238 Mr. O. Thomas‘on 
Fifth hind toe with a nail .......... Subgenus Poemys, noy. 
Genotype D. melanotis, A.Sm. Otherspecies: D. nigri- 
Srons, True., nyike *, Wr. 
Three dark stripes down back, the middle one lightened along centre. 
Fifth hind toe with a small claw hidden 
by Halt ..0 sone eee oe cele cae ae Subgenus Chortomys, nov. 
Genotype D. lovati, de Wint. 
I can find no constant cranial distinction between Dendro- 
mus and Poemys, but the skull of Chortomys has a certain 
general resemblance in shape to that of Malacothriz. 
The difference in these animals between a “claw” and a 
“nail” is not very great, as the claws are small—far smaller 
than those of the median digits—and their points only 
slightly surpass the ends of the pads below them. That the 
subgenera Dendromus and Poemys are distinct groups, how- 
ever, is indicated by the fact that in nearly every part of 
Africa one species of each of them is found, living side by 
side, and thus showing that there is a real distinction between 
them. 
11. Rattus rattus, L. 
g. 18. Inkongo. 
12. Rattus (Atthomys) longicaudatus, Tullb. 
&. 10, 20, 24. Inkongo. 
13. Rattus (Praomys) tullbergi, Thos. 
9. 25. Inkongo. 
14. Malacomys wilsoni, sp. n. 
g.17. Inkongo. B.M. no. 16.5. 15.32. Type. 
‘“‘ Trapped on creepers overhanging stream.”’—H. JV. 
General characters as in J. longipes, but a greyish-white 
frontal patch present and skull different in details. 
Size rather less than in J/, longipes, but in this genus 
there is always considerable variation in this respect. General 
colour of type, in bleached pelage, rather paler than the palest 
of the series of other Malacomys, back approaching Ridgway’s 
“ wood-brown.” Head mouse-grey, but the top of muzzle, 
area round eyes, and top of crown blackish, surrounding a 
conspicuous greyish-white frontal patch, the frontal being 
much lighter and the surrounding areas darker than in the 
other species. Colour elsewhere as usual. Tail bicolor, dark 
above and whitish below, but this varies in JZ. longipes. 
* The typical skin and two others. The specimens mentioned as with 
grey-based belly-hairs belong to a different species, a member of Den- 
dromus, s. 8., and therefore with a claw on the fifth digit. 
