98 DR. ST. G. MivART ON [Mar. 18, 



Mr. Sclater exhibited on behalf of Mr. Robert B. "White, C.M.Z.S., 

 skins belonging to four species of Mammals obtained by Mr. White 

 at an elevation of from 5000 to 7000 feet on the mountains of 

 the Upper Magdalena valley, in the department of Tolima, U. S. of 

 Colombia. 



Mr. Oldfield Thomas had kindly referred these specimens to the 

 following species : — 



1. Cebusfatuellus. 



Native name, " Mico Maizero." 



2. Lagothrix humboldti. 

 Native name, " Churuco. " 



3. Nyctipithecus vociferans. 



Native name, " Dorrailon " or " Putamono." 



4. Galictis barbara. 



Native name, " Zorro " or " Ulauca." 



The following papers were read: — 



1. Notes on the South- American Canidoe. 

 By St. G. Mivart, F.R.S. 



[E«ceived February 24, 1890.] 



Some of the South-American Canidce present as yet rather trying 

 difficulties to the systematic zoologist. My object in the present 

 paper is to endeavour to make a small contribution towards clearing 

 up existing difficulties of classification and synonymy. My hope is 

 that this attempt may at least, by criticism and collecting together 

 references to the literature of the subject, facilitate a future complete 

 rectification. What, however, is greatly to be desired is the ac- 

 quisition of a large number of skins with skulls in them, the sexes 

 being ascertained, and both the localities where and the season of 

 the year when the individuals were obtained being carefully noted 

 in each case. 



No naturalist who has worked at either the skins or the skulls of 

 the Dog family can have failed to be struck with their great variability. 

 This fact was strongly expressed by Professor Huxley in his paper 

 (P. Z. S. 1880), both with regard to the form of the" skull and the 

 proportions of the teetli. Quite recently Dr. Windle, after making 

 most elaborate measurements and comparisons of diiferent breeds of 

 domestic dogs, has told us " the variation in any breed is much 

 greater, in almost every case, than that existing between any two 

 breeds." 



Some studies recently undertaken by me at the British Museum 

 (for much kind aid during which I have to express my thanks to 



