1896.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 523 



processes), 12 ; breadth between auditory meatus (lower border), 

 15 ; greatest length of mandible, 22 ; greatest breadth of mandible, 

 14. 



One specimen, a skin of an old female, with skull, in good condi- 

 tion, represents this distinctly marked little squirrel. So far as I 

 am able to distinguish, it differs in size, color and cranial characters 

 from any described species. Its relationships are with S. cepapi, 

 but its smaller size, light color and high, narrow, brain case, with 

 long compressed zygorase, separate them. 



On the accompanying label the specimen is stated to have been 

 "shot in the thick jungle on River Ganana. Was accompanied by 

 4 young ones." The well-developed teats, 2 pectoral, 2 abdominal, 

 3 inguinal, show evidence of recent nursing. 



26. Xerus rutilus (Cretzsch.). Abyssiniiin Spiny Squirrel. 



Three adult skins, with skulls, from Hargesa, taken between the 

 17th and 28th days of July, 1894, are very similar in their colors, 

 being tawny ferruginous, lined with black on crown and along mid- 

 dle back. The rostrum, sides of body and outer sides of limbs are a 

 peculiar fleshy cinnamon, each hair being white tipped. Underparts 

 white, with tawny cast due to exposed skin. Hind feet whitish 

 above. Tail, above faded rusty, below brownish black with faded 

 border. Hairs worn and ragged, with new, brown-black, white- 

 tipped hairs sprouting beneath the old, but no evidences of molt on 

 body. 



In another specimen (Ad. 9 , No. 3,806), taken August 29, 1894, 

 at Shebeli, the cinnamon of sides is almost obscured by the white 

 hair tips, the back is clear, black-grizzled fawn and the hind head and 

 limbs like sides. The tail in this specimen has quite recently 

 molted and is a beautiful black above, broadly margined and tipped 

 with glistening white. Below there is a mesial stripe of fleshy 

 brown bordered with black and the latter is fringed with white, as 

 above. 



In a very old male, taken March 23,1895, the back and hind 

 bead are much blacker, and the forehead, sides and limbs nearly 

 chestnut-red ; the whisker patch, throat and sides of head, neck and 

 a narrow lateral marginal line, fulvous. The tail is in the molt to 

 the black and white pelage and the old pelage is much darker 

 {brown-black) than in the other specimens and lacks any sign of 

 the mesial band. 



