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Show 1 9 0 3 . ] MAMMALS FROM THE SOUDAN. 2 9 9 This beautiful little species is readily characterised by its strong sandy colour, the marked dorsal darkening, and elongated palate. 14. J acu lu s g or do ni , sp. n. 85. 5 • Gebel Agageh, W. Kordofan. 12 November, 1902. 104. 105. S 6 • Kaga Hills, W. Kordofan. 20 November, 1902. 106. $ . Gebel um Durragh, W\ Kordofan. 25 November, 1902. Allied to J. jaculus Linn., but larger and differently coloured, and with longer ears. Size rather greater and build stouter than in J. jaculus. General colour above, as compared to the yellowish " buff'" of J. jaculus, darker, and nearly approaching to " vinaceous buff' " of Ridgway. Laterally, the dark colour seems to pass rather sooner into the pure white of the under surface. White markings more extended than in J. jaculus, the cheek, supraorbital, and postauricular white patches all large. White hip-stripe large, weakened in colour by a faint buffy or brownish sprinkling. Fore limbs wholly white. Hinder aspect of thighs like back. Fine hairs of feet silvery white, the terminal half of the long digital hairs sandy. Tail of the usual pattern, its basal portion isabelline buffy above; black subterminal band rather over an inch in length; white tip in. ; longest hairs at end of tail 16-17 mm. in length. Skull shaped quite as in J. jaculus, but larger and heavier throughout. Dimensions of the type, measured in the flesh:- Head and body 120 111111. ; tail 200 ; hind foot(s.u.) 63 ; ear 25. Skull: greatest length in middle line 34 ; basilar length 27'5 ; zygomatic breadth 24; tympanic breadth 24*7 ; length of nasals on outer edge 12*5; interorbital breadth 12*8; interparietal 5'7 x 8'7 ; palate, length 17*3; palatal foramina 4-7; diastema 9'6 ; length of upper molar series 5*1. Hab. (of type). Kaga Hills, W. Kordofan. Also occurring at Omdurman. Type. Old male. B. M. No. 3.2.8.16. Original number 104. This Jerboa, which I have named in memory of the famous General Gordon, differs decidedly from the ordinary Egyptian J. jaculus by its larger size and different colour. The Museum had previously received a specimen of it from Omdurman, collected by Mr. W. L. S. Loat, but as that was young and without skull, it could not be described. The only other species which need be referred to is Dipus microtis Reichenow1 from " Samar, in Nord-ostafrica.' That was founded on a young specimen, but the description of its teeth shows that it was sufficiently adult not to be the young of the present form, than which it is very much smaller (" Lauflange 1 Zool. Anz. x. p. 369 (1887). |