158 African Zoology, 



outer so short as not to reach the base of the adjoining one. 

 Size intermediate between the domestic mouse and the black 

 rat. — Bennei, Zool. Journal. 

 Inhabits North Africa. 



Genus Dendromys, Smith. 



Incisors I, canines s h ^''0^<^'''S 5i> — ^^- Upper-jaw — incisors 

 each with a deep lonyitudinal groove on its anterior surface; 

 first molar crowned icilh eight more or less distinct tubercles, 

 second with three or four tubercks and some cutting lamina, 

 third luilh two transverse cutting lamina. Under-jaw — incisors 

 smooth; first molar %vith six tubercles, second with four, third 

 with cutting laminae. Nose acute, lip cleft, ears roundish and 

 nearly naked ; taii annulated, scaly and thinly covered with 

 hair ; fore-feet with three toes and a small wart in place of a 

 thumb; hind-feet with five toes. 



Dendromys iypicus. Smith, (Cape Tree IMouse ) Hair 

 long and silky ; surface colour of upper and lateral parts of 

 head, neck, body, and outer surfaces of extremities brown-red 

 or ferruginous ; the lower parts of the latter paler ; upper lip, 

 chin, lower parts of neck, breast, belly, and insides of extremi- 

 ties, a tawny or reddish white: from hind-head to base of tail 

 along the middle of the back, a more or less distinct black line ; 

 ears broad, roundish, and very thickly sprinkled with short 

 brownish or black hairs ; whiskers black, growing paler towards 

 the tips ; eyes black. Tail distinctly annulated ; above, rather 

 freely covered with short brownish hairs, beneath with whitish 

 ones. Length from nose to base of tail four inches and a half ; 

 length of tail five inches. 



Inhabits South Africa, — commonly found upon trees. 



Obs. la aged specimens the colour is a clear and deep rufous, and the 

 black dorsal line is generally wanting. 



Dendromys Melanotis, Smith. (Black -eared Tree Mouse.) 

 Hair rather short and very soft. The upper and lateral parts 

 of the head, the neck, and the body, together with the 

 outer surfaces of extremities, towards the body, bluish grey or 

 mouse-coloured with a faint tint of pale red-brown ; on the 

 sides of the body the grey is less distinct and the red is much 

 more evident, but of a lighter and clear hue than on the back ; 

 lower parts of cheeks, . upper lip, lower parts of neck, breast, 

 belly, and feet, dull white, the latter tinged with light rufous ; 

 muzzle greyish white ; space in front of each eye dull black ; 

 cars rounded and their inner and outer surfaces thinly covered 

 with a fine short black hair ; a small white spot immediately 



