90 Holllster — Two Neiv Species of Epimys from Luzon. 



Measurements of type. — Total length, 253 mm. ; tail vertebrae, 130; hind 

 foot, 26. Skull: Condylobasal length, 20.1; zygomatic breadth, 15; 

 palatal length, 16.4; interorbital constriction, 4.fi; greatest breadth of 

 braincase, 13.4; length of nasals, 11.0. 



Remarks. — This rat is quite different from Epimys negrinus of Negros 

 Island. It is much lighter colored and has a more slender skull with 

 conspicuously smaller teeth. Curiously enough it seems much more closely 

 related to Epimys vulcani of Mindanao. The series from the type locality 

 contains nineteen specimens, collected in May and December. 



Epimys querceti sp. nov. 



Type from Haights-in-the Oaks, Benguet Province, Luzon, P. I. Alti- 

 tude 7,000 feet. United States National Museum Xo. 145,833, skin and 

 skull, adult d\ molars considerably worn. Collected August 1, 1907, by 

 Dr. Edgar A. Mearns. Original No. 6491. 



General characters. — Nearest in appearance to true Epimys ephippium 

 but averaging decidedly larger, with longer tail. 



Color. — Back and sides mixed with black and cinnamon, giving a 

 general tone of dark umber; very slightly paler on sides; outside of legs 

 like back; feet dirty white, almost gray. Tail dark brown, usually uni- 

 color, though a few specimens show a paler color near base below. 



Skull essentially like that of E. ephippium but averaging slightly 

 heavier. 



Measurements of type.— Total length, 293 ; tail vertebra 2 , 160 ; hind foot, 

 28. Skull: Condylobasal length, 30.7; greatest breadth of braincase, 

 13.7; palatal length, 17.2; interorbital constriction, 5.2; length of nasals, 

 11.6; length of upper molar series, alveoli, 5.1. Average flesh measure- 

 ments often adult specimens from the type locality and often adults of 

 Epimys ephippium from Borneo and Sumatra, the latter in parentheses : 

 Total length, 270.3 (258); tail vertebra?, 143.8 (130.2); bind foot, 27.4 

 (25.8). 



Remarks. — This form is readily distinguishable from Epimys calcis by 

 its larger size and darker coloration. It diffei'S from E. negrinus much as 

 does E. calcis, having smaller teeth and a somewhat more slender skull. 

 It also has much coarser pelage. It is more closely related to true E. 

 ephippium than are the other described Philippine forms of the group, 

 but its large size and long tail are specific characters of sufficient value. 

 Specimens examined, fifty-one, all from near the type locality. 



