MAMMALS FROM EGYPT AND SINAI. 227 



snout is, in life, rathei' more pointed, though this character is 

 not obvious in the skull. In size they are a trifle larger and 

 with a rather shorter tail. 



The skull differs from that of M. c. sellysii in having a rather 

 longer and narrower appearance. This is chiefly due to the 

 slightly greater length of the auditory bullae, which also pi'oject 

 farther behind from the base of the skull, and the skull itself 

 is slightly narrower at its posterior margin. 



Measurements of the type {\\\ the flesh).— Head and body 

 127 mm. ; tail 110 ; hind foot 28 ; ear 17. 



Skull of type— Greatest length 39 mm., basal length 34, 

 greatest breadth 23 ; palatal length 17 ; diastema 10 ; lengtli of 

 bulla? 16-5 ; length of molar series 5-5. 



T'y/^e. Coll. J. L. B. No. 313. 6. Atbara, Sudan. Collected 

 by Capt. S. S. Flower. 



The genus Meriones is one which ofl[ers great difliculties to the 

 systematic worker, as the different forms reseml)le each other 

 very closely and have at various times been burdened with many 

 names and but imperfect descriptions. 



The forms dealt with at present are, however, fairly distinct ; 

 the larger size and long and stout tail easily distinguish the 

 typical crassus. M. c. sellysii (Tripoli and L. Egypt) is smaller, 

 with a less pointed snout, rather paler in colour, and with longer 

 and more conspicuous black tips to the hairs of the back. 

 M. c. paUidus (Sudan) resembles M. c. sellysii, except in its much 

 paler coloration. In life, however, the Sudan form has a more 

 pointed snout, approaching in this character true cnissus. From 

 a comparison of the measurements below it will be seen that it 

 is ;ilso slightly larger. 



Head and body. 



il/. n'«ss»s, 1 example $ .... 139 mm. 



M. c. sellysii, av. 4 examples 126-5 „ 



M. c.pallidus, „ 4 ,, 131 ,, 



M.shat'nmelaJiunts, I ex. 2 1^9 ?> 



In order to prevent any misunderstanding in the future, I may 

 mention that these measurements and other particulars are all 

 taken from wild specimens and do not in any way refer to a 

 large series of these animals that I have bred in confinement. 



Meriones shawi melanurus Riipp. 



Meriones shami Rozet, Voy. reg. d'Alger, p. 243 (sine descr.) 

 (1833) ; Cuvier, Le9ons d'Anat. Comp. iv, 2nd ed. 2nd part, 

 p. 456 (1835) ; Uuvernoy, Mem. Soc. Strasb. iii. p. 22, pis. 1 et 2 

 (1842). 



Meriones melanurus Riipp. Mas. Senck. iii. p. 95, pi. 7. fig. 3 

 (1845). 



a. $ ad. Near Alexandria, Egypt. 



This species, which is the one figured by Dr. Anderson, is easily 



15* 



