RODENTS OF LIBYA 215 



of buffy hairs on antero ventral margin; vibrissae relatively long 

 with white and black individual hairs; fore and hind feet relatively 

 small with four and five functional digits respectively, white above 

 and naked below, with prominent palmar and plantar pads; tail 

 medium in length and with dense covering of grayish-brown hairs 

 proximally and of black hairs distally both above and below, the 

 latter color present throughout terminal four-fifths of the length. 

 Skull: Small and gracile; rostrum narrow and attenuated; inter- 

 orbital region markedly constricted; parietals noticeably inflated; 

 interparietal expanded laterally; zygomata bowing slightly laterally; 

 auditory bullae conspicuously inflated ventrally; basioccipital broad 

 and triangular; pterygoid processes fragile; hamular processes applied 

 to anteromedial surfaces of the auditory bullae; pterygoid region 

 with numerous large foramina; molariform teeth large, with two 

 prominent cusps on the labial surfaces; anterior palatine foramina 

 large and laterally expanded posteriorly; mandible with a small 

 oval foramen in the angular process. 



Comparisons. From Eliomys quercinus melanurus Wagner as known 

 from the vicinity of St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai, the specimen, 

 302274, from five kilometers southeast of Derna, differs in much smaller 

 size, both cranially and in external dimensions, relatively larger and 

 wider molariform teeth, smaller size of the auditory bullae, and 

 smaller size of the foramen on the angular process of the mandible. 

 In color, this specimen from Cyrenaica closely resembles representa- 

 tives of E. q. melanurus but is slightly darker dorsally. The pinnae 

 of the ears of the specimen from Derna are much smaller and in this 

 respect differ strikingly from those of the representatives of E. q. 

 melanurus. 



The specimen from Derna differs markedly from a representative 

 (BM, no. 22.5.30.45) of Eliomys quercinus munbyanus from Tagouidert 

 (Haha), Morocco, in having more subdued dorsal color, ventral sur- 

 face of the tail black rather than white, much larger molariform teeth, 

 and a smaller foramen in the angular process of the lower jaw. 



According to Festa (1921), Eliomys cyrenaicus (= Eliomys quercinus 

 cyrenaicus) differs from Eliomys lerotinus tunetae (= Eliomys quercinus 

 tunetae) primarily by larger body and larger auditory bullae. 



For comparison of this specimen from Derna with those representing 

 Eliomys quercinus denticulatus from the Fezzan, see the account of 

 E. q. denticulatus. 



Remarks. This specimen from near Derna, a specimen from Beng- 

 hazi (Hartert, 1923), and the type series of E. q. cyrenaicus from 

 Gheminez constitute the only records of occurrence of dormice in 

 Cyrenaica. Dormice are unknown from farther south in the interior 

 of Cyrenaica, although suitable habitat is present in the larger oases, 



