1896. ] FROM BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA. 799 
of all the species in spirit, and also more extensive field-notes, 
which will add very considerably to the value of the collection. 
As usual, the small mammals seem to be the last important 
zoological group to come in; for although of course the larger 
mammals of this region have been long known, and, alas! many 
well-nigh exterminated, and the birds and insects have been 
largely collected, the present is the first collection of smaller 
mammals of any importance numerically that has reached the 
museums of Hurope. 
The collection contains 47 specimens, referable to 16 species, 
all belonging to the family Muride, with the exception of one 
Dormouse and one Rodent Mole. 
It seems strange that no Squirrel is represented, more especially 
as a Galago is included in the collection. Africa south of the 
Zambesi is curiously weak in Squirrels, only two species of Sciwrus 
being found (one of which, Se. cepapz, is peculiar to this region) ; 
neither of these can be called plentiful. This may be accounted 
for by the absence of any large forests, and perhaps, in a minor 
degree, by the partiality shown by the natives for small Rodents 
as food ; these animals, owing to their diurnal and climbing habits, 
being more easily found than rats and mice, stand a very poor 
chance, especially as the trees which they frequent are mainly 
confined to the banks of rivers or to clumps on low-lying ground 
where water most likely lies beneath. 
The value of this collection can in no way be measured by its 
numbers or by the excellent condition in which both skins and 
skulls are found, though these reflect the greatest credit on the 
collector; for among the 16 species represented there are 7 
that are entirely new to science or that if found elsewhere have 
developed such well-marked characters in this geographically 
distinct area as to necessitate the giving of a distinguishing 
subspecific name. One of these, a Georychus, was described by 
Mr. Thomas last year and named in honour of the collector, and 
is here figured (Plate XL.), the remaining six are described in this 
paper. At the same time one or two of these are not in any way 
confined to the Mashunaland plateau, but have simply been con- 
fused with other species, and perhaps, from being rather common, 
have been considered not worth sending home. 
1. Myoxus (ELiomys) NANUS, sp. n. 
Ad. skin. §. Mazoe, Mashunaland, 21 July, 1895. 
“Lives in trees and roofs of huts. Native name ‘ Sinde- 
wara.’ ”"—J. ff. D. 
Collector’s measurements, taken in the flesh, of type 95.8.27.4 in 
Brit. Mus. :—Head and body 86 mm.; tail 72; hind foot 15; ear 14. 
Skull: length 24; breadth 13; depth, top of parietal to base 
of bulla 9°5; breadth of cranium 11; narrowest intorb. 4; nasals 
9x3; basal length 20:5; henselion to back of palate 8; palate to 
foramen mag. 10:5; molar series 3; diastema 5; mandible, depth 
at coroneid 6°3 ; tips of incisors to condyle 14°5, 
Proc. Zoo. Soo.—1896, No, LIT. 52 
