32 ARKIV FÖR ZOOLOGI. BAND 7. N:0 (). 



It is the larger race of the forest region and the eastern part 

 of Madagascar, the one which Forsyth Major described and fi- 

 gured, which thus remains without any subspecific name be- 

 cause the name »larvatus» is in the first rank occupied by 

 its western ally. I take therefore the pleasure ofnamingit: 



Potamochoerus larvatus liova. 



As type may be regarded n:o 97. 9. 1. 162 in British 

 Museum. Forsyth major has discussed the affinities 

 of this animal with the Continental forms and finally come 

 to the conclusion that it is a »quite distinct form». I do 

 not doubt that it is distinct, but it is certainly closely 

 allied to the continental Bush Pigs of the P. choeropotamus- 

 group as well with regard to cranial as to colour charac- 

 ters. If it was not for geographic reasons it might even 

 have been regarded as a subspecies of this group. It is, 

 however, most fortunate to maintain its specific rank be- 

 canse otherwise it would have been a great trouble with 

 the nomenclature. The name »larvatus» is older than »clioe- 

 ropotamus», and if the Madagascar Bush Pigs and their con- 

 tinental allies had been regarded as subspecies of the same 

 species the consequence of this would have been that the 

 species must have been, in conformity with the rules, called 

 larvatus. This would, however, certainly not have been sui- 

 table and not corresponding to the origin of the different 

 races. The continental form must evidently be the older 

 whether the Madagascar animal s have come to the island by 

 the agency of man (which perhaps is more likely) or by their 

 own power and will. If they have been introduced by man 

 this must have happened very long time ago as they have 

 had time to adapt themselves to the different climatic and 

 other conditions in different parts of the island, and to dif- 

 ferentiate into two races. For there is no possibility to as- 

 sume that members of two races, neither of which is to be 

 found on the continent now, would have been introduced 

 by man to Madagascar. 



Major does not seem to have had any material of the true 

 P. larvatus and his discussion of the Madagascar Bush Pig 

 consequently concerns only the larger P. 1. hova. One of 

 the chief characters of the »Malagasy species» is according to 



