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Show 164 ON RHYNCHOCYON AND PETRODROMUS. [Jan. 4, tained by Dr. Kirk about 100 miles inland, on the Rovuma river. It is fully adult, sex unknown. A second example, sent by Dr. Kirk in 1*808, has been made into a skeleton ; it is somewhat older than the other, but shows the same proportion of the length of the tail to that of the body. The skulls are of nearly the same size as that of R. cirnei figured by Peters. 3. RHYNCHOCYON CHRYSOPYGUS, sp. n. (Plate XIV.) The upperside of the head is grizzled grey and brownish red ; back and sides of a uniform deep rich chestnut-brown, with six more or less indistinct short black stripes in the middle of the back ; they are very indistinct in the young. Sacral region golden yellow, passing into chestnut-red on the thighs. Lower parts chestnut-red, less bright in the young than in the adult. Tail blackish, the terminal two fifths white, the extremity being black again. Spec. A., ad. 13., ad. C, juv. Length to the root of the tail . 285 m m . 270 m m . 255 m m. Length of the tail 230 „ 225 „ 200 ,, Of this species we possess three skins, sent by Dr. Kirk ; they were obtained on the river Mombaca. Two of the specimens are fully adult; the third has still two-notched incisors, which seems to be a peculiarity of the young of this geuus. The incisors of the adult show a single notch. The skull is very similar to that of the two preceding species, but has a conspicuously longer facial portion. 4. RHYNCHOCYON PETERSI. Rhynchocyonpetersi, Bocage, Join. Sc. Lisb. 1880, p. 159. Cheeks, ears, neck, fore part of the back, fore limbs, and a part of the sides intensely ferruginous red; the remainder of the back and sides, the upper part of the base of the tail, and the outer side of the limbs deep black. Lower parts pale reddish. Head grizzled grey and brown. Tail ferruginous red above, white at its extremity. An immature specimen, sent from Zanzibar, and now in the Lisbon Museum, is 260 mill, long to the root of the tail, the tail measuring 185 mill. PETRODROMUS TETRADACTYLUS (Ptrs.). This species extends northwards to the river Mombaca. A fine adult specimen, probably a male, shows a very extraordinary development of the hairs of the lower part of the tail. These hairs are stiff, elastic bristles, 5 mill, long, with a swelling at the tip. It is difficult to guess with any probability what may be the function of this tail-brush. |