OCR Text |
Show 1896.] ON A NEW RODENT OF THE GENUS LOPHUROMYS. 607 4. On a new Rodent of the Genus Lophuromys from East Africa. By W . E. DE WINTON, F.Z.S. [Eeceived May 15, 1896.] (Plate XXVII.) In a small series of mammals presented to the National Collection by Dr. W . J. Ansorge, Medical Officer to Her Majesty's Government in Uganda, who is now home on leave, I find two specimens of a very handsome mouse of the genus Lophuromys new to science, which I propose to name in honour of the collector. LOPHUROMYS ANSORGEI, sp. n. (Plate XXVII.) The whole of the upper parts of the head and body smooth dark chocolate colour, with no markings whatever ; the underparts uniform pale cinnamon ; the feet dark above and below ; the tail black-brown, slightly greyer beneath, especially basally, rather short and thick, covered with hair, but not densely enough to conceal the scales; ears moderate, rounded, covered with close short hairs. On parting the fur of the upper parts it will be found that the tips only of the hairs are dark, shading gradually into bright tan at the bases; there is no underfur; all the hairs are perfectly straight, of a uniform length and of very much the consistency of a stiff camel's-hair brush. Measurements taken from dried skin :-Head and body 135 mm.; tail 49 mm.; pes 22 m m . ; forearm and hand 33 m m . Skull: greatest length 33-5 mm., greatest breadth 17 m m . ; basifacial length 20 m m . ; basicranial length 10 mm.; incisive foramina-length 6*5 mm., breadth 2-8 mm.; nasals-length 15mm.,breadth 3*5 mm.; upper molar series 5-5 mm.; lower molar series 5 mm.; mandibles, from condyle to incisor tips, 24 m m . Hab. Mumia's, Kavirondo, N.E. of Lake Victoria. Type no. 96. V. 8. 1, in Brit. Mus. The nearest ally of this species is most likely L. sikapusi from West Africa, but it is easily distinguished by its rather larger size and much darker and handsomer colouring. Seen through a lens, each hair is flattened like a blade of grass, tapering abruptly to a sharp point at either end ; some of the hairs are flat, others have the edges turned over so that the cross section forms the segment of a circle. The claws are long and straight: these and the hairy nose and other peculiarities of the genus are well described by Mr. F. W . True (Proc. Nat. Mus. Washington, 1892, vol. xv. p. 460), in his description of Mus aqudus, which no doubt should be referred to this genus. I should like also to suggest that M r . True's name should be altered to aquilcs, as it was derived from the fact of the specimen having been killed by a bird of the eagle tribe. I may mention that there is in the British Museum a specimen which seems to agree with the |