72 



EINAR LONNBERG, MAMMALS COLLECTED IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 



G. g. emini Wrougthon from Mombuttu, G. g. proparator Wroughton from Ruwenzori, 

 and G. g. olivice Dollma.n from Northern Nigeria. It seems that among such a number 

 of descriptions some would be apphcable to these specimens. This appeared the more 

 Hkely as Thomas recently has referred Giant Rats from Upper Congo to two of the 

 above mentioned subspecies viz. G. g. emini Wkoughton and G. g. dichrurus Osgood, 

 It could thus be expected that the above mentioned seven specimens possibly belonged 

 to the subspecies just mentioned. A comparison with the original descriptions reveals, 

 however, several differences, and it appears therefore the best plan to give a full description 

 of two typical specimens (numbered 151 and 152 in Captain Arrhenius's collection), 

 and then discuss the matter more fully. These two specimens (?? ad.) selected are so 

 similar inter se and with the others with regard to the colour that they can be described 

 with the same words. The only exception is that one adult female among these six appears 

 to have the fur somewhat more worn and a little more bleached than the others. The 

 remaining four specimens are younger animals. 



The two selected specimens may be described as follows. 



Fur rather harsh, 12 — 13 mm. long on back, single hairs even reaching 15 mm. 

 Colour of back very dark brown, most similar to Datjthenay's »warm sepia », but the 

 hairs are very glossy. The fur is basally rather dark grey. On the flanks the colour 

 changes rather abruptly to paler brown which on the lower flanks is rather light »cin- 

 namon» (Dauthenay, Rep. de Coul. 323, 1). Between this colour and the pure white 

 under parts is a very sharp line of demarcation. Upper parts of head and snout like the 

 back, this colour surrounds the eyes; sides of head paler, like the upper parts of the flanks. 

 A rather large white spot behind the vibrissse (this spot is larger in )>n:o 152 )> than in »n:o 

 151 »). The upper parts of the hands and the feet very dark like the back, the outer, or 

 sometimes both sides of the hands margined with white as also is the case with the inner 

 side of the feet; fingers and toes white. The outer half, or less, of the tail whitish. 



Length of head and body (skin) of a female with rather worn teeth about 38 Va cm., 

 tail about 37; hind foot 6,6 cm. 



Skull: Greatest length 



Condylobasal length ... 

 Zygomatic breadth . . . 



Nasals 



Least interorbital breadth 



Diastema 



Palatal foramina .... 

 Upper molar series . . . 

 Breadth of m' 



Greatest breadth across the palate measured 



outside m' 



Breadth of posterior choana; 



N:o 151 in Capt. Akehenius's collection. 

 N:o 152 in Capt. Arrhenius's collection. 



