182 
Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
A NEW SHREW FROM PONDOLAND. 
By E. C. Chubb, F.Z.S., Acting Curator, Rhodesia Museum. 
While engaged in working out the collection of South African shrews 
belonging to the Transvaal Museum, I find among them two examples 
of a very distinct new species of Myosorex. In honour of the collector, 
Mr. H. H. Swinny, it may be known as 
MYOSOREX SWINNYI, n. sp. 
A very dark-coloured species with a comparatively large skull. General 
colour of upper surface very dark brown, almost black ; underside a little 
lighter. Hairs on back about 6 mm. long, dark slate-grey for about four- 
fifths of their length, followed by a ring of black, and tipped with brown, 
this latter giving a fine grizzled appearance to the general colour of the 
back. Upper sides of hands and feet black ; claws light-coloured. Tail, 
above and below, black, with very short hairs and scarcely any tuft at 
tip. Skull in general characters similar to that in other members of the 
genus, except that the palate is lengthened anteriorly, with the result that 
the tooth-row measures more than in any of the other species. Main 
cusp of I 1 scarcely exceeding I 2 in downward projection. 
Dimensions of the co-types (measured in the flesh), two females : 
Head and body, 74, 81 mm. ; tail 45, 48 ; hindfoot, 15, 13 ; ear, 11, 9. 
Skulls: Back of condyle to front face of I 1 , 23-5, 24; basal length, 21, 
21 -5 ; greatest breadth across brain -case, 11-2, 11 -4 ; length of upper 
tooth series, 11-7, 11-7. 
Habitat : Port St. John’s District, Western Pondoland. Alt. 200 feet. 
Co-types: Two females. Collector’s numbers : 172, 173. 
Collected 21st and 15th April, 1908, respectively, by Mr. H. H. Swinny. 
Type is in the Transvaal Museum. 
