On some neto Forms of Otomys. 311 



XLV, — On some new Forms q/Otomys. 

 By Oldfield Thomas. 



In the fine collection of mammals from Deelfontein, Cape 

 Colony, prepared by Troopers Grant and Seimund, and 

 presented to tiie National Museum by Col. A. T, Slo^^gett, 

 R.A.M.C., there are a number of Otomys belonging to three 

 species, and in working these out certain other members of 

 the genus prove to need description. 



The Deelfontein species are (1) Otomys Brantsiij A. Sm., 

 (2) a local subspecies of 0. unisalcatus, and (3) a new species 

 allied to the last-named. This may be described as follows: — 



Otomys Sloggetti, sp. n. 



Essential characters of incisors, molars, and bullae as in 

 0. unisulcatus. Size less than in that animal. Fur soft, fine 

 and thick. General colour of upper surface vinaceous brown, 

 like the most strongly vinaceous specimens of 0. untsulcatas. 

 Sides gradually becoming dull buffy, and this passes without 

 line of demarcation into the colour of the under surface, which 

 is uniformly soiled buffy, with slaty bases to the hairs, from 

 chin to anus. Head greyish brown, without vinaceous, con- 

 trasting markedly with the back. Eyes with narrow buffy 

 lids. Ears not large, their hairs mixed brown and buffy, with 

 a narrow darker edging at the backs of their anterior margin. 

 Hands and feet small and lightly built, their upper surfaces 

 clear buffy. Tail thin, short, finely haired, markedly less 

 hairy than in 0. unisulcatus^ dull buffy below and on the 

 sides, blackish, darkening terminally, along a narrow line on 

 the top. 



Skull smaller than that of 0. nm'sulcatus, hut closely 

 similar in its proportions. Palatal foramina not widely open. 

 Posterior nares narrow. Bullae slightly larger than in true 

 unisulcatus. 



Upper incisors with one well-defined groove near the outer 

 edge, but not quite so close to the edge as in unisulcatus, the 

 broader portion about twice instead of about three times the 

 breadth of the narrow. Lower incisors as in 0. Brantsit, 

 with one indistinct groove on each. 



Dimensions of the type (measured in the flesh) : — 



Head and body 134 millim, ; tail 68 ; hind foot (s. u.) 22-5 ; 

 ear 19. 



Skull : greatest length 35 ; basilar length 28 ; zygomatic 

 breadth 18*5 ; nasals, length 14 ; interorbital breadth 4-3 ; 

 interparietal 3-8x8; palate length 16"6 ,• diastema d'2; 



