V.-THE FLORIDA MUSKRAT (NEOFIBER ALLENI, TRUE). 



Bv Frederick W. True. 



lu the summer of 1884 I made known for the first time the charac- 

 teristics of a peculiar rodent, a single specimen of which was received 

 from Florida iu December of the previous year.* No additional speci- 

 mens of the animal have been thus far received, nor any new informa- 

 tion regarding its habits and distribution. It is mj- purpose in this 

 paper simply to describe in detail the superficies and skeleton of the 

 original specimen and to discuss its*generic and specific characters. 



The type specimen was procured by William Wittfeld. ]*lsq., a corre- 

 spondent of the Smithsonian Institution, in the vicinity of Georgiana^ 

 Brevard County, Florida. Georgiana is situated on Merritt's Island^ 

 at the northern extremity of Indian River, nearly opposite Cape Cana- 

 veral. The islaud is about 35 miles in length from north to south, and 

 some 5 or C miles iu breadth at the widest part. It is se])arated froni 

 the mainland by a strait about 5 miles iu breadth. 



The collection in which the round-tailed muskrat was found con- 

 tained representatives of Mus rattus,Hesperomys hucopus, ScalojJS acpiati- 

 CMS, and a species of Sorex. 



Neofiber, True. 



Xeojiber, Science, iv, 75, p. 34, July 11, 18d4 ; Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vii, p. 170, July 

 29, 1884. 



Form, arvicoline. Tail nearly as long as body, terete, nearly naked ► 

 Hind toes in a line with the metatarsals, scarcely webbed. Thumb with 

 a claw. 



Anterior cusps of molars rounded interiorly, acute externally. Last 

 lower molar with 4 cusps, re-entrant angles alternating. 



Parietals widest iu front, but with an angular i)Ostero lateral exten- 

 sion. Interparietal wider than long. Surface of mastoid not dee]>ly: 

 concave. 



Pelvis and pes not longer than skull. Transverse processes of luin- 



• Science, iv, No. 75, July 11, 1884, p. 34. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vii, 1884, pp. 170- 



172 (Julv 29). 



325 



