PETROMYS TYPICUS. 
\ 
1 a. 
1 b. 
1 c. 
1 d. 
1 <?. 
If- 
1 9 - 
1 h. 
1 i. 
1 k. 
1 1 
A view of the upper surface of the skull, of its natural size. 
A lateral view of the skull ditto. 
A lateral view of the lower jaw ditto. 
The under or basal aspect of the skull, of double the natural size. 
The lower jaw ditto. 
The liver, consisting of two lobes, the left deeply trifid. 
The stomach, the smallest tube, the oesophagus. 
The ccecum, the longest tube, entering at the small intestines. 
The spleen. 
The right kidney. 
The impregnated uterus. This organ is bicornute, and two ova were contained in 
the left cornu. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from the nose to the base of 
the tail 7 3 
of the tail 5 3 
of the head I 
Inches. Lines. 
Distance between the tip of the nose 
and the eye 3 10 
Distance between the eye and the ear 0 14 
Iieight at the shoulder 2 9 
The colours of the female are not quite so clear as those of the male. 
This little animal is found upon the rocky hills which occur towards the mouth of the 
Orange River ; and it lives under the loose stones which are strewed over the surface, or m 
the crevices of rocky precipices, where such exist. It seems to feed principally upon vege- 
tables, and the flowers of certain synganesious plants, particularly those of a species of 
Senecio, which, at the time I visited the district in which the animal appears only to exist, 
formed its favourite diet. To obtain those flowers, it was frequently observed seated upon 
rocks or stones, near to where they were growing ; and by means of its fore feet, bringing 
them into positions in which they could be conveniently consumed. When feeding, it showed 
little fear of man ; and unless closely approached, continued actively devouring flower after 
flower, although it could not have been insensible to its being observed and watched. When 
frightened, however, by too close an approach, it immediately fled to its hiding place ; which, 
as already mentioned, was either under a loose stone, or in the crevice of a rock ; and when it 
took to such, under the circumstances mentioned, it seldom left them again, until the object 
which had excited its fears had disappeared. 
