VOL. XII, pp. 93-94 APRIL 30, 1898 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW FOX FROM SANTA MARTA, 



COLOMBIA. 



BY OUTRAM BANGS. 



Among a small lot of mammals just received from Wilmot W. 

 Brown, Jr., who is making collections in the Santa Marta Moun 

 tains, Colombia, for the Bangs collection, are two examples of 

 an interesting new fox, which may be known as 



Urocyon aquilus * sp. nov. 



Ti/pefrom Santa Marta Mountains, Colombia, altitude between 2000 and 

 3000 feet, J old adult, No. 8001, coll. of E. A. and O. Bangs. Collected 

 Feb. 10, 1898, by W. W. Brown, Jr. Grig. No. 58. 



Specific characters. Similar in general external appearance to U. cinereo- 

 argenteus; colors dark, black the predominating color of upper parts, dull 

 ochraceous buff of under parts ; size small ; tail short ; skull large and 

 massive, differing much from that of the North American gray foxes 

 (true Urocyon). 



Color and pelage. Upper parts : Pelage short, hispid, the hairs banded, 

 mostly with four distinct rings wood-brown at base, then black, then 

 wood-brown and black tipped, the black tips deeper along back from 

 behind ears to base of tail, shorter and less conspicuous on sides and top 

 of head, the black predominating on dorsal region and mixed black and 

 dull brownish on sides ; under fur mouse-gray at base, yellowish at tips ; 

 sides of neck behind ears tawny, under parts dull ochraceous buff with 

 a decided vinaceous tint on lower belly, at base of tail and between arms ; 

 chin grizzled black; toes and fingers dull brownish black ; ears brownish 

 black, dull tawny around edges, nearly naked inside; tail very short, 

 narrow, not bushy, black above and at tip, dull clay color below. 



*Aquilus = dark-colored. 



21 BIOL. Soc. WASH., VOL. XII, 1898 (93) 



