NO. 5 MAMMALS OF PANAMA — GOLDMAN I3I 



The species is based on five specimens collected by J. H. Batty in 

 the spring of 1902. Four topotypes taken by the same collector and 

 sent to the American Museum of Natural History are recorded by 

 Allen (1904, p. 70) together with measurements of a larger series. 



Specimens examined : Coiba Island, 6.* 



Genus CUNICULUS Brisson. Pacas 

 The pacas are much more robust in form than the agoutis. The 

 head is broader, the neck short and thick, and the limbs stouter. The 

 toes of the hind feet are five instead of three in number. Another 

 distinctive feature is the white-striped and spotted pelage. The 

 broad head of the paca is due to the extraordinary expansion of the 

 zygomatic arches which enclose a cavity lined with mucous mem- 

 brane continuous with that of the mouth. 



CUNICULUS PACA VIRGATUS (Bangs) 

 Panama Paca; Conejo Pintado 

 Agouti paca virgahis Bangs, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. 39, No. 2, p. 47, 

 April, 1902. Type from Divala, Chiriqui, Panama. 



In allusion to its striped and spotted pelage the Panama paca is 

 known to the natives as " conejo pintado." It differs from C. paca 

 paca of South America in the encroachment of the white color of the 

 underparts along the sides and the partial obliteration of dark 

 stripes, a character which having proceeded still farther distinguishes 

 the Mexican paca, C. p. nelsoni, from the present form. 



Pacas are common in the Canal Zone and probably range in similar 

 numbers throughout the forested parts of Panama. They live in 

 burrows in the ground similar to those of agoutis. The burrows are 

 often placed on steep slopes or in rocky places, but may enter soft 

 soil where the ground is level. Like the agoutis they are mainly 

 nocturnal in habits and may easily be located and shot by the reflec- 

 tion of their eyes in the light of a hunting lamp. They are often 

 hunted with dogs and the skins being extremely tender many speci- 

 mens obtained in this way are much lacerated. The thin, papery skin 

 adheres tightly to the muscles and is also apt to be torn during the 

 skinning process. Owing to the superior quality of their flesh the 

 pacas are among the most important game animals of the region. 



While hunting one day in the forest at 2.000 feet near Cana I saw 

 a paca rush suddenly from a mass of leaves and small sticks a few 

 feet away and disappear in the forest undergrowth. On examining 

 the spot I found the animal had been resting in a cavity showing 



* Collection Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 



