ON MAMMALS FROM NEW GUINEA. 729 



This species is apparently most nearly related to 5. klossi, from the high country to 

 the south of the Nassau range, but is distinguished from that, as from practically ail other 

 ' Muridae, by its peculiarly rounded and svvollen brain-case. 



Mr. VAN HEURN found this Stenomys in thick mossy undergrowth at comparatively 

 high altitudes; just as was the case with S. klossi. 



19. f Melomys rattoides, Thos. 



O 71 . 21, 22, 220 (young). Pionier-bivak, Mamberamo River. W. C. van Heurn. 

 Ç. 42. Skull without skin. Same locality. 



A large species with close glossy fur. 



Size large compared with the various species now put in Melomys, thèse being what 

 used to be the smaller species of Uromys, the hind foot but little shorter than in M. por- 

 culits, the largest known species; the build, however, far more slender than in that animal. 

 Fur straight, glossy, not woolly, hairs of back about 12 mm. in length. General colour above- 

 rufous brown (approaching „Verona brown"), the sides rufous greyish. Underside strongly 

 contrasted white, the hairs with slaty bases. Head grey, crown more rufous ; a black patch 

 on the side of the muzzle, extending back as a ring around the eye, which contrasts with 

 the grey forehead and whitish cheeks. Ears practically naked, greyish brown. Arms and legs 

 with an outer greyish brown line down them becoming a darker patch on the wrists and 

 ankles; inner sides white to the bases of the hairs; the upper surface of the hands and feet 

 also white. Tail about equal to the body without the head, with strongly marked rings of 

 scales about 8 or 9 to the centimeter; grey-brown above, white below and at the extrême tip. 



Skull slender, with a long muzzle; supraorbital edges square, not ridged ; palation 

 fully level with the front of m 3 . 



Dimensions of the type, measured in flesh: 



Head and body 210 mm.; tail 160 ; hindfoot 41 ; ear 22. 



Skull, greatest length 48.5; condylo-incisive length 4-2.5; zygomatic breadth 22; nasals 

 17.2; interorbital breadth 7.4; breadth of braincase 18.3; palatilar length 20; palatal fora- 

 mina 6; upper molar séries 8.2. 



Hab. Mamberamo Riv., N. New Guinea. Type from Pionier-bivak. 



Type. Adult maie. B. M. N°. 21. 2. 2. 25. Original number 22. Collected 3 August 

 1920 by Mr. W. C. VAN HEURN. 



A very distinct species by its large size and glossy fur. 



20. 7 Melomys lanosiLs, Thos. 



Q 190 (old). Doormanpad, N. W. New Guinea, 2400 m. 30 October 1920. W. C. van Heurn, 

 B. M. N°. 22. 2. 2. 26. Type. 



A fine soft-haired species rather smaller than M. rattoides. 



Size decidedly less than in rattoides, but still larger.than in the majority of the spe- 

 cies. Fur very soft and fine, hairs of back about 14 — 15 mm. in length. General colour above 

 greyish with a suffusion of rufous or buffy; sides greyer, undersurface dull white, the bases 

 of the hairs slaty. Head with something of the markings of rattoides, that is to say, with a 

 Nova Guinea XIII. Zoologie. 94 



