from the. Neotropical Region. 309 



upper molar series 4*2. Lower jaw : condyle to incisor- 

 tip 16-8. 



Hah. Taquara, Kio Grande do Sul. 



Coll. Dr. H. von Ihering. 



Type B.M. .S6. 9. 16. 8. 



The two specimens of this species in the Museum are part 

 of the large collection of Taquara rodents worked out by 

 Dr. Leche"^, by whom the present animals were called Oxy- 

 viycterus nasutus, under which name they have remained in 

 the Museum collection until now. Among other rodents col- 

 lected by Dr. vonlhering at San Lorenzo, in the same province, 

 there are specimens undoubtedly referable to the true 0. nasu- 

 tus] but these two from Taquara, and no doubt the others seen 

 by Dr. Leche, are so different that there can be no question as 

 to their specific distinction f. Dr. Leche was no doubt led 

 astray by Hensel, in whose classical paper on the mammals 

 of Rio Grande do Sul J the species now described is also 

 referred to 0. nasutus. Hensel's account must therefore in 

 future be assigned to 0. Iheringi^ to our knowledge of whose 

 structure and habits he makes some valuable contributions. 

 The difference between the two forms is so great that it is 

 difficult at first sight to realize that 0. Iheringi is an Oxy- 

 mycterus at all, as it is quite without the extraordinary 

 trumpet-shaped muzzle possessed by 0. nasutus and its allies. 

 Probably it is most nearly related to Winge's 0. talpinus §, 

 as yet only known fossil from Lagoa Santa, but has rather a 

 shorter head and shorter palatine foramina ; so that 1 have 

 not been able to assign it to the fossil form, as in the case of 

 the animal next to be described. 



In niany ways 0. Iheringi leads up towards Blarinomys 

 (described below), but as it possesses an interparietal, it may 

 fairly be called an Oxymycterus for the present, in spite 

 of its not possessing the characteristic snout of ordinary 

 Oxymycterus. 



I have ventured to name this interesting species in honour 

 of Dr. H. von Ihering, now Director of the Sao Paulo 

 Museum, who obtained the specimens described, and to whose 

 exertions, both as collector and writer, we are indebted for 

 much of our knowledge of the fauna of Rio Grande do Sul. 



* Zool. Jahrb. i. p. 700 (1886). 



t Dr. Leche says that of nineteen skulls examined by him the largest 

 had a basilar length of 22 millim. The basilar length of the true 0. na- 

 sutus is from 27 to 29 millim. 



+ Abh. Ak. Berl. 1872, p. 43. 



§ E Museo Lundii, iii. p. 36 (1887). 



Ann. & Mojg. N. Hist. Ser. 6. Vol. xviii. 22 



