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Show 1897.] FROM NYASALAND. 935 The type specimen of 67. johnstoni is evidently undergoing its autumn increase of fur, for the fine buff tips of the new hairs are to be distinguished halfway down in the fur among the old ones. The hairs are growing up evenly all over the body, and not in patches. On the other haud, in a specimen of 67. murinus in the spring moult (Bustenberg, Transvaal, September 1895 ; coll. H. B. Thomasset) the moult is taking place in patches, so that we have in these animals (so far as the evidence of two specimens is to be trusted) a similar method of change to what we see in some of our own northern animals, e. g. the Squirrel, in which the spring moult is equally done in patches, while the autumn growth takes place uniformly all over the body. 30. GERBILLUS (TATERA) LEUCOGASTER, Pet. ff-/. Fort Hill, July 1896. g-j. In spirit. Fort Hill, July 1896. Jc-m. Karonga, July 1896. n-q. Mt. Malosa, 5000 ft., 21-27 Nov., 1896. 31. GERBILLUS (GERBILLISCUS J) BOHMI, Noack. ff. $ . Fort Hill, July 1896. This interesting Gerbille is no doubt in a general way allied to Lataste's subgenus Tatera, to which 67. leucoguster belongs, but the marked difference between its incisors and those of the other subgenera seems to render advisable a special group for its reception. The unusual breadth of the incisors, their slight bevel, and their flatness (the two faint grooves being scarcely perceptible) render them quite unlike those of any other Gerbille. The type of the species was described from Qua Mpala, Marungu. 32. OTOMYS IRRORATUS, Bts. a-l. Nyika Blateau, 6000-7000 ft,, June and July 1896. m. Fort Hill, July 1896. n, o. Zomba, Aug. 1896. 33. DENDROMYS MESOMELAS, Bts. a-cl. Nyika Plateau, 6000-7000 ft., June and July 1896. e. Fort Hill, July 1896. 34. DENDROMYS PUMILIO, Wagn. a-cl. Nyika Plateau, 6000-7000 ft., June and July 1896. e,f. Inspirit. Nyika Plateau, 6000-7000 ft., June and July 1896. g, h. Fort Hill, July 1896. l-h. Zomba, Aug. 1896. l-n. Mt. Malosa, 5000 ft., Nov. 1896. Some of the specimens from Nyasaland previously recorded by me as D. mesomelas are also D. pumillo, hitherto (but, as I now think, erroneously) united with D. mesomelas. 1 Above, p. 433. |
