Mammals from South Africa. 4G5 



(33) Arv'icanthia pumilio (Spanni.). 



Tzancen. 



Series. 



AVonderfoiitein, Potchefdtrooni District, Transvaal. 



Series. 



(Tlie above examples have been identified by Mr. Wroughton 

 as belonging to tiie subspecies dilectus de Wiiiton.) 



Piotersburp, Traiisvaiil. 



cJ. 113. 



Kiverton, Griqnaland West. 

 ? (spirit). 



(I make no atfonipt to refer either of the above single 

 examples to any of the numerous subspecies of this species.) 



(34) Mystromys albicaudaius (Smith). 



AVakkerstroom, Transvaal. 



Tliree exanijjles, October 1903 (now in Pretoria Museum). 



W'onderfontein, Putciiefstroom District, Transvaal (speci- 

 mens now in Pretoria Museum). 



I kept several examj)les, caught at Wonderfontein, in 

 captivity for some months. Tliese examples were found 

 living in a warren occupied by the meerkat (Suricata suri- 

 catta). They bred freely in captivity. The period of gesta- 

 tion is about thirty-seven days, and from two to five young 

 are prcduced at a birth. Apjiarently litter succeeds litter at 

 intervals of thirty -seven days throughout the entire year, as 

 females caught in October 1903 at Wakkerstroom and in 

 September lUOG at Wonderfontein were all pregnant, wiiile in 

 April 1907 lialf-grown young and a pregnant female were 

 ca|)tured at Wonderfontein, and the latter, kept first at my 

 house and subsequently at the Pretoria Zoological Gardens, 

 went on breeding right through the wintci-. 



The temale carries her young about attached to her mammae, 

 and if one happens to become detached, picks it up in her 

 mouth and carries it back to the nest. 



The young ones are dragged about in this manner until 

 about a week before the next litter is born. Iteimpregnation 

 occurs a few hours after the birth of tiie litter. 



Grant has observed that cats will not eat this species 

 (presumably owing to a protective secretion of some kind). 

 This may account for its living with impunity among 

 meerkats. 



Mystrovxys shows little fear of man when caught, and 

 becomes very tame and playful in captivity. 



