294 Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 



varieties, however, differ only in fur and in size, and have at least 

 no marked characters in dentition or cranial structure by which they 

 can be distinguished, I hardly feel inclined to regard the forms as 

 equally entitled to specific rank with those species which have well- 

 marked distinguishing characters in skull and teeth. 



There is some doubt about the name that ought to be used for the 

 typical form. Dobson adopts Wagner's name, C. rutilans, as he first 

 correctly defined the species. Thomas and Schwann, however, are 

 satisfied that Smith's type, of which the skin is still in the British 

 Museum, belongs to the same species as Wagner's animal. 



Smith's type came from the Eastern Province, and has reddish 

 fur, and w^e are probably justified in concluding, as Thomas and 

 Schwann have apparently done, that the reddish mole of the Grahams- 

 town district and elsewhere in the Eastern Province is the typical 

 C. hottentota. 



I have had an opportunity, through the kindness of Dr. Schonland 

 and Dr. Duerden, of examining the extensive collections of moles in 

 the Albany Museum, mostly from the neighbourhood of Grahams- 

 town. 



These Grahamstown moles are mostly reddish brown, but many 

 are quite dark on the back. Then again there is a very considerable 

 degree of variation in size met with, the lengths (head and body) 

 varying from 100 to 125 mm., and the skull lengths from 23 to 28 mm. 

 Between the light and the dark varieties there are all degrees of 

 intermediate tints. Were the reddish forms got in one locality and 

 the very dark brown forms in another one might be tempted to make 

 two sub-species of them, even though there be no cranial or dental 

 characters by which they can be distinguished. But being found 

 together it seems advisable to regard them as belonging to the same 

 variety. 



The following is a brief description of a typical example of the 

 light and dark specimens : — 



Specimen No. 293, Albany Museum. Fur on middle of back very 

 dark brown, becoming more reddish on approaching the sides. On 

 sides reddish brown ; on abdomen light reddish brown. The under 

 fur on back, sides, and abdomen is slate-coloured, the brown being 

 entirely due to the flat portions of the long hairs. Towards the- 

 occiput the under fur becomes lighter, and on reaching the frontal 

 region it becomes straw-coloured. On the brow and snout the 

 general colour is still very dark brown owing to the longer hairs 

 having the tips dark. On the lower part of the cheeks the long hairs 

 also become light-coloured, and from here round the chin they are 

 pale reddish brown. 



