1882.] MR. O. THOMAS ON RODENTS FROM PKRU. lOO 



Fur extremely loug and soft, only exceeded in this respect by 

 H. lonyipilis, Waterh. General colour above grizzled ashy grey, 

 the hairs being, as usual, slate-coloured for five sixths of their length, 

 and the tips white, with numerous wholly black longer hairs inter- 

 mixed. This colour lightens gradually into the greyish white of the 

 belly, where the basal two thirds only of the hairs are slate-colour. 

 Anterior edge of the outer side of the ears thickly clothed with long 

 and soft dark brown hairs, as also is the posterior half of the in- 

 ternal surface, though there the hairs are much shorter. Tail un- 

 usually thick, tapering to a point, brown above and white beneath, 

 the two colours not sharply separated, closely covered with short 

 shining hairs from root to tip, nearly hiding the scales ; there is, 

 however, no terminal pencil of longer hairs. Upper surfaces of 

 feet covered with pure white shining hairs, much longer than usual, 

 those at the tips of the toes quite hiding the claws. Foot-pads 

 large and prominent. Fifth hind toes reaching to the middle of the 

 second phalanx of the fourth toes. Mamma) 6, one pectoral and two 

 inguinal pairs. Ears without a projection on their anterior edge. 

 Incisors rich orange ; upper margins of orbits without any trace 

 of ridges. 



This very peculiar-looking Rat may be readily distinguished from 

 all its allies by its very long soft fur, its thick and tapering tail, and 

 by the unusual hairiness of both ears, feet, and tail, the result, no 

 doubt, of the extreme height at which it was obtained. 



I can find no species with which it could by any means be con- 

 fused. H. galapagoensis, Waterh., bears a superficial resemblance 

 to it, but differs by several of the more important characters, having 

 8 mammae naked extremities, and a well-marked projection on the 

 anteiior edge of the ear. 



The next species seems to be really the most nearly related to it, 

 though its general appearance is quite different. 



As there is only a single specimen of this species in the collection. 

 Prof. Taczanowski has been unable to let the British Museum have 

 an example. I have therefore had the species figured (Plate IV.), 

 so as to make it more readily recognizable by those unable to exa- 

 mine the type in the Warsaw Museum. 



11. Hesperomys (Rhipidomys) taczanowskii, sp. n. 



Oy b. Tambillo, 5800', February 1878. 



(f) c (imm.). Cutervo, 9200', Feb. or March 1879. 



Head and Forearm Ear-coucb, Muzzle 



body. Tail. Hind foot, and Land. length. to ear. 



fl. 2 3-55 5-3 -88 111 -45 -97 



6.d'(imm.) 3-0 4-9 -87 1-04 -50 -87 



Fur of medium length, soft and woolly; general colour above greyish 

 yellow, the hairs being tipped with rufous yellow, with very few- 

 longer darker hairs. Head greyer and less yellow. Belly, as usual, 

 greyish white, the sejiaration of the upper and under colours quite 

 gradual. Ears thinly clothed with brown hairs. Tail pale brown 



