94 THE SMALLER FAUNA OF MOUNT ELGON 
The new genus Uranomys, closely allied to Loyhuromys, is 
a large mouse or small rat of a dark chestnut colour and fur of 
a springy texture. It has a delicate skin which breaks on the 
least provocation in skinning. 
Of rats and mice it is of course difficult to give an interesting 
account as to their life history ; and descriptions of form, size 
and coloration and near relations would be still more difficult 
in such a superficial account as this is meant to be. The large 
series of forty mole-rats or Tachyoryctes (means £ swift digger ’) 
in this, the Rudd collection, which I sent home has enabled 
Mr. Oldfield Thomas to distinguish no fewer than six new species 
of this genus and one new subspecies, which were hitherto 
undeterminable. With the large series of skulls and skins 
one can get a sort of foundation which greatly helps in judging 
isolated specimens from other localities. Mr. Oldfield Thomas 
describes the mole-rats from this part of the world as follows : — 
Tachyoryctes ankolice 
„ daemon 
„ ruddi 
„ storey i 
,, naivashce 
of Uganda, 
of Kilimanjaro, 
of Elgon, 
of Elmenteita. 
of Naivasha. 
syalacinus of Kenya. 
and a subspecies of T. ruddi from Eldoma ravine. These 
mole-rats are much alike externally but their cranial or skull 
characteristics differ considerably. In size, also, they show 
a great difference. 
Two specimens of Cricetomys, an exceedingly large rat, 
were obtained at the unusually high altitude of 8000 to 10,000 
feet. They prove to be a new subspecies allied most nearly 
to the Ruwenzori form. Family groups of three to six individ- 
uals travel through the forest in Indian file and will climb the 
very large trees of which there are some real monsters on 
Elgon at 9000 to 10,000 feet. My measurements of this animal 
are recorded as 880 mm. for the length of the head and body 
and 440 mm. the length of the tail, making a total of 820 mm. 
Expressed in our English terms the total length is, therefore, 
82J inches, quite a double handful to pick up. And a nasty, 
disagreeable animal it is to skin. Its naked tail flops round 
