MAMMALS FROM MOUNT COFFEE, LIBERIA 639 



DASYMYS RUFULUS sp. nov. 



Type. — Adult male (skin and skull) no. 83844, U. S. National 

 Museum. Collected at Mount Coffee, Liberia, Africa, March 30, 

 1897. 



Characters. — Plantar tubercles five as in D. iiicotnptus VinCi. D. ben- 

 tleycB. Color much paler than in either of these, the dorsal area very 

 slightly darker than sides and su^2ised with red. In size about equal 

 to D. bentleyce., but tail shorter, the jDroportions thus more nearly as 

 in D. incojnptus. Skull smaller than that of D. hico?nptzis^ the zygo- 

 matic width relatively less, the audital bulls relatively smaller, and 

 teeth, especially the incisors, less robust. 



JFur. — The fur is fine but harsh, though w^ithout bristles. It con- 

 sists of soft underfur and coarse somewhat iridescent hairs, the longer 

 of which (about 20 mm. in length) are grooved, as -may be seen on 

 examination with a lens. Throughout the pelage the color zones on 

 the individual hairs fade gradually into each other. On both back and 

 belly the grooved hairs are light colored at base in contrast with the 

 dark underfur through which they pass. 



Color. — General color of dorsal surface wood-brown or clay color, 

 finely though not conspicuously grizzled by darker and lighter hair 

 tips, and dulled by appearance at surface of gray (Ridgway, p1. ii, 

 NO. 7) underfur. Throughout the dorsal area there is a distinct suf- 

 fusion of red, somewhat variable according to light, but always notice- 

 able on crown, shoulders, flanks, and about base of tail. The color 

 of the back fades insensibly into dull grizzled ochraceous-buff on sides, 

 and this into dull cream-buff on belly, where the dark bases of the 

 hairs produce irregular and noticeable clouding. Muzzle and face 

 hair-brown in rather marked contrast with crown and cheeks. Ears 

 closely furred with short, dull brown hairs. Feet an indefinite hair 

 brown. Tail dark brown above, faintly lighter below, but not bicolor. 



Feet. — The feet are broad and strong, with toes of normal propor- 

 tions. Soles with five tubercles, the hindermost of which is largest. 



Tail. — The rather stout tail is distinctly and regularly annulated, 

 the rings not obscured by hair. At middle there are- ten rings to the 

 centimeter. Each ring is divided into fairly well defined rectangular 

 sections or scales slightly broader than long. In length the numerous 

 fine hairs that spring from between the rings are about equal to width 

 of two rings. At tip the rings become narrower and less definite and 

 the hairs longer, but without forming a pencil. 



Skull. — As compared with that of D. incomptus the skull of 



