Aiinilti- iitiiii^ Of Mnvihl^ /roni Emiljr. 87 



in otluTS (loss of enr-coiich, character of fur, peculiar build of 

 muzzle). It forms, tlicrcfurf, a second iii--t:«icc of this 

 interesting iy\)Q of rodent, developed at an even hif^her 

 altitude than in the case of Ichthyomyn Soderstrunii (Quito, 

 8000 feet), a species also discovered by our generous 

 correspondent Consul L. Soderstrom. 



The entire suppression of the external ear-conches is an 

 almost unique charaeter in Muridrc, the only forms in which 

 it is found luinL,^ the mole-rats Kllobius and Myospahix 

 {Siphneus). Of aquatic animals this specialization is only 

 known in the seals and cetaceans, not in any of the Insectivora 

 nor in the otters. Of course tiiere is a possibility that in the 

 pri'sent specimen the conches have been aborted pathologi- 

 cally, but their reduction in IcJithyomys and Ilydrumys 

 suggests the turthcr development now described, while in the 

 specimen itself the identity of tlie two sides and the natural 

 appearance of the aural slits tell against any suggestion of 

 accidental loss. 



Anotomys leander, sp. 11. 



Size about as in the species of Ichtlti/omt/s. Fur exces- 

 sively thick, solt and velvety, consisting almost wholly of 

 wool-hairs, with a thin sprinkling of longer hairs intermixed ; 

 the wool-hairs li, the longer hairs 14-15 mm. in lensrtii on 

 the back. General colour above uniform dark slaty (near 

 "slate-black"), the bases of the hairs rather lighter than 

 their tips ; sides slightly jjaler than the back. Some of the 

 longer hairs tipped with whitish. Under surface from snout 

 to anus and inner sides of limbs whitish grey (grey no. 9), 

 well defined from tlie dark colour of the sides ; bases of hairs 

 dark slaty. Lower whiskers white, upper dark. A distinct 

 white patch over each ear-hole, thus imitating the effect of 

 having while-tipped ears, as though this coloration were of 

 value even when the ears themselves were absent. Meta- 

 carpals brown ; fingers and whole of hind feet silvery white. 

 Tad well-haired, dull brown above, rather, but not abruptly, 

 lighter below. 



►Skull and teeth as described above. 



l)imensions of the type (measured in skin) : — 



Head and body I'JJS mm. ; tail 12.'>; hind foot (wet) 32. 



tSkull : greatest length 27'5 ; basilar length 21*2; zygo- 

 matic breadth 11*8; nasal opening 4"2 x 2"i ; nasals l> X .■5"2 ; 

 interorbital breadth ;j"l) ; breadth of brain-case liiS ; height 

 of muzzle behind incisors 54; zygoma-root 1*0; palatiLir 



