340 Mr. O. Thomas on 
inches clear pinkish buff, with a slightly vinaceous tone, the 
rump not becoming markedly more plumbeous ; sides bright 
buff ; under surface white, not soiled or buffy white, though 
the bases of the hairs are slaty. Face-markings as in 
P. tetradactylus, but the cheeks more buffy. Limbs coloured 
as in tetradactylus, though the light parts are rather whiter. 
Tail rather more abundantly haired ; black above, all round 
for its terminal half and along a narrow median line below 
from its basal fourth; sides of its basal half dull buffy. 
Skull apparently quite as in P. tetradactylus. 
Dimensions of the type (measured in the flesh) :— 
Head and body 210 millim.; tail 132; hind foot (s. u.) 52; 
ear 29. 
Skull: greatest length 53:5; greatest breadth 27. 
Hab. North Nyasa. Type from Namwiwe. 
Type. Female. B.M. no. 8. 4. 2. 4. Collected Sep- 
tember, 1902, by Mr. McClounie, and presented by Sir Alfred 
Sharpe, K.C.M.G. 
This pretty species differs from P. tetradactylus by its 
paler clearer colour, not darkening on the rump, its clear 
buffy sides, its dead white belly, and the fine black line 
which runs up the underside of the tail. 
IJ.—DeEnpDROMYS. 
Dendromys messorius, sp. n. 
A small species, without a dorsal stripe. 
Size comparatively small. Fur close and velvety, not so 
long and soft as in certain other species ; hairs of back about 
4—5 millim. in length. Upper surface dull uniform fulvous 
(Ridgway’s “cinnamon” with a leaning towards “ clay- 
colour’); the back quite without any trace of a dark dorsal 
streak; sides lighter and more rufous. Under surface white, 
not very sharply defined laterally ; the hairs white to their 
roots; a slight yellowish or fulvous suffusion in the white of 
the chest and inner side of hind limbs. Ears of medium size, 
well haired, dull fulvous brown, not markedly darker than 
the general body-colour. Limbs like back externally, like 
belly internally ; upperside of hands and feet dull whitish. 
Tail more thinly haired than usual, brown above, rather 
lighter below. 
Skull stoutly built in comparison with that of some of the 
larger species ; supraorbital edges square; palatal foramina 
not conspicuously long; molars small and narrow. 
Dimensions of type (measured in the flesh) :— 
Head and body 70 millim.; tail 82; hind foot (s. u.) 18 ; 
ear 12, 
