new S^iecies of Chrysochlorirf. 2<);» 



C. viUosa^ C, Treveli/anif C. rutilans { = hoftentota) , anl 

 C. obtush-ostris ; and VV. L. Sclater, in his * I\Iammals of 

 South Africa,' recognizes only the same five. Recently, as 

 the result mainly of the researches o£ AFr. C H. B. Grant, 

 Oldfield Thomas has added a few new species belonging to the 

 subgenus Amblijsomus, viz. A. clirysillnSj A. iris, A. Corrice, 

 and a subspecies A. hottentottus jjondoliie. 



Though 1 have devoted comparatively little attention to 

 systematic zoology, I have from time to time made pretty 

 extensive collections of the bones of small mammals, and the 

 best hunting-grounds I have invariably found to be the 

 haunts of owls. In the disgorged pellets often found in great 

 abundance in rock-clefts the small mammal skulls are usually 

 preserved uuinjuretl, and the owls frequently obtain specimens 

 which the collector of skins will not readily come across. 

 Having been recently studying the development and varia- 

 tions of the teeth of Chrysochloris, I have gone over with 

 care the collection of small mole skulls that I have made from 

 time to time, and among them I have discovered four new 

 species. Through the kindness of Mr. Peringuey, Director 

 of the South African Museum, I have examined all the 

 specimens in the museum, and have found in the collection 

 the skins of two forms of which I had already the skulls, and 

 also another new species. 



The examination of these new forms has led me to doubt 

 the wisdom of making Ambli/somus a distinct genus, and t 

 shall therefore retain, provisionally at least, the generic name 

 Chrysochloris for all the species. 



Chrysochloris Sclateri, sp. n. 



Of tliis new species two specimens have been in the South 

 African Museum for some years. Both are preserved in 

 spirit and come from Beaufort West. 



The nose-pad at once distinguishes the species from 

 C. asiatica, as its outer end is not produced into a sharp 

 point as in the common species, but rounded. The general 

 colour of the back is reddish brown, not unlike many speci- 

 mens of C hotteutota. The lips and cheeks are dull cream- 

 yellow, and the light patches extend to a little behind the 

 ocular region, over the temporal area, and meet each other 

 above the nasal pad. On the upper surface of the head a few 

 brown hairs are mixed with the yellow, and above the nasal 

 pad so many as to make the area pale brown. The general 

 colour of the abdomen is a pale dirty brown. 



The skull differs from that of C. asiadca in being much 



