| OCR Text |
Show 80 MH. W. E. DE WINTON ON [Jan. 23, together with all the small mammals and some of the most interesting of the Antelopes. 1. MEGADERMA FRONS. 6 , 2 • Boseires, Blue Nile, 1600 ft. " Hanging on thick dead bushes ; readily fly in daylight." 2. SdOTOPHILUS NIGRITA. 2 . Bilo, 5500 ft., 10th March, 1899. " Slightly wooded country." 3. HELOGALE ATKINSONI. 2 • Fijambiro, 5500 ft., 25th Dec, 1898. " Shot on rocky hill among others." 4. FUNISCTURUS MULTICOLOR. d . Mendi, 1st April, 1899. ' " Shot on tree in very marshy ground; native name ' Shaila'." The resemblance in colour of this Squirrel to the last species (Helogale atkinsoni) is very striking. In laying the two side by side, the only difference observable is the form of the tail; for while that of the Squirrel is uniformly bushy throughout its length, that of the Mongoose is tapered towards the tip. The general colour of the body in both animals is very much the same, but the annulations on the fur of the Squirrel are slightly broader. Knowing so little of the habits of these two animals, it is impossible to draw any conclusions as to the object of the likeness in two species of such different families, but the striking resemblance at once calls to mind the parallel instance of the Tree- Shrew (Tupaia) and the Squirrel in the Oriental Eegion. 5. GERBILLUS MURINUS. Boseires, Blue Nile, 1400 ft., 15th May, 1899. 6. Mus ALBIPES. d, d. Borumeda, 8000 ft., 13th February, 1899. " Caught in camp on grassy phiin ; native name ' Tet V d. Lekemti, 6885 ft., 18th March, 1899. d. Mendi, 6th April, 1899. d. Beni Schongul, 2nd May, 1899. 7. MUS MAHOMET. d. Chellika, 8000 ft., 8th March, 1899. " Caught on old corn-field ; native name ' Ait'." Measurements taken in the flesh-head and body, 60 millim., tail 48, hind foot 14, ear 12. This is the first example received in the British Museum of this species, which was described by Mr. S. N. Bhoads, of Philadelphia, from specimens obtained by Dr. Donaldson Smith at Sheikh Mahomet in Western Somaliland. |
