708 Mit. A. loveridge: notes on 



was to uncover the hole and blow down the entrance, when the 

 blesmol would return to block it up. You must then prevent its 

 return by pushing a stick behind it before it can get back. He 

 stated that he caught the male in this way. 



The stomachs contained finely-gnawed greenish and whitish 

 matter impossible of identification. The natives sny they esvt 

 ground-nuts ( = monkey nuts). 



I was told that only females are found, and that possibly males 

 do not come near the surface. This idea has probably arisen 

 from the fact that the testicles are internal, and the penis con- 

 cealed in a vulva-like opening from which it can be extruded. 



The claws of one specimen were sheathed in caked soil, and the 

 silky fur of both had many blobs of the same attached very firmly 

 to the hairs, which do not appear to be so well adapted to the 

 burrowing habits of the blesmol as are those of an English mole. 



The only parasites present were some very small mites running 

 over the white skin. 



T H R Y O N O M Y I D JE. 



Thryoxomys swinderianus varieqatus Peters. 



The Kiswahili name of Ndesi for the Cane-Rat is in general use 

 throughout the country, and is the only one known to the 

 Wakami, "Wasagara, and Wagogo. 



Two specimens from Myombo; it was also seen at Mkindo 

 River and Madaziui, all localities in the Kilosa sub-district. 



Of three specimens examined the only adult was a male (394. 

 143. 70. 39 mm.), which was shot when entering a down-pointing 

 gun-trap baited with a live goat ! The largest female measured 

 340. 112. 60. 29 mm., and Avas speai-ed by a native as it ran 

 across the road. 



Both my spocimons liad fleas (Oleiioce2)halnsfelis) pros(u>t, and 

 the head of the female was burdened with numerous grey ticks 

 (lihipicephalus simus Koch). One specimen was infested wilh 

 two species of lice yScijno aulacodis Neum. and Tricodestes launyos 

 Stebbe). 



Leporid.e. 



Lepus victori.e Thos. 



Ilai'es are known as Sungura in Kiswahili, Buga in Kikanii, 

 Kisungula in Kisagara, Sungula in Cliigogo, and fcSiyi in 

 Kisukuma. 



Five specimens collected at Mbulu's, Mdjengo's, Usshora, and 

 Sa^ayo. Hares are easier to see than piocure, however, and 

 (spp. non (let.) were met with at Kimamba, Kipera, Mpanira- 

 kwa-Sagoi, Ndogwe, Mtali's, Lalago, and ]\lwadira. 



The Sagayo male (450. 95. 100. 130 mm.) in the Game Dopt. 

 collection was taken in a gin sot in a burrow, which rather 



