1893.] MR. O. THOMAS ON MAMMALS FEOM NTASALAND. 501 



species now and previously sent at other times of the year. 

 Seasonal variation lias been but little studied in African mammals, 

 and specimens obtained by so able a collector all from the same 

 place and at different seasons would have the utmost value as 

 enabling us to form a comprehensive idea as to the general influence 

 that the changes of such a climate as that of Nyasaland have on its 

 Mammalian inhabitants. 



Pending the formation of such a supplementary collection, the 

 present series, full as it is of rarities from a IMuseum point of 

 view, demands for publication little more than a nominal list of 

 the species sent. 



1. Otogale kjrkii, Gray. 



a. Ad. sk. Nmasi. 9/92. 



This skin is not in a good state, and the fur appears to be in 

 process of change. There seems, however, to be little doubt that 

 it represents 0. kirl-ii, whether that does or does not prove in the 

 end to be a valid species. 



2. Petrodromus tetrad acttlus, Pet. 

 a. Ad. al. ? , Milanji. 10/92, 



3. Ceocidtjra sp. inc. 



a. Ad. al. Milanji. 10/92. 



4. Crocidura sp. inc. 



a. Ad. al. Milanji, 10/92. 



5. Herpestes gracilis, Riipp. 

 a, b. 2 ad. sks. Zomba. 11/92. 



These specimens evidently belong to the S.-African type of the 

 species, and show that Peters's H. oriiatus should be referred to 

 that form rather than to the typical variety, to which I assigned it 

 in 1882. 



6. Crossarchxts fasciatus (Desm.). 



«, b. Ad. sks. Tschiromo, junction of Elvers Euo and Shire. 

 9/92. 



C.fasciaius is recorded from Mt. Kilimanjaro by Mr. True under 

 the name of C. mimgo, Gmel.' That name is evidently taken from 

 the synonymy of the species as given in my monograph of the 

 African Mungooses ", Mr. True rightly ignoring my plea for the 

 retention of the name fascudus merely as being classical, well- 

 known, and appropriate. He does not, however, seem to be aware 

 that the name mungo, originally given to a mixture of the common 

 Indian Mungoose and the S.-African striped one, has been revived 

 by Mr. Blanford ^ as the appellation of the former, in spite of my 



1 P. U.S. Nat. Mus. XV. p. 453 (1892). 



^ P. Z. S. 1882, p. 90. 



^ P. Z. S. 1887, p. 631 ; Mamm. Brit. Ind. p. 123 (1888). 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1893, No. XXXIV. 34 



