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Show 278 MESSRS. DANFORD AND ALSTON ON [Mar. 20, Society by Mr, Keith E. Abbott from Erzeroom (now in the British Museum)1. It was doubtfully referred to S. musicus of Menetries by Prof. Brandt; and this identification has been generally followed in spite of Brandt's concluding observation : - " C xanthoprymnus, Bennett, vix a Spermophilo musico diversus."2 But the animal, of which we have a good series, proves to be quite distinct both from S. musicus and from S. concolor, with which Bennett compared it, belonging to the division of the genus with well-haired soles. It is muchBnearer tbe European S. citellus (Linn.), to which it was referred by Ainsworth, but is at once distinguished by its colour and by the shortness of its tail, which hardly exceeds the hind foot in length. As Bennett gives but a short diagnosis, and the species has since been generally overlooked, we add a fuller description. Ear rudimentary, soles of hind feet hairy, tail short, hardly longer than the hind foot. Upper parts nearly uniform reddish buff, most of the hairs slate-grey at the base, then whitish, then broadly tipped with light fulvous ; these are mixed with black hairs, which are more numerous in some individuals than in others. Tail cylindrical, unicolorous, more brightly fulvous than the back. A ring round each eye, the edges of the lips, chin, and throat whitish, passing into the pale isabelline of the breast and belly. Legs and feet more distinctly fulvous. Approximate measurements (in skin) :- inches. Length of head and body (about) 9*50 tail 1*40 hind foot 1*40 The only recent writer who has recognized the validity of this species is Dr. Severtzoff, who, on his visit to London, identified with S. xanthoprymnus certain Sousliks which he had formerly referred to S. fulvus, Licht.3 He says that these specimens were obtained by him near Tashkent and Cheenaz, and by Russoff near Samarkand. If his identification is correct, the range of the species will probably be found to extend through Northern Persia. [ARCTOMYS, sp.? Ainsworth states that A. marmotta (Linn.) inhabits the Taurus; but A. bobac, Schreb., seems more likely to occur there. No Marmot was met with by Danford.] 28. *MYOXUS DRYAS (Schreb.). A single specimen was procured at Issa-fakyr, in the interior. Its nest was a round ball of dry grass, and was placed in a dense bush of wild rose. It was once or twice disturbed from this retreat, and was eventually secured by firing at the nest. This example is somewhat remarkable in coloration, the whole back from the nape 1 P. Z. S. 1835, p. 90. 2 Bull. Ac. Petersb. 1844 (ii.) p. 371. 3 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1876, xviii. p. 388. |