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Show 1897.] ON THE MALAGASY GENUS IHtACHYUROMYS. 695 form T. sipylus, clearly proving this to be a well-marked race distinct from T. evenina. An example of what seems to be an intermediate phase of T. vesta, differing from the wet-season form of T. mutans in its small discocellular black spot, smaller discal salmon-buff spots, larger marginal spots, and strongly defined brown bands on the under surface of the secondaries. A form which I take to be a dry-season phase of T. ansorgei, already referred to in footnote. Specimens of Herpcenla melanarge showing considerable variation iu size, proving that H. iterata (which differs constantly in tbe red coloration of the markings below) is a nearly allied but distinct geographical race. Lastly, examples of Papilio erinus with unusually narrow blue banding on the upper surface of the primaries. 4. On the Malagasy Rodent Genus Brachyuromys; and on the Mutual Relations of some Groups of the Muridce {Hesperomyina?, Microtinee, Murina,, and " Spalacida?") with each other and with the Malagasy Nesomyinte. By Dr. C. I. FORSYTH MAJOR, C.M.Z.S. [Received June 1, 1897.] (Plates XXXVII.-XL.) It has been stated not long ago (1893), in a valuable Manual, the Rodents are amongst the few exceptions to the rule, according to which the Malagasy Mammals belong to peculiar specifically Malagasy genera \ This statement, made originally by Riitimeyer in 18672, was true at that date. In the intervening 28 years five genera, containing six species, of Malagasy Eodents have been brought to notice ; several of them, however, were so scantily characterized as to explain the undue neglect to which they have been subjected. The genus Brachyuromys was characterized by me last year3, upon specimens collected in Madagascar, the species B. ramiro-hitra, of which a short description was given, being taken as type. In the same place it was pointed out that Bartlett's " Nesomys betsileoensis"4 is a second species of Brachyuromys. At this Society's Meeting of Dec. 1, 18965, some considerations on the Malagasy Rodents as a whole were presented ; the great majority of them 1 considered to " belong to the so-called Cricetine 1 K. A. Zittel, ' Handbuch d. Palaontologie. IV. Vertebrata (Mammalia)' 1891 -93, p. 767. 2 L. Roitimeyer, ' TJeber die Herkunft unserer Thierwelt. Eine zoogeo-graphische Skizze.' Basel & Genf, 1867, p. 14. 3 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 6, vol. xviii. Oct. 1896, p. 322. 4 P. Z. S. 1879, p. 770. 5 P. Z. S. 1896, pp. 978-980. |
