174 MESSRS. O. THOMAS ANB H. SCHWANN ON [Feb. 2, 



4. Mackoscblides rupestris Smith. 



c^ . 510, 453, 501, 425. $ . 390, 468, 477. Klipfontein. 



M. rupestris was first obtained by Smith from the " rocky 

 mountains of I^^amaqualand," so that these specimens are practi- 

 cally topotypes. 



The same author's M. edwarcli is commonly considered to be a 

 synonym of M. rupestris, but among Mr. Grant's collection from 

 Deelfontein there is a series of a Macroscelides apparently distinct 

 from the latter and probably referable to edioarcU. This animal 

 is darker and more greyish, its tail is less heavily pencilled, and 

 its eyes have scarcely a trace of white rings. 



" ' Oliphant-muis ' or ' Klas-nese ' of the Dutch. 



" Found only on the kopjes and in stony places. Remarkably 

 quick when distui'bed in getting from I'ock to rock and disappearing 

 from view. It is cuiious to watch it dusting itself in some patch 

 of loose sand among the rocks, its actions reminding one very 

 much of a dog."— 0. H. B. G. 



5. Macroscelides melanotis Ogiib. 



cJ. 461, 393, 409. $. 423, 484, 433, 435, 531, 519. Klip- 

 fontein. 



2 . 555. Port Nolloth. 



This good series enables us to make for the fii-st time a reliable 

 comparison betAveen M. melanotis and its ally AT. proboscideiis. 



The formei' pi'oves to be readily distinguishable by its much palei' 

 colour throughout and by its blacker and more heavily tufted tail. 



" ' Oliphant-muis' or ' Klas-nese ' of the Dutch. 



" Found only 'on the flats among the rocks and other cover. 

 When disturbed it dodges round bushes and across open places at 

 an amazing rate, with its tail in the air, fi'equently taking cover 

 in the nest of Otomys hroomi. 



" Often observed in pairs."— 0. H. B. G. 



6. Myosorex varius Smuts. 

 S . 438. Port Nolloth. 



Quite similar in colour to a series from the slopes of Table 

 Mountain. 



This specimen is abnoimal in not having any trace of the 

 minute premolars, the fourth unicuspids, ut^ually present just 

 anterior to the lai-ge p'. in the uppei- jaw. Out of ;ibout a dozen 

 examples from the Cape the same abnormality occurs on both 

 sides in one skull, and on one side in another. 



" ' Skearer-muis ' of the Dutch. 



" One specimen was sent to me from Port Nolloth, but I could 

 not find out exactly where it had been caught." — C H. B. G. 



7. Felis caffra Desm. 



cT. 512, 456. $ . 492, 509, 479, 463. Klipfontein. 



" ' Wilde-kat ' of the Dutch. 



" Not particularly common, frequenting the kloofs and clumps 



