1896.] FBOM BMTISn SOUTH AFRICA. , 799 



,of all the species in spirit, and also more extensive Seld-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 Europe. 



The collection contains 47 specimens, referable to 16 species, 

 all belonging to the family Muridce, 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 Sciurus 

 being found (one of which, Sc. eepapi, 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 t)ie partiality sliown by the natives for small Rodents 

 as I'ooil ; those animals, owing to tlieir diurnal and climbing habits, 

 being more easily found than rnts 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 aro 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 iu this 

 paper. At the same time one or two of these are not in any way 

 confined to the Mashunalaiid plateau, but have simply been con- 

 fused with other species, and perhaps, from being rather common, 

 have been considered not worth sending home. 



1. MtOXUS (ElIOMYS) NAIsfUS, sp. n. 



Ad. skin. c5' . Mazoe, Mashunaland, 21 July, 1895. 



" Lives in trees and roofs of huts. Native name ' Sinde- 

 wara.' " — J. ff. D. 



Collectors measurements, taken in the flesh, of type 95.8.27.4 in 

 Brit. Mug. : — 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 205 ; henselion to back of palate 8 ; palate to 

 foramen mag. 10-5 ; molar series 3 ; diastema 5 ; mandible, depth 

 at coronoid 6'3 ; tips of incisors to condyle 14"5, 



Peoo. Zool. Soo.— 1896, No. LII. 52 



