Mammals from Nyasaland. 185 



32. Nasilio hrachyrhynchus, A. Smith. 



cJ. 122, 391 ; ? . 95, 121, 143. Cluiomo. 



" Both Iihynchoci/on and Petrodromus liave the curious 

 habit of striking the ground sharply with the tail, so as to 

 produce a rapping sound, often quite loud. In the dense 

 thickets it can be heard all day if one listens carefully for it. 

 I have frequently sat and watched them doing this only a 

 few yards from me, and often several Avill be doing it at 

 the same time quite near each other, but taking absolutely no 

 notice of each other. Sometimes one individual will stop 

 and rap every few feet. They often appear to listen after it, 

 but not always. It is possible that Nasilio does it also, but I 

 have never seen it do so. It, however, seems to inhabit 

 open forest much more than the other two "enera, and in the 

 long grass is not often seen. In the thickets inhabited by 

 the others there is no grass, and only dead leaves and small 

 plants, which enables them to be easily seen. They stop at 

 each puff of wind, as if suspicious, and hold the head up in 

 the air, with the curious mobile tip of the nose moving about 

 testing the wind, and reminding one forcibly of an elephant's 

 trunk doing the same. 



" The natives hunt them for food, and catch them by placing 

 long narrow basket-traps in their runs, when they are out of 

 the thickets, and then driving them ; whereupon they rush 

 down the runways and dash blindly into the traps, forcing 

 themselves more and more to the narrow ends, and thus 

 being unable to get out. 



^^ Rhynchocyon remains in the thickets much more strictly 

 than Petrodromus. 



" Native name ' Dhundu.' " 



33. Crocidura Iiirta, Pet, 



c? . 94, 98, 116, 204, 205, 206, 207 (juv.), 209, 210, 338, 

 389, 395 ; ? . 44 (juv.), 45 (juv.), 47 (juv.), 99, 117 (juv.), 

 20:5, 208, 336. Chiromo. 



" Very common in low country. Native name ' Sunkwe.' " 



34. Genetta rubiginosa, Puch. 



cJ. 234 (juv.), 386. Chiromo. 



" Quite counnon. Mang'anja name ' Mwiri.' " 



