1903.] MAMMALS OF CYPRUS. 345 



The type is now No. 3.12.4.23 of the British Museum Collection. 



The Cypriote Shrew in the colour of its winter coat resembles 

 the browner and less speckled specimens from Western Europe, 

 although the average length of the hairs is very much less, being 

 3-5 mm. as opposed to 5 mm. In summer the hairs are shorter 

 still, avei-aging only 2-5 mm. ; also at this season the fur of the 

 dorsal region is much lighter and greyer. 



I have been unable to find any previous record of the occur- 

 rence of a Shrew in Cyprus, and it seems likely that it is not 

 very plentiful, for I succeeded in trapping only three specimens, 

 all of them being caught within a hundred yards of the same 

 place. This was close to a stream, flanked by steep banks thickly 

 clothed with grass, brambles, and other plants, not far from 

 Papho in the south-west of the island. 



10. VuLPES VULPES (Linn.). 



It was expected that the Cypriote Fox would resemble that of 

 Syria., which is evidently identical with the V.j)ersica of Blanford *. 

 However it is quite distinct, being a small red form very similar 

 both in size and coloration, though somewhat yellower dorsally, 

 to a specimen from Asia Minor in the National Collection, the 

 skull of which was unfortunately not preserved. 



The Cypriote race probably ought to be included in one of the 

 subspecies of the typical form, and may perhaps be found to be 

 identical with the Fox of Southern Europe ( V. melanogaster of 

 Bonaparte) t. Its skull agrees in size with that of V. v. mgyptiaca. 



Five specimens of this fox were procured, four in thick winter 

 coats and one in summer, which latter was shot on Troodos at a 

 height of about 6000 feet above sea-level. In this the fur is very 

 thin and scanty, and except on the head and limbs has lost almost 

 all trace of red or tawny colouring, being brown on the back and 

 dull brownish white on the underparts. 



It is commonly found all over Cyprus, and is the only wild 

 carnivore known to occur in the island at the present day. It is 

 especially plentiful about the cliffs of Cape Pyla, where the natives 

 shoot large numbers in winter, selling the skins to be made into 



11. Mus RATTUS Linn. 



This species is represented in Cyprus by the brown form with 

 lemon-white underparts (il/. tectorum, Savi). In spite of the 

 reward offered by Government for the destruction of these rats in 

 the port-towns (to guard against the introduction of the bubonic 

 plague by their means), they are excessively common, being found 

 everywhere, both in or near buildings and at a distance from any 

 inhabited houses. Mr. Gennadius, Director of Agriculture in 



* Zool. East. Persia, 1876, p. 39, pi. 11. 

 t Icon. Fauna Ital. 1832, i. pi. i. 



