78 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 60, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



Distribution. — Known only from Gna(l('lou[)(' Island. Tropical 

 Zone. 



General characters. — A small, rather dark species with a slender, 

 delicate skull, remarkably broad palatal shelf, and very light dentition. 

 Similar to P. maynardi, of the Bahamas, but apparently somewhat 

 darker in color, and cranial characters, especially the much broader 

 palatal shelf, distinctive. 



Color. — Upper parts in general grayish, becoming ''ochraceous buff"" 

 on nape and shoulders, the dorsum heavily overlaid with black; 

 sides paler and almost silvery gray, the dark-tipped hairs thinning out; 

 top of head whitish mixed with black, with the usual grizzled effect; 

 black mask continuous across face in one specimen, somewhat inter- 

 rupted between eyes in another; sides of muzzle, lips, chin, and 

 supraorbital lines white; ears grayish, with large, conspicuous black 

 patches at posterior base; under parts thinly overlaid with grayish, 

 the light brown underfur showing through; throat patch blackish; 

 forearms, hind legs and feet grayish, similar to sides, the ankles 

 blackish; tail with about seven black rings and a black tip, alternating 

 with ochraceous huffy rings. 



Cranial characters. — Skull similar in size and general form to that 

 of P. maynardi, but brain case broader and flatter; palatal shelf 

 much broader, the sides forming nearly straight parallel lines (sides 

 more concave in maynardi) ; nasals broader between anterior processes 

 of frontals; auditoiy bullae slightly smaller; dentition similar, but 

 molariform teeth narrower. 



Measurements.- — No reliable skin measurements available. Skull: Type and a 

 subadult topotype, respectively: Greatest length, 101.6 mm., 104.5; condylobasal 

 length, 94.5, 98.5; zygomatic breath, 55.3, 62; interorbital breadth, 18.1, 19.8; 

 least width of palatal shelf, 16.5, 15.5; maxillary tooth row (alveoli), 38.5, 37.3; 

 upper carnassial, crown length, 7.6, 7.6, crown width, 8.1, 8.1. 



Remarks. — Although widely separated geographically, P. minor 

 appears to be more nearly related to P. maynardi than to any other 

 known form. The elevation of the frontal region, absence or slight 

 prominence of the postorbital processes of the frontals, and the 

 depression of the brain case near the fronto-parietal suture are 

 characters denoting alliance with maynardi and the raccoons of the 

 Florida region. It requires no close cranial comparison with P. 

 gloveraUeni of Barbados, the skull of which is distinguished at a glance 

 by the larger molariform teeth. 



Specimens examined. — Two, the type, and a topotype.^® 



<6 Mus. Comp. Zool. 



