254 ZOOLOGY. 



after examining my specimens tliat the slight differences 

 of colour upon which H. Alpini was distinguished from 

 H. Brucei are not of specific value, and, in illustration of 

 this fact, I may state that when collecting in Abyssinia 

 I never could quite determine to which of the two 

 forms I should refer specimens. As mentioned before, 

 the amount of variation is very remarkable, and it is not 

 surprising that Dr. Gray should have been misled by the 

 few specimens in his possession. Hyrax ferrugineus 

 is the rufous phase, which is certainly not more than 

 an individual variety ; and the only race about which 

 I ever had the least doubt is H. irroratus, which is 

 the variety with the rudimentary dorsal spot; and in 

 that case also I can see no constant distinction whatever. 

 A large series of my specimens are deposited in the 

 British Museum, and available for comparison, and I 

 feel confident that ^ny one who examines them will 

 qome to the sarae conclusion as myself. 



By far the greatest amount of variation exists amongst 

 the specimens from Adigrat, and there are two of these 

 which differ sp much from the ojihers that they may 

 belong to distinct species. But after my experience 

 pf the variation of which Hyraces are susceptible, I 

 would not think of distinguishing forms on the evidence 

 pf a single specimen. 



The first of these aberrant specimens (No. 786) ap- 

 proaches the type of H. Brucei of Gray ; but it has 

 longer and finer fur, and is greyer and less rufous in 

 colour. The fur is dusky at the base, becoming black 

 near the end, and tipped with white. There is a distinct 



