314 Mr. G. Dollman on 



Graphiurus surdus, sp. n. 



A small-eared species allied to murinus. 



Size of body a trifle less than in murinus ; liind foot large ; 

 ears remarkably small, about 5 mm. shorter than those of the 

 South- African species. Fur rather short and thick ; hairs on 

 back measuring about 7 or 8 mm. in length. General colour 

 of upper surface of body greyish brown. Individual hairs of 

 back slate-grey with light brownish tips. Flanks similar in 

 colour to back. Muzzle and face between eyes paler and 

 yellower than rest of upper surface. Eyes surrounded with 

 dark rings ; dark markings on muzzle, in front of eyes, very 

 indistinct. Sides of face, below eyes, wdiite ; hairs grey 

 with long w^hite tips. U})per lip covered with short white 

 hairs. Backs of hands and feet yellownsli white. Under 

 surface of body greyish white, tinged with bufl"; hairs of 

 belly with dark grey bases and white tips. Chin and lower 

 lip, as usual in this genus, covered with short white hairs. 

 Tail cylindrical and rather less bushy than in murinus ; 

 hairs of tip about 22 mm. in length ; upper side of tail 

 similar in colour to back, lower surface rather greyer. 



Skull markedly different from that of any other known 

 form, the occipital part of the brain-case broad and almost 

 rectangular in shape, giving the skull a very unusual 

 appearance. Nasals broad anteriorly. Auditory bulla? 

 rather flat. C/heek-teeth comparatively small. 



Dimensions of the type (measured from spirit-speci- 

 men) : — 



Head and body 87 mm. ; tail 67 ; hind foot 19 ; ear 9. 



Skull: greatest length 28; basal length 23"5 ; condylo- 

 basal lengti] 25*8; basilar length 21; condylo-basilar length 

 23"5; condylo-incisive length 25'3; zygomatic breadth 15; 

 interorbital constriction 4*5 ; squamosal breadth of brain- 

 case 13 ; occipital breadth 12"4; greatest length of nasals 

 11'4 ; greatest breadth across nasals 3'5 ; least breadth 

 across nasals 1*8 ; palatal length 11'8 ; palatilar length 9'0; 

 width of palate (inside m^) 3-5 ; width across palate (out- 

 side m') 5"5 ; length of palatal foramina 3 ; postpalatal 

 length I2"3 ; length of upper tooth-row 3. 



Hah. Benito iiiver, French Congo. 



Ti/pe. Adult female. B.M. no. 0. 2. 5. 55. Collected by 

 Mr. G. L. Bates in July 1899. 



The small ears, large hind feet, and unusual shape of the 

 occipital region immediately distinguish this dormouse from 

 all the other allied forms. 



Mr. Bates collected four specimens of this interesting 



