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Show 554 COL. YERBURY AND MR. O. THOMAS ON [June 18, 29. Mus BACTRIANUS, Blyth. «. $? Lahej. 13. III. 95. A pair were found nesting in a tree in the Sultan's garden at Lahej on the above date : the female was secured, but the male escaped. This was the only occasion on which the species was met with. The nest was in a hollow tree and was made of fine twigs and leaves of the Behr tree (Zizyphus, sp.). This is the ordinary oriental representative of Mus musculus, of which it no doubt merely constitutes a subspecies. The typical M. musculus probably occurs in Aden itself, introduced from the shipping. Indeed " mice " were said to be common in the Hotel d'Europe, although Yerbury failed to capture any of them. 30. ACOMYS DIMIDIATUS, Riipp. «. d • Aden. 21. II. 95. b. 2 • Aden. 24. II. 95. c. Lahej. 10. III. 95. el. d • Lahej. 13. III. 95. e. Haithalhim. 25. III. 95. The first two specimens are clearly A. dimidiatus, but the last three are more doubtful, and will need re-examination when further material is available. Probably common. The Aden specimens were trapped round the house ; the others at the earths of Meriones rex. 31. HYSTRIX LEUCURA, Sykes. A. d • Haithalhim. 23. III. 95. The capture of this specimen is of much interest, as it was quite unknown what species of Porcupine occurred at Aden. Tbe skull proves to be very similar to that of Indian examples of H. leucura, and wholly different to the inflated skulls of the African Porcupines H. cristata, H. galeata, and H. africce australis. This resemblance H. leucura confirms the reference of H. hirsutirostris, Wagn., which was based on a Palestine specimen, to the Indian species. Dr. Matschie was perhaps rather venturesome in referring the Aden Porcupine to the South-African species, as be only had spines for examination, and these vary so much in different parts of the body as to be exceedingly difficult to make much of when loose and of uncertain origin. Porcupines are very common (judging from the number of tracks) round Lahej and Haithalhim, but being nocturnal are seldom, if ever, seen. They are also very shy and cautious animals and will not, as a rule, enter a trap, therefore the way the above specimen was circumvented may be of interest. On arrival at Haithalhim tracks of Porcupines were found in every direction, and an attempt was made to shoot one by watching during the night, but without success ; it was noticed, however, that the animals followed a path leading up from the bed of the Wady Kubeen to the cultivated grounds above, and an examination of the path in the morning |
