250 On Mammals from SomaliJand. 



Tlie nasals are slender, of uniform width throughout ; the 

 front roots of the zygomata are not extended far forward, the 

 length being 5*1 millim. The molar series are strongly con- 

 vergent from before backwards; ^ is small, with no poste- 

 rior cusp. The palatal foramina are small, placed opposite 

 the third interior cusps of ^^5i2 and the first cusps of ^!ii. The 

 mandible is exceedingly weak and low, the ascending ramus 

 sloping backwards at a very obtuse angle from the molars to 

 the condylar process, with no coronoid process wliatever ; 

 angle short, not reaching backward more tliun halfway be- 

 tween the molars and the condyle. 



I'he extraordinary weakness of the lower jaw suggests the 

 specific name that is given, Gerbils being noted for fighting 

 among theniselves. 



It will be interesting to know upon what this animal lives, 

 for its food can hardly be of the same nature as that of the 

 family generally. 



(10) GerhiUus Peel!, sp. n. 



Size small ; colour above rich fawn, most of the hairs tipped 

 with blackish, the bases of the hairs slate-coloured ; all the 

 underparts, to the bases of the hairs, pure white ; feet and 

 hands well clothed with white hairs ; nails horn-coloured ; 

 fingers and toes sparingly covered with hairs on the lower 

 sides, soles and pads quite naked ; tail bicoloured, blackish 

 brown above, deepening in intensity towards the tip, huffish 

 white beneath. 



Type labelled " Eyk (4500 feet), 4th July." 

 ]\leasurements (taken from the dried skin) : — 

 Head and body (c.) 70 millim.; tail (c.) 50; hind foot 

 (c.) 24. 



Skull: greatest length 26 ; greatest breadth 14"5; nasals 

 9"2 X 21 ; interorbital constriction 4, interparietal 4*2 x 6"5 ; 

 basal length 21; incisive foramina 4'6 ; pahital foramina ^'l; 

 molar series 3*8 ; outside ".±J. 5, outside ^t±3 4*7 ; mandible, 

 greatest length, condyle to back of incisors 14'1, angle to 

 back of incisors 12. 



The skull is peculiarly square and short and unlike any 

 other Gerbil I know, the zygomatic processes starting out 

 very abruptly in front, recalling- the skull of Mahicotlirix ; the 

 nasals, however, are short; the bulhe are rather large and 

 very thin in texture. The ])alate is peculiar, the palatal (in 

 distinction to the incisive) foramina being unusually large, 

 commencing a little in front of ""■ '. and extending back to 

 about level with the middle of ??• ' ; foramen magnum some- 



