0 ft., 4 (KU 65379-82--January 29, 1955); 5
mi. N, 1 mi. W [Santa Cruz] El Chol, 6000 ft., 1 (KU 65375--January 30,
1955). Guatemala: 5 mi. S Guatemala City, 4950 ft., 2 (KU
65371-72--March 13, 1955); 7 mi. S, 6 mi. E Guatemala City, 5800 ft., 1
(KU 65370--March 14, 1955). Santa Rosa: 2 mi. N, 2 mi. W Cuilapa [=
Cuajiniquilapa], 2980 ft, 2 (KU 65376-77--March 5, 1955).

The specimens from the departments of Guatemala and Santa Rosa are from
localities that lie on the Pacific slope and are southwest of the
previously known range of the species (see Hooper, 1952:93). The
specimens from 1/2 mi. N and 1 mi. E Salama and from 1 mi. S Rabinal
are paler dorsally than other Guatemalan specimens available to us,
including the specimen from the nearby locality, 5 mi. N and 1 mi. W El
Chol.

Specimens from Nicaragua that are recognizable by the E-shaped pattern
of the worn occlusal surface of the third upper molars and by the
S-shaped occlusal pattern of the third lower molars as of the species
_Reithrodontomys fulvescens_, extend the known range of the species
approximately 200 kilometers southeast from the vicinity of
Tegucigalpa, Honduras (Hooper, 1952:93). The Nicaraguan specimens are
described below as a new subspecies.

~Reithrodontomys fulvescens meridionalis~, new subspecies

_Type specimen._--Skin and skull of adult male, no. 71388
Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, from 9 mi.
NNW Esteli, Esteli, Nicaragua; obtained by J. R. Alcorn on
July 15, 1956; original number 21,464.

_Diagnostic characters._--A short-tailed _Reithrodontomys
fulvescens_ having a distinctly streaked or "peppered," and
short pelage composed of relatively dark hairs as well as
relatively brightly colored hairs on dorsum and
white-tipped hairs on venter; and having shallow skull,
elongate and posteriorly attenuate incisive foramina, small
postpalatal foramina, broad interorbital region, and
mid-dorsal depression at junction of nasal and frontal
bones.

_Comparisons._--Each of three adults of _meridionalis_ (trapped in
February and March) can be distinguished from seven adults of the
geographically adjacent _R. f. chiapensis_ from Guatemala (trapped in
late January and in March) by shorter tail, more streaked or "peppered"
dorsal pelage, yellower hue of non-blackish parts of hairs on dorsum,
less distinct mid-dorsal darkening, and more whitish (less buffy)
venter.