462 Mr. A. Cabrera on new 



tlie level of the same tooth, whereas in megaJotis tlie width 

 ot' this molar is about a quarter of that of the palate. 



Exaniitiing, at the suggestion of Mr. Oldfield Thomas and 

 Mr. G. S. Miller, the Somaliland specimens of Otocyon in 

 the British Museum, I find them to represent a third form 

 that may be distinguished by its very pale fur, almost white 

 on the forehead, and its skull with little-developed bullae and 

 small teeth, like those of virgatus, but comparatively shorter 

 and broader, especially on the rostrum. The following is a 

 description of this new species : — 



Otocyon canescens, sp. n. 



Diagnosis. — Allied to 0. virgatus, but paler in colour, with 

 more white forehead and a shorter and broader skull. 



Colour. — Dorsal surface of body grizzled black and white, 

 the white predominating on the sides, and with a slight buffy 

 tinge over all, due to the underfur, which is pale buff with 

 hair-brown base. The long hairs are black Avith a broad 

 white band, broader and almost reaching the extreme point 

 on the flanks. Ventral suiface ochraceous buff, as in virgatus, 

 but a little paler, especially on the throat, where the colour 

 becomes cream-buff. Muzzle and face across the eyes and 

 almost to the ears very dark st'pia ; the forehead and the 

 checks dirty white, in marked contrast with the dark face. 

 The long hair inside the ears and the rim of the same, 

 excepting the point, cream-buff; the outside of the ears 

 brownish black, as usual, and clay-colour about the base. 

 The hind part of the fore legs and the inner part of the hind 

 legs ochraceous buff. Feet black, with some ochraceous 

 hairs on the under side. Tail quite as in virgatus, pale 

 ochraceous buff with the point and a broad stripe along the 

 upper side black. 



SkuV. — Very similar to that of virgatus, but easily dis- 

 tinguishable by its broader and shorter rostrum and by the 

 more convex form of the alveolar border of the palate. In 

 megalotis and virgatus the relation between the greatest witlth 

 o£ the palate and the upper dental series (from canine) is 

 about 65 : 100, in canescens it is 70 : 100. 



Teeth small ; pm^ without the small cusp on the fore part 

 of the base which exists in megalotis, and 7^4 with the same 

 elements as in m^, like virgatus. 



Measurements (type, in the flesh) : — 



Head and bod}' 437 mm. ; tail ii^to; ear 120, 



Skull-measurements of the type and of another specimen of 

 the same species are compared with those of virgatus and 

 megalotis in the following table : — 



i 



I 



