1904.] Allen, New South American Mammals. 3 2 9 



last molars; rostral portion of skull long and narrow; bullac pointed 

 internally and hence subpyriform. 



The skull is that of a young adult ; compared with that of 

 stolzmanni it is much slighter and more delicate, and fully 

 one third less in bulk. Compared with 0. gracilis Thomas, 

 also from Merida, the dimensions are considerably less, es- 

 pecially of the skull and feet, and the pelage is not "short and 

 velvety," but rather coarse and long, and the coloration is 

 quite different, especially of the ventral surface, which is 

 buffy white instead of clear white. Two other specimens 

 agree essentially with the type. All were caught in banana 

 plantations. 



Akodon meridensis, sp. nov. 



Type, No. 21328, $ , Merida (alt. 1630 m.), Venezuela, Jan. 29, 1903; 

 coll. S. B. Gabaldon. 



In proportions and coloration apparently similar to A. bogotensis 

 Thomas, but slightly larger and very different in cranial characters. 

 Whole upper surface a fine grizzle or 'pepper and salt' mixture of 

 black and fulvous, the black greatly predominating; front and sides 

 of head more decidedly yellowish; ventral surface dingy blackish gray 

 with strong wash of deep buff; ears of medium size, well-haired, col- 

 ored like the surrounding surface ; tail blackish brown above, slightly 

 paler below, thinly clothed with blackish hairs, not quite concealing 

 the annulations ; feet blackish brown with a slight yellowish cast. 



Total length, 180 mm.; head and body, 100; tail vertebrae, 80; 

 hind foot (c. u.), 25 (dry, 23); ear, 12. Skull, total length, 26; basal 

 length, 22.5; basilar length, 19.5; greatest breadth, 13.5; nasals, 9x3; 

 interorbital breadth, 5.1; interparietal, 6x2; breadth of zygomatic 

 plate, 2; diastema, 7; palatal foramina, 5x2; upper toothrow, 4.4. 

 The palatal foramina reach to the middle instead of to "the front 

 edge" of m *, as in A. bogotensis. 



With a general external resemblance to A. bogotensis, in- 

 cluding size and proportions, A. meridensis has not only 

 longer and more posteriorly produced palatine foramina, but 

 a broader muzzle, a much broader zygomatic plate, and a 

 longer upper toothrow. To this same group belongs also A. 

 frustrator All. & Chap., from Trinidad, there being a very 

 close agreement in size, proportions, and coloration between 

 A. frustrator and A. meridensis, although the coloration is 



