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Show 1893.] MR. O. THOMAS ON MAMMALS FROM NYASALAND. 501 species now and previously sent at other times of the year. Seasonal variation has been but little studied in African mammals, and specimens obtained by so able a collector all from the same place and at different seasons would have the utmost value as enabling us to form a comprehensive idea as to the general influence that the changes of such a climate as that of Nyasaland have on its Mammalian inhabitants. Pending the formation of such a supplementary collection, the present series, full as it is of rarities from a Museum point of view, demands for publication little more than a nominal list of the species sent. 1. OTOOALE KIRKII, Gray. a, Ad. sk. Nmasi. 9/92. This skin is not in a good state, and the fur appears to be in process of change. There seems, however, to be little doubt that it represents 0. kirkii, whether that does or does not prove in the end to be a valid species. 2. PETRODROMUS TETRADACTYLUS, Pet. a. Ad. al. $ . Milanji. 10/92. 3. CROCIDURA sp. inc. a. Ad. al. Milanji. 10/92. 4. CBOCIDURA sp. inc. a. Ad. al. Milanji. 10/92. 5. HERPESTES GEACILIS, Biipp. a, b. 2 ad. sks. Zomba. 11/92. These specimens evidently belong to the S.-African type of tbe species, and show that Peters's H. ornatus should be referred to that form rather than to the typical variety, to which I assigned it in 1882. 6. CROSSARCHITS FASCIATUS (Desm.). a, b. Ad. sks. Tschiromo, junction of Bivers Euo and Shire. 9/92. C. fasciatus is recorded from Mt. Kilimanjaro by M r . True under the name of G. mungo, Gmel.1 That name is evidently taken from the synonymy of the species as given in m y monograph of the African Mungooses 2, M r . True rightly ignoring m y plea for the retention of the name fasciatus merely as being classical, well-known, and appropriate. H e does not, however, seem to be aware that the name mungo, originally given to a mixture of the common Indian Mungoose and the S.-African striped one, has been revived by Mr. Blanford3 as the appellation of the former, in spite of my 1 P. U.S. Nat. Mus. xv. p. 453 (1892). 2 P. Z. S. 1882, p. 90. 3 P. Z. S. 1887, p. 631; Mamm. Brit. Ind. p. 123 (1888). PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1893, No. XXXIV. 34 |
