350 Mr. G. DoUman on Arvicantlus abyssinicus 



ni^ 3; length of palatal foramina 7; alveolar length of upper 

 tooth -row 7. 



Huh. Gunia, Southern Abyssinia. Altitude 2200 feet. 



Ti/pe. Adult male. B.M. no. 6. 11. 1. 33. Original 

 number 85. Collected on J\Jay 9ti), 1905, by Ph. Zaphiro, 

 and presented to the British Museum by W. N. McMillan, 

 Esq. 



This new form appears to be closely related to A. ahyssini- 

 ciis, but cannot be regarded as a geographical race of that 

 species, both on account of the distribution of the two forms 

 and the marked differences that exist between them. These 

 differences are especially noticeable in the young individuals, 

 and the following note as to the appearance of the juvenile 

 pelage may be of value in determining the two species. 



In A. abi/ssinicus the young specimens are yellowish olive 

 in colour, with a well-marked dark dcrsal stripe extending 

 trom the forehead to root of tail ; shoulders and neck paler 

 than rest of upper suiface. Belly greyish buff, the tint 

 gradually darkening towards the flanks, with no sharp line 

 of demarcation between the ventral surface and sides of body. 

 The young of zaphiri are brownish speckled with buff', the 

 posterior })art o£ the back tinged with rusty red. No notice- 

 able light area on shoulders or neck. No trace of dorsal 

 stripe. Belly whitish, sharply marked oft' from the buff- 

 coloured flanks, the contrast between the two areas more 

 vivid in the young than in the adult pelage. 



In addition to the type there are three further specimens 

 of zapliiri in the Museum collection from the type locality, 

 and tiiese all agree with the above description. 



(14) Arvicanthis rumrud, Dollm. 



Arvicanthts rumruti, Dollman, Anu. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (8) viii. p. 123 

 (1911). 



A small species, apparently intermediate between the 

 abyssinicus and somalicus groups. 



tSize smaller than any of the preceding forms ; tail short, 

 average length 95 mm. General colour of dorsal suiface 

 pale greyish brown, faintly tinted with a light straw-coloured 

 wash ; the general effect much greyer and paler than in the 

 abyssinicus group. Ears clothed with short grey hairs, a 

 character that at once distinguishes this species from somali- 

 cus, in which the ears are bright orange. Flanks paler and 

 greyer than back, the grey tint passing fairly abruptly into 

 the white of the ventral surface. Backs of hands and feet 



