Vol. XI, pp. 43-44 March 16, 1897 



PROCEEDINGS 



i^.^/ 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON/^ ^ ^•^ 



Ut 6 



DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW MURINE OPOSSUMS 



FROM MEXICO. 



BY C. HART MERRIAIM. 



Two very different type.s of pi.omy opossunLS are known from 

 Mexico — -the 'red' or rufous Mnrmosn miiriiia (Linn.) and tlie 

 pale asli}^ gray M. canesccns (Allen). Mr. Nelson obtained rep- 

 resentatives of M. murina at Chicharras and Huehuetan, C/iiapas, 

 and Jutpiila, Oaxoca, and of M. canescens at Santo Domingo de 

 Guzman, Isthmus of Tehuantepec (the type locality); Puerto 

 Angel, Tlapancingo, and Oaxaca, Oaxaca ; Amolac, Fuehla ; 

 Tlapa, Lochi. and Aca}julco, Guerrero, and Hacienda Magda- 

 lena. CoUvin. 



The specimens of the M. murina type are paler rufous than 

 the tyi)ical form and have the middle of the face abruptl}^ lighter, 

 so that it is necessary to recognize them as a geographic race or 

 subspecies. The Oaxaca specimens of the r((nescens type are 

 markedlv darker than typical canescen>< and differ in other re- 

 spects. The form is here described as distinct under the name 

 M. oaxacx. 



Marmosa oaxacae sp. nov. 



Ti/pe {vom City of Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico. No. (38240, 9 adult, U. S. 

 National Museum, Biological Survey collection. Collected August 14, 

 1894, by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Original No. 6571. 



Geogniplilc didrihittion.—Sonoran fauna of highlands of Oaxaca ; limits 

 of range unknown. 



General character.^.— Size smuW, amMer than a iialf-grown rat; similar 

 to M. canescem (Allen), hut very much darker, and with the dark of upper 

 parts reaching wrists and ankles ; feet and ears smaller. 



8— Bior. Soc. Wash., Vc\. X[, 1897 (4:i) 



