. The
difference is doubtless sexual.
Anthocephala floriceps (Gould).
One fine adult male, taken Mar. 20, 1898, is, so far as I know, the only
specimen of this extremely rare hummer in this country.
Hemiprocne zonaris (Shaw).
One adult male, taken at Santa Marta, Colombia, Feb. 18, 1898. Not
quite typical. Wing, 193; tail, 72; length (skin), 198; about the size of
H. zonaris albicincta (Cab.), but the white collar is wider instead of nar-
rower on the upper side.
Mionectes olivaceus Lawr.
Two males, taken Mar. 20, 1898.
Elaenia browni so. nov.
Type (and only specimen), from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia. No. 5573,
r? adult, coll. of E. A. and O. Bangs. Collected Mar. 23, 1898, by W. W.
Brown, Jr. Altitude 8000 ft.
Specific characters. — Nearest E. mesoleuca Cab. & Heine, of Brazil, but
smaller; olive green of upper parts browner (darker); axillaries, under
wing-coverts, sides of body, and under tail-coverts less yellow; throat
pale yellowish green, instead of grayish white.
Size. — rj adult: wing, 72.2; tail, G4.4; exposed culmen, 10.
Myiodynastes chiysocephalus (Tschudi).
One female, March 21, 1898.
Myiobius nasvius (Bodd.).
One male, Mar. 21, 1898. The crest is red.
Myiarchus nigriceps Scl.
Two specimens, male and female.
Tityra semifasciata (Spiz).
Two specimens, male and female.
Automolus rufipectus sp. nov.
Type (and only specimen), from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia. No. 5580,
cf adult, coll. of E. A. and O. Pangs. Collected Mar. 21, 1898, by W. W.
Brown, Jr. Altitude 8000 feet.
*Proc. Biol. Sue. Wash., XII, p. 134, June 3, 1898.
Birds from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia. 159
Specific characters. — Back and top of head dark olive-brown ; forehead
ami auriculars chestnut-rufous; wings rufous, darker on outer webs,
brighter on inner ; ends of primaries dusk}' ; upper and under tail-coverts
and tail chestnut-rufous ; throat buff; chest rufous, this color forming a
conspicuous band and extending along neck to auriculars ; center of belly
tawny-olive shading to raw umber on sides and flanks.
Size. — rf adult: wing, 83.2; tail, 77; exposed cul men, 23.
Remarks. — A. rufipectus is apparently very different from any of the de-
scribed species, its rufous chest being distinctive.
Conopophaga sp. ?
One female, which cannot be properly identified at present. It lias no
white tufts on sides of head.
Cassidix oiyzivora (Gmelin).
Two males.
Buarremon basilicus sp. nov.
Type (and only specimen), from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia. No. 5598,
cf adult, coll. of E. A. and 0. Bangs. Collected Mar. 21, 1898, by W. W.
Brown, Jr. Altitude 8000 ft,
Specific characters. — Nearly related to B. torquatus (d'Orb. £ Lafr.) from
Bolivia, but differing from that species in gray instead of white super-
ciliary stripe; in reddisb olive instead of olive green back, rump, wing-
coverts, edges of tail, wing feathers, tail-coverts and sides of body; in
pale fawn-color instead of white breast and center of belly ; in wider
1 ilack band across chest ; and in larger bill.
Size. — cf adult: wing, 81.2; tail, 78.8; exposed culmen, 17.4.
Remarks. — This new species is probably nearly related to B. poliophri/s
(Berl. and Stolz.), which has the same slate-gray superciliary stripe. B.
poliophrys is said to be otherwise like B. torquatus, while the Pueblo Viejo
bird has a larger bill and many differences in color.
Sporophila sp. ?
( me female. The species cannot be determined by this skin, which is
not in distinctive plumage.
Calospiza desmaresti (Gray).
Two males.
Calospiza cyanoptera (Swains.).
Two males of the bird which I recorded in my last paper * as ' Calospiza
sp. ? ' on the basis of a female specimen.
Ramphocelus dimidiatus Lafr.
Eight specimens, including males and females.
* Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XII, p. 141, June 3, 1898.
L60 Bangs — Birds from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia.
Tachyphonus rufus (Bodd.).
Four specimens, a male and three females.
Helminthophila chrysoptera (Linn.).
One adult female, Mar. 20, 1898, winter resident.
Basileuteius cinereicollis Sol.
One male.
Thryothorus laetus sp. nov.
Type (and only specimen), from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia. No. 5601, $,
coll. of E. A. and O. Bangs. Collected Mar. 19, 1898, by W. VV. Brown,
Jr. Altitude 8000 ft.
Specific characters. — Resembling in general style of coloration T. rutilus
Vieillot, but feathers of russet chest and white breast and upper abdomen
marked with black subtenninally, giving a mottled appearance to the
under parts.
Size. — rj\ wing, 59.6; tail, 49.4; exposed culmen, 17.
Remarks. — At first glance the type and only specimen of T. laetus gives
one the impression of a spotted young, but a closer examination shows
that this is not so. The feet and bill are those of an adult and the plu-
mage shows no signs of immaturity.
Henicoihina leucophrys (Tschudi).
One adult male.
Catharus aurantiirostris (Haiti.).
One adult male.
Merula phasopyga (Cabanis).
Two males. These are not exactly the same as a specimen from British
Guiana (presumably taken near the type locality) in the National Museum
collection. Neither can they be referred to M. phseopyga spodiolaema
(Berk and Stolz.) of central Peru, or to M. phseopyga salurata (Berl.) of
Bogota. It is very likely that they represent still another subspecies of
this wide-ranging and variable thrush.
Vol. XII, pp. 161-165 August 10, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OK THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW MAMMALS FROM THE
SIERRA NEVADA DE SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
In the fine material already sent to the Bangs collection by
\V. W. Brown, Jr., from the Santa Marta region of Colombia are
apparently five new mammals. The collections contain many
other species, including wide-ranging tropical-forest forms, and
other species the exact identity of which I have not yet deter-
mined. The present paper contains merely preliminary de-
scriptions of some of the new forms, but I hope to be able later
on to give a full account of all the mammals Mr. Brown secures
in this region.
Mr. Old field Thomas has kindly compared some of the small
rodents with the types in the British Museum from Bogota, Co-
lombia, and Merida, Venezuela. He finds that the Santa Marta
animals have closer affinity with those from Merida than with
those from Bogota.
Philander cicur sp. now
Type from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia, altitude 8000 ft, No. SI 14, $ adult,
coll. of E. A. and 0. Bangs. Collected March 27, 1 898, 1 >y W. W. Brown, Jr.
General characters. — Size large ; tail longer than head and body, hairy
above for about half of its length, below for about one-fourth its length ;
no gray stripe on back ; upper surface of arms deep hazel.
Color and Pelage. — Fur long, dense and soft ; hairs of upper parts rich
brown, between hazel and russet, at tips, mouse gray at base, the gray
color showing through in places, especially about shoulders and along
lower sides; no gray mark or stripe on buck ; face dark gray ; a narrow
dark brown stripe from nose to between ears, where it merges into brown
of occiput ; a dark brown circle around eye ; base of whiskers dusky ;
whiskers black; under parts yellowish white, purest on belly and along
median line, grayer on sides and under surface of neck ; arms bright
hazel above, yellowish white below ; legs hazel near feet, gray near body ;
35— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (161)
K)2 Bangs — New Mammals from Santa Maria, Colombia.
feet and hands pale brown, in dried skin ; ears hairy at base outside,
naked inside and for rather more than half their length outside ; a gray
mark across base of ear, rest of hairs brown ; tail naked above for about
half its length, below for about three-fourths its length ; hairy portion of
tail brown, like back, but the hairs unicolor throughout their entire
length; naked portion, in dried skin, yellow, with some irregular black
spots, all near where the hair ends; " testicles glaucous blue." *
Measurements.
r-
b
6D
+j
o ,
Locality.
G
■U
4-3
s
o
a
k 2
6
02
+3
o
C3
H
8114
Pueblo Viejo, Colombia. . .
9 ad.
580
335
36
33
8115
(I a ii
C? ad.
580
325
37
30
8116
it i < it
d* yg- ad.
510
280
35
31
8036
Near Santa Marta, Colom-
bia, 4000 ft.
cfad.
610
370
40
32
Skull, type, ? adult : basal length, 49; zygomatic width, 30.8 ; mastoid
width, 20.2; interorbital width, 9.8; width across postorbital processes,
15 ; length of nasals, 21.6 ; greatest length of single half of mandible, 39.2.
Remark*.— This handsome Philander is represented by four examples,
three taken at Pueblo Viejo at an elevation of 8000 ft. and one taken on
top of a small mountain near Santa Marta at 4000 ft. The Santa Marta
skin has a much longer tail and larger hind foot than any of the others,
but otherwise they are all four very similar. P. cicur is apparently
nearest to P. derbianus, but differs from that species in having rich brown
instead of white upper sides to arms and in lacking the gray dorsal stripe.
Another species that may be somewhat closely related is the P. ornatus
Tschudi of Peru, but this also has the gray dorsal stripe, which is wholly
absent in P. cicur.
Marmosa mitis sp. nov.
Type from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia,. 8000 ft. No. 8123, tf adult, coll. of
E. A. and O. Bangs. Collected Mar. 25, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr.
General characters. — Nearest to M. murina, but slightly smaller; color
above less ferruginous, and much paler, especially on middle of face ;
skull slightly different.
Color and Pelage. — Pelage short, dense, soft ; upper parts varying from
dull tawny-olive to pale bistre, darkest along dorsal line and shading on
sides of neck and lower sides to cinnamon-buff; under fur slaty ; middle
of face between black eye-spots much paler — wood brown ; under parts,
chin, neck, inside of arms, chest and belly yellowish white, in some spec-
imens somewhat suffused with huffy, the hairs one color to their base;
lower sides more strongly huffy, the hairs slate color at base ; feet and
*Note made by Mr. Brown from fresh specimens.
New Mammals from Santa Martd, Colombia.
103
hands • liil 1 white : tail indistinctly bicolor, brownish dusky above, grayer
below, clothed with very short appressed hairs.
Cranial characters. — The skull as compared with that <>f M. murina dif-
fers in greater postorbital constriction and higher, heavier rostrum. The
nasals are broad and heavy, slightly arched, and the maxillaries some-
what swollen laterally.
Measurements. — The type, rj1 adult: total length, 325; tail vertebrae,
175; hind foot, 22 ; ear from notch, 24. An old adult $ topotype, No.
8139, total length, 325 ; tail vertebrae, 185 ; hind foot, 21 ; ear from notch,
24. Average often adults, rj and 9, topotypes, total length, 321.7;
tail vertebrae, 176; hind foot, 21.6; ear from notch, 24.3.
Skull, the type, rf adult : basal length, 36.2 ; occipitonasal length, 39.4 ;
zygomatic width, 20.6; mastoid width, 14; width between orbits, 6.2 ;
length of nasals, 18.6; width of nasals, 5.2; greatest length of single half
of mandible, 29.
Rt murk*. — Mr. Brown took twenty-seven examples of M. mitis at Pueblo
Viejo at 8000 feet altitude, but did not secure any at lower elevations.
M. mitis is probably nearest to M. murine, but differs in slightly smaller
size, in color, and in cranial characters. M. fuscata Thomas, of Merida,
Venezuela, is perhaps also somewhat closely related. It differs in having
the haiis of the under parts slaty at base and in its smaller size and dif-
ferent cranial proportions.
Dasyprocta colombiana sp. now
Type from Santa Marta, Colombia. No. 800S, $ young adult, coll. of
E. A. and O. Bangs. Collected Jan. 6, 1898, by VV. W. Brown, Jr.
General characters. —Size medium ; general color dark ; hairs on back of
head and neck slightly elongated, but not forming decided crest; hairs
of rump black with white tips.
Color and Pelage. — Hairs stiff and coarse; back, shoulders, and head,
black, each hair with an ochraceous band near tip, this hand shorter on
hairs of center of back and longer on those of sides; elongate hairs of
rump black with white tips ; under parts, center of belly, median line, and
throat whitish ; under side of neck and lower sides, hairs annulated like
those of back, hut the yellow bands rather paler ; legs and arms, feet and
hands black, slightly lined with yellow; ears sparsely haired, rather more
hairy at base than at tip, the hairs ochraceous.
Measurements.
—
o .
Locality.
03
o
—
<«£
,. t
. o
c3
^- 1—
y.
ci
o
•
0)
CD
O
K
W
8008
Colombia, Santa Marta . .
9 yg. ad.
500
25
126
40
8113
Colombia, Pueblo Viejo . .
cfyfr
470
30
115
36
L64 Bangs — New Mammals from Santa Marta, Colombia.
.Skull, tin- type, $ young adult: basal length, 189.4 ; zygomatic width,
4!). 4 ; mastoid width, 36; width between orbits, 28.6 ; width across post-
orbital processes, 38.6; length of nasals, 42.4; greatest length of single
half of mandible, 58.2.
Remarks. — Mr. Brown has thus far sent two specimens of this agouti,
one, the type, a female, taken at Santa Marta, probably full grown, though
not quite adult, has the last molar on both upper and under jaw just com-
ing into place. The other is a younger male taken at Pueblo Viejo at
8000 feet. Both agree perfectly in coloration.
D. colombiana appears, so far as I can judge by descriptions, to be very
different in color from any of the neighboring species, the peculiar color-
ing of the rump being distinctive. Unfortunately, through lack of ma-
terial, I can say nothing of its cranial characters at present.
Oryzomys flavicans illectus subsp. nov.
Type from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia, altitude S000 ft. No. 8101, rf adult,
coll. of E. A. and 0. Bangs. Collected March 24, 189S, by W. W.
brown, Jr.
Gem ml characters. — Similar in size, proportions and cranial characters
to O. flavicans Thomas, of Merida, Venezuela; differs in color of under
parts, which are a beautiful rich orange-buff to base of hairs — the under
parts of true flavicans being whitish.
Color. — Upper parts, bright yellowish brown, about tawny -ochraceous,
a scattering of dark brown hairs along back and on top of head ; lower
sides and under parts orange-buff; usually a small white spot oil throat;
hairs of upper parts and sides slate gray at base, those of belly, chest and
throat unicolor for their whole length ; feet and hands buff.
Measurements. — The type, cf adult : total length, 202 ; tail vertebrae, 160 ■
hind foot, 25 ; ear from notch, 17. Average of five adult topotypes, <^s
and 9s : total length, 279.4 ; tail vertebrae, 146.8 ; hind foot, 26 ; ear from
notch, 17.2.
Tayassu torvus sp. nov.
Type from Santa Marta, Colombia. No. 8038, rf adult, coll. of E. A.
and O. Bangs. Collected Jan. 26, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr.
General characU rs. — Size smaller than either T. tajacu of southern Brazil
or T. angulatus of Texas. Color and external characters as in those two
species. Skull smaller and otherwise different.
Cranial and dental characters. — Skull low, short and wide ; nasals short,
taken together, evenly rounded and rather flat ; malar crest continued
forward to canine alveolus. Molar teeth not wrinkled ; molars and pre-
molars all very large ; two small upper premolars molariform, quadrate
and quadritubercular ; the small anterior lower premolar with the for-
ward large tubercule divided into two, like next premolar. In T. tajacu
this tooth has the forward large tubercule plain and single, differing in
this from the next premolar.
The skull of T. torvus can be distinguished from that of T. tajacu in the
extension of the malar crest forward to canine alveolus; in much larger
New Mammalsfrom Santo Maria, Colombia. 165
molars and premolars ; in the two smaller upper premolars being distinctly
quad ri tubercular and quadrate ; in the form of the small anterior lower
premolar. From T. angiilatus it can be distinguished by nasals not being
angulated in the middle line and molars not being wrinkled. From both
T. angulatus and T. tajacu it differs by being shorter, lower, and wider,
and by the larger molar and premolar teeth.
Measurements. — The type, $ adult: head and body, 1075; hind foot,'
170; ear from notch, 75.
Skull : basal length, 186 : zygomatic width, 95. 4 ; width between orbits,
50; width across postorbital processes, 71.4; width of palate at forward
alveoli of last molars, 23; greatest length of single half mandible, 156;
length of molar series (molars and premolars, alveoli) — upper, 67.8;
under, 74.
Remarks. — Mr. Brown has thus far sent but one specimen, the type, a
tine old male skin and skull. This specimen is, however, so different
from either T. tajacu of southern Brazil or T. angulatus of Texas that I
feel justified in separating it. Whether it is a species or only a race of
T. tajacu can, of course, not be told without much more material than is
now available.
When Prof. Cope named the Texan peccary angulatus* he irrevocably
restricted the Lin mean name tajacu to the peccary of southern Brazil.
Through the kindness of Mr. Witmer Stone, I have been able to com-
pare my Santa Marta skull with two of Prof. Cope's original southern
Brazil skulls that had come into the collection of the Academy of Natural
Sciences.
*Am. Nat, Feb., L889, pp. 146-147.
Vol. XII. pp. 167-168
August 10, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
V
$fc
\ca
:$>
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
A NEW RACE OF THE LITTLE HARVEST MOUSE
FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
Within the last year Mr. Thaddeus Surber has fount! that the
Little Harvest Mouse is comparatively common in the country
about White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. He has sent me five
specimens and has taken several more that are in his own pri-
vate collection. The one specimen taken at Fort Myer, Va., by
L. Z. M earns* is the only other record I know for this mouse
from so far north in the eastern United States On comparing
these West Virginia specimens with true Reithr odontomas lecontii
from Georgia and northern Florida some differences in color,
proportions, and cranium can be seen, and I propose to separate
the northern form as follows :
Reithrodontomys lecontii impiger subsp. now
Type from White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. No. 7784, tf old adult
(with much worn teeth), coll. of E. A. and 0. Bangs. Collected Feb. 27,
1898, by Thaddeus Surber. Original No. 466.
General characters. — Size a little smaller than true R. lecontii; tail
slightly shorter ; ear much smaller; pelage longer and softer; colors of
back richer brown, sides paler, the contrast in color between sides and
back more marked; skull smaller, more slender and lighter throughout;
molar teeth rather larger.
Color. — Adult in winter pelage, upper parts dark russet brown, rather
darker along middle of back and on rump, sides much paler, almost
ochraceous buff on lower sides; under parts grayish white, irregularly
washed, in some specimens, with fawn color; feet and hands grayish
* Recorded in Am. Nat., XXXI, p. 161, Feb., 1897.
36— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 ( 1 c.7 )
168 Bangs — Little Harvest Mouse from West Virginia.
white; ears dusky, with some reddish brown hairs on both inner and
outer surfaces; tail indistinctly bicolor, dusky above, grayish white be-
low, rather more hairy than in true R. lecontii; under fur plumbeous
throughout except on chin and under side of head, where the hairs are
whitish to their base.
Measurements.
xi
To 'a
ac
+3
'"rU
Sex.
+3
o
r* tc
0>
° !?-,
r-~
>
T3
-*->
>-c rr-
o
o
si
•r—<
cS H.
ft
H
H
X
H
7784
Tvpe, J1 adult
112
51
15
9
6932
Topotype, (J1 adult
115
51
15
9
7785
9 adult
120
53
15
8.5
Remarks. — Specimens from Raleigh, N. C. , of which there are many in
collections, taken by the Brimley brothers, appear to be intermediates,
though nearer true R. lecontii. In R. lecontii impiger the ear is much
smaller than in all specimens I have examined from Georgia and north-
ern Florida. For instance, an adult V R- lecontii lecontii taken by W. W.
Brown, Jr., at Pinetueky, Ga. , measures : Total length, 136 ; tail vertebrae,
62 ; hind foot, 16; ear from notch, 12 (in dried skin 11.5). Judged by
the skulls, this specimen is younger than the type of R. lecontii impiger'
These differences in size and proportions, combined with the differences
in color and the smaller and more delicate skull of impiger, serve to dis-
tinguish all specimens 1 have examined from extreme localities.
Vol. XII, pp. 169-170 August 10, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW WEASEL FROM THE
QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS, B. C.
BY EDWARD A. PREBLE.
Last spring I received through the kindness of Rev. J. H.
Keen, of Massett, Queen Charlotte Islands, a fine adult weasel
in alcohol. As it had not been long immersed, I skinned it at
once in order to preserve its color, and presented the speci-
men to the Biological Survey Collection in the U. S. National
Museum. The skin is in late winter pelage, the dark fur of the
summer coat just beginning to appear on the head and hack.
I was not surprised, considering the isolated habitat, to find
that this weasel belonged to an undescribed species, which may
be characterized as follows :
Putorius haidarum * sp. now
Type from Massett, Queen Charlotte Islands, B. C. Skin and skull
No. 94430, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Coll. Collected March 17,
1898, by Rev. J. H. Keen.
Geographical distribution. — Known only from the type locality.
General characters. — Similar in general characters to Putorius kadiacensis
from Kadiak Island, Alaska, hut differing in smaller size, in the increased
amount of black on tail, and in cranial characters; also apparently differ-
ing greatly in color of the summer pelage.
Color at type.— White, slightly tinged posteriorly and beneath with saf-
fron yellow. Terminal portion of tail, comprising about 60 per cent, of
the entire length, black. Small spots of summer fur just appearing on
face, top of head, and back, blackish-brown.
Crauial characters. — The skull is about the size of Putorius cicognani, but
* Dedicated to the Haidas, the resident tribe of Indians.
-Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol XII, 18!i8 (169)
170 Preble — A New Weasel from Queen Charlotte Islands.
requires no comparison with that specie?, being much more stoutly built
and angular. Compared with Putorius kadiacensis, which is undoubtedly
its nearest relative, the skull of the present species is considerably smaller,
with flatter braincase, mandible more deflected, post- palatal notch much
smaller, relatively and absolutely. Zygomata very slender throughout,
post-molar production of palate longer and narrower, and post-glenoid
space longer and more swollen. Bulla? smaller and flatter. Teeth through-
out much smaller than in P. kadiacensis.
Remarks. — By a fortunate coincidence the type of the present species
and the type of P. kadiacensis, with which it requires comparison, agree
exactly in condition of pelage. Both are also adult males of almost pre-
cisely the same age, a circumstance which makes the comparison sim-
ple and satisfactory. The fur of P. haidarurn is finer than that of P.
kadiacensis. In the latter species the summer fur just appearing is light-
brownish in color, thus contrasting quite strongly with the blackish
brown of the corresponding portions of P. haidarurn. The terminal por-
tion of the tail of P. kadiacensis is considerably suffused with brownish,
while in /'. haidarurn- it is pure black. The type of P. kadiacensis meas-
ured in the flesh: Total length, 318; tail vertebrae, 86; hind foot, 44;
pencil of tail, 40. P. haidarurn measured in flesh: Total length, 275 ;
tail vertebra', 60; hind foot, 37; pencil of tail, 40. The black portion of
the tail measured about 60 mm. in each case, thus comprising about 60
per cent, of the entire length of tlie tail in P. Imidarum and about 50 per
cent, in P. kadiacensis.
The type skull of P. haidarurn measured as follows: Basal length, 38;
zygomatic breadth, 22.5; mastoid breadth, 11); breadth across post-
orbital processes, 13; interorbital breadth, 10.5; foramen magnum to
posterior plane of molars, 25; palatal length, 15.5; post-palatal length,
20.5.
Unfortunately this skull was infested with parasites, and therefore the
measurement of the breadth across post-orbital processes may not be ex-
actly correct.
Vol. XII, pp. 171-182 October 31, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
ON SOME BIRDS FROM THE SIERRA NEVADA DE
SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
Mr. W. W. Brown, Jr., has recently sent a third lot of birds,
including about three hundred skins, to the Bangs collection.
These specimens were collected during Ma)' and June, 1898, at
the following localities in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta,
Colombia: Palomina, altitude 5000 feet; San Francisco, 6000
feet; San Miguel, 7500 feet; and Macotama, 8000 feet. Many
of the birds are in worn breeding plumage, and some of the
species are also represented by young in first plumage. Again
I am in debted to Mr. R. Ridgway and Dr. C. W. Richmond for
aid in determining many species.
(Note.— All measurements are in millimeters. Colors, when definite
names are used, are according to Ridgway 's Nomenclature of Colors.)
Neocrex colombianus sp. nov.
Type (and only specimen), from Palomina, Colombia, No. 5700, 9 adult,
coll. of E. A. and O. Bangs. Collected May 22, 1898, by W. W. Brown,
Jr. Altitude, 5000 feet.
Specific characters.— This species resembles in a general way the only
other member of the genus — N. erythrops Scl. of Lima, Peru, but differs
much in details of coloration and markings— lower abdomen white in-
stead of dusky brown ; lower flanks and under tail-coverts, uribam d, pale,
cinnamon instead of blackish ; under wing-coverts white, some of the
feathers faintly streaked with dusky, instead of " dusky brown narrowly
barred with white."
Color. — Adult 9> back, rump, upper tail-coverts and wings (except, pri-
maries) bistre; primaries hair brown, narrowly edged with bistre; tail
bistre, the center and base of the feathers shading towards hair brown ;
38-Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (171)
172 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia.
pileum brownish slate, some of the feathers tipped with dark bistre ;
throat white ; sides of head, sides of neck, jugulum, breast and abdomen
slate gray ; center of belly pure white; flanks and under tail-coverts pale
cinnamon, without a trace of any barring whatever ; bend of wing and
under wing-coverts white, a few of the feathers slightly streaked or spotted
with very pale and indistinct markings of hair brown ; axillars pale bistre ;
' tarsus red ; base of bill red, tip green.' *
Size.— $ adult: Length, skin, 148 ; t wing, 93.2 ; tail, 29 ; exposed cul-
men (approximately, a shot having broken base of upper mandible),
18.8; tarsus, 30.
Remarks. — I have had no specimens of N. erythrops for comparison ; but
Sclater's original diagnosis, as well as Sharpe's description of an adult
female, in the British Museum, J indicate a bird so different from mine
as to leave no doubt of the specific distinctness of the two.
Porzana albigularis (Lawr. ).
Two adult males from Palomina, May.
Columba albilinea Bp.
One adult female from Palomina.
Falco sparverius Linn.
Two adults, male from Palomina, June 22 ; female from San Miguel,
June 14.
Conurus wagleii Gray.
Seventeen adults, males and females, from Palomina and San Miguel.
Pionus sordidus (Linn.).
One adult male from San Miguel, June 17, 1898.
Crotophaga ani Linn.
One female from Palomina.
Aulacorhamphus calorhynchus Gould.
Two adult males from Palomina. In my two former papers on the
birds collected by Mr. Brown I wrongly gave the type locality of this
species as Santa Marta. It is really Merida, Venezuela.
Mr. Brown has now sent seven specimens. This series shows great va-
*Note made by Mr. Brown from the fresh specimen.
f Mr. Brown's skins are rather smaller than those of most collectors, but
as this measurement is only approximate in any case, I give it for what it
is worth-
J Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XXIII, 1894, 163.
On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia. 173
nation in the length of the bill, which certainly does not depend upon
sex, but seems to be individual.
I have some doubt whether the bird from the Sierra Nevada de Santa
Marta is subspecifically the same as that of the Andes of Venezuela, but
without material from the type locality I cannot be sure. All my speci-
mens have a large black mark at the base of the culmen ; the end of the
tail is strongly bluish ; and there is a wash of dark olive yellow on the
sides of the head.
Aulacorhamphus lautus* sp. nov.
Type (and only specimen), from San Miguel, Colombia. No. 5789, ^
adult, coll. of E. A. and 0. Bangs. Collected June 6, 1898, by W. W.
Brown, Jr. Altitude, 7500 ft.
Specific characters.— Not much like any described species. Among the
species having chestnut tips on rectrices it agrees in color of throat only
with A. albivittatus, but is a much smaller bird, lacks the chestnut basal
portion of mandible, and has the basal portion of culmen black, besides
differing in several minor particulars. In pattern of bill the new species
agrees best with A. cseruleogularis of Costa Rica and Veragua, but differs
in the absence of the chestnut spot at base of yellow maxillary stripe, and
in having a gray instead of deep blue throat.
Color. — Upper parts grass green— more bluish on wings, more yellow-
ish on back ; primaries and inner webs of secondaries dusky, with nar-
row yellow border on inner edges; a small blue supraorbital stripe;
throat cinereous ; breast and abdomen pale grass green to apple green ;
feathers of center of belly white at base ; crissum chestnut; tail, above,
green, bluish towards end, each feather tipped with chestnut; below,
black, each feather tipped with chestnut; bend of wing and under wing-
coverts pale yellow. Bill, maxilla, tip and stripe along culmen which
divides at base of culmen and encloses a large black patch, yellow ; sides
ami patch at base of culmen black ; mandible black ; a broad yellowish
white stripe across base of maxilla and mandible.
Size.— Length (skin), '291; wing, 124; tail, 108.8; exposed culmen,
69.6 ; tarsus, 34.
Phcethornis longirostris (Less, and De Latt.).
Four adults, three males and one female, from Palomina.
Petasophora iolata Gould.
Twenty-eight adults, males and females, from Macotama and San
Miguel — May and June.
Leucuria gen. nov. (Trochilidae).
Type. — Leucuria phalerata, sp. nov.
Characters.— Related to Helianthea and also to Hemistephania. Bill long,
* Lautus = neat, elegant, in a fine dress.
174 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Maria, Colombia.
straight, cylindrical (slightly shorter and broader than in Helianlhea) ;
wings reaching about to end of tail ; tarsus naked with the exception of
a bunch of white feathers near heel ; tail long, broad, forked, pure white ;
upper and under tail-coverts white ; whole crown, forehead, and lores
metallic.
(For size, colors, and arrangement of colors, see description of type
species below.)
Leucuria phalerata sp. nov.
Type (and only specimen) from Macotama, Colombia. No. 5731, tf
adult, coll. of E. A. & O. Bangs. Collected June 17, 1898, by W. W.
Brown, Jr. Altitude, 8000 ft.
Color. — Forehead, crown and lores very brilliant metallic blue, with, in
some lights, green reflections ; auriculars, back and wing-coverts dark
grass green, in some lights quite dusky on cervix and upper back ; chin
dark grass green with slight metallic reflections ; throat metallic violet ;
breast metallic sea green ; abdomen shining grass green ; wings purplish-
brown ; feathers of tarsi, upper and under tail-coverts and tail, including
shafts of feathers, pure white.
Size.—c? adult : Length (skin), 1 20 ; wing, 72.2 ; tail— longest rectrix, 47,
shortest rectrix, 35.6; culmen, 26.8; greatest width of outer rectrix, 9.8.
Remarks. — Of this fine hummer M r. Brown has taken but one adult
male— the only one seen in months of collecting. This adds another
striking local species of humming bird to the five already described from
the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Thalurania columbica (Bourc).
Two adults, male and female, from San Miguel and Palomina.
Metallura smaragdinicollis (D'Orb. and Lafr.).
Two adults; male from Palomina, May 10, female from San Miguel,
June 12, 1898.
Panychlora russata Salv. and Godm.
Six adults, five males and a female, from San Miguel and Palomina,
May and June.
Myiotheretes striaticollis Scl.
One adult male from Macotama, June 17, 1898.
Ochthoeca poliogaster Salv. and Godm.
One adult female from Macotama, June 17, 189S.
Sayornis cineracea (Lafr.).
One young in first plumage from San Miguel, June 4, 1898.
On Some Birds from Santa Mart a, Colombia. 175
Tyranniscus chrysops (Scl.).
Two males, one adult, the other young, from Palomina.
Elaenia browni Bangs.
Five adults from San Miguel, June.
Elaenia sororia sp. nov.
Eleven adults, nudes and females, ten from Palomina, May, and one
from San Miguel, June 16, 1898.
Type from Palomina, Colombia, No. 5826, Q adult, coll. of E. A. and 0.
Bangs. Collected May 10, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Altitude, 5000 ft.
Specific characters. — Similar to E. browni, hut darkerand not so greenish
above ; cap considerably darker than the back (nearly uniform in E.
browni) ; concealed white at base of crown pronounced (nearly obsolete
in E. browni); inner web of innermost tertiary only edged with white
(wholly white in E. browni) ; patch of greenish-yellow edging on outer
webs of secondaries not so bright and pronounced as in E. browni ; lining
of wing strongly tinged with buff — clear yellow in E. browni; bill more
robust and not so compressed near the tip.
Color. — Adult in somewhat worn plumage; upper parts dull olive
brown (almost hair browni ; cap darker than back; large concealed white
patch on center of crown ; wing bars, edgings of primaries, secondaries,
and tertials yellowish or greenish white; lining of wing huffy; throat
dull gray ; breast, sides and flanks brownish gray ; abdomen and under
tail-coverts pale yellow to yellowish white.
Size. — tf adult, Topotype, No. 5827 : Length, skin, 134; wing, 77; tail,
66; exposed culmen, 10.8; tarsus, 17.4. $ adult, Type— Length, skin,
128; wing, 73; tail, 63.2; exposed culmen, 10.6; tarsus, 17.
Remarks. — K. browni and /■.'. sororia are closely related, though entirely
distinct species. From the material Mr. Brown has so far collected, I
should judge that E. sororia is found at rather lower elevations than E.
browni, though their ranges meet. At Palomina Air. Brown found only
E. sororia. At San Miguel he took five examples of E. browni and one of
. E. sororia. The molting season of the two species appears to be differ-
ent, as the specimens of E. browni shot at different dates in June at San
Miguel are all in fresh plumage, while all the examples of E. sororia taken
at Palomina in May and the one killed at San Miguel, June 16, are in
somewhat worn plumage. The great difference in color between the two
series may be in part seasonal ; but E. sororiu is probably never very
greenish on the upper surface.
Both Elsenia browni and E. sororia seem to belong in that section of
the genus called Myiopagis by Salvin and Godman:* a group I should be
unwilling to allow even subgeneric rank.
*Biol. Cent-Am., Aves, II, 1888, 26 (Type Elainea placens Scl.).
176 Bangs — On Some Birds from, Santa Marta, Colombia.
Myiozetetes texensis colombianus (Cab. and Heine).
One adult female from Palomina.
Rhynchocyclus sulphurescens (Spix).
Three adults, two males and one female, from Palomina.
Myiodynastes audax nobilis (Sel.).
One adult male from Palomina.
Myiodynastes chrysocephalus (Tschudi).
One adult female from San Francisco.
Megarhynchus pitangua (Linn.).
One adult male from Palomina.
Myiobius vieillotioides (Lafr.).
One adult male from San Francisco, June 1, 1898.
Myiobius neevius (Bodd.).
One adult female from Palomina. The crest is yellow slightly tinged
with orange.
Myiarchus nigriceps Scl.
Ten specimens from Palomina and San Miguel. Nine are adults in
rather worn plumage and one is a young bird in first plumage.
Tyrannus melancholicus satrapa (Licht.).
Ten adults, including both sexes. Eight are from Palomina and two
from Macotama. The Macotama birds have larger bills than those from
Palomina but otherwise do not seem to differ.
Milvulus tyrannus (Linn.).
Five specimens from Palomina, four adults and one young in first
plumage.
Formicivora caudata Scl.
Two specimens, one a male and the other probably a female, from Pa-
lomina, taken in May and June.
It is very probable that these are not true F. caudata Scl., which is said
to have black rectrices tipped with white. The Palomina birds have
brown tails, with a subapical black band and white tips; they may not,
however, be fully adult,
On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia. 177
Synallaxis albescens Tennn.
Five adults, males and females, from Palomina, May.
Synallaxis fuscorufa Scl.
Three adults, two males and one female, from San Miguel, May and June.
These appear to be S. fuscorufa, the type locality of which is San Sebas-
tian, Colombia, though they do not agree well with Sclater's description,
in which the back is said to be brown. The San Miguel specimens are
in somewhat worn plumage, with the back rather gray than brown— a
grayish hair brown— the breast ferruginous rather than cinnamon, and
little paler than the cap.
Xiphocolaptes procerus Cab.
One adult female from Macotama June 24. Judged by descriptions, this
specimen is A', procerus. Mr. Ridgway has examined the skin and is of
also this opinion.
Sclerurus albigularis Swains, (subsp. nov. ?).
One adult female from Palomina, May IS.
This skin Mr. Ridgway has compared with a specimen of S. albigularis
from Tobago, and with the type of >S. canigularis from Costa Rica, and
finds that it is exactly intermediate. If more specimens from the same
region should prove the characters of this intermediate race to be con-
stant it might be well to give it a subspecitic name.
Grallaria spatiator sp. nov.
Type (and only specimen) from Macotama, Colombia. No. 5683, <$'
adult, coll. of E. A. and O. Bangs. Collected June 17, 1898, by W. W.
Brown, Jr. Altitude, 8000 ft.
Specific characters. — Resembling Q. rufula, but with much shorter bill ;
longer and more slender tarsus; and darker, duller brown coloration.
Color.— Upper parts, about mummy brown, many of the feathers shaded
by a more reddish olive tinge; primaries dusky edged with russet; tail
mummy brown ; chin whitish ; throat and breast cinnamon-russet ; flanks
raw umber; lower abdomen andcrissum soiled white, the feathers some-
what marbled with raw umber and russet.
Size. — c? adult: Length, skin, 132; wing, 83. 6; tail, 42; exposed cul-
men, 20 ; tarsus, 46.
Ostinops decumanus (Pall.).
Two adults, male and female, from Palomina.
178 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia.
Cassidix oryzivora (Gmel.).
Four specimens, adult males, and female, and young male, from Palo-
mina.
Spinus spinescens capitaneus subsp. nov.
Three adult males from San Miguel.
Type.— From San Miguel, Colombia. No. 5674, tf adult, coll. of E. A.
and O. Bangs. Collected June 14, 1808, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Altitude,
7500 ft.
Subspecific characters. — Like true S. spinescens but much larger ; bill very
much larger.
Color. — Adult (^ : Forehead and crown black ; occiput, cervix, back and
upper tail-coverts dark oil green, slightly touched with indistinct dusky
markings; lower rump bright olive green; wings black, crossed by a
broad yellow band, middle and greater coverts tipped with oil green ;
secondaries edged with green, tipped with whitish ; primaries narrowly
edged with green and just tipped with whitish ; under parts between oil
green and olive yellow, more green on throat, upper breast, sides and
flanks, more yellow on lower breast, upper abdomen and under tail-
coverts ; center of belly white; tail black, yellow at base.
Size. — Adult r? : Length, skin, 100; wing, 70.8; tail, 46.2 ; exposed cul-
men, 11 ; depth of bill at base, 7.6 ; tarsus, 14.2.
Remarks. — The three skins agree very closely among themselves and
differ from true S. spinescens in being much larger, especially the bill.
Brachyspiza capensis peruviana (Lesson).
Four adult males, from San Miguel.
Buarremon melanocephalus Salv. and Godm.
Twenty specimens, males, females, and young in first plumage, from
San Miguel, Palomina, and San Francisco.
The young are similar to the adults but the colors are all duller, the
back is more olivaceous, and the under parts duller yellow, somewhat
marked on the sides and chest with dusky spots.
Saltator magnus (Gmel.).
Four adults, males and females, from San Miguel and Palomina. I
still doubt whether this bird is true S. magnus, but having no specimens
from Cayenne for comparison, must let it pass as such.
Anemon schlegeli Bp.
Four adults, males and females, from Palomina and San Miguel.
Oa Some Birds from Santa Mario, Colombia. 179
Emberizoides macrurus (Gmel.).
Three specimens, an adult male from San Miguel, an adult female from
Macotama, and a female in first plumage from Palomina.
These birds differ slightly from the single topotype in the National
Museum collection. The edges of the primaries are much brighter yel-
lowish olive green.
Sporophila gutturalis (Licht. ).
Ten adults, males and females, from Palomina.
Poecilothraupis melanogenys Sal v. and Godm.
One adult female from Macotama, June 17, 1898.
Euphonia crassirostris Scl.
One young male from Palomina.
Calospiza desmaresti (Gray).
Twelve specimens, males, female, and young, from Palomina.
Calospiza cyanoptera (Swains.).
Twelve adults, males and females, from Palomina and San Miguel.
Ramphocelus dimidiatus Lafr.
Twenty specimens, adults of both sexes and young in first plumage.
All from Palomina and San Miguel.
Tachyphonus rufus (Bodd.).
Two adults, male and female, from Palomina.
Procnias tersa occidentalia (Scl.).
Eleven specimens, adult males and females and one young just emerg-
ing from first plumage, from Palomina, San Miguel, and San Francisco.
Diglossa sittoides similis (Lafr.).
Two adults, male and female, from San Miguel.
Diglossa albilateralis Lafr.
Three adults, males and female, from San Miguel.
39— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII. 1898
180 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia.
Diglossa nocticolor sp. nov.
Five adult males from Macotama, June.
Type, from Macotama, Colombia. No. 5G10, tf adult, coll. of E. A. and
O. Bangs. Collected June 17, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Altitude,
8000 ft.
Specific characters. — Nearest to D. aterrima Lafr., but differing from that
species in having slate gray instead of black rump, upper tail-coverts
and flanks.
Color. — Adult cf : Black all over except rump, upper tail-coverts and
flanks, which are slate gray ; feet, black ; hill— maxilla, black ; mandible,
black at tip, bluish horn-color at base ; ' iris hazel.' *
She.— Adult J: Length, skin, 135 ; wing, 76; tail, 67.4; exposed cul men,
10.8.
Remarks. — This species is readily distinguished from D. aterrima by its
slate gray rump, tail-coverts and flanks. It is, however, probably the
D. aterrima of Salvin and Godman (Ibis, 1880, p. 119).
Compsothlypis pitiayumi pacifica (Berl.).
Five adults, males and females, from Palomina.
Basileuterus mesochrysus Scl.
Six adults of both sexes, all taken at Palomina.
Basileuterus cinereicollis Scl.
Three adult males from San Francisco and Palomina.
Setophaga veiticalis Lafr and D'Orb.
Five adults, males and females, from San Miguel.
Setophaga flavivertex Salv.
Two adults, male and female, from Macotama, June 17, 1898.
Thryothorus laetus Bangs.
Three specimens, adult male and female, and young in first plumage,
from Palomina.
The adults are in rather worn plumage, but the male agrees exactly
with the type of the species from Pueblo Ariejo. Adult $, No. 5794, is
not so heavily spotted on the breast and abdomen as the two males ; this
may be due to the abraded condition of the feathers, or may be a sexual
character. The young example is very different, being altogether un-
spotted ; above it is colored much like the adults, below it is dull rufous,
* Note by Mr. Brown from fresh specimen.
On Some Birds from Santa Marta, Colombia. 181
paler on center of belly, and darker on breast and sides, the throat and
sides of the head are dull gray.
Henicorhina leucophrys (Tschudi).
Four adults, males and females, from San Francisco, Palomina, and
San Miguel.
Catharus aurantiirostris (Haiti.).
Four adult males from Palomina.
Merula phaeopyga minuscula subsp. nov.
One adult, sex undetermined, from Palomina, June 1, 1898.
Type from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia. No. 5605, tf adult, coll. of E. A.
and O. Bangs. Collected March 23, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Alti-
tude, 8000 ft.
Subspecifie characters. — Smaller than true .1/. phseopygaof British Guiana ;
wing shorter; color of back and crown darker (olive in M. phseopyga
in in a sen In, bistre in M. phxopyga phxopyga).
fee— Type, c? adult: Length, skin, 183; wing, 102.4; tail, 81.2; ex-
posed culmen, 17 ; tarsus, 29.
Topotype, No. 5604, c? adult, Length, skin, 185; wing, 103; tail, 82;
exposed culmen, 16; tarsus, 27.6.
Remarks.— Although very like true M. phseopyga, the bird of the Santa
Marta Mountains is slightly smaller and a darker more olive brown above.
I no longer have any hesitation in regarding it as a fairly well marked
subspecies. It is much more closely related to true M. phaeopyga than to
any of the other races of that thrush.
Mr. Brown, though in the mountains during the breeding season, took
but three examples of M. phxopyga minuscula, and reports it a rare bird.
As it is a remarkable singer, it is not likely that he passed many males
unnoticed, at that season.
Merula gigas cacozela subsp. nov.
Two adults, male and female, from Macotama, June.
Type from Macotama, Colombia. No. 5685, $ adult, coll of E. A. and
O. Bangs. Collected June 21 , 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Altitude 8000 ft.
Subspecifie characters. — Size of true M. gigas; tail much shorter; colors
paler, the tail in particular much lighter in color.
Color.— Upper parts, between olive and hair brown ; primaries and tail
the same color, but a shade darker; under parts varying from dull broc-
coli brown to hair brown, slightly shaded with cinnamon on abdomen;
axillars, bend of wing ami under primary coverts olive brown ; under
wing-coverts hazel, shading towards olive brown on the centers of the
feathers ; tarsus, foot and bill bright yellow.
Size.— Adult cf : Length, skin, 277; wing, 144.6; tail, 135; exposed
182 Bangs — On Some Birds from Santa Maria, Colombia.
culmen, 31; tarsus, 45.4. Adult $: Length, skin, 260; wing, 144; tail,
134.6; exposed culmen, 30.8 ; tarsus, 46.
Remarks. — -When compared with Bogota specimens, which are consid-
ered typical M. gigas, the very short, light colored tails of the Macotama
birds serve to distinguish the subspecies cacozela. This form is probably
found throughout the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Messrs. Salvin and
Godman (Ibis, 1S79, p. 19S) record one specimon collected at San Sebas-
tian by Simons, and notice that it differs from true M. gigas.
There is also a young thrush in the collection, apparently about full
grown though in first plumage, taken at Palomina, May 21, 1898. I
take it to be the young of my Merula incompta, but as Mr. Brown secured
no adults of that species at Palomina, I cannot be sure. It certainly is
not the young of either M. gigas cacozela or M. phseopyga minuscula.
Vol. XII, pp. 183-186 . November 16, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
OX SCIURUS VARIABILIS FROM THE SANTA MARTA
REGION OF COLOMBIA.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
Among the mammals collected by Mr \Y. W. Brown. Jr., in
the Santa Marta region of Colombia is a fine series of twenty-
four squirrels. Twenty-one of these are from the lowlands in
the immediate neighborhood of Santa Marta, at an altitude of
from 590 to 600 feet, and are true Seiurus variabilis Geoffroy.*
The other three were taken in the high sierra — one at Palomina
(altitude, 5000 feet) and two at Pueblo Viejo (altitude, 8000 feet),
and belong to quite a different mountain race of that squirrel.
The form from the high mountain forest of the Sierra Nevada
appears to be undescribed. Its differences from true S. variabilis
are very interesting and are exactly what would be expected from
the character of its surroundings. The smaller size, much duller,
deeper coloration and very much smaller audital bullse of the
new form all indicate an inhabitant of the dark, dense, saturated,
luxuriant mountain forest; while the large size, long tail, vivid
color and large audital bullae of true S. variabilis point rather to
an existence spent in the dry, open, brushy forest of the burning
lowlands.
*Sciarus variabilis was described from specimens of uncertain locality,
though without doubt from Colombia, as Geoffroy tells us that the col-
lection of which these squirrels formed a part was made in North Amer-
ica, the West Indies, and Colombia. It therefore seems fair to regard
the specimens from the lowlands of the Colombian coast as strictly typical
Seiurus variabilis.
40— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (183)
184 Bangs — Sciurus variabilis from Santa Marta, Colombia.
Sciurus variabilis variabilis Is. Geoffroy.
Sciurus variabilis Is. Geoffroy, Mag. de Zool. I, plate iv, 1832.
Type locality. — Colombia (restricted here to the lowland forest about
Santa Marta; altitude, 500-600 feet).
General diameters. — Size rather large; ear high; colors vivid; skull
large; audital bullae large, much inflated, pappery; no small upper pre-
molar.
Color.— (No. 8018, $ adult, from Santa Marta, (500 ft, altitude, appar-
ently representing tbe normal phase of coloration). Upper parts — head,
back, rump, about 90 mm. of basal portion of tail (above and below), and
upper surface of legs orange-rufous, variegated with black — each hair
orange-rufous, with a black median band ; lower sides, shoulders, arms,
a large patch above each shoulder nearly meeting on back, feet, hands,
and rather more than the apical three-fourths of tail (all around) vivid,
intense orange-rufous— the hairs without black bands ; sides of head and
chin brownish ochraeeous ; hairs of back and sides plumbeous at base ;
line of demarkation between colors of upper and under parts low down ;
under parts pure white to base of hairs, this color extending halfway
along under side of neck and in a narrow line a little way down under
surface of leg and arm.
Variations in color. — The variations in color run in two opposite direc-
tions from the normal, caused (1) by the widening of the black median
bands of the hairs of the upper parts, and (2) by the narrowing or total
disappearance of the black bands— one 'melanism,' the other 'ery-
thrism.' ? *
The darkest individual in the series (No. 8015) has all the black bands
of the hairs of back and sides, those of legs and arms also being banded,
much broadened, the general tone being dnsky, somewhat relieved by
a few rufous-tipped hairs; the tail is as usual above, but darker below.
No. 801-4 has no black bands at all on the hairs of the upper parts, being
a uniform fiery orange-rufous above.
Five other specimens approach either one or the other of these ex-
tremes to a greater or less degree, leaving fourteen out of twenty-one
examples perfectly normal, with but a minimum of color variation.
The under parts of all are clear white.
Cranial characters. — Skull normal, without small upper premolar; au-
dital bullae large, much inflated, thin and papery.
Size of an average old adult $ skull, No. 8028. — Basal length, 49.6;
occipito-nasal length, 57.4; zygomatic width, 34 ; mastoid width, 26; in-
terorbital width, 19.8 ; length of nasals, 19 ; length of upper tooth row,
9.6 ; length of mandible, 33.
(For measurements see table, p. 186.)
*See O. Thomas on color variation in Sciurus finlaysoni, Proc. Zool. Soc.
London, 1898, p. 245.
Sciurus variabilis from Santa Marta, Colombia. 185
Sciurus variabilis saltuensis subsp. nov.
Type from Pueblo Viejo, Colombia (altitude, 8000 ft). No. 8144, $ old
adult, coll. of E. A. and 0. Bangs. Collected March 26, 1898, by W. W.
Brown, Jr.
Subspecific diameters. — Smaller than true <S'. variabilis; tail shorter;
colors duller, deeper and darker ; feet and hands much darker in color ;
no patch of clear rufous on shoulders and sides— the hairs of this region,
and also those of feet, hands and lower sides, with a black median band
like the hairs of the rest of upper parts ; skull smaller, and more solid ;
audital bullae smaller, thicker and less inflated.
Color. —Upper parts, deep, tawny-rufous varied with black— each hair
plumbeous at base, then rufous with a black median band; tail much
deeper in color than that of true »S'. variabilis, the hairs of its sides with a
more distinct black median band ; under parts clear white to base of
hairs.
Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of true S. variabilis but de-
cidedly smaller and rather more solid ; audital bullae much smaller,
thicker aud less inflated.
Size of type skull (old adult $ ) : Basal length, 46 ; occipito-nasal
length, 54.2; zygomatic width, 31.6; mastoid width, 24; interorbital
width, 18 ; length of nasals, 16.4 ; length of upper tooth row, 9 ; length
of mandible, 30. (For measurements see table, p. 186.)
Remarks. — Mr. Brown found this mountain representative of S. variabilis
very rare in the several places he visited in the higher Sierra and secured
but three individuals : one at Palomina, May 2, 1S98; and two at Pueblo
Viejo, March 20 and 26, 1898. These three skins are indistinguishable in
color.
186 Bangs — Sciurus variabilis from Santa Marta, Colombia.
Measurements.
No.
8019
8023
8011
8028
8024
8012
8018
8025
8022
8014
8013
8026
8030
8015
8016
8020
8010
8017
8027
8021
8144
8145
8244
Sex and age.
Locality.
Total
length.
Tail ver-
tebrae.
Hind
foot.
Ear
from
notch.
Sciurus variabilis variabilis Is. Geoffroy,
^ old ad. .
9 old ad. .
9 old ad. .
9 old ad. .
C? old ad. .
rf ad
9 ad
c? ad
9 ad
c? ad
9 ad
& ad
d ad
C? ad
9 ad ... .
C?ad
c?yg
c?yg
& yg
c?yg
ad. .
ad. .
ad.
ad. .
Santa
Marta
500
250
53
< i
it
485
245
60
t i
u
482
250
57
11
1 1
460
235
58
i I
t i
4(17
225
55
i i
i<
500
255
55
it
ii
460
230
oo
it
1 1
465
230
55
ll
it
470
240
56
CI
i<
475
240
57
(1
i i
475
240
55
((
ii
460
230
57
1 i
«<
450
220
53
a
£1
452
220
55
it
i i
443
215
51
1 i
I 1
445
235
55
t i
I 1
460
230
56
t t
i I
442
225
57
(<
tl
435
220
53
1 i
ii
435
215
55
9 old ad.
j* old ad.
9 ad ... .
Sciurus variabilis saltuensis subsp. nov
Pneblo Viejo . . .
a 1 1
Paloraina
420
200
54
Head &
body 230
00
410
190
52
23
27
25
25
27
27
26
25
27
26
26
26
25
26
27
27
26
25
25
25
26
27
27
NOTE. _'01d adult,' 'adult,' and 'young adult' are given in accord-
ance with the appearance of the skull and teeth, regardless of the col-
lector's measurements.
Vol. XII. pp. 187-188 November 16, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
fe
A NEW ROCK VOLE FROM LABRADOR.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
Early last summer Mr. Ernest Doane left Newfoundland and
crossed the straits of Belle Isle to Black Bay, Labrador, where
he has been collecting mammals ever since for the Bangs collec-
tion. Just before lie went into winter quarters he sent one con-
signment of skins, including twelve examples of a rock vole
which proves to be different from true Microtis chrotorrhinus
(Miller). For the present I treat the new form as a subspecies.
The rock vole has now been recorded from several pretty widely
separated localities,* though it still remains one of the rarest and
most desirable among the smaller mammals of northeastern
North America.
The Labrador series includes four adults and eight young of
various sizes, all agreeing closely in color. The new form differs
from true M. chrotorrhinus in its paler, more yellowish gray col-
oring, in the larger and lighter yellow nose patches, and in sev-
* Mt. Washington (type locality — 8 specimens) ; Profile Lake, N. H.
(1 specimen), and Trowser's Lake, N. B. (1 specimen) — Miller, Proc.
Bast. Soc. Nat. Hist., Mar. 24, 1894, pp. 190-193; Trowser's Lake (3 addi-
tional specimens) and Gulquac Lake, N. B. (1 specimen)— Allen, Bull.
Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., 1894, p- 860 ; Lake Edward, Quebec (9 specimens)—
Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., X, Mar. 9, 1896, p. 49; Breed's, Essex Co.,
N. Y. (27 specimens), and above Profile Lake, N. H. (1 specimen)— Batch-
elder, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., Oct., 1896, pp. 188, 189 ; Hunter Moun-
tain, Catskills, N. Y. (1 specimen)— Mearns, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mas., 1898,
p. 349.
41— Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (187)
188 Bangs — .4 New Rock Vole from Labrador.
eral well-marked and constant cranial and dental characters.
It may be known as —
Microtus chrotorrhinus ravus * subsp. nov.
Type from Black Bay, Labrador, rf old adult, No. 7951, coll. of E. A.
and O. Bangs. Collected July 15, 1898, by Ernest Doane.
Color and pelage. — Eur longer, softer, and more like Phenacomys than
in M. chrotorrhinus chrotorrhinus ; all the colors paler; upper parts pale
grayish raw umber, somewhat darkened on back by a sprinkling of black-
tipped hairs ; nose and face back to eyes pale tawny ochraceous, this
color suffusing much of head, especially about the ears ; under parts gray,
extending well up on sides and gradually blending with color of upper
parts; feet and hands gray; tail dusky brown above, paler and grayer
below, sparsely haired ; whiskers black and yellowish white mixed.
Cranial and dental characters. — The skull, compared with that of true
M. chrotorrhinus, is much more slender and more constricted between the
orbits; rostrum more slender; incisive foramina longer; audital bullae
flatter, less inflated, more oblong, and less round. Pattern of enamel
folding of molar teeth substantially the same ; molars all much smaller
and more delicate ; incisors more slender.
Measurements. — The type, rf old adult; total length, 170; tail vertebrae,
50 ; hind foot, 22; ear from notch, 14. Averages of four adult topotypes,
of both sexes : total length, 159.75 ; tail vertebrae, -46; hind foot, 21.25 ;t
ear from notch, 12.5. .Skull (type, rf old adult) — basal length, 21.8 ; oc-
cipito-nasal length, 26.6; zygomatic width, 15; mastoid width, 11.6;
width between orbits, 3.6; length of nasals, 7.4; length of upper tooth
row, 6; length of mandible, 1(5.4.
Remarks. — 1 find it very hard to express the differences in color between
true M. chrotorrhinus and M. c. ravus, though they are evident enough
when series of the two forms are laid side by side. Young examples
show the differences in color quite as well as do adults.
Without a complete series from connecting localities, it seems better to
regard ravus merely as a subspecies of chrotorrhinus, although the rock voles
from Lake Edward, Quebec, are in every way inseparable from true
chrotorrhinus from the type locality — Mount Washington, N. H. — and
show no approach to the form of the coast of middle Labrador.
* Ravus = gray-yellow.
t The collector's measurements for foot run larger in M. c. rams than in
true M. chrotorrhinus. 1 can, however, detect no appreciable difference in
the dried skins.
Vol. XII, pp. 189-190 December 30, 1898
PROCEEDINGS
OF THF.
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
A NEW SIGMODON FROM THE SANTA MARTA
REGION OF COLOMBIA.
BY OUTRAM BANGS.
The collection of mammals made by W. W. Brown, Jr., in the
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta contains but three examples of
Sigmodon. Two of these are adult males and practically alike:
one taken at Pueblo Viejo, at an altitude of 8000 feet, on March
23, 1898 ; the other at Palomina, 5000 feet, June 21, 1898. The
third specimen is an adult female from Pueblo Viejo. It is so
much smaller than the two males and differs so much otherwise,
that without more material I hesitate to refer it to the same
species. I have therefore left it out of consideration and based
my description wholly upon the two males.
The new form is closely related to both S. bonccas Allen, from
Costa Rica, and S. bogotensis Allen from Bogota, differing from
the former principally in harsher pelage and much more hairy
tail, and from the latter in much paler coloration. It may be
known as
Sigmodon sanctaemaitae sp. nov.
Type from Pueblo Viejo,* Colombia. No. 8105, c? adult, coll. of E. A.
and O. Bangs. Collected .Mar. 23, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Altitude,
8000 feet.
General diameters. — Pelage long, full, hispid; tail very hairy; color above,
dull tawny-ochraceous, lined with blackish ; ear rather large, sparsely
* There are at least three towns in Colombia called Pueblo Viejo. The
one at which Mr. Brown collected is in the center of the Sierra Nevada,
not far from the source of Rio Ancho.
42— Bioi.. Soc. Wash., Vol. XII, 1898 (189)
L90 Bangs — A New Sigmodon from Colombia.
haired on outside; skull with wide nasals and large, wide, incisive foramina
(teeth too worn to show characters well), otherwise not differing much
from the skull of the type species, S. hispidus.
< 'olor. — Upper parts dull tawny-ochraceous, becoming darker and more
russet on rump, and lined with blackish tipped hairs, which are most
numerous along back ; hairs plumbeous at base, except a few sprinkled
over back and sides, which are yellowish-white throughout their entire
length ; * nose and cheeks wood brown ; under parts dull wood brown to
whitish, the plumbeous under fur showing through ; upper surface of feet
and bands dark gray; tail very hairy, dusky above, dull grayish below.
Measurements. — Type, total length, 282; tail vertebrae, 115; hind foot,
32 ; ear from notch, 20. No. 8250, $ adult, from Palomina : total length,
290; tail vertebra?, 120; hind foot, 30; ear from notch, 17.
Skull, type, basal length, 32; occipitonasal length, 36.4 ; zygomatic
width, 19.2; mastoid width, 14; interorbital width, 5.6; length of nasals,
13.2; breadth of nasals, 4.2.
* This character is shown equally by both specimens, and gives a pecu-
liar grayish cast to the fur.
INDEX
New names are printed in Heavy type
A
Page
Abbe, Cleveland: Climate and corn
crop XI
JEga ecarinata 39-40
tridens in
Agonostomus nasutus -_
Ama/.ilia fuscicaudata
einiiamomea satuiala 03
warszeweizi 135
Amphispixa bilineata grisea 61
Anoura ' '"
Anthocephala florieeps 158
Ara ohloroptera 132
militaris ' :;-
Arbelorhina eyanea eximia l 13
coerulea microrhyncha 143
Aretocephalus townsendi 1 i
Arcturus americanus Is
baffini *»
beringianus 46-47
cornutns 47
feildeni 44
glabrus 40
hystrix 49
lougispinis 44
multispinis 48
niiii <l<>< hi 49
I < ii ii Upi li i- 41
tubereulatus 43
tuberosus 44
Arremon schlegeli 140, 178
Arremonops conirostrls tanens., I4n
Arvieola 106
Astacilla amerieana 50
caeca 51
cliomedese 50
granulata 50
nodosa :'"
'Atalapha frantzii 19
mexicana 19
Vtherinidse -
Aulacorhamphus albivittatus 173
calorhynchus 134, 158, 172
eseruleogularis it:;
lautus 17:;
Automoliis rufipectus 158
Awaous iielsoni -
Bailey V. : Exhibition of beaver cut-
tings ix
New Evotomys from British < !o-
lumhia 21-22
Eleven new voles (Microtus).. 85-90
Baker, Frank: Additions to knowl-
edge of cell vii
Bangs, Outram : Two new skunks... 31-33
Newfoundland otter and fox. 35-38
Eastern varying hares 77-82
New mouse from British Co-
lumbia 83-84
New raccoon from the Baha-
mas 91-92
New fox from Colombia 93-94
New opossum from Margarita
Island, Venezuela 95-96
Page
Bangs, < mtram ; Birds from Santa
.M.irta. Colombia 131-144
Birds from Pueblo Viejo, Co-
lombia 157-100
New mammals from Colom-
bia 161-165
New harvest mouse 167
Birds from Sierra de Santa
.Malta. Colombia 171-182
On Seiurus variabilis 183-186
New yule from Labrador... 187-188
New Sigmodon from Santa
Marta 189-190
Hank-, X. : Scorpions of eastern U. S... x
Basil en terns cabanisi 144
einereicollis 160, 180
mesochrysus 144, 180
Benedict, J. E. . Arcturidce in the U. S.
Nat. Museum 41-51
New [sopods of genus Idotea. 53-55
Brachyspiza capensis peruviana 17s
Brotogeris jugularis 132
Buarremoii basil icus 159
melanocephalus 178
poliophrys 159
torquatus 159
Buceo rufieollis 133
It nt < <> borealis ftiiiiosus 7
latissimus 132
borealis socorroensis 7
Callinyeteris 1 '-
( lalospiza eyanoptera 159
desmaresti 141, 159, 179
Campephilus malherbii 134
Canisazarse 94
fulvipes 94
urostictus ''I
Cardinalis cardinalis igneus 10
cardinalis niaiii*' 10
tens ,'1
(' riaeits clavatus 103
( larponycteris 1 1 1
Cassicns persieus 138
Cassidix oryzivora 159, 178
Catharus aurantiirostris 160, 181
( !entronycteris 110
Ceophlceus lineatus 134
Cephalotes major 114
pallasii 112
peronii 1'2
Cervus dama amerieana '-':'.
clavatus 103
rufus 1""
virginianus 23
Ceryle amazona 133
amerieana I ;:;
torquata 133
Chirostoma humboldtianum '1
Chiroxiphia lanceolata 137
Choeronycteris mexicana 19
( Ihrysomitris columbiana 139
mexicana 139
Cichlidse 2
Coereba Iuteola 143
HI,
192
The Biological Society of Washington.
Page
Colopterus pilaris 136
Columba albilinea 172
gymnophthalma 6
flavirostris madrensis 6
Columbigallina passerinapallescens... 1:52
rufipennis 132
Committees v, xii
Compsothlypis pitiayumi pacifica.. 143, 180
('onopophaga L59
Contopus brachytarsus 137
Conurus wagleri 172
Cook, O. P. : Fauna and flora of Florida
Keys ix
Four categories of species xii
Coville, P. V. : Exhibition of lava with
bark impression x
Crax alberti 132
Crotophaga ani 172
suleirostris 133
Cyanocompsa cyanescens 139
eoncreta sauctse-martse 139
Cyanocorax affinis 138
Cyclorbis Aavipectus cantU-iis. ... 142
subflavescens 112
trinitatis 142
Cynonycteris ill
Cynopterus albiventer ill
Crypturus columbianus 1 : 1 1
pileatus 132
D
Dacnis naprea 11;;
cserebicolor 14:;
Dactylortyx cbiapt-nsis 66
«lt-vius 68
thoraeicus lineolatus 66
thoraeicus 65
JDasyproi-tn colomblana L63
Dendrociucla olivacea augnina. 138
Dendroiea sestiva 14:;
Dendroplex picirostris i:>,s
De Schweinitz, E. A. : Treatment of
diseases with antiseptic serums... viii
Diglossa albilateralis 17:1
aterrima imi
nocticolor l.su
Dobsoiiia m
Dobsonia minor 114
peronii 1 11
Dorcelaphus 99
Dorcelaphus americanus 25
couesi 94
osceola 25
texanug 23
Klrenla I) row nl l.-,,s, 17;,
mesoleuea ' p-,*
sororia \--,
E lai n ea paga n a 1 . ; 1 ;
Emberizoides maernrus 141. 17:1
Empidonax virescens [37
Eriodora intermedia Kis
Eonj'cteris "/_"." n-.
Eucometis cristata 1 pj
Euphonia crassirostris in, 170
trinitatis ' m
Evermann, B. W. : Fishes from ires
Marias islands 1_3
Kvotomyg caurinat -_<l
occidentalis 21
saturatus 2]
wrangeli .....'.......' -i
F
Page
Fairehild, D. G. : Additions to knowl-
edge of cell vii
Dutch botanical gardens in
Java xi
Faleo sparverius 172
Florieola longirostris 135
Florisuga mellivora 135
Formicivora can data 17<;
Furnarius agnatns 13S
G
Galbula ruficauda pa 11 ens 133
Geothelphusa 27
Geothlypis formosa in
Geotrygon linearis i;>7
Gill, Theo. : Classification of Asta-
eoidean crustaceans viii
Parker and Haswell's Zoology. viii
Glaucis hirsuta 134
Glossonycteris 1111
Cilossoplinga liiutica 18
soricina is
trucj in
Gobiidse 2
a rail aria mexicana 63
oeliraceivenlris 62
rufula 177
spatiatoi- 177
1 .11:1 in lira cayanensis 110
G-ulraca i-liiapensis (il
eoerulea eurhyncha 62
Harpyia in
Hay, <>. I'.: Protospondyli and JEthio-
spondyli viii
Cretaceous fish Porthem ix
Heleoilytes bruiiueicapillus ob-
senrus 58
Helianthea 173
Hemiproene zonaris 158
Hemistephania 17:1
Henieornina leucophrys 160, 181
Hero-, beani 2'
Ht-rpt-tomys 107
Hicks, 1;. 11. : Vitality of seeds x
Effect of fertilizers on seed
germination x
Hodomys 12s
Hopkins, A. D. ; Illustrating gene-
ric ami specific relationships xi
Howard. I., 0. : Gypsymothin Massa-
chusetts ".....' vii
European hornet in America... viii
Exhibition of Mantidce ami Lo-
custidce from Siam viii
Fluted scale in Portugal xi
— German posters on injurious
inserts .' xi
Hylocharis cyanea i:;;>
II vloplnliis an rant iifrons 142
flavipes 1 12
Hypoderma 113
Hypuroptila buffoni 138
[ctei us auricapillus 139
gall 111 la 139
xa lit horn is 138
Ictidomys 71
Index.
193
Page
Idiurus null. 73
zenkeri '■'•
Idotea carinata 53
ochotensis ">4
niMi.ua 53
stenops 54
Idothea baffini 43
Istiophorus cirrhosus ill
soricinus Ill
Kenyon, F. C. : Knowledge of the ner-
vous system viii
Experiments on nervous sys-
tem of Arthropods x
Kto.loitn;. Ill
Kiodotus Ill
L
Lampornis violicauda 135
Lasiurus borealis mexieana 19
Leaehia granulata 50
Leptolila capita lis 6
fulviventris brachyptera 7
verreauxi 132
Lepus amerieanus 78
lirasi lien sis 97
cumanieus 97
graysoni Hi
margaritrc 97
amerieanus strutliopus 81
sylvatieus transitional is 98
amerieanus virginianus 79
i-t- 1 ic in- ia 17:;
l,< in hi in phaleiata *. 173
Lophostoma brasiliense ill
sylvicolum ill
Lucas, F. A. : Fo>sil bison of North
America x
Mammoth remains on Pribilnf
Islands xi
LiUtra degener 35
hudsoniea 35
M
Macroglossus Hi
Macrotus mexicanus 18
Malacoptila mystacalis 133
Manacus manacus 137
Marmosa canescens 1">
fuscata Its:;
insnlaris 14
mexieana 96
mitis 102
murina 95, 162
robinsoni 95, .'7
Mazama l1111
Mearns, E. A.: New deer from Texas. 23-26
Megadermatidae llo
Megadontomys 115
Megarhynchus pitangua 137, 170
Melanerpes neglectus 134
wagleri sa hi In -ma i i :\ 134
sulielegans 134
Melanotis cserulcsceiis longii 'os-
tris 10
Melonyeteris 112
Mephitis a-via 32
elongata 31
hudsoniea 31
oceidentalis 31
scrutator 31
splssigrada 31
Page
Merriam, C. Hart : Distribution of Ore-
gun ground squirrels ix
Mammals of Tres .Marias
Islands 13-10
Six new ground squirrels ... 69-71
Five new deer 99-104
New subgenera and species of
Microtus 105-108
■ Twenty new species and a new
subgenus of Peromyscus 115-125
Ni'\\ genus and three new spe-
cies of rodents 127-129
3Iernla gigas cacozela 181
gymnophthalmus 144
Lgnobilis 144
iiicompta 144, 182
phwopyga iiniiiiM iiln lsl
phseopyga 160
Metallura smaragdinicollis 174
Micrastur semitorquatus 132
Slici'otiis angusticeps 86
moiitaims arizonensis 88
arvalis 106
piuetornm aiiricularis mi
nanus canescens 87
drummondi 89
ilntcliei i 85
fo q tigenus 81)
fnlviventer 106
gnateinalensis IDS
insularis 86
peimsy Ivanicns lal>rador-
ius 88
mexicanus 106
mordax 86
|ii ml o i ii in nemoralis 80
nevadensis 86
phBaus lo;>
quasiater 105
ctirotorikiiiiiis iiivus 188
nevadensis rivnlaris 87
scalopsoides 89
umbrosns I07
ealiioriiicns vallicola.. 89
Miller, a. S., Jr. : New rodent of genus
lit 11 nix 73-76
New rabbit from Margarita
Island 07
Milvulus tyrannus 137, 170
Mionectes oleagineus 136
olivaceus 158
Mniotilta varia 14:;
Momotus subrufesceus 133
Morris, E. L. : Fauna and Mora of the
Florida Keys ix
Flowering of Coiocnsia and Ce-
reus in Washington x
Snake ascending polishedsur-
face xi
Mugilidse 2
Mus decumanus 13
musculus 124
rattus 16
Muscivora mexieana 137
Myiarehus crinitus 137
erythroeercus \'-'<~
ferox 137
nigriceps 137, 158, 176
Myiobius nsevius 158, 176
vieillotioides 1 7<>
Myiodynastes ehrysocephalus 158, 176
audax nobilis 137, 176
Myiopagis macilvainii 136
placeiis minimus 0
Myiopatis semifuseus 136
Myiotheretes slriaticollis 174
Myiozetetes texensis colombianus 136, 17*;
My otis nigricans 18
Myrmeeiza boucardi 138
194
The Biological Society of Washington.
N
Page
Nelson, E. W. : New birds from Tres
Marias Islands 5-11
New birds from Mexico 57-68
New squirrels from Mexico
and Central America 145-156
Neocrcx Colombian us 171
erythrops 171
Neotoma desertorum 127
IV to 1 o in od o it 127
Bfeotoinodoii alstoni 128
o r iz abse 129
perotcnsis 129
Nesonj'cteris 112
Noctilionidse 109
Notopterus 112
Nycteridfe 11"
Nyctidromus albicollis 135
albicollis iiisiilaris 9
Ochthoeca poliogaster it 1
Odocoileus aeapulcensis hH
ecrrosensis Ml
coluinbiaiius scapliiotus 101
coliimbianus sitkensis 100
hemionus M1'
hemionns ealifornieus I'd
nel son i 103
speleus l"11
tbomasi 102
truei 102
virginianus 100
Odontophorus lineolatus 65
thoracicus 66
Officers v. \ii
Ornithion pusillum 136
Ortbriomys 106
( >rtyx thoracicus 65
Oryzomys antillarum 91
flavicaiiM illectus 164
mexicanus 15
nelsoni 15
vietus 91
Osgood, W. II.: Natural history of
l.i illon Islands ix
Ostinops deeumanus 177
Otopterus bulleri 18
mexicanus 18
Palmer, T. S. : Neomylodon x
Nomenclature of Chiroptera...
109-114
Palmer, Wm.: Birds of Pribilof Ids... vii
Feather repigmentation ix
Panallodon 99
Panychlora russata 171
Passerina parellina 62
sumiehrasti 62
Pedomys 106
Penelope argyrotis 132
Peromyscus canadensis abietorum si
an r if ns 119
him. tiis 83
canadensis 83
co nipt us !_<»
zarbyncbuv cristobalensis.. 117
difficilis 123
fell pen sis 122
if rill us 123
guatemalensis l Is
hylocctes 124
keeni 83
Page
Peromyscus lcpturus 119
levipes 123
macrorhinus 83
madreiisis 16
megalops 119
mekistiirus 124
musculoiiles 124
nelsoni 116
canadensis nubiterrse 84
oaxacensis 122
oreas 84
mexicanus orizabse 121
mexicanus saxatilis 121
sitkensis s:;
spicilegus M
teliuantepecus 122
tbomasi 116
mexicanus totonlciiccus 121)
canadensis umbrinus 84
zarliynclius 117
Petasophora delphitne 135
Phenacomys. I"1'
Philander cicur 161
derbianils "'-
ornatus li;-
Phocsena communis M
Phoenicothraupis affinis |_"
rubicoides roseus 60
rubra 60
Phcethornis anthophilus 135
longirostris 134
Phylloderma stenops 11°
Phyllostoma amblyotis m
Phyllostomatidse no
Piaya eayana mehleri 133
Pie'ters, A. J.: Problems of aquatic
vegetation x
Pionus in en st runs 132
sordidus 133, 172
Pipra anrieapilla 137
Piranea faveta 141
hsemalea HI
rubra HI
testacea HI
Pitangus iolata 173
derbianus rufipennis 137
Pitymys 89, 105
Pcecilothraupis melanogenys 179
Polioptila bilineata 144
Pollard, C. L. : Poinciana regia and
Cwsalpinia bonducella in southern
Florida ix
Fauna and flora of the Florida
Keys ix
Floral asymmetry in Chavuz-
crista '. xii
Polyborus clieriway pallidns .... 8
Poospiza bilineata 61
Porzana albigularis „ 157, 172
I'otaiuon abbotli 27
berardi 27
levicervix 2S
macropus 29
obtusipes -■■ 27
pealianus 28
soeotrensis 27
transversus 29
Preble, E. A.: New weasel from Brit-
ish Columbia 169
Proenias tersa oecidentalis 179
Procyon cancrivorus 11
lotor elucus 92
lotor hernandezi 17
lotor iiisiilaris 17
m a y n -t r di 92
Prodelphinus longirostris 19
Progne dominicensis 60
»■ i tit lose 59
Protonotaria citrea 143
Indea
195
Page
Pteroglossus torquatus 134
Pteropodidae ill
Pteropus segyptiacus 112
amplexicaudatus 1 12
collaris 112
stramineus 112
Putorius cicognani 169
1 1. 1 iil;i i i« ;u UK)
kadiacensis 169
Ramphastos breviearinatus 134, 157
Ramphocsenus rufiventris sanctaemar-
tfe 13S
Rathbun, Mary J. : New erabs of the
genus Potamon 27-30
lleillirodoiitomys lecontei im-
piger 167
Rhogeesa minutilla ;it
parvula 18
Rhynchocyclus flaviventris 136
sulpnureseens 136, 176
Richardson, Harriet : New Isopod of
the genus Mga ?.;•
Rose, .1. N.: Rearrangement of Agaveae. x
Rousettus 112
Rupornis magnirostris 132
Saccopteryx calcarata 110
ivledi 110
Saltator magnus Ho, its
striatipectus 140
Sayornis eineracea 135, 174
Seiurus eestuans 146
n 1 1, ni 147
arizonensis 14s
social is cocos 155
albipes colimensis 152
colliei I4'.i
deppei 147
albipes < ll'iii;i n- 152
finlaysoni 1S4
aiireogaster frumeiitor 154
carolinensis fuliginosus 14s
gold ma ni 14'J
miImiii i liirtus 153
hoffmanni 1 17
boothire managiu ii»i- 150
neglige as 147
albipes iieinoralis 151
albipes querciiiiis 150
iiiliinoii.il 140
variabilis saltueiisis 185
oculatus toilli :v l (s
yucatanensis 148
Sclerurus albigularis 177
Seiurus motacilla 143
Setophaga flavivertex 180
ruticilla 1 1 1
verticalis 180
Slgmodon sanvtsemartee 189
bogotensis i -.; t
Simpson, C. T.: Destruction of fresh-
water mussels xi
Smith, E. F.: Migula's System, der Bak-
terien .' viii
Spermopbiliis 13-liiiealus alleni 71
armatus 69
beldingi 69
mollis cauus 70
oregonus i;:i
pallidus 71
parvus 71
Page
S per mopiiilus mollis Stephens!.. 69
13-lineatus texensis 71
mollis yakimensis 70
Spiza americana I4u
Sporophila 159
Sporophilagutturalis 179
Stelgidopteryx uropygialis 142
C. W. : Suggestions in regard to
trichinosis viii
Strophiortyx lineolatus 66
Sublegatiis glaber 13G
Swingle, W. T. • Additions t<> knowl-
edge of cell vii
Sy calls browni 139
Synallaxis albescens 177
fuscorufa 177
Synidotea .".4
Syrnium perspicillatum 132
virgatum 157
Tachyphonus rufus 160, 179
Tanagra can a m
palmarum melanoptera 141
Tayassu angulatus 164
tajacu 164
tonus 164
Thalurania columbica 135, 174
Thamnophilus melanonotus 138
ueevius 138
Thompson. E. S. : Personality of wild
animals ' jx
Tlious <j4
Thryophilus minlosi 144
I'h rye it horns t'elix 11
laetus 160, 180
lawicncii magdalense 11
Tityra semifasciata
Todirostrum nigriceps 135
schistaeeieeps 135
Tonatia bidens ill
Trochilus corallirostris 63
Trogon ambiguus goldma ni s
True. F. W. : A Japanese entomolog-
ical journal xi
Truncatulina .".]
Trygenycteris 112
Turdus alicise lit
Tyranniscus ehrysops 175
griseieeps 136
Tyraiinus melancholieus satrapa .. 1:17. 176
U
Urocyon aquilns 93
cinereo-argenteus 93
Vron voter is 114
Vampyrus bidens Ill
cirrhosus in
soricinus 111
spectrum ill
Vespertilio calcaratus 110
cephalotes 112
Vireo chivi agilis 112
nanus ".!)
liypocbrysus sordiilus In
Volatinia jacarini splendens 139
Vulpes delrtrix 31J
pennsylyanica 36
rubricosa 38
196 The Biological Society of Washington.
W Page
Woods, A. F. : Exhibition of skele-
Page tonized leaves xi
Waite, M. B. : Fasciation in the black
locust viii
Webber, II. .1. : Additions to knowl-
edge ofeell vii
Reproduction of cyeadaceous
Xantharpyia Ill
Xenops genibarbis 138
See'd"p'rodiretion'in's'e'e'dTi'n'g's'.'.' xi Xiphocolaptes procerus 177
Types <>f fecundation in flow-
plants x
ering plants xi
Affinities of Casuarina xii
Williams, T. A. : Occurrences of Hy- Zalophus californianus 17
drotheria venosa x Zamelodia ludoviciana Ho
WH l^MF B
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