26 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



Genus AcoMYS Geoffroy. 

 13. Acomys hawashensis sp. nov. 



Type from Sadi Malka, Abyssinia; altitude 3,500 feet. (Original 

 field-number D. G. R., No. "A," 9 , Jan. 31, 1912.) 



In the size of tail and body this form approaches A. dimidiatus 

 Cretzschmar from Egypt, *^ and differs greatly from a series of A. 

 kempi Dollman^' in the author's collection in the greater length and 

 breadth of body, tail, and feet, the larger size of ears, brighter colora- 

 tion of sides, lack of subocular white patches (has tendency to the 

 same postorbital patches) and heavier dorsal spines. In the latter 

 feature it approaches A. percivali^* Dollman. 



Pelage. — The fawn-color of the anterior dorsal region darkens into 

 benzo-brown on spiny rump and passes into light pinkish cinnamon 

 on flanks and shoulders; underparts white. Hair of dorsal area stiff, 

 modified into spines over the posterior part of same. (Maximum 

 length of hairs 14.5 mm. versus 12.5 mm. in A. kempi and 15.5 in A. 

 percivali.) Individual hairs mouse-gray in color, with whitish bases 

 and tips of light cinnamon-drab to benzo-drab (cf. Ridgway /. c.) on 

 upper parts, and pinkish cinnamon on sides and flanks; outer portions 

 of arms and thighs marked with light pinkish cinnamon like shoulders 

 and flanks, inner portions white like the under parts; head and snout 

 fawn-colored, sides of face light like the sides of the body; no white 

 subocular patches as in A. kempi; ears much larger than those of the 

 latter species, but similarly covered with fine down, brownish and 

 darkest towards tips; tail, which is equal to head and body in length, 

 darkest dorsally, where the fine bristles are stouter and darkest 

 (annulations 14 per 10 mm.). Bristle-like covering of upper surface 

 and sides of feet white, washed with benzo-brown. 



Notes. 

 It is worthy of remark that the nine specimens of A. kempi in the 

 collection of the author (three adults and one immature from Tertale, 

 three from Mt. Indunumara, one from Endoto, and one from Yebo) 

 cannot be differentiated by skull-measurements or external characters 

 from a series of the same specie? in the U. S. National Museum, taken 

 at the Northern Guaso Nyiro. Mature individuals vary slightly in 



22 c/. Ruppell, Atlas, 1826, p. 37; and Anderson, "Mammals of Egypt," 1902, 

 p. 234- 



23 Annals & Mag. Nat. Hist., (8) Vol. 8, p. 125. 

 ^* Annals & Mag. Nat. Hist., (8) Vol. 8, p. 126. 



