T e e t h , &c.— The incisors of the upper jaw are deeply grooved and their
cutting edges slightly notched. The anterior portion of the first molar tooth
is crowned with four robust, obtuse denticuli, the last third of the crown is flat
and exhibits two small cup-shaped cavities ; the second tooth has the crown
slightly concave, and marked with some small cup-shaped cavities ; the last
is very small, somewhat cylindrical, and with the crown is flat. The first
molar of the lower jaw is crowned with four robust obtuse points, two towards
its outer and two towards its inner edge, the second has two points near to
the anterior margin of the crown, the remaining portion of the latter is distinctly
concave; the last molar has its crown occupied by two ill-defined points
standing transversely. For views of the teeth, see Mammalia, Plate 2 1. Fig.
2 a, the upper jaw of the natural size ; 2 b, the lower of the same; 2 c, the
incisors of the upper jaw, double the natural size ; 2 d, the teeth, &c. of the
upper jaw, three times the natural size ; 2 e, the lower jaw and teeth magnified
to the same extent.
DIMENSIONS.
Inch. Lin.
Length from the point of the nose to
the base of the ta il................ 3 9
of the ta il................................. 4 0
of the head................................. 1 0
Inch. Lin.
Length of the fore legs .......... . ......... 0 7^
the hinder legs .................... 1 3
Height when standing ........................ 1 4
All the specimens of this little animal which have come under my observation were caught
upon trees, shrubs, and vines, and many of them were procured in the immediate neighbourhood
of Cape Town. It is very active in its movements, . and runs from branch to branch
with great rapidity.
DENDROMYS MELANOTIS.—S m i t h .
Mammalia.—P late XXXIV. F ig. 2.
D. supra cinereus rufo-tinctus, infra griseo-albus; lined longitudinal! nigra, inter scapulas et basin eaudas,
in medio dorsi; macula parvula alba infra aurem, ctuna ante oculum nigra.
Longitudo ab nasi apice ad basin oandee 3 unc.; caudas 2 unc. C tin.
Dendromys Mel'anotis, Smith. South African Quarterly Journal, New Series,
No. 2, p. 15B. 1834.
Colour.—The upper and lateral parts of the head, neck, and body and the
outer surface of the extremities ashy grey with a distinct rufous or rusty tint,
the latter colour is not so deep upon the hinder parts of the body as upon the
head, neck, and anterior parts. The sides towards the belly, the upper lip,
the lower portion of the sides of the head, the chin, throat, breast, belly, and
inner surface of extremities greyish white ; a blotch immediately in front of
the eye brownish black. The hair of the ears is dull brown, and under each
ear at its base there is a small tuft of white hairs. A longitudinal black line
on the centre of the back, from the shoulders to the root of the tail. Whiskers
blackish brown towards their roots, dusky white towards their tips. The
hair of the upper parts of the tail dusky brown, of the lower parts dull white.
Eyes blackish brown ; incisor teeth ochry yellow. The fur of the body and
head slate-coloured towards the skin.
F orm, &c.—Figure rather more robust than {hat of Dendromys Typicus ; in
other respects the form of the two animals are very similar. Ears broad, patulous
and rounded at the points, both surfaces sparingly sprinkled with short hair.
Toes long and slender, the inner one of the fore foot rather shorter than the other
two, which are of equal length; nails slender, nearly straight and pointed. The
tubercle which occupies the place of the thumb small and pointed. The
outer toe of the hind-foot is rather short, the two next long and of equal length,
the inner one is slightly shorter, the thumb is short and rudimentary. The
thumb and outer toe are without nails, on the other toes the nails are like those
of the fore feet, long, slightly curved, and pointed. The upper parts of the
tail are rather closely covered with hair, the under parts more sparingly, and
on the latter the scaly rings which encircle the tail are distinctly visible.