﻿MAMMALS FROM THE NILE DELTA REGION, EGYPT SETZER 359 



nounced. The processes around the suprameatal triangle are also 

 variable. In U.S.N.M. Nos. 282509 and 282512, as examples, one 

 side shows the processes closed or nearly approximating, while the 

 other side is open and not closely approximated. 



From this and from the indecision in placing species, it thus ap- 

 pears that the degree of variation being dealt with is certainly not on 

 a specific but rather on a subspecific level. 



PSAMMOMYS OBESUS NICOLLI Thomas 



Psammomys ohcsus nicolli Thomas, Ann. Mas. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, vol. 2, p. 92, 

 July 1908 (Damietta, northern Egypt). 



Specimens examined. — Two. Damietta. 



Description. — Upper parts Mikado Brown, strongly suffused with 

 black; color purest on top of head, rump and on the shoulders; dark 

 dorsal color shading over sides into the lighter Clay Color tipped hairs 

 of the underparts ; all hairs of the body plumbeous at base ; dorsal sur- 

 faces of hands and feet yellowish white ; narrow dorsal stripe of tail 

 brownish black, expanding distally to form a brush ; underside of tail 

 as pure color of the dorsum; vibrissae mixed black and white; cheeks 

 grayish. Tail shorter than head and body ; ears short and rounded, 

 sparsely covered with whitish hairs inside and out; forefeet small, 

 four-toed but vestige of thumb remaining as stout claw. Skull re- 

 sembling that of Meriones., except upper incisors are not grooved; 

 supraorbital ridges pronounced. 



Measurements. — No external measurements were available; a sub- 

 adult male skull from Damietta measured: Length of palate 17.3; 

 length of palatal foramina 5.6; crown length of upper molar series 

 5.5 ; least interorbital width 6.5 ; length of nasals 13.7. 



Remarks. — In the absence of comparative material and since these 

 specimens are topotypical they are here referred to Psammomys ohe- 

 sus nicolli. 



PSAMMOMYS OBESUS OBESUS Cretzschmar 



This subspecies of sand rat is known from the Alexandria area and 

 may be distinguished from P. o. nicolli. from Damietta, solely on the 

 basis of its lighter color. No specimens have been examined. 



Family SPALACIDAE 



SPALAX AEGYPTIACUS Nehrinff 



The mole rat is apparently only locally distributed in the region 

 around Mariut and Ramleh near Alexandria. Its presence may be 

 ascertained by small mounds of earth thrown out of its burrow system 

 in much the same manner as the pocket gopher of North America. 



