OCR Text |
Show 1875.] MAMMALS FROM MADAGASCAR. 79 smithii, but distinguished by the much shorter ear, tufts of long hairs on the temple, &c. millim. Length (from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail).. 152 „ of the tail 149 Fig. 1. Hand of Chirogaleus trichotis (enlarged). Fig. 2. Foot of Chirogaleus trichotis (enlarged). BRACHYTARSOMYS. The affinities of this genus of Rats are similar to those of Nesomys, another rodent from Madagascar described by Prof. Peters in 1870. It differs, however, from the latter by its much shorter legs and by the configuration of the skull, which approaches that of the South- African Otomys (albicauda, A. Sm.). Upper lip with a median groove, but not cleft. Snout rather short; ears short, eye small; the hairs of the moustache in five rows. Fur dense, woolly. Tail long, annulated, and sparingly hairy. Four fingers with a rudimentary pollical tubercle; five toes, the fifth rather shorter than the fourth. Foot much shorter than the lower leg. Interorbital portion of the skull much contracted, without supraorbital ridges. Lower portion of the foramen infraorbitale much narrower than the upper. The incisive apertures extend backwards only to the level of the front margin of the first molar. Bullae osseee moderately developed. Incisors not grooved. Molars ~t the an- < |