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THE MAMMALS OF EGYPT. 
On the Distribution of Spalax typhlus. 
“ This remarkable animal was known to Aristotle and during the last two centuries 
it has been described and figured by many naturalists. It is the only representative of 
the genus Sjpalax, if these Egyptian individuals prove to be the same as the European 
animal which is found in Poland, Southern Hungary, and Eastern Eussia, indeed over 
nearly the whole of South-eastern Europe, extending, as pointed out by Olivier 2 in the 
beginning of the present century, to Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia, and of late years 
found by Canon Tristram in Palestine as far south as the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, 
and by Mr. H. C. Hart at Gaza.” [Extract from the Author’s communication on 
Sj)alax typhliis to the Meeting of the Zoological Society of London, June 14, 1892.] 
As a statement followed, that probably Spalax was now recorded for the first time 
from the African continent, M. Lataste, to wEom a copy of the paper had been sent, 
hastened to give me information correcting my conjecture that it had not been before 
observed in Egypt. 
Dating from Santiago, 9th October, 1892, he writes :—“ Je viens de lire, avec un vif 
interet, votre note sur le Spalax typhlus (P. Z. S. 1892, p. 472). Vous dites, p. 475: 
‘ If I have not overlooked any of the literature of this subject, it is now recorded for 
the first time from the African continent.’ Permettez-moi de vous dire a ce propos, 
que I’espece a ete deja recueillie en Egypte par M. Letourueux, il y a un certain nombre 
d’annees, et envoyee par lui au Museum de Paris, ou je I’ai vue. Le fait a-t-il ete 
deja public, ou est-il reste inedit 1 C’est ce que je ne saurais dire. Mais M. le Prof. 
A. Milne-Edwards, du Museum de Paris, pourrait vous renseigner a cet egard et vous 
faire connaitre aussi I’epoque precise de la capture.” Acting on M. Lataste’s 
suggestion, I addressed myself to Prof. A. Milne-Edwards for the desired information 
regarding the specimens of Spalax from Egypt in the Paris Museum. I received the 
following reply:— 
“ Museum d’Histoire Naturelle. 
22 fevrier, 1893. 
“ Chek Monsieue,—N ous avons re 9 u en 1879 des Spalax typhlus^ envoyes 
d’Egypte par M. Letourneux. Ils portent sur nos catalogues les numeros 1614 a 
1618, annee 1879. L’un d’eux a ete empaille, et figure aux galeries de zoologie. 
Ils ont ete captures a Mariout. 
“ Je n’ai rien publie relativement a ces animaux. 
“ Croyez, cher Monsieur, a I’expression de mes sentiments tres distingues. 
(Signed) “A. Milne-Edwakds.” 
1 Genus Aspalax of Aristotle.—In the 4th century b.c. this distinguished Greek scholar observed and 
described this peculiar animal, remarkable, as he has recorded, by the “total absence of an external eye,” 
and he gives otherwise a very accurate account of the animal. 
2 Olivier quotes Aristotle both in Bull. 8oc. Phil. 1801, and in Voyage dans I’Empire Othoinan, TEgypte, 
&c. 1804, t. ii. pp. 317-323, pi. 28; and it was the object of Olivier’s ‘ Memoir ’ to show that the Mu$ 
typhlus, Giildenstaedt, described by Pallas, was identical with the Aspalax of Aristotle. 
