292 
THE MAMMALS OF EGYPT. 
SPALACID^. 
SPALAX. 
Spalax, Giildenstaedt, Nov. Comment. Petrop. xiv. i. 1770^ p. 409. 
This genus is distinguished from the other mole-like rodents included in the sub¬ 
division of this family characterized by the suppression of the premolars, by the total 
absence of an external eye, and by some peculiarities in the structure of the internal 
organs. 
Spalax a:gyptiacus, Nehring. (Plate LII.) 
Spalax typhlus, Anderson, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1892, p. 472. 
Spalax cegyptiacus, Nehring, SB. Gesellsch. naturf. Fr. Berlin, 1897, p. 180; id. ibid. 1900, p. 210. 
All the Egyptian specimens described were procured by the author, or the Bedouins 
in his service, at Maryut, in 1892 and 1893. 
Native name ‘ Abu Amma ’ yl.). 
The head is broad and wedge-shaped, flattened above and below. The nose is broad 
and truncated, shelving over the nostrils in a sharp horny edge. Lateral ridges 
continue on the sides of the face, from the nose to the region of the orbits, and are 
clad with stiff hairs, those above and below growing towards one another. The front of 
the head is thus formed into a semicircular spade. Behind the nose there is a 
triangular space devoid of hair, the hinder portion of which is somewhat swollen. 
There is no trace of an eye externally, nor any indication of it on the inner surface 
of the deflected skin of the head, but a black speck in the skin-muscle has been stated 
by M. Olivier ^ to show a perfectly organized eye. The ear is not provided with a 
conch, but the short tube, hidden in the fur, appears to have otherwise a very complete 
development, as the blind animal is most sensitive to sounds. 
The thumb is rudimentary, but the remaining fingers are short and strong, ending 
in short claws, and the membrane at their bases has somewhat the form of a 
rudimentary web. There is one round pad at the base of the first digit, and a large 
palmar pad. The third, fourth, and fifth fingers in their natural position are bent 
slightly inwards. 
^ Voy. Emp. 0th. ii. (Syrie), 1804, p. 317, pi. 28. fig. 2. 
