and aUied East- Afiiain Species. 313 



DimoiHions in millimetres (measured in the flcdli) : — 



Averag-e of 



lOa.Iiilts. jMax. ^I'm. 



Head nud bod V No l(i5 ]41 



Tail ' Ill 122 108 



Hind foot 27 29 25 



Atliilf skull : j^vc.itest length 35*6 mm. ; ba'^ilar length 30; 

 coiulylo-iiicisive lengtli 33**J ; zygomatic breadth 18'5 ; iiiter- 

 oibital constriction 4; squamosal breadth of cranium 14; 

 It'iigth of nasals 13; palatilar length 16; length of ]iala(al 

 foramina 7"2 ; alveolar length of ujjper ni )lar series 73. 



T'ipe locality. Simen and Shoa, Abyssinia. 



Arvicanthis uhi/ssinicus appears to occur over the greater 

 part o£ Southern Abyssinia. In the Museum collection are 

 two co-types of the species, which, though rather faded, agree 

 very closely with the material more recently coUected and 

 from which the above description is taken. In addition to 

 the tyj)ical specimens the collection contains representatives 

 of true al)//ssinicns from the following localities : — Ilolota, 

 Addis Alem, Addis Ababa, Barka Plains, Lake Tsana, Koosa, 

 JSellin, Arrusi Plateau, and Yah- Yah (N.W. Shoa). 



Meriones lacernatus, Riipp.*, described from Abyssinia, 

 a|)pears to represent cd/yssiriicus in an abnormal condition of 

 ])ehige, either during a change of fur or else in a state of 

 erythrism. The skin-dimensions (head and body 143 mni., 

 tail 97, hind foot 26'5) are quite similar to those of 

 ab>/ssinicus. 



(7) Arvicanthis abyssinlcus safaratus, subsp. n. 



A very dark-coloured form, allied to A. ahyssinicuft, Riipp. 



In size rather less than in ahyssinicus, but not maikedly so 

 in the general skin-dimensions. Upper surface of body dark 

 Miickisli, sprinkled with pale greyish buff, tlie general effect 

 very much blacker than in ahyssinicus or any of the allied 

 forms. Dorsal stripe well marked, rather more so than is 

 usually the case in the typical species. Flanks similar in 

 colour to back, not paling towards the ventral surface. Face 

 much darker and less buff-coloured^ o'dy the ocular rings and 

 tip of nose tinted with pale buff. Ears clothed with dark 

 hairs speckled with jiale buff. Light patches under and 

 ])ehind ears as in ahyssinicus. Backs of hands and feet dark 

 brownish black speckled with buff'; toes blackish brown. 

 Under surface of body blackish brown, washed with pale 



* Mus. Senck. iii. pp. 96, llo, pi. vi. fig. 1 (1842). 



23* 



