Mammals from Jujuy. 615 



15. Oxymycterus ahodontius, sp. n. 



<^. l-16o, 1515 (both slightly immature). Higueiilla, 

 2000'. 



A dark-coloured species very like a large blackish Akodoii. 



Size about as in 0. parameusis. General colour very dark, 

 closely resembling that of some of the dark Akodonts, such 

 as Hypslmys decei/tor, though the colour is even blacker, less 

 olivaceous. Back dark blackish brown, finely ticked with 

 buffy, sides slightly lighter. Under surface daik slaty brown, 

 washed with buffy, tiie buffy more proiuinent than on the 

 ujiper puface, but far less than in most of the species of the 

 present genus. Hands, feet, and tail blackish brown, darker 

 than in Akodonts, the last-named organ comparatively short. 



Skull very similar to that of 0. paramensis, but the brain- 

 case is larger and the muzzle more slender, with the super- 

 cilions upturn of the tip of the nose particularly well marked. 



Dimensions of the type : — 



Head and body 116 mm.; tail 79; hind foot 26; 

 ear 18-5. 



Skull: greate.-t length 31; condylo-incisive lengtii 27; 

 zygomatic breadth 13"5; nasals 11*2x33; interorbifal 

 breadth 6 ; breadth of brain-case 13"7 ; palatal foramina G'2 ; 

 upper molar series 5. 



JJab. as above. 



Type. Young adult male (teeth in position, but unworn). 

 B.M. no. 21. 11. 1. 72. Original number 1465. Cullected 

 8th May, 1921. 



This Hocicudo is quite without tlie rufous or ochraceous 

 coloration of most species of Oxymycterus, being a dark 

 finely grizzled blackish, as in many of the dark-coloured 

 Akotlont forms. 



" I caught five specimens of this Hocicudo^ but could only 

 save two, as the others were eaten by rats and their skulls 

 totally destroyed. When rats attack a dead specimen they 

 always commence by eating the brain. One of these specimens 

 was caught in a Tuco-tuco hole. I have observed both these 

 animals dig their holes like the Yeoxus of the south, making- 

 small iiillocks of earth over them. The burrows are round 

 and clearly vi-sible. Hocicudos live in humid places among 

 the hills, in the thickest parts of the woods. 



''These specimens appear to be less rufous than those 1 

 obtained at Leon^ Ji'j^iJ^ Jiiid are probably a different species." 

 [The Leon Oxymycterus was recorded as 0. parameusis.^ — 

 E. B. 



