294 Report on a Zoological collection [No. 4, 



into deserted ant-liills, and under dead trees. The testes of the male 

 are enormous ; and the colour of the coat is glossy and brilliant." 



*Pectinatoh (n. g.) Spekei, nobis, n. s. " Common Bat. Ba- 

 rabdubl, cUSv^j. Inhabits stony ground, like the Hyrax." This 

 highly interesting rodent belongs to a peculiar N. African group, of 

 which one species only appears hitherto to be tolerably known, 

 the Ctenodactyltjs Massonii, Gray.* The animals of this group 

 are clad with delicately soft fur, have very long moustaches, and 

 four toes only on each foot. The palms and soles are naked, the 

 latter to the heel or tarsal joint ; and the entire length of the tarse 

 is brought to the ground when walking. Over each claw is a curv- 

 ing tuft of stiffish bristles, more conspicuously developed on the 

 hind-feet ; and the innermost toe of the hind-foot has a peculiar 

 combing apparatus, which has been described by Mr. Tarrell in 

 the instance of Ctenodacttlus Massonii. " With this comb- 

 like instrument," remarks that naturalist, " the little animals were 

 observed [in the London Zoological Grarden] to be continually 

 dressing their soft fur • and the facility with which they managed 

 to reach every part of each lateral half with the toe of the foot 



* Vide a notice of the anatomy of this animal, by Mr. Yarrell, in Proc. Zool. 

 Soc. 1831, p. 49. A second species would seem to exist in the Mus gundi, 

 Rothman, or Gundi Marmot of Pennant's * Zoology ;' which, being described to be 

 of the "size of a small Rabbit," and of a " testaceous-red colour," can scarcely 

 (as remarked by Dr. Gray) be specifically identical with Ct. Massonii, even 

 though from the same country — Barbary. The fur of Ct. Massonii is pale 

 yellowish-brown ; and its tail is described by Mr. Yarrell to be 1 in. long. The 

 Gundi is merely stated to have a " short tail." Accordingly, the following (obvi- 

 ously another of the same group and region), with rudimentary tail " but just 

 perceptible to the touch," is probably a third species, which was observed by 

 Capt. Lyon in the mountains north of Tripoli. That traveller informs us, that — 

 *| It much resembles a Guinea-pig in form, but is of a light brown mouse-colour. 

 Fur longer than that of a Rat, and very silky ; eyes black, large, and prominent. 

 Orifices of ears, which are quite flat against the sides of the head, also black, and 

 free from hair : the tail, or rather a little stump in place of one, is just perceptible 

 by the touch, and from it grows a tuft or bunch of long black hairs. The body 

 is very round and fat, and particularly broad at the shoulders. These animals 

 burrow amongst the rocks. They are eaten with great relish by the natives, 

 and no doubt are very good, as the flesh is exceedingly white and fat, and resem- 

 bles that of a Rabbit." ' Travels in Barbary,' p. 32. 



