Mr. 0. Thomas on Two new Rodents. 2G7 



XLV. — Descriptions of Two new Rodents from the Victoria 

 Nyanza. By Oldfield Thomas. 



By the kindness of Canon Tristram I have had the oppor- 

 tunity of examining some small mammals obtained at Nassa, 

 on the Spelve Gulf of the Victoria Nyanza, by Mr. F. C. 

 Smith, of the Church Missionary Society. These prove to 

 consist of three species — a mungoose {Helogale undidata *, 

 Peters), a dormouse, and a hare, the two latter being new 

 to science. 



Myoxus {Eliomys) Smitkii, sp. n. 



Size very small. General colour above uniform pale ashy 

 grey, without darker markings of any kind. Head like 

 back ; no dark rings round eyes or patches between eyes and 

 ears. Cheeks, sides, and under surface white, but the hairs 

 here, as on the back, slaty grey basally. Hands and feet pure 

 white. Tail thick and bushy, apparently intermediate in 

 form between those of 31. crassicaudatus and murinus; but, 

 owing to the manner in which the tail of the type has been 

 prepared, an exact description of its form and proportions is 

 not practicable. Tail-hairs dull rufous brown with white 

 tips. 



Ears extremely small, smaller apparently than in any other 

 dormouse, naked, flesh-coloured. Hind feet short and broad, 

 their soles with six pads, whose positions appear to be much 

 as in M. murimis. 



Skull broad, short, and rounded ; muzzle very short, but, 

 owing to the anterior part of the nasals being slightly damaged 

 in the type, it is difficult to give exact dimensions ; in any 

 case, however, the muzzle is decidedly shorter and broader 

 than in the allied species; anterior palatine foramina rather 

 shorter than the combined upper molar series. Upper branch 

 of the anterior zygoma-root further forward than the lower, 

 agreeing in this respect with M. murinus and differing from 

 M. crassicaudatus. 



Dimensions of the typical skin : — 



Head and body 86 millim. ; tail without hairs (approxi- 

 mate) 49, with end hairs 73 ; hind foot witiiout claws 1(J*5. 



Skull : back of bulla to front face of incisors 21 ; greatest 

 breadth 13'6 ; nasals, length (c.) 7*3, greatest breadth 'd'2 ; 



* Three specimens of Helogale were killed at one shot, thus confirming 

 Emin's observation (P. Z. S. 1890, p. 444) that this mungoose hunts in 

 packs like some of the smaller Mustelithe. 



