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Show 1 9 0 5 .] MAMMALS FROM ZULULAND. 267 close to water. Like other members of the genus, they will seldom take baits, but are usually caught by their accidentally running over the trap. They live singly or in pairs, and do not burrow."-0. H. B. G. 27. O tomys l am in a tu s Thos. & Schw. Otomys laminatus Thos. & Schw. Abstr. P. Z. S. No. 18 p. 23, April 25, 1905. S . 657. $ . 673. Sibudeni. This species may be shortly described as a member of the irroratus group, with nine or occasionally ten laminae on the third upper molars instead of six or seven, and seven on the first lower instead of four. General colour of the upper surface, in the type, raw umber (Bidgway), slightly more rufous on the rump, which may, however, be due to faded fur, and paler on the flanks. The female distinctly darker in colour, more as in irroratus. Fur soft, fine, and thick, about 20 mm. long, basal four-fifths blackish slate, a subterminal ring rufous, extreme tip black. Under surface dull yellowish, the bases of the hairs grey. Forehead and cheeks like back; lips, interramia, and throat dull yellowish white. Ears of medium length, internal surface thinly covered with fine yellowish hair, naked externally. Upper surface of hands and feet blackish grey. Tail thickly barred, blackish above, dull buffy below. Skull as in irroratus, but with a widely diflei'ent laminal for- 3_9_9 mula, viz. : „_^_2' Dimensions of the type (measured in the flesh):-Head and body 180 mm.; tail 120 ; hind foot 31 ; ear 22. Skull-greatest length 44 ; basilar length 35; zygomatic breadth 22 ; nasals 20 x 8-4 ; interorbital breadth 4-5 ; palate length 20'4 ; length of upper molar series (crowns) 9'7 ; anteroposterior diameter of bulla 7-2. Hab. Sibudeni, Zululand. Alt. 1050 m. Type. Male. B.M. no. 4.5.1.45. Original no. 657. Collected 1 January, 1904. The difference between the laminal formula of this species and 0. irroratus is so great that we have no doubt the former should be specifically distinguished. Mr. Sclater, in his ‘ Mammals of South Africa ' *, mentions a specimen from Pondoland that agrees with laminatus in having nine lamina? on the third upper molar, and should probably be referred to this species. With the exception of this specimen, no greater variation has been recorded than between six and seven. With regard to Lichtenstein's Euryotis obscura from Kaftraria, we are informed by Dr. Matschie that the type is not now to be found in the Berlin Museum, so that the name may well remain buried in the synonymy of the common 0. irroratus. * Vol. ii. p. 27. |