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Show 102 MR. O. THOMAS ON RODENTS FROM PERU. [Jan. 17, quil Rat as Nectomys apicalis, g. and sp. n., the genus being founded on the presence of short webs to the toes, including H. squamipes, Bts., from which JV. apicalis was separated on account of its only having 5 instead of 6 hind-foot pads. I do not, however, think that the presence of webs to the feet is a character of generic importance, and should prefer to regard Nectomys as only a subgenus of Holochilus. The specific distinction of H. apicalis is, no doubt, quite correct, as all the specimens in the present collection agree in having only 5 hind-foot pads. None of them have, however, the white tip to the tail described by Prof. Peters ; but this is no doubt a point in which there may be considerable variation. The incisors of H. apicalis were originally said to be snow-white ; but the present specimens do not agree with this, their incisors being pale yellow; but they are certainly very much lighter-coloured than in H. squamipes, where they are a rich orange. Notwithstanding these differences, I do not think there can be any doubt that these specimens belong to Prof. Peters's species, as they agree perfectly in size, locality, and the very important character of the number of the foot-pads. There is in the British Museum another specimen of this species, collected by Mr. J. K. Salmon at Concordia, Medellin, U . S. of Colombia. (a) " Appeared to be aquatic, although caught iu a cultivated field." (b) " Killed in an arm of the river just as it was seizing a branch of a Guava-tree, which touched the surface of the water. It had in its stomach an aromatic mass composed of fruity substance. It swims perfectly, only coming out late in the evening, and is probably the animal which gnaws the fish taken in the Indians' nets. It is not possible to catch it in a rat-trap." 4. HESPEROMYS (CALOMYS) LATICEPS, Lund, Blik p. Bras. Dyrev. iii. p. 279 (1841). a-c. Huambo, 3700', April and M a y 1880. Head and Forearm Ear-conch, Muzzle body. Tail. Hind foot. and hand. length. to ear. a. S.. 50 6*3 1*35 1*44 *70 1*14 To this species I refer three specimens, of which, however, only one is adult. The tarsus seems to be somewhat longer than in the original specimens; but otherwise it agrees very fairly with a specimen of H. laticeps in the Museum collection from the original locality, Bahia. This Bahian specimen, however, is only a skin; and it is therefore quite possible that spirit-specimens would show such differences from the Peruvian one, that, combined with the greater length of the tarsus and the difference in locality, a new species would have to be formed for the latter. The following is a description of the adult individual, a male:- Fur rather short and close, compared with that of R. albigularis or leucodactylus. General colour above dull brown, very finely |
