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Show 954 MR. W. E. DE WINTON O N [Dec. 14, The collection consists of 64 specimens belonging to 13 genera and 21 species, of which three are new to science. The primary object of the expedition being birds, the collection of mammals is very creditable, but it is to be regretted that, owing to want of knowledge of what was rare, more persistent search was not made when novelties were hit upon. The skins are well prepared and most carefully labelled with data. 1. PIPISTRELLUS KUHLII (Natt.). Vesperugo Icuhlll, auct. For the reason of change in the generic name of this Bat, see Miller, Ann. Mag. N. H. 1897, ser. 6, vol. xx. p. 383. Two specimens, taken at Bas el Ain, Brovince of Haha, 31° N., 22nd June, 1897. 2. MYOTIS MYOTIS (Bechst.). Vespertillo murinus, auct., nee Linnaeus. For change of name, see Miller, loc. cit. Six specimens, all taken in a vault at Mekinez, 3rd April, 1897. 3. CROCIDURA (CR.) WHITAKERI, sp. n. Colour drab-grey above, white beneath : tail drab-grey above, white beneath. Excepting the tail this animal agrees in colour with Cr.fischeri, Pagenstecher, Jahrb. d. Wissensch. Hamburg, ii. 1884, p. 34, pl. fig. i. ; the size, however, is very much smaller. Type S (?)• Sierzet, about halfway between Morocco city and Mogador, 5th June, 1897. Collector's measurements :-Head and body 62 millim.; tail 28 ; hind foot 11. Skull, base damaged :-End of nasals to back of parietals (middle line) 13 millim.; greatest breadth 7*7; interorbital constriction 3*5 ; front of incisors to back of auditory bullae 16 ; front of incisors to back of palate 8*3; tip of incisors to tip of large premolar 4*1; outside m s - 2 5*6; mandible, back of condyle to front of 172 8*5, height at coronoid 4*3. Compared with C. crossel, Thos., from Asaba on the B. Niger, the new Shrew is smaller, the tail is much shorter in proportion, and the underparts white ; the skull is smaller, the palate narrower, and shorter in the basicranial portion ; the large upper incisor is stronger, more rounded in front and not so abruptly turned down. The hindermost of the two small unicuspid teeth, which is both slightly shorter and smaller in cross-cut than the foremost, is much crowded between this tooth and the large premolar; whereas in C. crossel the two small teeth are nearly of the same size, and there is a clear space between the hindermost and the large premolar and no crowding. With the exception of one species from Somaliland, C. nana, Dobson, this is the smallest true Crocidura known, and is a most interesting addition to the fauna of this region. |