V.-THE FLORIDA MUSKRAT (NEOFIBER ALLENI, TRUE), 



Bj Prbdbrick W. True. 



Id the summer of 1884 I made known for the first time the charac- 

 teristics of a peculiar rodent, a single specimen of which was received' 

 from Florida in December of the previous year.* No additional speci- 

 mens of the animal have been thus far received, nor any new inform a 

 tion regarding its habits and distribution. It is my purpose in this 

 paper simply to describe in detail the superficies and skeleton of the 

 original specimen and to discuss its generic and specific characters. 



The type specimen was procured by William Wittfeld, Esq., a corre 

 spoudent of the Smithsonian Institution, in the vicinity of Georgiana- 

 Brevard County, Florida. Georgiana is situated on Merritt's Island, 

 at the northern extremity of Indian River, nearly opposite Cape Cana 

 veral. The islaud is about 35 miles in length from north to south, and 

 some 5 or miles in breadth at the widest part. It is separated from 

 the mainland by a strait about 5 miles in breadth. 



The collection in which the round-tailed muskrat was found con- 

 tained representatives of Mus rattus^Hesperomys leucopus, Scalops aquati- 

 cus, and a species of Sorex. 



Neofiber, True. 



Xtojiber, Science, iv, 75, p. 34, July 11, 1884; Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vii, p. 170, July 

 29, 1884. 



Form, arvicoline. Tail nearly as long as body, terete, nearly naked^ 

 Hind toes in a line with the metatarsals, scarcely webbed. Thumb with 

 a claw. 



Anterior cusps of molars rounded interiorly, acute externally. Last 

 lower molar with 4 cusps, re-entrant angles alternating. 



I'arietals widest in front, but with an angular posterolateral ex ten 

 sion. Interparietal wider than long. Surface of mastoid not deeply. 

 concave. 



Pelvis and pes not longer than skull. Transverse processes of linn- 



* Science, iv, No. 75, July 11, 1884, p. 34. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vii, 1884, pp. 170- 



17-2 (Julv 29). 



325 



