■480 Mr. R. G. Wroiicrl.ton on 



(3) Tatera Brantsi. 



GerhiUus BranfM, Sinith, Hep. p]xp. Int. S. Afr. p. 43 (1830). 

 Gerhilhis montanus, S.uith, 111. Zool. S. Afr., Mamiu. pi. xxxvi. fig. 1 



(1842). 

 Meriones ( Rhnmbonv/s) maccalinus, Sundovall, (Efv. Vet.-Ak. Stockh. 



p. 120(1846). 



43. 2. 28. 14 (skull 59. 5. 7. 5). " Bashartoo " Country 

 (? Basutoland) . Tvpe of montanus. 



2. 4. 3. 3. Bethlehera, 0. R. C. Alt. 5000'. 



98. 4. 4. 14-19. Krugersdorp. 



4. 1. 6. 2-3. Abraham's Kraal, O. R. C. 



4. 4. 2. 6-8 (skull 4. 3. 1. 75). Vredefort Road, O. R. C. 

 {Barrelt-Hamilton). Alt. 4893'. 



nn, llOfi. Klein Letaba Alt. 1 1 00^ P^Sj^-S;,. 



1305. Woodbush. Alt. 4700'. j rnUon ) 



The type of Brantsi is lost, but that of montanus is still 

 available. It is much faded and the tail is shrivelled out 

 of all recognition, but the skull, thouc]jh broken and wanting 

 the bullae, is quite orood for comparison. It is a shorter, 

 stouter skull than that of afra, with broader, stouter molars 

 and "wider incisors, as pointed out by Smith in his descrip- 

 tion. Smith's earlier description of Brantsi is very meagre, 

 but as the locality is the crest of the Drakensbcrg, though 

 slightly further north than the home of montanus, they may, 

 in view of Smith's well-known habit of changing the names 

 of his species at will, be legitimately accepted as the same 

 species. 



The specimen from Bethlehem corresponds well in skull- 

 characters, as does the skidl from Vredefort. The skulls of 

 the skins from Vredefort are missing, but the skins themselves 

 agree well with the Bethlehem specimen in coloration. 

 SundevalFs maccalinus puzzled me a good deal ; but by the 

 courtesy of Dr. Lonnberg, Curator of the Stockholm 

 ISluseum, I have been able to examine the specimen which 

 undoubtedly served as Sundevall's type, for it is the only 

 one in the museum from the jNIagaliesbcrg. It is labelled 

 montanus, Smith, though close examination shows that 

 this name has been written over " n. sp./' and the skull 

 is still labelled " n. sp." This skull agrees excellently with 

 the type skull of montanus. The exact coloration of the 

 specimen, as in the case of the montanus type, is not recogniz- 

 able owing to age and grime. 



This species, then, which I accept as Brantsi, Sm., may be 

 described as about the same size as afra, with a rather 



