32 South African Mammals 



Type. Adult female (found making a nest in grass under an iron 

 sheet). B.M., no. 20.8.30.2. Collected by Mr. E. C. Chubb. 



Heller, in describing P. infmitesima, says that it is the smallest 

 African race (always excepting Madagascar). But this position is really 

 held by P. gracilis, described by Blainville in 1838 from the Cape. 

 The head and body of gracilis measure 43, and the tail is 26 mm. 

 P. chriseos, while smaller than infinitesima, is not so minute as 

 gracilis. P. chriseos also differs from them both in colour, and from 

 gracilis again by not having an incrassated tail. 



Another small South African shrew of this genus is P. varilla, 

 Thos., which has long soft variegated fur, and a skull of 17*4 mm. 



21. — Sylvisorex gemmeus sheppardi, sub-sp. nov. 



A large form of gemmeus. The colour is rather lighter than 

 Ridgway's " seal-brown " and the under-parts are " smoke-grey." 



Measurements : head and body 83 ; tail 84 ; hind-foot 14 mm. 



Skull (posterior portion damaged) : length of palate on medial line 

 to front of incisors 8'1; upper tooth-row 7*8 ; p 4 -m 2 , 4 mm. 



Hab. Yumba, Gorongoza, P.E.A., Alt. 4,300'. 



Type. Adult male. B.M., no 20.8.30.1. Collected by Mr. P. A. 

 Sheppard (original no. 2). 



This long-tailed shrew is distinguished from the other forms of 

 gemmeus by its larger size and its comparatively shorter tail. 



22. — Crocidura nyans^:, Neum. 



$ . 57. Yumba, Gorongoza, P.E.A. 

 Indistinguishable from nyansai of the Lakes and Sudan. 



23. — Crocidura flavescens, Geoff. 



$. 22, 58, 100. ?. 95. M'Fongosi, Zululand. 



$ . 1002, 1003, 1029. Port St. John district, W. Pondoland. 



9. 319. Estcourt, Natal. 



$ . 39. XJmkomaas, Natal. 



- . 12th July, 1911. Pirie, Kingwilliamstown, Cape Colony. 



