310 Mr. O. Thomas on new Mammals 



Blarinomys *, gen. nov. 



Most nearly allied to Oxymycterus. Form talpine or sori- 

 cine, modified for burrowing. Head short, conical. Eyes 

 quite minute. Ears small. Claws long, as in Oxymycterus ; 

 a distinct claw on the pollex ; feet proportionally broad. 

 Tail short. Fur crisp, velvety, iridescent. 



Skull with most of the characters of that of Oxymycterus^ 

 but much shortened in the face and broadened posteriorly, 

 so that the zygomatic barely exceeds the posterior cranial 

 breadth. Interparietal entirely absent. Structure of molars 

 as in the allied genus. 



Type " Oxymycterus " bi-eviceps, Winge t- 



The peculiarities of 0. hreviceps, now for the first time 

 properly known, render its retention in the genus Oxymycte~ 

 rus impossible. No doubt it is most nearly allied to that 

 genus, but its blunt conical head, minute eyes, stiff iridescent 

 fur, and absent interparietal are characters of such importance 

 as to demand its generic separation. 



The species was founded by Winge on the muzzle of a 

 skull found fossil in the bone-caves of Lagoa Santa, and has 

 not hitherto been known in the recent condition. The 

 following description of the animal may therefore be of 

 service. The specimen described is an adult male preserved 

 in spirit, and was obtained by the well-known naturalist 

 Dr. Emil A. Goeldi at Colonia Alpina, Theresopolis, Rio 

 Janeiro. 



Size and form about as in the short-tailed field-vole 

 [Microtus agrestis). Fur short, velvety, crisp, and almost 

 semispinous, some of the hairs being broadened and flattened. 

 Colour of fur all over above and below uniform dark slaty 

 grey, the tips of the hairs brown ; a marked iridescence, 

 chiefly ruby colour, visible on the back, at least while the 

 fur is wet. Tip of muzzle, chin, and eyelids without brown 

 hairs, and therefore in spirit showing prominently white; 

 probably flesh-coloured in life. Eyes minute, hidden in the 

 fur, scarcely 1^ millim. in their longest diameter. Ears very 

 small, thickly furry, not projecting above the fur of the head. 

 Palate-ridges 3 — 4. Hands and feet brown above ; under- 

 side of heel hairy, brown ; pads 5 in front, 6 behind, the 

 latter very small. Tail thinly hairy, uniformly brown. 



Dimensions : — 



Head and body 92 millim.; tail 46; hind foot 15'3 ; 

 ear 9, flap of ear measured from behind 4*7. 



* From Blarina, the genus of American short-tailed Shrews. 

 t E Museo Lundii, iii. p. 34 (1887). 



