Descriptive List of the Rodents of SoutJt Africa. 227 



quite small claws to both feet, the second and third toes of both 

 fore and hind feet are about equal, and the longest. 



Skull with a somewhat rounded upper profile ; teeth as in 

 Bathyergus, but with the upper incisors quite smooth. 



This is a purely African genus ; in addition to those described 

 below, there are some three or four species known from Angola, 

 Central and East Africa. 



GEOKYCHUS CAPENSIS, THE BLESMOL. 



Mus capcnsis, PALLAS, Glires, pp. 76, 172, pi. vii. (1779). 



Bathyergus capcnsis, SMUTS, Enum. Mam. Cap., p. 49 (1832) ; A. 

 SMITH, S. Afr. Quart. Journ., ii., p. 170(1834) ; WATERHOUSE, Ann. 

 Mag. N. H. (1), viii., p. 81, pi. ii., fig. 2 (1842). 



Georychus capcnsis, A. SMITH, Descr. Cat. S. Afr. Mus., p. 26 

 (1826) ; GRILL, Victorin Zool. Anteck. k. Yet. Akad. Handl. Stock- 

 holm, ii., p. 19 (1858) [Cape Town and Knysna] ; LAYARD, Cat. 

 Mam. S. Afr. Mus., p. 55 (1862); GRAY, Proc. Zool. Soc., p 123 

 1864; P. L. SCLATER, Proc. Zool. Soc., pp. 246, 449 (1889) [white 

 var.] ; THOMAS, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6), xvi., p. 238 (1895). 



Description. General colour above a rusty brown becoming paler 

 on the sides, and slaty grey below ; the fur soft and thick, and with 

 slaty bases throughout, except on the spots ; head becoming darker, 

 almost black ; round the nostrils and mouth, round the eyes, round 

 the ear-openings and on the top of the head a set of pure white 

 patches ; head much truncated in front ; eyes very small ; external 

 ears absent ; limbs short, fore feet with five small claws, hind feet 

 also with five claws, short and broad, the sole covered with wrinkles 

 and creases, but with no definite pads ; tail very short, thick, and 

 rounded, covered with white stiff bristles ; mammae 8 in number 

 2 pairs pectoral, 2 pairs inguinal. 



Young of about five inches are a pure slaty grey above, not rusty 

 brown. Skull with the nasals and premaxillae, extending back 

 about the same distance, incisors white, quite smooth ; upper molars 

 increasing in size from before backwards, the premolars being the 

 smallest. 



Dimensions (from a stuffed specimen). Head and body 8 - 5 ; tail 

 80; hind foot 1'20 ; from ear-opening to nose-tip 1 '5 ; skull length 

 2 - 10, breadth 1'60 ; upper molars '33. 



Distribution. The western half of the Colony extending to 

 Narnaqualand and Kimberley in the north and to Knysna in the 

 east. 



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