17S Mr. 0. Thomas on 



Georychus MtUandi, sp. n. 



A large species allied to G. Mechoivi. 



External characters quite as in G. Mechowx^ of which llie 

 ]Museum possesses specimens obtained from clo-^e to the 

 typical locality, Alalanje, N. Angola. The colour is the same, 

 and the only differences are that the fur is a little shorter 

 (hairs of back 5 mm.) and the hind feet are not quite so long. 



Skull thick and heavy, more stoutly built throughout than 

 in G. ^lechoxoi. ]\Iuzzle broad ; nasals narrow, parallel- 

 sided, their margins scarcely bowed out laterally. Interorbital 

 region much broader than in G. Mechowij its edges slightly 

 swollen, but not so much so as in G. Ansorgei ; no post- 

 orbital procL'Sscp. Anteorbital foramen high and narrow, its 

 outer wall much more slanted backwards, the upper root of 

 the zygoma distinctly behind instead of directly over the 

 lower. Occipital plane more strongly slanted forward, the ti[) 

 of a 10 cm. rule laid flat against it reaching to a point above 

 the front of the nasals, while in G. Mechoivi its tip is over the 

 centre of the skull ; its surface with two pairs of well-marked 

 ridges, one from the top of the foramen slanting outw-ards to 

 the middle of the lanibdoid crest, the other from the tips of 

 the first pair down to the j^aroccipital processes, the two pairs 

 together making a well-marked _/V\ • Posterior pr.late with 

 the pterygoid ridges nearly parallel, not strongly divergent as 

 in G. Mechowi. 



Dimensions of the type (measured on the spirit-specimen 

 bel'ore skinning'^ : — 



Head and body 220 mm. ; tail 28 ; hind foot 34. 



Skull: basal length 49; zygomatic breadth 43; nasals 

 21 X 5*5; interorbital breadth 18'2; intertemporal breadth 11*<S; 

 least breadth above meatus 20; greatest posterior breadth 

 27*5 ; height of occipital surface from basion 16 ; palatilar 

 length 32'5 ; diastema 17; antero-])Osterior diameter of bullae 

 12*2 ; length of upper tooth-series (alveoli) 10. 



Huh. Mpika, N.E. Rhodesia. Alt. 5000 'ii^Qt. 



Type. Old male. B.M. no. 5. 11. 10. 1. Collected and 

 presented by F. A. Melland, Esq. 



Mpika, being nearly the most easterly point of the Congo 

 drainage area, will probably prove to be the most distant 

 place from the West Coast at which this type of mole-rat will 

 be found. The occurrence together and striking resemblance 

 to one another of this species and IleUjjihohius robustus are 

 worthy of note. 



