EAST AFRICAN MAMMALS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM. 157 



The excellent series of 40 perfect skins and skulls of tMs form well 

 illustrates the uniformity of specimens taken in one vicinity. The 

 type locality of the species, Morendat, is given on the map prepared 

 by the Public Works Department as about 10 miles west of Naivasha 

 Station and these specimens are therefore virtual topotypes and 

 possibly came from the actual type colony. All pregnant females 

 contained a single fetus each. 



Loring's interesting notes on this animal, from Appendix C, 

 Roosevelt's African Game Trails, say: 



Very common at Naivasha station where their burrows were numerous on a sandy 

 flat practically in the town, and many were taken within a hundred yards of the 

 station. They are nocturnal, although one instance came under my observation 

 where a springhaas was seen on a dark day to run from one bu row to another. By 

 hunting .hem on dark nights with the aid of an acetylene light we were able to secure 

 a good series of skins. When the light was flashed on them, their eyes shone like balls 

 of fire the size of a penny, and it was not uncommon to see from two to five and six 

 within the radius of the light at one time. They were usually flashed at a distance of 

 about a hundred yards, and as the light drew near they would watch it, frequently 

 bobbing up and down. Often they hopped away to right or to left, but very seldom 

 did their flight carry them into their burrows unless a shot was fired; in fact even then 

 we sometimes followed up one of their companions and secured it. Some allowed us to 

 approach within 10 feet before moving, and then off they would go in great bounds, 

 but I was never able in the dim light to see whether or not their tails aided them in 

 jumping. I once shot a fox [Otocyon] from a cluster of eyes that I am positive were 

 those of springhaas; this together with the fact that the stomachs of all the foxes killed 

 contained termites and insects, leads me to believe that these two animals are more or 

 less congenial. Doctor Mearns saw a springhaas sitting with its tail curled around to 

 one side of its body, similar to the position often assumed by a house cat. 



PEDETES SURDASTER CURRAX HoUister. 



Plates 39, 40. 

 1918. Pedetes surdaster currax'H.OLLiSTER, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., vol. 68, No 10, 

 p. 3. January 16. (Kabalolot Hill, Sotik, British East Africa; type in 

 U. S. Nat Mus.) 



Specimen. — One, the type — 



British East Africa: Kabalolot Hill (Heller). 



This is a pale form of surdaster with a long tail and with a greater 

 mastoid development in the skull than is found in the other East 

 African races of the "jumping hare." The single specimen was col- 

 lected by the Rainey Expedition in 1911. 



PEDETES SURDASTER LARVAUS HoUister. 



Plates 3, 4, 5. 

 1910. Pedetes surdaster Roosevelt, African Game Trails, Amer. ed., p. 486; 



London ed., p. 497. (Part; reference to Ulukenia Hills.) 

 1918. Pedetes surdaster larvalis Hollister, Smithsonian M sc. Coll. vol. 68, No. 



10, p. 2. January 16. (Ulukenia Hills, Athi Plains, British East Africa; 



type in U. S. Nat. Mus.) 



Specimens. — Six, from localities as follows : 



British East Africa: Nairobi, 1 skull (Mearns); Ulukenia Hills, 

 5, including 2 fetuses (Loring). 



