NO. 8 AFRICAN SHREWS OF THE GENUS CROCIDURA HOLLISTER 3 



The two forms most closely related to C. p. nisa {parvipes and 

 lutrella) were placed by DoUman in different groups, parvipes in the 

 jacksoni group, and lutrella in the heirce (hindei) grouf). Both 

 obviously belong with the hindei-like shrews with the massive maxil- 

 lary processes and long, narrow rostra. 



CROCIDURA SIMIOLUS, sp. nov. 



Type from Kisumu, British East Africa. U. S. National Museum 

 No. 197959, skin and skull of adult 5 (basal suture obliterated but 

 teeth little worn). Collected September 25, 1913, by H. J. A. Turner. 

 Collector's No. 3. 



Description. — Related to Crocidura mutesce Heller and C. suaheke 

 Heller, but sHghtly larger than either of these forms. Upperparts 

 of the type specimen uniform rich Prout's-brown, except on nose and 

 tail which are much darker brown ; underparts paler, grayish brown. 

 Other skins from Kaimosi and Kibabe are darker than the type. 

 Skull like that of C. mutesce but larger, with larger teeth. 



Measurements of type. — Head and body, 113; tail vertebrae. 60; 

 hind foot, dry, 17. Skull: condylobasal length, 26.1; maxillary 

 breadth, 8.3; breadth of braincase, ii.i ; median depth of braincase, 

 6.4; mandible, 13.7; upper tooth row, entire, 12.3. 



Remarks. — Four specimens of this new shrew are in the collection. 

 All are from the vicinity of Kavirondo Gulf, in the Kisumu district, 

 and were taken in localities where the larger C. nyanscE is common. 

 Skins of this species might readily be confused with nyansce or 

 kijabce, but specimens may be easily separated by the small skull and 

 teeth. Young examples of nyansce always have much larger teeth 

 than adults of siniiolus. The coast species, C. suahelce, and the 

 Uganda C. mutesce were placed in widely separate groups by Dollman 

 in his recent synopsis of the African species of Crocidura, but they 

 are very closely related forms and are the nearest relatives of C. 

 simiolus. While perhaps best placed for the present in the Hscheri 

 group, where Dollman considered suaheke to belong, these three 

 species show many characteristics of the nyansce group, and approach 

 in size the Lado form, C. sururce. 



