Mammalia. 159 



behind the lower edge of each ear ; whiskers moderate, hairs 

 black towards their roots, lighter towards their tips. Along 

 the centre of the back, from the shoulder to the tail, a distincc 

 black line ; tail scaly and annulated, with a thin covering of 

 short hair which is brownish above and whitish beneath. 

 Length from nose to base of tail three inches ; length of tail 

 two inches and a half. The bases of all the hairs are slate- 

 coloured. 



Inhabits South Africa, — on shrubs near Port Natal. 

 Fam. MACROPODA. 



Genus Gehbillus. Desmarest. 



Incisors I, canines %%, juolars 1%, — 16. Incisors curved in- 

 tuards, each of the upper ones with a lo7igitudinal groove in 

 front : first molar of each side of both jaius with three elevated 

 transverse ridges ; second and third of upper jaw, and second 

 ofloiver,wiih two, and the last of lower with only one. Ears 

 moderate; fore legs short, with four toes; hinder legs long, or 

 very long, with five toes; tail moderate, sub-annulated and thinly 

 covered with hair. 



Gerlillus Afer, Gray. (African Gerbille.) Hair rather 

 long and very soft ; the top of the head, the upper and lateral 

 parts of the neck, the back, the sides, the tail, and the outer 

 surfaces of extremities, a pale fawn or Isabella colour; the 

 back pencilled with black slightly, the top of the head and 

 back of neck freely, indeed on the latter the black may be said to 

 be in some the prevailing colour. Upper lip, chin, under surface 

 of neck, breast, belly, lower parts of sides, inner surfaces of ex- 

 tremities, and upper surfaces of feet, white ; face and sides of 

 muzzle dull white freely pencilled with black ; whiskers prin- 

 cipally black ; claws long and horn-coloured ; ears broad and 

 slightly inclined to pointed ; outer and inner surfaces with a 

 very thin sprinkling of fine short whitish fur. The hairs which 

 are tipt with fawn or Isabella colour, are pale slate-coloured 

 towards their bases, those with white tips are of that colour 

 throughout. Length from nose to base of tail about seven 

 inches ; length of tail six inches. 



Lihabits South Africa. 



Spicilegia Zoologica, p. 10. Meriones Schlegelii, Smuts, 

 Mamm. Capens. p. 4L DuinRat and Nacht Muis of the Cape 

 Colonists. 



Obs. The colours assigned by Mr. Gray are darker than they commonly 

 appear, which may be accnnnted for by his having described specimens 

 thai had been transmitted to Europe in spirits. 



