1904.] Allen, Mammals from Santa Maria, Colombia. 439 



Rhipidomys Venezuela Bangs (Proc. New Engl. Zool. Club, I, 1900, p. 

 92). Not represented in the Smith collection. The 9 specimens sent 

 for examination were taken in the Sierra Nevada at altitudes of 3000 to 

 8000 feet. On comparison of this series with eleven topotypes of true 

 R. Venezuela from the mountains of Merida (altitude about 4500 feet), 

 the two series are distinguishable at a glance, the Sierra Nevada speci- 

 mens being much redder than the Merida series, including the imma- 

 ture specimens as well as the adults. The general color above, instead 

 of being dull grayish fulvous as in R. Venezuela, is reddish brown, vary- 

 ing in different specimens from fulvous to rufous. Individual speci- 

 mens from the two series can be very closely matched, but the two 

 series when compared collectively are decidedly different. A com- 

 parison of the collectors' measurements shows very little difference in 

 size, nor is there any appreciable difference in cranial characters. 



Oryzomys meridensis Bangs (/. c., p. 92). This, as Mr. Bangs 

 supposed, is my 0. maculiventer ', which, while a member of the meri- 

 densis group, proves to be satisfactorily distinct on comparison of 

 topotypes of the two forms, as noted above. 



Oryzomys laticeps Bangs (/. c., p. 93). Of the 13 specimens sent for 

 examination 12 are from Pueblo Viejo (alt. 8000 ft.) and i from Palo- 

 mino (alt. 5000 ft.). This is my 0. mollipilosus from Valparaiso (alt. 

 4500 ft.) in the San Lorenzo Mountains. The younger specimens 

 are practically indistinguishable from the original specimens (young 

 adults) of O. mollipilosus, but the old specimens, with much worn 

 teeth, are larger and paler with coarser pelage. 



A careful study of Mr. Bangs 's fine series leads me to question the 

 distinctness of my O. magdalena from 0. mollipilosus. My O. villosus, 

 also from Valparaiso, is, however, very distinct from O. mollipilosus, 

 being easily distinguishable by its large, naked ears, and strongly 

 marked cranial characters. 



Oryzomys fiavicans illectus Bangs (/. c., p. 94). As noted above, 

 this is quite different from true O. fiavicans Thomas, from Merida, and 

 should stand as O. illectus Bangs. The series of 8 specimens sent me 

 by Mr. Bangs, nearly all from Pueblo Viejo (alt. 8000 ft.), is strikingly- 

 different from a series of 20 topotypes of true O. ftavicans; no speci- 

 mens in the two series can be found that approach each other very 

 closely, especially in the color of the underparts. The coloration of 

 illectus is very much deeper throughout, being very much more rufous 

 above, and orange buff below instead of nearly clear white. It is also 

 much larger. The differences in coloration are parallel to those be- 

 tween Rhipidomys Venezuela of Merida and the Sierra Nevada, but very 

 much greater. A comparison of the skulls of O. fiavicans and O. illectus 

 shows that the two forms are by no means closely related, O. illectus 



