200 Mr. G. Dollman on the African Shrews 



(118) Crocidura maurisca, Thos. 



Crocidura maurisca, Thomas, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) vol. xiv. 

 p. 239 (1904). 



A medium-sized species, chocolate-brown in colour, 

 possessing the cylindrical hairless tail so characteristic of 

 this group ; skull small and tapering, unicuspids very 

 narrow. 



General body-proportions much as in dolichura, tail 

 markedly shorter. 



Colour above dull chocolate-brown, flanks slightly lighter, 

 the brown tint gradually passing into the brownish of the 

 ventral surface, which is slightly paler than the upper parts. 

 Backs of hands and feet same colour as back ; the fore and 

 hind claws subequal. Tail slender and cylindrical, long 

 hairs present only at the extreme base ; brownish above and 

 below. 



Skull small and narrow in front, tapering anteriorly more 

 markedly than in any other member of this group ; brain- 

 case fairly broad and high, maxillary region narrow, muzzle 

 slender and tapering to a sharp point. Teeth small, upper 

 incisors very narrow, small unicuspids longer than broad, 

 oval in section, third slightly longer than second ; cingula 

 prominent. 



Dimensions of the type (taken from spirit-specimen before 

 skinning) : — 



Head and body 75 mm. ; tail 60 ; hind foot 14*4 ; 

 ear 10. 



Skull : condylo-incisive length 20*7 ; greatest breadth 9'2 ; 

 least interorbital breadth 4'3 ; length of palate 8*3 ; post- 

 palatal length 9*2 ; greatest width across maxillary region 

 6*2 ; median depth of brain-case 5*4 ; length of upper tooth- 

 row 91. 



Hab. Entebbe, Uganda. 



Type. Adult female. B.M. no. 1 . 8. 9. 99. 



This species is known only from the type-specimen, and, as 

 this was for a short period preserved in spirit, it is impossible 

 to accept the general coloration of this individual as strictly 

 normal. There can be no doubt, however, that it is a very 

 dark-coloured species, both al)ove and below. 



The narrow tapering muzzle of the skull and small very 

 narrow unicuspids serve to separate maurisca from all the 

 other members of this naked-tail group. 



