64 MR. o. THOMAS ON THE [Jan. 5, 



Eyrax burtoni, Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (4) i. p. 43 (1868) ; Cat. 

 p. 285 (1869). 



Eyrax dongolanus^, Blanf. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 642 ; Socage, J. Sci. 

 Lisb. (2) iii. p. 192 (1889). 



Size rather large ; form elongated. Ears apparently more sharply 

 pointed at the tip than in the other species. Mammae 1-2 = 6, 

 Fur long, but harsh and thin. General colour sandy fawn, grizzled 

 with black, not so pale as in P. pallida, but paler than in P. syriaca. 



Dorsal spot small and very little prominent amid the general sandy 

 colour. Its hairs coloured very much as in well-marked specimens 

 of P. abyssinica — i. e. brown at the bases, bright orange-yellow 

 subterminally or terminally, with or without black tips. 



Skull and teetli large and strong, not definitely distinguish- 

 able from those of P. abyssinica. Interparietal sutures persistent. 

 Breadth of m^ 7*0 to 7'7 mm. ; height of crown of m^ 6*9 mm. ; 

 horizontal length of ^ 2*5 or 2-6. 



Type in the Berlin Museum. 



Eab. Dongola (Eemprich Sf Ehrenberg) ; Egypt {Burton). 



This species, to which I follow Mr. Blanford in assigning Eyrax 

 burtoni of Gray, appears to be essentially a northern desert form of 

 P. abyssinica, and leads on towards P. syriaca of the other side 

 of the Red Sea. All these species are very closely allied to one 

 another, their skulls being practically indistinguishable, and their 

 distinctions resting mainly on colour. P. ruficeps, however, has 

 decidedly more pointed ears than the others, at least so far as the 

 three typical specimens of " R. burtoni " are concerned, but I do 

 not know how ifar this is likely to be a constant character. It is 

 unfortunate that the name ruficefs should stand for this species, 

 as the rufous on the vertex is far less strongly marked than it is in 

 many specimens both of P. abyssinica and P. shoana: 



5. PrOCAVIA ABYSSINICA. 



Hyrax habessinicus, Hempr. & Ehr. Symb. Phys. decas i. pi. ii. 

 (the dark-coloured specimen) (1828). 



Hyrax abyssinicus ^ auctorum plurimoruin ; Blanf. P. Z. S. 1869, 

 p. 642; Bocage, J. Sci. Lisb. (2) iii. p. 122 (1889). 



Hyrax alpini, Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (4) i. p. 45 (1868); Cat. 

 p. 287 (1869). 



Hyraxferrugineus, Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (4) iii. p. 242 (1869) ; 

 Cat. p. 288 (1869). 



^ The use of this name is due to a mistaken idea of Hemprich and Ehrenberg's 

 meaning in first founding the species. Their work being written throughout in 

 Latin, the simple statement of the locality of the animal " Hyrax ruficeps 

 {dmgalanus)" yf&s taken for an alternative name, and then preferred to ruficeps 

 as more appropriate. No doubt Gray's misquotation of " Hyrax ruficeps vel 

 dongolanus" Yfus the first cause of the mistake. The same remarks, matatis 

 mutandis, apply to the use of the word " sinaiticics" for H. syriacus by Gray. 



^ Now that "Abyssinia" and not " Habesh " is the form of the name in- 

 variably used, it seems better to adopt the amended spelling " abyssinica" 

 rather than '•' habcssinica." Mr. Blanford also comes to the same conclusion ; 

 vide bis footnote, P. Z. S. 1869, p 639. 



