On the Genera Tatera and Taterillus. 291 



moderate intensity, and it is then alone that their doings can 

 be watched with closeness and accuracy. 



Mr. Sinclair, in the article already quoted, expresses the 

 desirability of re-investigating the breeding-habits of the 

 Myriopods, and prophecies that a full inquiry would help to 

 answer some still unsolved Myriopod problems. Whether 

 this is partially fulfilled or not, two things stand out clearly, 

 viz. that the Glomeridse, in so far as their breeding-habits 

 are concerned, are separated by a wide gap from the other 

 Millipedes examined, and that the Polydesmida? have improved 

 on the Julidse in nest-building methods while retaining the 

 cruder Julid type of moulting recess. 



My gratitude is due to Mr. Sinclair for the instigation to 

 begin these observations and for advice during their conduct. 



XXXI. — African Gerbils of the Genera Tatera and 

 Taterillus. By R. C. Wroughton. 



In an instalment of the Rudd Collection recently made by 

 Mr. Robin Kemp at Voi in British East Africa were speci- 

 mens of three — if not four — forms of Gerbils belonging or 

 closely related to the genus Tatera. 



In drawing up my key to the genus (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 

 1906, xvii. p. 475), I unfortunately overlooked two species 

 described by Peters from this part of Africa. The descriptions 

 are very meagre, but one of them deals with such a strongly 

 marked species that there can be no doubt that it refers to 

 one of the present forms of which the following is a fuller 

 description. 



Tatera nigricauda, Peters. 



Size greater than that of any known African Tatera. 

 General colour above blackish "cinnamon," paling to 

 " ochraceous buff" on the flanks ; individual hairs of the 

 back basally " slate-grey " for two-thirds (10 mm.) their 

 length, remaining third made up of a subterminal buff ring 

 and a black tip ; below pure white, the hairs white to their 

 bases. Face between the eyes coloured like back, cheeks 

 like flanks ; a pale, almost white, patch between eye and 

 base of ear. Hands and feet white. Tail rather thickly 

 clothed with black hairs, equally so above and below, through- 

 out its whole length. 



Skull large and stout, supraorbital ridges very strongly 

 marked and continued backwards along sides of brain-case 



