NO. 5 MAMMALS OF PANAMA — GOLDMAN 93 



" Through the kindness of Dr. Merriam I was able to compare the 

 series taken by Mr. Brown with a fine adult <^, No. 76,353, of true 

 A. tegnina taken by Mr. E. W. Nelson at Ocuilapa, Chiapas, Mexico. 

 This comparison showed that the Chiriqui animal is quite distinct — 

 though it is perhaps better to regard it as a subspecies. 



" Mr. Brown caught all five of these curious dark brown little 

 creatures, in open rocky places." (Bangs, /. c.) 



No representative of the genus was met with by me in the course 

 of extended field work in eastern Panama where the Isthmus is 

 heavily forested from coast to coast. 



Specimens examined: Boquete, 5 1 (including type). 



SCOTINOMYS XERAMPELINUS (Bangs) 



Chiriqui Brown Mouse 



Akodon xerampelinus Bangs, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. 39, No. 2, p. 41, 

 text figs. 22-23, April, 1902. Type from Volcan de Chiriqui, Chiriqui, 

 Panama (altitude, 10,300 feet). 



Three specimens obtained by W. W. Brown, Jr., near the summit 

 of the Volcan de Chiriqui are the basis of this species, of which the 

 following is the original description in part : 



" Apparently specifically distinct from A. teguina. Size of that 

 species ; tail, longer ; pelage very long and fluffy with but little 

 lustre ; colors, paler — more yellowish, less reddish brown ; under 

 parts grayish (strong cinnamon rufous in A. teguina) ; skull lighter 

 and more delicate ; rostrum lighter ; nasals narrower ; palatal slits 

 rather wider ; audital bullae slightly larger ; molar-form teeth 

 heavier — wider. 



" Upper parts uniform dark yellowish brown (a color that might 

 perhaps be called tawny burnt-umber) under parts, broccoli-brown; 

 hands, feet, tail, and ears, blackish (slightly grayer, less intense black 

 than these parts in A. teguina apricus ; due to greater hairiness). 



" The little Akodon of the summit of Volcan de Chiriqui is very 

 different from the one found at lower altitudes and is entitled to full 

 specific rank. The three examples were taken on the desolate top of 

 the Volcano, a little below actual timber line, but still where the 

 forest had become stunted and sparse. Like A. teguina apricus they 

 were found in open rocky country." (Bangs, /. c.) 



Scotinomys irazu, a high mountain form of Costa Rica, seems to 

 be somewhat smaller and paler in color. 



Specimens examined: Volcan de Chiriqui, 3 1 (including type). 



1 Collection Mus. Comp. Zool. 



