354 On Mammals described by M. Fernand Lataste. 



Massoutiera (Felovia) vce } Lat. (now Felovia vai). 

 Le Nat. iii. p. 287 (1886). Bab. Felou, Senegal. 



Lectotype. Adult female skin, B.M.no. 19. 7. 7. 3233, and 

 its skull, 19. 7. 7. 3232. 



The collection contains five other skulls and a spirit- 

 specimen of this most striking animal, which was both 

 collected and described by M. Lataste. 



Procavia latastei, Thos. 

 P. Z. S. 1892, p. 69. Bab. Felou, Senegal. 



Lectotype. Male skull, B.M. no. 7. 2. 8. 6. Formerly 

 Lataste no. 2684. 



Sent by M. Lataste to the Museo Civico, Genoa, and after- 

 wards presented by the latter to the British Museum. Intro- 

 duced here to complete the list of typical specimens formerly 

 in the possession of M. Lataste. The distinction from 

 P. bocagei rested wholly on the skull, which would therefore 

 naturally be selected as the lectotype. 



The other forms described by M. Lataste (Meriones shawi 

 laticeps, Gerbtllus (Dipodillus) bottce, and Q. (D.) quadri- 

 maculatus) were all based on specimens in the Paris Museum. 



In conclusion, I should like to emphasize the generosity 

 and scientific spirit M. Lataste has shown in presenting this 

 valuable collection to the British Museum, where it will be 

 so much appreciated. I have above only spoken of the 

 typical specimens, but the collection, irrespective of them, is 

 a most important accession to the Museum, containing many 

 hundreds of specimens from Algeria, considerable numbers 

 from Senegal, and an especially fine series of European small 

 mammals — both skins, skulls, and spirit-specimens — in- 

 cluding many special rarities. 



And, in addition, there are good skulls of many middle- 

 sized animals from the regions mentioned and elsewhere, such 

 as jackals, foxes, otters, porcupines, and others, all such being- 

 very difficult to obtain, and therefore proportionally welcome 

 as a contribution to our scientific collections. 



In all, this is one of the most important additions that the 

 mammal collection of the British Museum has ever received. 



