210 Miss D. Bate— A New Vole from Malta. 



recent and fossil species in the British Museum. They seem to show 

 no characters sufficiently constant or distinctive to warrant their 

 separation as a distinct species, but evidently represent a small 

 race- with a weak dentition and slender limbs, smaller than 

 F. ichnus(e. from Sardinia, and probably approximating in size 

 to V. mlotica, of which no skeleton has been available for com- 

 parison. The extreme slenderness of the proximal articulating 

 surfaces of two metatarsals from Malta is very noticeable. Much 

 variation in size is indicated by the Maltese specimens. 



Arvicola melitensis, sp. nov. Crown view of first and second right lower 

 molars. Enlarged x 15 diam. a. anterior loop ; c.t. closed triangles ; 

 p. posterior transverse loop. 



There is in the British Museum the distal end of a humerus 

 (M. 81.59) from the Pleistocene of Corsica, which seems to agree 

 closely in size with the Maltese form. No fox is found living in 

 Malta at the present day, the only land carnivore^ being Mustela 

 nivalis boccamela and M. africana, the latter possibly introduced 

 through human agency.' 



ItEPTILIA. 



Keptiles are represented by a few fragments of carapace, ascribed 

 to Lutremys europcra, and by several limb bones, pelvic bones, two 

 v-ertebrse, and the base of a skull of Bnfn vulgaris, Laur. These latter 

 specimens have been kindly examined by Dr. G. A. Boulenger, 

 F.R.S., who considers that from the characters of the sacral vertebra 

 they may be confidently assigned to this species. Previously no 

 specifically identified remains have been recorded ; Leith Adams 

 in his " List " - mentioned only " Batrachia sp. Frogs or Toads, sp." 



It is interesting to note that apparently no toad occurs in the 

 Maltese Islands at the present day, the only batrachian being 

 Discoglossus pictus Otth." 



' See Miller, Cat. Mamvi. West. Europe, 191'i, p. 414. 

 '■* Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, vol. xxxiii, 1877, p. 177. 

 ^ See Dr. Gulia, loc. cit. 



