( 305 ) 

 8'J. Crypturus vai'iegatus (Gm.). 



Telnw rdi-legatus Gmelin, Sijst. Nat. 1. ii, (1788) p. 7G8 (ex Daubenton, /'/. enl. 828 — Cayeaae). 

 Tiitamus varlegatu.^ Pelzelo, Zur Ornith. Brasil. iii. (1869) p. 2913 (Para). 



One S, not quite adult, January 19, 1904. No. 1914. " Iris brun." 

 Uift'ers from several specimens from British Guiana, collected by the late 

 H. Whitely, in its longer bill and in having the light bars on the upper surface 

 much broader and of a much brighter fulvous colour. The blackish barring on the 

 flanks, too, seems to be more restricted. A series is repaired, to contirm the 

 constancy of these divergencies or otherwise. 



NOTES ON ZAGLOSSITS AND DESCRIPTION OF A NEW 

 SUBSPECIES OF ECRIDNA KYSTBIX. 



BY THE HON. WALTER ROTHSCHILD, Ph.D. 



DR. K. TOLDT, Jan., has read a ])aper on the genus Zat/lossun GiW^Pro- 

 echidiia Gervais, before the K.K. Zoologisch-botauische Gesellschaft, in 

 Vienna, and in connection therewith wrote to me for particulars about my 

 Zaglossus nigroaculnata. I had occasion, therefore, in order to settle several 

 questions, to examine my series of nine specimens of Zaglossus, and I take the 

 opportunity to give a key of the genus and make some remarks. 



At first sight it became apparent that I had three very easily distingaishable 

 forms, which not only differ among themselves, but show the same comparative 

 differences as do the subspecies of Echidna In/sfrix. Although the genus Zaglossus, 

 according to some authors, sinks owing to occasional specimens liaving five or four 

 claws instead of three, I think the long curved " beak " and the extra-dorsal 

 and lumbar vertebrae, IT and 4 as opposed to 16 and 3, sufficiently warrant the 

 upholding of the genus. 



I have three specimens of each form of Zaqlossus, young and old, and I am 

 convinced of their distinctness. As all these specimens were procureil by native 

 hunters, the locality cannot be accurately ascertained, but there are in Dutch 

 New Guinea several distinct faunal areas, so that I have no hesitation in declaring 

 these three forms well separated and distinct " subspecies." I now give a key, 

 for the better identification of these three forms. 



Adults. 



1. Head pale brown or white, sharply separated from rest of body, spines 

 white : 2. 

 Head and body unil'urraly dark, spines black : :i. 

 'i. Hair pale brown, thick, long and wooll}', completely hiding spines, except on 

 flanks and sjionldeis : Zinjlossns lii'uijni vlllusi.s.stMa. 

 Ibiii- brownish blacl; or iilaik, short, thick, not hiding spines : Zaglossus 

 tirinjiti bruijni. 

 'i. Hair long, thin, bristly, spines somewhat flattened : Zaglossus bruijni nigra- 

 aculeata. 



