Contribution to the Knoioledge of the Cape Golden Moles. 285 



This large vesicular outgrowth is formed to accommodate the enor- 

 mous head of the malleus. It has been described by Hyrtl, by 

 Dobson, and more recently by van Kampen. It is larger in C. 

 asiatica than in any of the other small species known, and is very 

 constant in size and shape. For convenience it will be referred to 

 hereafter as the temporal bulla. 



The general structure of the teeth is well known. In the lower 

 premolars and molars there is no trace of the posterior talon. 



Very little is as yet known of the early development of C. asiatica. 

 Newly-born specimens were obtained near Capetown on July 14th 

 and at Stellenbosch on June 1st, and other very young specimens 

 have been obtained at Stellenbosch during July and August. A fairly 

 well-grown but young specimen was got at beginning of June. From 

 these data we are probably justified in concluding that the breeding 

 season is from April to July. At birth the young animal measures 

 about 47 mm. when stretched straight, and the skull measures 

 16 mm. in length. The skin is practically hairless, only a few short 

 hairs appearing on the forehead. The newly-born young are fairly 

 active little animals, which move about in a manner somewhat 

 recalling young pigs, and the resemblance is rather increased by 

 their giving little grunting-like squeaks. How long the young take 

 to reach maturity is unknown, but it seems not unlikely that it is 

 between two and three months. A very remarkable feature in the 

 development is that the teeth do not cut the gum till the young 

 animal is almost full grown. In one specimen in which the skull 

 measures 22 mm. only the tips of 8 teeth — two in each jaw — are 

 through the gum. From this, and from the fact that these well- 

 developed young are not found in the runs but in the nests, we may 

 infer that the young are suckled by the mothers till they are prac- 

 tically full grown. As at this stage the skull has attained almost its 

 full length, all the teeth are well developed, and, with the exception 

 of the last two molars, come through the gum practically simul- 

 taneously, and the two posterior teeth come through very soon 

 afterwards. This first set of teeth, made up of deciduous incisors, 

 canines, and premolars, with true molars, is the set that seems to 

 last the greater part of the animal's life. Leche "^^ discovered young 

 replacing teeth in two specimens, and considers he has obtained 

 skulls with the permanent incisors, canines, premolars, and true 

 molars. At Stellenbosch I have seen no specimens in this condi- 



* There is some doubt about the species of Leche's specimens. The figures are 

 quite like those of G. asiatica, but the measurements given — 16 mm. to 18 mm. — 

 are much too small for this species, of which I have seen no adult specimen with a 

 skull under 22 mm. 



