VOL. XII, PP. 97-98 APRIL 30, 1898 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



A NEW RABBIT FROM MARGARITA ISLAND, 

 VENEZUELA* 



BY GERRIT S. MILLER, JR. 



The small collection of mammals taken on Margarita Island, 

 Venezuela, by Lieut. Wirt Robinson during the summer of 1895 

 proves to be exceptionally rich in novelties. Of the six species 

 that it contains, two f have already been described in these Pro 

 ceedings as new, while I now find that a third, the rabbit pre 

 viously recorded as Lepus brasiliensis, differs specifically from its 

 mainland representative. It may stand as : 



Lepus margaritae sp. nov. 

 Lepus brasiliensis Robinson, Proc. U. S. National Museum, XVIII, p. 651. 



Type No. 63217, United States National Museum, $ adult, collected on 

 Margarita Island, Venezuela, July 1, 1895, by Lieut. Wirt Robinson, 

 U. S. Army. Original number 369. 



General characters. In size, cranial characters, and general appearance 

 most like Lepus cumanicus Thomas J of the adjacent mainland, but with 

 under side of tail dull yellowish brown instead of white, rump strongly 

 suffused with rufous, and sides of head without conspicuous black spot 

 between eye and base of ear. 



Color. General color of back and sides a conspicuous grizzle of black 

 ish brown and pale whitish buff, the buff slightly paler on sides, and the 

 black somewhat heavier on back. Soft, woolly under fur light plum- 



* Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institu 

 tion. 



f Rhogeessa minutilla Miller, and Marmosa robinsoni Bangs. 



J Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 6th ser., XX, p. 552, December, 1897. 



23 BIOL. Soc. WASH., VOL. XII, 1898 (97) 



