VOL. VIII, PP. 143-146 DECEMBER 29, 1893 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTIONS OF FOUR NEW 



MAMMALS FROM SOUTHERN MEXICO, 



COLLECTED BY E. W. NELSON. 



BY C. HART MERRIAM, M. D. 



Lepus orizabee sp. nov. 



MT. ORIZABA COTTONTAIL. 



Type from MT. ORIZABA, STATE OF PUEBLA, MEXICO (altitude about 9,500 

 feet). No. 53318 $ ad. United States National Museum, Department of 

 Agriculture collection. Collected April 24, 1893, by E. W. Nelson (origi- 

 nal number, 4730). 



Measurements of Type Specimen (taken in flesh). Total length, 395 ; tail 

 vertebrae, 51 ; hind foot, 90. 



General Characters. Similar to L. arizonse in general appear- 

 ance and length of ear, but very much darker and differing con- 

 siderably in color ; pectoral band broad and full, forming a dis- 

 tinct ruff. 



Color. Head, back-saddle, and thigh streaks grizzled buffy 

 clay-color and black, the admixture of black plentiful and uni- 

 form ; flanks and rump mixed gray and black, the gray particu- 

 larly clear on rump ; upper side of tail grizzled drab-gray, with 

 tips of hairs buffy ; nape patch and fore and hind feet, dull 



23 BIOL. Hoc. WASH., Vol. VIII, 1893. (143) 



