726 



EODENTIA 



noticeably more rounded. Upper incisors slightly projecting 

 when mouth is closed. Ear well developed but low, scarcely 

 appearing above surface of fur, and extending barely more than 

 half-way to eye when laid forward, its outline sub-circular ; 

 meatal valve well developed, bluntly triangular, naked ; both 

 surfaces of ear thinly clothed with rather long hairs. Eye small, 

 its position half-way between muzzle and ear. jVEuzzle pad small, 

 naked, with no special peculiarities, its lower border continuous 

 with naked median groove of upper lip. Front foot broad and 

 robust, though not specially enlarged ; inner digit rudimentary, 

 smaller than the smallest palmar tubercle, its dorsal surface 

 covered by the closely appressed nail ; fifth extending to base of 

 third and fourth, second about to middle of third ; third and 

 fourth digits sub-equal and longest, the third slightly exceeding 

 fourth ; scales on under surface of digits well defined, three to 

 five in number ; claws well developed, slender, slightly curved, 

 their length about equal to that of first phalanx of the respective 

 digits. Palmar tubercles five, all well developed, the two posterior 

 sub-equal and largest, that lying between bases of third and 

 fourth digits smallest ; surface of palm between tubercles 

 iri-egularly wrinkled. Hind foot large, slightly but evidently 

 " feathered " for swimming ; first digit extending scarcely to 

 base of second, fifth to just beyond middle of fourth ; second, 

 third and fourth digits sub-equal, the third slightly the longest 

 and second slightly the shortest of the three ; scales on under 

 surface of digits well defined, three to four number ; claws slightly 

 larger and more robust than those of fore foot. Sole naked 

 throughout, except for a sprinkling of fine hairs on posterior 

 third which usually produces a slight pubescence. Plantar 

 tubercles five, well developed, fully as large as pads at base of 

 corresponding claws, occupying about one-half surface of region 

 in which they lie, the skin between them finely granular like 

 that of posterior portion of sole except for a noticeable smooth 

 area indicating position of sixth tubercle ; outline of tubercles at 

 base of first and fifth digits sub-circular, that of the others 

 naiTOwly ovate ; postero-internal tubercle slightly larger than 

 any of the others, that at base of first digit smallest. Tail thick 

 at base, tapering noticeably toward tip ; when laid forwai'd it 

 extends about to shoulders or slightly beyond ; annulations 

 evident, though somewhat irregular, about 15 to the centimeter 

 at middle of tail ; hairs numei'ous, about 4 to 5 mm. in length, 

 nearly concealing the annulations and forming a slight pencil. 

 Mammaj : jj 2 — 2, «' 2 — 2 = 8. 



Colour. — Upper parts ranging from broccoli-brown to mai-s- 

 brown or darker, in most specimens rather heavily overlaid with 

 black, though the latter is usually not in excess of the gi-ound- 

 colour ; median dorsal region darkest, sides and face lightest, 

 though without noticeable contrast, the sides of body usually 

 somewhat " lined " with black, the sides of head to, and including 



