On Mammals from NortJiern Nijeria. 457 



of the development of the genus is prevents identification of 

 the foregoing with the British form unless a very decided 

 metamorphosis occurs. 



The systematic position of Magelona, with its peculiar 

 external form and internal structure, was a source of un- 

 certainty to Dr. George Johnston, the only author who 

 attempted its consideration in this respect. So puzzled was 

 he that he placed it (his M(ea mirabiUs) at the end of his 

 Catalogue for the British jNIuseum under a family specially 

 constituted for itself (viz. Maiadse). In the Catalogue of 

 the Fauna of St. Andrews it was located between the 

 Chsetopteridse and the Spionidse; but the results of further 

 investigation clearly relegate it to the latter group *. It 

 leans, indeed, wholly to the Sfiionidse in minute structure, 

 and especially to such forms as Prionospio and Heterospio, 

 though it is true that in the marked regional distinctions 

 and the great length of the posterior division of the body it 

 approaches Spiocfueiopterus. While it conforms to the 

 Spiouidae in the structure of its body-wall and bristles, it 

 differs in regard to the absence of the dorsal branchise. In 

 the mechanism of its proboscis and in the structure of 

 its snout and circulatory organs, again, it presents features 

 sui generis. 



LIIL — On Mammals collected by the Rev. G. T. Fox in 

 Northern Nigeria. By Oldfield Thojias. 



(Published by permission of the Trustees of the British Museum.) 



The British Museum owes to the kindness of the Rev. G. T. 

 Fox, of the (yambridge University Mission in Northern 

 Nigeria, a collection of small mammals from that country, 

 and these prove to be so interesting as to deserve the publi- 

 cation of a list. 



The specimens were mostly obtained at Panyam, on the 

 plateau of that name, in Bauchi Province, about 9° 30' E. and 

 10° N. The plateau is about 4000' in altitude, and the 

 climate is therefore comparatively cool. A few skins were 

 collected at Kabir, on the slope of the plateau, at about 2700'. 



The proportion of novelties in the collection is unusually 



* Troc. R. S. E. 1875-6, vol. ix. no. 94, p. 123. 



