various Forms 0/ ArvicatUhis pumllio. 633 



4.1.6.4-7. Abraham's Kraal, Modeler River. Alt. 

 4500'. 



?97. 1.13. 1. Kimberlej, O.R.O. 



This form is exceptionally constant in its coloration, but 

 the modifying tinge is rufous rather than the ordinary fulvous. 



The normal dimensions may be taken to be as follows : — 



Head and body llo mm. ; tail 110 ; hind foot 24. 



Skull : basilar length 2'2 ; length of tooth-row 4' 6 ; 

 bulla 6-5. 



The following are actual measurements of some selected 

 specimens : — 



97. 1. 13. 1. d. Old ... . 24 23 4-6 6-5 



The Kimberley specimen has an abnormal length of skull, 

 but as by its other measurements and geographically it 

 belongs here, I have ranked it as grtquce. 



Arvicanthis pumilio. 



Mus pumilio, Span-man, Vet.-Akad. Handl. 1784, p. 339. 



Arvicola jjumilio, Desraarest, Mamm. 1822, p. 285. 



Mus pumilio major, Brants, Muiz, 1827, p. 103. 



Mus lineatus, Cuv. Mamm. 1829, pi. clxi. 



Mus Donovani, Donovan, Nat. Repos. 1834, vol. iii. pi. Ixxiii. 



Mus septemvittatus, Schinz, Svnops. Mamm. ii. 1845, p. 155. 



Mus striatus, Smideval, CEfv.*Vet.-Ak. For. Stockh. 1846, p. 88. 



The Mus pumilio major of Brants is said to come from 

 the country interior to Cape Town and it is stated that 

 it does not occur in Cape Town itself, while the habitat of 

 Mus Donovani is given as " the same part of Africa '^ as that 

 from which Sparrman's Mus pumilio came. There is 

 nothing in either description by which any particular form 

 can be recognized, and both descriptions give a length of 

 head and body of 5| inches (say 145 mm.). No specimen in 

 the Museum collection reaches even 130 mm. Under these 

 circumstances there is nothing for it but to rank both names 

 as synonyms of '■'■ immilio.'' As Sparrman erected pumilio 

 on a quite immature specimen, I am compelled to select as 

 the representative of typical pumilio the specimen which 

 nearest coincides with it in habitat. Sparrman states that 



