278 MESSRS. DANFORD AND ALSTON ON [ Mar. 20, 
Society by Mr. Keith E. Abbott from Erzeroom (now in the British 
Museum)!. It was doubtfully referred to S. musicus of Ménétriés 
by Prof. Brandt; and this identification has been generally followed 
in spite of Brandt’s concluding observation:—‘*‘ C. wanthoprymnus, 
Bennett, vix a Spermophilo musico diversus.’’? But the animal, of 
which we have a good series, proves to be quite distinct both from 
S. musicus and from S. concolor, with which Bennett compared it, 
belonging to the division of the genus with well-haired soles. It is 
much nearer the European S. citellus (Linn.), to which it was re- 
ferred by Ainsworth, but is at once distinguished by its colour and 
by the shortness of its tail, which hardly exceeds the hind foot in 
length. As Bennett gives but a short diagnosis, and the species 
has since been generally overlooked, we add a fuller description. 
Ear rudimentary, soles of hind feet hairy, tail short, hardly longer 
than the hind foot. 
Upper parts nearly uniform reddish buff, most of the hairs slate- 
grey at the base, then whitish, then broadly tipped with light fulvous ; 
these are mixed with black hairs, which are more numerous in some 
individuals than in others. Tail cylindrical, unicolorous, more 
brightly fulvous than the back. A ring round each eye, the edges 
of the lips, chin, and throat whitish, passing into the pale isabelline 
of the breast and belly. Legs and feet more distinctly fulvous. 
Approximate measurements (in skin) :— 
inches. 
Length of head and body (about) .......... 9°50 
Ff CALE RR Oss AIDE BE SG 1-40 
a3 hind Hooters. Lake Bes. ck eatin Geet BAO 
. 
The only recent writer who has recognized the validity of this 
species is Dr. Severtzoff, who, on his visit to London, identified with 
S. xanthoprymnus certain Sousliks which he had formerly referred 
to S. fulvus, Licht. He says that these specimens were obtained by 
him near Tashkent and Cheenaz, and by Russoff near Samarkand. 
If his identification is correct, the range of the species will probably 
be found to extend through Northern Persia. 
[Arcromys, sp.? 
Ainsworth states that A. marmotta (Linn.) inhabits the Taurus; 
but A. bobac, Schreb., seems more likely to occur there. No 
Marmot was met with by Danford. | 
28. *Myoxvus pryas (Schreb.). 
A single specimen was procured at Issa-fakyr, in the interior. 
Its nest was a round ball of dry grass, and was placed in a dense 
bush of wild rose. It was once or twice disturbed from this retreat, 
and was eventually secured by firing at the nest. This example is 
somewhat remarkable in coloration, the whole back from the nape 
1 Pp, Z. 8. 1835, p. 90. ? Bull. Ac. Petersb. 1844 (ii.) p. 871. 
3 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1876, xviii. p. 388. 
