442 On a new Cotton-tail from Colombia. 



same general ])lan, but tlie ground-colour is dark grizzled 

 grey, wliicli, however, is only present on the anterior two- 

 tln'rds of the body, the head and rump deep chestnut-fflfous. 

 Dorsal lines almost obsolete, the median one represented by 

 segments o£ a few millimetres on the nose and nape and an 

 ill-defined line on the posterior back ending level with the 

 hips ; the outer lines only about an inch in length, ill-:leftned 

 and scarcely perceptible. Under surface soiled greyisii, the 

 ends of the hairs drabby white. Clieeks, like crown, rich 

 rufous ; chin pale rufous. Hands brown. Feet with the 

 outer side of the metatarsus brown, inner dull whitish; digits 

 naked. Tail brown above, lighter below. 



Skull not so flattened as in iheringi, more of the general 

 shape of that of americana, the brain-case comparatively high 

 and rounded. 



Dimensions of the tj^pe (measured on a spirit-specimen) : — 



Head and body 80 mm.; tail 36; hind foot 14; 

 ear 10. 



Skull : greatest length 25*2 ; condylo-basal length 25 ; 

 zygomatic breadth 13'5 ; nasals 10x3*8 ; interorbital 

 breadth 5*4 ; palatal length 14*5; maxillary tooth-row 10'7; 

 three anterior molariform teeth 4'6. 



Hab. Theresopolis, Organ Bits., Brazil. 



Ti/pe. Adult female. B.M. no. 21. 8. 6. 2. Received 

 in exchange from Prof. J. P. Hill. 



This pretty little species is readily distinguishable from 

 M. iheringi by its rufous head and rump, its greyish fore- 

 back, and its obsolescent dark dorsal lines. 



XLV. — A neio Cotton-tail (Sylvilagus) from Colombia. 

 By Oldfield Thomas. 



(Publislied by permission of tlie Trustees of the British Museum.) 



The British Museum owes to Frfere Niceforo Maria of 

 Medellin an example of a fine Sylvilagus which seems to be 

 different from any described species. It may be called 



Si/lvilagus nicefori, sp. n. 



A member of the siiort-eared group, the tail almost obsolete. 



Fur fairly soft, hnirs of back about 23-25 mm. in length. 



General colour dark, mixed buffy and blackish, the butfy 

 comparatively pale; not strong and ochraceous. Sides paler 

 butfy. Under surface dull whitish anteriorly, dull butfy 

 posteriorly, the hairs slaty at base. Forehead and nape 

 huffy ochraceous, tiie nape-patch extending beyond the ends 

 of the short ears. Proectote blackish, slightly suffused with 



