16 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1893. 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF NEOTOMA FROM PENNSYLVANIA. 



By Witmer Stone. 



I have recently obtained through the kindness of Mr. J. G. Dillin 

 two specimens of a wood rat which were secured near the top of 

 South Mountain (2,000 ft.), Cumberland County, Penna., some six 

 miles from Pine Grove, at a point known as Lewis's Cave, 

 which constitute the first record of the occurrence of the genus 

 Neotoma in this State. 



The first specimen of this rat secured by Mr. Dillin was a 

 male, and was taken in a trap set for raccoons. It was at once rec- 

 ognized as diffei'ent from the common brown rat, and was preserved 

 with a view to having its identity settled, but was afterward unfor- 

 tunately lost. 



The next day, Dec. 2, 1892, a female specimen was secured and 

 was brought to me in the flesh. At my request Mr. Dillin wrote 

 to friends who were hunting on South Mountain and secured one 

 more specimen. 



After comparing these two specimens with a series of Neotomas 

 from the collection of the American Museum of Natural History 

 kindly loaned me by Mr. F. M. Chapman and some specimens 

 loaned by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, of the U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture, I am convinced that they represent an undescribed species, 

 for which I propose the name of Neotoma pennsylvanica. 



This species may be distinguished from N. floridana of the South 

 Atlantic and Gulf States by its larger size, its densely hairy and 

 distinctly bicolored tail and by certain well marked cranial charac- 

 ters. 



The specimens here described are both females, and are perhaps 

 not quite full sized, though evidently adult. The male specimen, 

 according to Mr. Dillin's account, must have been at least twenty 

 inches (508 mm.) long, and had the tail more hairy than the two in 

 my possession. The detailed description follows : 



Neotoma pennsylvanica sp. nov. Pennsylvania Wood Rat. 



Type No. 156 Collection of Witmer Stone, 9 South Mountain, 

 Cumberland County, Penna., Dec. 2, 1892. J. G. Dillin. 



General color similar to that of N. floridana, plumbeous above 

 with a number of black hairs interspersed and a yellowish brown 



