5' 



i^ 



[ 481 ] 



RUWENZORI EXPEDITION REPORTS. 



17. MAMMALIA. 

 £t/ Oldfield Thomas, F.E.S., F.Z.S., and R. C. Weoughtox, F.Z.S. 



Received October 21, read November 17, 1908. 



[Plates XX.-XXIV.*] 



The collection of Mammalia formed by the members of the Ruwenzori Expedition 

 is, perhaps, both for number and quality, the finest ever made in any one locality in 

 Africa, the British Museum set alone consisting of 363 f perfectly prepared modern 

 skins and 62 spirit-specimens, representing 85 species and subspecies, of which no less 

 than 34 have proved to be new. In addition, a considerable number of duplicates 

 have been distributed. 



This excellent result is due partly to the extreme richness of the Fauna, which 

 combines elements of Congo, Cameroons, Uganda, and Great Lakes origin, and partly 

 to the fact that no less than three members of the Expedition had had previous and 

 successful experience in mammal-collecting — Messrs. Woosnam and Dent in Bechuana- 

 land, and Mr, Carruthers in Palestine. All were trained and enthusiastic trappers, 

 and, as a result, in spite of the climatic conditions under which they worked, the 

 preparation of the skins is absolutely perfect. 



So rich and varied, however, is the Fauna of Ruwenzori that no doubt much still 

 remains to be done, especially among such forms as are not to be obtained by trapping, 

 the list of Monkeys, Bats, and Ungulates being particularly likely to be increased in 

 the future, while the series of Rodents is probably more complete in proportion than 

 that of any other group. 



As was to be expected, a considerable number of new species were discovered by 

 the Expedition, many of them of a very striking and distinct character. Particularly 

 noticeable are Cercopithecus denti, Bousettus lanosus (the Mountain Fruit-Bat), 

 Lophuromys woosnami, Otomys dartmoiitld, and Funisciunis carriithersi. 



* For explanation of the Plates, see pp. 520-528. 



t Of these, 42 specimens were obtained by Mr. Douglas Carruthers on Lake Eivu and the Upper Congo 

 after the main work of the Expedition was over, including the new forms Cercopithecus leucamjayx aurora, 

 Fimisciurus antonice, and Lophuromys laiiceps, 



VOL. XIX. — PAET V. No. 63. — March, 1910. 3 s 



