On the “Ground-Hogs” or “Cane-Rats” of Africa. 389 
‘Records of the Indian Museum’; and the oval (instead of 
circular) shape of the papilla in G. elegans, to which Prot. Rao 
attaches importance, is due merely to the great contraction of 
the specimen. 
G. rarus and G. saffronensis are obviously immature ; they 
lack clitellum and papilla, and have only the faintest trace of 
the prominent ‘‘ wings” characteristic of mature specimens 
of the genus. In G. rarus I found only doubtful indications 
of testes and funnels, no spermathece, the ovary small on one 
side and absent on the other, the ovisac absent on the one side, 
small on the other, and no female funnels. In G. saffron- 
ensts I could recognize no testes or funnels, no spermathece, 
no ovisacs or female funnels, though the ovaries were of 
some size. How Prof. Rao can state, as he does, that “all 
the numerous specimens in the collection are fully mature 
and the sexual glands well developed”? (G@. rarus), and that 
** all the numerous examples in the collection” are “ sexually 
mature” (G. saffronensis), I am unable to conceive. From 
the extent of the just-beginning “ wings,” which corresponds 
with that of the other worms, I have no doubt that these 
specimens also are G. annandalet. 
A very moderate degree of care, and an elementary know- 
ledge of the group with which he is dealing, would have 
saved Prof. Rao from most of his mistakes. It is to be 
regretted that he has published, in this and his previous 
papers, such erroneous descriptions of material which he 
destined for the National Collection. 
XLVITI.—On the Animals known as ‘ Ground- Hogs” 
“Cane-Ltats”’ in Africa. By OLDFIELD THOMAS. 
(Published by permission of the Trustees of the British Museum.) 
THE Ground-Hogs or Cane-Rats of Africa present a very 
considerable uniformity throughout the continent, the common 
large species, Thryonomys swinderianus, extending from the 
Gambia to the Cape with remarkably little local variation. 
There would, however, seem to be suflicient differences 
between the extremes to justify the recognition of several 
subspecies. 
But from these large animals the smaller forms, of which 
my 7’. gregorianus was the first to be described, differ from 
