1896.] FROM BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA. 801 
worn teeth, while others almost red-fawn have their teeth very much 
less worn. In fact from this series it is impossible to say whether 
age, sex, or season has much to do with the varying colour, 
though there is little doubt that the immature animals are 
invariably dark grey, showing the red first on the cheeks and 
along the sides. The tail varies in length, but is generally some- 
what longer than the head and body. 
3. OTOMYS IRRORATUS, Bts. 
a. Ad. sk. ¢. Mazoe, Mashunaland, 8 January, 1895. 
Bo -Adxsk.s'3!: af ee 4 August, ,, 
Y: Ad. sk. on ” ” 5 ” » 
Collector’s measurements, taken in the flesh, of a:—Head and 
body 197 mm.; tail 117; hind foot 28; ear 22. 
‘Common in marshes. Native name ‘ Nappy.’ ”—J. ff. D. 
These specimens all agree with the Cape form in the general 
gold and dark brown grizzled colour. 
. Mus CHRYSOPIIILUS, sp. n. 
Ad. sk. 9. Mazoe, Mashunaland, 14 August, 1895 (type). 
14 
<= 3 i red 2 9 2 
33 3 Si +b) ” 15 39 ” 
” 3 < 9 29 19 29 99 
ee 3 4s 17 January, ,, 
° ” 
+ s imm. Mazoe, Mashunaland, 16 January, 1895. 
“‘ Trapped in grass. Native name ‘ Maché.’”—J. ff. D. 
Collector’s measurements, taken in the flesh, of type 95.11.3.23 
in Brit. Mus. :—Head and body 146 mm. ; tail 168; hind foot 28 ; 
ear 19. 
Skull: greatest length 38 mm.; breadth 18; breadth of brain- 
.case 15; nasals 14:5x4:5; frontals 12; parietals 6:8; inter- 
parietals 4x 9°5; basal length 32; henselion to back of palate 16; 
palate to foramen mag. 12°5; incisive foramina 9X25. Upper 
molar series 6; diastema 9°5; depth, parietals to bulla 12; 
mandible, height at coronoid 11 ; incisor-tips to condyle 24. 
The whole of the upper parts bright reddish-fawn, strongly 
sprinkled with black hairs; cheeks and sides and thighs rather 
paler, the dark hairs being less numerous and of a browner tint ; 
the whole of the underparts, including the feet and hands, almost 
pure white ; the colours of the upper and under sides being clearly 
defined. All the hairs above and below dark slate-colour basally. 
Ears moderate and naked, save for a few scattered rufous hairs. 
Tail almost naked, but with a few very short adpressed hairs, 
which increase in number and length towards the tip; scales in 
rings 10 to 10 mm., shining like mica in some lights, the basal 
half is indistinctly bicoloured, brown above, whitish beneath, the 
terminal portion unicoloured brown. 
Allied to WM. kaisert, Noack, but very distinct in colour. 
This handsome Rat is not confined to the Mashunaland plateau, 
52* 
