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Show 140 MR. O. THOMAS ON THE [Feb. 20, In the instance before us, it is practically certain that the simple and attractive explanation, often put forward in such cases, that a milk premolar has been retained, instead of being shed in the usual way, is not applicable. For although there is no marked difference in size either between the most anterior premolar of the type and that of specimen a, or between the third of the type and the second of the same normal specimen, so that the tooth between them in the type would seem unlikely to be the product of the fission of either p1 or p2, yet the mp2 of other Herpestince is in form entirely unlike the styliform extra tooth under discussion, and n^p] has as yet never been certainly shown to be present in any Carnivore. Mr. Whyte's observation on the food of R. melleri is of great interest, as its fruit-eating habits may perhaps account for the peculiar structure and wear of the molars. In all the three specimens before me the posterior molars appear to be more worn than the anterior, as though an unusual amount of chewing had fallen to their share; but it must be admitted that this appearance may be deceptive, and that the explanation may be that m^ is naturally so much flatter than usual that it appears to be worn flat almost at once. The foetal or new-born specimen c, preserved in spirit, shows not the slightest trace of a mesial naked line below the muzzle, and therefore lends weight to Dr. Gray's opinion as to the value of this character in dividing the genera of Herpestince. 15. CROSSARCHUS PASCIATUS, Desm. a. Ad. sk. 2 • Zomba. 1/93. b. Tg. sk. Zomba. 1/93. c. Tg. sk. Mpimbi, PJpper Shire. 16. LUTRA MACULICOLLIS, Licht. a. Ad. sk. 2 • Fort Johnston, Upper Shire. 11/92. This specimen belonged to the collection worked out in M ay 1893, but w-as accidentally omitted from m y previous paper. The species is a rare one, and this exact record of its occurrence is therefore of value. 17. SCIURUS PALLIATUS, Pet. a, b. Ad. sks. 3 2 • Milanji Plateau. 13 & 15/4/93. 18. SCIURUS MUTABILIS, Pet. a-i. Four adult and five young skins. Zomba. 12/92 and 1/93. These midsummer specimens are of the greatest interest, as illustrating a little further the series of seasonal changes occurring in this remarkable species. The adult specimens are halfway through a change of fur, two of them having fresh grizzled-grey hairs on the anterior halves of their bodies and on their tails, while their posterior halves are clothed with ragged rufous or |
