806 MR. W. E. 1)E WINTON ON SOME llODBNTS [NoV. 17,' 



y. Juv. sk. c? . Mazoe, Mashunaland, 20 August, 1895. 

 ' B. Ad. sis. d . „ „ 5 Septeinbei', 1895. 



■ e. Ad. sk. d- „ „ 7 „ „ 



^. Ad. sk. ? . „ „ 7 „ 



Collector's measurements, taken in the flesh, of a : — Head and 

 body 125 mm. ; tail t) ; hind foot 19. 



" Common. Native name ' Nota.' " — J. ff. D. 



This Rodent was described by Mr. Oldfield Thomas in the 

 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 0, vol. xvi. 1895, p. 239 ; it is dis- 

 tinguished by the clearly-defined triangular pure white spot on the 

 top of the head. The young appear to be mouse-grey and much 

 darker than the drab-coloured adult. 



II. Me. Sblous's Collection. 



Since writing the account of Mr. Darling's collection, the fol- 

 lowing Kodents, collected and presented to the British Museum by 

 Mr. V. C. Selous, have been received. The collection, containing 

 nearly fifty specimens, was made at Essex Vale, about 4500 feet 

 above sea-level, near Buluwayo in Matabelelaud, between the 

 months of August and October 1895, and should have i-eached the 

 Museum in the beginning of this year, but, owing to the disturbances 

 in the lands of the South African Chartered Company, the case 

 containing it was detained at Mafeking for more than six months. 



Besides additional examples of the two new species of Mus 

 described above in Mr. Darling's collection, there are specimens of 

 two undescribed species — an Acomijs, which 1 have great pleasure 

 in naming in honour of the collector, and a Oeorychus, named in 

 honour of the " mighty hunter " ; tlie latter animal is of particuhir 

 interest, as it clearly sliows the geographical distinction in the 

 fauna of these two adjoining districts. 



Mr. Selous had the advantage of the services of Mv. J. Notman 

 in collecting and preserving these specimens ; tlie skins are all of 

 a uniform pattern, thus facilitating comparison enormously, and 

 the skulls are in the most perfect state. I can safely say that this 

 is the best preserved African collection that has ever been received 

 by the British Museum. We may hope to have the distinguished 

 collector among us before long, as I am glad to say he is now on 

 his way home, after the gallant defence of Biduwayo. A second 

 collection which he had hoped to bring with hiin was unfortu- 

 nately burnt by the Matabele at the outset of the rebellion, with 

 the whole of the contents of the pretty homestead of Essex Vale. 



1. Geebillus leucogasteh, Pet. 



6 skins, 7 skulls : 4 ad. d , 2 ad. $ . Sept. and Oct. 



" Trapped by a stream ; common." — F. O. S. 



There can be little doubt that these belong to Prof. Peters's 

 species ; unfortunately they are rather young, none of them having 

 the teeth much worn. In contrast to the series of O. afer in 



