MESOCRICETUS 



605 



peculiarities in colour described by Nehring, but agree perfectly 

 in this respect with those from central Germany. The small 

 size of their skulls, however, is too pronounced a character to 

 permit the name canescens to be placed in the synonymy of true 

 cricetus. 



2 <5, 1 al. Tirlemont, Belgium. Rev. L. Warnau (p). 8. 11. 23. 1-3. 



Cricetus cricetus nehringi Matschie. 



1901. Cricetus nehringi Matschie, Sitz.-Ber., Gesellsch. Naturforsch. 



Freunde, Berlin, p. 232. 

 1910. Cricetus cricetus nehringi Trouessart, Faune Mamm. d'Europe, 



p. 160. 



Type locality. — Described from specimens from Slobosia, 

 Cernavoda, and Barza, Roumania. The first may be assumed to 

 be the type locality. 



Geographical distribution. — Known only from a few localities 

 in Roumania. 



Diagnosis. — Externally as in 0. cricetus cricetus, but tail 

 apparently shorter ; skull small, as in C. c. canescens, the brain- 

 case noticeably depressed posteriorly and truncation of occipital 

 region more oblique than in the other races, the angle of the 

 slope as referred to plain of base of brain-case about 60°. 



Colour. — The colour does not appear to differ appreciably 

 from that of true C. cricetus, though in the one adult examined 

 the light thigh spot is barely indicated by a few scattered 

 whitish hairs. 



Measurements. — External measurements of adult (from well- 

 made skin) : head and body, 230 ; tail, 28 ; hind foot, 30 • 6 ; ear 

 from meatus, about 22. For cranial measurements see Table 

 opposite. 



Specimen examined. — An adult from Bucharest, Boumania (U.S.N.M.). 



Genus MESOCRICETUS Nehring. 



1898. Mesocricetus Nehring, Zool. Anzeiger, xxi, p. 494, September 5, 

 1898 (Sub-genus of Cricetus). 



1898. Semicricetus Nehring, Zool. Anzeiger, xxi, p. 494, footnote (Alterna- 

 tive for Mesocricetus). 



1898. Mediocricetus Nehring, Zool. Anzeiger, xxi, p. 494, footnote (Alter- 

 native for Mesocricetus). 



1900. Mesocricetus Satunin, Zool. Anzeiger, xxm, p. 301, May 28, 1900 

 (genus). 



Type species. — Cricetus nigricans Brandt. 



Geographical distribution. — Caspian region and Asia Minor, 

 west into eastern Roumania and Bulgaria. Limits of range not 

 known. 



Diagnosis. — Externally as in Cricetus, but tail shorter than 



