208 Annals of the South African Mnsciun. 



elongated and soft, forming a distinct brush ; mammae 6 in number 

 1 pair pectoral, 2 pairs inguinal. 



The very long tail with black pencil and fine rings distinguish 

 this species from other South African rats. 



Dimensions (from a skin). Head and body 4'0 ; tail 5'25 ; 

 hind foot '87; skull length 1-1, breadth -56; length of upper 

 molars *20. 



Distribution. The type described by Smuts was from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Cape Town, whence the South African Museum has 

 an example, Smith records it from Uitenhage. Outside South 

 Africa it appears to be widely distributed from the Niger and 

 Cameroons in the west and the Fayoum of Egypt in the east south- 

 wards through Central and East Africa to the Colony. 



MUS XIGRICAUDA, THE BLACK-TAILED EAT. 



Mus nigricanda, THOMAS, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 266, pi. xiv., fig. 1 

 (1882); BOCAGE, Journ. Sci., Lisbon (2), v., p. 10 (1890). 



Description. General colour above yellow mixed with black, 

 somewhat more yellow on the sides, fur coarse and long, below pure 

 white without slaty bases to the hairs ; ears large, thinly covered 

 with short greyish hairs ; extremities white, the hairs concealing the 

 claws ; hind feet comparatively short, the six pads large and rounded, 

 occupying a considerable portion of the sole ; tail shorter than the 

 head and body, nearly naked at the base, but thickly covered distally 

 above and below with long shining black hairs forming a slight pencil 

 at the tip ; molars broad and rounded with numerous well-marked 

 small cusps. 



Dimensions (from the type). Head and body 6'2 ; tail 5 - 8 ; hind 

 foot I'Ol ; upper molars -21. 



Distribution. The type was obtained by C. J. Andersson on the 

 Hountop River in Damaraland ; other examples have been collected 

 in Angola, where it appears to be fairly common. There are no 

 specimens in the South African Museum. 



MUS DAMARENSIS, THE DAMARALAND EAT. 



Mus silaccus, apud THOMAS, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 266 (1882) (nee 

 Wagner) . 



Mus damarensis, DE WINTON, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6), xix., p. 34!) 



(1897). 



