OCR Text |
Show 1884.] MURID^ FROM CENTRAL PERU. 455 Calomys (s. s.), of whose subgeneric validity there can be no question, although, judged by the skull only, it might be joined with the great mass of Hesperomyes to which I apply the name Oryzomys. However, its members are so different externally from any of the other Vesper-mice (see the subgeneric diagnoses given above), that it is certainly worthy of the rank originally given it by Waterhouse. The only species belonging to it are H. bimaculatus, gracilipes, and elegans, to which some authors would perhaps think H. lepidus should be added as a distinct species ; but without seeing more specimens of the true H. bimaculatus, I do not care to describe the present form as more than a geographical variety of that animal. 7. HESPEROMYS (VESPERIMUS) CINEREUS, Thos. (?) S. No. 10. a. One specimen, Maraynioc. Head and Forearm Ear- Muzzle body. Tail. Hind foot, and band. conch. to ear. a. 8 hmri. .. 89 124 29*2 31*5 16*5 26*2 A single immature male, in a bad state, is possibly referable to this interesting species. It differs from the type, however, in having the tips of the hairs rufous instead of grey, in its even more hairy ears, and in its perfect!}* unicolor tail-characters often of specific importance, but not sufficient to justify the description of a new species from an immature specimen only. The skull and hind foot of the typical specimen from North Peru are figured in Plate XLIV. figs. 2-5. 8. * H E S P E R O M Y S ( H A B R O T H R I X ) SCALOPS, Gay, Chili, Zool. i. p. 108(1817). (Plates XLIII. fig. 1,and XLIV. figs. 1,15, and 16.) Nine specimens : a to g, Junin ; h and i, Maraynioc. a. b. c. d. e. h. ?•• 2 •• 2-- 8 •• 8 •• 8-. Head and body. .. 112 .. 104 .. 100 98 93 .. 92 Tail. 76 76 74 61 67 71 Hind foot. 21*6 21*3 21*6 21*3 21*8 21*8 Forearm and hand. 28*2 27*3 27*3 27*9 27*9 27*3 Ear-conch. 15-5 13*0 13*4 14*5 14*5 14*5 Muzzle to ear. 26*5 25*2 24*1 24 0 23*4 24*0 Skull-dimensions. Total Basal Zygom. Molar Inc. to Palat. Palat. Interorb. Basal Lower length, length. br. series, ml. length, foram. constr. axis. jaw. Skull of e. ... 28-1 26*0 14-0 3-8 7-4 127 64 46 8*3 152 Fur soft, of medium length. General colour dark grey, tinged on the back with chestnut. Muzzle and face, ears, feet, and lower side of tail rich rufous, forming a marked contrast to the general grey colour. Ears thickly haired, rather narrow, without a projection; laid forward they just reach to the centre of the eye. Tail hairy, bicolor, dark brown with a tinge of chestnut above, pale rufous-yellow below. Belly dull grey. Soles naked, flesh-coloured, |