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Show 1896.] FROM BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA. 799 of all the species in spirit, and also more extensive field-notes, which will add very considerably to the value of the collection. As usual, the small mammals seem to be the last important zoological group to come in; for although of course tbe larger mammals of this region have been long known, and, alas! many well-nigh exterminated, and the birds and insects have been largely collected, the present is the first collection of smaller mammals of any importance numerically that has reached the museums of Europe. The collection contains 47 specimens, referable to 16 species, all belonging to the family Muridae, with the exception of one Dormouse and one Rodent Mole. It seems strange that no Squirrel is represented, more especially as a Galago is included in the collection. Africa south of the Zambesi is curiously weak in Squirrels, only two species of Sciurus being found (one of which, Sc. cepapi; is peculiar to this region) ; neither of these can be called plentiful. This may be accounted for by the absence of any large forests, and perhaps, in a minor degree, by the partiality shown by the natives for small Rodents as food; these animals, owing to their diurnal and climbing habits, being more easily found than rats and mice, stand a very poor chance, especially as the trees which they frequent are mainly confined to the banks of rivers or to clumps on low-lying ground where water most likely lies beneath. The value of this collection can in no way be measured by its numbers or by the excellent condition in which both skins and skulls are found, though these reflect the greatest credit on the collector; for among the 16 species represented there are 7 that are entirely new to science or that if found elsewhere have developed such well-marked characters in this geographically distinct area as to necessitate the giving of a distinguishing subspecific name. One of these, a Georychus, was described by Mr. Thomas last year and named in honour of the collector, and is here figured (Plate XL.), the remaining six are described in this paper. At the same time one or two of these are not in any way confined to the Mashunaland plateau, but have simply been confused with other species, and perhaps, from being rather common, have been considered not worth sending home. 1. MYOXUS (ELIOMYS) NANUS, sp. n. Ad. skin, o*. Mazoe, Mashunaland, 21 July, 1895. " Lives in trees and roofs of huts. Native name ' Sinde-wara.'"- J. ff. B. Collector's measurements, taken in the flesh, of type 95.8.27.4 in Brit. Mus.:-Head and body 86 mm.; tail 72; hind foot 15; ear 14. Skull: length 2 4 ; breadth 13; depth, top of parietal to base of bulla 9-5 ; breadth of cranium 11; narrowest intorb. 4; nasals 9x3; basal length 20-5 ; henselion to back of palate 8 ; palate to foramen mag. 10-5 ; molar series 3 ; diastema 5 ; mandible, depth at coronoid 6-3 ; tips of incisors to condyle 14*5. P R O C ZOOL. Soc-1896, N o . LII. 52 |