Female.—The colours, &c. not known.
Inhabits the districts around Latakoo, and is found in localities more or less densely covered
with brushwood. It forms burrows in the soil, near to the roots of shrubs, and is also occa-
sionally obsenred in masses o f decayed vegetable matter, which occur here and there in situa-
tions abounding with underwood.
MUS NATALEKfSIS.— S m i t h .
M a m m a l i a .— P l a t e XLVII. Fig. 2. M a l e .
M. superne flavo-brunneus nigro brunneorpenicillatus; infra rufo-albus; auribus ovatis subnudis; cauda
parce pilis brevibus rigidis sparsa.
Longitudo capitis corporisque 5 u n c .; caudse 4 unc.
Mus Natalensis, Smith, South African Quarterly Journal.
C o l o u r .— ^Ground colour dull yellowish brown, profusely pencilled with
deep umber-brown, the points of many of the hairs and the entire of others
being of that colour ; the lower parts of the sides, and the outer surface of the
extremities pale yellowish brown, very faintly pencilled with brown ; chin,
belly, and inner surface of. extremities rufous white; tarsi dull white ; fur
towards base slate coloured ; skin of tail, as seen under the hair, light
brownish red, the hair umber-brown. Ears brownish purple red^ tinted with
flesh-red, hair on their inner surface tawny, on their outer surface umber -
brown ; whiskers partly liver-brown, partly reddish brown. Eyes black ;
incisors of upper jaw deep orange, of lower light straw-yellow.
F o r m , &c.SBody moderately robust; head rather long, nose pointed, the
head posteriorly moderately broad. Ears long and oval. Eyes large; legs
short, nails blunt and considerably curved. Fur on body short, soft, and
copious; on head and tail rather stiff; on the latter, on which it is only
thinly scattered, short and rigid; apex of tail slightly tufted.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Luxes.
Length from the nose to, the base of, the Length of the fore legs
Inches. Lines.
... 0 |
... I 9
ta il............................................. 5 0 Height when standing
of the tail ............................. .......... 4 0
The colours, &c , of the female are not known.
Inhabits the woody districts around Port Natal, and. is said to enter frequently the huts of
the natives.