272 On Oerbils referred to the Genus Meriones. 



Dimensions of tlie type (measured on a skin) : — 



Head and body 140 aim. ; tail 131 ; hind foot 32'5. 



Skull : median length 39 ; diagonal length 39 ; zygo- 

 matic breadth 23*5 ; nasals 14'3 ; interorbital breadth 8 ; 

 bimeatal breadth 21 ; palatine foramina 7'6 ; upper molar 

 series 5'6. Bulla3 : diagonal length 14 ; meatal length (back 

 of bulla to front of meatal swelling) 11 ; suprameatal triangle, 

 lengtii 3'9, height 3'1. 



Hab. Lower Euypt. Type from Ramleh, near Alexandria. 



Ti/pe. Adult uiale. B.M. no. 92. 7. 1. 6. Collected and 

 presented by Dr. John Anderson. 



This is in part the " Meriones skaioi, var. melanurus " of 

 Anderson and de Winton's * Mammals of Egypt,' but, as 

 already explained, it seems best to apply the name melanurus 

 to the form which has the prominent black tuft to the tail, 

 and so agrees with Riippell's figure and description. That 

 name being disposed of, and the species being distinguished 

 from the Algerian guyoni by its broaier interorbital region, 

 a new name becomes necessary for it. 



Meriones blackleri lycaon, subsp. n. 



'Greneral characters of true blackleri of Smyrna, but the 

 colour warmer and more ochraceous and the tail without the 

 white tip which occurs in all our four specimens of blacklei-i. 

 Colour of back approaching cinnamon-buff ; belly-hairs white 

 to their bases. A whitisli patch between eye and muzzle, 

 behind eyes, and a small one behind ears. Hands and feet 

 white ; soles with but a narrow area along the centre of the 

 proximal half naked. Tail buffy whitish, the terminal crest 

 extending for about 2 inches at its end, not heavily developed, 

 blackish, not becoming white at the extreme tij). 



Skull averaging rather larger than in blackleri, but the 

 specimens are mostly older. Palatine foramina ending quite 

 in front of the roots of m^, those of blackleri attaining the 

 level of these latter. Bullae slightly larger. 



Dimensions of the type : — 



Head and body 129 mm, ; tail 146 ; hind foot 33 ; ear 20. 



Skull : greatest median length 41 ; diagonal length to 

 back of bullae 41 ; zygomatic breadth 22'4 ; nasals 17"7 ; 

 breadth across brain-case 17" I; bimeatal breadth 20 ; palatal 

 foramina 7*3 ; upper molar series 5'2. Bullae: length 12'8 ; 

 front of meatal swelling to back of bulla 9. 



Hah. Kara Dagli, Lycaonia, Asia Minor. Alt. 3800'. 



Type. Adult male. B.M. no. 8. 7. 1. 28. Original 



