ART. 1 MAMMALS FEOM CHINA HOWELL 55 



The type of M. ccmsus is male and not female as at first recorded. 

 On the basis of the present material I can not recognize the sub- 

 species shenseius even though topotypes are at hand. The differ- 

 ence in coloration is not sufficient to constitute a tenable character 

 and the length of the maxillary tooth row does not prove to be longer 

 in the Shensi skulls. The color of the four specimens from south 

 of Lanchow is puzzling in that it is practically entirely gray, and 

 the skull of at least one shows some variation ; but they are all rather 

 immature and no other disposition can be made of them at present. 



MYOSPALAX FONTANUS Thomas 



Myospalax fontanus Thomas, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, vol. 9, 1912, p. 93 

 (Ningwufu, Shansi, China). 



/Specimens. — Thirteen from Shansi as follows: 20 miles west of 

 Ningwufu, 9; 10 miles south of Wutsai, 1; and 90 miles west of 

 Taiyuanfu, 3. 



The three specimens from west of Taiyuanfu are not appreciably 

 different from the virtual topotypes of this large, rather pale form. 

 As is M. fontanieri the second nail of the manus is as long as the 

 third. All Sowerby ever saw were dug up by natives while working 

 in their fields, or had been flooded out by irrigation. They are re- 

 markable diggers and he once watched one work its way with aston- 

 ishing rapidity into the packed ground of a Chinese courtyard. 

 They are clumsy but can get up a fair speed. They dislike light 

 intensely and always try to hide away in some dark corner. When 

 feeding they hold the food down with their forefeet. 



MYOSPALAX ROTHSCHILDI Thomas 



Myospalax rothschUdi Thomas. Ann. INIag. Nat. Hist., per. 8, vol. 8, 1911, 

 p. 122 (40 miles southeast of Taochow, Kansu, China). 



Specmiens. — Five skulls and four skins from Taochow, Kansu. 



Although aU of these specimens are immature I have no hesitation 

 in assigning them to this distinct species, for not onlj^ has the pelage 

 a soft quality and distinctive silvery sheen, but the skull characters 

 of shortness of molar rows and two inner reentrant angles of m^ are 

 shown to good advantage. Additional items of interest are the short- 

 ness and hairiness of the tail, relative width of the anterior nasals, 

 slight development of the infraorbital septem of the maxilla, medial 

 palatal spine, form of the hamular processes, and paleness of the 

 incisors. 



MYOSPALAX SMITHH Thomas 



Myospalax s^mithii Thomas, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, vol. 8, 1911, p. 720 

 (30 miles southeast of Taochow, Kansu, China). 



Specimens. — Two from Kansu: 30 miles east-southeast of Lan- 

 chow, 1; and "probably Choni," 1. 



