1904.] Allen, The Tamandua Anleaters. 3^7 



VARIATION IN PATTERN. The Dark Areas. (i) The 

 dusky eye-stripe is generally not strongly differentiated from 

 the surrounding parts; it varies from a narrow dusky line, 

 barely enclosing the eyes posteriorly, to a much broader in- 

 distinct band extending back to the base of the ears. 



(2) The band encircling the body varies in antero-posterior 

 extent, usually reaching, on the dorsal surface, from the pos- 

 terior part of the shoulders to a little beyond the hips, and on 

 the ventral surface from the posterior part of the pectoral 

 region to the base of -the tail, and over the proximal half of 

 the inner surface of the hind limbs. Its posterior extension 

 varies between wide limits, it sometimes only reaching to the 

 line of the hips, and again extending to, and even somewhat 

 upon, the base of the tail. These extremes cover, respectively, 

 Gray's "var. opisthomelas" and " var. opistholeuca." An-- 

 teriorly, if we include the shoulder bands, the variation is 

 much greater. These may be very narrow or very broad, 

 ranging in width from 10 to 40 mm. at their narrowest point. 

 They usually are wider anteriorly than at the middle, but 

 sometimes gradually diminish in width as they proceed for- 

 ward, thus tapering anteriorly instead of widening to twice 

 their mid-diameter. 



The Light Areas. The light areas of course vary con- 

 versely with the extent of the dark areas. But a special 

 variation consists in the extent of the light median dorsal 

 line. This, in a few specimens, is entirely absent; in a few 

 others it extends the whole length of the back, completely 

 dividing the dorsal black area into halves. Usually it is a 

 broad, symmetrically wedge-shaped mark, extending back 

 from the nape to enclose the hair- whorl at the withers, and 

 then, abruptly narrowing to a width of about 15 mm., con- 

 tinues posteriorly, with constantly diminishing breadth, to 

 the point of disappearance. It varies in width, when present, 

 from a sharply defined conspicuous band to obsolescence, 

 when it is merely indicated by an irregular line of scattered 

 whitish hairs. In several specimens there is not only no 

 trace of a median dorsal light line, but the whole of the 

 interscapular area and nape are dusky, only a little less dark 



