JAN., 1912. MAMMALS, VENEZUELA AND COLOMBIA OSGOOD. 49 



any particular locality they are scarce and difficult to obtain. They 

 frequent the tops of trees most of the time none being seen on or near 

 the ground. Their extreme shyness was remarkable, and unless they 

 were suddenly surprised, it was impossible to get within gunshot of 

 them. 



Local name Ardita, variant of the Spanish ardilla. 



Epimys alexandrinus (Geoffrey). Roof Rat. 



One specimen, El Panorama, Rio Aurare. 



Rats are perhaps more abundant in the seaport of Maracaibo than 

 in the small interior villages but they are quite generally distributed, 

 even extending to isolated houses near regular routes of travel. 



Oryzomys meridensis Thomas. Merida Oryzomys. 



Nineteen specimens, Paramo de Tama, Feb. i2-Mch. 6. 



The habitat of these large long-tailed mice is in the cool depths of 

 the heavy forest which prevails on the high mountain slopes. Here they 

 live under logs and roots and about the mass of vegetable refuse cover- 

 ing the ground. Most of our specimens were caught in special size 

 mouse traps but these are not quite strong enough for them and a fair 

 percentage escaped. 



The series shows considerable uniformity in color and agrees with a 

 single typical specimen of meridensis but exhibits a few slight differences 

 from a series representing 0. m. maculiventer . The light markings of 

 the under parts are less extensive than in maculiventer and more nearly 

 pure white. The light inguinal area is much reduced and in some 

 specimens is practically nonexistent. It seems possible, therefore, 

 that maculiventer may be recognizable as a slight subspecies of meri- 

 densis and it remains to be seen whether or not both are subspecies of 

 albigularis. 



Average measurements of 10 adults are: Total length 303.3 (282- 

 326); tail vertebrae 161.7 (145-175); hind foot (c. u.) 33.4 (32-35). 



Oryzomys griseolus sp. nov. Grayish Pigmy Oryzomys. 



Type from Paramo de Tama, head of Tachira River, Venezuela. 

 Alt. 6,000-7,000 ft. No. 18635 Field Museum of Natural History. 

 Male adult. Collected March i, 1911, by W. H. Osgood and S. G. 

 Jewett. 



Characters. Most similar to Oryzomys vegetus Bangs but slightly 

 smaller and much duller in color; upper parts with an abundant mixture 



