656 Mr. G. Dollman on 



Taterillus nuhilus, sp. n. 



S . 411, 412. Orr Valley, Mt. Nyiro. 



^ . 495. Hot spring?. 



Allied to T. osgoodi, Wrought., but less rufous in colour 

 and with a smaller skull. 



General proportions much as in osgoodi. Dorsal surface 

 yellowish buff finely speckled with greyish brown, the 

 general effect rather similar to that of T. tenebricus, Dollm., 

 but very much paler ; no trace o£ the bright rufous colouring 

 met with in osgoodi. Flanks rather purer and richer in 

 colour, the dark speckling much less evident than on the 

 back. Face and head as in tenebricus, but dark frontal 

 marking less black and light cheeks rather more buffy. 

 Backs of hands and feet and entire underparts white. Tail 

 as in osgoodi. 



Skull smaller than in the Voi species, with smaller auditory 

 bullae and molar teeth. 



Dimensions of the type (measured from dry skin *) : — 



Head and body 112 mm. ; tail 150 ; hind foot 29. 



Skull : greatest length 35"4 ; basal length 28 ; condylo- 

 incisive length 30; zygomatic breadth 17*7; interorbital 

 breadth 6'4; breadth of brain-case (across squamosal region) 

 15*2; length of nasals 14; palatal length 17"2 ; length of 

 palatal foramina 5-8; length of upper molar series 4-5; 

 alveolar length of upper molar series 5"1. 



Ilab. Orr Valley, Mt. Nyiro. Altitude 3500 feet. 



Ti/pe. Old male. Original number 412. Collected in 

 March 1911. 



The much duller and less rufous colouring at once dis- 

 tinguishes this gerbil from the Voi species, in which the 

 dorsal surface is bright buffy rufous. From T. tenebricus 

 this new form is distinguished by its larger size, lighter 

 colour, and very much larger and heavier skull. 



Taterillus nuhilus illustris, subsp. n. 



(J . 224, 326; ? . 325. 12 miles N. of the Eusso Nyiro. 



A pale-coloured race allied to the foregoing species. 



In size and general proportions much as in nuhilus. 

 General colour of dorsal surface pale straw-tinted buff, the 

 buff colour most evident on the hind-quarters aud posterior 

 back ; dark speckling very faint, the general effect re- 

 sembling a pale-coloured T. osgoodi. Flanks pale buft\ 



* Dimensions of nnotlier specimen luensnred iu the llesh : bead and 

 body 115 mm. ; tail lo.*? ; hind foot 32 ; car 27. 



