266 REPORT ON ZOOLOGY, MDCCCXL1V. 



illarms, Ev., and var. b. brachyotis = D. spiculitnt, Licht. As a result 

 supported upon an examination of more than thirty specimens, Brandt 

 here reduces four species into one, and in this respect he may be right, 

 since we also know now, from the observations of others, that the length of 

 the ears and the tail, as well as the colouring, is subject to diverse vari- 

 ations. Blasius had already remarked that D. vexillarius is not different 

 from D. Jaculus, and Eversmanu doubted the propriety of the distinction 

 between the latter and D. decumauus. 3, So. Acontion ; 4, Sc. elater, 

 according to Brandt, probably one in kind with the preceding species, since 

 it deviates from it only in such characters as have been found to be change- 

 able in D. Jaculus. 5, Sc. indicus, Gray; 6. Sc. arundinis ; 7, Sc. aalacotis. 

 Gen. III. Platycercomys, Brandt : dentes molares 2 ; cauda pictura sagitti- 

 formi privata. 1, PI. platyurus -= D. platyurus, Licht. Brandt gives a 

 detailed description of this species. 



CHIXCILLINA. We have been informed by Bridges (Ann. Nat. Hist, 

 xiv, p. 5G) that Lagotes pallipes inhabits the east side of the Cliilian Andes ; 

 he found these annuals at a height of 4000 to 5000 feet, between Yilla- 

 viceucia and Uspallata, in a rocky valley. 



ORYCTERINA. Octodon yliroides has been established as a new species 

 by P. Gervais and A. d'Orbigny. (Rev. Zool. p. 123.) The colour and 

 character of the hair remind us of that in Myoxus glis and the Chiucilla. 

 Hairs white, ashy gray above, white below. Tail blackish brown beneath, 

 tipped with the same colour, and somewhat pencil-like (en balai.) The new 

 species is distinguished from O. Cumingii, of whose size it is, by the molar 

 teeth being somewhat less extended, especially the fourth, which has less 

 oblique plaits, the upper being more triangular and the lower more in the 

 form of the Arabian eight (or 8) with the exception of the posterior, the 

 crown whereof is rod-like (la partie eburnee est virgidiforme), with external 

 notches, and not with internal as in 0. Cumiugii. In this, the same tooth 

 and its corresponding fellow in the upper jaw is less different in form and com- 

 pass from the preceding one than in (J. gliroides. The new species comes 

 from the heights of the Bolivian Andes in La Paz, where it lives principally 

 upon Cactus. This opportunity serves to remind me that another new 

 species, and thus the third of this genus, has come to hand from Chili ; 

 upon it I bestow the name of Octodon pallidus, with the diagnosis : 0. 

 lutesceus, infra pallidior, pedibus apiccque caudse subpenicillato albentibus. 

 Bridges has furnished some information concerning the residence and habits 

 of Octodon Cumingii, Schizodonfuscus, and Poephagomys ater. (Ann. of Nat. 

 Hist, xiv, p. 54.) 



CUNICULARIA. Instead of rejoicing in the sound discrimination between 

 the genera of this family, as acquired by closer examination of the skull and 

 dentition, P. Gervais endeavours, if it were yet possible, to throw these 

 again into confusion. In the ' Diet. Univ. d'Hist. Nat.' iv, p. 443, he 



