288 On the Genus Cricetomys. 



and adventor, described from the region between Lake Nyassa 

 and Znluland, in having' long- loose fur which imparts a 

 characteristic shaggy appearance — and in their skulls, or! 

 course, they have their own peculiarities. On the other hand, 

 cosensi is clearly very closely allied to the geographically 

 remote emini, differing from the typical race of the latter 

 species in little beyond its paler coloration and thinner fur. 



S. Other groups. 



The discussion of the relationships of the E. African 

 members of the genus must be reserved for another occasion. 

 Thomas has described a very distinct species, C. ansorgei, from 

 Angola ; this animal is of large size and the characters of its 

 coarse pelage, dark ventral coloration, large skull, and teeth 

 have suggested a possible affinity with some of the E. African 

 forms. The skull-characters, however, seem to show that 

 there is no close affinity between ansorgei and the many 

 mountain forms from E. Africa. I would take this oppor- 

 tunity to describe a Cricetomys from Lagos which, resembling 

 ansorgei in external appearance, is of far smaller size. It 

 may be known as 



Cricetomys servorum, sp. n. 



Type.— An adult female (B.M. 10. 10. 24. 2) from Lagos; 

 collected and presented by Captain Lawrence. 



Description. — This species closely resembles C. ansorgei in 

 general appearance; it is distinguished by its much smaller 

 size (hind foot about 60, instead of 72-79 mm.) and by 

 various cranial peculiarities. 



The fur is loose, thin, and of harsh quality. The general 

 dorsal colour is near mummy-brown gradually lightening to 

 grey on the flanks ; the flank-colour merges insensibly in the 

 daik ashy grey of the underparts, tho ventral hairs having 

 slaty bases. Ears dull brown, sharply contrasted with the 

 pale cheeks in front, but matching the dorsal colour behind. 

 Hands and feet lighter dorsally, their colour being near 

 Brussels brown ; the digits and lateral margins whitish. 

 The tip of the tail is white, but much of the caudal epidermis 

 has peeled off in the type and only known specimen, so that 

 it is uncertain how far upwards the white extends. 



The skull is distinguished from that of ansorgei by its 

 much smaller size, small bullpe, relatively shorter nasals, 

 longer diastema and anterior palatal foramina. It lacks the 



