Accessions Shelf No. f htUiiJs Jfixtxxtt. U''Pyaa^> .>, 0 , r. 11 '] '}UH 19 ii OJUL 6 MAY ' : TO THE READER. This book is not in good condition. Please use it carefully. B.P.L. FORM NO. 403; 9.25^0; |0M. ■^0 Ji m\H THE FAUNA OF SOUTH AFRICA EDITED BY W. L. 8CLATER, M.A., F.Z.S. Director of tlic South African Miiscinu, Cape Toivn V Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Boston Public Library http://www.archive.org/details/mammalsofsouthaf02scla THE MAMMALS OF SOUTH AFRICA BY W. L. SCLATER, M.A., F.Z.S. Director of tho SoiifJi African Museum, Cape Town VOL. II. KODENTIA, CHIEOPTEEA, INSECTIVOEA, CETACEA AND EDENTATA WITH ILLUSTRATIONS 1901 J LONDON PRINTED BY JOHN BALE, SONS AND DANIELSSON, LTD. 83-89, GT. TITCHPIELD STREET W. ^ e>e.a,\^oo % \\e/D^:/^ OU.W 'i,\^5v.^'^ LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT. PAGK Fig. 81 8ku\\ ol Xerus capensis 4 82 Eight upper molars of Xere^s ca.j;e«sw (enlarged) ... 4 83 The Ground Squirrel {Xerus capensis) 5 84 Skull (life size) and left upper molars (enlarged) of GrapMurus ocularis 11 85 The Cape Dormouse {GrapMurus murinus) 14 86 Left half of palate and lower jaw of Gerhillus afer (1| nat. size) , 18 87 Palm and sole of Gerhillus afer, to show the arrange- ment of the pads 21 88 Skull of Pachyuromys auricularis, to show the en- larged tympanic bulla 23 89 Skull of Otomys unisulcatus (1^ nat. size) 25 90 Eight upper molars of Otomys irroratus, to show the lamellae 27 91 The Grey Tree-mouse [Dendromys melanotis) 32 92 Left upper molars of Malacothrix typicus, to show the arrangement of the cusps 35 93 Skull of if MS co24c/ift (1| nat. size) 37 94 Upper and lower molars of Mus coucJia (enlarged) to show the arrangement of the cusps 38 95 Heads of Mtcs rattus and Mus decumanus 39 96 The Pouched Eat (/Saccosto^ms ca7?ipesi(m) 55 97 Skull (nat. size) and left upper molars (enlarged) of Dasymys incomtus 59 98 The Striped Mouse {Arvicanthis pumilio) 62 99 Left upper molars (enlarged) and the anterior half of the skull (x 2) oi Mystromys albicaudatus ... 67 100 Lower jaw of Bathyergus maritimus, from below, to show how the angle of the mandible springs from outside the bony casing of the lower incisor 70 101 Side view of the skull of Bathyergus maritimus 70 vi. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT PAGE Fig. 102 Left half of palate and lower jaw, from above (|- nat. size), of Bathyergus maritivius, to show the modi- fications of the skull in this family 72 „ 103 Left upper molars of Georychus hottentotus (enlarged) 74 , , 104 The Blesmol [Georychus ccqjensis) 75 ,, 105 Skull of Perfetes ca/er (Flower and Lydekker) 80 ,, 106 Eight upper molars of Pedetes caffer, to show the external enamel folds 80 ,, 107 The Spring-haas {Pedetes caffer) 82 , , 108 The Eock Eat [Petromys typicus) 85 ,, 109 Left half of palate and right half of lower jaw of Thryonomys sivinderenianus 86 ,, 110 The Csbne B,&t {Thryonoviys swinderenianus) 88 ,, 111 The South African Porcupine {Hystrix africae- australis) 90 ,, 112 Skull from above of Hystrix africae-australis (f nat. size) 91 ,, 113 '^kViW oi Lepiis crassicaiidatus {^ ndj[,. ■s>\ze) 93 ,, 114 The 'Redi 'S.Qxe {Lepus crassicaudatus) 96 ,, 115 Skeleton and flying membranes of a Bat 99 „ 116 Head of the Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus cjambianus) 103 ,, 117 Palate of Epomophorus gamhianus, to show the ridges 103 ,, 118 The Common Fruit Bat {Bousettus collaris), with young one clinging to its mother 107 ,, 119 Head of the European Horseshoe Bat {Bhinolophus ferrmn-equinum) 112 ,, 120 Head of the Cape Horseshoe Bat {Bhinolophus capensis) 114 ,, 121 Head of Commerson's Leaf -nosed Bat (il^p^oszfients commersoni) 117 ,, 122 Head of the Cape Sht-faced Bat {Nycteris capensis) 121 ,, 123 Head of the Cape Serotine Bat {Vespertilio capensis) 125 „ 124 Head of the Yellow Bat (^?/ciMZ07/ms a/Wca7ms) 140 ,, 125 Skull of Macroscelides melanotis, to show the den- til ion 145 ,, 126 Skull oi Macroscelides melanotis, irom aihoye 148 ,, 127 The Eock Elephant Shrew {Macroscelides rupes- tris) 150 ,, 128 SkwW oi Macroscelides rupestris, hoxn. d.hoYQ 151 „ 129 Skull of Macroscelides rupestris, to show the den- tition 151 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT Vll. PAGE Fig. 130 Fore-part of skull of Grocidura (Pachyura) varilla, enlarged to show the minute extra premolar 159 131 The IjzxgQ '&hxe^^ {Grocidura flavescens) 161 132 Skull of C7"oci(:Zwra/a^;escens, to show the teeth 161 133 Skull of Myosorex varius 166 134 Smuts' Shrew (ilf?/osorea; -uanns) 167 135 Skull of Ghrysochloris aurea 169 136 The C&Tpe Golden Mole {Ghrysochloris aurea) 171 137 Fore and hind feet of Ghrysochloris aurea, with digits 171 138 The Southern Eight Whale {Balaena australis) 180 139 The Humpback {Megaptera longimana) 182 140 Skull of Physeter macrocephalus 186 141 The Cachelot or Sperm Whale {Physeter macro- cephalus) 187 142 Skull of Kogia hreviceps 189 143 The Small Sperm Whale {Kogia hreviceps) 190 144 Eostrum of skull and lower jaw of Mesoplodon layardi 194 145 The Killer {Orcinus orca) 198 146 ^l^uW oi Delphinus delphis 209 147 The Common Dolphin {Delphinus delphis) 210 148 The Scaly Anteater {Manis temminchi) 217 149 ^'kvXl oi Dry cter opus afer 219 150 The Aard-vark ( Orycteropus afer) 222 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Order Rodentia Suborder SIMPLICIDENTATA Division SCIUROMORPHA Family Sciueidae 103. Xerus capensis. The Ground Squirrel . . . . . . i 104. Funisciurus cepapi. The Grey- footed Squirrel . . 7 105. Funisciurus palliatus. The Red-headed Squirrel . . 8 106. Funisciurus congicus. The Western Striped Squirrel . . 9 Division MYOMORPHA Family Glieidae 107. Graphiurus ocularis. The Large Grey Dormouse . . 12 108. Graphiurus murinus. The Cape Dormouse . . . . 13 109. Graphiurus platy ops. Dar- ling's Dormouse . . . . 14 110. Graphiurus nanus. The Dwarf Dormouse . . . . 15 111. Graphiurus kelleni. The Damaraland Dormouse . . 16 Family Mueidae Subfamily Gerbillinae 112. Gerbillus paeba. The Red Gerbille 19 113. Gerbillus afer. The Cape Gerbille 20 114. Gerbillus brantsi. Brants' Gerbille 22 PAGE 115. Gerbillus lobengulae. Lobengula's Gerbille . . 22 116. Pachyuromys auricularis. The Namaqualaud Gerbille 24 Subfamily Otomyinae 111. Otomys irroratus. The VleyOtomys 26 118. Otomys unisulcatus. The Bush Otomys . . . . 28 119. Otomys brantsi. Brants' Otomys 29 Subfamily Dendromyinae 120. Dendromys mesomelas. The Chestnut Tree-mouse . . 30 121. Dendromys pumilio. The Small Tree-mouse . . . . 81 122. Dendromys melanotis. The Grey Tree-mouse . . . . 31 123. Steatomys pratensis. The Fat Mouse 33 124. Malacothrix typicus. The Mouse Gerbille . . . . 35 125. Malacothrix pentonys. The Small-eared Mouse Ger- bille 36 Subfamily 3hirinae The 126. Mus decumanus. Brown Rat 39 127. Musnigricauda. The Black- tailed Rat 41 128. Mus rattus. The Black Rat 41 129. Mus cbrysophilus. Dar- ling's Rat . . . . . . 42 SYSTEMATIC INDEX PAGE 130. Musauricomis. The Golden Rat 43 131. Mus damarensis. The Damaraland Rat . . 44 132. Mus dolichurus. The Long- tailed Rat 44 133. Mus verreauxi. Verreaux's Rat 45 184. Mus lehochla. Smith's Rat 46 135. Muspaedulcus. Wahlberg's Rat 47 136. Mus colonus. Brants' Rat 47 137. Mus coucha. The White- nosed Rat 48 ] 38. Mus musculus. The House Mouse . . 50 139. Musminutoides. The Field Mouse . . 51 140. Mus namaquensis . . 52 141. Mus caffer . . 52 142. Mus muscardinus . . 52 143. Cricetonays gambianus. The Giant Rat 53 144. Saccostomus campestris. The Pouched Rat . . 55 145. Saccostomus mashonae. The Mashonaland Pouched Rat 56 146. Saccostomus anderssoni. Andersson's Pouched Rat . . 57 147. Saccostomus fuscus. The Small Pouched Rat . . 57 148. Acomys subspinosus. The Spiny ]\Iouse 58 149. Acomys selousi. Selous' Spiny Mouse 59 150. Dasymys incomtus. Peters' Water Rat . . 60 151. Arvicanthis pumilio. The Striped Mouse 61 a, subsp. typicus . . 61 b, subsp. dilectus. . 62 c, subsp. bechuanae 62 152. Arvicanthis dorsalis. The Single-striped Mouse 64 153. Golunda fallax. The Swamp Rat 66 155. Mystromys albipes. The White-footed Rat . . Family Bathyebgidae 156. Bathyergus maritimus. The Sand Mole 157. Georychus capensis. The Blesmol 158. Georychus damarensis. The Damaraland Blesmol . . 159. Georychus darlingi. Dar- ling's Blesmol 160. Georychus hottentotus. The Mole Rat 161. Georychus nimrodi. Selous' Mole Rat Division HYSTRICOMORPHA Family Pedetidae 162. Pedetes caffer. The Spring- haas . . Family Ogtodontidae The Subfamily Cricetinae 154. Mystromys albicaudatus. The White-tailed Rat 67 68 71 74 76 77 77 81 84 87 89 163. Petromys typicus. Noki 164. Thryonomys swindereni- anus. The Cane Rat Family Hystricidae 165. Hystrix africae-australis. The South African Porcu- pine . . Suborder DUPLICIDENTA TA Family Lepoeidae 166. Lepus capensis. The Gape Hare . . 167. Lepus saxatilis. The Rock Hare . . 168. Lepus crassicaudatus. The Red Hare Order Chiroptera Suborder MEQACHIBOPTERA Family Pteeopidae 169. Epomorphorus gambianus. The Epauletted Fruit Bat . . 102 94 95 96 SYSTEMATIC INDEX Xl. PAGE 170. Epomorphorus crypturus. The Smaller Epauletted Fruit Bat 105 171. Rousettus coUaris. The Common Fruit Bat . . 106 172. Rousettus stramineus. The Yellow Fruit Bat . . . . 109 Suborder MICBOCHIEOPTERA Family Rhinolophidae 173. Rhinolophus lauderi. Lan- der's Horseshoe Bat . . Ill 174. Rhinolophus ferrum-equi- num. The European Horse- shoe Bat 112 175. Rhinolophus capensis. The Cape Horseshoe Bat . . 114 176. Rhinolophus aethiops. The Damaraland Horseshoe Bat 115 177. Rhinolophus hildebrandti. Hildebrandt's Horseshoe Bat 115 178. Hipposiderus commersoni. Commerson's Leaf-nosed Bat 117 179. Hipposiderus caffer. The African Leaf-nosed Bat . ■ 118 Family Nycteeidae The 180. Nycteris hispida. Hairy Slit-faced Bat . . 119 181. Nycteris capensis. The Cape Slit-faced Bat . . 120 Family Vespertilionidae 182. Vespertilio (Eptesicus) minuta. The Small Sero- tine Bat . . . . . . 124 183. Vespertilio (Eptesicus) capensis. The Cape Sero- tine Bat 125 184. Vespertilio (Eptesicus) me- galurus. The Eastern Pro- vince Serotine Bat . . . . 126 185. Vespertilio (Pipistrellus) nanus. The Clinging Sero- tine Bat 126 186. Chalinobus variegatus. The Butterfly Bat . . . , 128 PAGE 187. Scotophilus borbonicus. The Bourbon Bat . . . . 129 188. Myotis tricolor. The Tri- coloured Bat . . . . 131 189. Kerivoula aerosa. The Bronze Bat 133 190. Kerivoula lanosa. The Woolly Bat 133 191. Miniopterus schreibersi. The Long-winged Bat . . 135 192. Miniopterus scotinus. The Hairy Long-winged Bat . . 136 Family Emballonuridae 193. Taphozous mauritianus. The Tomb Bat . . . . 138 194. Nyctinomus africanus. The Yellow Bat 140 195. Nyctinomus aegyptiacus. The Brown Wrinkle-lipped Bat 140 196. Nyctinomus limbatus. Peters' Wrinkle-lipped Bat 141 197. Nyctinomus acetabulosus. The Natal Wrinkle-lipped Bat . . . . . . . . 142 Order Insectivora Family jMacroscelididae 198. Maoroscelidesproboscideus. The Elephant Shrew . . 146 199. Macroscelides melanotis. The Black-eared Elephant Shrew 148 200. Macroscelides rupestris. The Rock Elephant Shrew 149 201. Macroscelides intufi. The Pale Elephant Shrew . . 152 202. Macroscelides brachyrhyn- chus. Tiie Short-snouted Elephant Shrew . . . . 153 203. Petrodomus sultan. The Pour-toed Elephant Shrew 155 Family Eeinaceidae 204. Erinaceus frontalis. The South African Hedgehog . . 156 SYSTEMATIC INDEX Family yoRiciDAE 205. C V o c i d u r a (Pachyura) varilla. The Small Shrew 159 206. Crocidura (Crocidura) flave- scens. The Large Shrew. . 160 207. Crocidura (Crocidura) mar- tensii. Martens' Shrew . . 162 208. Crocidura (Crocidura) pilosa. The Hairy Shrew . . '163 209. Crocidura (Crocidura) silacea. The Grey Shrew . . 163 210. Crocidura (Pachyura) gracilis . . . . . . 164 211. Crocidura (Crocidura) mari- quensis . . . . . . 164 212. Crocidura (Crocidura) cyanea . . . . . . 165 213. Crocidura (Crocidura) argentata . . . . . . 165 214. Myosorex varius. Smuts' Shrew 167 Family Cheysochloridae The 170 215. Chrysochloris aurea. Cape Golden Mole . . 216. Chrysochloris trevelyani. The Giant Golden Mole . . 173 Chrysochloris villosa. The Rough-haired Golden Mole 174 Chrysochloris hottentota. The Red Golden Mole . . 175 Chrysochloris obtusirostris. Peters' Golden Mole . . 176 217. 218. 219. Order Cetacea Suborder MYSTAUOCOETI Family Balaenidae 220. Balaena australis. The Southern Right Whale . . 180 221. Megaptera longimana. The Hump-back Whale . . 182 222. Balaenoptera sp. The Fin Whale 183 Suborder ODONTOCOETI Family Physeteeidae 223. Physeter macrocephalus. Tlie Sperm Whale . . . 186 page The .. 190 224. Kogia breviceps. Small Sperm Whale 225. Z i p h i u s cavirostris Cuvier's Whale 226. Mesoplodou layardi Layard's Beaked Whale . . 227. Mesoplodon densirostris. Blainville's Beaked Whale 195 192 193 Family Delphinidae 228. 229. 230. 231. 232. 233. 234. 235. 236. 237. 238. 239. 240. 241. 242. The Killer 198 Orcinus orca. or Grampus . . Globicephalus macrorhyn- chus. The Cape Black Fish 200 Grampus griseus. Risso's Porpoise . . . . . . 201 Neophocaena phocaenoides. The Little Indian Porpoise 202 Lagenorhynchus obscurus. Gray's Porpoise . . . . 203 Lagenorhynchus super- ciliosus. Schlegel's Porpoise 204 Cephalorhynchus heavisidii. The Tonine . . Prodelphinus atteuuatus. The Narrow-snouted Dol- phin . . Prodelphinus eupbrosyne. The Euphrosyne Dolphin. . Prodelphinus longirostris. The Long-beaked Dolphin 208 205 207 207 The Delphinus delphis. Common Dolphin . . Delphinus capensis. Cape Dolphin Tursiops tursio. Bottle-nosed Dolphin Steno rostratus. Rough- toothed Dolphin . . Sotalia lentiginosa. The Speckled Dolphin . . The The The 210 211 212 213 214 Order Edentata Family Manidae 243. Manis temmincki. The Scaly Ant-eater . . . . 216 Family Oeycteeopodidae 244. Orycteropus afer. The Aardvark .. .. .. 220 THE FAUNA OF SOUTH AFRICA. MAMMALIA. Order RODENTIA. This order, containing the gnawing animals such as the squirrels, rats, and hares, is very well defined, being readily characterised by the large chisel-like incisors of both the upper and lower jaws and by the absence of canines. Other distinguishing features are as follows : — Feet plantigrade or semi-plantigrade, generally provided with five-clawed toes ; incisors growing continually during life from persistent pulps; those of the lower jaw only two in number; premolars reduced, usually only one above and below, arranged in an unbroken series with the molars which may be rooted or rootless ; skull with the orbit communicating freely with the temporal fossa and with the condyle of the mandible elongated antero-posteriorly so as to allow of a backward and forward, and also a small lateral movement of the lower jaw ; clavicles present as a rule ; cerebral hemispheres smooth and not overlapping the cerebellum ; intestines- usually with a large caecum ; testes inguinal or abdominal ; uterus two-horned, placenta discoidal and deciduate. The rodents are mostly small animals of herbivorous habits adapted to terrestrial, arboreal, subterranean and occasionally to natatorial life ; the order contains a much greater number of species than any other, upwards of 1,900 species out of a total of 7,224 being recognised by Trouessart in his list of recent and fossil Mammals. Eodents are cosmopolitan, being found all over the world, though perhaps more abundantly represented in South America at the present day than elsewhere. 1 VOL. II. 2 EODENTIA The genera are here arranged according to a list drawn up by Mr. Thomas (Proc. Zool. Soc, 1896, p. 1012). Key of the South African Suborders and Families. A. With only two incisors in tlie u]pper jaw [Sim- plicidentata] . a. Angular portion of the mandible arising from the lower edge of the bony socket of the incisor. a^. Zygomatic arch composed chiefly of the malar bone [Sciuromorpha] ; tail long and very bushy ; distinct postorbital processes Sciuridae, p. 3. b^. Zygomatic arch composed chiefly of, and supported by, a backwardly directed pro- cess of the maxilla ; no postorbital processes [Myomorpha]. a^. Tail long and bushy ; premolars J Gliridae, -p. 10. V. Tail generally naked and scaly ; its hairs when present very short ; no premolars Muridae, p. 16. h. Angular portion of the mandible arising from the outer side of the socket of the incisor [see fig. 100, p. 70] . a}. Fur soft ; adapted to underground life, eyes rudimentary, premolars J Bathyergidae, p. 69, h^. Fur soft ; fore limbs short, hind limbs much elongated with four digits, adapted to jumping ; molars of the upper jaw with external, of the lower jaw with internal folds Pedetidae, p. 79. c^ Fur harsh ; hind limbs not elongated ; molars with both external and mternal enamel folds Octodontidae, p. 83. cZ' . Part of the fur modified to form a cover- ing of very strong spines Hystricidae, p. 89. B. With four incisors in the upper jaw, two very small and placed behind the others [DuplicidentataJ Leporidae, -p. Q2. Suborder SIMPLICIDENTATA. With only two incisors in the upper jaw, the enamel covering of which is confined to the front surface ; incisive foramina of moderate size distinct from one another ; fibula not articulating with the calcaneum. SCIUEIDAE XERUS Division SCIUROMORPHA. In the zygomatic arch the jugal bone is not supported below by a backward continuation of the maxillary process ; the angle of the mandible springs from below the bony casing of the large lower incisor ; the incisive foramina are small and confined to the pre- maxillary bone ; the clavicles are perfect, and the tail is (in all African forms) cylindrical and hairy. This group includes the squirrels, flying squirrels, chipmunks, marmots and beavers, and is not a predominant one in the South African fauna, being only represented by two genera and four species all included in the large family Sciitridae. Family SOIURTDAE. Skull with small but distinct postorbital processes; antorbital foramina small and rounded ; palate broad ; premolars -^ the anterior of which is always small and often deciduous or absent ; molars rooted, tubercular when young, the crown when worn showing deep, and often wavy, lines of enamel. Key of the South African Genera. A. Fur harsh, sometimes spiny ; external ear absent or very small Xerus, p. 3 B. Fur soft; external ears well developed and conspicuous Funiscinnis, p. 6. Genus XERUS. Tyjje. Xerus, Hemprich & Ehrenberg, Symb. Phys. pi. ix (1832). .,X. rutilus. Fur harsh, often spiny ; external ears short or absent ; no cheek pouches ; forelimbs with four toes, all clawed, of which the two middle ones are considerably larger than the others, and a rudi- mentary poUex with a flat nail ; hind foot with five toes all clawed ; all the claws long and nearly straight ; skull large and broad, with very small postorbital processes. Dentition.— i. i, c. %, pm. f or i, m. | = 20 or 22. Molars semi-hypsodont {i.e., with high crowns) and lophodont {i.e., with regular transverse ridges and valleys), not tubercular. SCIURIDAE XERUS This genus is confined to Africa ; there are two or three other species found in the north-eastern and western parts of the con- tinent. Fig. 81. — Skull of Xerus capensis. Fig. 82. — Right upper molars of Xenis capensis, enlarged. 96. Xerus capensis. The Ground Squirrel. Sciurus capensis, Kerr, Linn. Anim. Kingcl. p. 266 (1792) ; A. Smith, 8. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 127 (1834). Sciurus namaquensis, A. A. H. Lichtenstein, Cat. Ber. Nat. p. 2 (1793). Sciurus levaillantii, Kuhl, Beitr. Zool. i, p. 67 (1820). Sciurus setosus, Smuts, Enum. Mamm. Cap. p. 33 (1832). Xerus setosus, Layard, Cat. Mamm. 8. Afr. Mus. p. 47 (1862). Xerus capensis, Jentinh, Notes Leyd. Mus. iv, p. 48 (1882) ; NoacJc, Zool. Jahrb. iv, p. 131, pi. iii, fig. 10 (skull), (1889) [Kalahari and Damara- land] ; W. Sclater, Ann. 8. A. Mus. i, p. 182 (1899). Literature. — Pennant (1781) No. 290 of History of Quadrupeds, described as the " Earless Dormouse " ; le Vaillant (1796), iii, p. 277, described as the Aguimp of the Namaquas from north of the Orange River ; Burchell (1822), ii, p. 241, described as Sciurus capensis, the Meerkat, with account of habits as observed. SCIUKIDAE XEEUS Description. — General colour above and on the sides pale rufous brown, sparingly speckled with black, the hairs being short, coarse, and close-lying ; a narrow white stripe runs from the shoulders to the haunches ; below dull white ; skin black ; head broad ; whiskers black ; eyes large and prominent with a dull whitish line above and below ; ear conch completely absent, the ear opening being a narrow diagonal slit, half-an-inch in length ; limbs somewhat paler than Fig. 83. — The Ground Squirrel (Xerus capensis). the body, with four claws on the fore and five on the hind feet, the thumb being shorter and bearing a rudimentary flat nail ; the claws are large, nearly straight, and black in colour ; tail a little shorter than the head and body, near the root coloured like the body, beyond very bushy and distichous, mixed black and white, the individual hairs being chiefly white with two distinct black bands. Skull with the bony palate extending a quarter of an inch beyond b SCIUBIDAE FUNISCIUEUS the level of the posterior molars, nasals broad and zygomatic arches stout. Incisors white, premolars ^ only. Dimensions. — From a skin; head and body 11-0 ; tail 9-0, with terminal hairs lO'O ; hind foot 2-33 ; from ear-opening to nose 2-0 ; skull length about 2-0, breadth about 1-40 ; upper cheek teeth -49. Distribution. — The central and drier parts of the Colony, extending northwards' through the Kalahari and Bechuanaland to Matabeleland and Damaraland ; not found far to the eastwards. The South African Museum possesses examples from Namaqualand, Colesberg, and Griqualand West in the Colony. Habits. — This animal was first mentioned by Pennant, whose example is described as having come from the karoo north of the Sneeuwberg in Graaff Eeinet ; on Pennant's account Kerr based his description. This is a purely terrestrial form, never climbing trees, but living on the open dry karoo plains of the interior, where it associates in large communities, forming burrows, at the bottom of which are the nests in which it brings up its young. It is often seen sitting up on its haunches sunning itself, but on the first appearance of danger scuttles off with great chattering into its burrow. Its food consists entirely of the bulbous roots with which South Africa abounds, these it is able to dig up with its long and powerful claws. When captured it soon becomes tame and forms a gentle and amusing pet. By the colonists this animal is frequently, owing to the similarity of its habits, general size and appearance, confused with the meer- kats, but it can, of course, be at once distinguished by the posses- sion of the two chisel-edged incisor teeth, and by the absence of canines. Genus FUNISCIURUS. Type. Funisciurus, (sub-genus), Trouessart,Le Naturaliste, i, p. 293 (1880) F. lemniscatus. Paraxerus (sub-genus), Forsyth Major, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1893, p. 189 F. cepapi. Fur soft, never spiny ; external ears well developed ; no cheek pouches ; toes as in Xerus, but the claws short and curved ; skull SCIURIDAB FUNISCIUEUS / much as in Xerus, with very small postorbital processes ; dentition as in Xerus. Dr. Forsyth Major, in his paper on squirrels, quoted above, placed the three South African tree squirrels, together with certain other African and Asiatic species, in the genus Xerus, in conse- quence of their resemblance to the members of that genus in certain characters of the molars and skull. If, however, it is necessary to separate these squirrels from the old genus Sciurns, it seems better, as proposed by Mr. Thomas, to form a new genus for them, as Xertis is a very compact group separated from Sciurus by definite though perhaps somewhat super- ficial characters. Key of the South African Species.'* A. Not striped. a. Head the same colour as the body, below dull white F. cepain, p. 7. h. Head, underside of body and tail rufous F. iialliatus, p. 8. B. A pale stripe along the side of the body from the shoulder to the haunch F. congicus, p. 9. 104. Funisciurus cepapi. The Geey-footed Squieeel. Sciurus cepapi, A. Smith, Apjp. Beport Exped. Explor. 8. Afr. p. 43 (1836) ; id. Illmtr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. pi. v (1838) ; Layard, Cat. Mamm. S. Afr. Mus. p. 46 (1862) ; Jentinh, Notes Leijd. Mas. iv, p. 26 (1882); Lorentz, Ann. M. Hofmus. Wien, ix, notiz. p. 65 (1894) [Limpopo river banks] ; de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6). xix, p. 573 (1897). Fujiisciurus cepapi, Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1897, p. 933; W. Sclater, Ann. 8. A. Mus. i, p. 184 (1899). Literature. — Livingstone (1857), p. 603, on its habits. Vernacular Name. — Idsindi of Mashonas (Marshall). Description. — General colour speckled yellowish grey and black ; fur short, soft, and close, most of the hairs on the back and sides black at the base and also ringed subterminally with the same colour, below from the chin much paler, nearly white, the hairs not ringed; whiskers black; iris black; ears oval and moderate, measuring about -7 in. in length, covered with sparse hairs ; limbs paler than the back with quite short curved claws ; tail about as long as the head and body, bushy and very dark, composed of long * A fourth species Funisciurus frerei (Gray) somewliat intermediate in color- ation between F. iMlliatus and F. ccimpi has been recently rediscovered in Zulu- land by the Woodward brothers ; the original specimen was erroneously stated to have come from Zanzibar. 8 SCIUEIDAB FUNISCIURUS pale yellow hairs, each with a double ring of black ; skull with the palate extending only as far as the level of the posterior molars ; upper incisors orange-coloured, ungrooved ; premolars f-, the anterior upper ones small; molars somewhat resembling those of Xerus capensis. Dimensions. — From the skin of a female ; head and body 8-50 ; tail 6-50 without, 7-75 with terminal hairs ; hind foot 1-75 ; from ear to nose 1-53 ; another recorded in the flesh by Mr. Marshall measured head and body 6-80 ; tail 6-80 ; hind foot 1-70 ; ear -75 ; skull length about 1-70, breadth 1-0 ; upper cheek teeth -28. Distribution. — This species was first discovered by Sir Andrew Smith on the banks of the Limpopo Eiver, in what is now the Eustenburg district of the Transvaal ; it has also been recorded from Damaraland and the Zambesi Eiver ; north of this it has been obtained from Nyasaland, but the squirrels from East Africa usually identified with this species have recently been shown by de Winton to be distinct. The type of the species is now in the British Museum ; the South African Museum has recently received an example from Mr. Marshall obtained in the XJmfuli district of Mashonaland. Habits. — Very little is known about the habits of this squirrel. Sir A. Smith says that it is occasionally discovered on the ground but more usually on trees; when it happened to be surprised in the former situation it invariably endeavoured to reach the latter, and attempted to conceal itself either in the forks of the branches or in holes ; it is extremely active in its movements and makes a perpendicular ascent with great rapidity ; it is both noc- turnal and diurnal in habits. Dr. Livingstone found in a hole in a Mopani tree a quantity of seed covered with a number of fresh leaves collected by this squirrel as a store for the hot weather ; its food consists of berries, fruits and seeds. Mr. Marshall also states that this species is only found where the Mopani tree grows, and that it is regarded as a great delicacy by the Mashonas. 105. Funisciurus palliatus. The Eed-headbd Squiekbl. Sciurus palliatus, Peters, BericM ATcad. Berlin, p. 273 (1852) ; id. Beise Mossamb. Saugeth. p. 134, pi. xxxi, fig. 1, pi. xxxii, fig. 3 (1852) ; JentinTi, Notes Leyd. Mus. iv, p. 16 (1882). Scinrus ornatus, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 13, pi. i [Natalj . SCIURIDAE FUNISCIURUS "d Fimisciurus palliatus, W. Sdater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus. i, p. 185 (1899). Vernacular Names.— Pocoluti of Zulus (Fosbrooke apud Gray) ; Incliin- dau ebomvu of Swazis and Tshindi at Inhambane (Francis). Description. — General colour above and on the outsides of the limbs speckled yellow and black, the hairs black at the base and subterminally with intermediate reddish-yellow bands and paler yellow tips; head speckled rufous and black; below inclu- ding the cheeks, chin, inside and lower halves of the limbs bright rufous, the hairs being the same colour throughout ; tail dark rufous with long hairs, which are very pale at the base with two black rings following, the terminal half alone being dark rufous ; whiskers black ; eyes dark brown ; ears in the only specimen examined nearly bare of hairs, though said in the original description to be thickly covered. Incisors smooth and dark orange; premolars f ; the anterior upper one small and deciduous. Dimensions. — From a skin, probably a male; head and body 8-25; tail without terminal hairs 4-50, with 6-50; hind foot 1-80; from ear to nose 1-75 ; a female in the flesh, recorded by Mr. Francis, measures head and body 8-0 ; tail without hairs 6-90 ; ear -62; skull length (about) 1-90; breadth 1-20; upper cheek teeth -40. Distribution. — East and South-east Africa from Gallaland through German East Africa, Nyasaland and Mozambique to Zululand and, perhaps Natal; the South African Museum possesses skins from the Umgoye Forest in Zululand, and from Inhambane in Portuguese East Africa. The type described by Peters from Mozambique is now in the Berlin Museum. Habits.— On the ticket of the Inhambane specimen Mr. Francis writes : — " Common in the district, can be seen of a morning hopping from branch to branch among the trees; has a pecuHar way of jerking the tail upwards and forwards. 106. Funisciurus congicus. The Western Striped Squirrel. Sciurus congicus, Kuhl, Beitr. Zool. p. 66 (1820) ; Jentinh, Notes Leijd. Mus. iv, p. 33 (1882) (in part) ; Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 265 [C-unene Eiver] . Funiscivirus congicus, W. Sdater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus. i, p. 185 (1899). Description.— General colour above yellowish brown, brighter on the shoulders, below very pale yellow ; hairs of the back black 10 GLIRIDAE GRAPHIURUS at the base, and many of them with black tips ; along the sides from the shoulder to the hind limbs runs a narrow pale yellow stripe, below which is a similar dark one ; an incomplete white ring round the eye ; ears moderate, whiskers black ; limbs pale, toes covered with long hairs nearly concealing the claws ; tail a little shorter than the head and body, bushy, composed of long hairs which are bright yellow with a subterminal pale yellow band. Anterior upper premolars present ; incisors orange-coloured and not grooved. Dimensions. — From a skin ; head and body 7-75 ; tail without terminal hairs 5*75, with 6*25 ; hind foot 1"5 ; from ear opening to nose 1-4 ; skull length 1'42, breadth -90 ; upper cheek teeth -30. Distribution. — West and South-west Africa from the Congo, whence came the type, through Angola to Ovampoland ; there is an example obtained by Mr. Eriksson from Ombongo in Ovampo- land in the South African Museum. Division MYOMORPHA. Skull with a slender zygomatic arch formed chiefly by the backwardly directed process of the maxilla on which rests the slender jugal bone ; no postorbital processes ; the angle of the mandible arises from the inferior surface of the bony case of the lower incisor, except in the Bathyergidae ; tibia and fibula united. Family aLIRIDAE. Small arboreal animals with long and hairy tails ; eyes and ears large ; forelimbs small and slender. Skull with frontals much contracted, antorbital opening moderate and triangular ; mandible with a long and slender coronoid process. Dentition i. i, c. g, pm. a, m. | = 20 ; incisors not grooved, pre- molars slightly smaller than the molars, which are all rooted and provided with transverse enamel folds, somewhat difficult to detect. This family includes the dormice and their allies, and is confined to the Palaeartic and Ethiopian regions. All the South African species, five in number, are now usually referred to the genus Graphiurus. GLIRIDAE GEAPHIURUS H Genus GRAPHIURUS. Type. Graphiurus, F. Guvier £ Geoffroij, Hist. Nat. Mamm. livr. 60 (1829) G. ocularis. Tail very bushy and somewhat distichous. Dentition.— i. i, c. §, p.m. i, m. f = 20 ; incisors not grooved ; molars rooted, exceedingly small, especially the premolar, which is about half the width of the other teeth ; the crowns of the molars are hollowed out, the rims being formed of a ridge of enamel; scarcely any traces of infoldings can be distinguished. Fig. 84.— Skull (life size) and left upper molars (enlarged) of Graphiurus ocularis. This genus is confined to the Ethiopian region ; the smaller species were formerly placed in the genus Eliomijs, of which the garden dormouse of Europe {E. melamirus) is the type, but they are now considered to be more appropriately assigned to the present genus originally formed for the reception of the large grey dormouse of South Africa. In addition to the species described below, some half-dozen have been recorded from other parts of Africa. Key of the South African Species. A. Large, about 6 in,, head with black and white markmgs G- ocularis,]). 12. B. Intermediate, about 4 in. ; no conspicuous markings on the head. a. Tail-tip not white, skull long and narrow G. murinus, p. 13. &. Tail-tip white ; skull broad and flat ... G. ptatyops, i^. U. C. Small, about 3^ in. ; tail-tip white G. nanus et helleni, pp. 15, 16. 12 GLIBIDAB GRAPHIUBUS 107. Graphiurus ocularis. The Lakge Geey Doemouse. Sciurus ocularis, A. Smith, Zool, Journ. iv, p. 439 (May, 1829). Graphiurus capensis, F. Cuvier d Oeoffroy, Hist. Nat. Mavivi., livr. 60 (September, 1829) ; Srmots, Enum. Mamm. Cap. p. 32 (1832) ; A. Smith, Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. pi. xxxix (1843) ; Layard, Cat. Mamm. 8. Afr. Mus. p. 49 (1862) ; Beuvens, Myoxidae, p. 50, pi. i, fig. 13, pi. iii, fig. 14 (1890) ; Lorenz, Ann. Id-. Hofmus. Wien, ix, notiz, p. 65 (1894) [Marico dist. S.A.E.] . Graphiurus typicus, A. Smith, 8. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 145 (1834). Graphiurus elegans, Ogilby, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1838, p. 5 [Damaraland] . Graphiurus ocularis, de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7), ii, p. 3 (1898) ; W. Sclater, Ann. 8. A. Mus. i, p. 186 (1899). Description. — General colour ashy grey, fur soft and thick, dark slaty at the base, dull white mixed with black at the apex ; patch on the snout and chin white with a reddish tinge ; cheeks, a patch in front of the shoulder, and a spot on the head at the base of the inner angle of the ear conch, white, a black patch runs from the root of the whiskers through the eye and is continued along the front of the ear ; ears large, rounded, nearly naked but thinly covered round the margin with fine black hairs ; under surface from the chest downwards and the sides between the limbs dull white, the slaty bases of the fur showing clearly ; extremities very slender, tail rather short, bushy throughout and distichous, white mixed with black above, black below, the individual hairs above being black for their basal and white for their terminal halves. Female with four pairs of mammae. Dimensions. — From a mounted specimen ; head and body 6-30 ; tail 3"85 ; with terminal hairs 4-90 ; from ear-opening to tip of nose 1-14 ; hind foot -80 ; skull length 1-34 ; breadth -78 ; upper cheek teeth -14. Distribution. — This large dormouse seems to be confined to South Africa, where it is widely distributed in suitable localities ; the South African Museum possesses examples from Clanwilliam, Ceres, Worcester and Beaufort West in the west, and from Coles- berg, Albany, and Uniondale in the east of the Colony ; it is further recorded from Damaraland and the Marico district of the Transvaal. The type described by Smith, from Plettenberg Bay (Knysna district of the Colony) is now in the British Museum. Habits. — Little has been recorded on this subject. Sir A. Smith describes this dormouse as living in trees ; Layard states that it is GLIEIDAE GEAPHIUEUS 13 partial to old walls and dwelling-houses, and is said to utter a loud shrill call, and that one which was kept for some months in con- finement devoured meat with avidity. 108. Graphiurus murinus. The Cape Dormouse. Myoxus muriiius, Desmaresf, Mamm. Siipjd., p. 542(1822); Smuts, Enum. Mavini. Ca/p. p. 34 (1832) ; A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 146 (1834) ; Peters, Eeise Mossamb. Saugeth. p. 136, pi. xxxv, fig. 1 (1852) ; Laijard, Cat. Mamm. S. Afr. Mus. p. 48 (1862). Myoxus coupei, F. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. Mamm. livr. xxxvii (1822) [Senegal] . Myoxus lalandianus, Schinz, Tliierreich iv , p. 393 (1825). Myoxus erythrobronchus, A. Smith, Zool. Journ. iv, p. 438 (1829). Myoxus cinerascens, Rilppell, Mus. Send: iii, p. 136 (1842) [Natal] . Graphiurus murinus, Alston, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1875, p. 317 [rufous var] ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 187 (1899). Eliomys murinus, Beuvens, Myoxidae, p. 40, pi. i, figs. 4, 6, 7, pi. ii, fig. 9, pi. iii, figs. 5, 6, 7 (1890). Eliomys microtis, NoacJc, Zool. Jahrh. ii, p. 248 (1887). Description. — General colour above mouse-grey, the hair very soft and thick, dark slaty at the base with ashy-brown tips ; below, including the cheeks, chin, and insides of the limbs, dull white, these hairs too being slaty at the base ; in some adult specimens the chin, cheeks, and breast have a distinct rusty red tinge ; feet very slender, covered with sparse pale hairs and furnished below with the usual pads, five to the fore and six to the hind limbs ; from the root of the whiskers to the eyes, and round these extends a dark ring, not always well marked ; the ears fairly large, rounded, and nearly naked ; tail almost as long as the head and body, bushy, covered with long hairs which become much longer towards the apex, but the hairs are fairly evenly distributed, so that the tail can hardly be called distichous, its colour is the same as that of the back, the hairs being of one colour throughout ; four pairs of mammae, one pair axillary, one pectoral, two inguinal. Varieties having a general rufous tinge sometimes occur. Dimensions. — From a skin; head and body 4-1; tail without terminal hairs 2-77, with 3*55 ; hind foot -65 ; from ear opening to nose -95 ; skull length 1-10, breadth -63 ; upper cheek teeth '15. Distribution. — Western and Central Africa from Senegal and Kilima-njaro southwards to Cape Colony ; in South Africa this dormouse is fouud in the more wooded districts, especially in the 14 GLIKIDAE GEAPHIUEUS east. The South African Museum possesses examples from the Beaufort West, Griqualand West, George and Port Elizabeth divisions, also from Pondoland, Natal, and Zululand. The type obtained by Delalande in Cape Colony and described by Desmarest is now in the Paris Museum. /L./^ Fig. 85. — The Cape Dormouse {Graphhcnis murinus). Habits. — From what is known of the habits of this animal it appears to resemble the English dormouse ; it is usually found in holes in the trunks of trees, or sometimes in the roofs of native huts, where it builds a rounded nest of leaves and grass, in which it usually brings up four young ones. M. Cuvier relates that an individual which he possessed in captivity in Paris hyber- nated exactly in the same way as the English dormouse, though whether it has the same habit in a wild condition does not seem to be ascertained. 109. Graphiurus platyops. Darling's Doemouse. Graphiurus platyops, Thomas, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6), xix. p. 388 (1897) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus. i, p. 188 (1899). Description. — In external appearance closely resembling G. murinus, but a little larger, and with the tail distinctly white tipped. GLIRIDAE GEAPHIURUS 15 Skull very different from that of G. murinus, being broad and flat, with long nasals, narrow interorbital region, and broad and depressed brain case ; the molars are rather smaller than those of the other species. This form appears to be doubtfully distinct from G. murinus. Dimensions. — Of the type ; head and body 4-20 ; tail 2-75 ; hind foot -90; skull length 1-05, breadth '68 ; upper cheek teeth -12. Distribution. — The type and only specimen known, was obtained at Enkeldorn, in Mashonaland, by Mr. J, ffoUiott Darling, and is now in the British Museum. 110. Graphiurus nanus. The Dwarf Dormouse. Myoxus (Eliomys) nanus, de Winton^ Proc. Zool. Soc, 1896, p. 799; W. Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus. i, p. 189 (1899). Vernacular Name. — Sindiwara of Maslionas (Darling). Description. — Smaller than G. murinus, general colour rather more ashy, the wood-brown tinge being much less evident, below dull white ; a black patch on the face extending from the whisker roots to round the eyes ; tail club-shaped, very slender at the base and bushy at the apex, of the same colour as the body above, below somewhat paler ; tip of the tail distinctly white. Skull like that of G. murinus, but smaller. Dimensions. — Of a specimen measured in the flesh by Mr. Marshall, now in the South African Museum ; head and body 3-30 (of dried skin 3-52) ; tail without hairs 2-55, with 3*12; hind foot •60, from ear-opening to tip of nose '85 ; skull length -90, breadth •51 ; upper cheek teeth •12. Distribution. — This species was described by Mr. de Winton from a single specimen obtained at Mazoe, in Mashonaland, by Mr. J. ffolliott Darling, now in the British Museum. The South African Museum has recently received a male and two young ones from Salisbury, presented by Mr. G. A. K. Marshall. Habits. — Mr. Marshall, in a letter addressed to me when sending the dormice, writes as follows : — " These animals have a curious habit of utilising the nests of the larger of our two sociable spiders [Stegodyplius sp. inc.) for their own dwellings. Whether this is their invariable habit I cannot say, but I have taken them in this way on three occasions, and in three or four instances I have found old spiders' nests which have been evidently used by dormice. The 16 BIUEIDAE structure made by the spiders varies from a single chamber about the size of a small hen's egg to a mass of very tough felted silk as large as a man's head, and intersected throughout by passages and chambers. In this the dormice hollow out a chamber of a suitable size, which they line with feathery grass heads, the downy seeds of various flowers, and even a few stray feathers. Judging by the case in v^hich I found the nest with young ones in it, I believe they do not only use the old nest, but even drive the spiders out, for it was the spiders that first attracted my attention in this instance. I noticed about 200 of them on a small bush, evidently in a great state of agitation, and busily engaged in forming a fresh nest, which surprised me, as these creatures are usually crepuscular in their habits, and not given to exposing themselves unduly. The old nest I found in a bush some tw^o yards off, connected of course by silk threads with the new one, and in it there were four young dormice. Judging by the attitude of the spiders they could only have been turned out that day or perhaps the day before, in which case the mother dormouse must have carried her young there, as they were too big to have been born so short a time." 111. Graphiurus kelleni. The Damakalakd Dormouse. Eliomys kelleni, Beuveiis, Mijoxidae, p. 35, pi. i, fig. 1, pi. ill, fig. 3 (1890). Graphiurus kelleni, W. Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus. i, p. 189 (1899). Description.— Closely resembhng G. nanus in size and colora- tion, but the hairs on the body above have pale rings with dark brown tips. It is doubtfully distinct. Dimensions.— (Of the type) ; head and body 2-50 ; tail with hairs 3-38, without 2-62 ; hind foot -62 ; skull length -70, breadth •48 ; upper cheek teeth -12. Distribution. — This species was described from a single specimen (preserved in alcohol) in the Leyden Museum, obtained in Damara- land by M. Kellen, and is not represented in the South African Museum. Family MURIDAE. Animals mostly of terrestrial habits and usually of moderate size ; nearly all have scaly and naked, or but scantily clothed tails and a rudimentary pollex (1st digit of hind foot) ; skull with con- MURIDAE 17 tracted frontals and without postorbital processes ; the anterior portion of the zygomatic arch is usually flattened into a perpen- dicular plate so that the antorbital foramen forms a somewhat T shaped opening when viewed from in front, being wide and rounded above and narrow below. Dentition in all South African species, i. i, c. §, pm. §, m. f = 16 ; no premolars, molars rooted or rootless, tuberculate or with angular enamel folds. This is a cosmopolitan family with a very large number of genera and species, including more than a third of all existing Eodents. In the following key the characters given apply only to South African genera, and the arrangement is entirely artificial, being only intended to guide the reader in finding out the genus of an unknown form, it being necessary in all cases to confirm this by a careful reference to the full description. Further, it may be added that an examination of the skull is almost always necessary to determine an unknown rat. Key of the South African Species. A. Upper incisors with a longitudinal groove. a. Tail longer than the head and body. a'. Hind Hmbs elongated, molars transversely laminated, at least in the adults Gerbilhis, p. 18. 6'. Hind limbs not elongated, molars with tubercles more or less arranged in pairs ... Dendromys, p. 29. — h. Tail shorter than the head and body, but ex- ceeding half its length. • a}. Incisors slender, inconspicuously grooved, sole with one large pad, molars transversely laminated Pachyuromys, p. 23. h^. Incisors well grooved, soles with five pads, molars with a triple row of tubercles Golunda, p. 65. * c. Tail less than half the length of the head and body a}. Molars m lammae, the posterior upper and the anterior lower the longest Otomys, p. 25. ¥. Molars with tubercles arranged in an in- complete triple row. aK Tarsus naked S teatomy s, Tp. 3S. b^. Tarsus hairy Malacothrix, ip. S4. B. Upper incisors smooth not grooved a. Upper molars with a triple row of tubercles. a}. Tail more than half the length of the head and body a^. Fur smooth and usually soft not spiny. 2 VOL. II. 18 MUBIDAE GEEBILLUS d^. Antorbital plate produced forwards in hooked shape Dasyviys, p. 59. b^. Antorbital plate ronnded or straight in front not hooked. a^. Coloration plain, 1st and 5th digits not shortened Mus, p. 37. b*. Coloration with lines or spots ; 1st, and 5th digits much shortened Arvicanthis, p. 61. c^. Antorbital plate but httle developed, foramen oval, large • animals with cheek pouches Cricetomys, p. 53. a^. Fur on the back spiny Acomys,"^. 58. ¥. Tail less than half the length of the head and body ; small animals with cheek pouches Saccostomus, p. 54. b. Upper molars with a double line of tubercles ; tail less than half the length of the body; tarsus hairy Mystromys, p. 66. Subfamily aERBILLINAE. Genus GERBILLUS. Gerbillus, Desmarest, N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. (1), xxiv., tabl. p. 22 (1804) G. aegyptius. Eat-like animals with somewhat pointed muzzles and moderate- sized ears, sparsely covered with hairs; tail long, hairy, and usually Fig. 86.— Left half of palate and lower jaw of Gerbillus afer (IJ nat. size). slightly tufted ; hind feet elongated, usually with four rounded tarsal pads ; skull with large and swollen bullae ; upper incisors grooved (in all South African species) ; molars at first tubercular, BIURIDAE GEEBILLUS 19 bub after wear consisting of a series of transverse or elliptical laminae ; the anterior tooth in each jaw consisting of three, the middle of two, the posterior of one only. This genus which is a very large one, and spread over the greater part of the Old World, has been studied in considerable detail by Lataste ; the South African species, however, are still in a good deal of confusion, which cannot well be rectified until a re-examina- tion of the old types and a comparison of them with freshly collected material has taken place. A recent paper by Mr. de Winton has thrown some light on the subject ; he recognises four species as existing in South Africa ; of these, three are closely allied and difficult to distinguish ; the fourth, G. paeha, is considerably smaller and of a rather different colour. 112. Gerbillus paeba. The Bed Gbebille. Gerbillus paeba, A. Smith, Apjy. Report Exjpecl. Explor. S. Afr. p. 43 (1836); de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7), li, p. 3 (1898) ; W. Sclater, Ann. 8. A. Mus. i, p. 190 (1899). Gerbillus tenuis, A. Smith, Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. pi. xxxvi., fig. 2 (1842) ; Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 265 [Damar aland] . ? Gerbillus tenuis, var. schinzi, NoacJc, Zool. Jahrh. iv, p. 134, pi. iii, figs. 13-16 (1889). ? Meriones (Rhombomys) caffer, Wagnei', Arch. f. Naturg. viii, pt. i, p. 18 (1842) ; id. Schreber, Sdugeth. Sup;pl. iii, p. 482 (1843). Description. — General colour above a reddish orange, a little darker along the back owing to the admixture of a few long black hairs ; fur long and soft with dark slaty bases, below and inside of the limbs pure white throughout ; ears moderately long and oval ; carpus hairy with a large swelling, on which is a small round naked tubercle at the base of the rudimentary pollex; tarsus covered below with short white hairs ; at the base of the toes which are also hairy, is a single large pad partially divided into three portions ; tail slender, cylindrical and tapering clothed with short stiff hairs, becoming a good deal longer towards the tip, pale brown above and white below. Upper incisors yellow, paler than in G. afer, with a longi- tudinal groove slightly to the outer side of the tooth ; molars with the middle lamina of the anterior tooth of both jaws, and the anterior lamina of the middle tooth of the upper jaw completely 20 MUKIDAE GEEBILLUS separated in the middle line into two tubercles in the specimens examined. Dimensions. — From an example in spirit ; head and body 3'1 (type according to Smith 4-0) ; tail 4-50; hind foot I'O ; ear -5; skull length 1-1 ; breadth '5 ; upper cheek teeth -2. Distribution. — The types of this species were obtained by Sir A. Smith north of Litakun, in what is now Bechuanaland ; they are preserved in the British Museum. Noack and Thomas have identified gerbilles from Damaraland and the Kalahari, and de Winton others from Namaqualand with this species. The present description is drawn up from an animal procured at Dabenoris in Namaqualand, now preserved in the South African Museum, v^hich appears to be referable to this species. 113. Gerbillus afer. The Cape Gerbille. GerbiUus afer, Gray, Spicileg. Zool. p. 10 (1830) ; A. Smith, 8. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 159 (1834) ; F. Ctivier, Trans. Zool. Soc. ii, p. 143, pi. xxvi, figs. 5-9 (1838) ; A. Smith, lllustr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. pi. xxxv. (1842) ; Layard, Cat. Mamm. S. Afr. Mus. p. 51 (1862) ; de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. p. 800 (1896) [Ehodesia] ; id. Ann. Mag. N.H. (7), ii, p. 3 (1898) ; W. Sclater, Ann. 8. A. Mus. i, p. 191 (1899). Meriones schlegelii, Smuts, Enum. Mamm. Cap. p. 41, pi. i, pi. iii, figs. 1-5 (1832) [Port Elizabeth] . Vernacular Name. — Duin Eat or Nacht Muis of the Colonists (Smith). Description. — General colour fawn brown, darker owing to the intermixture of black hairs on the back, lighter on the sides ; fur soft and thick, pale slaty at the base, the tips lightish brown ; below from the chin backwards pure white, the fur being the same colour throughout ; head rather pointed, ears oval and large, sparsely covered with fine brown hairs ; front limbs short, brown outside, white inside and on the hands, with four pale yellow or white claws and five prominent carpal pads ; hind limbs long, the tarsus and toes especially so^ the former naked, the latter covered with white hairs, the three middle toes much the longest and the first the shortest, all with long, pale claws ; there are four tarsal pads, the one at the base of the first digit being smaller than the others ; tail about as long as the head and body, fairly thickly covered with stiff hairs, brown above, pale below. Upper incisors orange, with a prominent, well-marked groove MUKIDAE GBBBILLUS 21 running along slightly nearer the outer than the inner edge of the tooth ; lower incisors paler and ungrooved. Dimensions. — Of a specimen in alcohol ; head and body 5'0 ; tail 5-50 ; from ear-opening to tip of snout 145 ; hind foot 1-50, with middle claw 1-63. An example from Mashonaland measured in the flesh by Mr. Darling is given by de Winton as follows : Head and body 5-90 ; tail 6-30; hind foot 1-25 ; skull length 145 ; breadth about '8Q ; length of upper molars -27. Distribution. — The Cape gerbille is not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Cape Town and has been recorded by Smuts from Port EUzabeth ; it is probably found all over the Colony, and, if Mr. de Winton's identification is correct, it extends northwards to Mashonaland. Fig. 87. — Palm (A) and sole (B) of Oerbilhis afer, to show the arrangement of the pads. There are specimens of this Gerbille in the South African Museum from the Cape, Knysna and Clanwilliam divisions of the Colony and from Pietersburg in the Transvaal. Habits. — According to Sir A. Smith this animal is nocturnal; it is commonly found in open plots of ground clothed with short grass and situated near brushwood, where a number of animals congregate and form their burrows, extending them in different directions so as not to interfere with one another. The courses of the burrows are at first oblique, but after reaching into the soil about a foot, they run horizontally for three or four yards and often communicate with one another. "When young are about to be brought forth, a nest of soft grass is formed at the further ex- tremity of the subterranean passage in which they are placed. 22 BIUEIDAE GBKBILLUS This animal is migratory, usually performing its journeys at night. According to Mr. Layard its food consists of bulbs and seeds, and it is said to be very destructive to young plantations ; it stores up grain in holes in the upper part of the ridges so as to escape the drainage into the furrows of the fields. 114. Gerbillus brantsi. Brants' Gebbillb. Gerbillus brantsii, A. Smith, Report Exped. Explor. S. Afr. p. 43 (1836) ; de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7), ii, p. 4 (1898) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 192 (1899). Gerbillus montarms, A. Smith, Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. pi. xxxvi, fig. 1 (1842). Merioiies (Rhombomys) maccalinus, Sundevall, Oefvers. Ahad. Forh. StocTiholm 1846, p. 120 (1847). Description. — General colour above light rufous-brown, freely pencilled with darker brown, paler on the sides, below dull white ; head short and somewhat bulky posteriorly ; nose-tip black-brown ; ears oval, thinly covered with hairs ; tarsi ashy grey ; toes shorter than in G. afer; tail reddish-brown above, with blackish hairs intermixed, a little shorter than the head and body. Incisors above Dutch-orange, below white, much larger than in G. afer, and the distance between them and the molars less (Smith). Dimensions. — Head and body 60; tail 6'0 (Smith); from an old skin in the South African Museum, head and body 5-75 ; tail 5-25 ; hind foot 1-25. Distribution. — Sir A. Smith's specimens were obtained near the sources of the Orange and Caledon Elvers in what is now Basutoland ; the type of M. maccalinus, was collected by Wahlberg in the Maccali {i.e., Magahesberg) Mountains in the Eustenburg district of the Transvaal. This gerbille has also been recorded from the Transvaal by Mr. de Winton. An old skin in bad condition, from near Kimberley, now in the South African Museum, seems referable to this species. 115. Gerbillus lobengulae. Lobengula's Geebille. Gerbilliis leucogaster, de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 806 (nee Peter's). Gerbillus lobengulae, de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7), ii, p. 4 W. Sclater, Ann, 8. A. Mus. i, p. 193 (1899). MUEIDAE PACHYUROMYS 23 Description. — General colour above pale fawn, finely grizzled with dull black along the back, pure along the sides ; below pure white, the two colours abruptly separated ; in other external characters resembling G. afer. Skull with a narrow facial portion across the nasals and maxillae between the infraorbital foramina. First upper molar persistently cuspidate, the second lobe being divided into a pair of cusps outer and inner, in fairly adult specimens (de Winton). Dimensions.— Head and body 5-30; tail 6-30; hind foot 1-33 (de Winton). Distribution.— This form was obtained by Mr. F. C. Selous,^at Essex Vale, near Bulawayo, and was at first identified by Mr. de "Winton with G. leucog aster of Peters, and subsequently considered to be a distinct species ; the type is in the British Museum. Gerbilles from Mazoe and Salisbury presented to the South African Museum by Messrs. Darling and Marshall agree very well with the description above given. Genus PACHYUROMYS. Type. Pachyuromys, Lataste,LeNaturaliste, ii, p. 313 (1880) ...P. duprasi. This genus contains animals allied to the Gerbilles, distinguished by their short tails and their peculiarly shaped skulls in which the tympanic bulla is enormously swollen and enlarged, so that it projects back behind the level of the occipital condyles, and can be seen at the two posterior angles of the skull when viewed from above. The antorbital plate is not nearly so well developed as in Gei'billus. Fig. 88. — Skull of Pachyuromys auricularis, to show the enlarged tympanic bulla. The incisors are almost white and very faintly grooved down the middle ; the molars are small and transversely laminated Hke those of Gerbillns, from which they do not differ in any essential respect. 24 MUKIDAE PACHYUROMYS In addition to the South African species, one other only, P. duprasi, from North Africa is included in this genus. 116. Pachyuromys auricularis. The Namaqualand Gerbillb. Gerbillus auricularis, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 160 (1834) ; id. Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. ^\. xxvi (1840) ; de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7) ii, p. 5 (1898). Gerbillus brevicaudatus, F. Cuvier, Trans. Zool. Soc. ii, p. 144, pi. xxvi, figs. 10-13 [skull] (1838). Pachyuromys auricularis, Hiiet, Le Naturaliste, iii, p. 339 (1881) ; TJwmas, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1882, p. 265 [Damaraland] ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 194 (1899). Description. — Form short and thick ; head triangular and very large as compared with the body ; general colour above tawny brown, mottled and pencilled with dull black, the sides somewhat lighter ; fur slaty at the base, ochraceous yellow in the middle, and dark brown at the tips ; sides of the muzzle, eyebrows, sides of the head, beneath from the chin backwards, fore legs and tarsus pure white ; toes short, claws small and pale yellow in colour ; sole of the hind foot with the proximal half bare, the distal half towards the toes hairy ; between the outer and inner toes is a large swelling longitudinally divided and transversely striated forming a single pad ; behind the ear at the base a conspicuous white spot ; ears small, oval and flesh-coloured, a few white hairs on the inner surface ; tail short and thick, covered with short, stiff hairs, above pale brown, beneath reddish white. Female with four pairs of mammae (2-2 = 8). Dimensions. — From a female in alcohol ; head and body 3-75 ; tail 3-0 ; hind foot -92 ; ear -4 ; from ear to nose-tip 1*17 ; skull, extreme length 1-4 ; from condyle to incisors 1'15 ; breadth -80 ; upper cheek teeth -19. Distribution. — The original specimen described by Smith, came from the Kamiesberg in Namaqualand ; the species is also recorded from Otjimbique, in Damaraland, and from the neighbourhood of Kimberley. The South African Museum has recently received examples from near Douglas just north of the Orange Eiver in Griqualand West. Habits. — This gerbille is described by Smith as being nocturnal and migratory, forming burrows in sandy grassy places and feeding on insects. MUKIDAE OTOMYS 25 Sub-family OTOMYINAE. Genus OTOMYS. Type. 0. irroratus. Otomys, -F. Cuvier, Dents des Mamm. p. 168 (1825)... Euryotis, Brants, Het Geslacht der Muizen p. 93 (1827) 0. irroratus. Eat-like animals with short tails, clad v/ith bristles and scales ; hind feet short and ears usually large ; skull with a moderate bulla and an arched nasal profile, upper incisors grooved, molars com- posed of a series of laminae of enamel united by cement, posterior Fig. 89. —Skull of Otomys imisulcatus (l-j nat. size). molar of upper and anterior molar of lower jaw the largest, the former consisting of from four to nine lamellae. The genus is purely African ; in addition to the South African forms described below, only one other species, 0. jacksoni, from British East Africa, is known. Key of the South African Species. A. Both upper and lower incisors longitudinally grooved, ears large 0. irroratus, p. 26. B. Upper incisors grooved, lower incisors very faintly marked or smooth. a. Greyish brown, ears large 0. icnisulcatus, -p. 28. 6. Yellowish brown, ears small , 0. brantsi, p. 29. 26 MUEIDAE OTOMYS 117. Otomys irroratus. The Vley Otomys. Euryotis irrorata, Brawls, Het Geslacht der Mwizen'p.94i (1827) ; Lich- tenstein, Darstellung Sailgeth. pi. xxx. (1834); A. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Mamm. pis. xxii, xxv, fig. 1 (1840) ; Qrill, ■ K. Vet. Ahad. Handl. Stochholm ii, 2, p. 17 (1858) ; Layard, Cat. Mamm. S. Afr. Mus. p. 53 (1862). Otomys bisTilcatus, F. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. Mamm. livr.Gl (1829). Otomys irroratus, Smuts, Enmn. Mamm. Cap. p. 45 (1832) ; de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 801 [Maslionaland] ; id. Ann. Mag. N. H. (7), ii, p. 5 (1898) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 195 (1899). Euryotis typicus, A. Smith, 8. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 149 (1834). Euryotis obscura, Lichtenstein, Ver^eich. Sdugeth. zi. Vogeln Kafern- lande,^. 10 (1842). Vernacular Names. — Vley Muis of the Colonists (Smith) ; Nappy of the Mashonas (Darling). DesCPiption. — General colour above and on the sides dark speckled brown, the bases of the fur slaty, the tips mingled pale brown and black in varying proportions so that there are darker and lighter individuals, below paler the bases of the fur still slaty, and the tips whitish ; ears large, rounded, about | inch in length and breadth, anteriorly fairly well covered with hair ; fore limbs short and slender with five carpal pads, and a rudimentary first digit ; hind foot short with six tarsal pads, of which the proximal one is somewhat elongated as in the true rats ; tail less than half the length of the head and body, covered with short stiff' bristles hardly showing any tendency to form a tuft at the tip, black above, dirty white below. Nasal bones of the skull very much expanded in front. Incisors much curved, very stout, about -2 in. across the tips, chrome-yellow, each with a deep, well-marked groove running its length about one-third of the breadth of the whole tooth, from the outside edge ; lower incisors also stout and chrome-yellow, strongly grooved nearer the outer edge than those of the upper jaw ; the molars consist of a series of parallel laminae of enamel - the number of which to each tooth can be best expressed in the following formula beginning with the anterior tooth H^^p- Dimensions. — Of a skin ; head and body 8'0 ; tail 3-25 ; hind foot 1-1 ; from ear-opening to tip of nose 1*55. Of a male measured in the flesh by Mr. Ayres, of Potchefstroom, head and body 6-75 ; tail 3-5 ; hind foot 1-12 ; skull, length 1-60 ; breadth "85 ; upper cheek teeth '40. MURIDAE OTOMYS 27 Variation. — This otomys varies a good deal in colour through- out its range, and Mr. Thomas has shown that the specimens from East Africa (Mianzini) and Nyasaland differ from those of the Cape Colony in possessing an extra lamella to the posterior upper and anterior lower molar, making the number 7 and 5, instead of 6 and 4, as in the typical variety ; in two skulls from Entaf uf u, in Pondoland, preserved in the South African Museum, the lamella- formulae are ~^ and ^g. The skins belonging to these two skulls do not seem to differ in any very marked respect from the typical variety, and they were both collected in the same locality about the same time, so that until other evidence is forthcoming we may conclude that variation in the number of lamellae is not of specific importance. Fig. 90. — Eiglit upper molars of Otomys irroratus, to show the lamellae. Distribution. — The vley otomys is found over a considerable portion of Africa from Somaliland southwards through British East Africa, German East Africa, Nyasaland and Angola to South Africa. The first collector of this animal was M. Delalande, whose specimens were described by M. Cavier under the name of the " Otomie Namaquois," in the belief that they came from Namaqua- land. The South African Museum possesses examples from the neighbourhood of Cape Town, from the ClanwilHam, Knysna, Bedford, Albany and Pondoland divisions of the Colony, and from Potchefstroom and Zoutspansberg, in the Transvaal, also from Salis- bury and Nyasaland ; the species is common in Natal. Habits. — The vley otomys, as its name implies, is usually found in marshy places in the neighbourhood of water ; it forms short and tortuous burrows among the bushes in which the female makes a nest and brings forth her young ; it is a vegetable-feeder living on the roots of rushes and other like materials. 28 MUBIDAE OTOMYS 118. Otomys unisulcatus. The Bush Otomys. Otomys unisulcatus, F. Ciivier, Hist. Nat. Mamm. livr. 60 (1829) ; Smuts, Enum. Mamm. Cap. p. 46 (1832) ; de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7), ii, p. 5 (1898) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 196 (1899). Euryotis unisulcatus, A. Smith, S.Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 149 (1834) ; id. Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Matmn. pis. xxiii, xxv, fig. 2 (1840). Euryotis pallida, Wagner, Archiv Naturg. vii, pt. 1, p. 134 (1841). Euryotis rufifrons, Wagner, Schreher Sdugeth. Suppl. iii, p. 507 (1843). Description. — General colour dark grey-brown, paler on the sides and becoming a dirty white below, rather lighter in colour than 0. irroratus ; the fur is soft, dark slate at the base, and pale yellow and black at the tips ; ears very large and rounded, measur- ing about '9 in., thinly covered with hair ; limbs and toe-pads much as in 0. irroratus ; tail less than half the length of the head and body, covered with short bristles, dark above, light below. Female with two pairs of inguinal mammae only. Skull with the superior and anterior edges of the perpendicular plate of the antorbital foramina forming almost a right angle ; the nasal bones only slightly expanded in front. Upper incisors narrower than in the last species (about '15 in. broad at their tips), paler, and with the groove much nearer the outer edge ; lower incisors ungrooved ; formula of the molar laminae |^. Dimensions. — From a mounted specimen ; head and body 8*25 ; tail 3'50 ; hind foot 1-08 ; from ear-opening to tip of snout 1-55 ; skull length 1-40, breadth -70; upper cheek teeth -34, Distribution. — To M. Delalande's collections and M. Cuvier's description we are also indebted for our first knowledge of this species, and, except for Sir A. Smith, the animal seems to have attracted little attention since ; the South African Museum possesses examples from Garies in Namaqualand, Clanwilliam and Malmes- bury, and from Touws Eiver in the Worcester division, and Sir A. Smith records specimens from George. Habits. — Sir A. Smith tells us that this otomys is found in sandy districts where there is a certain amount of shrubby vege- tation ; its existence or non-existence in a locality is readily ascertained; if it exists large hemispherical or irregular masses, composed of an aggregation of small dry twigs will be seen surrounding the shrubs and often advancing high among their MURIDAE DENDEOMYS 29 branches ; these masses are formed by the anhxial and traversed in all directions by its burrows, which also extend underneath into the ground ; it is usually in the subterranean burrows that the females make their nests of soft dry grass and bring forth their young. 119. Otomys brantsi. Beants' Otomys. • Euryotis brantsi, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 150 (1834) ; id. Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. pis. xxiv, xxv, fig. 3 (1840). Otomys brantsi, de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7) ii, p. 6 (1898) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 197 (1899). Description. — General colour yellowish brown, lighter on the sides and below ; as in the other species the fur is slaty at the base with yellowish brown intermingled with less abundant black tips ; ears markedly smaller than in the other two species, about half an inch in length and breadth, fairly thickly clothed with hairs ; limbs somewhat stouter and broader than those of 0. unisulcatus ; tail thickly clothed with somewhat stout yellow bristles with a dark dorsal band more marked towards the tip, which is almost black ; two pairs of mammae inguinal in position : tarsal pads six, all circular. Nasal bones not expanded, normal ; upper incisors moderate, the groove well to the outer side of the tooth, the outer edge pale, almost white ; lower incisors sometimes faintly grooved, generally smooth ; formula of molar laminae |^. Dimensions. — From an example in spirit ; head and body 5-60 (of a skin 7*0) ; tail 3-40; hind foot 1-15 ; from ear-opening to tip of nose 1-60 ; skull length 1-50, breadth -75 ; upper cheek teeth -30. Distribution. — Namaqualand ; Sir Andrew Smith's specimen came from the neighbourhood of the Orange Eiver ; there are a considerable number of examples in the South African Museum obtained by Mr. Peringuey at Klipfontein, near O'okiep in Namaqualand. Subfamily DENDROMYINAE. Genus DENDROMYS. Type. Dendromus, A. Smith, Zool, Journ. iv, p. 438 (1829) D. mesomelas. Small, slender, mouse-like animals with long, scaly, and sparsely-haired tails, rather large ears, and with slender limbs 30 BIURIDAE DENDROMYS with the three middle digits of each elongated. Skull with the infraorbital opening triangular, hardly at all narrowed below. Upper incisors grooved, molars small, the anterior upper one as long as the second and third taken together ; the tubercles fairly distinctly arranged in pairs, especially in the anterior upper molar where there are six tubercles arranged in pairs, with a small extra seventh on the inside of the middle one. This is a purely Ethiopian genus with four species, in addition to those below described, from Western and Eastern Africa. Key of the South African Species. A. Chestnut, with three clawed toes to the fore and four to the hmd feet. a. Larger, about 3i in. ; sometimes with, some- times without the black dorsal stripe D. onesomelas, p. 30. b. Smaller, about 2| in. ; always without the black dorsal stripe D. jnimilio, Tp. dl. B. Grey, with only three claws to both fore and hind feet ; small, about 2f in D. melanotis, p. 31. 120. Dendromys mesomelas. The Chestnut Teee-mouse. Mus mesomelas, Brants, Het Geslacht cler Miiizen, p. 122 (1827). Dendromus typus, A. Smith, Zool. Journ. iv, p. 439 (1829). Dendromys mesomelas. Smuts, Enmn. Mamm. Cap. p. 40 (1832) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 198 (1899). Dendromys typicus, A. Smith, 8. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 158 (1834) ; id. Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. pi. xxxiv, fig. 1, pi. xxi, fig. 2 [skull and teeth] (1841). Description. — General colour chestnut-brown above, paler on the sides, white with a rufous tinge below ; fur soft and thick, dark slaty for the basal three-quarters, tips chestnut-brown ; head and snout acutely pointed ; ears large, thinly covered with hairs, which are thicker along the margin, so as to there give it a darker appear- ance ; fore limbs short and slender, formed for grasping, the three middle fingers elongated and clawed, the other two rudimentary ; a large swollen pad occupies the base of the fingers ; hind limbs elongated and slender, toes long, all clawed except the first, which has a flat nail ; tail as long as or longer than the head and body, slender, with rings formed of a series of scales, which are somewhat concealed by the numerous bristles, dark above, lighter below. A MUEIDAE DENDKOMYS 31 black dorsal stripe from behind the head to the root of the tail is generally present. Dimensions. — Of a male measm-ed in the flesh by Mr. Ayres ; head and body 3-0 ; tail 3-25 ; hind foot -75 ; from ear-opening to tip of nose -90 ; ear -4:7. Distribution. — East and South Africa, from Gallaland through Nyasaland to Cape Colony ; the type is said to have come from the Sunday river in Uitenhage ; the South African Museum possesses examples from the immediate neighbourhood of Cape Town, and from Potchefstroom in the Transvaal, and there are examples from Natal in the Maritzburg Museum. Habits. — This, like the other species of the genus, appears to be an entirely arboreal animal, living in the branches of trees, shrubs or vines, and there making a nest in which it brings up its young ; it is very active in passing along from one branch to another. Sometimes it adopts for itself the nest of a bird ; there are three specimens in the South African Museum, taken from the deserted nest of a weaver bird (Hyphantornis velatus). 121. Dendromys pumilio. The Small Teee-mouse. Dendromys pumilio, Wagner, Munch. Gelehrt. Anzeiger, xii, p. 437 (1841); Matschie, Saugetli. Deutsch-Ost-Afriha, p. 49 (1895); W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 199 (1899). Description. — Smaller than D. mesomelas, and without the black dorsal stripe ; reddish brown above, cheeks, lower side and feet white ; tail longer than the head and body (Matschie) ; is very doubtfully distinct from D. mesomelas. Dimensions. — Head and body 2-38 ; tail 3-12 to 3-75. Distribution. — East and South Africa; this tree mouse is recorded from various parts of German East Africa, and was originally described from Cape Colony. Unrepresented in the South African Museum. 122. Dendromys melanotis. The Gkey Teee-mouse. Dendromys melanotis, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ., ii, p. 158 (1834) ; id. Illustr. S. Afr. Zool. Mamm. pi. xxiv, fig. 2 (1841) ; Fish, Proc. Zool. Sac. 1887, p. 340 [habits] ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 199 (1899). Description. — General colour above ashy grey with a slight tinge of rufous, bslow dull white ; a well-marked black line from 32 MUKIDAE DENDROMYS between the shoulders to the root of the tail; fur soft and thick, slaty at the base as in the other species ; ears broad and patulous larger than in D. mesomelas, the tips dark, covered with sparse silvery white hairs, a white spot on the side of the head at the base of the outer margin of the conch ; fore limbs slender, only the three middle toes clawed, the fifth a clawless tubercle ; hind feet long and slender, especially the toes, of which only the three middle ones bear claws, the fifth bears a flat nail, the first is repre- FiG. 91. — The Grey Tree-mouse {Dendromys melanotis) . sented only by a tubercle ; the soles of the tarsus with five rounded pads set among a series of minute, closely-set hemispherical swell- ings ; tail longer than the head and body, covered with rings from which spring short bristles, dark above, light below ; eight mammae, one pair axillary, one pair pectoral, and two pairs inguinal. Dimensions. — From a specimen measured in the flesh ; head and body 2-70; tail 2-85; hind foot -70; from ear-opening to tip of nose -75 ; skull length -80, breadth -40 ; upper cheek teeth -15. Distribution. — Sir A. Smith's type came from Durban ; the South African Museum possesses examples from the suburbs of MUBIDAE STEATOMYS 33 Cape Town and from Port Elizabeth ; no other locaHty seems to have been recorded, unless certain examples mentioned by M. Bocage from Angola are referable to this species. Habits. — Like the other species of the genus this one seems to be found only on trees and shrubs, and while sometimes making a nest for itself, at other times occupies that of a small bird in which to rear its young. In addition to vegetable matter it will devour spiders and insects ; a case is recorded by Mr. Fisk in which a small animal of this species killed and devoured two young ringhals snakes {Sepeclon haemachaetes) 9 and 10 inches in length respectively. Genus STEATOMYS. Type. Steatomys, Peters, Bericht Ahacl. Berlin, 1846, p. 258 (184:7) S. pratensis . Small, short-tailed, mouse-like animals, always very plump owing to the storage of fat all over the body, with no cheek pouches, moderate ears, and short limbs. Skull with the infraorbital opening not narrowed below. Upper incisors grooved ; molars tuberculated, the tubercles arranged in two rows, except in the case of the anterior upper molar, the median row of which consists of three, so that this tooth has seven tubercles instead of eight, as in Mus. This genus is also purely Ethiopian. Three other species have been recently described from West and East Africa. 123. Steatomys pratensis. The Fat Mouse. Steatomys pratensis, Peters, BericM Ahacl. Berlin, 1846, p. 258 (1847) ; Tliomas, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6), x, p. 264 (1892) ; de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 805 [Mashonaland] ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 200 (1899). Steatomys edulis, Peters, Beise Mossamh. Sdugeth. p. 163. pi. xxxiv, fig. 2, pi. XXXV, fig. 11 (1852). Steatomys krebsii, Peters, ibid. p. 165, pi. xxxvi, fig. 3 (1852) [Kaffraria] . Vernaculak Name. — Shana of Mashonas (Darling teste cle Winton). Description. — Form stout and plump ; general colour dark rufous above, lighter on the sides, white below ; fur very short and 3 VOL. II. 34 MUKIDAE MALACOTHBIX soft ; snout short and pointed ; ears moderate, fairly well clothed with hairs ; limbs white, fore feet with four claws and a fiat nail to the first finger ; hind foot with five claws, shorter than those of the forelimb ; tail short, hardly half the length of the body, brown above, white below (Peters). Dimensions. — Of the type ; head and body 3-25 ; tail' 1"75 ; hind foot -60 ; skull length -79, breadth -47 ; upper cheek teeth •13. From a specimen from Mashonaland, measured in the flesh by Mr. Darling; head and body 3-77; tail 1-77; hind foot -66. Distribution. — South-east Africa : Mozambique (whence came the type), Mashonaland, Nyasaland, and " the interior of Kaffraria " (probably meaning the Transvaal), whence came the type of S, hrebsi. This species is not represented in the South African Museum. Habits. — These mice live in the open country making short burrows with only a single entrance ; owing to their fatness they are somewhat sluggish and not at all active ; they are much relished by the natives of Mozambique as food. Genus MALACOTHRIX. Type. Otomys, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 147 (1834) {nee Cuvier) M. typicus. Malacothrix, Wagner, Schreb. Sciugetli. Suppl. iii, p. 496 (1843) M. typicus. Small, short-tailed, mouse-like animals with stout bodies, slender limbs, and well-developed ears; the tarsus and carpus are hairy to the toe pads ; the skull is slender, the antorbital foramen is hardly at all narrowed below, and the perpendicular plate is not well developed. The upper incisors are very strongly grooved towards their outer edge, the lower ones ungrooved and rather paler ; the molars resemble those of Steatomys, the anterior upper one with 7 cusps, 2 in the anterior and posterior row, and 3 in the median row ; the middle molar has 5, the front row 3, of which the innermost is small and not well developed, the back row 2 ; the posterior molar has 2 small cusps only, side by side ; in the lower molars the cusps are arranged in pairs. This genus seems to come close to Steatomys, being distinguish^ able only by its very hairy tarsus. MUEIDAE MALACOTHEIX 35 Only the two species of this genus described below are included in it, as Otomys albicaudatus of Smith must apparently be assigned to the Cricetine genus Mijstromys. Fig. 92. — Left upper molars of Malacothrix tijincus, to show the arrangement of the cusps. Key of the two Sjjecies. A. Hind feet with four well-defined toes and claws; ears very large exceeding -5 in. in length M. typicus, p. 35. B. Hind feet with five well-defined toes and claws ; ears moderate not exceedmg -5 m. in length M. j^entonyx, p. 36. 124. Malacothrix typicus. The Mouse Geebille. Otomys typicus, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 148 (1834) ; Layard, Cat. Mamm. S. Afr. Mus. p. 54 (1862). Malacothrix typicus, Wagner, Sclireh. Sdugetli. Suppl. iii, p. 498 (1848) ; de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7), ii, p. 8 (1898) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 201 (1899). Description. — General colour pale brown above, the fur long, soft, and with dark slaty bases, below white also with slaty bases ; head somewhat pointed ; ears very large for the size of the animal, measuring about -7 in. by -55, dark coloured, sparsely covered with fine black and white hairs intermixed ; limbs slender, covered with dull white hairs ; on the fore foot four toes clawed, the third and fourth only slightly exceeding the second and fifth in length ; hind foot with four toes only, the first or inner one being absent, all clawed, the fifth slightly shorter than the others ; whole under-sur- face of the carpus and tarsus right up to the toe pads covered with short, white, coarse hairs ; tail short, dark, and scaly, covered with short, white, bristly hairs, and so appearing of a dirty white. 36 MUEIDAE MALACOTHEIX Skull slender and much narrowed between the orbits, incisors orange, and the upper ones deeply grooved. Dimensions. — From a mounted specimen ; head and body 3-5 ; tail 1'40 ; hind foot -70 ; from ear-opening to tip of snout 1-0 ; skull length '90 ; breadth -55 ; length of cheek teeth -19. Distribution. — Apparently confined to Cape Colony ; the species was described by Sir A. Smith many years ago from specimens obtained near Graaff Eeinet ; the description is drawn up from specimens in the South African Museum from Beaufort West and Griqualand West. 125. Malacothrix pentonyx. The Small-eared Mouse Geebille. Malacothrix pentonyx, W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 202 (1899). Description. — General colour above brown with a rufous tinge, below, including the upper lips and limbs pure white, the line of demarcation being very marked ; fur soft and thick, above with, below without, slaty bases ; head acutely pointed, ears moderate, markedly smaller than those of M. typicus, oval, about '45 by ■30, covered internally with sparse whitish, externally with brown hairs. Limbs slender, proportioned much as in M. typiGUS, the fore Umbs with four clawed toes ; hind limbs with five toes, all with well-developed claws, of which the inner {i.e., the first) is the shortest, and the fifth slightly shorter than the other three ; tarsus hairy as in the other species. Tail short, a little darker above than below, covered with short, stiff bristles. Skull with the interorbital region somewhat wider than in M. typicus ; teeth as in the other species. Dimensions. — From the type, a dismounted skin ; head and body 2-75 ; tail 2-10 ; hind foot -65 ; ear to nose tip 1-1 ; skull length -91 ; breadth -5 ; upper cheek teeth -19. Distribution. — The western part of the Colony ; the types were obtained on the Cape Flats near Cape Town, by Messrs. E. L. Layard and M. Bishop. MURIDAE MUS 37 Sub-familj MURINAE. Genus MUS. Type. Mus, Linnaeus, S7jst. Nat. lathed, i, p. 79 (1766) M. rattus. Animals with bodies covered with soft, sometimes spiny, fm% with pointed muzzles and prominent eyes but no cheek pouches; the ears are nearly naked ; the tail is more than half the length of the body, covered with scales arranged in rings, with usually a sparse covering of short bristles ; pollex rudimentary with a flat nail, all the other digits with claws ; palms with five, soles usually with six rounded or oval pads. Fig. 93.— Skull of Miis coucha (IJ nat. size). Skull with the antorbital foramen usually forming a narrow slit below, and the perpendicular plate which forms its outer wall well developed ; palate compressed and the incisive foramina long. Dentition the same as in all Micridae, i.e., i. y, c. g, pm. %, m. f = 16. Incisors not grooved, usually rather narrow ; molars when unworn with a triple longitudinal row of tubercles ; lower jaw with a double row ; when worn the teeth are crossed by curved transverse bands of enamel, marking the position of the tubercles [see fig. 94] . This genus is the largest of the whole Mammalian class, con- taining, according to Trouessart's list, 176 species, and doubtless many still remain to be described. They range all over the Old World, with the exception of Madagascar, but are not found in the New World except where introduced by human agency. 38 MURIDAE BIUS The study of the South African species has been much neglected since the time of Sir A. Smith, and it is very difficult to identify some of his species owing to the fact that his descriptions are often short and vague, and also that the types of those still in the British Museum are all in a very bad state of preservation. Fig. 94. — A, Upper, and B, lower molars of Mtis coucJia enlarged), to show the arrangement of the cusps. In the following key of South African species only those of which the identification is fairly certain, are entered. A. Large, body over 6 in. m length. a. Tail shorter than the head and body. a\ Very large, body from 7 to 12 in. ; fm- harsh; tail nearly naked M. decumanus, p. 39. h\ Smaller body between 6 and 7 in. ui length ; tail with the distal portion with long black hairs M. nigricauda, p. 41, b. Tail longer than the head and body. c'. Brown above only a little paler below, not white M. rattus, p. 41. B. Medium, body 4 to 6 m. in length. a. Tail longer than the head and body. a-. Fawn coloured rats ; tail rings 27 to 30 to the inch. a^. Larger, fur with slaty bases below ... M. chysopkilus, p. 42. b^. Smaller, fur with no slaty bases below; mammae 1-2 = 6 M. auricGmis, p. 43. V. Brown or reddish brown rats. a^. Fur below without slaty bases, tail biTshy at tip M. damarensis, p. 44. b^. Fur below with slaty bases, tail rings 45 to 50 to the inch. «■*. Mammae 1-2 =6 M. doUcJiumis, p. 44. 6^. Mammae 2-3 = 10 M. verreauxi, p. 45. MUEIDAE MUS c^. Dark brown ; tail-tip with a strongly marked black brush M. leJiochla, p. 46. b. Tail shorter than the head and body. a^. Mammae 1-2 = 6, fur below pure white M. imedulcus, p. 47. h\ Mammae 2-3 = 10, fur below with dark slaty bases, nose-tip white M. colonus, p. 47. c^. Mammae 4-4 = 16, fur below with slaty bases, no white nose-tip M. coucha, p. 48. C. Small, body less than 4 inches. d. Tail about equal to the head and body, paler below than above, but never white M. musctdus, p. 50. e. Tail considerably shorter than the head and body, underside pure white, eolom-s dis- tinctly marked M. minutoides, i:>. 51 39 126. Mus decumanus. The Noeway or Brown Eat. Mus decumanus, Pallas, Nov. sp. Glir. p. 91 (1779) ; Smuts, Enimi. Mamm. Cap. p. 35 (1832); Layard, Cat. Mamm. 8. Afr. Mus. p. 51 (1862) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S, A. Mus. i, p. 203 (1899). Fig. 95.— Heads of, A, Mus rattns ; B, Mus decumanus. Description.— General colour above greyish brown, sometimes 40 MUBIDAE ' MUS with a reddish-brown tinge ; fur woolly, intermixed with longer, coarser, straight hairs, the woolly portion slaty, with pale brown tips, the coarse hairs black ; below dirty white with slaty bases to the fur ; ears small, when pressed forward not reaching the eyes ; limbs and feet stout and strong ; the tarsal pads well developed, six in number, the proximal one being an elongated oval ; tail always shorter than the head and body, covered with short sparse bristles, not concealing the scaly rings, which are coarse, numbering about 25 to the inch, the bristles become a little longer towards the tail- tip, and form a slight tuft in some cases ; mammae 5 to 6 pairs. Skull large, with well-developed supraorbital ridges ; the antorbital foramen is narrowed below, and the anterior edge of the plate is perpendicular. This rat can always be distinguished by its size, the shortness of its ears and tail, and by its coarse fur. Dimensions. — From a large mounted male ; head and body 11-25; tail 7-75; hind foot 1-60; from ear-opening to nose-tip 2-20 ; skull length 1-50 ; breadth -70 ; length of upper molars -30. Distribution. — This rat is now cosmopolitan, being found all over the world, especially in the neighbourhood of towns and seaports ; its original home appears to have been in Western China, whence it spread to Europe early in the last century — it is said to have reached England about 1730. It is common in Cape Town and neighbourhood, and is probably to be found in all the large towns, and along the lines of communication. Habits. — This rat is far the most powerful of its family, and has in most parts of the world entirely driven out and supplanted the once prevalent black rat, which is now becoming rare. It is omnivorous, it will eat any kind of human food ; it will prey on other creatures ; the henroost, the dovecot, the rabbit-warren all suffer from its depredations. It is also a cannibal and will eat its cousin the black rat, or any members of its own species caught in a trap or otherwise disabled. The brown rat is very prolific, every female produces several litters annually, each consisting of from ten to fourteen blind and naked young ones ; these again will breed when only half grown and not more than six months old, but in this case the families will be smaller not more than three or four ; the period of gestation is twenty days. MUKIDAE MUS 41 127. Mus nigricauda. The Black-tailed Eat. Mus iiigricauda, Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 266, pi. xiv, fig. 1 ; Socage, Jorn. Sci. Lisbon (2), ii, p. 10 (1892) ; W. ScJater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 208 (1899). Description. — General colour above yellow mixed witli black, somewhat more yellow on the sides, fur coarse and long, below pure white without slaty bases to the hairs ; ears large, thinly covered with short greyish hairs; extremities white, the hairs concealing the claws ; hind feet comparatively short, the six pads large and rounded, occupying a considerable portion of the sole; tail shorter than the head and body, nearly naked at the base, but thickly covered distally above and below with long shining black hairs forming a shght pencil at the tip ; molars broad and rounded with numerous well-marked small cusps. Dimensions.— From the type ; head and body 6-2 ; tail 5-8 ; hind foot 1-01 ; upper molars •21. Distribution. — The type was obtained by C. J. Andersson on the Hountop Eiver in Damaraland ; other examples have been collected in Angola, where it appears to be fairly common. There are no specimens in the South African Museum. 128. Mus rattus. The Black Eat. Mus rattus, Linnaeus, Sysi. Nat. 12tli ecL, i, p. 83 (1766) ; Layard, Ca,t. Mamm. 8. Afr. Mus., p. 51 (1862) ; de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, pp. 803, 807 [Rhodesia] ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 204 (1899). Description. — General colour above and below brown, fur coarse and harsh, ears larger than in M. decumanus, when pressed forward reaching as far as the eye ; feet and hands a little paler than the back but not white; the pads on the soles well developed, the proximal one elongated and oval ; tail much longer than the head and body, of the same brown colour throughout, covered with short bristles not becoming much longer towards the tip; tail rings somewhat finer than those of M. decumanus, about 30 to the inch ; extreme tail-tip in most of the South African specimens examined, white ; mammae 10 to 12 in number, 2 or 3 pairs pectoral, 3 pairs inguinal. 42 BIURIDAE MUS Skull generally resembling that of M. decumanus, but rather shorter in the nasal region. Dimensions. — Measured in the flesh ; head and body T-IO ; tail 8-63 ; hind foot 1-32 ; skull length 1-40, breadth -75 ; upper molars -30. Distribution. — Like the brown rat, the black rat is cosmopolitan having been carried all over the world in ships ; it has, however, been driven out of many places by its brown cousin, and is now comparatively rare in England. In Africa the black rat was formerly common in Cape Town, but now it seems to have disappeared ; it is, however, the common house rat of Ehodesia, and I have examined a specimen from Pretoria preserved in the Museum there. This rat is not indigenous in Europe, though long established there. It has been known to exist on the Continent since the thirteenth century ; brown and rufous varieties differing somewhat in colour from the ordinary European form are found in North Africa, India, and Burma, and are indigenous there ; it is probably from this form that the present European race originated. Habits. — Though inferior in strength and ferocity, the black rat resembles its brown congener in its habits ; it is omnivorous, very prolific and semi-parasitic, living in houses and by human aid ; the Indian variety, however, alluded to above is a climbing rat ascend- ing trees and making its nest among the branches. 129. Mus chrysophilus. Darling's Eat. Mus chrysopliaus, de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, pp. 801, 807 ; M^. Sclater, Ann. 8. A. Mus. i, p. 205 (1899). Vernacular Name. — Mache of the Mashonas. Description. — General colour bright reddish fawn, sprinkled with black hairs becoming lighter on the sides ; below white, clearly defined from the fawn of the sides, all the fur above and below with slaty bases ; ears oval, about three-quarters of an inch in length, with a thin covering of greyish hairs ; feet covered with white hairs, soles somewhat dark in colour, with the usual six pads, the proximal one rounded ; tail a little longer than the head and body, the rings running about 30 to an inch, towards its base lighter below than above, distally quite brown, bristles increasing in number towards the tail-tip, but hardly forming a brush. Skull with the outer edge of the antorbital plate sloping forwards. MUEIDAE BIUS 43 Dimensions. — Of the type measured in the flesh ; head and body 5-75 ; tail 6-50; hind foot 1'12. Of a specimen in alcohol; head and body 5*10; tail 6-0; hind foot 1-2; skull length 1-50, breadth -75 ; molar teeth of upper jaw -25. Distribution. — The type of this species, obtained by Mr. J. ff. Darling at Mazoe, in Mashonaland, is in the British Museum ; . the South African Museum possesses an example from the same locality and collector ; it has also been found near Bulawayo, in the Trans- vaal, and in Nyasaland. 130. Mus auricomis. The Golden Eat. Mus auiicomis, de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, pp. 802, 807 ; W. Sdater, Ann. 8. A. Mus. i, p. 206 (1899). Description. — General colour above fawn-yellow, sprinkled with black hairs, lighter on the sides ; below including the hands and feet pure white almost to the bases of the hairs, which' are some- times a pale grey ; ears moderate, naked, save for a few yellow hairs ; tail nearly naked, bi-coloured for the basal portion, brown for the terminal portion with a few short adpressed bristles, increasing in number and length towards the tip, rings of the tail about 27 to the inch. Female with three pairs of mammae (1-2 = 6). Allied to M.' chrysophihis, but smaller, with almost pure white belly fur and a more golden and less rufous tinge to the sides and upper parts. Skull with the front edge of the antorbital plate somewhat con- cave, approaching that of Dasymys. Dimensions. — Of the type measured in the flesh ; head and body 4-44 ; tail 5-78 ; hind foot -94; skull length 1-22, breadth -59 ; upper molars •20. Distribution.— The type of this species was also obtained at Mazoe in Mashonaland, by Mr. Darling, and is now in the British Museum. Mr. de Winton records it at the same time from the neighbourhood of Bulawayo, where it was obtained by Mr. Selous, The South African Museum has examples from the Paarl, Middel- burg and Griqualand West divisions of the Colony, and from Salis- bury in Mashonaland. Habits. — This rat seems to be found only among boulders and rocks ; all Mr. Marshall's specimens are labelled " trapped on kopje." 44 MURIDAE BIUS 131. Mus damarensis. The Damaealand Eat. Mus silaceus, apucl Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 266 [nee Wagner] . Mus damarensis, de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6), xix, p. 349 (1897) ; W. Sdater, Ann. 8. A. Mus. i, p. 208 (1899). Description. — General coloui- reddish fawn or isabelline, sprinkled with fine darker hairs, richest along the dorsal line, becoming greyer on the sides and below pure white, including the hands and feet ; ears large, covered in and outside with short reddish hairs ; tail about the same length as the head and body, covered distally with somewhat long liver-coloured hairs so as to be almost bushy, rings fine, about 50 to the inch ; the feet are thick, the pads are large and crowded ; the claws small and curved, are almost concealed by the hairs. Dimensions. — From the type ; head and body 5-30 ; tail 5*30 ; hind foot -95 ; skull length about 1-25, breadth -62 ; upper molars •24. Distribution. — The type, obtained some years ago by Mr. C. J. Andersson in Damaraland, was formerly identified with M. silaceus, but has recently been shown by de Winton to be distinct. 132. Mus dolichurus. The Long-tailed Eat. Mus dolichurus, Smuts, Enum. Mamm. Caj:). p. 38, pi. ii (1832); A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart, Journ. ii, p. 155 (1834) ; Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1891, p. 186; id., ibid. 1894, p. 141 [measurements] ; W. Sdater, Ann. S. A. Mtos. i, p. 207 (1899). Mus arborarius, Peters, Beise Mossamh. Sdugeth. p. 152, pi. xxxv, fig. 7, pi. xxxvi, fig. 2 (1852). Mus rutilans, Peters, M. B. AJcad. Berlin, 1876, p. 478, pi. ii, fig. 2 (1877): Description. — General colour above rich fawn brown, becoming much more reddish on the hinder part of the back and rump ; below pure white with no slaty bases to the fur ; nose-tip not white ; ears large, rounded and nearly naked ; hands and feet covered with somewhat rusty-white hairs ; tail considerably longer than the head and body, with somewhat coarse rings, about 32 to the inch, only very slightly paler below than above, ending in a brush of com- paratively long brown hairs ; mammae six in number, one pair pectoral, two pairs inguinal. MURIDAB MUS 45 Dimensions. — Measured in the flesh ; head and body 4-70 ; tail 6-60 ; hind foot -80 ; ear -85 ; skull length 142, breadth -Qi, upper cheek-teeth '20. The description and dimensions are taken from an adult female specimen from the Pirie Bush near King William's Town, preserved in the British Museum. Distribution. — The type described by Smuts was from the neighbourhood of Cape Town, and Smith records the animal from Uitenhage. There is no specimen in the South African Museum, but the British Museum has examples from the Pirie Bush in the Eastern Province of the Colony and from Natal. Outside South Africa it appears to be widely distributed from the Niger and the Cameroons in the west and the Fayoum of Egypt in the east, south- wards through Central and East Africa to the Colony. Habits. — This rat appears to be arboreal, as a rule making a nest or occupying that of a bird such as a barbet ; according to Peters, it carries its young attached to it by its mammae, like Mus paedulcus. 133. Mus verreauxi. Vekreaux's Eat. Mus verroxi, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 156 (1834). Description. — General colour fawn brown, thickly sprinkled with black along the back and paler on the sides ; below white with well developed dark slaty bases to the fur throughout ; tip of the nose white ; a well-marked black ring round the eye, extending forwards to the bases of the whiskers ; ears somewhat oval and nearly naked, feet covered with pure white hairs ; pads small and normal, all rounded ; tail considerably longer than the head and body, distinctly bi-coloured, the rings fairly distinct, about 35 to the inch, towards the extremity the bristles become much longer and white, so that the tail-tip bears a white brush ; mammae 3-2 = 10. This description is taken from an adult male preserved in the South African Museum, which appears to agree very well with Smith's description. Dimensions. — Measured in the flesh ; head and body 4-5 ; tail 6-25; hind foot 1-06; skull length 1-17 ; breadth -65; upper cheek teeth -22. Distribution. — The type was obtained near Cape Town ; there are in the South African Museum in addition to the specimen from Somerset West described above, others from Table Mountain and 46 BIURIDAE MUS French Hoek, all localities in the south-western corner of the Colony. 134. Mus lehochla. Smith's Eat. Mus leliochla, A. Smith, Apf. Bejwrt Exped. Explor. 8. Africa, p. 43 (1836); id. Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. pi. xlvii, fig. 1 (1847). Description. — General colour above dark brown, darkest in the middle of the back, becoming more rufous on the sides, hairs a little coarse with dark slaty bases ; below white, with a rufous tinge, slaty bases somewhat paler and not very strongly developed ; ears oval, slaty in colour, covered with a coating of fine hairs ; fore and hind feet white above ; skin of the under side of the tarsus ashy, the pads, six in number, of which the proximal one is oval ; all the pads well developed and dark ashy, almost black; tail considerably longer than the head and body, very coarsely ringed, somewhat paler below than above, but by no means bicoloured ; towards the tip the tail hairs become a good deal longer and thicker, and to a certain extent form a brush. Skull chiefly remarkable for its very small and flattened bullae measuring -19 along their greatest length as compared with -30 in M. paedulcus ; the antorbital plate slopes diagonally forwards and then vertically downwards, and is considerably wider than that of M. paedulc2ts, the species to which, on the whole, the present form seems most closely allied. This description is drawn up from a rat caught at Tafelberg in the Middelburg division of the Colony, now in the South African Museum. It has been compared with Andrew Smith's type of M, lehochla, by Mr. de Winton, and there can be no doubt that the two are identical ; the type has obviously lost a portion of its tail. Dimensions. — From a male specimen in alcohol ; head and body 4-10; tail 6*20; hind foot 1-0; ear -6; ear opening to nose tip 1'15 ; skull length 1-13 ; breadth -6 ; upper molars -20. Distribution. — Smith's type was obtained at Litakun in Bechuanaland ; no other locality or specimen except the ^bove- mentioned one is known to me. MURIDAE MUS 47 135. Mus paedulcus. Wahlbekg's Eat. Mus paedulcus, Sundevall, E. Vet. Ahad. Fork. Stockholm, 1846 p. 120 (1847) ; W. Sclater, Ann. 8. A. Mus. i, p. 206 (1899). Description. — General colour above, greyish brown, darker in the middle of the back, greyer on the sides, below pure wbite with only very slight traces of slaty bases to the fur ; along the back the hairs are fairly soft and thick and have a considerable admixture of black tips ; ears rather large, oval with a thin covering of grey hairs ; extremities greyish white, claws almost concealed by the long hairs ; the proximal tarsal pad much elongated ; tail slightly shorter than the head and body, dark brown above and below, rings very fine, about 50 to the inch, bristles very thick almost concealing the rings and having a slight pencil, tail-tip in the two specimens examined white; mammae 3 pairs, i.e., 1-2 = 6. Skull with the incisive foramina barely reaching the anterior level of the molars ; the front edge of the perpendicular plate of the antorbital foramen with a backwardly directed slope, so that its top angle is somewhat acute. This account is drawn up from a specimen in the South African Museum agreeing very well with the original description of Sundevall. Dimensions. — From a skin ; head and body 5-5 ; tail 5'0 ; hind foot -90 ; from ear opening to nose- tip 1-10 ; skull too imperfect for measurement. Distribution. — The type collected by Wahlberg, now in the Stockholm Museum, is described as coming from the interior of Kaffirland ; the example in the South African Museum is from Pondoland in the extreme east of the Colony and another rat from the Lydenburg district of the Transvaal also seems referable to this species. Habits. — According to Wahlberg the mother carries her young when running or climbing attached to her mammae. 136. Mus colonus. Beants' Eat. Mus colonus, Brants, Het Oeslacht der Muizen, p. 124 (1827) ; Smuts, Enum. Manim. Cajy. p. 37 (1832) ; A, Smith. S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 154 (1834) ; id., Illicstr, Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. pi. xlvii, fig. 3 (1847); Peters, Beise Mossamb. Sliugeth. p. 151 (1852); Grill <^ Sundevall, K. Vet. Ahad. Handl. Stockholm, ii, 2, p. IS (1858)'; 48 MURIDAE MUS Thomas, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6), x, p. 181 (1892) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mas. i, p. 210 (1899). Mus natalensis, A. Smitli, 8. Afr. Quart. Joimi. ii, p. 156 (1834) ; id.. Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. pi. xlvii, fig. 2 (1847) ; Matschic, Sdugeth. Deutsch-Ost-Afrika, p. 51 (1895) ; de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 807. Mus mariquensis, A. Smith, App. Report Exped. Explor. 8. Africa, p. 43 (1836) ; de Winton, Proc. Zool. 8oc. 1896, p. 803. Description. — General colour very dark brown, almost black along the middle line of the back owing to the admixture of long black hairs, rather paler and more rufous on the sides, below dirty white with dark slaty bases to the fur ; ears oval, covered with a few sparse brown hairs, feet rather slender, dirty white, tail usually a little shorter than head and body, brown above, paler below owing to the colour of the short, stiff bristles with which it is thinly clothed, rings coarse and conspicuous, about 40 to the inch ; mammae, according to Thomas, 10 in number — 3 pairs pectoral and 2 pairs inguinal. Dimensions. — Measured in the flesh by Mr. Marshall ; head and body 3-90 ; tail 3-45 ; hind foot -82 ; ear -68 ; from ear to nose- tip 1-05 ; skull length 1-05 ; breadth -60 ; upper cheek teeth -20. Distribution. — The type is said by Brants to have come from the neighbourhood of Algoa Bay ; Victorin obtained his specimens at Eondebosch near Cape Town, and the South African Museum has a good series of this species from the Middelburg, Griqualand West, and Pondoland divisions of the Colony, from Eustenburg in the Transvaal, and from Salisbury in Mashonaland. 137. Mus coucha. The White-nosed Eat. Mus coucha, A. Smith, App. Beport Exped. Explor. 8. Afr. p. 43 (1836) ; Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 266 ; Jentinh, Notes Leijd. Mus. ix, p. 174 (1887) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 209 (1899). Mus silaceus, Wagner, Archiv.f. Naturg. viii, pt. 1, p. 11 (1842). Mus microdon, Peters, Beise Mossamb. Sdugeth. p. 149, pi. xxxv, figs. 5, 6, pi. xxxvi, fig. 1 (1852). Mus sp., Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1888, p. 13 ; Pousargues Ann. Sci. Nat. (8), iii,p. 14 (1897). Description. — General colour dark brown on the back, growing paler on the sides and dirty white below, all the fur above and MUEIDAE MUS 49 below with strong slaty bases ; the fur of the back long, soft with pale brown and black tips intermixed, the latter much more abundant along the middle of the back ; tip of the nose white ; ears moderate and oval ; feet pure white, tarsal pads all rounded, claws almost concealed by the long white hairs which project beyond them ; tail about the same length or shorter than the head and body, the rings numbering about 44 to the inch, covered with short bristles, dark above, white below, hardly longer towards the tip ; mammae usually 16 in number — 4 pairs pectoral, 4 pairs inguinal, in the specimen examined, but often exceeding this number up to 24. Skull with a large antorbital foramen not much narrowed below with a small, not well-developed plate. Synonymy. — This rat is found over the greater part of Africa, and it is in consequence of this and of the fact that it varies to a great extent throughout its range both in size and colour that it has received the names recorded above in the synonymy ; it seems pro- bable, however, that as M. Pousargues and Mr. Thomas have stated, there is only one varying species. Dimensions. — Measured in the flesh by Mr. Marshall ; head and body 4-30 (of a dried skin 5-0) ; tail 3-75 ; hind foot -80 ; from ear to tip of nose 1*10 ; skull length !•! ; breadth -60 ; upper molars •20 ; ear -70. Distribution. — The type of the species was obtained by Sir A. Smith in Bechuanaland, and it is also known from Damaraland, while the South African Museum contains a considerable series from the Cape, Namaqualand, Griqualand West, Bedford and Middelburg divisions of the Colony, from the Waterberg district of the Trans- vaal, and from Salisbury in Mashonaland. Outside South Africa it has been recorded from French Congoland and Abyssinia through Central and East Africa and Nyasaland to Mozambique. Habits. — This rat appears to be sometimes found in human habitations where it often becomes troublesome ; it has also been found nesting in acacia and other trees, as well as in holes in the earth ; Mr. Marshall's examples were trapped near vleys and ant- heaps and in the house. VOL. II. 50 MURIDAB MUS 138. Mus musculus. The House Mouse. Mus musculus, Linnaeus, 8yst. Nat. 12th ed. i, p. 83 (1766) ; A. SmitJi, S. Afr. Quart. Joiirn. ii, p. 154 (1834) ; Layard, Cat. Mamm. S.' Afr. Mus. p. 50 (1862) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 211 (1899). Mus orientalis, Cretzschmar, Atlas zu der Beise von Bufpell, SCiuge- thiere, p. 76, pi. xxx (1826) ; Grill et Sundevall, K. Vet. Ahad. Handl. StocMolm, ii. 2, p. 18 (1858). MiTS modestus, Wagner, Archiv.f. Naturg. viii, pt. 1, p. 14 (1842); id. Schreh., Sdugeth. Supjpl. iii, p. 432, pi. 181 A (1843). Description. — General colour above brown with a yellowish tinge, darkest along the back, lighter on the sides ; below greyish, the fur slaty with somewhat paler tips, never white ; ears large and nearly naked, when pressed forwards reaching the eye ; hands and feet grey, never white, slender with the usual number of pads which are all circular; tail usually about the same length as the head and body, dark coloured, thinly covered with the usual bristles not increasing in length towards the tip, towards the base somewhat lighter below than above, but towards the tip dark all round, rings of the tail slender, about 50 to the inch ; mammae 10 in number — 3 pairs pectoral, 2 pairs inguinal. Dimensions. — From a specimen in alcohol ; head and body 3-20 (skin 3-70) ; tail 3-45 ; hind foot -62 ; from ear to nose-tip -90 ; skull length -80, breadth -45 ; upper molars 45. Distribution. — Cosmopolitan, being found in the habitations of civilised man throughout the world ; it probably originated in the East ; it is common in Cape Town houses, also in Port Nolloth and Pretoria, and probably in all other towns of South Africa of any size. Habits. — The house mouse is omnivorous, though chiefly sub- sisting on grain and vegetables ; it will live in amity in the same house as the brown rat, though the latter will endeavour if possible to get rid of the black rat ; it is exceedingly active, more so than any of the field mice, and can climb a nearly vertical surface with great ease. Like the brown rat, it is very prolific, and produces 8 or 5 litters in the year, each consisting of four to eight blind young ones, which in turn commence breeding in less than twelve months. MUEIDAE MUS 51 139. Mus minutoides. The Field Mouse. Mus minutoides, A. Smith, 8. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 157 (1834) ; Tliomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p, 266; id. ibid. 1888, p. 13, [synonymy]; de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6), xx, p. 320 (1897); W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 212 (1899). Mus minimus, Peters, Bericht ATtad. Berlin, p. 274 (1852) ; id. Beise Mossamb. Sdugeth, p. 153, pi. xxxiii, fig. 2, pi. xxxv, fig. 8 (1852) ; Grill et Sundevall, K. Vet. AMd. Handl. StocMolm, ii, 2, p. 17 (1858). Description. — Small and slender, general colour above fawn, rather darker on the middle of the back through the admixture of black hairs ; fur coarse with pale slaty bases ; below pure white without slaty bases ; the line of demarcation of colour being strictly defined; ears moderate, rounded and almost naked, a little darker along their margins ; hands and feet scantily covered with white hairs, the claws rather large and not concealed by the hairs, pads normal in number and rounded, the skin between on both palms and soles being covered with numerous little rounded swell- ings ; tail rather shorter than the head and body, pale, and covered with a fairly thick coating of white bristles not forming a bushy tip ; mammae 8 to 10 — 2 to 3 pairs pectoral, 2 pairs inguinal. Skull short and rather broad, anterior upper molar large, longer than the two posterior ones taken together, the anterior portion elongated and rather pointed, often bearing an extra heel in front not found in other South African species. It is chiefly on this that the genus Leggada was founded, but the character is not sufficiently distinct or constant to afford grounds for generic distinction. Dimensions. — From a specimen in alcohol ; head and body 2-40 (in skin 2-90) ; tail 1-90 ; hind foot -50 ; from ear-opening to nose- tip "70 ; skull length -77, breadth -40 ; upper molars -15. Distribution. — The type of this species was obtained near Cape Town by Sir A. Smith ; the South African Museum possesses examples from various parts of the Cape division, from Clanwilliam, the Paarl, Natal, and Delagoa Bay, and it has been recorded from Knysna and Damaraland ; it is, therefore, probably widespread throughout South Africa ; outside these limits it extends through Mozambique and Nyasaland as far north as Wadelai and Uganda. Habits. — This little mouse is said to be sometimes obtained in houses though more frequently occurring in fields where it makes short burrows. 52 MURIDAE MUS The following three species are not represented in the collections of the South African Museum, and cannot at present be satisfac- torily identified : — 140. Mus namaquensis. Gerbillus namaquensis, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 160 (1834). Mus namaquensis, de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 802. Description. — General colour above fawn, pencilled with black especially posteriorly, sides lighter ; below bluish white ; slaty bases above and to the sides, but not to the belly hairs ; ears very long and broad with short white hairs inside, extremities covered with white hairs concealing the claws ; tail a little shorter than the head and body, with a short, scanty covering of bristles, black above, white below (Smith). This species seems allied to M. paedulciis and M. auricomis. Dimensions. — Head and body 5-50 ; tail 4-75. Distribution. — Namaqualand. 141. Mus caffer. Mus caffer, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 167 (1834). Description. — General colour blue-grey or brown-grey, lighter on the sides, below greyish-white ; all the fur very long and soft ; ears long and oval, the inner surface with a sprinkling of minute white hairs, the outer with blackish hairs ; feet greyish-white ; tail thinly covered with very short fine greyish hairs (Smith). Dimensions.— Head and body 3-50 ; tail 3-0. Distribution. — Kaffirland. 142. Mus muscardinus. Mus muscardinus, Wagner, Schreh. Sdugeth. Sujppl. iii, p. 430 (1843). Description. — Eusty yellow above, white below; ears naked; feet white ; tail shorter than the head and body, clothed with dark bristles above, and white ones below. Dimensions.— Head and body 5-10 ; tail 3-20; hind foot -75. Distribution. — Kaffraria, collected by Krebs. MURIDAB CRICETOMYS 53 Genus CRICETOMYS. Type. Cricetomys, Waterhouse, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1840, p. 2 C. gambianus. Large rat-like animals, with cheek pouches in which to store up food, but otherwise externally resembling Mtcs. Skull with the nasal portion elongated ; the antorbital plate but little developed, so that the antorbital foramen is somewhat oval and not so narrowed below as in Miis ; incisive foramina short and their distance from the front edge of the molars about equal to their length ; auditory bullae somewhat small. Dentition as in Mus ; incisors stout, bright yellow above and below in the male, the lower ones pale in the female in the speci- men examined. Molars rooted, the anterior upper tooth with three median, three outer and two inner tubercles, and indications of a ninth at the posterior edge of the tooth ; middle upper molar with the usual six tubercles, and a small seventh antero-externally ; posterior upper molar also with an extra cusp in a similar position. Only one species, spread over the greater part of Africa, is generally recognised. 143. Cricetomys gambianus. The Giant Eat. Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1840, p. 2 ; Peters, Beise Mossamh. Sdugeth. p. 169 (1852). Vernacular Name. — Magwinga or Inyakwingi at Inhambane (Francis). Description. — Of large size; general colour a pale brown becom- ing a dirty white below, fur somewhat harsh and coarse, with very pale slaty bases and yellow and black tips forming a slight grizzling ; a dark ring round the eye ; ears moderate, oval and almost naked ; hands and feet brown above, the palms and soles with the usual pads arranged as in Mus, but very much larger ; tail a little longer than the head and body, covered for the proximal two-thirds with short closely adpressed brown bristles which hardly conceal the scales ; on the distal third of the tail the bristles are white above and below. Female resembling the male, with, in the specimen examined, 10 mammae, 3 pairs pectoral, 2 pairs inguinal [according to Peters 54: MURIDAE SACCOSTOMUS there are 8 pairs of mammae] ; iris blue black ; skull described above. Dimensions. — Of a male measured in the flesh by Mr. Francis ; head and body 15-0 ; tail 17-75 ; hind foot 2-85 ; ear 1-75 ; ear opening to nose-tip 3-0; skull, length condyle to incisors 285; breadth 1*40; upper cheek teeth -40. Distribution. — This large rat was originally described from the Gambia in West Africa, it has since been found in other parts of Tropical Africa as far as Angola on the west, and Inhambane in the east ; its occurrence at this latter place brings it within our limits, and the South African Museum is indebted to Mr. H. F. Francis for a pair thence obtained, from which the measurements have been taken. Habits. — The giant rat appears to resemble the other rats in their habits ; it often takes up its abode in houses and drains, though in a natural state it lives in long burrows excavated just under the surface in the bush ; it is fond of fruit, especially, accord- ing to Francis, of the "wild orange," which it drags entire to its burrows. It is stated to be excellent eating. Genus SACCOSTOMUS. Type. Saccostomus, Peters, Bericht Ahad, Berlin, 1846, p. 258 (1847) S. campestris. Description. — Eobust, mouse-like animals with internal cheek pouches, short tails and limbs ; skull with the infraorbital opening not much narrowed below, but more or less triangular; incisors small, not grooved ; molars like those of Mus, but with the tubercles soon lost, so that in most specimens the teeth consist of transverse ridges of enamel with depressions between. This genus is allied to Mus, but differs in its shorter tail and in being provided with cheek pouches, in this respect resembling Cricetus, which contains the hamsters of the northern part of the Old World. The genus is practically confined to South Africa, as the only other species described, besides those mentioned below, is S. elegans from the Nyika plateau in North Nyasaland. MURIDAE SACCOSTOMUS 55 Key of the South African Sioecies. A. About 5 in. in length, above with a tinge of brown, below pure white 'S'. campestris, p. 55. B. About 5'25 in. in length ; above iron grey, below slate grey with grey drab tips to fur S. masJwnae, p. 56. C. About 5 mches in length; colour light sandy ... S. anderssoni, p. 57. D. Smaller, about 3-25 m. in length ; grey below ... 8. fuscus, p. 57. 144. Saccostomus campestris. The Pouched Eat. Saccostomus campestris, Peters, BericM ATcad. Berlin, 1846, p. 258 (1847) ; de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7), ii, p. 6 (1898) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 215 (1899). Saccostomus lapidarius, Peters, Beise Mossamh. Sdugeth., p. 167, pi. xxxiv, fig. 3, pi. XXXV, fig. 12 (1852) ; Bocage, Jorn. Sci. Lish. (2), ii, p. 9 (1890) [habitsj ; Lorenz, Ann. TcTc. Hofmus. Wien, ix, notiz. p. 65 (1894) [Zambesi] . Fig. 96. — The Pouched Rat (Saccostomus campestris) Description.— Form somewhat stout, the head especially being thick and broad ; general colour above and on the sides dark drab brown, the basal portion of the fur slaty, the tips chiefly pale brown but with many black ones intermingled, darkest along the middle of the back ; below pure white with no slaty bases to the fur, the line of demarcation between the colours very distinct ; whiskers fine and mostly white ; ears of moderate size, rounded, with a few 56 MUEIDAE SACCOSTOMUS brown hairs only, about -60 inches in length ; limbs rather short ; hands and feet white, with pads and claws as in Mus, the proximal tarsal pad rounded ; tail less than half the length of the head and body not scaly, with traces of the rings towards the base, covered with comparatively long rather outstanding hairs, dark above, light below ; 10 mammae — 3 pairs pectoral, 2 pairs inguinal ; in the specimen examined there was no paler spot behind the ears as described by Peters. The cheek pouches which open on either side of the mouth just beside the tongue, are very large, and extend along the side of the head as far back as the shoulders, a distance of about Ig in. ; when filled with seeds as is often the case, they form two large swellings on either side of the head. Dimensions. — From a specimen in alcohol; head and body 5-0 ; tail 1-70 ; hind foot -65 ; from ear-opening to nose-tip 1-30 ; skull length 1-30 ; breadth -70 ; upper cheek teeth -20. Distribution. — This species was originally described from the lower Zambesi valley by Peters ; it is also recorded from Nyasa- land, while there are specimens in the South African Museum which seem to be referable to this species from the Port Elizabeth, Albany, Griqualand West, and the Bedford districts of the Colony, and from Zululand ; it is, therefore, fairly widely distributed over the south-eastern parts of Africa. Habits. — The pouched rat seems to resemble, in some respects, the well-known hamster of Europe in its habits. It is usually found about cultivated fields, where it forms a burrow with separate entrance and exit, and storehouses communicating with it, in which are collected grains of various descriptions ; it is sometimes eaten by the natives. 145. Saccostomus mashonae. The Mashonaland Pouched Eat. Saccostomus mashonae, de Winton, Froe. Zool. Soc. 1896, pp. 804, 805 ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 216 (1899). Vernacular Name. — Sugu of Mashonas (Darling). Description. — General colour' above iron-grey, sides somewhat paler, below slaty-grey with grey drab tips to the fur ; tail thinly covered with hair with longer white hairs standing out somewhat like those on the tail of a shrew. Skull with the middle upper molar with a small though well- MURIDAE SACCOSTOMUS 57 developed extra outer anterior cusp, barely perceptible in the other species. This and the colour distinguish this species from S. campestris. Dimensions. — Of the type ; head and body 5-27 ; tail 1-37 ; hind foot *87 ; skull length 1-39, breadth -68 ; upper molars '19. Distribution. — The type of this species was obtained by Mr. J. ff. Darling at Mazoe in Mashonaland; there is no example of it in the South African Museum. 146. Saccostomus anderssoni. Andersson's Pouched Eat. Saccostomus lapidarius, Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 266, pi. xiv, fig. 2 [nee Peters] . Saccostonms mashonae, de Winton, A7in. Mag. N. H. (6), xs, p. 322 (1897) [nee de Wintoyi, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 804] . Saccostomus anderssoni, de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7), i, p. 6 (1898) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 216 (1899). Description. — Eesembling S. campestris in form and dimensions but differing in colour, being of a light, somewhat sandy tint, instead of drab brown. Distribution. — Damaraland and Angola. 147. Saccostomus fuscus. The Small Pouched Eat. Saccostomtis fuscus, Peters, Beise Mossamh. Sdugeth. p. 168, pi. xxxvi, fig. 4 [animal] , pi. xxxv, fig. 13 [skull] (1852) ; W. Sclater, Ami. S. A. Mus. i, p. 216 (1899). Description. — This species resembles the previous one, but is smaller, and has a more pointed nose and more thickly haired ears; below it is grey, and its claws are black. Dimensions. — Head and body 3-25; tail 1-10; hind foot -70; skull length 1-0. Distribution. — This species was also discovered by Peters further south than the former one, in the neighbourhood of In- hambane in Southern Mozambique. There is no specimen in the South African Museum. 58 MURIDAE ACOMYS Genus ACOMYS. Type. Acomys, Is. Geoffroy, Ann. Sci. Nat. (2), x, p. 126 (1838) A. cahirinus. Small mouse-like animals with the hinder part of the back covered with flattened, grooved, stiff spines ; 6 mammae— 1 pair axillary, 2 pairs inguinal. Skull with very small incisive foramina and with the coronoid process of the mandible but little developed ; in other respects resembling Mits. About thirteen species of spiny mice have been described ; most of them are found in Africa and in the drier south-western parts of Asia ; one species is known from Celebes. Key of the SoutJi African Species. A. Tail shorter than the head and body; greyish brown above A. suhsfinosus, p. 58. B. Tail longer than the head and body; rufous brown above A. sclousi, p. 59. 148. Acomys subspinosus. The Spiny Mouse. Mus subspinosus, Wate7'house, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 104. Acomys subspinosus, Thomas, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6) xviii, p. 270 (1896) ; W. Sclater, Ann. 8. A. Mus. p. 217 (1899). Description. — Back covered with flat, bristle-like spiny hairs ; body above greyish brown getting paler on the sides, below pare white ; a yellowish ring round the eyes ; ears moderate ; tail shorter than the head and body. Dimensions. — Of the type ; head and body 3-33 ; tail 2-93 ; from ear-opening to tip of nose '88 ; hind foot '70. Distribution. — The type is described as having come from the "Cape of Good Hope"; no more exact locality is recorded; a spiny mouse obtained on the top of Table Mountain, recently acquired by the South African Museum, seems referable to this species, though the tail is longer than the head and body. MURIDAE DASYMYS 59 149. Acomys selousi. Selous' Spiny Mouse. Acomys selousi, de Wiiiton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 807, pi. xl, fig. 2 [aniinal] . Description. — Smoky rufous-brown or coffee- coloured above, more smoky on the face and darker on the back ; clear chestnut- brown on the cheeks, sides, and on a patch beliind the ear ; below pure white, the two colours sharply distinguished ; tail longer than the head and body, brown above, paler below. Dimensions. — Head and body 3-25 ; tail 3-63 ; hind foot -70 ; skull length I'O, breadth -50 ; upper molars -20. Distribution. — The type was obtained by Mr. Selous on his farm near Bulawayo ; it has since been recorded from Nyasaland ; there are no specimens in the collections of the South African Museum. Genus DASYMYS. Type. DsiSymyB, Peter s,M.B. Ahacl. BerUn,1816, p. 12 (1876). ..D. incomtus. Eat-like animals with moderate somewhat hairy ears and rather coarse fur ; tail moderately scaly, and very sparsely haired ; skull somewhat intermediate between that of Gerbillus and Miis ; very Fig. 97. — Skull (nat. size) and left upper molars (enlarged) of Dasymys incomhis. narrow in the interorbital region, with the front edge of the antorbital plate distinctly concave, the top angle being somewhat pointed and projecting ; coronoid process long ; incisors broad, plain and ungrooved ; molars composed of transverse laminae showing distinct traces of a triple row of cusps, and intermediate between Mus and Gerbillus. 60 MUKIDAE DASYMYS In addition to the species described below, two others are recognised from Angola and Central Africa respectively. 150. Dasymys incomtus. Pbtee's Water Eat. Mus incomtus, Sundevall, Oefvers. Ahad. Forli. StocMwlm 1846, p. 120 (1847). Dasymys gueinzii, Peter's, M. B. Ahad. Berlin, 1875 p. 12, pis. i, ii (1876). Dasymys incomtus fuscus, de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 804. Dasymys incomtus, W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 218 (1899). Description. — Form stout with very thick fur, which is very dark brown above, paler on the sides and greyish below, with dark slaty bases throughout ; snout moderate ; ears short, broad and round, fairly well clothed with hairs ; the feet are dark, but in structure like those of Mils ; tail shorter than the head and body, of one colour throughout, ringed and scaled, covered with short bristles like those of Mus decumanus, the rings running about twenty-five to the inch ; the upper incisors are smooth, broad and dark yellow, the lower ones much paler. Geographical Race. — A dark variety is described by de Winton from Mashonaland resembling the type in size and general characters, but differing in colour, being a uniform sooty black with only slight yellow grizzling ; the upper incisors are deep orange-red, the lower brownish honey coloured. Dimensions. — Of the type ; head and body 6-25 ; tail 5-83 ; hind foot 1-37. Of the dark variety taken from the flesh; head and body 6-25 ; tail 5-75 : hind foot 1-25 ; skull length 1-45 ; breadth '79 ; upper molars •28, Distribution. — The type of the species was obtained by the Swedish collector, Wahlberg, near Durban, that of the dark variety at Mazoe, in Mashonaland, by Mr. ff. Darling ; it is also recorded from Nyasaland. Mr. Marshall has recently presented an example to the South African Museum from Salisbury. Habits. — This animal is probably a water rat ; Mr. Marshall's specimen was trapped on the bank of a stream. MURIDAE AKVICANTHIS 61 Genus ARYICANTHIS. Type. ArYicanthis, Lesson, N. Tahl. B. A. Mamm. p. 147 (1842) A. niloticus. Isomys, Sundevall, K. Vet. Ahad. Handl. Stockholm 1842, p. 219 (1843) A. niloticus. Eat-like animals with, hairy ears, covered with a woolly under- fur, through which project the longer, coarser hairs ; the first and fifth fingers and toes are very short, much more so than in the true rats. The plan of coloration is never plain, but consists of lines or spots. Skull and dentition as in Mus ; mammae 8, 2 pairs pectoral, 2 pairs inguinal. This genus is hardly separated from Mus by any definite characters, and its recognition is more a matter of convenience than anything else; some half-dozen species are described from various parts of Africa, while one extends into the south-western part of Asia. Key of the South African Species. A. With four black stripes along the back, fifth finger normal, fairly well developed A. xmmilio, p. 61. B. With only one black median dorsal stripe ; fifth finger quite rudimentary with a flat nail A. dorsalis, p. 64. 151. ArYicanthis pumilio. The Steiped Mouse. (a) A. pumilio typicus. MuspumiHo, Sparrman, E. Vet. ATcad. Handl. StocMolm, 1784, p. 339, pi. vi ; id. Voyage to Cape, English trans., 8vo. ed. ii, p. 375, pi. vii. (1785) ; Bramts, Het Oeslaclit der Muizen p. 103 (1827) ; Smuts, Enum. Mamm. Cap. p. 36 (1832) ; A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 153 (1834) ; id. Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. pi. xlvi, fig. 1 (1845); Smidevall, Oefvers. ATcad. Forh. Stockholm 1846, p. 88 (1847) ; Grill, E. Vet. Ahad. Handl. StocTcholm ii, 2, p. 17 (1858) ; Layard, Cat. Mamm. S. Afr. Mus. p. 50 (1862) ; Tho^nas, Proc Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 266. Mus Imeatus, F. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. Mamm. livr. 61 (1829). Mus donavani. Lesson, Man. Mamm. p. 268 (1827). Mus vittatus, Wagner, Arch. Naturg. viii, pt. 1, p. 11 (1842). Mus striatus, Sundevall, Oefvers. ATtad. Forh. Stochholm 1846, p. 88 (1847). Arvicanthis pumiHo, W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus, i, p. 219 (1899). 62 MURIDAE ARVICANTHIS (b) A. pumilio dilectus. Arvicanthis iDumilio dilectus, tie Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 803. (c) A. pumilio bechuanae. Isomys p. bechuanae, Tliomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1892, p. 551. Vernacular Name. — Scliancey of Mashonas (Darling). Description. — General colour greyish brown with a slight tinge of reddish-yellow, under-fur soft, fine and dark slaty in colour, Fig. 98. — The Striped Mouse {Arvicmithis pumilid). through which project considerably coarser hairs, white, black, and yellowish brown ; along the back from the shoulders to the root of the tail run four black longitudinal stripes, separated by three narrower inter-spaces, of which the two outer are a little paler MURIDAE AEVICANTHIS 63 than the inner, of the same colour as the hack ; the black stripes vary considerably in distinctness, the two median ones usually originating in a single dark median stripe on the head from between the eyes and meeting at the root of the tail ; below white, but the hair not very thick, so that the slaty black of the skin is visible, giving the belly a dirty white colour (in some cases the slaty bases to the fur are strongly marked, in other cases they are quite absent) ; head rat-Hke, a pale ring round the eye ; the ears rounded, anteriorly and posteriorly with a fairly thick covering of rufous hairs with a black edging along the inner margin of the conch ; extremities the same colour as the back, but paler. Skin of the soles and palms dark, almost black, toes as in Mus, but the first and fifth proportionately shorter, pads as in Mtcs, but the second proximal one very small ; claws black ; tail scaled and ringed, about thirty-nine to the inch, covered with bristles increas- ing in length towards the tip ; the bristles are chiefly black along the dorsal line, and pale yellow below, but the skin of the tail is black throughout ; mammae eight, two pairs pectoral, two pairs abdominal. Geographical Races. — The striped rat varies very considerably both in size and in colour. In Bechuanaland there occurs a large, almost sandy race, with the dorsal stripes very faint and with pale-coloured ears, described by Thomas. In Mashonaland, on the other hand, a darker race than the normal is found with very dark, well-defined dorsal stripes and a dusky belly washed with orange. The collection of the South African Museum consists chiefly of spirit-preserved examples of this mouse which are not of much service for the discrimination of slight colour variations, but some skins from Pondoland in the extreme east of the Colony appear to approach Mr. de Winton's " dilectus," and are certainly dis- tinctly darker and more richly coloured than what may be called the typical race from the neighbourhood of Cape Town. Dimensions. — As has been remarked by former writers, there is much variation in the dimensions of this species. In the case of spirit preserved specimens in the South African Museum, the length of the head and body varies from 3-60 to 4-90, and the tails from 3-70 to 5'90. The following are the dimensions of an in- dividual from the neighbourhood of Cape Town measured in the flesh; head and body 4-20; tail 4-10; hind foot 1-0; from ear to tip of nose -QO. 64 MURIDAE AEVICANTHIS The dimensions of the sub-species A. jJ- bechuanae measured in the flesh are ; head and body 5-0 ; tail 4-62 ; hind foot 1-0. Of the sub-species A. p. dilectus ; head and body 4-25 ; tail 3-25 ; hind foot •75 ; the dimensions of a typical skull are ; length 1-10, breadth •60 ; upper cheek teeth •20. Distribution. — The type of this species was obtained by Sparr- man on the banks of the Slangen Eiver, close to Cape St. Francis, in what is now the Humansdorp division of the Colony. The species is very common everywhere all over South Africa, and extends northwards to Great Namaqualand on the west, and through Nyasaland as far as Mianzini near Lake Naivasha in British East Africa, whence Thomas has described a third sub-species, A. p. dimidiatus rather smaller and more brightly coloured than the typical one. As already stated, the two other sub-species, A. p. hcchiianae and A. p. dilectus, come from Bechuanaland and Mazoe in Mashonaland respectively. In the collections of the South African Museum there are specimens from the Cape, Clanwilliam, Namaqualand, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Caledon, Bedford, Albany and Pondoland divisions of the Colony from the Transvaal, Mashonaland and Delagoa Bay. Habits. — This rat is found always in bushy places among under- wood, where it forms a nest among the dried leaves and branches for the bringing up of its young. Its voice is a rather harsh metallic chirp. 152. Aryicanthis dorsalis. The Single-striped Mouse. Mus dorsalis, A. Smith, Illustr. Zool, S. Afr. Mamm. pi. xlvi. fig. 2 (1845) ; Socage, Jorn. Sci. Lisbon (2), ii, p. 16 (1890). Arvicanthis dorsalis, de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896 p. 803 ; W. Sclater, Ann. 8. A. Mus. i, p. 221 (1889). Vernacular Name. — Chewangaranga of Mashonas (Darling). Description. — General colour above reddish brown, the fur coarse like that of the other species ; a single median black stripe running from the neck to the root of the tail ; below white with slaty bases to the fur ; the skin white, not slaty as in the other species ; ears rather broad, covered with coarse hairs, mingled reddish and black, the former prevailing ; extremities of the same colour as the sides but white inside ; the first and fifth digit of the fore limb very small and rudimentary, the latter provided with a MUEIDAB GOLUNDA 65 small flat nail, so that the hand bears only three clawed digits ; sole of the hind foot with three well-developed pads only, those at the base of the first and fifth toes and the one next to these proximally being very small or absent. Tail longer than the head and body, but in other respects resembling that of A. pumilio, the dorsal stripe being continued along its whole length. Mammae 8, 2 pairs pectoral, 2 pairs inguinal. Incisors broad and stout but smooth, not furrowed. Dimensions. — From a specimen preserved in spirit ; head and body 4-70 ; tail 5*60 ; from ear-opening to tip of nose 1-40 ; hind foot 1-10. Of a specimen measured in the flesh by Mr. Marshall ; head and body 4-70; tail 4-90; hind foot 1-12; ear -62; skull length 1-20 ; breadth -67 ; upper molars '25. Distribution. — Sir A. Smith, the describer of this species, states that it is common to the north of the Orange Eiver, but rare to the south; it has also been obtained within our limits by Mr. Darling at Mazoe, and by Mr. Marshall at Umfuli, in Mashonaland, and beyond in Angola, Mozambique, and Nyasaland. Genus GOLUNDA. Type. Golunda, Gray, Charlesio. Mag. N. H. i, p. 586 (1837) ... G. ellioti. Pelomys, Peters, Beise Mossamb. Sdugeth. p. 157 (1852)... G. fallax. Eat-like animals with short rounded heads and somewhat coarse bristly fur ; the fifth finger of the fore limb is very short and rudi- mentary ; the tail is long, scaly, and rat-like ; skull with compressed palate ; upper incisors grooved, molars low and broad with tubercles arranged as in Mus, when worn exhibiting a peculiar series of semicircular flattened lobes arranged in a triple row in the upper, in a double row in the lower jaw. The grooving of the incisors and the shortness of the fifth finger at once separate this genus from Mtis, which it otherwise closely resembles. Four species are recognised. One of these is found in India, two in West Africa, and the remaining one, described below, in South Africa. 5 VOL. II. 66 - BIUBIDAE MYSTKOMYS 153. Golunda fallax. The Swamp Eat. Pelomys fallax, Peters, Beise Mossamh. Saugeth. p. 157, pi. xxxiii, fig. 3, pi. XXXV, fig. 9 (1852) ; Bocage, Jorn. Sci. Lish. (2), ii, p. 17 (1890) [habits in Angola] . Golunda fallax, de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 804 ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. p. 222 (1899). Description. — General colour above speckled dark brown and yellowish, slightly paler on the sides and grey below, fur harsh and bristly, a somewhat indistinct dark dorsal stripe along the back ; tip of the nose rufous-brown, ears moderate, round, fairly covered with rufous hairs ; fifth finger very short, with a nail-like claw ; tarsus with only five pads, the proximal one being absent, and the three next to it being very small ; tail shorter than the body, dark above, paler below, covered with sparse bristles, the rings about 25 to an inch ; mammae 8, 2 pairs pectoral, 2 pairs inguinal. Skull with the nasal region exceedingly short and broad ; in- cisors with a strong longitudinal furrow rather towards the outer side of the tooth, molars much as in Mus but rather broader. Dimensions. — Head and body 6-75 ; tail 5-25 ; hind foot 1-37 ; skull length 1-12. (Peters.) Distribution. — This species was described by Peters from the Zambesi Valley in Mozambique. It has since been recorded from Nyasaland and Angola ; within our limits it was obtained by Mr. Darling at Mazoe, in Mashonaland. It is represented in the collec- tions of the South African Museum by two skins from Nyasaland. Habits. — This rat is always found in marshy places or near rivers where it forms deep burrows ; it is not regarded as destruc- tive and is eaten by the natives of Angola, according to Anchieta. Subfamily ORIOETINAE. Genus MYSTROMYS. Type. Mystromys, Wagner, Arch. Naturges. vii, pt. 1, p. 132 (1841) M. albipes. Eat-like animals with soft, rather woolly fur, and large broad ears, with short tails and a somewhat hairy tarsus ; skull with the antorbital foramen forming a long oval, hardly at all narrowed MUKIDAE MYSTROMYS 67 below, and the perpendicular plate but little developed, not extend- ing forwards beyond the upper root of the zygoma ; incisors ungrooved, molars rooted, those of the upper jaw with the tubercles arranged in a double instead of a treble row as in the Murinae, those of the lower jaw as in the Murinae in a double row. This genus appears to be confined to Central and South Africa, one species having been described by Noack from the former region. M. I Pig. 99. — Lef t uppermolars (enlarged) and the anterior half of the skull (x 2) of Mystromys alhicaudakis. To the same subfamily belong the hamsters of the Palaearctic region and a number of curious rat-like genera from Madagascar and from the New World, in neither of which two latter places are any true Murinae indigenous. Key of the South African Species. A. Larger about 7'0 inches, below bluish white M. albipes, p. 68. B. Smaller about 4*0 inches, below only slightly paler than above M. albicaitclatus, -p. 67. 154. Mystromys albicaudatus. — The White -tailed Eat. Otomys albicaudatus, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 148 (1834) ; id. Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Mamm. pi. xxxiii. (1841). Malacothris albicaudatus, Wagner, Schreb. Sdugeth. Supjpl. iii, p. 498 (1843). Mystromys albicaudatus, de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7), ii, p. 7 (1898) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus. i, p. 223 (1899). Description. — General colour dark brown above, somewhat paler below, the fur being long, soft, and somewhat woolly, dark slate for 68 MUEIDAE MYSTROMYS the greater part of its length with brown tips ; space round the nose and chin pure white ; ears very large, broad, and patulous about •7 by '6 in., the inner half of the conch nearly white, the outer half black, covered anteriorly and posteriorly with a few silvery and black hairs. Limbs slender, hands and feet covered with white hairs, lengthened so as to almost conceal the claws ; pads normal in number, but the two proximal ones of the sole very small and rounded, the naked portion of the sole very narrow, much encroached on by the long white hairs on either side, so that the whole tarsus has a very hairy appearance ; tail short, less than half the length of the head and body, almost white, obscurely ringed, but these are almost hidden by the dense covering of short hairs above, with a few black hairs intermixed, below pure white. Incisors smooth and very pale yellow. The description is drawn up from a specimen in the South African Museum which has been compared with the type in the British Museum. It may be noticed that in Smith's original description the incisors are described as smooth, in the subse- quently published " Illustrations " as grooved. Dimensions. — From the example in alcohol in the South African Museum ; head and body 3'85 ; tail 1"68 ; hind foot -95 ; from ear-opening to nose-tip 1-20; skull length 1'22, breadth -65; upper cheek teeth -25. Distribution. — Sir A. Smith met with this species in the neigh- bourhood of Grahamstown and to the north of the Orange Eiver ; the single example in the Museum is also from the neighbourhood of Grahamstown. There is an example in the British Museum from the Transvaal. Habits. — This species, according to Smith, is found on grassy fiats where it forms its burrows ; it is nocturnal, but is active and bold, especially during rainy weather. 155. Mystromys albipes. The White-Footed Eat. Mystromys albipes, Wagner, Arch. Naturg. vii, pt. 1, p. 133 (1841) ; id. Schreb. Sdugeth. Suppl. iii, p. 500, pi. clxxvi a (1843). Euryotis lanuginosa, Lichtenstein, Verzeicli. Sdugeth. u. Vogeln Kaffernlande, Berlin, p. 10 (1842). Mystromys lanuginos-us, W. Sclater,Ann. S. Afr. Mtos. i, p. 224 (1899). Description. — General colour above light brown, below white, the hair thick, soft and rather woolly, dark slate for the greater BATHYERGIDAE 69 part of its length, the tips mingled brown and white, the former predominating along the middle of the back, the latter on the sides ; tip of the snout somewhat pale, not white, ears very large, about -9 by -75, darker towards the margin, covered with thin greyish hairs ; limbs short and slender, hands and feet white above, the claws almost concealed by the long white hairs, pads as in the other species ; tarsus with a very narrow naked line almost concealed by the long white hairs ; tail short, obscurely ringed, covered with a thick coating of hairs, white above and below. Dimensions. — From an old mounted specimen ; head and body 7-0 ; tail (broken) about 2-0 ; hind foot I'O ; from ear-opening to nose-tip l-4:0 ; skull length about 1-45, breadth -72 ; upper cheek teeth -25. Distribution. — The single specimen from which the description is taken, and which appears to be identical with that described by Wagner, was obtained some years ago on the Cape Flats, near Cape Town, and is now in the South African Museum. Family BATHYEHaiDAE. Eodents adapted to underground hfe ; of somewhat cylindrical form, with short limbs and tail, and with very small or rudimentary eyes and no ear conch. Skull with a very narrow palate, not wider than the molar teeth ; antorbital foramen usually rather small and rounded ; no perpendicular plate ; mandible like that of the hystricine rodents with the angular portion springing from the outside of the bony covering of the lower incisors ; incisors very large, grinding teeth rooted. The family is a purely Ethiopian one, containing in addition to the South African genera two others, Myoscalops closely resembling Georychus in external appearance, and the very curious sand-rats of the genus Heterocephalus , with their naked bodies and peculiar physiognomy, hitherto found only in Somaliland. Key of the South African Genera. A. Upper iiicisors grooved ; claws, especially of the forefeet, long and strong " Batlujergus, p. 7L jB. Upper incisors smooth ; claws of both feet rather small and ill-developed , Georychus, p. 73. 70 BATHYEEGIDAE BATHYBEGUS Fig. 100. — Lower jaw of Bathycrgus maritimits, from below, to show how the angle of the mandible springs from outside the bony casing of the lower incisor. Fig. 101.— Side view of the skull of Bathyergus maritimus (| nat. size). BATHYEKGIDAE BATHYEEGUS 71 Genus BATHYERGUS. Ty][ie. Bathyergus, Illiger, Prodr. Syst. Mamm. p. 86 (1811) B. maritimus. Orycterus, Waterhouse, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1), viii, p. 82 (1812) B. maritimus. Burrowing rodents with small eyes, no ear conch, and the toes of the fore feet with specially loug claws, of which that of the second digit is considerably the longest ; hind foot with the third toe the longest. Skull massive with an almost straight upper profile and a small sub-circular antorbital foramen. Dentition. — i. i, c. g, p.m. i, m. | = 20; upper incisors large, broad, and grooved, lower incisors also large but smooth ; molars simple with re-entering folds in youth only. Only the single species below described is known. 156. Bathyergus maritimus. The Sand-mole . Mus maritimus, Gmelin, Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 140 (1788). Mus suillus, Sclireher, Saugeth. iv, p. 715, pi. cciv b (1792). Georychus maritimus, A. Smith, Descr. Cat. S. Afr. Mas. p. 28 (1826). Bathyergus maritimus, Smuts, Enum. Mamm. Ca2}. p. 48 (1832) ; A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 170 (1834) ; Layard, Cat. Mamm. S. Afr. Mus. p. 55 (1862) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 225 (1899). Orycterus maritimus, Waterhouse, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1), viii, p. 81, pi. ii, fig. 1 [skull] (1842). Literature. — Masson (1776), p. 304, early mention of the species; Buffon, Suppl. vi (1782), p. 255, earliest description; Sparrman (1785) ii, p. 212, note on its occurrence, and identification with the African rat of Pennant; Thunberg (1795) i, pp. 262, 285, described as the " witte mol " from near Cape Town with account of habits ; Moseley (1892), p. 125, habits near Simonstown. Vernacular Names. — Zand Mol or Duin Mol of the Colonists ; Kauw- howba {i.e., Hippopotamus mole) of the Hottentots (Allamand in Buffon), Description. — General colour slaty grey with a distinct brown tinge on the back, fur soft, thick and rather woolly, slaty for the greater part of its length, the tips on the back being pale brown ; head somewhat acutely pointed, a considerable flesh-coloured patch surrounding the nostrils and reaching the edge of the upper lip ; 72 BATHYERGIDAE BATHYERGUS the incisors so long that they are always visible, the lips not being large enough to cover them ; eyes about as large as the head of a large pin, the eyeballs being about -10 in. in diameter. External ears absent, a small round hole surrounded by a fleshy-coloured bare margin marking the external opening of the meatus ; limbs very short, the fore feet with five toes all with large strong claws much better developed than those of the hind feet, the second the longest, then the third, fourth, fifth, and first in order ; hind foot with a broad naked sole, along the sides of which run fringes of Fig. 102. — Left half of palate and lower jaw from above (4 nat. size) of Bathyergus maritimus, to show the modifications of the skull in this family. white stiff bristle-like hairs ; the five toes of the hind foot are all clawed, the middle one being the longest, the claws somewhat flattened and nail-like ; tail very short, covered on the sides and below with stiff white bristles. Incisors white, those of the upper jaw strongly grooved down the middle of the tooth ; those of the lower very long, sometimes over three inches, of which half protrudes beyond the socket ; these teeth are separated by a slight interval ; the molars somewhat oval in section, decreasing in size from in front backwards, surrounded by a ring of enamel with infoldings gradually disappearing with age. BATHYERGIDAE GEORYCHUS 73 White and piebald varieties of this animal are not uncommon. Dimensions. — From a skin; head and body 16-50; tail 1-25; hind foot 1-87; from ear-opening to nose-tip 1-50; skull length 2-70 ; breadth 1-90 ; upper molars "SO. Distribution. — This animal appears to be found only along the coast and never inland ; it is abundant near Cape Town, and seems to extend northwards to Namaqualand, and eastwards as far as Knysna certainly, perhaps as far as Bathurst. All the specimens in the South African Museum are from the neighbourhood of Cape Town. Habits. — The sand-mole was known to Masson and la Caille and other early travellers, but the first satisfactory description of it was transmitted to Allamand in Holland by Colonel Gordon (who commanded the Dutch forces before the first taking of the Colony by the English in 1795), and was reprinted by Buffon. The animal is found only in sandy places on dunes and flats where it forms long burrows, throwing up the excavated sand in large heaps over a foot high, the freshness of which will give an indication of the near neighbourhood of the animal. In some parts of the Cape Flats the ground is completely riddled by these burrows, so that riding becomes very dangerous. Moseley states that the most successful manner of securing the mole is to remove the sand quickly from a freshly made heap and then retire a little and in a short time the mole comes up to fill up the hole and can then be easily shot. The food of the sand mole consists of bulbs and roots ; when captured it gives vent to a series of grunts and is very savage, biting with great ferocity with its powerful incisors and always ready for opposition ; on the surface of the ground its powers of locomotion are somewhat limited ; it can make use of its eyes to a certain extent. By those who have tasted it, its flesh is considered to be very palatable. Genus GEORYCHUS. Type. Georychus, IlUger, Prodr. Syst. Mamm., p. 87 (1811) G. capensis. Mole-like Eodents closely resembling Bathyergus externally, but with quite small claws to both feet, the second and third toes of both fore and hind feet are about equal, and the longest. 74 BATHYEEGIDAB GEORYCHUS Skull with a somewhat rounded upper profile; teeth as in Bathyergus, but with the upper incisors quite smooth. This is a purely African genus ; in addition to those described below, there are some three or four species known from Angola, Central and East Africa. "^ - PM. M. I. .- M. 2,. n. 3. Fig. 103. — Left upper molars of Oeorychus liottentotus (enlarged). Key of the South African Species r' A. With a white spot on the oeciiDut. a. Larger about 8"0 in. in length. rt'. With white spots on the snout, eyes and ears ; skull with the premaxillae not ex- tending back behhad the nasals ; upper molars increasing in size from in front back- wards G. ccqiensis, p. 74. &'. With white patches below the ears meeting on the throat G. damarensis, p. 76. b. Smaller, about 5'0 in. in length ; premaxillae forming a suture behmd the nasals G. darlingi, p. 77. B. With no white occipital spot; small, about 5-0 in. c. Premaxillae extendmg back behind the nasals but not forming a suture ; upper molars de- creasing in size from in front backwards G. liottentotus, p. 77. d. Premaxillae not extending backwards beyond the nasals G. nivirodi, p. 78. 157. Georychus capensis. The Blesmol. Mus capensis, Pallas, Glires, pp. 76, 172, pi. vii (1779). Bathyergus capensis. Smuts, Emim. Mamm. Cap. p. 49 (1832) ; A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 170 (1834) ; Waterhouse, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1), viii, p. 81, pi. ii, fig. 2 (1842). Georychus capensis, A. Smith, Descr. Cat. S. Afr. Mus. p. 29 (1826) ; * Georychus lugardi, de Winton, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7) i. p. 253 (1898), has been accidentally overlooked ; it is a small species with a small white spot on the crown, but with the premaxillae not extending back behind the nasals. The type specimen was obtained in the Kalahari between Palapye and Lake Ngami. BATHYERGIDAE GEORYCHUS 75 Grill, K. Vet. ATicul. Hancll. Stochholm, ii, 2, p. 19 (1858) [Cape Town and Knysna] ; Layard, Cat. Mavim. 8. Afr. Mus. p. 55 (1862) ; Gra7j, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 123 ; P. L. Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1889, pp. 246, 449 [white var.] ; Thomas, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6), xvi, p. 238 (1895) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 227 (1899). LiTEEATURE.— Masson (1776), p. 305, allusion to the species as the blesmol; Buffon (1776), Siippl. iii, p. 193, and (1782), Suppl. vi, p. 251, earliest description of this anunal ; Sparrman (1785), ii, p. 211, note on habits and occurrence ; Thunberg (1795), i, p. 262, described as Marmota capensis; Moseley (1892), p. 125, occiu-rence and habits near Simonstown. Vernacular Name. — Blesmol of Dutch Colonists. Description. — General colour above a rusty brown becoming paler on the sides, and slaty grey below ; the fur soft and thick, and with slaty bases throughout, except on the spots ; head becoming -^aT Fig. 104. — The Blesmol (Georychus cajmisis). darker, almost black ; round the nostrils and mouth, round the eyes, round the ear-openings, and on the top of the head, a set of pure white patches ; head much truncated in front ; eyes very small, the eye- ball about "15 in diameter ; external ears absent ; limbs short, fore feet with five small claws, hind feet also with five claws, short and broad, the sole being covered with wrinkles and creases, but with no definite pads ; tail very short, thick, and rounded, covered with white stiff bristles ; mammae 8 in number, 2 pairs pectoral, 2 pairs inguinal. Young of about five inches are a pure slaty grey above, not rusty brown. Skull with the nasals and premaxillae, extending back about the same distance ; antorbital foramen small and round with a thick outer wall. Incisors white, quite smooth ; upper molars 76 BATHYERGIDAE GEORYCHUS increasing in size from before backwards, the premolars being the smallest. Dimensions. — From a mounted specimen ; head and body 8-5 ; tail -80 ; hind foot 1'20 ; from ear-opening to nose-tip 1-5 ; skull length 2-10, breadth 1*60 ; upper molars -33. Distribution. — The western half of the Colony extending to Namaqualaud and Kimberley in the north, and to Knysna in the east. A blesmol obtained at Nottingham Eoad, in the upper part of Natal, now in the Maritzburg Museum, seems to be identical with this species, if so, its range in an easterly direction will be much increased. Habits. — The blesmol is found both in the uncultivated, sandy districts and also in cultivated grounds and gardens, where it burrows much the same fashion as the sand-mole, throwing up heaps of earth at intervals which mark the line of the excavation ; the burrows do not descend very deep below the surface, they branch from time to time, the branches thus formed being blind ; the main burrow eventually ends in a somewhat rounded chamber with smooth walls. Here the animal forms its store of food con- sisting of tubers and bulbs. On the Lion's Eump Hill, just over- looking Cape Town, the most abundant bulb is that of Sparaxis grancliflora (of the natural order Iridaceae) ; here in such a chamber the floor will be found covered with a coating of the dried outside shucks of the bulbs, and on the top of these a quantity of the bulbs themselves, all with the little bud at the top carefully bitten off so that it cannot sprout ; in lower lying land these animals often collect the tubers of the "pig-lily" (Bichardia) , and when in the neighbourhood of a garden, potato-tubers of which they seem inordinately fond, and which they also prevent from sprouting by removing the " eyes " or buds. The animal when caught is fierce and bites severely with its large incisors. 158. Georychus damarensis. The Damakaland Blesmol. Bathyergus damarensis, Ogilhy, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1838, p. 5. Georych-us damarensis, Gray, Pi'oc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 125 ; Thomas, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6), xvi, p. 239 (1895) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 1, p. 228 (1899). Description. — Size about the same as that of the common blesmol. General colour uniform reddish brown above and below BATHYERGIDAE GEOEYCHUS 77 with a large, irregularly square white mark on the occiput and others on each side of the neck below the ears, meeting under- neath the throat, which is therefore a dirty white ; feet reddish brown; tail short, covered with stiff reddish brown bristles (Ogilby). Dimensions. — Head and body 8-25 ; tail -25. Distribution. — The type of this species, now in the British Museum, was obtained many years ago by Captain Alexander in Damaraland ; it also occurs in Angola. It is not represented in the collections of the South African Museum. 159. Georychus darlingi. Daeling's Blesmol. Georyclitis darlingi, Thomas, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6), xvi, p. 239 (1895); de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 805, pi. xl, fig. 1; W. Sclater, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.i, p. 228 (1899). Vernacular Name. — Nota of the Maslionas (Darling). Description. — Size small; fur close, soft and velvety, general colour uniform drab, the bases of the fur slaty-grey, below slightly paler ; a large prominent triangularly shaped spot on the crown of the head ; feet and tail as in G. hottentotus. Skull broad and heavy, nasals short and evenly expanded, pre- maxillae surpassing them posteriorly and forming a suture behind them ; antorbital foramen higher than broad, with a thick outer wall. Dimensions. — From a male measured in the flesh ; head and body 5-0 ; tail -47 ; hind foot -86 ; skull length 1-12 ; breadth -88 ; upper molars "22. Distribution. — The type (now in the British Museum) was ob- tained by Mr. G. A. K. Marshall, near Salisbury, and other speci- mens collected by Mr. Darling were received from Mazoe, also in Mashonaland, at the same time. This species is not represented in the South African Museum, but I have examined blesmols apparently identical from the Albany division of the Colony and from Natal. 160. Georychus hottentotus. The Mole Eat. Bathyergus hottentotus, Lesson, Voy. Coq. Zool. i, p. 166, pi. ii, fig. 2 (1826). Bathyergus caecutiens. Brants, Muizen p. 37 (1827) ; Smuts, Enum. Mamm. Cap. p. 49 (1832) ; A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 171 (1834). 78 BATHYERGIDAE GEORYCHUS Bathyergus ludwigii, A. Smith, Zool. Joiirn. iv, p. 439 (1829). Georychus holosericeus, Wagner, Schreber Saugeth. Siopj^l' iii, p. 378 (1843). Georychus caeciitiens, Grai/, Proc. Zool. Sac. 1864, p. 125 ; Thomas, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6), xvi, p. 238 (1895). Georychus hottentotus, Grill, K. Vet. Akad. Handl. Stockholm ii, 2, p. 19 (1858) [Knysna] ; Noack, Zool. Jahrh. iv, p. 144, pi. iii, figs. 21-25(1895) [Kalahari] ; W . Sclater,Ann. S. A.Mus.i,^.22S{lSm). Description. — Much smaller than G. capensis ; general colour dark slaty with a tinge of dark brown above owing to the brown tipping of the slaty fur, below the tipping is dirty white, giving a paler general aspect to the fur ; no sign of white anywhere on the head, which is the same colour as the body ; not entirely blind as described by Brants, but with very small eyeballs about -08 in. in diameter and a distinct slit measuring about the same length ; limbs and tail as in the other species, but with the sole of the foot narrower and more slender. Skull with the premaxillae extending further back than the nasals but not forming a suture in the middle line behind ; the lachrymal bone forms on either side a slight overhanging projection, rendering the skull at this point much wider than it is just behind ; antorbital opening elongated and upright. The upper molars are more rounded than in G. capensis, and decrease in size from in front backwards, the premolar being the largest. Dimensions. — Of a male in the flesh ; head and body 5-62 ; tail '50 ; hind foot "92 ; skull length 1-35, breadth '97 ; upper molars -25. Distribution. — This is the common mole rat of the eastern province of the Colony and Natal, though extending as far as Stellenbosch in the west, whence the South African Museum possesses examples ; other localities are Uitenhage (Smith), Knysna (Victorin), Kalahari (Noack), Johannesberg, Grahamsfcown, Howick, and Durban in Natal (Soiith African Museum). The type is said to have been obtained at the Paarl. 161. Georychus nimrodi. Selous' Mole Eat. Georychus nimrodi, de Winton, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 808 ; W Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mils, i, p. 229 (1899). Description. — About the same size as G. hottentotus ; general colour dark drab with no white spot on the head ; skull with the PEDETIDAE PEDETES 79 premaxillae not extending posteriorly beyond the nasals, so that the suture between these and the frontals is a simple bowed line ; ant- orbital foramina small, with the outer wall thickened. Dimensions. — Of the type, a male in the flesh ; head and body 5-75 ; hind foot -96 ; skull length 1-22, breadth 1-06. Distribution. — The type together with several other examples, were all obtained by Mr. Selous, at Essex Vale, a farm near Bula- wayo, and are now in the British Museum. Division HYSTRICOMORPHA. Skull with a stout zygomatic arch, the jugal bone not supported below by the backward prolongation of the maxillary process, antorbital foramen large and open ; in the mandible the angular portion arises from the outside of the bony casing of the lower incisor [see fig. 100, p. 70] ; clavicles perfect or imperfect, fibula distinct ; one premolar in each jaw. Family PEDETIDAE. Genus PEDETES. Type. Pedetes, Illiger, Proclr. Syst. Mamm. p. 81 (1811) P. caffer. Helamys, F. Cuvier, Diet. Sci. Nat. xx, p. 341 (1821) P. caffer. Form kangaroo-like ; fore limbs short, with strong-clawed toes, hind limbs well developed, with four toes armed with hoof-like nails ; the metatarsus is especially elongated and the metatarsal bones are separate from one another. Skull short and broad with very wide and expanded nasals, ant orbital opening very large and oval ; malar bone ascending from the zygomatic arch in a horizontal plate to meet the lachrymal bone ; cervical vertebrae free. Dentition. — i. i, c. %, pm. i, m. ■|=:20; molars rootless, with a single deep enamel fold externally in the upper jaw, internally in the lower jaw. This genus, the only one of the family, and containing the single species below described, is a rather anomalous one, and has no near 80 PEDETIDAE PEDETES allies, so that its position among the other Eodent families has varied considerably. Mr, Alston, in his classical paper on the arrangement of Eodents (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876, p. 61), placed it in a special subfamily of Dipodidae, or Jerboa rats, among the Myomorpha ; several authors have recognised the fact that the resemblances between the Jerboas and Pedetes are artificial and Fig. 105. — Skull of Pedetes caffer. (From Flower and Lydekker.) p.n M. L n. X. M . 3. Fig. 106. — Left upper molars of Pedetes caffer, to show the external enamel folds. adaptive rather than natural, and Dr. Winge, of Copenhagen, in a general revision of the Rodents,^ has placed the Pedetidae between the Sciuridae and the Anomaluridae ; Mr. 0. Thomas, however, in his recently published list has transferred the family to the Hystrico- ' Jordfundne og nulevende Gnavere fra Lagoa Santa, E. Museo Lundii, vol. i., art. 3 (1888). Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 1012. PBDETIDAE PEDETES 81 moi'jjha, and placed it at the commencement of the series. On the whole, most of the characters of the skull and teeth bear out the contention of Mr. Thomas. 162. Pedetes caffer. The Speing-haas. Mus caffer, Pallas, Glires, p. 87 (1778). Yerbua capensis, Forster, K. Vet. Ahad. Handl. StocTiliolm (1778), p. 108, pi. iii Helamys capensis, F. Citvier, Hist. Nat. Mamm. livr. 59 (1829) ; Laj/ard, Cat. Mamm. S. Afr. Mus. p. 54 (1862), Pedetes caffer, A. Smith, Deser. Cat. S. Afr. Mus. p. 26 (1826) ; Sinicts, Emcm. Mamm. Cap. p. 47 (1832) ; Carruccio, Bol. Soc. Bom. Zool. iv, p. 265 (1895) ; Parsons, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1898, p. 858 [anatomy] ; W. Sclater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 231 (1899) ; P. L. Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1899, p. 428 [fig. of animal] . Pedetes typicus, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 169 (1834). Literature. — Buffon (1782) Suppl. vi, p. 261, describes this animal as tlie " gxande gerboise du Cap" and figvires it from Foster's notes and sketches ; Sparrman (1785) ii, p. 210, notes the existence of the animal and refers to the description in the Transaction of the Swedish Academy ; Thun- berg (1795) ii, p. 182, noticed as Jerboa capensis near Tulbagh ; le Vaillant (1796) ii, p. 334, note on habits with description ; Bnrchell (1822) i, p. 487, ii, p, 3, carefully described with notes on habits in Griqualand West. Vernacular Names. — Sprmghaas of the Colonists ; Inziponde of Amaxosa (Cloete). Description. — General colour tawny brown, becoming paler on the sides and almost pure white below, including a vertical stripe in front of the thighs ; fur long, straight, dark brown, with a slaty- tinge basally, sandy brown terminally ; rhinarium not connected with the upper lip by a naked line ; snout very obtuse, eye large, ears long and pointed, measuring 2^ to 3 in., thickly clothed with hairs basally, nearly naked terminally, bearing at the base of the inner margin a little fleshy projecting lobe resembling a bat's tragus ; fore limbs short, with five toes, all provided with long, curved, and pointed claws, palm of the hand with a large, rounded, naked pad at the root of the thumb, and another smaller oval one with a fringe of hairs around it at the root of the fifth digit ; hind limbs much elongated, the tarsus being as long as the foot from the knee to the ankle ; only four toes, the third the largest, the fifth the smallest, and the first absent, all armed with solid hoof- like nails ; sole of the foot hairy to the claws ; tail about as 6 VOL. II. 82 PEDETIDAE PEDETES long as the head and body, covered with long hairs, sandy brown above, pale below, the terminal third black ; mammae four in number, pectoral in position. Dimensions. — From a mounted specimen ; head and body 23'50 ; tail without terminal hairs 20'50 ; with 21-50 ; hind foot 6-50 ; from ear-opening to tip of nose 4-0 ; skull length from condyle to pre- maxillae 2-95, between perpendiculars 3-8, breadth 2-35 ; upper molars '78. //^ Fig. 107.— The Spring-haas {Pedetes caffer] Distribution. — Found throughout the drier and higher parts of South Africa extending northwards to Angola and Unyamwezi in German East Africa, but not apparently occurring in Nyasaland, or Mozambique ; the South African Museum possesses examples from, the Port Ehzabeth, Albany, Graaif Eeinet, and Middelburg divisions of the Colony ; it is also found throughout the Orange OCTODONTIDAE PETROMYS 83 Free State, the upper part of Natal, Griqualand West, Bechuana- land, the Transvaal, Ehodesia, and German South-West Africa. Habits. — The springhaas is found both in the plains and in mountainous country, where it forms complex and deep burrows in which several families live together. It is seldom seen, as it is crespuscular or nocturnal in its habits ; it progresses, when pressed, by great bounds in similar fashion to a kangaroo and can move more quickly up a slope than down ; it is never very rapid in its movements and can be easily overtaken. Its food consists of roots and green stuff, and it is exceedingly destructive to crops both green and ripe ; according to le Vaillant its flesh is very good eating, and it is considerably sought after for this purpose. A favourite method of capture, -though one would think a not very feasible one in the dry country inhabited by it, is to pour water down the burrows which causes the animals instantly to emerge. The young are said to be born in summer and to be 3 or 4 in number. Family OCTODOJS'TIDAB. Eodents with fore and hind limbs generally provided with five toes ; with a large palatine foramen and with a distinct inferior angle to the malar bone; the molars are provided with both external and internal enamel folds and the clavicles are imperfect. Thomas, in his recent list of rodents, recognises 22 genera belong- ing to this family ; of these 17 are confined to the New World and chiefly to the southern portion of it ; the remaining 5 are all purely African, and two of these, described below, are South African. Keij of the South African Genera. A. Tail but little shorter than the body, well covered with fairly long hairs; incisors smooth, small and compressed Pefromijs, p. 84. B, Tail barely half the length of the body, covered with very short sparse stiff bristles; incisors very broad and strong, those of the upper jaw with three deep groves Thnjonomijs, p. 86, 84 OCTODONTIDAE PBTROMYS Genus PETROMYS. Type. Petromys, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. i, no. 5, p. 11 (1831) P. typicus. Compact, rounded animals with moderate rounded ears ; tail only a little shorter than the body, covered with stiff hairs, which become longer towards the tip ; five toes to both fore and hind limbs, the pollex, though clawed, being short and rudi- mentary. Skull very broad posteriorly, with very large, round antorbital openings, at the base of which is a groove for the passage o£ the nerve. Dentition. — i. i, c. g, p.m. i, m. f = 20 ; upper incisors smooth, small, and compressed ; molars rooted, somewhat quadrate with a single internal fold in the upper jaw, and external one in the lower, and with indications [especially in young skulls] of smaller opposite folds external in the upper, internal in the lower jaw. Only one species of this genus, that below described, is known. 163. Petromys typicus. The Eock Bat oe Noki. Petromys typicus, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. i, no. 5, p. 11 (1831) ; id. ibid, ii, p. 146 (1834) ; id. Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm. plates XX, xxi (skull and anat.), (1840) ; Water Jiouse, Nat. Hist. Mamm. ii, p. 308, pi. xvi, fig. 8, pi. xvii, fig. 1 (1848) ; W. Sclater, Ann. S.A. Mus. i, p. 232 (1899). Vernacular Name. — Noki in Namaqualand (Howard). Description. — General shape rat-like ; colour dull brownish grey, pencilled tawny and black, hinder part of the back and posterior extremities dull chestnut, all the hairs bluish grey at the base ; below dull white tinged with tawny ; apex of the muzzle and orbit bright chestnut, whiskers long, rigid, and black, snout pro- jecting and truncated ; ears rather small, wider than high, blackish, only moderately clothed with hair ; fore limbs with four clawed toes, the first being represented by a mere tubercle, palms with five rather swollen pads ; claws black ; hind limbs somewhat thickened, hairy above, naked below, with six pads, the three at the base of the toes large and oval, the two next small and rounded, the OCTODONTIDAE PETEOMYS 85 proximal one much elongated but not well developed, all the toes clawed, the first short and not reaching the base of the second. Tail a little shorter than the head and body, cylindrical, covered with scales, which, however, are concealed by the long black hairs, these are about '25 long towards the base, but gradually increase to about 'TS at the tip; the extreme base of the tail is the same colour as the body, the rest of it is black. Incisors yellowish. Dimensions. — From a specimen in alcohol ; head and body 5'75 ; tail 5"30; hind foot 1*25 ; from ear-opening to tip of nose 1-50 ; length of a skin according to Smith 7'25 ; skull length 1*63, breadth -98 ; upper molars 'S8. MS.. Fig. 108. — The Kock Eat {Petromys typicus). Distribution. — The rock rat has been found only in Namaqua- land ; Sir A. Smith obtained his specimens in the mountains towards the mouth of the Orange Eiver. The South African Museum is indebted to Dr. Howard for examples of this species, obtained at Klipfontein about fifty miles inland from Port Nolloth. Habits. — This animal inhabits the dry rocky mountain ranges of Namaqualand, making its home in cranies of the rocks or under stones ; it runs about over the boulders during the day, feeding in the early morning and evening chiefly on the flowers of some of the Compositae found so abundantly in those parts ; it exhibits little fear of man. 86 OCTODONTIDAE THRYONOMYS Genus THRYONOMYS. Type. Aulacodus, Temminch, Monogr. Mamm. i, p. 245 (1827) [nee Eschricht] T. swinderenianus. Thryonomys, FUzinger, S. B. Akad. Wien Ivi, pt. 1, p. 141 (1867) T. semipalmatus. Fig. 109. — Left lialf of palate and riglit half of lower jaw of Thryonomys sivindercniamis. Stout, rat-like animals, with blunt muzzles, harsh fur, and short tails sparsely covered with stiff bristles ; the fore feet with a rudimentary pollex and a small fifth toe, the hind foot with only four digits, the outer (fifth) being very short. Skull with the facial portion inflated, the cranial portion small ; the occipital and lamboidal crests are very well developed ; the OCTODONTIDAE THKYONOMYS 87 antorbital opening is large and has a special basal groove for the reception of the nerve. Dentition. — i. i, c. §, pm. i, m. f = 20 ; incisors very broad the upper ones with three strong longitudinal grooves ; the lov^er ones smooth ; molars rooted, with, in the upper jaw two external and one internal enamel folds ; in the lower jaw one external and two internal folds. The use of the old and more familiar name for this genus, Aulacodus, has recently been shown by Thomas to be inad- missible, as it was previously used by Eschricht for a genus of Coleoptera. Four species from other parts of Africa are recognised in addition to the one below described. 164. Thryonomys swinderenianus. The Cane Eat. Aulacodus swinderianus, TemmincTx, Moiiogr. Mamm. i, pp. 245, 248, pi. XXV. [juv.] (1827) ; WaterJiouse, Nat. Hist. Mamm. ii, p. 356, pi. xvi. fig. 2 (1848) ; Layard, Cat. Mamm. S. Afr. Mus. p. 50 (1862). Aulacodus swinderenianus, Thomas, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6) xiii, -p. 202 (1894). Thryonomj'S swinderenianus, W. Sdater, Ann. S. A. Mas. i, p. 234 (1899). Literature.— Drummond (1875), p. 402, account of habits and hunting in Zululand; Kirby (1896), p. 550, native names and occurrence in the Eastern Transvaal. Vernacular Names. — Ground Rat, Ground Pig, or Cane Eat of the English ; Eeit Muis of the Dutcli Colonists ; Ivondwe of Swazis and Zulus (Kirby) ; Ikvihra of Basuto (Kirbj^). Description. — General colour speckled yellow and brown, below paler, body covered everywhere with coarse bristles, no under-fur ; the bristles are pale brown for the greater part of their length, with subterminal black and terminal yellow portions ; they are flattened and grooved on the upper surface ; chin and upper lip dirty white ; ears short, broad and rounded, almost concealed among the bristles, covered with a few dark hairs ; limbs rather short, with four clawed toes to each, those of the fore limb being the shorter, pollex very small with a flat nail, hallux absent ; tail less than half the length of the head and body, somewhat rat-like, covered with short stiff hairs, dark above, light below, the scaly skin being hardly hidden ; mammae six in number, pectoral in position. bo OCTODONTIDAE THRYONOMYS Dimensions. — From a mounted specimen ; head and body 19-0, tail 7-0, hind foot 2-80 ; from ear-opening to nose-tip 3-55 ; skull length 3-75, breadth 2-62 ; upper molars -75 ; weight of a male from 9 to 10 lbs. Distribution. — The cane rat was originally described by Tem- minck from a young specimen of which the history was unknown ; subsequently it was obtained from Sierra Leone and Natal, and it is now known also from French Congo, Angola, German East Africa, Nyasaland, and Mozambique. Within our limits it is found only in the eastern Transvaal, Zululand, Natal and the eastern portion of the Colony as far as Grahamstown. The South African Museum possesses examples from the Peddie and Transkei divisions of the Colony, from near Durban in Natal, and from the Rustenburg district of the Transvaal. Fig. 110. — The Cane Eat [Tliryonomys siuindcreniamis) . Habits. — This animal is not, as originally stated, a burrower, but according to Peters and Drummond lives in very thick jungle grass and reed beds, where it forms a kind of nest on the surface of the ground ; it is nocturnal, emerging only at night from its lair to ravage the plantations ; it devours large quantities of roots and tender shoots of various plants, and is specially destructive of sugar- cane plantations whence it derives its vernacular name ; it is hunted on moonlight nights with dogs, and is regarded as very good eating. So strong are its incisor teeth that ivory which has been stored for some time has occasionally been found gnawed by these rats ; the three characteristic grooves of the upper incisors being reproduced on the tusks thus mutilated. HYSTKICIDAE HYSTRIX 89 Family HYSTRIOIDAE. This family contains the porcupines, which are animals of stout habit with subequal limbs, covered with hair which is more or less completely modified into spines ; other characters are noticed below. The Porcupines are spread all over the New World, but in the Old World are confined to the southern portions of Europe and Asia and to Africa. Genus HYSTRIX. Type. Hystrix, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., 12th ed. i, p. 76 (1766) H. cristata. Porcupines with short tails, smooth soles, and furrowed upper lips ; the skull is ovate and greatly inflated with air spaces, the nasal cavity being specially large ; the clavicles are imperfect. Dentition. — i. i, c. g, pm. i, m. f =20 ; molars semi-rooted, those of the upper jaw with one internal and three or four external enamel folds, this arrangement being reversed in the lower jaw ; the folds soon become with wear simple circles of enamel surround- ing the margin of the tooth. Only one member of this genus occurs within our limits, the other species are spread over Southern Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. 165. Hystrix africae-australis. The South African Porcupine. Hystrix cristata, Smuts, Enum. Mamm. Cap. p. 50 (1832) ; A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 171 (1834) ; Layard, Cat. Mamm. S. Afr. Mus. p. 55 (1862) \piec Linnaeus] . Hystrix africae-australis, Peters, Beise Mossamh. Sdugetli. p. 170, pi. xxxii, figs. 6, 7 [skull] (1852) ; W. Sdater, Ann. S. A. Mus. i, p. 235 (1899). Hystrix capensis, Grill, K. Yd. Al