On the Genera Tatcra an^f Tatcrillus. 2'Jl 



moderate intensity, acul it i.s then alone that their doings can 

 be Watched with ehi.sone.-5 and accuracy. 



I\Ir. .Sinchiir, in tiie article already quoted, expresses the 

 desirability ot re-inveatigating the breeding-habits of the 

 Myriopod^, and prophecies that a full inqniry would help to 

 answer some still unsolved Myriopod problems. Whether 

 this is partially fulfilled or not, two things stand out clearly, 

 viz. that the Olomeridje, in so far as their brooiling-habils 

 are concerned, are .separated by a wide gap from the other 

 ^lillipedes examined, and that the Polydesmidoe have improved 

 on the Julidae in nest-building methods while retaining the 

 cruder Julid tyj)e of moulting recess. 



]\Iy gratitude is due to Mr. Sinclair for the instigation to 

 begin these observations and for advice during their conduct. 



XXXI. — African Gerhih of the Genera Tatera and 

 Taterillus. By U. C. Wuoucjiiton. 



In an instalment of the lludd Collection recently made by 

 Mr. Kobin Kemp at Voi in British East Africa were speci- 

 mens of three — if not four — forms of Uerbils belonffinf; or 

 clo.sely related to the genus Tatera. 



In drawing up my key to the genus (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 

 190C, xvii. J). 475), I unfortunately overlooked two species 

 described by Peters from this part of Africa. The descriptions 

 are very meagre, but one of them deals with such a strongly 

 marked species that there can be no doubt that it refers to 

 one of the present forms of which the following is a fuller 

 description. 



Tatera nt'gricauda^ Peters. 



Size greater than that of any known African Totira. 

 General colour above blackish "cinnamon," ])aling to 

 "ochraccous buff" on the flanks; individual hairs of tho 

 back basally " slate-grey " for two-thirds (10 mm.) their 

 length, remaining third made up of a subtcrminal buff ring 

 and a black tip ; below j)ure white, the hairs white to their 

 bases. Face between the eyes coloured like back, cheeks 

 like Hanks ; a pale, almost white, ) atch between eye and 

 base of ear. Ihuuls and teet white. Tail rather thickly 

 clothed with black hairs, equally so above and below, through- 

 out its whole length. 



Skull large and stout, supraorbital ridges very strongly 

 maiked and continued backwards along sides of brain-case 



