246 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXIV, 
Mesosciurus gerrardi zuliz (Osgood). 
Sciurus versicolor zulie Oscoop, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool., X, No. 4, p. 26, 
Dec. 20, 1910; zbid., X, No. 5, p. 47, Jan. 10, 1912. 
Type localityw— Orope, Zulia, Venezuela. Type, No. 16584, o& ad., 
Field Mus. Nat. Hist. 
Geographic distrubution.— Known only from the lowlands of the lower 
Lake Maracaibo drainage, where it has been taken on both sides of the lake. 
Description.— Median upperparts black — dull black on head and 
shoulders, deep black posteriorly; top and front of head and shoulders with 
the hairs minutely tipped with red, the amount of red variable in different 
specimens from nearly obsolete toa strong wash; lower edge of flanks deep 
red, varying from none (in the type) or a narrow lateral line to a broad band 
extending half way up the sides of the body and over the shoulders (rarely 
nearly meeting on the midline between the shoulders) and over the outer 
aspect of the thighs; underparts deep red (sometimes orange red), fre- 
quently with narrow streaks or small spots of white; outer and inner sides of 
limbs like the adjoining parts; upper surface of fore and hind feet red, 
varying in different specimens from light orange red to dark red; ears 
nearly naked, dark brown tinged (usually) with reddish; tail above with the 
proximal fourth black, in continuation of the black of the back; the apical 
third is wholly intense black, the intermediate portion red; under surface 
of tail black, only the middle portion broadly fringed with red. 
Seven specimens (collector’s measurements), from localities near the 
lower end of Lake Maracaibo: Total length, 434 (400-455); head and body, 
226.5 (210-240); tail vertebrae, 210 (190-221); hind foot, 54.5 (50-57). 
Seven skulls (same specimens), total length, 56.3 (55-58); zygomatic breadth, 
32.5 (31-35); interorbital breadth, 18 (17-19); breadth of braincase, 23.5 
(23-24.5); length of nasals, 17.5 (16.5-19); maxillary toothrow, 9 (8.8-9.3). 
Specimens examined, 8.— Venezuela: Orope, Depart. Zulia, 2 (type and 
paratype); Rio Aurare, 3; Encontrados, east of lower end of Lake 
Maracaibo), 2; Empalado Savannas (near the last-named locality), 1 (all 
Field Mus.). 
Remarks.— The type is exceptional in almost altogether lacking red on 
the flanks and on the shoulders, where it is present in the paratype, but less 
pronounced than in most of the specimens from other localities. The 
four localities at which specimens were collected are all in the Maracaibo 
drainage, near the mouth of the lake. 
