NO. 5 MAMMALS OF PANAMA GOLDMAN lj\ 



in the grayish phase, the dark brown or black and the buffy gray 

 elements of the pelage being finely mixed and producing a grizzled 

 effect; but individuals of the less common reddish phase may be 

 expected to occur in the region. 



A specimen obtained in the forest near Cana was shot by one of my 

 assistants who found it in a tree. Alf aro 1 states that in Costa Rica 

 this animal is called " leon miquero " because of its fondness for 

 travelling over the branches of large forest trees. Alston (1879, 

 p. 63) states that " M. Boucard has received the Yaguarundi from 

 Veragua." 



Specimens examined : Boqueron, 1 2 (type) ; Cana, 1 ; Empire, 1 ; 

 Lion Hill, I. 8 



Order INSECTIVORA. Insectivores 



Family SORICIDAE. Shrews 



The shrews are small mouse-like creatures, distinguished ex- 

 ternally by short, dense, very dark colored fur, long, pointed noses, 

 tiny feet, and in our southern groups, inconspicuous ears. In 

 America the family reaches its greatest development in more 

 northerly latitudes and a single genus is known from Panama. 



Subfamily SORICINAE. Shrews 

 Genus CRYPTOTIS Pomel. Shrews 



The shrews of this genus inhabit mainly the mountains of middle 

 America, but at least one species ranges at low elevations in the 

 southern United States and several have been described from north- 

 western South America. The single species found in Panama is 

 perhaps the smallest four-footed mammal of the region. The skull 

 is low and flat, without zygomata or audital bullae ; the teeth are 

 30 in number. 



CRYPTOTIS MERUS Goldman 

 Mount Pirre Shrew 

 [Plate 37, figs. 1, 10] 



Cryptotis merus Goldman, Smiths. Misc. Coll., Vol. 60, No. 2, p. 17, Sep- 

 tember 20, 1912. Type from near head of Rio Limon, Mount Pirre, 

 eastern Panama (altitude 4,500 feet). 



The discovery of this small black shrew close to the Colombian 

 frontier materially extends the known range of the Cryptotis mexi- 



1 Mamiferos de Costa Rica, 1897, p. 17. 



* Collection Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 



* Collection Mus. Comp. Zool. 



