1895. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 347 



different in shape. There is considerable variation in this latter feature 

 in other armadillos. 



In 1873 Gray published figures of two skulls similar to that of the 

 Honduras specimen.^ For one of these he established the species 

 Xenunis latirostris, and for the other a new genus, Zipliila, with 

 Z. liigubris as a new species. 



Judging from the figures alone (for the descriptions are to some 

 extent self-contradictory), the skulls represent closely allied, if not the 

 same, species. The figures are presumably of natural size, though it is 

 not so stated. If such is the case, the skull of Z. lugubris is somewhat 

 larger than the Honduras specimen, but practically identical in form 

 The former difl'ers in that it has a somewhat thicker nuizzle and less 

 elevated frontal sinus. In the skull of X. latirostris the muzzle is 

 shorter and broader still, and the frontal sinus is also still less elevated. 



In view of the large amount of individual and age variation which 

 the armadillos present, it is perhaps reasonable to suppose that the 

 skulls of both X. latirostris and Ziphila lugubris, together with that of 

 the Honduras specimen, are specifically identical with A', hispidus. 

 It is not possible to demonstrate this, however, with the material now 

 available, and the present paper is intended rather as a contribution 

 toward the solution of that question. Its prime object is to record the 

 presence of the genus Xenurus in Central America. 



1 Hand-list of Edentates, 1873, pp. 22, 23, pi. 7, tigs. 1-4. 



