THE ETHIOPIAN REGION 93 



Region. The only important family of Ungulates not found 

 in the Ethiopian Region is the Deer-family (Cervidm). The 

 total absence of this otherwise widespread family it is 

 difficult to explain. Palaeontology does not help us much, 

 since the members of the Deer-tribe appear to have been 

 already well established and abundant in Europe during 

 early Pliocene times, and were contemporaneous with Ante- 

 lopes and other Ungulates, which have availed themselves 

 of the opportunity of spreading southwards to Africa, while 

 the Cervidte have apparently remained obstinately attached 

 to the Palsearctic Region. 



The Sub-order Proboscidea containing the Elephants is 

 in these days represented only in the Ethiopian and Oriental 

 Regions. The Hyraxes (Hyracidie) are absolutely confined 

 to the Ethiopian Region, and constitute one of its most signifi- 

 cant forms of mammal life, as not being elsewhere met with. 



Turning now to the Rodents, we find that the Ethiopian 

 Region possesses representatives of a considerable number 

 of genera, twenty-seven of which, out of a total of thirty- 

 nine, are confined to the Region. Two of these genera 

 are sufficiently distinct to be entitled to family rank. 

 These are, first, Anomalurus, a form resembling the flying 

 squirrels in having a flap of skin available for imperfect 

 flight extended between the fore and hind limbs. But 

 the Anomalures differ from the true Flying Squirrels 

 (Pteromys) in having a long cartilaginous process ex- 

 tending from the elbow-joint to support the parachute, 

 and also in being provided with strong imbricated scales 

 attached to the lower surface of the tail, which are pro- 

 bably of assistance in climbing. 1 



1 A new genus of Anomalurida? (Zenkerclla), lately described by Herr 

 Matschie, has the imbricated scales on the tail, but no parachute. See 

 P. Z. S. 1898, p. 450. 



