2S2 
THE MAMMALS OE EGYPT. 
ACOMYS. 
Acomys, Is. GeofFr. Ann. Sci. Nat. 2' ser. x. 1838^ p. 126. 
Hair generally coarse and flattened over the greater part of the body, and forming 
inflexible spines on the back. Dentition as in Mus. The palatal surface of the skull 
is considerably modified, the posterior narial opening being extremely narrow, the 
pterygoid fossae very shallow, and the auditory bullm very small. The pads of the feet 
each with an auxiliary smaller pad. Mammae 6—one pair axillary, two inguinal. 
Aristotle (Hist. Anim. vi. xxx. 3) says Egyptian mice have hair nearly resembling 
that of the hedgehog. 
Acomys cahieixus, Desmar. (Plate XLVII.) 
Mus cahirinus, E. Geoffr. Cat. Mus. Paris (nom. nud.); Desmarest, Diet. Hist. Nat. xxix. 1819, p. 70 
(partim); id. Ency. Meth., Mamm. 1822, p. 309 (partim); Licht. Verz. Doubl. Berlin, 1823, 
p. 2 ; Desm. Diet. Sei. Nat. xlix. 1826, p. 482 (partim); Brants, Muizen, 1827, p. 153; Lieht. 
Darstellung, 1829, pi. 37. fig. i.; Cretzsehm. Eiipp. Atlas, p. 38, pi. 13. fig. b ; Is. Geoffr. Ann. 
Sei. Nat. 1838, p. 126; Wagner, Sebreb. Saug. Supp. hi. 1843, p. 440 (partim). 
Acomys cahirinus, Is. Geoffr. Ann. Sei. Nat. 2'" ser. x. 1838, p. 126; Sundev. K. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 
1842 (1843), p. 222; Heuglin, Reise N.O.-Afr. ii. 1877, p. 69; Tristram, Faun. Palest. 1884, 
p. 10, fig. sup. 
? . Gizeh. Dr. J. Anderson. British Museum, No. 92.9.9.56. 
2$. Mahallet-el-Kebir. Mr. G. H. Kent. British Museum, No. 92.9.9.57-8. 
cJ. Minia. Major R. H. Brown, R.E., C.M.G. 
J. Houses of Suez. 
$ . Wadi Haifa. Major H. d’A. Harkness. 
2 3'. Assuan. Dr. J. Anderson. British Museum, No. 92.9.9.59-60. 
$. Beni Hasan. Mr. M. W. Blaekden. British Museum, No. 92.9.9.61. 
Snout rather sharply pointed; ears large, rounded, and when laid forwards reaching 
to or a little beyond the inner canthus of the eye. General colour dark sooty fuscous ot 
slate-grey, paler on the sides and under surface ; the hand from the wrist and the toes of 
hind foot Avhitish; the ears, which are almost nude, and the tail dark sooty grey. The 
conch, externally at its base, the skin around the mouth, and the naked skin of the feet 
dusky fleshy white. From behind the shoulder to the tail the back is clad with stiff 
spines, increasing in length as they pass backwards. In outline they are concave 
anteriorly and convex posteriorly, a form which is even preserved in the softer hairs of 
