496 MESSRS. OLDFIELD THOMAS AND M. A. C. HINTON ON 



This is one of the species that is said occasionally to occur in 

 large quantities. This is a peculiarity of many of the small 

 Karroo rodents, which may in some cases be a migratory move- 

 ment, but it is equally probable that at times a favourable 

 season, or temporary absence of some plague or enemy, enables 

 them to breed in abnormal numbers." 



26. Pedetes cafer Pall. 



(S . 122, 208, 220, 222, 223, 320. $ .' 41 , 165, 174, 207, 218, 

 219, 231. Louisvale. 



" Nocturnal. Plentiful around Louisvale, especinlly near 

 cultivation. Rather stupid and clumsy, and, although somewhat 

 similar to, possessing little of the agility of a Wallaby or even the 

 Australian Kangaroo Rat (Beltongia), which perhaps they more 

 resemble in their movements and habits. 



Easy to shoot with a lantern at night. Normally, when 

 hunted; they make for the nearest burrow. Their large burrows, 

 w}uch occasionally have an emergency outlet, nre usually excavated 

 in open sandy patches." 



27. PLySTRIX AFRICiE-AUSTRALIS Pet.' 



351. Skull only. Upington district. 



Apparently rather rare generally, although probably occurring 

 wherever there are lai-ge enough areas of broken locky country 

 to afford them plenty of cover. 



Tracks, shed quills, and old burrows were observed near and 

 below the Augrabies Falls. 



28. Petromys typicus A. Sm. 



cS. 330, 337. ?. 341. Augrabies Falls, Orange River, 90 

 miles W. of Upington. 2000'. 



■ $. 346, 347. Below Augrabies Falls, 100 miles W. of 

 Upington. 1500'. 



Comparing this series with the set obtained by Mr. Grant 

 at Klipfontein, Namaqualand, thei-e seems at first sight a 

 good deal of difference in colour, the present series being 

 paler. This difference, however, proves to be due to season, 

 those from Klipfontein having been collected in the winter 

 and those from Augrabies Falls in the summer. Moreover, 

 some of the latter show new hair, as strongly coloured as in 

 the Klipfontein specimens, pushing through the old blackened 

 fur. 



"First obtained among hills and rocks at the Augrabies 

 Falls, afterwards in similar localities twelve miles below. 

 Although it was easy to ascertain where they occurred, they 

 did not appear to be particularly plentiful, and were not leadily 

 trapped. This may be the eastern limit of their range, 

 although possibly extending as far as a line of rocky hills that 



