314 MR. OLDFIELD THOMAS ON [iSTov. 4, 



remarks on its molar differences) as an Arvicanthis, but which I 

 think is also more nearly allied to Pelomys. From that species- 

 P. harringtoni differs by its striped belly and smaller molars. 



1 have named this handsome and remarkable species, which is 

 distinguished from all its allies by the brilliant striping of its 

 under surface, in honour of Col. Harrington, the British Resident 

 at Addis Ababa, to whose assistance all British travellers in 

 Abyssinia are so much indebted. 



With regard to the use of the name Pelomys, a genus of recent 

 years synonymized with the Indian Golunda, I have come to the 

 conclusion that after all the two forms may well be considered 

 as generically distinct. Like as they are in external chai-acters, 

 and in skull and incisor structure, the molars of the two groups 

 show such differences in detail that, combined with the different 

 geographical distribution, I think it would be best to keep them 

 apart. While the molars of Pelomys are of fairly normal murine 

 structure, with subequal anterior accessory tubercles, m^ and m^ 

 of Golunda have their antero-internal tubercles hypertrophied 

 and their antero- external ones minute or obsolete, so as to give a 

 peculiar oblique appearance to the teeth. In outline the latter are 

 also broader, shorter, and less narrowed posteriorly. The teeth 

 of Golunda have been well figured by Blanford ^ and those of 

 Pelomys by Peters ^. 



Even after the removal of Golunda it is by no means certain 

 that Pelomys domheensis and P. harringtoni, with their almost 

 ungrooved incisors, ought to be considered as congeneric with 

 P. fallax, but I do not care to separate them without seeing what 

 representative forms occur in the intermediate countries. 



20. LOPHUROMYS FLAVOPUNCTATUS Thos. 



2 c? , 2 $ . Addis Ababa, 8000 feet. February and March. 

 cJ , Yah-Yah, Shoa. 18 April. 



The type of this species, which was discovered by Sir W. C. 

 Harris during his Mission to Shoain 1843, was probably obtained 

 at Ankober, about 100 miles N.E. of Addis Ababa. 



As is usual in this genus, the beEies of these specimens vary 

 considerably in the intensity of their yellowish suffusion, the two 

 females being the most strongly coloured. The upper surfaces 

 are also by no means uniform in tone. 



21. MuRicuLUS iMBERBis Riipp. 



o. Zige, Lake Tsana, 4000 feet. 1 June. 



MuRicuLUS, gen. nov. 



Size very small ; proportions about as in LopTitiromys. Hind 

 feet with the fifth digit short, though not quite so shoi-t as the 

 hallvix. Claws small, not markedly elongated. 



1 Mamm. Lid. p. 427 (1891). 



2 Keise Mossamb., Mamm. pi. xsxv. fig. 9 (1852). 



