belonging to the Genus Crocidura. 



69 



Group 7 (beirce and hirta). 



Size medium to fairly small. Colour above dull coffee-brown, bright 

 reddish buff', greyish buff, or dull chocolate; ventral surface light 

 grey, rather distinctly marked off from the brownish flanks. Second 

 and third upper unicuspids about equal in size. 



(25) Crocidura beirce, sp. n. 



Intermediate in size between Jiavescens and hirta. 



Colour rather duller than in jiavescens, above dark coffee- 

 brown ("sepia" mottled with "neutral grey"), a shade 

 darker than in the new unbleached coat of Jiavescens ; the 

 worn pelage is not markedly different, rather longer and 

 paler iu colour (near "raw umber "), not nearly so bright in 

 tint as in hirta or Jiavescens. Flanks rather greyer than 

 back, the brown colour passing fairly abruptly into the pale 

 grey of the ventral surface. Belly darker than in Jiavescens, 

 in the new pelage " smoke-grey," more buffy in the older 

 phase, near "buffy brown." Backs of hands and feet dirty 

 white or brownish. Tail long, rather more finely haired 

 than in either Jiavescens or hirta, dark blackish brown above, 

 brownish buff below ; bristle-hairs fairly numerous, white in 

 colour. 



Skull markedly smaller than that of Jiavescens, but larger 

 than in hirta. Interorbital region rather narrow and more 

 parallel-sided. Teeth like those of Jiavescens in general 

 shape, but much smaller. 



Dimensions of the type and three topotypes (measured 

 in the flesh) : — 



Head and body, Tail. Hind foot. Ear. 



mm. mm. nun. mm. 



S (type). Beira 103 55 16 10-5 



6. „ .... 106 62 15 11 



J. „ .... 107 55 16 11 



J . „ .... 97 50 15-5 10 



Skulls of type and three topotypes : — 



rf(type). tf. d- d- 



mm. mm. mm. mm. 



Condylo-incisive length 25-3 24-5 25-3 25 



Givatest breadth 107 106 107 10-6 



Least interorbital breadth 4-6 4'8 4-6 4 - 8 



Length of palate 105 10-2 106 10*5 



Postpalatal length 112 109 11 11 



Greatest maxillary breadth 7'8 79 7'9 79 



Median depth of brain-case 6'8 67 67 6-8 



Length of upper tooth -row 10-9 10-6 11 109 



