MAMMALS COLLECTED ON THE OBANGE BIVEK. 491 



larger bullae ; but many more specimens are needed before this 

 can be definitely asserted, 



" Plentiful ; occurring in flat open country. 



Their burrows, which are excavated in open sandy patches, are 

 circular, small for the size of the animal, and generally more or 

 less perpendicular, resembling those of an open country elephant- 

 shrew (i/ac?'0.9ce^?'(ies). Nocturnal. Attracted by cultivation, and 

 said occasionally to a2:)pear in large numbers. 



Individuals from the same locality varied consider.-ibly in 

 colour." 



19. Parotomys (Liotomys) littledalei Thos. 

 40 specimens. Louisvale. 



Quite agree with the specimens from Bushman Land (Kenhart) 

 obtained and presented by Maj. Littledale. This striking animal 

 must be very restricted in range as it was only described in 1918 

 in spite of its evident local abundance. 



There is a good deal of variation in the general colour, but the 

 more brightly toned specimens just match the type from Tuin, 

 Kenhart. 



"Local, but extremely plentiful where they occur; their 

 presence coinciding with the large but rather infrequent patches 

 of a succulent species of salt-bush, which they appear almost 

 exclusively to feed on. 



Diurnal, not attracted by cultivation. Their burrows, which 

 are excavated among the roots of thick masses of salt-bush, are 

 very conspicuous, being interpolated above ground with thick 

 networks of sticks, and the amount of this work possibly makes 

 them appear to be even more numerous and more gregarious 

 than they really are. 



Not readily trapped, this genus being probably less omnivorous 

 than most other small rodents." 



20. Rattcts (Praomys) namaquensis A. Sm. 



36 specimens. Louisvale. 



c?. 325, 326, 333, 329. $. 327,331, 334,336. Augrabies 

 Falls, 90 miles W. of Upington. Mammae 1-2=6. 



" A rock rat. Plentiful on either side of the Orange River 

 betAveen Upington and the Augrabies Falls ; but strictly confined 

 to kopjes and rocky country. Appearing to become rather less 

 plentiful among the hill ranges below the Falls. This may, 

 however, be only a local scarcity owing to a shortage of their 

 favourite food, or on account of frequenting similar situations it 

 may compete with Petromys. 



The occurrence of this rat is easily ascertained, as it closes up 

 the entrances of rock crevices with large masses of small sticks 

 and grass, probably as a protection against enemies, these 



