1905.] MAMMALS PROM ZULULAND. 259 



Type. Male. B.M. no. 97.9.1.32. Original number 177. 

 Collected 2. February, 1895, by Dr. C. I. Forsyth Major. 



This species is at once distinguishable from its mainland ally 

 by its rich brown colour and differently shaped skull. 



11. MiNIOPTERUS SCHREIBERSI Natt. 



d. 921. Xgoye Hills. 



12. Amblysomus iris Thos. & Schw. 



AmUysomxis iris Thos. & Schw. Abstr. P. Z. S. Xo. 18, p. 23, 

 April 25, 1905. 



c? 873. 2 829. Umvolosi Station, 50 m. 



(?) 2 874. Umvolosi Station. 



In view of the considerable cranial and dental differences 

 occurring between the different groups of the Ohrysochlorid^e, we 

 think it advisable to accept the subdivision of the old genus 

 Ch-ysochloris into three, as proposed by Prof. Cope*. All the 

 specimens as yet obtained by Mr. Grant belong to the genus 

 A?nbli/sonius (type A. hottentottus Smith), no members of the 

 genera C'hrysochloris (type C. asiatica Linn.) or Bematiscus (type 

 B. villosibs Smith) having fallen into his hands. 



With regard to the milk-dentition in this group. Dr. Leche 

 has recently shown that the tooth-change takes places at an 

 unusually late period of life, so that there is no cranial evidence 

 of immaturity in specimens still retaining their milk-teeth. It 

 is on account of this obsei'vation that we provisionally assign 

 specimen no. 874 to the same species as 873 and 829, for while it 

 shows no indication of youth the considerable difference between 

 its teeth and those of the others might be explained by a diffei'ence 

 of dentition T. But if this is the case, we practically have to assume 

 that the whole of the Museum series of A. hottentottus are also in 

 the milk-stage, for all have their teeth shaped as in 874 rather than 

 as in 873 and 829. In support of this view, it should l^e noted 

 that these two latter specimens are the only members of the genus 

 which have their molars conspicuously more worn than the teeth 

 anterior to them, thus showing that they at least have their 

 permanent dentition. 



Taking into consideration only the two specimens which are 

 undoubtedly adult, the species may be described as follows : — 



Size markedly smaller than in A. hottentottus, and the claws 

 rather feebler. Nasal pad apparently as in that species. Genei-al 

 colour smoky blackish, the hairs slaty at their bases, dai-k silvery 



* Amer. Nat. xxvi. p. 127 (1892). The uew name founded by Cope, JBematiscus, 

 has the unusual distinction of being omitted from Palmer"s ' Index Generum 

 Mammalium.' Nor is it included in Trouessart's Catalogue, and we owe a knowledge 

 of its existence to our friend Dr. Forsyth Major. 



t We have later found conclusive evidence that the broadly triangular premolars 

 of No. 874, as figured in the Plate, are the milk-teeth. The British Museum has 

 also since received from Mr. C. W. Turner a specimen of A. liottentottus with its 

 permanent dentition in place. — 10 May, 1905. 



