66 Mr. 0. Thomas on a new Species o/Hesperomjs. 



with the base, costal margin, the upper part of the cell, and 

 the exterior margin broadly dark brown. Posterior wings 

 with the base, the costal, exterior, and inner margins, two spots 

 near the anal angle, and an interrupted submarginal line dark 

 brown. 



Underside. Both wings greyish brown, lighter in the 

 middle, with the orange-colour showing through, crossed with 

 several bands of white and two white submarginal lines 

 Posterior wings with two spots near the anal angle, both 

 irrorated with silver, the spot furthest from the angle bor- 

 dered on three sides with orange. 



Expanse \~ inch. 



Uab. Delagoa Bay {Mrs. Monteiro), 



In the collection of H. Grose Smith. 



VII. — Diagnosis of a new Species o/* Hesperomys from North 

 America. By Oldfield Thomas. 



Hesperomys {Vesperimus) Taylori^ sp. n. 



Allied and very similar in colour to H. micJiiganensis, Aud. 

 & Bachm., but not more than about half the bulk of that species. 

 Centre of back not darker than sides ; tail indistinctly l)icolor ; 

 foot-pads black, five on the fore and six on the hind feet ; 

 soles naked nearly to the heel. 



Measurements of an adult male (in skin) : — Head and body 

 (c.) 53 millim. ; tail 32 ; hind foot, without claws, 13 ; ear, 

 above crown, 5"0 ; skull, basal length 15 0, greatest breadth 

 9'5 ; nasals, length 6'5 ; interorbital constriction 3*4 ; inter- 

 parietal, length 2*0, breadth 50; palate, length 8*4; palatal 

 foramen 3'6 ; length of molar series 2*7 ] basicranial axis 

 b-Q. 



Hal. San Diego, South Texas {W. Taylor). 



The smallest hitherto-known North-American Hesperomys^ 

 and the only near ally of H. Taylori^ is H. michiganensis^ 

 which has a hind foot ranging in length from 17 to 19 millim. 

 and a skull 20 millim. in basal length. 



It is with much pleasure that I connect with this interesting 

 and diminutive animal, the smallest of its genus, the name 

 of its discoverer, Mr. \\'illiam Taylor, to whom the Natural- 

 History Museum is indebted for many rare Rodents. 



