Muridgeyrom Central and West Africa. 465 



interpar. 5x10; nasals 13x4-5; basal length 31 "5; hens, 

 to back of pal. 16"5 ; back of pal. to tor. mag. 12"5 ; pal. for. 

 8x2-7; ^-G-l; diast. 10; outside ?llii 7-8, inside 3o; man- 

 dible, length (bone only) 20, height 12' 1. 



This mouse maj possibly be identical with M. hypoleucus, 

 Pucher. ; but as that name had already been applied to a 

 mouse from Natal by Sundevall (OEtVers. Vet.-Ak. Stockh. 

 1846, p. 121), it cannot be considered. 



1 think there is no doubt that we here have the animal 

 described by Prof. TuUberg (' Muriden aus Kamerun,' p. 36, 

 1893) as Dasymys longicaudatus^ which is certainly not a 

 DasyviySy as is clearly shown in the figures given of the skull, 

 and, being a Miis, the specific name cannot stand, being 

 rendered useless by having been applied by Bennett (P. Z. S. 

 1832, p. 2) to a South-American mouse now known as Ori~ 

 zomys longicaudatus. But, presuming this to be the case, it 

 ■ is scarcely credible that the very striking peculiarity in the 

 fur could have remained unnoticed unless the season of the 

 year prevented this peculiarity being apparent. 



Prof. Tullberg- sets Mus univittatus down as an Isomys : 

 this mouse has a fairly well-marked dorsal streak, and its 

 hind feet approach the Isomys, or, as it should be called, 

 Arvicanthis form ; but in every other character it is a true 

 Mus. I feel sure that if more specimens had been examined 

 Alus {Isomys) rujocanus would never have been described, 

 for among the specimens of Mas univittatus in the British 

 Museum from the same locality will be found variations 

 greater than those separating these two forms, with every 

 intermediate step. I shall therefore consider them as identical. 



MaJacomys centralis, sp. n. 



Size rather larger than M. longipes, but in texture and 

 colour of fur and proportions of all parts it closely resembles 

 that species. The soft velvety fur is very shrew-like and 

 suggests the colour of Sorex minutus. Ears very long and 

 naked. 



Colour above dull liver-brown, slightly mixed with grey, 

 rather more golden on the head, neck, and rump; a dark 

 oval sooty-coloured patch surrounds each eye ; whiskers fine, 

 long, liver-coloured ; front part of the face very scantily 

 haired ; the whole of the underparts greyish ; feet and hands 

 clothed with extremely fine short whitish hairs, not much 

 more developed than the bloom on a peach ; tail distinctly 

 bicoloured, but varying somewhat in clearness, smooth and 

 naked. 



