ALLEN: mammalia: murid^. 8i 



The genus Noiioinys appears to have been based mainly on the char- 

 acter of the feet, notably the presence of strongly developed claws on the 

 fore feet, and the small size of the ears. In remarking upon its affinities 

 Mr. Thomas says : 



"Le Notiomys offre dans son organisation une combinaison de carac- 

 t^res empruntcs i divers sous-genres d' Hesperoinys. Ainsi, par son 

 aspect extcrieur il ressemble aux Calomys, par ses griffes allongees aux 

 Oiiyckoniys, par la griffe dont le pouce est pourvu aux Scapteromys et aux 

 Oxyuiycterus. D'autre part, par la structure de son crane et de ses dents, 

 il sc rapproche des Habrothrix dont on doit le considerer comme tres 

 voisin, malgre les differences exterieures que Ton constate. La necessite 

 d'etablir pour cet animal une distinction subgcnerique ne peut etre 

 mise en doute et peut-etre meme, quand on aura pu etudier des exem- 

 plaires conserves dans I'esprit-de-vin, reconnaitra-t-on la necessite de le 

 placer au rang de genre distinct." 



Notiomys is more closely related to Akodon than to any other genus, 

 it closely approaching the subgenus Cheleniys, and presenting only a 

 superficial resemblance to either Oxyuiycterus or Scapteromys, judging by 

 the description and figures of the only known specimen of Notiomys. The 

 skull is rather broad and short, with a broad rostrum, broad and short 

 palatal foramina, and not very heavy dentition, judging by Milne-Edwards's 

 figures (/. c, pi. viii, figs, i-i^), — features quite unlike those found in the 

 smaller species of Oxymycterits. The palatal foramina end considerably 

 in front of the first molars, instead of extending posteriorly to about the 

 middle or posterior third of these teeth, as in most species of Akodon 

 and Oxymycterits, and more resembling the condition commonly seen in 

 Oryzomys. The principal characters of N'otiomys would therefore seem 

 to be the long fore claws, small ears, and short, broad palatine foramina, 

 combined with the usual cranial and dental characters of Akodon. 



Notiomys edwardsii (Thomas). 



Hesperomys [Notiomys) edwardsii Thomas, in Milne-Edwards, Miss. 



Scient. du Cap Horn, VI, Zoologie, Mamm., 1890, 24, pi. iii, fig. i, 



animal, pi. viii, fig. i, skull. " Patagonie, au sud de Santa Cruz, vers 



le 50' degre de latitude Sud." 

 Notiomys edivardsii Trouessart, Cat. Mamm., ii, 1897, 540, ex Thomas, 



as above. 



