prospectus of

“THE ZOOLOGY OF SOUTH AFRICA.”

The Cape of Good Hope is now acknowledged to be one of the greatest avenues as yet opened for the

researches of the Naturalist. Our Colony in that part of Southern Africa is the key to a large portion of

an extensive continent which is still but very partially explored ; and the field to which it admits the

scientific traveller is rich to exuberance in the variety and novelty, both of animal and vegetable life.

Stimulated by the prospect of Discovery in a quarter so fertile in interest, “ The Gape of Good Hope

Association for Exploring Central Africa" was established in 1833 ; and in 1836, an Expedition fitted

out by that body, consisting of thirty-four persons, and directed by Dr. Smith, after an absence of

nineteen months, and penetrating as far as 23° 28' South latitude, returned to Cape Town laden with

a variety of curious and important specimens in Natural History, &c.

Previously to this period little information has been furnished, in a shape calculated to enable the

public to form accurate ideas of the various animated beings by which these regions are inhabited. The

splendid publication of Le Vaillant, no doubt, should be mentioned as forming an exception, pro tanto ;

but this includes only a portion of the Birds of the most southern extremity of the country, and a work

therefore extensive enough to comprehend the various departments of Zoology is still a desideratum.

The Members of The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa found themselves,

on the return of the recent Expedition, in a situation to supply at least some portion of the existing

deficiencies ; but their funds, even if it had been possible to divert them to such an object, were altogether

inadequate to defray the expense of laying the result of their labours before the world. Under such

circumstances, it was decided that Dr. Smith, the director of the Expedition, should be authorised, on

his arrival in England, to wait upon Lord Glenelg, for the purpose of making him acquainted with

the position and views of the Society, in the hope that Government might be induced to assist in the

publication of their materials.

This hope has not been disappointed. At the recommendation of the Secretary of State for the

Colonial Department, the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury have been pleased, by a

pecuniary' grant, to enable the Society to publish the result of its labours, without infringing upon the

funds raised solely for the purposes of discovery ; and in a form which, while it places the work

within reach of most of the friends and promoters of science, will not, it is hoped, bo found inconsistent

with the interest and importance of the subject.

1 he materials for the work now offered, under such patronage, to the public, will consist of pictorial

illustrations of between three and four hundred subjects of the animal kingdom, all of which have been

collected to the south of 23° 28' South latitude ; and will comprise,

First, and principally, unknown animals ;

Secondly, animals known, but not yet figured ; and

Lastly, such as have been imperfectly figured ; but of which the Society is in possession of accurate

drawings.

ihe Eutomological portion of the work will be from the pen of TV. S. Macleay, Esq., who has

kindly undertaken that department. The rest of the descriptions will be furnished by Dr. Smith, who

will add a summary of African Zoology, and an inquiry into the Geographical ranges of species in that

quarter of the Globe.

crontutions of fufiliration.

The TV ork will appear in periodical parts, price ten shillings each ; and it is estimated that it will be

completed in about thirty-four parts. As it will be necessary that the plates be published promiscuously,

they will be arranged in five divisions, viz. Mammalia, Aves, Pisces, Reptilia, and Inveiitebrat.e.

The plates of each of these divisions will be numbered independently, and the letter-press descriptions left

unpaged, so that on the work being completed, they maybe arranged either agreeably to the general classified

order which will accompany the last number, or according to the particular views of the purchasers.

PREFACE.

“ The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa,” which

was established in Cape Town in 1833, found itself (on the return tiom

the interior, in December 1836, of an expedition which it had despatched

eighteen months before) in possession of an extensive and varied collection

of objects of Natural History, many of which were new to science, and many

others, though not new, comparatively little known. The Society, mindful

of its original object,— the promotion of knowledge,— immediately resolved

that descriptions and figures of the new and other objects of particular

interest should, if possible, be published ; the more especially as beautiful

representations of all had been made by Mr. Ford, from specimens either

living or recently dead. Desirable as this appeared, the Association saw little

prospect of its being effected without some pecuniary assistance; they

therefore determined to seek the support of the Home Government, and

authorized me to wait on Lord Glenelg, on my arrival in England, and

represent to his Lordship the views of the Association, and how desirous its

members were that the ample stores they possessed should be employed in

the advancement of knowledge. His Lordship, after having satisfied himself

that the publication contemplated might fairly be expected to promote the

interest of science, recommended the Lords of the Treasury to aid the

PREFACE.

colonists in their laudable enterprise. The proposition of the Right Hon.,

the then, Secretary for the Colonies was favourably entertained, and ere

long I was informed that a portion of the expense of the projected publi-

cation would be defrayed by Government, in order that it might be sold

at a price which would place it within the reach of the generality of

naturalists. On the receipt of this information, I proceeded to make

arrangements with a publisher ; and, on the approval by Government of the

terms proposed, the materials for the first part were placed in the hands

of Messrs, Smith, Elder & Co. At this time I expected to be able to com-

plete a part of the work every second month ; but scarcely was the second

part commenced, when serious disease rendered me unequal to almost any

exertion, and no sooner was I differently circumstanced, than I was appointed

to fill a highly responsible and onerous position, which required so much time,

that little leisure could be devoted to the publication I had undertaken. I

think it necessary to state these facts, in order that the Subscribers to the

work may understand why it has been extended over so long a period.

All the illustrations, with a few exceptions, have been executed by

Mr. Ford, who, it has already been stated, made the drawings; and I feel

confident that purchasers will not regret his having been selected. A

cursory survey of the plates will, I think, convince any one that they are

the production of a master’s hand — a hand that depicts nature so closely as

to render the representation nearly, if not equally, as valuable as the actual

specimen.

In describing colours, I have almost invariably had reference to the little

but useful work of Mr. Syine, of Edinburgh,* and always employed his

* “Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours.” Second Edition, 1821.

PREFACE.

iii

nomenclature, so that the reader, with this publication in his hand, will

understand exactly what are the colours indicated.

Some of the objects described were collected in the Cape Colony; others

in Kaffirl and, a district of country lying along the sea-coast to the eastward

of the colony; others near Port Natal; but the majority on the belt of

country which was explored by the expedition already mentioned, which

was in breadth nearly 3 degrees, and in length 7j ; or, in other words, the

country lying between 25° and 27° 58' east longitude, and 31° and 23° 28'

south latitude.

Considering that the Association contributed not merely the princi-

pal but the greater part of the novelties, and that its members incurred

great expense to acquire them, without any prospect of individual advantage,

I feel it a duty to embrace this opportunity of not only recording that fact, but

also the names of those, who, though residing in a distant part of the globe,

are not indifferent to the promotion of discovery and the advancement of

science. In doing justice to them, however, I must not fail, at the same

time, to discharge a like duty to a resident of this country, who contributed

in a greater proportion than any other individual to whatever success

attended the exertions of the Association, — I allude to Mr. Jameson, of

Liverpool, who spontaneously transmitted to the Society, through Mr.

M'Queen, the sum of two hundred pounds, to be employed in furtherance

of African discovery.

The plates, as it will be observed, have been published in five divi-

sions, viz., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Pisces, and Invertebratse. Those

of each division have been numbered independently, and the letterpress

descriptions left unpaged, in order that they may be arranged according to

the particular view of purchasers. An index to each division is given, so

PREFACE.

that zoologists may, if disposed, have the plates arranged in four

volumes Volume 1, Mammalia; 2, Aves ; 3, Reptilia ; and 4, Pisces

and Invertebrate.

The necessity of bringing this work to a close without containing

more than one part on the Annulosa of South Africa, from the pen of my

friend, W. S. Macleay, Esq., will, I am aware, cause deep disappointment to

naturalists. The rapid sale of the only part he was able to furnish before

he left this country for a distant colony, and the impossibility of now

procuring a copy of it, affords not only the strongest possible proof of its

great merit, but also an evidence of the estimation and respect in which

its author is held.

ANDREW SMITH, M.D.

30 th November, 1849.

MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR EXPLORING CENTRAL AFRICA.

Albcxtus, A.

Abercrombie, Dr.

Ansdell, T.

Adamson, Rev. Dr.

Billingsley, W.

Borcherds, P. B.

Buck, J. T.

Bailey, Dr. S.

Brink, P. M.

Breda, P. (Az.)

Bance, J.

Breda, M.

Burton, C.

Berrange, D. F.

Brink, J. G.

Brand, P. B.

Brelnn, Joachim

Burrow, Rev. Dr.

Bam, A. G.

Cole, His Excellency Sir G. L., G.C.B.

Chiappini, A., sen.

Caffyn, T.

Cadogan, G.

Cloete, Lieutenant-Colonel

Carey, James

Christian, Ewan

Collison, F.

Cloete, P. L., sen.

Cloete, P. L., jun.

Chase, J. C.

Coke, W.

Cheap, Major (H.C.S.)

Clarence, R.

Cuyler, Major-General

Deneys, J.

Dickson, W.

Dashwood, Captain (II.C.S.j

During, Lieutenant-Colonel (A.D.C.)

Dyce, R., M.D.

Edie, Major (98th Regiment)

Ebden, J. B.

Elliott, J. W.

Elliott, T.

Eager, E.

Elliott, Hon. John

Fairbridge, Dr.

Faure, Rev. A.

Fitzgerald, Captain (H.C.S.)

Foster, Captain (H.C.S.)

Fairbairn, J.

Greig, G.

Gregory, D.

Graham, Captain (72nd Regiment)

Grant, Dr. J. (H.C.S.)

Gie, J. C.

Gadney, W.

Hawkins, W. (H.C.S.)

Hutton, J.

Hough, Rev. G.

Harris, Lieutenant (72nd Regiment)

Herron, H. W.

Hoideman, W.

Hodgskin, G.

Ilertzog, D. W.

Herbert, G.

Hartley, Major

Harrington, — (H.C.S.)

Hutcbins, M.

Henderson, Captain (H.C.S.)

Harding, W.

Hitchcock, J.

Hudson, H.

Innes, J. R.

Jardine, A. J.

Judge, Rev. E.

Jarvis, II. C.

Kekewich, Hon. Judge

King, Janies

MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR EXPLORING CENTRAL AFRICA. — ( Continued.)

Kift, B. G.

Korsten, Frederick

Leisching, Dr. L.

Leisching, W.

Ludwig, 0. F. H. von

Lushington, J. D. (H.C.S.)

Levick, James

Lees, Dr.

Mackrffl, W. J.

Murray, Dr.

Michell, Major

Malcolm, Sir C., R.N.

M‘Kenzie, C.

Menzics, Hon. Judge

Muntingh, H. G.

Maynard, J. M.

Moore, E.

Mackay, W. M.

Marshall, J.

Merrington, S., sen.

McArthur, Captain (H.C.S.)

McDowall, Dr. (H.C.S.)

Neetbling, J. H.

Nicholson, Dr. S. (H.C.S.)

Newnham, T. (H.C.S.)

Oliphant, Hon. A.

O’Flinn, Dr.

Okes, T.

Osmond, J.

Pillans, C. .

Prince, G. W.

Parbly, Major

Polemann, F.

Philipps, Thomas

Reitz, F. W.

Ross, H.

MEMBERS OF THE

Dr. A. Smith

Major Edie (98th Regiment)

Mr. Charles Bell

Mr. George Ford

Mr. John Burrow

Mr. Kift

C. Has well

Ross, M.

Rogerson, R.

Rutherfoord, H. E.

Riet, J. W. van der

Smith, Dr. A.

South African Literary and Scientific In-

stitution

Stoll, Hon. J. W.

Steedman, A.

Silberbauer, G. W.

Smidt, A. de

Smith, Captain J.

Scott, R. H. (H.C.S.)

Smuts, J. M.

Sliirrow, J.

Smith, Rev. A.

Smith, Captain (H.C.S.)

Staveren, Rev. J. M. Kloek van

Tredgold, J. IT.

Thornhill, J.

Twycross, G.

Thompson, G.

Thalwitzer, M.

Thomson, Watson, and Co.

Truter, Hon. Sir J.

Tubingen, the University of, per C. F. II.

von Ludwig

Thompson, W. R.

Verreaux, J. P.

Yillet, C. M.

Vaughan, Colonel (98th Regiment)

Watermeyer, F. S.

Wade, Hon. Colonel

Wicht, H.

Wylde, Hon. Sir J.

Wilinot, G. F.

Williamson, R. IT. (H.C.S.)

Ward, Joseph

Watermeyer, F. G.

EXPEDITION.

E. Tennant

Corporal McKenzie

John M intern

Henry Lowe

James Terry

IT. Cockkrell

And Twenty Hottentots.

ILLUSTRATIONS

OF THE

ZOOLOGY OF SOUTH AFRICA

CONSISTING CHIEFIY OF

FIGURES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE OBJECTS OF NATURAL HISTORY

COLLECTED DURING

AN EXPEDITION INTO THE INTERIOR OF SOUTH AFRICA,

IN THE YEARS 1 834, 1835, AND 1836;

FITTED OUT BY

‘THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE ASSOCIATION FOR EXPLORING CENTRAL AFRICA/

BY AND RE AY SMITH, M.D.,

DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF ARMY HOSPITALS ;

DIRECTOR OF THE EXPEDITION.

33ubltd)efc untter tfje authority of tljc UortsS Commissioner* of ®er SEreasiury.

MAMMALIA.

LONDON:

SMITH, ELDER AND CO. 65, CORNHILL.

mdcccxlix.

LONDON :

PRINTED BY STEWART AND MURRAY,

OLD BAILEY.

MAMMALIA. — INDEX.

PLATE

Aigoceros equina ....

. 27

Boselapus Oreas, male .

40 -

female .

. 41

Bubalus Caama .

lunatus .

. 31

Catoblepas Taurina

38-

Cephalopus Natalensis

. 32

Chrysochloris villosa

9 -

Cynictis Ogilbyii . . • •

. 16 -

lepturus

17 -

Damalis (Strepsiceros) Capensis, male

. 42

female

Dendromys typicus .

. 34

melanotis .

Dysopes Natalensis . . ■ ■

. 49 -

Erinaceus frontalis

3 —

Euryotis irroratus .

. 22 -

unisulcatus

Brantsii .

. 24

Anatomy of

Galago Moboli •

8 —

Anatomy of

Gerbillus auricularis .

. 26

Afer ....

35 ~

montanus ....

. 36 -

— tenuis ....

Graphiurus Oapensis

. 39 -

Herpestes badius .

♦ 4

Ilippotamus amphibius

6 "

Kobus ellipsiprymnus, male .

. 2S

• *

Plates 1 8 and

Kobus ellipsiprymnus female

Macroscelides typicus .

- rupestris .

Intufi •

brachyrynchus

- Edwardii

- (Anatomy of)

Mania Temminckii

Miniopterus dasythrix

Mus pumilio

dorsalis .

Lehocla

Natalensis

Colonus

Otomys albicaudatus

Petromys typicus .

(Anatomy of) .

Pteropus Leacliii .

Rhinoceros Keitloa .

- bicornis

simus

Sciurus Cepapi

Scotophilus Dinganii

Sorex Mariquensis

. varius

Oapensis

flavescen3

Vespertilio lanosus

. minutus .

37 not published.

PLATE

. 29 —

10 -

. 11

. 13

. 15

. 52

. 46

47 '

. 47 -

47 '

. 33

. 21

48 -

1 r-

. 19

5 —

. 53 —

• 44 -

. 45

50 "

. 51 -

RHINOCEROS KEITLOA.— Smith.

Mammalia.— Plate I. (Male.)

Rh. pallide brunneo-flavus ; cornubus duobus longitudine subsqualibus ; anteriore cylmdnco, posteriore

compresso j labii suponoris p«irt6 jintGriorG products acummcitR.

Longitudo corporis cum capita 11 ped. 4 unc., caudce 26 unc., cornuorum 21 unc. — Altitudo 5 pedes.

Rhinoceros Keitloa — Rep. of Exped. page 44. June 1836.

Colour. — Pale brownish yellow, the brown most distinct upon the head ;

the inner sides of the extremities towards the body and the groins somewhat

flesh-coloured ; the inner sides of the knee joints and the hinder part of the

thighs immediately above the joints pale livid black. Eyes dark brown.

Horns dark greenish brown.

Form, &c.— Figure nearly that of Rhinoceros Bicornis, Auct. Skin desti-

tute of hair, rough and slightly irregular, the surface exhibiting a reticulated

appearance, arising from the number of waved or angular fissures by which it

is every where impressed, but more particularly upon the shoulders and outer

surfaces of the hinder extremities. The lower portion of the neck is marked by

several wide vertical furrows, which admit of the head being turned to eithei

side with greater facility; several of a much smaller size also occur to wauls

the extremity of the muzzle and around the eyes, evidently for the purpose ol

admitting the upper lip and the eyelids to be moved with greater freedom.

Head moderately slender ; the eyes very small, and sunk in the orbits ; the

nostrils are situated near to the extremity of the muzzle, of a somewhat oval

form, and rather oblique in relation to the axis of the head. The anterior

horn nearly cylindrical, the basal half directed forwards, the distal half

slightly curved backwards ; the posterior horn towards its base nearly cylin-

drical, with the distal two-thirds laterally compressed, and having the hinder-

most edge thinnest. Ears somewhat acuminated, edged with short hail

towards their tips ; legs rather short ; knee joints very large ; scarcely

any hunch on the shoulders ; the neck rather long. Tail cylindrical till

RHINOCEROS KEITLOA.

within a few inches of its extremity, then laterally compressed and margined

above and below by strong, short and wiry hair.

DIMENSIONS.

Feet. Inches.

Length from the tip of the nose to the

base of the tail 11 1^

of the tail 2 2

from the tip of the nose to the

hinder edge of the occiput . . 2 7 5

from the hinder edge of the

nostril to the eye 0 11 5

from the eye to the ear 0 II

Feet. Inches.

Length of the anterior horn, following

the curve 1 9 ^

of the posterior horn. 1 9

Height at the shoulder 5 0

at the crupper 4 10

Circumference at the middle of the

belly 9 8

The only species yet known with which the present could be confounded,

is the Rhinoceros JBicornis of authors. Between them, however, many well

marked differences are to be discovered ; but as it is our intention to enter

more at length on that subject in the Appendix, we shall only here particu-

larise a few of the external and more palpable ones. In the Rh. Keitloa , the

two horns are of equal, or nearly equal length ; in Rh. Africanus, the pos-

terior, in neither sex, is ever much beyond a third of the length of the anterior

horn ; the length of the head, in proportion to the depth, is very different

in the two. The neck of the new species is much longer than that of the

other, and the position and character of the cuticular furrows, destined to

facilitate the lateral motions of the head, are very different. Besides these,

many other diagnostic characters might be instanced ; such as the black

mark on the inside of the thigh of Keitloa , — the distinctly produced tip of

the upper lip ; and the comparatively few wrinkles on the snout and parts

around the eyes, when compared with those on the same places in Rh.

Bicornis, as will be seen by comparing the representation of the present spe-

cies with the next plate.

Considering the acumen which savages display in detecting differences between animals

nearly related, we may, with propriety, infer that the Keitloa has not, at least for many years,

been in the habit of generally extending his range higher than about 25° south latitude.* The

natives at and around Latakoo are only acquainted with two species, viz. Borili ( Rhinoceros

Bicornis, Auct.) and Mohoohoo ( Rhinoceros Simus, Burch.) ; and those who were in our employ

declared, when they first saw the Keitloa, that it was notan animal of their country ; and at once

enlarged upon the points in which it differed from Borili. During the discussion, an intelligent

Moharotsi, who was well acquainted with the animal, approached,— called him by his name, and

referred us to districts where we should find specimens in abundance. As he stated, it happened ;

* That individuals of this species have approached Latakoo, or rather the country some sixty miles

to the north of it, we have sufficient evidence in the fact that Mr. Burchell, whose merits as a traveller

can be best appreciated by those who follow him in the same field, is at present in possession of the horns

of an individual which was killed by his hunters.

RHINOCEROS KEITLOA.

though every where the species appeared rare when compared with the others ; and, after several

months’ wanderings, it was found that only sixty-eight individuals had been seen, eight of which

in one herd, (two of them, not more than half grown,) were disturbed by myself when

feeding near to the banks of a river we were descending. According to the evidence of the

natives, the Keitloa is of a very savage disposition, on which account it is more feared than

Borili, which has also a character for ferocity. Its food consists of small shrubs, or the

more delicate branches of brushwood, in collecting which, the prolongation of the anterior ex-

tremity of the upper lip proves a useful assistant. For a more detailed account of the manners

and habits of this species, we may refer to the Appendix hereafter to be published.

W hile in the neighbourhood of the Tropic, we heard of two other species of the genus, which

exist still farther to the northward ; but, unfortunately, could not obtain any very circumstantial

evidence concerning them, as the persons who had seen them were only on a visit in the

countiy they inhabit. One of them was stated to approximate the Keitloa ; the other was de-

scribed as very different to any species previously seen by them, and to have only one long horn

towards the forehead. Now', though descriptions of objects furnished by such persons are

often inaccurate, from the circumstance of their not having been favourably situated lor making

correct observations, as w r ell as from a deficiency of language calculated to convey the informa-

tion they actually possess, I have always remarked that even a hasty examination seemed to

supply the savage with more accurate notions of the general characters of animals than it did

the civilized man, and therefore I do not despair of species such as they mentioned being yet

discovered.

It is in regard to the species with the single horn, that we experience the greatest hesitation

in receiving their evidence as credible, and, therefore, it is agreeable to have it corroborated by

the testimony of a man from a very different part of the country, as obtained and published by

a missionary of great research who resided a long time in Madagascar. The individual who

furnished Mr. Freeman with the account of the Ndzoo-dzoo, was a native of the country

northward of Mozambique, and if we admit certain portions of the descriptions to be tainted

with errors, we can recognise in the remainder the genuine habits of a Rhinoceros, and probably

one of the species, with which our informants were slightly acquainted.

“ It appears,” observes Mr. Freeman, “ that the Ndzoo-dzoo is by no means rare in Makooa.

It is about the size of a horse, extremely fleet and strong. It has one single horn projecting

bom its forehead, from twenty-four to thirty inches in length. This is flexible when the animal

is asleep ; it can be curled like the trunk of the Elephant, but becomes perfectly firm and hard

when the animal is excited, and especially when pursuing an enemy. Its disposition is ex-

tremely fierce, and it universally attacks man if it sees him. The usual method of escape

adopted by the natives is, to climb up a dense and high tree, so as to avoid, if possible, being

seen. If the animal misses his sight of the fugitive, he immediately gallops off to his haunt ;

from whence it may be inferred that he is not endowed with the power of a keen scent. Should

he, however, espy his object in the tree, woe to the unfortunate native,— he begins to hutt icith

his horns , strikes and penetrates the tree, and continues piercing it till it falls, when Ins victim

seldom escapes being gored to death. Unless the tree is of a large girth, he never fails in

breaking it down. Having killed his victim, he leaves him without devouring the carcase.

The male only is provided with the horn. The female has not anything of the kind.”*

* South African Christian Recorder, Yol. i. p. 33.

RHINOCEROS KEITLOA.

With respect to the other Rhinoceros which was said to exhibit a resemblance to the Keitloa,

it may probably be found to belong to a species which has its principal habitat in northern

Africa, a conclusion to which we have been led from an examination of a pair of horns con-

tained in the museum of the College of Surgeons of London, and which were obtained in

Abyssinia, by Mr. Salt. These horns differ considerably from the horns of Rh. JBicornis, while

as regards form, they approximate those of Rh. Keitloa. Another pair of horns, probably of the

same species, is preserved according to Spaarman,* in the cabinet of the Royal Academy of

Sciences, the foremost of which is twenty-two inches in length, and the hindermost sixteen.

The distance between these horns is scarcely two inches. They differ likewise, he adds, “ from

the horns I saw in Africa, and from those I brought with me, in being of a lighter colour, and

straight, and at the same time flat on the sides ; so that the hindmost horn in particular, has

pretty sharp edges on the upper part, both before and behind. These horns most probably

came from the northern parts of Africa, as they were purchased at Naples,” &c. Different again

from the above, and from all Rhinoceros horns I have yet seen are two, contained in the British

Museum, which were obtained by Major Denham during his journey in Northern Africa; and

if they do not prove to have belonged to young individuals of Rh. Simus, they will require

to be referred to a species not yet characterised ; they are of a lighter colour than any horns

which I have had an opportunity of examining, and along with a peculiarly corneous aspect,

they have a considerable degree of semi-transparency. The horns of Rh. Simus possess more

of the above characters than any others yet known, which circumstance, together with

the fact of which I have been informed by R. Owen, Esq. F.R.S. that clubs of Rhinoceros

horn, about three feet in length have been obtained from Western Africa, (Kingdom of

Dahomy) would lead to a supposition, that either the species discovered by Burchell, or one

with certain of its characters, inhabits Northern Africa.

Now, though I am not prepared to maintain that the horns of each individual of the same

species of Rhinoceros are found to be uniform, as regards size and form, or even that the rela-

tive lengths of the first and second horns are constant in different animals, yet from what I have

observed in the South African species, I do not think we are justified in believing the horns of

the same species to be subject to any great variations in respect to relative length. W hen the

Rhinoceros of Abyssinia shall have been minutely examined, it will probably be found to be

distinct from Rhinoceros Jiicornis, Lin., and be identical with the animal stated by the natives

who communicated with us near the tropic of Capricorn, to be like the Reitloa. The other

species of which they spoke will possibly be identical with the Ndzoo-dzoo and a nondescript :

while the one, from which were obtained the horns referred to as in the British Museum, may

prove either the Rhinoceros Simus, or a third undescribed species.

* Voyage to the Cape of Good Hope, by A. Spaarman, M.D. 4to. vol. ii. p. 100.

RHINOCEROS BICORNIS.-Lin.

Mammalia. — Plate II. — (Female and Young.)

R. pallide flavo-brunneus, comubus longitudine insequalibus ; collo ad caput sulco circumdato ; oculis

brunneis.

Longitudo 10 ped. 11. unc.

Rhinoceros Africanus, Cut. Reg. Animal.

Colour. — Pale yellowish brown, with tints of purple upon the sides of the

head and the muzzle ; the groins flesh-coloured ; eyes dark brown ; the horns

livid brown, clouded with green ; the hair on the tip of the tail and the

margins of the ears deep black.

Form, &c. — Head rather deep in proportion to its length, which gives it

an appearance of clumsiness beyond either of the other South African

species ; the anterior horn directly over the extremity of the nose, the first

half nearly perpendicular, the last half slightly curved backwards ; the pos-

terior horn conical, and often exhibiting an appearance as if the point of a

smaller sized cone had been fixed upon the section of a larger one, which

observation to a certain extent might also be applied to the front horn ;

towards their bases both are rough, and more or less distinctly fibrous ;

towards the points hard, smooth, and finely polished. Eyes small; the skin

surrounding them as well as that in front of the ears and on the muzzle and

the upper and lower lips, deeply cut by narrow wrinkles ; the extremity of

the upper lip scarcely produced. The neck is thick, short, and at its junction

with the head encircled by a deep furrow formed in the skin ; the shoulder

with a rudimentary hunch ; the body round and heavy ; limbs rather shorter in

proportion than in R. Keitloa. Tail flattened towards the extremity, elsewhere

somewhat cylindrical ; the upper and lower edges near the tip fringed with

thick wiry hair. The surface of the skin rather rougher than in the species

last described, owing to its being intersected by a greater number of wiinkles.

DIMENSIONS.

Feet. Inches.

Length from nose to root of tail 10 11

Height at the shoulder 4 10

Feet. Inches.

Length of anterior horn 1 7

of posterior horn 0 6^

The relative lengths of the horns vary a little in different individuals, but

the hindermost one in both sexes is invariably much the shortest, and in

RHINOCEROS BICORNIS.

young specimens it is scarcely visible when the other is several inches in

length. In the Rhinoceros Keitloa, again, the young have both horns of

equal length.

The present species, under the name of Rhinoster, has been familiarly known to the colonists

of the Cape of Good Hope ever since 1652. In that year, when the Dutch first formed their

settlement on the shores of Table Bay, this animal was a regular inhabitant of the thickets

which clothed the lower slopes of Table Mountain. The abandonment of those spots by this

animal as a measure of safety, probably constituted the commencement of a forced migration,

which has continued to extend ever since, and which has led not only to the disappearance of

the species from the districts within the present colonial limits, but also in a great measure to

its removal from countries beyond those limits, as far as hunters efficiently armed are accus-

tomed to resort. If a system, such as has hitherto prevailed, continues to exist, and the larger

animals persevere in flying to avoid the effects of fire-arms, the time may arrive when the

various species which formerly may have been scattered, each, in a peculiar locality of a large

continent, will be huddled together ; and indeed an advance towards that period is in progress,

as may be inferred from the concentration which is at present taking place in the interior of

South Africa. Though many of the individuals which inhabited the countries where now not

a single Rhinoceros is to be seen, were doubtless destroyed, yet it is equally certain that many

others escaped, and thereby assisted in adding to the accumulation which is in progress in

other localities. Until lately the present was the only species of the genus which was known

to be receding from its native country, but of late another has been led to a like course ; and

the Rhinoceros Simus which but a few years ago was common in the neighbourhood of

Latakoo, has, since the more general introduction of fire-arms into that country, almost

entirely ceased to approach within a hundred miles of it. From a consideration of the various

facts which we have collected in relation to the species now under consideration, and which we

shall detail more at length elsewhere, we feel disposed to regard it to a certain extent as a

prisoner in the country it now inhabits, and are inclined to believe the southern extremity of

the continent, and the country along the western coast towards Benguela to have once formed

its favourite residence.

Like the Keitloa, this species feeds upon brushwood and the smaller branches of dwarf-trees,

from which circumstance it is invariably found frequenting wooded districts, and in those

situations its course may often be traced by remarking the mutilations of the bushes. As

it feeds but slowly, and besides passes much of its time in idleness, it must be regarded as a

very moderate eater, and considering it appears to be fastidious in the choice of its food, it is

fortunate for its comfort that it does not require more nourishment. Of the many shrubs

which exist in the localities in which it resides, few comparatively appear formed for its choice,

as it is to be seen approaching many and leaving them again without either injuring a branch

or plucking a leaf. This evident nicety in the selection of its aliment makes it difficult to ima-

gine how so many large animals as are sometimes congregated together within a very limited

space can find sufficient for their consumption. Even admitting that the reproduction of the

parts which the Rhinoceros may devour takes place with uncommon rapidity in the climates

they inhabit, and consequently the shrubs are compai'atively soon in a condition to supply ano-

ther meal, yet nevertheless, if these animals consumed in proportion to their bulk, they would

of necessity be forced to be less particular in the choice of their food.

ERINACEUS FRONTALIS. — Smith.

Mammalia.— Plate III. (Female.)

E. spinis V.™ ri l-i» * a P i«» dbU, in medio P”P— ^

qil ib„,di, brunneis * *. * *., («. »bnig* »t gn». ; f~» *** *•. — *■

oblongis pills brevibus obtectis.

Longitudo 7^ Rnc.

Ertnaceus frontalis, Smith , South African Quarterly Journal, No. 5. Oct. 1831.

Euinaceus frontalis, Bennet, Proceedings Zoological Society, Dec. 1832.

Colour, &c.-The head and the sides of the neck and of the body blackish

brown, slightly variegated by an intermixture of greyish white hairs ; e

forehead and the sides of the neck, immediately under the ears, pure white

the quills of the back white, each annulated towards the middle wi i P™P >

the points of many of them light brown. The under surface of t he neek the

middle of the breast and belly, and the lower half of the limbs dus y u

tail black ; eyes very deep brown ; claws horn-coloured.

Form, &c.-Body oval, broadest behind and wider in proportion to its

length than in the common Hedge-hog . Muzzle slightly elongate ,

of upper jaw much separated, those of lower jaw nearly contiguous ; ears

moderately long, and both surfaces thinly covered with short hair, the ips

somewhat rounded. The hack and the upper part of the sides dense y

covered with spines from an inch to an inch and a half in length, the re

the body, the legs and the head thinly coated with bristly hair; tail slender,

limbs very long ; toes short ; claws blunt and slightly curved.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Distance between the tip of the nose

and the eye 1 3

the eye and the ear... 0 9

0 5

Inches. Lines

Length from the tip of the nose to the

base of the tail 1 ®

of the tail ® ®

Height at the middle of the back.

The male, as regards the colours, is like the female.

ERINACEUS FRONTALIS.

Fhis little hedge-hog was first obtained in the districts around Old Latakoo, and on leaving

that place, no additional specimens were acquired. Even where it was best known onlv a veiy

few individuals were procured, and according to the natives it was every where rare. It has all

the habits of the common hedge-hog, ( Erinaceus Europceus, Lin.) and like it, when surprised,

rolls itself up into a globular mass, in which state it will often remain for hours together while

the object creating its fears continues near it. Some individuals however, are less timid, and

soon attempt to escape.

HEKPESTES BADIUS.

(Mammalia. _ Plate- 4)

HERPESTES BADIUS. Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate IV. (Female.)

H. Wi „„ - P*o„ ,a f«lvum Joili, CA»d*,«. PUU — .» el — — •

caudee apice nigro ; oculis rubris.

^3:r::,“ P p. x r * *-

CoLoum-Above blight bay and limbs and

tx :: it

slightly variegated by a fine p ^ colours in addition to

least most of the hairs being annulated with tl ie«Uo ^ ^ ^ ^ hairs

the bay which is the prevailing tint. o' ... f brown is greater;

are marked after the same fashion, only the quanUQ ' ». dark

whiskers black. Ears coloured like the body; eyes ted,

horn colour. ■

Form, &c.-Figure very slender; length; nails

slender towards the muzzle ; eais very » , hea( j j t is short, on the

nearly straight. The hair is slight ^sterior portion of the back, outer

body considerably longer, an ^ . on some places measuring fully

surface of the thighs and the tai i is 0 ^ though long, this part of the

three inches. On the tail it is ai c o , t j ie ears the hair is very short,

animal is nevertheless moderately f enA f.

and on their posterior surfaces is almost wanting.

dimensions.

Inches. Lines.

Distance between the point of the nose

and the eye 0

between the eye and the upper

Inches. Lines.

Length from the tip of the nose to the ^

root of the tail

12 4

of the tail

Height at the shoulder

extremity of the ear 0

HERPESTES BADIUS.

The adults of both sexes are nearly alike in regard to colour and size. In

the young animal there is a distinct reddish cast over the whole body, but it is

much broken by the yellowish and brownish rings which occur on each hair

and which appear in this age upon the head and thighs as well as the back.

At one time I was disposed to regard our animal as identical with Herpestes ruber, Desm., #

but upon comparing it with the description of the latter as furnished by the author just quoted,

I found it to differ in many points. In our species, the body, as will be seen by a reference to

the measuiements, is shorter than the tail ; in that of Desmarest, the tail is four inches shorter

than the body ; in ours, the tip of the tail is deep black ; in his, that part is not described

as being of a different colour to the rest of the animal.

The first specimen of this species we obtained was killed near Old Latakoo, and several others

were seen between that and Kurichane, which lies about 120 miles more to the eastward. The

animal appeared restricted to dry sandy districts abounding in brushwood, and in these, was

occasionally seen running from one copse to another. It is extremely shy, and flies on the

approach of man to its hiding places with great rapidity ; hence only a very few specimens were

obtained. Nothing except the remains of insects were found in the stomachs of those we

piocured ; but if the natives are to be believed, it feeds with avidity also upon lizards, snakes,

mice, See.

In addition to this and another new species which we shall hereafter figure, five others

inhabit the South of Africa, namely, Herpestes Pharaonis, Desm., II. griseus, Desm.,

H. urinator, Smith, II. teenianotus, Smith, and II. albicaudis, Smith. -f- Before long, however,

there is every reason to expect additional species will be added to the preceding, as the

BechuanasJ described to us several little quadrupeds clearly differing from any of the fore-

gomg, yet doubtless belonging either to this genus or to Cynictis of Ogilby.

* Encyclopedic Methodique, (Mammalogie, fol. 213.)

+ South African Quarterly Journal, New Series, No. 2, part 1, March 1834.

I he native tribes (not including the Hottentots) immediately north of the colony. Bechuana is the term

which has been invented by themselves to indicate all the clans in that direction who resemble each other

in external appearance, and speak the same language. The import of the word proves the propriety of

its application, bechuana being the plural of ckuana, signifying alike or similar.

s i

i'*'

SC1URUS CBPAPI.

(Mammalia Plate 5)

SCIURUS CEPAPI.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate V . (Male.)

S. supra ochrcus, brunnco-nigro leviter inarmoratus ; corporis lateribus pedibusque ochreis ; labio

superiore, stria supcrciliari, corporisque partibus inforioribus albis, ventro flavo-tmcto ; caudd dis-

tich a, oclirea brunneo-nigro variegata ; auriculis brevibus, apicibus obtusis, margine extemo versus

apicem emarginato ; oculis bruuneis.

Longitijdo corporis cum capita 7f unc., caudce 7 unc.

Scicrus Cepapi, App. to Rep. of Exp. page 43, June, 1836.

Colour. — Face ochry yellow, pencilled with black; the upper part ol the

head and neck, the back and the flanks grizzled light ochre-yellow and

brownish black, each hair being brownish black at the base, then ochry

yellow, then brownish black, and finally ochre-yellow ; some have their

extreme points blackish brown ; the upper surface of the tail is also grizzled

in the same manner as the back, only the proportion of the brownish black

colour is greater, and hence the dark colour is there more conspicuous, and gives

rise in some specimens to the appearance of a number of irregular dark bars ;

the upper lip, a short stripe over each eye, the chin, the throat, the breast,

the belly, and the inner sides of the legs white, sometimes faintly tinged with

yellow ; the sides of the head, neck and body, and the outer and hinder sides

of the legs ochre-yellow ; the hair of the hinder legs deep black at its base ;

anterior surface of ears pale yellowish white ; posterior surface dull white ;

incisor teeth reddish orange ; eyes dark brown ; whiskers black ; nails deep

brown.*

Form, &c.— Figure rather slender; head small; the anterior molar of

the upper jaw very small, subcylindrical with the crown entire ; the remaining

four concave, the crowns towards the outer sides divided each into two por-

tions by a fine transverse groove: the anterior molar of the lower jaw semi-

cylindrical, the crown divided into three tubercles ; the other three molars

on each side nearly similar to those of the upper jaw ; ears short, with a

slight emargination in the outer edge a little below their points; the latter

* The tints vary a little in different specimens.

SCIURTJS CEPAPI.

obtuse ; legs long ; tail depressed, narrow, slightly distichous and pointed at

its extremity ; two centre toes of equal length, those of the hinder feet but

little longer than the toe on each side of them ; the difference is greater on

the fore feet; nails strong and much curved. The hair is slightly rigid,

and shortest on the head and feet ; on the back and under parts it is rather

longer, while on the outer sides of the hinder legs, particularly towards the

base of the tail and on the tail itself, it is much longer still.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the tip of the nose to the

base of the tail 7 9

of the tail 7 0

of the cranium 1 9

Breadth between the hinder extremities

of the zygomatic arches ... 0 11

Inches. Lines.

Length of the fore legs to the tip of

the toes 2 8

the hinder legs to ditto 3 0

the tarsus of fore foot 0 6

the hinder foot 0 10

The female, as regards colour and size, resembles the male, and like the

latter is liable to some variation in respect to tints.

The first specimens of this squirrel were observed upon the immediate banks of the Lim-

popo river, in about 24° 20' south latitude. The species was occasionally discovered upon the

ground, but more frequently upon trees ; and when it happened to be surprised in the former

situation, it invariably endeavoured to reach the latter, and if successful, either attempted

to conceal itself in the forks of the branches, or in holes, if any existed, in the trunks, or other

parts. Its flight, when on the ground, was effected with amazing rapidity, and the perpen-

dicular ascent of the tree was accomplished with equal facility. It feeds by day, and,

according to the natives, also by night, and in all the specimens we obtained, the stomachs

were fully distended with berries, &c.

yj: \

V -

. ,' ,>«-•

r* -

V VA

HIPPOPOTAMUS AIPHIBIUS

HIPPOPOTAMUS AMPHIBIUS.— Lin.

Mammalia. — Plate VI. (Female, and \ oung.)

H. capite, colli partibus superioribus, dorsoque brunneo-rubris ; corporis lateribus artibusque palhde

brunneo-purpureo-rnbris; abdomine, labiorum lateribus, palpcbrisque pallide flavo-brumicis ; caudse

auriunaque pilis nigris ; nasi pilis flavo-bruimeis. Oculis aurantio-brunneis.

Loxgitudo 1 1 ped. 4 imc.

Hippopotamus Capensis, Desmoulins.

Behemoth of the Hebrews.

Colour, See. — The anterior and lateral parts of the head, and the uppei

parts of the neck and body brownish red, the former rather lightest. The

brownish red of the back passes insensibly into a light brownish purple red,

which is the colour of the sides and limbs ; the belly, the sides of the lips,

and the eyelids light wood-brown, with a faint flesh-coloured blush ; the hinder

parts of the body and the belly are freely freckled with small spots of the

same hue as the ground colours, only of darker tints ; hairs ol tail and ears

black ; pencils of hairs on lips, &c., yellowish brown ; eyes a clear orange-

coloured brown : hoofs dark horn-colour.

Form, &c.— Figure massive and very heavy, and the entire contour of the

animal suggests to the observer the idea of a form intermediate between an

overgrown pig and a high-fed bull, without horns and with cropped ears,

d he head appears broad, compared with its length, and the expression of the

face is singular and unlike that of any other animal, arising principally from the

high position of the eyes. The lips, especially the upper one, are thick and bulg-

ing, particularly their sides, so that when the mouth is shut even the longest of

the teeth are concealed ; the nose is broad, and inclined to truncated, and the

gape is very wide ; the head immediately behind the angles of the mouth is

considerably contracted, and the forehead is broad, flat and high ; the eyes

and ears are very small, and the former are placed before, and but little

below the level of the latter ; the ears are extremely short, and their tips

rounded, appearances which insensibly lead to the idea that some portion of

them must have been cut off ; their edges are fringed with fine hair, and their

inner surface is thinly coated with a similar material ; the eyelids are promi-

nent and pulpy, which makes the eyes appear as if they were deeply seated,

though, as regards the orbit, they are not in reality so. The neck is short,

thick, and rounded ; the line of the back is slightly arched and rather undu-

HIPPOPOTAMUS AMPHIBIUS.

lated towards the tail. The body almost cylindrical, and the nates are very

full, and behind slightly arched ; the legs are remarkably short, so that when

the animal is standing, the most depending part of the belly almost touches

the ground ; the tail is short and moderately robust, — towards the point, ver-

tically compressed and edged above and below with wiry hairs, — towards the

base, nearly cylindrical ; teats two, placed close to each other, and pendent

from the udder nearly on a line with the anterior edge of the hinder leg. On

the lips there are a number of small tufts of fine hair, resembling pencils, each ot

which, on emerging from the skin, generally consists of four or five hairs that

afterwards split into several others; a few tufts of the same description also

occur on the sides of the head ; the remains of single hairs also occur on the

sides of the neck and body ; in young specimens, the number and length of

the latter are greater than in adult ones ; the hairs fringing the upper and

lower edges of the tail are rigid and short, and many of them fully half a

line in diameter at the base. Feet rather small for the size of the animal,

slightly depressed in front, and terminated anteriorly by four short, clumsy,

and unconnected toes, each furnished with a small hoof ; behind the roots of

the toes, the skin of the foot is loosely connected with the parts beneath,

and is rather pliant and usually marked with several transverse furrows.

DIMENSIONS.

Feet. Inches.

Length from the edge of the upper lip

to the tip of the tail 11 4

of the tail 1 1

of the fore legs to the breast ... 1 10

of the head 2 4^

Feet Inches.

Length of the ear 0 3

Height of the shoulder 4 8

Circumference of the thickest part of

the body 10 6

The male and female, as far as colours are concerned, are nearly alike, but

in regard to size they differ materially ; the male is always considerably larger

than the female.

Previously to the establishment of the Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope, Hippopo-

tami existed in abundance in all the larger rivers of South Africa ; but no sooner did the

colonists direct their attention to the hunting of them, than their numbers began to diminish,

partly from the destruction which was effected by the dexterous employment of fire-arms, and

partly from many individuals having soon migrated, owing to the fear which was excited by

the newly introduced weapons. At present, scarcely one exists in any of the livers of the

Cape colony, and even but very few in streams within a moderate distance of it. On the

Expedition arriving in latitudes too remote to be readily reached by hunters furnished with file-

arms, every large river was found to abound in specimens, and in those the animals appeared,

as they probably did some two hundred years ago much nearer to the southern extemity of

the continent, familiar, comparatively fearless of man, and generally prepared to survey, with

curiosity, any intrusion upon their haunts. To convey some idea of the numbers in which they

HIPPOPOTAMUS AMPHIBIUS.

were found in several of the rivers towards the tropic of Capricorn , it may suffice to state,

that in the course of an hour and a half a few members of the Expedition-party killed seven

within gun-shot of their encampment ; several other individuals were in the same pool, and

might also have been killed had it been desirable. One of the survivors was observed to make

his escape to an adjoining pool, and in accomplishing that, he walked with considerable rapidity

along the bottom of the river, and with his back covered with about a foot of water.

The Hippopotami feed chiefly upon grass, and for that purpose resort to situations near the

banks of rivers which are fitted to supply their food. In districts fully inhabited by man, they

generally pass the day in the water, and seek their nourishment during the night; but in locali-

ties differently circumstanced, they often pass a portion of the day as well as the night upon dry

land. In countries in which the night-time constitutes the only safe peiiod foi theii leaving

the water, they are generally to be seen effecting their escape from it immediately before

dark, or are to be heard doing so soon after the day has closed, and according to the

state of the surrounding country; they then either directly commence feeding, or begin a

journey towards localities where food may exist. When, previous to nightfall, they may have

been in pools of rivers, they are generally at once enabled to commence feeding on leaching the

dry land ; but when they may have passed the day in the sea, they require commonly to pioeeed

some distance after leaving it before they find the grass which appeal's congenial to theii

palate. It is not every description of grass that Hippopotami seem to relish ; they often pass

over, in search of food, luxuriant green-swards, which would strongly attract many other animals

which feed upon grass. Besides having a peculiar relish for the grasses of certain situations,

they appear to have a predilection for districts supporting brushwood ; and owing to the lattei

peculiarity, they are often to be found wandering in localities on which but little grass exists,

when they might have it in the neighbourhood in great abundance, but without the accom-

paniment of wood. The whole of the night is probably not more than is necessary to

admit of the Hippopotamus acquiring sufficient food for its wants; but if that be otherwise, it

certainly prefers to pass what portion of the night may be unnecessary for procuring nourish-

ment upon the dry land, rather than in the water, being generally only seen to retire to the

latter upon light returning.

It is difficult to decide, whether the Hippopotamus prefers the pools of rivers, or the waters

of the ocean for its abode during the day. When an opportunity of exercising a choice exists,

some individuals embrace the one, and some the other. During a journey I some years ago

made to Port Natal and the country beyond it, I had numerous opportunities of observing the

footsteps, as made by these animals while entering and leaving the sea ; and on one occasion

my party had an opportunity of opposing a female accompanied by a young one, on their way

to the sea, in which attempt the party proved unsuccessful.

The excrement of the Hippopotamus, in common with that of the Elephant and the Rhino-

ceros, is voided in immense cylindrical masses ; and these masses, when examined in the case of

the Hippopotamus, seem principally to consist of comminuted grass, apparently but little altered

by the process it must have undergone, and certainly in a drier condition than it could possibly

have entered the stomach.

With regard to the disposition of the Hippopotamus, that may be described as peaceable and

inoffensive. When the animal is wounded, however, or when it happens to be accompanied in its

excursions upon dry land by young ones, it manifests no trifling degree of ferocity, and instantly

gives chace if in any way interrupted in the course it may be pursuing. The one which my party

HIPPOPOTAMUS AMPHIBIUS.

endeavoured to intercept immediately became the assailant, on discovering the object of the

party, and with open mouth rushed towards the man nearest to her ; the display of her enormous

mouth, armed with formidable teeth, caused the most advanced of the hunters to retreat, and

those in the rear to pause. The flight of the hunters seemed to encourage the animal in pursuit,

and though the direction they took led her, in pursuing them, to retire from the sea, which she

had intended to enter, yet she persevered in giving chase, until one of the party who, from his

situation, had not had occasion to fly, fired a bullet into her mouth. Immediately after the wound

was inflicted, she, for an instant, stood still, and then retreated with precipitation to the sea, in

which she was afterwards shot, having, contrary to the usual custom of her kind, manifested a

disinclination to retire into deep water, a disinclination, no doubt arising from sensations expe-

rienced from the wound she had received.

The sagacity of the Hippopotamus, though it is no doubt inferior to that of the Elephant, is

nevertheless very considerable. The habits of the animal are opposed to our becoming inti-

mately acquainted with it — yet, from what has been noticed of its adroitness in guarding against

assailants, in avoiding pits dug purposely to entrap it, in conducting its young both in and out

of the water, and in migrating from localities which it may have discovered are not to be longer

held without serious danger, to others not exposed to such inconveniences, — even though to reach

those it may require to make long journeys, are all evidences that it is far from the stupid animal it

hasbeenfrequently described. Its memory may be considered tenacious, certainly superior to that

of the Rhinoceros, and possibly equal to that of the Elephant. W hen once a Hippopotamus has

been assailed in its watery dwelling, and injured from incautiously exposing itself, it will rarely be

guilty of the same indiscretion a second time ; and though its haunts may not again be appioached

by hunters till after a long period has elapsed, it will survey such approaches, and perform the

movements necessary for its respiration with a degree of caution, which clearly shows, that

it has not forgotten the misfortunes to which an opposite course had exposed it.

The European colonist, not less than the native of South Africa, hunts the Hippopotamus with

great determination and perseverance ; the former trusts entirely to fire-arms for its destruction ,

the latter again trusts principally to stratagem, as with his weapons alone he is unable

to kill it under common circumstances. The high estimation in which the fatty material

that lies between the skin and the muscular parts of the Hippopotamus, and which is known

in the Cape colony by the name of “ Speck,” is held, is perhaps the principal incitement

which urges the white man’s perseverance, while that, as well as the parts beneath it, are

equally objects of desire with the Native. To acquire the incisors and canine teeth, which

are valuable as articles of trade, has also long rendered its capture an object desirable to

hunters. The skin of the animal is likewise an article of profit, as, when cut into stripes and

shaved into tapering cylinders of some feet in length, a ready market is found for them in

the colony, where, under the name of “ Samiucks,” they are employed as substitutes for

riding-whips.

MANIS TEMMINCKII.— Smuts*

Mammalia. — Plate VII.

M. supra pallide flavo-brunneus ; infr'a rubro-brunneus ; dorsi squamis versus apices stnga

notatis ; cauda laid, supra, versus basin squamarium seriebus quinque, versus aprcenr quatucu,

apice obtuso ; — oeulis brunneis.

Longixudo 2 ped. 5 unc.

Colour. Scales pale yellowish brown . the

brownish yellow.

brown; muzzle black. Nalls of the fore feet a pale, dull yellow , those

the hinder ones brownish yellow.

Form, &c.— Thick in proportion to its length. Head, anterior J’ s ^ ce

what cylindrical; posteriorly, sabquadrangular, the 81 situate d far

being rather flat, the upper surface slightly com ex. } Pars

back on the head, and a little below the lower edge of the scales Ears

rudimentary ; the meatus audilonus large, and somewhat ova e. .

short. Body and tail robust, and nearly semi-cylindrical ;

particularly the anterior ones, slender and short, claws ' c >

middle ones of the fore-feet are thick at their bases, slem ei ov,

points, strongly curved, and beneath longitudinally channe e , ,

claw is thick and short, the innermost rather longer than the as , s enc

slightly curved ; the claws of the hinder feet are short, flat, stiong,

close contact with the soft parts, beyond which their points to no P

The scales covering the upper surface of the head are ova an

imbricated; those composing the marginal row, on each si e o e >

long, divergent, and form a considerable angle with the axis o t le an * ’

consequence of which arrangement the sides of the tai appea

serrated. All the scales are finely marked towards t en iases are

longitudinal furrows and intervening ridges ; but towaics t e P

level and smooth On the thickest part of the body the scales are commo y

in fourteen rows; on the upper surface of ^

the marginal rows, five towards the base, j/mwards

point. The scales covering the under surface of ’ Lh the base there

Us extremity, are large, and disposed in two rows; towards

• DUrt.Bc Zoolcgica »—»»« — Ui.m C.pcBum .uctow Sc.U,

Leirlae, 1832.

HANTS TEMMINCKII.

are three. So far as the five rows exist, the central row appears a regular

continuation of the central row of the back ; but when the change to four

takes place, the continuity is broken.

DIMENSIONS.

Ft. Inch. Lin.

Length from the tip of the nose

to the point of the tail... 2 5 0

of the tail 1 0 6

of the head 0 3 6

of the fore legs 0 2 3

of the hinder legs 0 3 6

Height at the shoulder 0 6 6

Ft. Inch. Lin.

Breadth of the under surface of

the tail at the base 0 5 3

Distance between the nose and

the eye o 1 7

Distance between the eye and

the ear o 0 10

Manis Temminckii is readily to be distinguished from any of the other

species of the genus yet described, simply from the central row of scales upon

the upper surface of the tail terminating some way behind its point. From

Manis pentadactyla, Lin., the species to which it bears most similarity, it is

moreover to be distinguished by all its scales being proportionally larger! and

by those on the head being shaped and disposed differently. The greater

breadth of the tail, and the more divergent character of its marginal plates,

also afford marked characters by which the species is easily to be recognised

from Manis pentadactyla.

Only one solitary specimen of this species was obtained by the expedition before reaching

26 south latitude, and but two more between that parallel and the tropic of Capricorn, though

others were known to have been captured in the latter tract while the travellers were actually

traversing- it. It is very questionable if the animal be so rare in nature as the result of our expe-

rience might incline us to believe. Its extreme scarcity probably arises from its having long been

zealously sought after by the natives, who cherish a belief that it either has some influence upon

cattle, or at least that certain observances in respect to it have an effect upon them. Whenever

a specimen, therefore, is secured, it is immediately burned in some cattle pen, which, according

to the opinion of the sacrifice!-, tends to increase the health and fertility of all cattle who may

afterwards enter the fold. Not many years ago a specimen was captured in the northern part

of the Cape colony, which circumstance renders it probable that the species was at one time

scattered over the whole of South Africa, and that its almost total disappearance from the more

southern districts has arisen from causes such as are now operating to effect a similar result

in the interior.

When discovered, Manis Temminckii never attempts to escape, but instantly rolls itself up

into a globular form, taking special care of its head, which is the only part that is easily

injured. Ants constitute its chief and favourite food, and these it secures by extending its

piojectile tongue into holes which may exist in the habitations of these insects or which it may

itself form ; and when, by means of the glutinous matter with which its tongue is covered, a

full load has been received, a sudden contraction of the retractor muscles carries both into its

mouth, aftei which the little animals are immediately swallowed.

GALAGO MOHOLI.

(Mammalia . Plate 8.)

GALAGO MOHOLI. — Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate VIII.

G. supra murinus infra albus ; artibus extern^ flavo-tinctis ; strigA inter frontem et nasum, labiis, capitis

lateribus infrtl et post oculos albis ; cauda rufo-brunnea ; auribus carneis ; oculis aurantiis.

Longitudo e naso ad caudoc apicem 16 unc.

Galago Moholi, Rep. of Exped. App. page 42, -June, 1836.

Colour.— The upper parts of the head and neck, the back, the sides of

the body, and the outer and hinder surfaces of extremities intermediate

between pearl and yellowish-grey ; the back is finely brindled from the dark

colour of the basal portion of the fur being here and there seen through the

surface tints ; the extremities are of a lighter hue than the other parts enu-

merated, and their outer and hinder surfaces are distinctly tinted with yellow;

the middle of the face, the lips, the sides of the head, below and behind the

eyes, the chin, throat, abdomen, and the upper surface of the fingers white ;

inner surfaces of extremities white tinged with yellow. Tail glossy, the

colour intermediate between yellowish-brown and cochineal red, — the fur

is, throughout, of the same colour, that of the other parts is a dark

slate colour except at and near its surface. Ears flesh-coloured, and

the dow n wdiich is very sparingly scattered over their outer surface is pure

w hite. Eyes deep topaz yellow ; the palms of hands and under surface

of the fingers are of a flesh-colour tinged with brown.

Form, &c. — Figure slender and elegant. Head broad, subglobular, and

anteriorly terminated by a short, high and almost pointed nose. Teeth 18

in each jaw, viz. incisors f , canines |-t, false molars t-t, true molars Ears

large, bare, and patulous, their tips rather narrow and slightly rounded;

the outer margin of each ear has two faint emarginations and the internal or

anterior surface of each is distinctly marked with four or more transverse

furrows, between w hich are corresponding transverse ridges ; the eyeballs and

the pupils large ; anterior extremities short and slender ; posterior ones long,

rather robust, and each is terminated by four fingers and an opposable

thumb, the tips of which are dilated and depressed, the nail oi the fore-

finger of each of the hinder extremities is narrow, convex, considerably

elongated beyond the soft parts, and obtusely pointed ; all the other nails

both of the anterior and posterior extremities small, thin, flat, roundish or

ovate in form, and not extended to the points of the fingers, fail cylindrical,

GALAGO MOIIOLI.

slender towards the base, much thicker towards and at the tip, which arises

from the fur being longer on these parts. On the head, body, and extremi-

ties, the covering consists of a very fine, short, woolly fur ; on the tail, and

the upper surface of the fingers, rather harsher. Palms of the hands and

under surface of the fingers naked.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the nose to the point of

the tail 16 0

of the tail 8 0

of the head 1 6

of the ears 1 4

Breadth of the ears 1 11

Length of the anterior extremities ... 2 6

of the thumb

of the fore finger 6

of the middle finger 8 4

Inches. Lines-

Length of the third finger 0 9

of the little finger 0 5 ^

of the hinder extremities ... 6 4

of the tarsus 1 l

of the thumb 5

of the fore finger 6

of the middle finger 8

of the third finger 8

of the little finger 7

The male and female are of the same size, and the prevailing colours are

alike in both ; the yellow tint is rather strongest in the male.

As no correct figures of the internal parts of any of the species of Galago

have yet been published, and as none of the species of that genus are to be

readily procured, and consequently the opportunities of becoming acquainted

with their anatomical characters must rarely occur, I have thought it advisable

to avail myself of the materials which I possess, and furnish representations

of the more important and interesting organs of Galago Moholi. These

organs are represented in Plate 8 (bis.), and are —

Fig. 1. A front view of the skull, of its natural size.

Fig. 2. A back view of the skull, of its natural size.

Fig. 3. A lateral view of the skull, of its natural size.

Fig. 4. A front view of the anterior portion of the upper jaw, of its natural size.

Fig. 5. A lateral view of the lower jaw, of its natural size.

Fig. 6. The under or basal aspect of the skull, of double the natural size. The incisor teeth

are disposed in pairs ; each tooth is linear, convex in front, grooved behind towards the point,

and the apex is compressed transversely and formed for cutting. The canines are slightly curved,

the convexity directed forward, and each tooth is provided with a heel or obtuse denticulus

behind, near to the alveolus. The first, or false molar, is longitudinally compressed, and its apex

tridentate, the anterior and posterior denticuli very small ; the true molars are crowned with

several distinct points which are separated from each other by deep depressions, and these points

are disposed, when all the teeth of the side are in situ, in two longitudinal rows, the one row upon

the outer, and the other upon the inner, edge of the dental phalanx : the latter row is slightly

GALAGO MOHOLl.

Mammai 1 a ^PJ&te 8. (bis)

GALAGO MOHOLI.

waved, owing to the points of each tooth being disposed rather obliquely. The first and fifth

are tricuspidate, two points on the outer, and one on the inner edge ; the second, third, and

fourth quinquecuspidate, two points on the outer, and three on the inner edge ; the anterior

point of the inner series of each tooth very small.

Fig. 7. The lower jaw of double its natural size. The incisors nearly horizontal, the four

middle ones very slender, laterally compressed and disposed in pairs, the lateral ones much

stronger, and each slightly removed from the centre-series ; the canines are slightly curved, the

convexity directed forward, the false molar is nearly of the same form as the canines, only

shorter, and with a heel or obtuse denticulus behind near the alveolus ; the first, second, and third

true molars, quadricuspidate, two points on the outer and two on the inner edge ; the fourth, quin-

quecuspidate, two points on the outer and two on the inner edge ; the fifth directly behind.

Fig. 8. The trachea, and thoracic viscera, — a the heart, in situ ; b the right lung, consisting

of three lobes ; c the left lung, consisting of two lobes.

Fig. 9. The stomach : — a the oesophagus, b the duodenum, c the biliary duct..

Fig. 10. The ccecum It is slight, sacculated on one side, and about seven inches in length :

a the termination of the small intestines ; b the commencement of the large intestines . the tota

length of the former is 141, and of the latter 15 inches.

Fig. 11. The spleen. _ . ,

Fig. 12. A view of the anterior or convex surface of the liver. This viscus consists o net

lobes ; the right lobe, a, is entire, the middle one, b, is divided into three, and the left, c,

four lobules — one of the latter set is bicornate. ait

Fig. 13. The posterior or concave surface of the liver a the gall bladder , b t\e.ga cue ■

Fig. 14. The penis. It is pendent from the pubis, and supplied with an os perns ; a t ie

prepuce ; b the glans, covered with a delicate smooth skin ; c the orifice of the iirethia, ( t

body of the penis, which is depressed, spatuliform, and with the skin forming irregular longi-

tudinal rugae, each of which is beset with slender, retroverted, horny spines.

Fig. 15. The testis ; the epididymis and vas deferens distinctly shewn, the latter proceec mg

from the inferior lobule of the former. , . .

Fig. 16. The urinary and genital organs a the bicornute uterus, as it appears in the gravi

state ; b b the ligamenta lata ; c c the ovaria — thin, and of a circular form , d d the Fa op

tubes ; ee the kidneys; ff the ureters; g the bladder; h the urethra, i the vagina.

Fig. 17. The uterus laid open, and the foetus and membranes of the right side expo!

a the inner surface of the uterus, covered with delicate spongy points oi villi , b t e oeta men

branes ; c the isthmus, by which the membranes of the one foetus is connected wit 1

other; do. portion of the outer surface of the chorion. This membrane is coveicc . y

with minute spongy points, similar to those which exist upon the inner surface of the uterus,

, , OJ . , f artmpwhat circular bodies like rudimentary

and among these points occur a number of somew . -

~ -ii whirh exist upon the isthmus c , are

cotyledons. Several of the latter, particularly those - * ,

distinctly enp-shaped ; . the amnim, through which, near to the ombtl.cal cord, are seen

rudimentary cotyledons ; /.he ,, MUcl cord attached to the tofenor and poster, or part of the

first published a. the Cape of Good Hope, a description of this httle

animal, my principal reason for regarding it as distinct from Galago SenogaUnm, was, all the

GALAGO MOHOLI.

specimens we possessed (nine) had four incisors in the upper jaw, while all the descriptions I had an

opportunity of consulting gave to the Senegal species only two. Should G. Moholi eventually

prove distinct from the latter, there is reason to believe that it occurs in Western as well as

Southern Africa, at least there is a specimen from the Gambia, in the museum of the Zoologica

Society of London, which, as far as size and external appearances are concerned, so closely

resembles ours, that it is difficult to distinguish the one from the other: the upper jaw

of the specimen in question, unfortunately, is slightly damaged, and only one incisor

remains. But admitting that the Zoological Society’s specimen and ours are of one species,

that species, in my opinion, is not the true Galago Senegalensis .-—a conclusion to which I

have been led by the recent observations of my friend Mr. Waterhouse, while in Paris. He

found in the museum of the Jardin des Plantes, two specimens ticketed Galago Senegalensis ;

the one is certainly of the same species as that in the Zoological Society’s Museum, and

measures to the base of the tail eight inches and a half; the other differs from it not only in

size, but also in colouring. According to Mr. Waterhouse’s notes the latter is seven inches long ;

the upper parts are greyish-yellow ; the sides yellow with a brownish tinge, and the under parts

yellow ; the hands are a dirty yellow- white ; a line between the eyes and the muzzle yellowish ;

the tail is pale rusty yellow, the fur of the belly, both at base and apex is of the same colour;

the ears are apparently larger than those of the other specimen, and the fingers longer.” Now,

as only one specimen appears to have existed in the museum at the time the G. Senegalensis was

described by .Daubenton, and as his description nearly corresponds with that of the second

individual examined by Mr. Waterhouse, — and whose colouring is given from his notes,

I think we can have no hesitation in agreeing with him, that the above is the animal which

Daubenton intends to describe when he says — “ length seven inches; the hairs tolerably long

and woolly ; the lips and top of the nose is yellow-white ; this colour extends between the

eyes and the forehead. The back is yellowish-brown; this colour becomes paler on the flanks,

the arms, and the thighs, and is yellow-white on the fore-arms, the legs, the belly, and the

chest.” If so, the second specimen mentioned in the Paris collection, is the true Galago Senega-

lensis; and ours, as well as the specimen in the Zoological Society’s Museum, and the other

which is in the Jardin des Plantes, is distinct; and consequently Galago Moholi, and is

readily to be distinguished from G. Senegalensis, by having the fur of the belly of two

colours — white towards the surface, and a dark slate colour towards the base.

The first specimens we observed were upon trees close to the Limpopo river, in about lati-

tude 25° south, and from that parallel we continued to observe others as far as we travelled.

During their movements, they evince great activity ; they spring from branch to branch, and

even from tree to tree, with extraordinary facility, and always seize with one of their fore feet the

branch upon which they intend to rest. In their manners they manifest considerable resemblance

to monkeys, particularly in their propensity to the practice of ridiculous grimaces, gesticulations,

&c. According to the Natives, G. Moholi is a nocturnal animal, and is rarely to be seen during

the day. The latter it spends in the nests which it forms for itself in the forks of branches,

or in the cavities of decayed trees ; and in these nests the females also produce and rear their

young, which are generally two at a birth. Its food consists principally of pulpy fruits, though

there is reason to believe it also consumes insects, as the remains of the latter were discovered

in the stomachs of several individuals we examined.

C. HR Y SOCHLORIS VI L.LOSA

('Mammalia . Plate 9)

CHRYSOCHLORIS VILLOSA.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate IX.

C. supra lucide flavo-brunnea ; corporis lateribus, partibus infcrioribusque griseo-brunneis, labiis, mentc

strigaque ex angulo oris porrccta albis ; unguibus flavo-albis ; vellere yilloso.

Longitcdo 5 anc.

Cijrysociiloris villosa, Smith, South African Quarterly Journal, New Series, Vol. I. page 81, 1833

Colour. — Above shining yellowish brown, iaintly brindled with a daik

brown, each hair is slate-coloured towards and at the base, yellowis l rowi

in the middle, and brown at the point ; sides of body and belly greyis l

brown. Upper and lower lips, chin, and a well marked oblique stripe

between the angle of the mouth and the sides ot the neck yellowish w ite,

the latter in particular slightly pencilled with brown ; upper suilace o

snout flesh-coloured ; nails yellowish white.

Form. — Typical ; muzzle rather elongated, semicircular at the apex, at

tened above, and for some distance behind the point is denuded of fur, t e

bare space is nearly semicircular. Body rather massive; fur long and rigit

its length great when compared with that of the other South African species

of the genus. The outermost claw of the fore foot strong and consit era y

curved, the second smaller, the third delicate and short ; all the c aw so

hinder feet long, slender, and but slightly curved. No eyes visi e.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the tip of the nose to

the angle of the mouth

Length of the hinder legs ®

Inches. Lines.

Length of the outer claw of the fore

foot 0 6

Total length of the animal 5 0

Height 2 3

The genus Ckrysochloru, as far as we yet know, is purely an African form; and until the

discovery of the present animal it contained only two spec.es When

became known it formed a third species, and latterly a fourth has been desc, .bed by . g y,

under the name of CL Bumare.si, ,-* all four are nat.v.s of South Afnca. The two spec.es

* Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for 1838, page 5.

CHRYSOCHLORIS VILLOSA.

first discovered, and the one lately added by Mr. Ogilby, resemble each other as regards the

characters of their fur, and it requires some attention to the individual characters of each

species, to enable the naturalist to distinguish them from each other. Chrysochloris villosa,

however, is so very unlike the other three, that no labour is required to discover its differences.

Chrysochloris aurata. and Ch. Hottentota differ materially from each other as regards their

habits, and they form their burrows after a different manner. Of the habits of the present

species we know nothing. It was discovered near Port Natal, and at that time it was wandering

apparently at random upon some meadow ground, which was covered with long grass. In its

stomach were found the remains of insects and their larva;. The species described by Mr.

Ogilby was obtained on the west coast of South Africa, some four or five hundred miles north

of Cape Town, and bears a considerable resemblance to Chrysochloris aurata.

The following are the species at present known.

Chrysochloris aurata. Desm.

Chrysochloris Hottentota. Smith.

Chrysochloris villosa. Smith.

Chrysochloris Hamarensis. Ogilby.

MACROS CEL IDES TYPICTJS

(Ma mmalia_ Plate 10)

mackoscelides typicus.-Sm,™.

Mammalia. — Plate X.

• a „ n-irrp brunneo-rubro penicillato ; subtus albus

M. capita, dorse, lateribuscpie pallida vestitis; lined rubro-brunned supra basin

flavo-tinctus; auribue latis, rotundatxs, antic* pi

proboscidis, versus frontem prolongata.

Longitubo corporis 5 unc. ; caudee 4* UI1C ' . j Journa l, Vol. IV., 1829.*

Mackoscelides ty pices, Smith, ^ooiog

i e pVip fur of the head, back amt

Colour. — The prevailing snrface-coloa^ ^ wood . brown ; the

sides is intermediate between ig 1 > ' intermixture of some reddish

colour of the back being slightly broke 5 a faint tinge of

brown hairs. The under parts are wh.te wr It .her .a ^ sarfaC e of

yellow; the legs are rusty white^ the ,, ish b rown except towards

the tail is greyish brown, the loit er sum } , coating

the tip. where both the one and the other are rd k «h .1 ^ ■

the inner surface of the ears and a pend “ f " e " of tUe sam e

auditoHm pure white, the fur on the outer or h.nder su reddish

colour as the back ; proboscis rusty brown, with a more ■»!«■£ midd le

brown stripe above at its base, winch the fur is

of the face towards the forehead Immediately below the surta

a dark slate colour, " " Ztf "wlh age and

"I : Z : in some specimens we dud the prevailing colour to be

“X-Figure squat ; head behind

slender, sabcylindrical and terminated by a de l.cate . n08tl .;| s

snout or proboscis, the diameter of which is neo y y <1 each

small, Circular, situated at the point of the P^^T^nearly

othe r by a narrow vertical groove; eyes large l r t, broad and

between the base X^almoTt semicircular ; with a faint rudimentary

patulous, the cKcum OT0In inent point of the semicircle ; a tuft ol long

irfmmedXlyX front of ,neat « Anterior extremities rather

• generally adopted throughout Europe, ms

- * d i0 e ’“ y y '

MACROSCELIDES TYPICUS.

short ; posterior extremities long and the tarsi bare beneath. Toes short and

all nearly of the same length, the inner toe of the hinder extremities consi-

derably removed from the others ; nails short, slender and strongly curved,

lail cylindrical, slightly tapered, and closely covered with short rigid

hairs. Fur long, soft and silky, very dense, and but slightly recum-

bent. For the form of the skull, and the characters of the teeth and of

some of the viscera, vide Plate XV. 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, Id, 1 e, If 1 g, 1 h,

and 1 i.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches.

Lines.

Inches.

Lines

Length from the point of the proboscis

Length of the hinder legs

to the extremity of the tail

of the tarsus

1<H

of the head including the pro-

of the toes

boscis

Distance between the base of the

of the proboscis

proboscis and the eye . . .

of the tail

between the eye and the

of the ears

7 1

of the fore legs

Height when standing on all the feet

1 2

The colours of both sexes are nearly alike.

Ihe shape, breadth and shortness of the ears, together with the comparatively dense coating

of fm by which both their inner and outer surfaces are covered, enable us readily to distinguish

this species from any of the others which have yet been discovered in Southern Africa. It is

found inhabiting open, arid plains, particularly such as bear a thin coating of brushwood. It

lives in burrows under ground, the passage to which is usually for some distance below the

surface, almost perpendicular ; it vacates these during a great portion of the day, and is

employed either in seeking its food or basking in the solar rays. To the latter it is very

partial, and for the purpose of insuring the greatest quantum, of heat, it usually sits erect upon

its hinder legs, and facing the direction from which the heat proceeds. When disturbed

while occupied in either of the ways mentioned, it flies immediately to its subterranean

retreat, and its progress is effected with such rapidity, that it is impossible to discover

anything either of the form or the real nature of the animal as it advances. On this account

I was familiar with the general appearance it presents on such occasions long before I had

any idea of its real character. It feeds upon insects.

Ihe discovery of this little animal in 1828, rendered the institution of a new groupe of

Insectivora necessary. When its characters were indicated in 1829, M. typicus was only

known ; at present the number of described species are seven, six of which belong to Southern

Africa and one to Algiers.

MACROSC ELIDE S RUPEST’RIS.

(Mammalm _ Plate II . \

MACROSCELIDES RUPESTRIS.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate II.

. capite, dorso, lateribusque pallid^ fulvus, nigro-penicillatis ; infra albus, ochreo tinctus > "

brunnea, nigro-penicillata ; cruribus fulvo-albis ; labio superiore, circuloque oculan ^

macul&que post aures divide fulvis ; proboscide fulvo-albo, supra hnea longitudma c nigra

basin ; oculis subnigris.

Longitudo corporis cum capite, 6 unc.; caudas 4tj ad 5 unc.

Macroscelides rupestuis, Smith. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London > 1

Colour.— The surface- col our of the upper and lateral parts of the head

and of the back and sides of the body intermediate between wood-brown and

sienna-yellow,— the tint darkest on the head, brightest on the back, and

palest on the sides, and on all, more or less distinctly brindled or bro veil n

the presence of fine black hairs, which are freely intermixed with the iur. J ne

upper lip, a ring round the eyes, the lower part of the sides and the whole o

the under parts of the body white, faintly tinted with ocluy yellow. Legs am

feet tawny white. Tail yellowish brown, darkest above, and penci led with

black, particularly towards the point. The nape of the neck and the tur

immediately behind the base of the ears bright i ufous ye ow ,

coating the inner surface of the ears, and the long tutt w tic t gua

meatus auditorius white ; on the outer surface it is partly yellowish brown , and

partly dusky white. Proboscis rusty white, with a long.tud.nal black-brown

stripe above towards the base ; whiskers black, some of the br, sties wlnte

the base ; eyes almost black ; nails a da* b° r "'“ d t , lan „ lat „f M.

Form, fcc.-Figure rather robust, yet better p I conBid erably

Typicus. Head behind the eyes broad and nearer , he

thicker at its base than at its ape , J rather , ong and of a some .

ears than to the base of the l jr0 “ lo| ’ erab| coated wit h short fur, their outer

what oval shape the.rronCTSur^dric a i ^ tWcker at the base than the

surface almost J» • 1 - e hair wh ich, except at the apex, is very

extremities bu, little removed from the other toes.

MACROSCELIDES RUPESTRIS.

Fur long, soft, silky, and more recumbent than that of M. Typicus. For the

form of the skull and the characters of the teeth, vide Plate XV. 2 a, 2 b,

and 2 c.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the tip of the proboscis

to the point of the tail 10 6

of the head 2 0

of the proboscis 0 6^

of the ears 0 9^

of the fore-legs 1 6

of the hind-legs 3 6

Inches. Lines

Length of the tarsus 1 1 |

of the toes 0 3

Distance between the base of the

proboscis and the eyes 0 9

between the eye and the ear. 0 5

Height when standing 2 9

The colours of both sexes are nearly alike.

The shape of the ears, the position of the eyes in relation to the proboscis and ears, the white

ring encircling the eyes, the rufous spot behind the base of each ear, the figure of the proboscis,

the more recumbent direction of the fur, and the greater size of the animal, are external characters

by which this species is readily distinguished from Macroscelides Typicus. Like the last named

species, the range of M. Rupestris is rather extensive : both animals are scattered over a great

portion of the more southern parts of South Africa. The positions it selects for its habitats are

very different to those chosen by M. Typicus : it is invariably found among rocks, and it seeks

its hiding-place either in the caverns of these, or under detached blocks of stone. Insects consti-

tute its food, and during most of the day it wanders in search of them over the rugged surfaces

which characterise the localities it inhabits, and when so occupied, the slightest cause of alarm

drives it instantly to a place of concealment ; to attain which, it moves with that extraordinary

rapidity which we have mentioned when speaking of M. Typicus. When uninfluenced by fear,

this as well as the other species appear to walk regularly, but when frightened they seem to

advance by successive leaps.

MACROS CEL IDE S INTTJEI

(Maminalia JEktel2)

MACROSCELIDES INTUFI.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XII.

M. capite, dorso, lateribusquc pallide subochreis, nigro parce pcnicillatis ; subtus albus, flavo-umbratns ,

cauda ochrea, brunneo pcuicillata ; cruribus fulvo-albis ; oculis subnigris.

Longitudo corporis cum capite 5| unc. ; caudac 4 uuc.

Macroscf.lidf.s intcfi. — R ep. of Exped. App. June, 1836.

Colour. — The surface-colour of the upper and lateral parts of the head and

of the back, and the sides of the body, is intermediate between sienna and

cream-yellow, the tint being slightly broken by the presence of a number of

black hairs which are intermixed with the fur ; the upper lip, ring round the

eye, and all the under parts white, with here and there a faint yellowish tint ,

legs pale rusty white. Tail as if pencilled sienna-yellow and dark-brown.

The fur on the anterior surface of the ears, and the tuft in front of the meatus

auditorius white, the down coating the outer surface of the ears sienna-yellow ,

proboscis rusty white ; eyes almost black ; whiskers black, a few of the bristles

whitish towards base ; the nails a dark horn colour. On the upper and lateral

parts of the head and body the furbelow the surface is a dull slate colour, and

the same tint is just discernible, close to the skin, upon such parts as are

described to be white at the surface.

Form, See . — Figure rather slender ; proboscis robust, and considerably

thicker at the base than the apex ; eyes large and situated much nearer to the

ears than to the base of the proboscis ; ears erect, long, broad at their base,

but much narrower towards the tips, which are rounded, each has a consi

derable einargination in its outer or hinder margin about the middle, their

inner surfaces towards the outer margins are coated with short fui, elsew leie

nearly bare ; their outer surfaces have a very thin sprinkling of short fur.

Tail rather slender, slightly thicker at the base than the apex, and closely

covered with short rigid hairs ; inner toe of hinder extremities but little

removed from the other toes. Fur rather short, slightly harsh, and rather

MACROSCELIDES INTUFI.

strongly recumbent. For the form of the skull and the characters of the

teeth, vide Plate XV. 3 a, 3 b, and 3 c.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the tip of the proboscis

to the point of the tail ... .9 0

of the head 2 0

of the proboscis 0 5

of the ears 0 9

of the fore-legs 1 3

of the hind legs 3 0

Nothing is known of the male.

Inches. Lines.

Length of the tarsus I 0

of the toes 0 2|

Distance between the base of the

proboscis and the eye 0 9

between the eye and the ear.. 0 4^

Height when standing 2 4

The comparatively slender figure of this species and the peculiar colour of the back

and sides, are characters by which it is readily to be distinguished from any of the others

which have yet been discovered in South Africa. To M. Rupestris it makes the nearest

approach, but it differs from that species not only in regard to colour and figure ; but also in

having that portion of the head situated behind the eyes much narrower, and its proboscis,

particularly towards the base, thicker. For further differences vide Plate XV. and expla-

nations.

Of the habits of this species we know nothing. Only one specimen, which was obtained

upon the banks of a river near to the Tropic of Capricorn, has come under our observation.

The stomach contained comminuted insects.

rn.CH OSCELHXES BE A.CHYRHYN GHU S

(Mammalm _Bla.te]3)

MACROSCEL1DES BRACHYRYNCHUS.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XIII.

M capitc supra dorsoque inter rubro-aurantium et flavo-brunneum, nigro penicillatis ; capitis, corpor.sque

latcribus pallid^ flavo-brunneis, brunneo-peniciUatis ; labio superior^ oculi circulo, corponsque parti-

bus inferioribuB albis; proboscide fulvo-aM, base lined nigro-brunned traversa ; oculis submgns.

Longitijdo corporis cum capite, 4-i unc. ; caudee, 3{ unc.

Macroscelides BRACHYRYNCHUS, Report of Exped. App. June, 1836.

Colour.— The surface-colour of the upper parts of the head and hack is

intermediate between reddish orange and yellowish brown, but broken or

obscured by a profuse intermixture of blackish brown hairs, winch exist

among the fur ; sides of head and body pale buff orange slightly pencilled with

brown. Upper lip, ring round the eyes, and all the under parts white. Tail

above, deep brown pencilled with ochre-yellow, below, ochre-yellow pencilled

with brown : legs rusty white; fur of ears and tuft in front of meatus a,Mor,us

yellowish white; whiskers partly black and partly ochrey yellow ; proboscis

rusty white and crossed at its base, above, by a blackish brown bar; eyes

nearly black; noils black. The fur on all parts of the body, towards the

skin, is a deep slate colour.

ForM & c . — Figure rather squat; head rather slender; proboscis short

and slightly thicker at base than apex; eyes large and prominent, rather

t the ears than to the snout; ears erect, long, and oval, their tips

nearer to surface s with a thin sprinkling of fur towards the outer

rounded , 1 bare> their outer surfaces almost entirely destitute of

margins, else ^ and fol | y coate( l with short rigid hair, that at

covering. j . slender; inner toe of hinder extremities consider-

l^eSe ofhefto. ; ’nails slender and much curved. Fur long,

MACROSCELIDES BRACHYRYNCHUS.

rather rigid and strongly recumbent. For form of skull

teeth, vide Plate XV. 4 a, 4 b, and 4 c.

and characters of

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines,

.Length from the tip of the proboscis

to the point of the tail s 0

of the head j g

of the proboscis o 3

of the tail 3 g

of the ears 0 7

of the fore-legs 1 2

Inches. Lines.

Length of the hind- legs

of the tarsus

of the toes

Distance between the proboscis and the

eye

between the eye and the ear.

4 i

Height when standing

As regards colour, both sexes are nearly alike.

rile present 1S the smallest species of the genus which has yet been found in South Africa

and by its inferiority of size it is readily to be distinguished from the species already described •

the shortness of its proboscis also furnishes a good diagnostic character; and should more be

required, they are to be found in the form of its ears, texture of its fur, &c. Its range does

not appear to extend much to the southward of the Tropic of Capricorn; at least, we did not

hnd many specimens much to the south of that parallel. Like M Typicus, it appeared to

inhabjt open plains, and as no specimens of the species just named were found in the latitudes

where M brachyrynchus occurred, we may perhaps with propriety regard it as holding the

pkce on the more northerly plains which M. Typicus holds on those more to the southward

No opportunity occurred of discovering the nature of the positions in which this species secretes

1 self when alarmed or enjoying repose; but judging from the nature of the localities in which

the animal was generally discovered, we little doubt that they consisted of subterranean burrows,

similar to those inhabited by the species we have just surmised it may probably represent in

the more northern latitudes. It feeds upon insects.

MACROS CEL IDES EDWARD II .

( Mammalia. _l Plate 14)

MACROSCELIDES EDWARDII. -Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XIV. (Male.)

M. capite supra dorsoque pallide flavo-brunneis, nigro-brunneo effuse penicillatus ; capitis corporisque

lateribus cinereis; inf A sordido-albus ; cruribus fulvo-albis; caud& flavo-brunnefi nigro pemcillata ;

annulo oculos cingente labiisque albis ; macaltt ad basin aurium extus fulva.

Longitudo corporis cum capite 6 unc. ; caudos 5 unc.

Colour.— The surface-colour of the centre of the face, the forehead and

the back light yellowish brown, profusely pencilled with blackish brown ; the

lateral parts of the head and the sides of the body, below a line earned ac -

wards from the base of the ears, ashy grey tinted with pale tawny ; the Ups,

chin, ring round the eyes, and the under parts of the body white ; legs tawny

white; tail yellowish brown freely pencilled with black. The fur wnci

exists upon the ears, together with the pencil of long hairs destined to pro ec

the uuatus auditors pale rusty white; the base of each ear externally

margined by a bright rufous blotch, which colour also tinges though less

deeply, the back part of the neck ; whiskers black ; proboscis black above

and white on the sides ; eyes nearly black.

Form &c.-Figure moderately robust ; size intermediate between that o

JZestris and 31. intufi. Proboscis long, slender, and rather thicker at

, thin the apex • eyes large, prominent, and much nearer to the ears

the base tha P ’ S narrower than in the other South

" tr ra'—oval form, and rounded at the points, the

African s P ecies ’ (1istinct l v emarginate a little below the apex; hinder

outer [v extremities considerably removed from the other toes. Tail

toes of hinder ex dense lv covered with short, rigid hairs, which

increase ^n togth towards its tip, where they form a thin rigid and divergent

MACROSCELIDES EDWARDII.

brush. Fur, long, soft, silky, and strongly recumbent, particularly on the

head, back, and sides.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the tip of the proboscis

to the point of the tail .... 10 8

of the head 2 2

of the proboscis 0 5

of the tail 5 3

of the ears 0 11

of the fore-legs 2 0

Nothing is known of the female.

Inches. Lines.

Length of the hind legs 4 2

of the tarsus 1 1|

of the toes 0 If

Distance between the proboscis and the

eyes 0 11^

between the eyes and the ears 0 5^

Height when standing 2 4

For the specimen which has enabled us to figure and describe this new species, the Cape

Association is indebted to the liberality of the Messieurs Verreaux, of Cape Town, all zealous

and useful members of the Association. It was killed by M. Edward Verreaux, after whom

we have named it, in one of the central districts of the colony, near to the Oliphant’s river,

and in a locality bearing little or no vegetation, except a few dwarf shrubs. In the stomach

were contained comminuted insects. The ears are narrower in proportion to their length than

those of any of the other South African species ; and the difference between the colours of the

back and sides is so palpable, and the boundaries of the colours so well defined, that by

these characters alone the species is readily to be distinguished.

♦ :'r^ ‘ k! *, v* 5»

•» j ** ■ *•

>• * *

GE N II S — MACK 0 SCK1 , 1 D E S

( Mammalia PiaU- '5.

Genus „MACROSCELIDES.

Mammalia. — Plate XV.

On the plates intended to represent the various species of Macroscelides

I • 1 1 rnmnleted and the artist prepared to proceed with the plate ot

laving ee gtrations> it was discovered that the preparations, which had

heen°collected to furnish the figures, had either been mislaid or by ace, dent

^ ft at the Cape of Good Hope. It became therefore necessary either to

abandon our original intention, or adopt the only other course open to us,

furnish representations of such mutilated specimens as we m.ght still be

Zi ta command. Those we found to be very imperfect, yet they never he

less appeared calculated to afford considerable assistance towards i lust.atn g

the diagnostic characters, and therefore of sufficient importance to warrant

us in figuring them.

The skulls we possess are ,0 imperfect, and bonl

found practicable on the present occasion to indicate , , iddle of the

Something like the remains of a longitudinal utan ^ *c .be sen o* “ ' tQ be noticed

frontal bone of M. typicus, and an indication ot a like amsio

the parietal heme. The division between the pnnetnl and tempos, bone s a 1,

if at all indicated. The latter bones exhibit a peculiarity o structure, or a. least

in question is developed .0 a degree which I do no, recollect „ tarn n^d m any . 0

animals. The two tables of these bones throughout tor whole exten meede^ntlyt^^

each other, and both in the squamous and petrous portions form lag

taken together, are not inferior in sue to the cavity of the < i n . = ^tions which

of the onto plate of the squamous portion which produces the P T (/

consists entirely of the intern, axillary bones which lodge six Mhe f »»* > ^

are large, and not sep.mted from the tempoml fossm , the » J 6^ ^

" u - — VZZZZZS * ££, wi , - 'T7

malar process of the maxii ay a horizonta i rami are rather slender, slightly

,awis by synchondrosis , . he ascending

tapered anteriorly, and at the p ex articular condyle and two coronoid

1, thin, mid each and serrated from it b, a

processes ; the anterior proce exKnds ftom th e angle of the jaw, is slightly curved

deep emargination ; the post

upwards and terminates m a point.

GENUS— MACROSCELIDES.

I lie corresponding teeth in all the South African species agree in very many points, and thus

t le general resemblance may be said to be very strong. Minute examinations, however,

. lvu ge many we d-marked differences which are more easily perceived than described. Each

jaw contains twenty teeth, ten on each side. In the upper jaw, the series of one side is

separated from that of the other at the anterior point of the intermaxillary bone ; in the lower

jaw no division exists, the two anteriormost teeth being in juxta-position. For the sake of

convenience, we may consider the teeth of each jaw under three divisions, viz. incisors, false

molars, and true molars. The incisors are six in number, and in the upper jaw are lodged in

the intermaxillary bones ; the false molars are two on each side ; the remainder are classed as

true molars. In M. typicus the teeth of each side are continuous, but in the other species

several of the anterior ones are more or less apart from each other. With respect to form the

incisors of the upper jaw differ but little from each other, they are all laterally compressed

the inner surface of each is distinctly concave, and the outer slightly convex, the two anterior-

most ones are slightly longer than the other four, and all have an oblique cutting edge, the

most projecting point of which is at the front of each tooth. The false molars are very & short,

compressed, and slightly bicuspidatc, the one point immediately behind the other. The true

molars are quadncuspidate, two points on the outer edge and two on the inner, but the latter

never reach the level of the former; hence the crown of each tooth exhibits an inward slope -

m the hindermost molar the two posterior points are always but imperfectly developed The

mtisors of the under jaw are more compressed than those of the upper; the two false molars

resemble closely those of the upper jaw, the first and second true molars have more the

appearance of false than true ones ; indeed, they might with more propriety be ranked with

tie former than the latter; they are strongly compressed and faintly tricuspidate, the points

being disposed in a longitudinal line : the three hindermost molars are quadricuspidate, and

the external and internal points attain the same level.

The following are the parts represented —

1 a

1 l)

1 c

1 d

1 e

1 /

1 9

1 h

1 i

2 a

2 b

2 c

3 a

3 b

3 c

4 a

4 b

4 c

The upper surface of

The lateral parts of

The lower jaw of

The under surface of

The lower jaw of

The stomach of

The ccecum of

The liver of

The left kidney of

The upper surface of

The lateral parts of

The lower jaw of

The upper surface of

The lateral parts of

The lower jaw of

The upper surface of

The lateral parts of

The lower jaw 0 f

the skull of M.

do.

the skull of

typicus of the natural size,

do. . do.

do. . . do.

do. of double the natural

do. . do.

do.

size.

do., together vvith a portion of the large and small intestines.

do., consisting of four very unequal-sized lobes,

do.

the skull of M. rupestris, of the natural size.

do. do. do.

do. do.

the skull of M. intufi. do.

do. do. do.

do. do.

the skull of M. brachyrynchus. do.

do. do. do.

do. do.

CYJSTICTIS OG-ILBYII.

(_ Mammalia_ Plate 16?)

CYNICTIS OGILBYII.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XVI. — Male.

0 supra ochreo-flavus, nigro-brunnco alboque sordido penicillatus; infra sublactifloris ; mento gu%ue

ad album transients ; cauda patull fortiter depress®, et fere distich®, apice acute, albo; aunbus

externe rubro-brunneis, interne subalbis; oculis rubris ; unguibus lmdo-brunneis, versus apices

pallidis.

Longitudo corporis cum capite 15 unc; caudfe, 9j unc.

Colour. — The upper and lateral parts of the head, neck, body, and tail and

the outer surfaces of the thighs ochre-yellow, freely and delicately pencilled

with blackish brown and dirty white. The latter colours are all that exist to

produce variegations on the parts mentioned, and both occur upon each ban,

-the dirty white at the point, and the blackish brown some short dis ance

behind it On the hinder part of the back and upper aspect of the tail, the

blackish brown is most strongly displayed, and produces on both an irregular

chequered, or brindled appearance. The under parts of the neck, body, and

tail, as also the tip of the latter, and the parts of the extremities not already

mentioned, dull cream-yellow; the chin, upper part of the throat, and lips,

towards the angles of the mouth, dusky white. The hair and fur of the head

and body towards the skin, a rusty slate colour. Ears externally rich red-

dish brown, internally dirty white. Muzzle black; eyes red; nails livu

brown toward their bases, light liorn-coloured at the points ; soles of the fc

brownish red. .

Form, &c.— Body rather slender; extremities delicate; tad narrow, sub-

cvlindrical, and tapering to the point, in which particulars it exhibits a

/reater resemblance to Herpestes than Cynictis. The hairy covering is of

two descriptions, fur and hair; the fur constitutes a considerable proportion

of the covering of the head, body, and extremities, but is entirely wanting on

the tail • it is shorter than the hair, and is only to be seen distinctly by sepa-

rating the latter. The hair is long on the back, thighs, and tail, where it

• to a shaggy appearance; it is every where rigid, on the body

strongly recumbent, “and on the tail divergent, thereby giving to the latter a

somewhat distichous form. It is in the hairy portion of the cover, ng that

the diversity of colours occur, and which produce the brindled appearance

CYNICTIS OGILBYII.

already mentioned. The ears are short and semicircular ; the head is broad

and bulky behind the eye, but slender and subcylindrical towards the muzzle>

which is bare and prominent. The nails are long, slender, and slightly

curved ; the curvatures most developed in those of the fore-feet. Besides the

rigid bristles which occur upon the upper-lip, there are also a few of a similar

description upon other parts of the head, such as the cheeks, forehead, com-

mencement of the throat, &c. For the characters of the teeth, and the con-

figuration of the skull, see Plate XVIII. and its letter-press description.

DIMENSIONS.

Inch. Lin.

Length from the nose to the base of the

tail 15 0

of the tail 9 3

of the head 2 9

Inch. Lin.

Distance between the tip of the nose

and the eye 1 1

Distance between the eye and the ears 0 7 ^

Height at the shoulder 5 0

In the female the ground-colour is not quite so bright as in the male, nor is

the brindling so distinct.

The grizzly appearance of the back, and the great villosity of the tail

furnish characters by which this species is readily distinguished from the

others which occur in South Africa.

It inhabits open country, and specimens are frequently to be seen on the barren plains which

exist immediately to the northward of the Cape Colony. Over these they wander during the

greater part of the day, in search of their food, which consists of mice, small birds, insects, &c.

and they only retreat to the subterraneous burrows, in which they are accustomed to pass the

night, when alarmed by the approach of man. They delight to bask in the sun, and when

the calls of hunger are not urgent, they are to be seen, especially in the early part of the day,

seated upon their hinder legs, with their bodies erect, and so placed, as that the greatest

degree of heat shall be enjoyed. They assume the same position when their fears are excited,

by which their range of view is considerably increased. Their common pace is a walk ; but

when retreating from real or imaginary danger, they move with great speed ; their pace then is

a sort of gallop, now and then broken by bounds or springs, which they commonly take when

the surface over which they have to retreat, is either broken or coated with brushwood. Inde-

pendently of their being extremely wild and cautious, they are also very savage, and when

secured alive, they display a great desire to bite their captors, and it is not till after they have

been a long time subjected to the sufferings of hunger, that they can be brought to tolerate the

approach or even appearance of man, near to the place where they are confined, without

evincing their savage and pugnacious propensities. When their spirits however are once

subdued, they are tolerably docile ; yet they are never to be trusted, inasmuch as they continue

to manifest a treacherous disposition, and will often bite with severity, when only indications

of kindness might be expected.

CYNIC TIS LEPTURN S

(NLammalia _Pla.tel7)

CYN1CTIS LEPTURUS.— Smith.

Mammalia.— Plate XYII.

C subfulvus, ochreo brunneoque penicillatus; dorso, corporisque lateribus pallide subrufo tinctis, caud

supra dimidio ultimo pilis brunneo-annulatis vestito ; labiis, mento, caud^que apice subalbis; ocubs

rubris ; auribus extus rubro-brunneis, intus subfulvis ; unguibus livido-brunneis.

Longittjdo corporis cum capite 15 unc. ; caudss 9 unc. 3 bn.

Colour. — Pale buff-orange, the back and sides, particularly towards the

tail, tinted with Dutch-orange, and very faintly penciled with cream-yellow

and dusky brown. The back and the sides of the neck are also delicately

pencilled with the same colours, which seems to be produced by many of the

hairs of these parts being ringed with pale brown towards their points. T

first third of the tail above is of the same colour as the hinder part the

back, the other two-thirds are fulvous, grizzled with dull c ' ,esnut ;^°'™-

the latter being the colour of the middle portion of each ban; the und^

surface is pale buff-orange verging to cream-yellow. The sides of the he

and the point of the tail are pale cream-yellow, the former sparingly pencilled

with brown. The lips and chin nearly pure white; the edges and inner

surfaces of the ears are buff-orange, the outer surfaces pale <*M«uM>ro ■

Muzzle, whiskers, and ciliae black : eyes red : nails dark l‘ orn - c ^ ed ^

Font. &c -Typical. Figure rather slender and elegant. Head behind

eves broad and slightly depressed, before eyes slender and nearly cylindrical .

nCt naked; noftn.s opening laterally ; ears short, and semicvrcu dar w,£

S lg I -arris their points. Head ornamented with several tufts of long

be 'Tl -stL one series on each side of the upper lip, a second on each cheek,

rigid bristles, O a fourth about midway between the

1 commencement of the throat, and a fifth over „e

angles of the m The covering of the animal consists partly of f...

r»7p C a“rtly of coarse hair; the fur, except on the tail, predominates, and

CYNICTIS LEPTUEUS.

is considerably shorter than the hair ; the latter on the head, body, and

anterior extremities is strongly recumbent, but on the outer surface of the

posterior extremities and the tail it is more or less divergent, and on these is

considerably longer than elsewhere ; on the head it is very short. The colour

of the fur is uniform, and the slight variegations which appear depend upon

the markings of the hair. For the characters of the teeth and the form of the

head, see Plate 18 , and its descriptive letter-press.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the tip of the nose to

the root of the tail 15 11

Length of the tail 9 3

Height at the shoulder 5 3

Inches. Lines.

Distance between the point of the

nose and the eye 1 2

Distance between the eye and the

base of the ear superiorly ... 0 6 A

The almost uniform colour of this species enables us easily to distinguish

it from the other two found in South Africa, — the comparative shortness of

the hair with which it is covered, and the slenderness of the tail, in which

respect it is more akin to Herpestes than Cynictis, are also available diagnostic

characters.

It hat has been said touching the habits of Cynictis Ogilbyii will equally apply to the

present animal. It inhabits arid plains towards the Tropic of Capricorn, and, like its congeners,

passes some portion of its time under ground. It feeds upon small quadrupeds, birds, reptiles,

insects, &c.

Though but a few years have elapsed since the genus Cynictis was established, we have

already four well-marked species, belonging to it, all of Africa. The species which fur-

nished Mr. Ogilby with the characters of the group, had, for years, been known as an

inhabitant of South Africa, under the name of Herpestes penicillatus, but the peculiarities which

demanded its removal from Herpestes were only discovered by the above named able naturalist

m 1833. The other three have been discovered since, two of them in South Africa and the

other in Sierra Leon. Of the four, Cynictis Ogilbyii is perhaps the most typical species;

after that C. Steidmanii, then C. lepturus, and, lastly, C. melanurus, Martin.* The two last,

except in the essential characters, present considerable resemblance to Herpestes, particularly in

the character of the hair and the size and figure of the tail.

Fort Pitt, Chatham,

30tA August, 1839.

* Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for 1836, p. 56.’

I — I 1

RHINOCEROS SIMUS.— Rurchell.

Mammalia. — Plate XIX.

R pallid brunneo-griseus, flavo-brunneo tinctus; aurium marginibus versus apicem, caudlque supra

P ^Mque ad extremitatem pills, rigidis, uigris vestitis; ore bovine; cornibus duobus, antenore multo

longiore ; oculis flavo-brunneis.

Longitudo corporis cum capite, 12 ped. 1 unc; caudee, 2 ped. 2 unc.

Colour — Pale broccoli-brown, the shoulders, buttocks and belly shaded

with brownish purple ; hair edging the ears and the tip of the tad rnferrorly

and superiorly black; eyes yellowish brown; horns and hoofs rntermedrate

between broccoli and wood-brown,— the hoots darkest. t ;

F ob ,i fee -Figure massive. Head longer but more del.cate m proportion

than in' the other African species; face concave; forehead prominent and

gibbous. Ears rather long, ovate and pointed, their edges towards he Up

above and below fringed with short wiry bristles. Homs e.tuated c ose to he

anterior extremity of the

n08e '. “Vnd 6 rXTmver'the concavity’ backwards, the second is short,

obfris/a, point.

^m^ry'proboscis. Nostrils rather small, opening laterally.

Ft.

dimensions.

In.

Length from the tip of the nose to

the base of the tail ^

of the tail

of the first horn ^

Ft.

Length of the second horn 0

Height at the shoulder 5

at the crupper 5

Circumference of the body 12

In.

RHINOCEROS SIMUS.

The female is coloured like the male, and her horns, though less powerful,

are generally longer, especially the anterior one.

Mohoohoo, the name of this species among the Bechuanas, is considered by them to be one

of the original animals of their country, and to have issued from the same cave out of which

their own forefather proceeded : in this respect they make a difference between it and Keitloa,

with whose origin they do not profess to be acquainted. Too much attention cannot be paid to

the traditions of savages : what in them often appears calculated only to excite ridicule, may,

properly considered, be often made to furnish the most valuable information. Thus, for in-

stance, by attending to what has been termed a useless tradition, we get to know, not merely

that the Bechuanas believe the founders of their own nation and the animals of their country

originally escaped from a large cave, but also facts of interest touching the geographical dis-

tribution of animals, inasmuch as we may rest satisfied, after being aware of the prevalence of

the tradition referred to, that all the animals we now find in their country, to whose progenitors

the aforementioned birth-place is not assigned, have immigrated thither since the tradition

became current. Every portion, however, of such traditions must not be literally re-

ceived, else we shall find travellers who may hereafter visit South Africa propagating errors not

less detrimental to the progress of true science than those which were circulated by Kolben,

one of the first Cape historians, whose indiscreet credulity led him, to relate most extraordinary

fictions, inter alias, one relative to the powers the Rhinoceros exercised over his horns, — powers

which, had he ever examined into the manner in which these bodies were connected with the

parts around and below them, would have been too clearly imaginary to have warranted

even the greatest lover of the marvellous in believing them.

When Mr. Burchell, who first added Rhinoceros simus to the African Fauna, visited

Latakoo, he found it common in that district, and we have been told by the aborigines that it

was not unfrequently found even further to the southward. Of late, however, it has almost

ceased to exist even in the situations where its discoverer met it, which is accounted for by the

danger to which it is exposed being now much increased from the general introduction of fire-

arms among the Bechuanas.

The facility of discriminating this species is great : the extraordinary length of the first

horn and the hunch on the shoulders are sufficient, even in the distance ; but on a nearer view

additional characters are at once visible; among those the peculiar configuration of the mouth is

the most palpable. The form of the latter at once suggests the kind of food upon which the

animal probably subsists, and an examination of the contents of the stomach, which are princi-

pally grass, confirms the accuracy of the inference. Localities abounding in grass are there-

fore the haunts of the Mohoohoo, and to enjoy them throughout the year he is necessitated to

lead a more wandering life than the two species already figured.

PETROMYS TYPICUS.— Smith.*

Mammalia. — Plate XX.

P. capite, cerviceque superne, etiaraque corporis lateribus antice brunneo-griseis, flavo brunneo delicat

penicillatis ; regione nasali, dorsoque rufis; corporis lateribus partibusque inferioribus, flavo-brunneis

griseo admixtis; mento, regionibusque ad oris cingula subochreis; cauda mystacibusque n.gncanti us.

Oculis subnigris.

Longitudo corporis cum capite, 7 unc. 6 lin. ; caudse, 5 unc. 9 lin.

Petromys typicus, Smith. South African Quarterly Journal, No. 5, page 2.

Colour.— The upper and lateral parts of the head and neck, together with

the sides of the body, anteriorly brownish grey, delicately pencilled with

yellowish brown ; the space under each ear finely grizzled with white. The

extremity of the nose, the back, and the base of the tail, superiorly, intei

mediate between reddish orange and chesnut-brown, sparingly pencilled wit 1

black ; sides of body, lower surface of neck and belly, light yellowish brown,

mixed with brocoli-brown. Upper lip, angles of mouth and chin, daik cream-

yellow. Tarsi yellowish-brown. Tail, whiskers, and hairs on margin ot euis,

rusty black. Eyes brownish black. Nails a dark horn-colour. Incisoi

teeth of both jaws, dark sienna-yellow. Hairs near to the skin, generally a

dirty ash-grey. ,

Form, &c.— Figure long, and moderately robust. Head rather long ; nose

rounded' and full— its apex bare and black; the forehead, and upper part ot

L head slightly convex. Ears rather small, semi-circular, and sparingly

covered with short, rigid hair. Eyes moderately large and rather prominent.

Whiskers long and rigid; and on each cheek, immediately behmd the eye,

. For generic characters of Petromys, see South African Quarterly Journal, No. 5, page 2, (1831);

and Id. second series, vol. i. P a S e U6-

PETROMYS TYPICUS.

there is a small tuft of bristles, similar to those forming the whiskers. Legs

rather short ; the soles of the fore feet, and the tarsi of the hinder ones, bare,

and of a brownish-black colour. The toes are rather short ; and, as well as

the claws, fully covered with fur ; the two middle ones of each foot nearly of

equal length, and slightly longer than the lateral ones. Claws short, slender,

and slightly curved. Tail slender, cylindrical, and every where fully covered

with rigid hairs ; those towards the tip, much the longest. The fur of the head

and body, is rather long and recumbent, closely set, and rather harsh.

The skull posteriorly very broad ; above, between the hinder edges of the

parietal and the apices of the nasal bones, flat. The parietal bones are divided

by a longitudinal suture, as are also the frontal ones ; the latter are very

broad, so that the breadth between the eyes is unusually great, when com-

pared with other rodents of the same size. The orbits are rather small, and

their circumference, internally, irregular and broken. The malar bones are

well developed, somewhat triangular in shape, and each externally with an

obtuse carina along its middle; the point of the ti’iangle joins the zygomatic

process of the temporal bone. Infraorbital foramen very large. Tympanitic

Indies large, subglobular, and semi-transparent. Foramina incisiva double.

The incisor teeth of the upper jaw are long, and semicircular ; the basal two-

thirds concealed in the intermaxillary bone ; the apex of the exposed third of

each, with a sharp cutting edge anteriorly ; behind which is a deep notch,

formed to receive the point of the corresponding tooth of the lower jaw. The

incisors of the lower jaw are laterally compressed, and more wedge-shaped at

the points, than those of the upper jaw. The molars of both jaws are eight

in number, four on each side, of nearly the same form in both, and without

true fangs. They are all nearly of the same size ; and the crown of each is

crossed by two transverse fosses, formed by the projecting enamel. The

margin of the crown externally entire, and arched ; internally notched ; — and

where this notch occurs, the enamel, with which it, as well as the rest of the

tooth is edged, sends off, in the teeth of the upper jaw, a thin lamella, which

proceeds nearly across the middle of the crown of each, in its course dividing

and leaving a minute oval opening, about half-way between the notch and

outer edge of the tooth. In the teeth of the lower jaw, neither the transverse

lamella; of the enamel, nor the openings, are visible. The rami of the lower

jaw, posteriorly, or those parts which, when they ascend, are distinguished

by the name of ascending rami, highly divaricated. The superior coronoid

process delicate and very small; the inferior one long, pointed, projecting

behind the line of the articular process. The configuration, &c. of certain of

the abdominal viscera, will be understood from an examination of Plate XXI.

PE PROMTS and DENDROMYS..

(Maim uEhLaPPla-te- 2-1)

PETROMYS TYPICUS.

1 a.

1 b.

1 c.

1 d.

1 <?.

If-

1 9 -

1 h.

1 i.

1 k.

1 1

A view of the upper surface of the skull, of its natural size.

A lateral view of the skull ditto.

A lateral view of the lower jaw ditto.

The under or basal aspect of the skull, of double the natural size.

The lower jaw ditto.

The liver, consisting of two lobes, the left deeply trifid.

The stomach, the smallest tube, the oesophagus.

The ccecum, the longest tube, entering at the small intestines.

The spleen.

The right kidney.

The impregnated uterus. This organ is bicornute, and two ova were contained in

the left cornu.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the nose to the base of

the tail 7 3

of the tail 5 3

of the head I

Inches. Lines.

Distance between the tip of the nose

and the eye 3 10

Distance between the eye and the ear 0 14

Iieight at the shoulder 2 9

The colours of the female are not quite so clear as those of the male.

This little animal is found upon the rocky hills which occur towards the mouth of the

Orange River ; and it lives under the loose stones which are strewed over the surface, or m

the crevices of rocky precipices, where such exist. It seems to feed principally upon vege-

tables, and the flowers of certain synganesious plants, particularly those of a species of

Senecio, which, at the time I visited the district in which the animal appears only to exist,

formed its favourite diet. To obtain those flowers, it was frequently observed seated upon

rocks or stones, near to where they were growing ; and by means of its fore feet, bringing

them into positions in which they could be conveniently consumed. When feeding, it showed

little fear of man ; and unless closely approached, continued actively devouring flower after

flower, although it could not have been insensible to its being observed and watched. When

frightened, however, by too close an approach, it immediately fled to its hiding place ; which,

as already mentioned, was either under a loose stone, or in the crevice of a rock ; and when it

took to such, under the circumstances mentioned, it seldom left them again, until the object

which had excited its fears had disappeared.

EU'-RYOTIS RRORATUS.

(Abimmalia- Plate 22)

EURYOTIS IRRORATUS. — Brants.

Mammalia. — Plate XXII.

E. supra aurantio-ruber dense brunneo aut nigro-brunneo-penicillatus ; capitis, corporisque lateribiu

etiamque pedibus similibus sed pallidioribus et lineis minus distinctis ; subtus sordide griseo flavus

livido-umbratus ; cauda supra brunneo-rubra, subtus flavo-alba ; auribus rufo-flavis brunneo penicil

latis ; oculis brunneo-nigris ; villo subrigido.

Longitxjdo ab apice nasi ad basin caudse 8 unc. 1 lin. ; caudee 3 unc. 5 lin.

Euryotis irrorata, Brants. Het. Geslaclit der Muisen Berlyn, 1827.

Mtrs irroratus, Licht.

Colour. — The surface colours of the upper parts of the head, neck, and body,

are orange red, and umber or blackish brown nearly in equal proportions,

and most intimately mingled, the one colour as if profusely pencilled with

delicate lines of the other. The lateral parts of the head and the body,

together with the extremities, are similarly coloured, only the tints are duller

and paler, and the limits of the different colours not so distinctly defined.

The under parts, from the chin to the tail, dusky greyish yellow, and clouded

by the dark colour which prevails on the deeper portions of the fur. Toes

superiorly dark umber-brown ; the point of the muzzle reddish orange. Ears

pale sienna-yellow, freely pencilled with brown. Tail superiorly brownish

red, inferiorly dusky yellowish white. Eyes brownish black ; whiskers red-

dish brown. The inner or concealed portion of the fur a dark slate colom.

Incisors of upper jaw yellow, shaded with reddish orange.

Form, &c— Head rather narrow, flat behind, anteriorly slightly arched ;

muzzle rather compressed, and the hair on its point superiorly quite erect;

nostrils opening laterally ; the tip of the nose about two lines in advance oi

the anteriormost portion of the upper lip, the latter divided vertical y. Ears

moderately large, rather long, rounded at the points, and slightly fles ij.

Body long and moderately robust , legs short; tail cylindncal and tapering

to the point thinly beset with recumbent rigid hair, through which the cu-

ticular scale's, arranged in rings, are distinctly visible the tip with a slender

pencil of rather long and rigid hairs. The three middle toes of hmder feet

EURYOTIS IRRORATUS.

nearly of equal length, the two others much shorter ; the two middle ones of

the fore-feet equal, the inner one shorter, but slightly longer than the outer-

most. The hairy covering generally moderately dense, strongly recumbent,

slightly rigid, and longest on the back and sides of the body. The incisor

teeth of both jaws, each with a strong longitudinal groove on its anterior sur-

face, the grooves nearest to the outer edges. For further details relative to

the teeth and viscera, see the letter-press for PI. XXY.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines,

Length from the point of the nose to

the tip of the tail 11 6

of the tail 3 5

Distance from the nose to the eye .... 0 9^

eye to the ear...... 0 8-j

Length of the fore-legs

hind-logs

tarsus of hind-legs

Height when standing

The colours of the female are similar to those of the male.

Inches. Lines.

1 n

2 5

1 n

2 8

This is the species which the collector, who commences his labours near Cape Town, will

first acquire. It ranges more to the southward than either of the others, and is even found in

marshy spots close to Cape Point. In such situations it is usually seen near the roots of

bushes or clumps of rushes, and to the densest parts of these it flies for concealment when its

fears are excited. On the other hand, if hunted or more than usually alarmed, it seeks safety

by entering the subterranean burrows with which it is always provided, and which exist beneath

the vegetation in which it generally secretes itself. These burrows are commonly short and

tortuous, and in them the female generally forms her nest and produces her young.

The roots of rushes and other vegetable products appear to constitute the principal food of

this animal, at least such may be inferred from the character of the substances with which the

stomachs of those were filled which I examined. In some, however, something like portions

of insects were also discovered.

The colour of this species is much darker than that of the other two species which inhabit

South Africa, and by that, peculiarity it may be readily recognised. In addition to that diag-

nostic character, others, more important and less liable to vary, are furnished by the cranium

and teeth, as will be seen, in detail, by reference to Plate XXV. and its letter-press. The

existence in this species of a longitudinal groove in each of the incisor teeth of the lower jaw

serves to distinguish it from E. unisulcatus, Cuvier, in which they are plain, and the breadth

and depth of the grooves, besides their being more remote from the outer edges of the teeth,

indicate a specific difference between E. irroratus and E. Brantsii. In the former the grooves

are very delicate, particularly in the lower incisors, and close to the external edges of the teeth ;

in the latter they are strongly developed in all, but more especially in those of the lower jaw.

BTJRYOT IS UN I SUL CAT US .

(M alL-Plale 2S)

EURYOTIS UNISULCATUS. — F. Cuvier.

Mammalia. — Plate XXIII.

E. supra flavo-rufus, brunneo penicillatus; capitis corporisque lateribus sordido-cinereis, flavo-rufo um-

bratis j subtus pallide griseo-albus, ochreo tinctus ; auribus magnis, patulis, apicibus semicirculanbus,

externe et interne flavo-albis, brunneo penicillatis ; villo lanuginoso.

Longitudo ab apice nasi ad basin cauda; 7 unc. ; caudaj 3 unc. 6 lin.

Otomys rNisuLCATUS, F. Cuvier.

Colour. — The prevailing colour of the upper and lateral parts of the head,

neck, and body, intermediate between sienna-yellow and buff-orange, the

tint much broken by a number of fine umber-brown strice resembling delicate

lines formed by a pencil. The lateral parts of the head and body dusky ash

grey, tinged with the predominant colour of the back ; the under parts, from

the chin to the vent, together with the upper lip and the extremities pale

cream-yellow. The ears internally and externally pale sienna-yellow, pen-

cilled with brown. Tail superiorly dull brownish red, inferiorly dirty rusty

yellow. Whiskers reddish brown; eyes brownish black; incisors dull orange

yellow.

Form, &c. — Head moderately large, sides bulging; muzzle narrow, laterally

compressed; tip of nose bare; upper lip divided anteriorly. Whiskers long,

bushy, and slightly rigid; ears large, patulous, semicircular, thin, and with a

moderate coating of short rigid hair. Body robust ; legs and toes short ; claws

nearly straight, pointed and freely covered with rigid hair. Tail cylindrical,

tapered, and thinly coated with short bristly hair, the cuticular scales visible

in rings. The fur consists of two sorts ; the one — the predominant — slightly

rigid, particularly on the back ; the other which is scanty, is soft, woolly, and

scattered among the latter towards the skin. The first is longest and densest

on the back and sides, and in all situations slightly recumbent. The incisors

of upper jaw, each with a longitudinal curve anteriorly, near to the outer

EURYOTIS UNISULCATUS.

edge of the tooth ; those of lower jaw plain. For further details, see letter-

press to PI. XXV.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the point of the nose to

the tip of the tail 10 6

of the tail 3 6

Distance between the nose and the eye 0 9

between the eye and the ear 0 9

Inches. Lines.

Length of the fore-legs 1 1

liind-legs 2 1

tarsi of hind-legs 1 0J

Height when standing 2 6

The surface colours of the female are rather darker than those of the male.

This species does not occur so far to the southward and westward as E. irroratus ; its favo-

rite resort appears to be arid localities in the central and eastern districts of the colony. Be-

sides aridity and a certain quantity of soft sandy soil, the existence of a shrubby vegetation

appears also essential, at least it is only found in situations so provided. Its existence or non-

existence in a locality is readily ascertained ; if it exists, large hemispherical or irregular

masses, composed of an aggregation of small dry twigs, will be seen, more or less, surround-

ing the’ stems, of such shrubs as occur, and even often advancing high among their branches.

These masses are formed by the animal, and are traversed in all directions by its burrows.

Under such piles, and in the passages by which they are intersected, the animal seeks shelter

and safety from danger, at the same time, like E. irroratus, it is moreover provided with

deeper-seated retreats, into which it may retire should its comfort or safety appear to render the

step necessary. The last-mentioned retreats consist of subterranean burrows, not extending

beyond the area covered by the accumulated twigs, but much branched ; and in all cases in

which we have followed up individuals and secured them, we invariably required first to demo-

lish the superincumbent mass, and then explore the underground burrows. In the latter, the

female generally, though not invariably, produces her young, and these, when discovered, are

enclosed in a nest consisting of soft dry grass.

The general colour of E. unisulcatus is considerably lighter than that of E. irroratus, but

decidedly darker than that of E. Brantsii. The incisors of the lower jaw, being without

grooves, furnish one of the most available diagnostic characters ; the great size of its ears,

when compared with those of the other two species, also affords means by which it is to be

readily distinguished from them.

-EUEYOTIS BRANT SII .

.Plate 24)

‘

EURYOTIS BRANTSII.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XXIV.

E supra pallide isabellinus, nigro-brunneo-penicillatus ; capitis corporisque lateribus griseo-albis, brunneo-

penicillatis ; infra sordid! albus, subochreo-tinctus ; pcdibus isabellinis; cauda, dnnrdro P™

nasique apice rufis ; caudae dimidio ultimo brunneo-rubro ; dentibus incisori

Longittjdo ab apice nasi ad basin caudse 6 unc. 9 lin. ; caudas 3 unc. 9 lin.

Etjryotis Brantsii, Smith.— South African Quarterly Journal, New Series, vol. i. page 150.

Colour, &c.— The surface colour of the upper and lateral parts of the

head and body pale sienna-yellow, variegated with blackish or umber- nown

—the variegations abundant and resembling delicate streaks made iy a

pencil. The sides of the head, neck, and body, are greyish-white penci e

with umber-brown, and the chin, throat, and belly, greyish-white, with here

and there tints of cream-yellow. The extremities are pale cream-yellow

clouded with sienna-yellow. The point of the nose and the first half of the

tail are reddish-orange ; the last half of the latter brownish-red. The ears

externally and internally are a pale ochrey-yellow pencilled with black ;

whiskers brownish red. Incisors of upper jaw dull gallstone-yellow, lon er

ones intermediate between saffron and sienna-yellow. Eyes blackish-brown ,

nails a dark horn colour. The inner or concealed portion of the fur is of a

dull slate colour, darkest on and towards the back. The delicate variegations

arise from the hairs, individually, being blackish brown at the points and

sienna-yellow or greyish-white between the black and the slate colouis.

Form &e —Figure squat ; head rather large, above slightly convex, late-

rally bulging, the muzzle rounded superiorly, laterally compressed ; nose

Minted : nostrils circular and ope, ting laterally ; upper lip anteriorly divided

bv a vertical groove ; whiskers long and slightly rigid ; ears ratliei sma ,

fleshy and semicircular; body robust; legs short and strong ; nails slightly

curved and pointed. Tail cylindrical, robust and tapering iron, the base to

the point at the base, closely covered with short rigid hair ; towards the tip

*e covering is less dense, admitting of the. cnticular scales, which are

Arranged in circular rings, being seen through it; the very tip of the tad

EURYOTIS BRANTSII.

furnished with a slender pencil of long rigid hairs. The general covering of

the animal is of two descriptions — the one, the predominant, a slightly rigid

hair, the other a woolly fur, which is thinly disposed among the former, and

from being shorter is concealed by it. The hairy portion is strong, recum-

bent, and much longer on the back and sides than on the head and extre-

mities.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the point of the nose

to the tip of the tail 10 6

of the tail 3 9

Distance between the tip of the nose

and the eye 0 10

Inches. Lines.

Distance between the eye and the ear 0 10

Length of the hind-legs 2 7

fore-legs 1 3^

tarsus of hind-legs 1 3i

Height of the animal when standing. . 2 9

The female is a little smaller than the male, and her colours are lighter and

less variegated. In many the colour of the upper parts is pale but clear

sienna-yellow faintly pencilled with brown, and the lateral and under parts

intermediate between cream-yellow and greyish white.

This species is an inhabitant of the interior districts of South Africa, and is never found

towards Cape Town, nor in situations resorted to by either of the others described, though both

of them extend as far north as the country in which it abounds. It resorts to open arid

plains, and is very common in certain places towards the mouth ofthe Orange River. It lives in

burrows under ground, and these are always formed in situations where neither grass nor shrubs

exist upon the surface ; and, as many individuals are always congregated, the number of holes

by which the subterranean abodes are reached is generally great and they are closely set toge-

ther. In these underground retreats they seek their safety when alarmed, as well as their repose

during the night, and in them the females also produce their young. During the daytime, if

not employed in search of food, most of the inhabitants of these burrows are generally to be

seen, sitting on their hind-legs, upon the edges of their holes, basking in the sun; and so great

is their love of heat, that the utmost pains is taken to enjoy, in every possible way, the full

influence of the sun’s rays. They are extremely watchful, and from their effecting a retreat

with great rapidity, it becomes very difficult to shoot them, which if practicable, is the way in

which they are to be procured with least actual labour. To dig them out is a process of great

toil, as the burrows, though not in general very deep, are so long, so branched, and so connected

with each other, that an area of many yards will sometimes be turned over, and even then pos-

sibly not a specimen be obtained. In their marked disposition to congregate, they differ both

from E. irroratus and E. unisulcatus, but particularly from the latter, more than two of which

are never found inhabiting the same spot, though many others may be distributed over the

neighbourhood. For the characters by which this species is to be distinguished from E. irro-

ratus, see the remarks on that species, and Plate XXV.

GENUS -EIIRYOT I s. BRANTS .

(Mammalia.. Plate 25)

Genus EURYOTIS.— Brants.

Mammalia. — Plate XXV.

1 a

1 b

1 c

1 d

1 e

1 /

1 9

1 h

2 a

2 b

2 d

2 e

2 /

2 g

A view of the upper surface of the skull of Euryotis irroratus of the natural size.

A lateral view of the skull of do - do

A lateral view of the lower jaw of do - do<

A front view of the incisor teeth of the upper j aw of do. do.

A front view of the incisor teeth of the lower jaw of do. do.

The teeth of the right side of the upper jaw of do, of three times their natural size.

«. The first or anterior tooth ; b. second or middle tooth ; d. third or hind-tooth.

The teeth of the left side of the lower jaw of do. do.

a The first or anterior tooth ; b. second or middle tooth ; d. third or hind-tooth.

The skull is long and rather narrow, its length, from the anterior extremities of the ojsa^tothe

hinder aspect of the occipital bone, one inch seven and a half lines ; its breadth immedia e y

the zigomatic arches eight lines. The frontal bones between and in front of the eyes are narrower

than in the other species ; five and a half lines in length. The nasal bones increase suddenly

width towards their anterior extremities, the increase giving rise to a lateral bulge on each side,

which commences about half way between their two extremities ; length of each bone nine me .

The molar teeth are six in each jaw, three oil each side, and have true fangs; tieu crowns are n

sected bv narrow, slightly prominent transverse ridges of enamel, which are separate rom e

other by' intervening grooves. The first or anterior tooth of the upper jaw has — ridges ; the

second two ; the third six, and a small elevated enamel ring w hich forms the hind-pomt. I he

first tooth of the lower jaw Is the longest, and its crown is crossed by four ridges ; the second an

third each by two. The incisors of the upper jaw are stroug, and slightly arched, their points cu -

ting; each is marked anteriorly, with a deep longitudinal groove near its outer edge. 'Where t e

groove terminates there is a slight emargination, in consequence the tip of each tooth appears

more or less bifid. The incisors of the lower jaw slightly arched forwards, and their points bifid and

cutting ; the anterior surface of each tooth with a deep longitudinal groove near its outer edge.

The ccecum, &c., of Euryotis irroratus.

a. The small intestines ; b. the large ; c. the apical portion of ctrcum, without cells.

A view of the upper surface of the skull of Euryotis unisulcatus of the natural size.

do.

A lateral view of the skull of do.

A lateral view of the lower jaw of do.

A front view of the incisor teeth of the upper jaw of do.

A front view of the incisor teeth of the lower jaw of do.

The teeth of the right side of the upper jaw of do.

a The first or anterior tooth ; b. second or middle tooth ; d. third or hind-tooth.

The teeth of the left side of the lower jaw of do.

. T he first or anterior tooth ; b. second or middle tooth ; d. third or hind-tooth.

T nth of the skull from the anterior extremities of the nasal bones to the hinder aspect of occipi-

. , i )one one in ch five lines; width at the hinder extremities of zigomatic arches seven and a

L if lines The breadth of th e frontal bones, between and before the eyes rather greater than in

f irroratus • length six and a half lines ; the length of the nasal bones seven and a half lines,

I T ’n crease a little in width towards their anterior extremities, but there is not that sudden

*"? H “w-d i« to cocespondiDg bone. of B. .V— ■ The htst teeth

hu i» .to. -a divided l,v ihtoe distinct tansvetse ridges oi.nemel ; the seeond

EURYOTIS BRANTSII.

by two, and the third has three ridges, and also a very irregular or deeply indented enamel

ring behind the last. The first molar of the lower jaw with three ridges, the anterior of

which is prolonged so as to constitute an edging to the whole of the portion of the tooth in

front of it; the second and third with two ridges, each of which appears distinctly divided

into two lamina i, between which there is a portion of bony matter. The incisors of both jaws

are slightly arched, and their points cutting ; each of those of the upper jaw with a slender

groove near its outer edge, and the point slightly emargiuate, those of the lower jaw plain,

the points entire and nearest to the inner edges of the teeth. The molar teeth in the animals

of this genus appears to consist of strongly compressed tubes of enamel, each inclosing a portion

of bony matter.

3 a A view of the upper surface of the skull of Euryotis Brantsii of the natural size.

3 b A lateral view of the skull of do. do.

3 c A lateral view of the lower jaw of do. do.

3 d A front view of the incisor teeth of the upper jaw of do. do.

3 e A front view of the incisor teeth of the lower jaw of do. do.

3 f A view of the under surface of the skull of do. of twice the natural size.

a. The first or anterior tooth ; b. second or middle tooth ; c. third or hind-tooth.

3 g A view of the lower jaw of do. do.

a. The first or anterior tooth ; b. second or middle tooth ; c. third or hind-tooth.

The skull of this species, particularly towards its hinder extremity, is wider in proportion to

its length than that of either of the other two, and the frontal bones between the eyes

are broader. The length of the skull from the anterior extremities of the nasal bones to the

hinder aspect of the occipital bone one inch five and a half lines, and its width immediately

behind the zigomatic arches seven and a half lines. The length of the frontal bones are six

and three quarters lines, that of the nasal bones six lines. The first molar tooth of the upper

jaw with three transverse, slightly elevated ridges, the second with two, and the third with three,

behind the last ridge of the latter there is a slight, somewhat circular, concavity edged by enamel

forming the hinder portion of the crown of the tooth. The first tooth of the lower jaw with three

transverse ridges, the anterior one continued forwards along the inner edge of the tooth after-

wards curved, first outwards, and then inwards and backwards; the second tooth with two ridges,

and the third with three. The incisors of both jaws slightly arched, their points cutting, and

very slightly emarginate ; each of those of the upper jaw distinctly marked with a narrow lon-

gitudinal groove towards its outer edgj, those of the lower jaw also grooved, the grooves so

delicate however as only to be visible when examined with attention near to their outer edges.

3 h The liver of Euryotis Brantsii , consisting of four irregular shaped lobes, some of

which are slightly subdivided.

3 i The spleen of Euryotis Brantsii, slender and three-sided.

3 k The kidney of do.

3 l The stomach of do.

a. The cardiac orifice ; b. the pyloric orifice.

3 to The cwcum, &c., of do.

a. The small intestines ; b. the large intestines ; c. the situation of a gland the ducts of which

open on the inner surface of the cwcum. The latter towards its apex, smooth, elsewhere with

several row’s of cells.

3 n The inner surface of the apical portion of the cwcum ; — a. the opening by which the

secretion of the glands, already mentioned, is discharged.

3 o The vagina and uterus.

a. The vagina ; b.b. the cornua of the uterus ; c.c. the ovaria.

GERBILLUS AURICULARIS.— Smiih.

Mammalia.— Plate XXVI.— Male and Female.

»„ pA fulvus, infra albu,; capita .upra, ta, ca.dSqne l - l ** ' *» •»* ** *“

utramque. Oculis profunde brunneis. Cauda brcvi.

Longitudo corporis cum capite 4 unc. 10 lin , caudee 3 unc. o

Ge „ auriculakis. — S mith, South African Quarterly Journal, No. 2, New Series, March 1834.

ta»„ ..avcannaa™, P. Cuv.-T»r»oti.«. of the Zoological S«,,ty of

London, Partii. vol. 2, page 144 ; 183G.

Colour . — Male. — The upper surface of the muzzle and head reddish

orange, deadened with a faint shade of brown; the back and sit e

body intermediate between ochre and sienna-yellow, the former distinctly, the

latter indistinctly variegated with delicate short str.ee of an umber brown

hue ; the fur of these parts is tricoloured, being of a dull slate hue towards the

base, ochry yellow in the middle, and dark brown at the suiface. The sit es

of the muzzle, the eyebrows, the sides of the head, the whole of the tore legs,

the tarsi of the hinder legs, and the under surface of the neck and body, all

pure white, except the tarsi, which are slightly tinted with grey. The tail

and outer surface of the hinder legs, towards the body, the same coloui as

the sides, the under surface of the former rather lightest. Ears a pale flesh

colour, and behind each a broad tuft of long white hair, most distinctly seen

when on the animal’s being excited, the ears are erect. Whiskers brown-

ish red. Eyes deep umber brown. Claws pale yellowish brown.

Form, &c.— Figure short and thick; muzzle slender, head moderately

broad. Ears rather small, subovate, semicircular at the points, and nearly

destitute of fur. Legs short, and rather slender. Tail robust, tapered from

the base and thickly covered with short, recumbent, wiry hair. The incisors

f unner jaw slightly arched, and each with a central longitudinal groove

Lcriorlv the incisors of the lower jaw compressed, slender, subhorizontal, or

lv slightly curved and without grooves. The first or anterior molar of each

kw largest the last smallest ; the first of the upper and lower jaw are formed

nemiv alike the crown of each consists of three distinct port.ons separated

from each other by two deep transverse fossa, the first portion » somewhat

cylindrical, with a cup-shaped cavity at its summ.t, round winch ts an edgmg

GERBILLUS AURICULARIS.

of enamel, the second and third portions have somewhat the form of the Greek

letter /3, each portion with two rounded or oval cavities edged with enamel ; the

second molar of the upper jaw has the crown divided transversely into two

parts, each of which is similarly formed to the two last described portions of

the first molar ; the second molar of the lower jaw similarly divided, but not

exhibiting a resemblance to the letter /3 ; the anterior portion with a slight

transverse /ossa at the summit, the last portion convex : the third molar of the

upper jaw, small cylindrical, and with a cup-shaped cavity at its apex, which is

surrounded by enamel ; the third molar of the lower jaw consists of a simple

transverse lamina, without any cavity at its apex which is convex like the

last portion of the second molar of the same jaw. Temporal bullce large,

hemispherical and semi-transparent.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the point of the nose to

the base of the tail 4 10

of the tail 3 3

Distance between the tip of the nose

and the eye 0 8

Inches. Lines.

Distance betwen the eye and the ear . 0 4

Length of the ear 0 3

of the tarsus of hind legs 0 7

Height when standing 2 1

The female (figure B) differs a little in colour from the male ; the upper parts

of the head, together with the back and sides, are intermediate between yel-

lowish brown, and sienna yellow, and all of these parts are variegated as in

the male with short delicate strife but of a deeper colour ; the extent of white

over the eyes is greater and the post-auricular tufts of white hair are smaller ;

in other respects the two sexes appear much alike.

The shortness of the tail and the tuft or fringe of white hair behind each ear constitute

characters by which this animal is easily distinguished from the other species of the genus. It

never occurs, so far as I know, within three hundred miles of Cape Town, and all the specimens

which I have seen were procured in the western districts of the continent, principally north of the

Orange river. It is said to be of migratory habits, and seldom to remain for any length of

time in one locality ; it flits generally, if not always, during the night, and forms its burrows

in the new districts under cover of the darkness. It generally selects an open grassy plot

for its residence, and if such a spot is to be found in the neighbourhood of brushwood, that

appears to be invariably preferred. Its food consists of small insects, &c.

A.I G- O C E R 0 S EQU IN A.

(Nta.Hima.lia. Plate 27 j Male .

AIGOCEROS EQUINA— Desmarest.

Mammalia. — Plate XXVII.— Male.

A. corpore extremitatibusque sublactifloribus, humeris, dorso, natibus, artubusque exteme rubiginoso-

aurantio-tinctis; capitis lateribus, fasciei medio, pectorcque rubro-nigna ; supercilns, fascia ante

oculos, mento, regionibusque circa angulum oris et rhenarium albis ; juba flavo-alba superb brunneo-

rubra, aurantiaquc marginata. Oculis aurantio-brunneis.

Longitudo ab vcrticc ad basin caudas 5 ped. 1 1 unc . ; caudae 2 ped. 4 S unc.

Altitudo ad interscapulium 4 ped. 6 unc. ; ad prynam 4 ped. 4g unc.

Antilope osanne, Geoffr. Collect, du Mus.

Antilope equina, Id. — Tahaitsie of the Bechuannas.

Colour.— The body and extremities rusty cream-yellow; the shoulders,

back, buttocks, and outer surface of limbs darkened with rusty reddish-orange ,

neck pale cream-yellow, with a strong greyish tint ; throat yellowish white ,

the sides of the head, between the base of the horns and the angles of the

lower jaw, together w ith the middle portion of the face and breast, chocolate-

red ; the hairs of the face are chesnut-brown towards their roots. Belly dirty

white. Tail brownish red. The sides of the head under the ears, the eye-

brows, the anterior part of the lower jaw, the region around the angles of the

mouth, and throat adjoining the muzzle w r hite ; from the eyebrow the white

colour is prolonged obliquely downward for some inches towards the angle ot

the mouth, and partially divides the dark colour of the cheek from that of

the face. The mane is yellowish white, and is margined with two darker

colours; the external one, which tinges the tips of the hairs is rich brownish

red; the inner one, which is less defined, is intermediate between orpiment

and huff orange. Ears, externally, pale fulvous, tipped with dark brown,

internally white. The inner surfaces of the thighs greyish white. The fore

leo-g anteriorly, for about six inches above the knee joints, are cliocolate-red,

and a narrow stripe of the same colour descends from each knee to the pas-

tern joint • the true and the accessory hoofs are at their bases distinctly

edged with hair of the same colour, and the whole of the covering of each

AIGOCEROS EQUINA.

pastern-joint posteiiorly is of the same hue. Eyes deep orange-coloured

brown. Hoofs liver-brown. Horns between yellowish and umber-brown.

Form, &c.— Figure robust and elegantly proportioned. Head at and be-

hind the eyes broad and deep, before the eyes comparatively narrow and

delicate, — the transition from the one state to the other sudden. Neck very

thick and powerful. Muzzle small and somewhat semilunar in shape, ante-

riorly prolonged to the edge of the upper lip. Horns directly above the eyes

and strongly recurved, the first two-thirds of each scabrous from elevated rings,

the last third smooth and tapered. The number of rings varies according to

the age of the animal, being generally in a well grown specimen from twenty

to twenty-four, they are commonly most developed near where they cease to

exist, and are generally very faint on the external aspect, probably from their

being worn down by friction ; the animal being much addicted to the practice

of rubbing its horns against trees, rocks, &c. The transverse section of

a horn has a somewhat oval shape, the posterior portion being the

broadest. The ears are situated about four and a half inches behind the

horns, and are long, rather narrow and slightly falcated towards their tips ;

the tips slightly obtuse and somewhat truncated ; internally they are lined

with long soft hair, externally with a short and rigid sort. The crest of the

neck is surmounted with a compressed thin mane which commences a few

inches behind the ears, and terminates on the hollow of the back a short dis-

tance behind the withers; it is highestwhere the neck joins the body, and lowest

towards its origin and termination. For some inches behind the former the

hair forming the mane, lies forwards, that of the other parts is nearly perpen-

dicular. Withers a little elevated and slightly arched, not however to an

extent to form a sensible hunch. Tail terminated by a small brush of long

hair, the origin of which is sudden and well defined, above the brush the

hairy covering is short, and on the under aspect of the tail very scanty.

Hoofs rather small and each foot is furnished with an unguinal sinus ; in-

guinal pores two ; inguinal mammae four. Hair covering the upper parts

of the neck, the body and the extremities short, rigid and recumbent; that on

the lower part of the neck long and rather shaggy.

DIMENSIONS.

Length from the nose to the base

Feet.

Inches.

of the tail

of the head

of the ears

of the horns, following the

101

curve

Distance apart at base

Feet. Inches.

Distance apart at points 0 10 J

between the eye and the nose 0 J 1 1

Depth of the head about midway

between the horns and the

ears 0 10

Height at the withers 4 6

at the croup 4 41

AIGOCEROS EQUINA.

The horns of the female are smaller than those of the male ; the neck is

much less robust, and the figure generally more delicate.

The range of this species is very wide, and specimens have been found wherever Southern

Africa has been explored. Not very many years ago the animal was frequently seen within the

northern boundary of the Cape Colony, and if we are to credit the statements of the Abori-

gines, there was a time when it occurred much more to the southward than even the locality

alluded to, and from which it has now in a great measure, if not completely, disappeared. It

is an animal which congregates, and commonly from six to twelve individuals are found asso-

ciated too-ether. Herds of this description are generally met in districts abounding with small

hills or hilly ridges, and to such elevations they appear to resort in preference to the plains.

The number of herds in any given tract is comparatively small, so that the animal, though

generally diffused, is, nevertheless, no where abundant. Its pace is a gallop, which, in ap-

pearance, is of a heavy character, but its progress is amazingly rapid. It is an animal ex-

tremely vigilant, and always appears to be in fear of enemies ; hence, it comes se om

within the range of the hunter’s gun. . c ,

Aigoceros equina and A. niger are the only species of the groupe I have seen in Sou i

Africa. Aigoceros leucophcea and A. barbata , I am inclined to believe, aie fictitious species

constituted upon bad descriptions of A. equina. In consequence of its being said* that

the only specimen of Antilope Leucopcea now known is in the Museum of Paiis, I lequeste

a friend of mine to apply for permission to take a drawing of it. The lequest was no

.sooner made than M. Geoffroy afforded every possible facility. After an examination of the

drawing, which was made with great care, I had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that

the Paris specimen was a young male of A. equina ; the former differs from the lattei only

in wanting the chocolate-red colour on the face and breast; the same want is observed in

young individuals of A. equina — the parts in question are light rufous instead of chocolate-red.

The Aborigines are very acute in recognizing in drawings any of the animals with which they

are acquainted ; yet I could never find the man who would admit that he had seen any thing

like the Tahaitsie of Daniels, though I showed his plate of the animal to many persons with

hoary hair, who had been born and had grown old in the very country in which it was said

to exist.

* The Animal Kingdom, translated by Griffiths, &c. vol. iv. page J77.

KOBUS EL LIP SIPRYMNUS

(MammaIia._Pla.te % 6 ) Mai e .

KOBUS ELLIPSIPRYMNUS *

Mammalia. — Plates XX\ III. and XXIX.

K flavo-griseus, aurantio-brunneo obscuratus ; macula longa supra oculum, labiis, fascia gulari, ellipsique

prynali albis ; cornubus procurvis, annulatis ; cauda flocosa.

Longitudo ab vertice ad basin caudee 5 ped. 6 unc. ; caudaa 20 unc.

Altitudo ad interscapulium 4 ped. ; ad prynam 4 ped. 3 unc.

Aigoceros Ellipsiprymnus, Ogilby , Proceedings Zool. Society, 1 833, page 47.

{Male. Plate XXVIII.)

Colour.— The chaffron, the forehead, the body, the tail, and the anterior ex-

tremities above the knee-joints, and the hinder ones above the houghs inter-

mediate between yellowish-grey and ash-grey ; the tint in many places, parti-

cularly on the back, much darkened and variegated with a dull orange coloured

or russet-brown. The grey is the predominating colour, being the tint of the

basal two-thirds of each hair, and the brown occurs at the tip of each hair, and

also in the form of one or more rings behind the brown points. The eyebiows

and a narrow space under each eye white, which colour is also observed on

the upper lip and on the parts immediately adjoining the hinder and lateral

edges of the muzzle. The sides of the neck and the throat immediately

behind the head are crossed by a narrow white stripe, which extends nearly

from ear to ear, and on the croup and nates, about four inches before the base

of the tail, there is a broad and well-defined white band in the form of an ellipse.

The sides of the head are yellowish-grey, which on the lower jaw is dark-

ened with orange-coloured brown ; the latter colour at the points of the hairs as

already described. The outer surface of the ears and legs below the knees and

houghs bright orange-coloured brown. Ears internally dirty white. Eyes

yellowish-brown. The true and accessory hoofs liver-brown, the hair at their

base dirty white. Horns between yellowish and umber-brown.

Form, &c. Figure rather robust and heavy ; limbs strong, but not inele-

o-ant. Head rather long for its thickness, and gradually tapered from the

forehead, having the sides before the eyes convex. Muzzle heart-shaped,

the apex reaching the edge of the upper lip. Ears ovate, patulous and

* Characters of Kobus. Horns in the male only, long, pointed and slightly flexuous; muzzle moderately

developed, somewhat heart-shaped ; no suborbital sinuses nor glands ; stature large or rather large ;

frame robust ; hair harsh and long or rather long; tail reaching to about the houghs.

KOBUS ELLIPSIPRYMNtlS.

pointed, internally coated with long soft hair disposed in longitudinal stria,

which are divided from each other by intervening naked spaces, externally

thickly coated with close and short rigid hair. The hair generally is coarse and

wiry, that which covers the chaffron, the lips, the outer surface of the ears, the

anterior extremities and the hinder ones below the houghs, short and dense,

that elsewhere long and shaggy ; on the anterior parts of the body the hair is

longer than on the hinder parts, and on the neck longest. On the middle of

the back about a foot behind the shoulders, a small whorl exists, and in front

of that all the hairs of the back are directed forwards, while those behind ex-

tend backwards. Tail cylindrical and tapered, tip tufted with long hair, else-

where the covering is short and dense. Groins nearly bare, no inguinal pores,

scrotum densely covered with short white hair, no unguinal sinuses nor sub-

orbital glands. Eye-balls full ; the expression of the eyes fierce, and indica-

tive of ferocity and determination.

Horns placed upon the frontal crest over the posterior angles of the eyes ;

the first half of each extends slightly backward and much outwards, the next

half forwards and inwards with a uniform curvature, the concavity of which

is in front ; in form they are somewhat cylindrical, the first or basal half being

marked with elevated rings, varying in number from twelve to twenty-three,

and extending more or less upon the last half; the rings do not appear in

general to be complete, or at least equally distinct upon the outer side of the

horns, apparently from being rubbed down by friction; the extreme or distal

portion of each horn smooth. Between the annuli the horns are marked with

deep and regular stria, which observe a longitudinal direction.

Viscera. — The stomach consists of four pouches: the first is very large

and nearly oval, the second, third, and fourth are comparatively small ; the

communication between the first and second is very small, between the second

and third considerably larger. The first pouch especially adjoining the en-

trance of sesopliagus is lined with numerous slender, but firm and pointed

papillce, each about two lines in length ; the second stomach is very muscu-

lar and of a roundish form, internally furnished with loose membranous

folds, each of which is edged with fine hard minute papillce ; the third is

thinner than the second, and like it is furnished internally with loose mem-

branous folds, but without papillce, Ccecum smooth internally, and not saccu-

lated. The stomach from the entrance of the sesophagus to its lower edge

two feet in length, the greatest breadth of the first pouch 18 inches. Small

intestines 60 feet long; large intestines 20; ccecum 15 inches. Spleen about

a foot in length, firmly attached to the stomach, and deeply emarginate

on the lower edge. Liver massive, broader than deep, and inferiorly partially

KOBUS E.LLIP s IPRYINUS ,

(Mammalia. Plate 20.) Female .

K OBUS ELLIPSIPRYMNUS.

. i Bp, hv a narrow fissure which extends nearly half way

divided into two lobe y tw0 small hhai G n its concave sur-

from the iower towar . Pl^ fi Jj| attache d to the concave surface of

to iivet “d Slower ext« m ity descends a little below the inferior edge of

the viscus.

DIMENSIONS.

Ft. Inch.

Length from the nose to the base of the tail 6

from the nose to the base of the

horns

of the tall . .

of the ears

Height at the croup

shoulder

Length of the horns

Distance between the horns at the base

between the horns at the great-

est curvature outwards , . .

between the points of the horns

between the nose and the eye

eye and the ear

Inch. Lin.

24 0

2 0

( Female . Plate XXIX.) .

The figure of the/^is more delicate ton ^ Zo

Wer^gTo LTblg 1-“ the russet-brown to darken the yellowrsh-

erev. She has four inguinal mamma:.

This animal, which lias from thC j^ tyour party till after

natives, tt is neve, met with to the southward of the high ends, which ^ ^

of the locality mentioned^ To J "" tm £****, near the margins of streams.

r.erri d ;r;,m rttth .«/„ - z

marking upon the circumstance to the Aborigines b t ley ga ^ ^ lwo or three

one which might he regarded a. mature. The natives

were of opinion that the saves were produced in about

assumed fuel in support of the propriety of polygamy as it «»* “ 6 ^proportion between

males and fe "“ it . b nt the circumstance was always accounted for m a differ-

the colony and mo , c „„,e,sed on the subject. It was affirmed that the great

ent way b >.I> ers ° „„„ arose f,„„ the adult males driving out the young ones from

supenonty “* ”“ b f ^ forcing them to live apart until they had acquired the strength

the socle y o ’ ^ ^ place a mixed society, which was not probably before

necessary to enable 1 ^ ^ to eJiisl , a „d left room for the few able-bodied to

some proportion of ^ in exle „di„g l0 others that line of discipline to winch

they 'themselves had been subjected. It is possible this may be the eorreet mode of ac-

KOBUS ELLIPSIPRYMNUS.

counting for the occurrence, but I must confess I have never had the good fortune to find herds

lines it holds its head high, and assumes a lively and spirited position Its pace is a trallon d

generally all the individual, of the herd brush rf a, the sale timl e c^n W Th b« "of

IeZ W min'd ."Til’ “ ° ,her ° f ,hC A ” li '^ *

l~~T- V h “ <l,8tUrbed ,h 'y % feom the places where they are discovered

touards the higher grounds of the neighbourhood, and if unable to reach then, I without passim,

ft, ZtnT th . Z m “f 8 ' “f ” fe " n0r “'ttnetinntion to plunge into the st**.-!^

° ga ° f the name b y whlch th ey are designated by the colonist. Their flesh is in lit tin

repp even with the Aborigines, though 1, is not „„ite rejected ; the dislike" “Arises ^

‘ Stnn °- y '“ ture . “<1 trom exhaling a strong urinous odour The

of 7 / T™ el ”" a “ ralher Pard ’ strong, and somewhat unsavoury, its skin like that

of Abte e,l„ry mm „ .hick, very compaot Md firm|y altached to , he £ usdes ‘

aie also various other points in which the two animals strongly resemble each other

In consequence of having found that I could not, upon satisfactory grounds, class Aiaoceros

dhpszprymnus m any of the yet constituted groupes into which the Antilope family has been

t me ec came at last to the resolution of establishing one to receive it. The value of the

gioupe, however, I have not ventured to surmise, being of opinion that in the present state of

the science the naturalist is often hampered by difficulties created merely from an inj'ff f °

accomplish more than is to be done consistent with the knowledge we yet posses! fa Z

of wlstem ^ " 1S ° ‘° P ' a " to ° ^‘“T 3

me tl, thi r tt“ r “ ter! ’ T be “ V “' i0U8ly C ‘ aSSed by differ “ t

me that if our animal is not to be admitted into any of the ahead, established forms, cl, ai^

witothlrVTr' 1 mUS ‘ they lust be viewed l sliding

whteh S bl'g to We F0P °“ e - The foll °™ g ’ ” ~ ba »pecief

Kohis ellipsiprymnus, Aigoceros ellipsiprymnus. Ogilby.

Kobus seneyalensis, Antilope senegalensis. Desm,

Kobus Adansoni, Antilope, Kob. Ehxleb.

■<

"o'

<i>

t — 1

— j

Bl BALLS CAAMA.— Ogilby.

Mammalia.— Plate XXX.— Male.

. . • f ac ie vertice, macula ad basin auris, lined cervicali

Longitudo fc naso ad basin omde 6 ped. 11 unc. ; caudm 1 P ed 4* unc.

Altitudo ad interscapulium 3 ped. lOf unc. ; ad prynam 3 ped. 6* unc.

Hartbeest, Spamnan , Voyage to tbe Cape of Good Hope, vol. n. p. 199.

Antilope Caama, Sckreb, Goldfuss, pp. H. 74.; tab. 277

Antilope Bubalis, Pallas, Erxleb. Gmel. Bodd.

Hartebeest of tbe Cape Colonists.-KAMA of the Becliuanna.

Colour -The colour of the head, neck, and body intermediate between

light brownish orange and yellowish brown ; the back, the s.des of the nee

superiorly, the outer surfaces of the shoulder and the — ££> "

haunch darkest, being nearly of a cinnamon colour The bel y and the

inner surface of the limbs towards the body rusty white. T he forehead an

c laffron from a little below the eyes to the nostrils, are brownish red, and

“’o marks are separated from each other by a transverse baud aW

three inches in depth, of the same colour as the body. From the forehead

the brownish red colour is continued between the horns^ behind which it

oreads out and forms the tint of the crown of the head. From each side of

tL dark colour of the crown, a broad stripe of the same hue proceeds down-

wards and forwards, and forms an edging to the base of each eai in crior y

and anteriorly ; while another stripe of a narrower character and fainter hue

<ls • I the back of the neck, and terminates either at the shoulder 01

rte cmup The same colour occurs also upon all the extremities

at the crotp ^ outer surfaces , above the knees and houghs. At

most abunda y ^ jointSi it exte nds almost completely round the

hmbs 01 hu°t higher than that it is confined to the outer surfaces, and even does

limbs, but 111 thighs anteriorly and of the

not occupy the whole of these^ ^ theb * ody; on both the anterior

arid p^terior Extremities, it terminates a little above the line of the belly 1 on.

BUBALUS CAAMA.

the lore ones it is narrow and pointed superiorly, on the hinder blunt, rounded

and arched obliquely backwards and upwards. The brownish red of the parts

described is strongly glossed with grey. The extremities below the knees

and houghs are light yellowish brown softened with grey, except in front,

where each is marked with a narrow stripe of dark hair, most distinct on the

fore legs ; the pastern-joints posteriorly are also of a dark brownish red

colour. Lower lip pale reddish brown ; space behind muzzle rusty white.

Ears externally light yellowish brown, internally white ; tail above at base

the same colour as back, below white, towards tip reddish brown ; horns

between umber and yellowish brown ; eyes light reddish orange.

Form, &c.— Figure ill formed and ungainly, the hinder parts not developed

in the same proportion as the fore parts. The height at the withers consider-

ably gi eater than at the croup, which depends in some measure upon the

greater length of the fore-legs, but chiefly upon the unusual elongation of

the spinous processes of the first five or six dorsal vertebra. The head is

long and narrow, the forehead prominent superiorly, and bearing the horns.

The latter are nearly cylindrical and almost in contact at their bases. The

fust two-thiids of each horn is scabrous from a series of elevated rings con-

nected by longitudinal grooves, the last third smooth. The number of the

rings vary according to the age of the animal ; thus they are found sometimes

not to exceed ten, at other times there are from sixteen to eighteen : they vary

much also in regard to their perfection, being found in many individuals

not surrounding more than two-thirds of the horns, and in others forming

complete circles, especially upon the first third. In full grown, but especially

in aged individuals, many of these rings are broken and knotted anteriorly,

more particularly those which occur upon the second third. The direction of

the horns is at first backwards, and outwards, then forwards, and slightly

inwards, in a regular curve, the concavity of which is forward; the last third

of each horn is directed backwards and slightly outwards, and lies nearly

at a light angle with the first two-thirds. Eyes large and soft. Ears ovate

and patulous. Muzzle small and shaped somewhat like the head of an

anow. About two inches below the inner corner of each eye there is a large

flat and neaily circular suborbital gland and the fluid it secretes, which is

viscid and tenacious, is discharged externally by one simple orifice; by this

secretion, the surrounding hair is agglutinated into a hard mass, the appear-

ance and situation of which will be understood from a reference to the figure.

Each foot has an unguinal sinus, and there are two inguinal pores and two

inguinal mammae. The tail is slender, the first third covered with short, and

the last two-thirds with long hair, the latter is all turned backwards and

BUBALUS CAAMA.

forms a compressed fringe or border posteriorly. The hair of the animal

generally is soft, short, and recumbent. On the inner surface of the ears, it

is rather long. Towards the tip of the lower jaw there are a number of

rather long fine bristles.

DIMENSIONS.

Ft. Inches.

Length from the nose to the base of

the tail

of the tail

from the tip of the nose to the

base of the horns

of the horns

of the ears

Ft. Inches.

Distance between the eye and the

nose 0

between the horns at the base 0

between the horns at the tips 0

Height at the withers 3

croup 3

10f

The female is rather smaller in stature than the male, and the horns are

less powerful, and neither so strongly ringed nor knotted. The colouis

nearly similar.

Wherever travellers from the Cape of Good Hope have reached, they have found the

Hartebeest, and we, besides having actually killed specimens close to the tropic of Capricorn,

have also heard of the animal existing much farther to the northward. At the same time t lat we

had proofs of its residence in the latitude mentioned, we also had evidence that it c oes

occur so frequently there as it does more to the southward. In fact, hom the parallel w c

Bubalus lunata began to occur, Bubalus Caama began to be rare, and from our observation

we would be justified in pronouncing that the former took in a great measure the place o t e

latter in all the territory northward of 25° S. latitude.

The circumstance of a species being restricted in its range, and of having its place in an at

joining locality taken by a different one of the same genus, without there occurring at the time

any deficiency of the food upon which the former is accustomed to feed, must e\ei a oic a

subject of interesting reflection to the field naturalist. That many species have limfis e )

which they rarely extend, no one will doubt who has studied the animal productions o co

still favourably situated for actual observation; yet few, probably, will pietend j. 0 ^ m£dll

discovered the causes of such occurrences. Not many observers will be haidy cnoug _

tain that the habitat of a species is limited purely in consequence of its food bein ,

the majority must know that the substitution of one animal for another o ten 8 ' 1 ^

before that food fails to exist upon which the one which has ceased to occur is prone * eed

Gan the cause then be the influence of habit? While to ascribe

of its occurrence actually under our observation W fusion untenable when we recollected that

it to such an influence ; but, we always found the c of observing . could not have re-

m all probability many of the instances we had 1 PP ^ inasmuch as we had often

suited from the power of an established hab , ^ 1 P ^ individua , 8> having a H the

met individuals out of the favourite range o their proper domain , had pro -

pecuharities of their kind as seen within w h therefore, neither a want of special food,

bably been produced and reared wheie we saw

BUBALUS CAAMA.

nor the influence of habit, can be regarded as the cause which limits the range of a species, we

must look for it in something else, and that something, I have no doubt, we shall find to be a law

of the Creator, and that the animals who are under the influence of that law are kept within the

districts destined for their abode, without any exertion of their own will. Many curious facts

in corroboration of this opinion, may be acquired in South Africa, and much is to be found

there calculated to incline us to an opinion that the movements, migrations, &c. of animals are

the result of some imperative impulse, rather than the exercise of a free will. It appears to us

that all species, whose ranges it is intended shall be circumscribed, are formed with dispositions

and feelings suited to the localities which they are destined to inhabit, and that these, which

are co-existent with life, regulate the movements of every individual of the species. As tend-

ing to support this conclusion, we may instance what occurs in South Africa with two species

of Catoblepus (Gnu). During a certain season of the year both species inhabit the same

districts ; but during the remaining portion, one of the species resort more to the southward in

large herds, and there feed, though it is exposed to almost incessant danger from the colonial

hunters. The latter, while advancing to the southward, is accompanied a part of the way

by the other species, but on arriving at the southern branch of the Orange River, the one

ceases to advance, while the other crosses the stream, and proceeds into the colony year

after year to encounter the colonial hunters, and acquire a food exactly similar to that it might

have secured without migrating. Numerous other instances of a like description we shall

hereafter notice.

The Hartebeest, by preference, inhabits an open country, and hence is generally observed upon

the plains in small herds consisting of from six to ten individuals, and often where the plains are

extensive, many of such groupes are to be seen within the range of the eye. It is a very wary ani-

mal, and views with strong suspicion the advance of man, so that unless favoured by special cir-

cumstances, he finds it an animal difficult to procure. When disturbed, the herd generally scam-

pers off in the train of some acknowledged leader, and they are rarely seen when flying, except

in a string, one animal upon the heel of another. Their pace is a sort of heavy gallop, and

though they do not appear to move with rapidity, yet the ground over which they go in a given

time shows that their progressive motion is far from slow. When first they start, they appear ex-

tremely awkward, and generate in the observer an impression that to overtake them must be no very

difficult task. After they have advanced a little, however, the apparent stiffness in the joints

of the hinder extremities disappears, and even the indications of weakness of the hinder limbs

becomes so indistinct, that he is soon satisfied of the inaccuracy of his first conclusion. This

and the Bubalus lunata are the only antilopes of South Africa, which exhibit the peculiarity

alluded to, and have led many to remark their resemblance in this respect to the Hyance and

Proteles Lalandii. In all of these animals there is a disproportion between the development

of the anterior and posterior parts of the body, and each of them appears when in motion as if

its hinder extremities were too weak for the duties they were destined to perform.

BUBALUS LUNATUS. (female)

(Mammalia_Pkte 3l)

bubalus lunatus.

Mammalia.— Plate XXXI.

, , ... . „ lmvio-niis • fascia vcrticali inter nasem verticemque

B.genis, cervice corporeque subbadns purpureo-gn d g ’ et externe fac ;a vertical! brunneo-

brunneo-grisea, nigro-brunneo-marginata ; artu singuio super

griseo-notato ; cornubus illis bovis subsimilibus. Oculis palbde brunneo-rubns.

Longitudo e naso ad basin caudsB, 6 ped. 10 unc.; caudse, unc.

Altitcdo ad interscapulium, 4 ped. 6 unc. ; ad prymnam 3 ped. 6 unc.

Acronotus Lunata, Hamilton Smith .

Sassaby of the Bechuanna Kafirs.

Colour.— The sides of the head below the eyes, together with the neck and

the body, are of a tint intermediate between hyacinth, red, and reddish orange,

and over that, the ground colour, there is a distinct gloss of pale browms

purple red which gives an appearance similar to that produced when a 0

coloured varnish is applied over a dark ground ; on the sides of the hea

first half of the neck, the purplish hue is more palpable than elsew ieie,

on the outer surface of the buttocks the ground colour is lighter t ian on

other part of the animal. The centre of the forehead and face is a

brownish grey, margined on each side with dull blackish brown ; oi ^

the stripe is of considerable breadth, and its lower extremity, w ' * it is

and pointed, reaches close to the centre of the muzzle ; on , The

narrow, and above it terminates in the blackish brown hair o^ ^ ^ ^ ^

hair between the eyes and the base of the horns, ed ; a te between brownish

facial stripe, and that which covers the upper lip j ^ cream . yellow .

and reddish orange ; a narrow stripe . f )ie inner surfoC e white. A

The outer surface of the ears brownish orang , wh ich exists

mark of a brownish grey co bZus O*., also occurs in

upon the upper and outer portion o

BUBALUS LUNATUS.

this species. On each fore leg it descends almost to the knee joint, and for

some inches above its termination is darker than elsewhere, and completely

encircles the limb ; above the point where the extension commences, the dark

maik is restricted to a portion of the outer and anterior aspects of the leg, and

under the same form in which it exists at the point of union between the body

and limb it ascends upon the outer surface of the shoulder till it reaches within

a few inches of the hunch, where it terminates in an indistinct point. Both

anteriorly and posteriorly the upper portion of this mark is margined with a

stripe of hair of the same colour as that which covers the upper lip ; behind,

the colour descends considerably lower than in front, its termination being

not many inches above the knee joint. On the hinder leg the dark mark

occupies the outer aspect of the thigh, and extends from the hough obliquely

upwards and forwards till it disappears immediately above and outside of the

groin ; towards its lower extremity it also completely encircles a portion of

the limb. Below the knees and houghs, the colour is light reddish orange.

The belly and inner surface of the legs towards the body are rusty white or

dull cream-yellow. The hair of the first third of the tail is of the same colour

as the body, that of the last two-thirds is cream-yellow at the root, and dirty

umber-brown at and towards the point. Eyes, light brownish red ; muzzle,

black ; hoofs, blackish brown ; horns, light blackish brown.

Form, &c.— Figure nearly similar to that of Bubalus Caama. The head is

lathei compiessed, posteriorly it is of considerable depth, anteriorly it is

narrow and attenuated ; muzzle narrow and shaped somewhat like the letter

V. Eyes large, and about an inch below the internal angle of each, there is

a small bare spot, about four lines in diameter, with a narrow vertical fissure

along its centre, from which exudes, upon pressure being applied, a thin

glairy fluid. The chin and the upper and lower lips are sparingly sprinkled

with rigid bristles. Ears ovate and pointed, their inner surface coated with

long hair disposed in longitudinal bands. The horns are placed on the

summit of the head, each upon a separate and slightly elevated peduncle ;

they first extend outwards and slightly backwards, then outwards and upwards

in a curve, and lastly, towards the points they form a curvature inwards : their

appearance altogether is very similar to horns which are often seen upon

oxen. The first half of each horn is encircled by a number of slightly raised

rings ; the last half is quite smooth, and throughout the whole of their length

they are nearly cylindrical. The neck is rather slender, and the hunch on

the shoulder is arched and very prominent. The legs are rather slender, and

the hoofs long and narrow. The outline of the back is waved, and strongly

declivous towards the tail ; the latter, towards its base, is covered with short

BUBALUS LUNATUS.

hair; the last two-thirds is fringed posteriorly with long hair, all directed

backwards ; the under surface of the tail is bare and the skin soft and

delicate. Teats two, udder and groins covered with short fine hair; no

inguinal pores.

DIMENSIONS.

Ft. Inch.

Ft.

Inch.

Length from the nose to the base of

Distance between the eye and the nose

the tail

6 10

between the horns at the

of the tail

base ••

3 h

from the tip of the nose to the

between the horns at the tip

base of the horns

1 H

Height at the withers

of the horns

1 1

at the croup

of the ears 0 7

The colours of both sexes are nearly the same, and little discrepancy exists

in point of size. The upper part of the neck of the male is generally broader

than that of the female, a circumstance observed in most of the antelope

tribe.

Between the appearances of the horns ot Sassaby and Caama there are such marked differences,

that we must at once conclude no valid importance ought to be attached either to the form or

direction of horns in the grouping of species. The suboculav glands also differ materially in these

two animals ; in Caama, they are covered with short hair, similar to that of the other parts of the

face; in Sassaby they are without covering. In Caama, the last portion of the tail is completely

encircled with hair ; in Sassaby the sides and upper surface only are so furnished, the under sur-

face being bare. In general appearance the two animals present a strong resemblance to each

other.

The Sassaby has rarely been known to advance to the southward of Latakoo, and at present

but few individuals reach the latitude of that place, which the aborigines ascribe to the dread

the animal has of tire-arms. To the northward and eastward of Latakoo, however, specimens

are to be seen in tolerable numbers, yet not in the abundance in which they occur in the

country northwards of Kurrichane. While B. Caama seems to prefer the open grassy plains for

its feeding places, the Sassaby apparently delights to resort to situations in the vicinity of wood,

or to such as are actually wooded, and in districts of the latter description large herds are often

observed feeding among the dense brushwood without apparent concern. All the individuals

we saw near to Latakoo were vigilant in watching our motions, and apparently little disposed

to trust themselves within our reach ; while those again on the other side of Kurrichane were

comparatively tame, and though they did not actually resist our approach, yet they often

continued in the situations in which we discovered them, until they were quite within the range

of our guns, and even after being fired at they only retreated slowly, and rarely without frequently

BUBALUS LUNATUS.

turning round as they retired to watch our movements. Their retreat, after each examination of

the kind mentioned, was commonly preceded by some significant springs or strange gesticu-

lations, such as are often made by common domestic cattle when they are put to flight by any

object which excites their alarm. In point of manners, both the Sassaby and the real Hartebeest

show a considerable resemblance to the bovine tribe, and, except the Gnu, Catoblepas, more

than any of the other antelopes.

CEPHALOPUS N AT ALEN SIS.

(Mkmm&lia. _ Pla.te <32.)

CEPHALOPUS NATALENSIS.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XXXII.

C rubro-aurantius, dorso natibusque extern^ brunneo-aurantio-umbratis ; capitis cervicisqueJatenbus,

' gutture, abdomineque subochreis. Crista verticali rubro-aurantio nigro-brunneoque colorata; cornubus

griseo-nigris ; oculis brunncis.

Longitudo ab vertice ad basin caudffl, 2 ped. 2\ unc. ; caudm 4 unc.

Altitudo ad interscapulium 1 ped. 3 5 line . ; ad prynmam 1 ped. 6 line.

CEPHALOPUS Natalensis, SmM.-Sonth African Quarterly Journal, second series,

vol.i. p. 217; 1834.

Colour. -The face, the upper surface of the neck, the back, the Slde *’ ^

the extremities, reddish orange; the back and outer surface of buttocks

darkened with a shade of brownish orange. The sides of the head and neck

the throat and the belly a light buff-orange. The lower part of the

near to the muzzle, the upper surface of the neck, the posterior parts of the

hocks, and the pastern joint of each leg strongly blushed with purphsh

brown. The sides of the lower jaw, at, and immediately behind the angles

of the mouth, the space between the rami of the lower jaw, and the e ge o

the anterior portion of the upper lip, white. One portion of tne ong airs

composing the tuft on the crown of the head, the colour of the body, and

the other, the central portion, dark blackish brown. Tail towards the tip

dusky brown, with variegations arising from an intermixture of some dingy

white hairs, towards the root it is of the colour of the body. The hairs on

the inner surface of the ears dusky, on the outer surface purplish brown.

Eyes dark brown. Muzzle black. Horns and hoofs greyish black.

Form, &c.— Body slender and elegantly formed ; limbs long and delicate.

Head rather long and much tapered towards the nose ; chaftron slightly

arched Under each eye there is a narrow longitudinal black line devoid of

hair and with a fissure about an inch and a quarter in length along its centre,

hraU which in the living animal exudes a limpid glairy fluid. The crown of

he head is surmounted by a dense tuft of rather long rigid hairs which conceals

the horns • the latter, which are about an inch and a quarter in length, are

inclined slightly backwards, and are rather thick towards their base, but

CEPHALOPUS NATALENSIS.

slender at the points. Ears broad,

short, and pointed ; muzzle and

outer

edges of nostrils bare. Tail

slightly tufted and bare underneath.

Hoofs

long, slender and pointed.

DIMENSIONS.

Ft. Inch.

Ft.

Inch.

Length from the nose to the base of the tail

Length of the hinder legs

of the tail

0 4

Distance between the eye and the ear...

of the head

between the nose and the eye

of the ears

0 2i

Height at the croup

of the horns *

o ii

at the shoulder

3 i

of the fore legs

0 Hf

Female unknown.

Taking Anlilope silvicultrix, Afzelius, and A. mergens, Blain., as the typical species of a

group, we shall find no difficulty in extending it by an addition of several other species of

African origin, which, both in respect of physiognomy and general characters, manifest such

a striking similarity to the typical species, that persons the least accustomed to judge of

resemblances, will scarcely even find a difficulty in indicating them. Hence Cephalopus

must be regarded as a regular and natural group, and one likely to stand when those instituted

upon characters, deduced from the mere modifications presented by aberrant species, will

require to be discarded. The little animal we have here described, under the name of C

Natalensis, is clearly entitled to a place in the group in question ; and though both it and

Antilope cwrulea (H. Smith), have certain characters peculiar to themselves, yet they have all

the requisites essential to rank them in the genus Cephalopus. In both of these species the

female as well as the male is always furnished with horns, and in this respect they differ

from the other species of the group which occur in South Africa,— the females of which are

almost always found without horns, yet individuals are occasionally killed in which they exist ;

hence it would appear that their presence or absence ought not to be highly considered in

establishing the generic characters. Both C. ceerulea and C. Natalensis inhabit the African

forests ; the former towards the Cape of Good Hope, the latter to the eastward about and

beyond Port Natal. They both feed partly upon the grass which occurs among the underwood,

and partly upon the young leaves and shoots of the brushwood and small trees which exist in

the situations they inhabit ; and to obtain the latter they may occasionally be seen scrambling

among shrubs, or ascending the stem of sloping trees, so as to reach what they cannot attain

while they are on the ground.

0 TO MY 5 ALB I CAUDATU S .

(Maxamal.ia_Pla.te 33)

OTOMYS ALBICAUDATUS.— Smith.

Mammalia.— Plate XXXIII. (Male.)

O. supra brunneo-griseus, profundi brunneo- penicillatus ; infra sordid^ subcinereus ; cauda ferrugineo-

alba ; pilis versus radicem scliistosis : oculis profundi brunneis ; auribus magnis.

Longitudo ab nasi apice ad basin caudle 5 unc. 9 lin. ; caudee 2 unc.

Otomys albicaudatus, Smith. — South African Quarterly Journal, vol. i. p. 148. 1834.

Colour.— Head, back, and sides wood-brown, tinged with grey, and spa-

ringly pencilled with umber-brown ; the grey tinge is strongest upon the upper

and lateral parts of the head and neck, the pencilling of umber-brown is very

distinct upon the centre of the face, the vertex, the back of the neck, and the

superior parts of the body, on the upper portion of the sides it is less marked,

and on the inferior portions nearly wanting. The lower parts of the sides,

the belly, the fore-legs, and the inner surfaces of the hinder legs dusky ash-

grey ; outer surfaces of buttocks the same colour as the back ; feet wood-

brown, tinged with grey. Tail rusty white. Chin and lips white. Ears

internally flesh-coloured, with a purplish tinge, the few hairs which exist

towards their outer edges dusky-brown, the outer surfaces the same colour

as the back. Muzzle flesh-coloured. Eyes a deep rich brown. Teeth, ochry

yellow. Whiskers partly black, partly silvery white. The colours of the

head, neck, and body, as above described, are confined to the points of hairs ;

behind the points each hair is of a pale blackish purple or slate-colour. The

pencilled appearance is occasioned by there being a number of long dark

hairs interspersed among the fur : in some specimens these hairs are in great

numbers, and in them the dark colour is very distinct.

Form, &c. Figure rather robust. Head broad behind, slightly convex

above • before eyes it is narrow and somewhat cylindrical ; nose truncated.

Eyes large and rather prominent. Ears large, patulous, ovate, and pointed,

both their surfaces with a thin sprinkling of short and rather rigid hair. Legs

* The group which we proposed, iu 1834, to designate by the term Otomys is very different from that

to which the same term has been applied by F. Cuvier. He employed Otomys as a substitute for Euryotis,

Brants; hence exposed it to be classed as a synonym.

OTOMYS ALBICAUDATUS.

rather short ; feet small ; nails pointed, slender, and slightly curved ; each

has a tuft of long and stiff hair which originate behind its base, and extends

forwards beyond its point, concealing its upper surface. Tail cylindrical

and tapered, everywhere densely covered with short rigid hair. Whiskers

long and feeble. The fur generally is rather long, soft, silky, dense, and

slightly recumbent, on the anterior parts of the head and on the extremities

towards the feet it is short and rather rigid.

Teeth, &c. — Each of the incisors of the upper jaw has a superficial and

rather broad groove along its anterior surface, nearer to the outer than the

inner edge, the apex of the tooth is formed for cutting, and is slightly emar-

ginate. The first of the molars is the largest, the last the smallest. The

crown of the first consists of three transverse portions, which are connected

by two short longitudinal processes, each of which, like the transverse portions,

are margined with a narrow prominent rim of enamel : the second consists of

two transverse portions and a longitudinal connecting process, all edged like

the first : the third is undivided and completely edged with enamel. The

incisors of the lower jaw are sub-cylindrical, pointed, and without grooves ;

the molars have their crown divided nearly in the same manner as those of

the upper jaw, and the first and second have the same number of divisions.

Length of skull 16J lines, breadth behind zygomatic arch 8 lines, breadth

between the greatest convexity of the zygomatic arch of one side and the other

9 lines.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the point of the nose to

the tip of the tail 5 9

of the tail 2 0

of the head 1 5

Inches. Lines.

Length of the fore-legs 1 0

of the hind-legs 1 9

Height when standing 2 6

The colours of the Female are generally paler than those of the male.

This animal, according to my experience, is confined to the interior of South Africa, and

specimens even in the districts in which it lives are procured with difficulty. I have myself

only met with it in the neighbourhood of Graham’s Town, and in the districts north of the

Orange river, but I have reason to believe it occurs here and there between these points. It

inhabits grassy flats, lives in burrows in the ground, and seeks its food during the night. It is

particularly active and bold during rainy weather, and if individuals be known to exist in any

particular locality, some of them at least may be readily procured at such times by placing a

lantern with a light in it upon the ground. They soon approach the light, and may, while

occupied in regarding it or passing to and fro, be easily disabled with a horse- whip, or such

like instrument.

DENDROMYS TYPICUS.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XXXIY. Fig. J.

D. supra subferrugineus, lines! longitudinali nigra inter lnicham et caudao basin ; labiis, partibus inferioribus

extremitatibusque interne albis, pallide rufo-tinctis ; caudae pilis superne brunneis, subtus subalbidis ;

oculis nigro-brunneis.

Longitddo ab naso ad caudae basin, 4 unc. 6 lin . ; caudee, 5 unc.

Dendbomys typicus, Zoological Journal, vol. iv. page 439. 1829.

Colour. — The upper and lateral parts of the head, neck, and body yel-

lowish brown strongly tinged with saffron-yellow ; the lips, the lower portion

of the sides, the chin, throat, breast, belly, and inner surface of extremities

white, faintly tinged with rufous. The hair of the ears the same colour as

that of the back. Whiskers brown. Hair on the upper surface of the tail

brown, on the lower surface whitish. Between the nape and the base of the

tail there is a narrow blackish line which follows the course of the spinal

column. Eyes blackish brown ; the upper incisor teeth pale ochre-yellow,

the lower, whitish and semipellucid. The hairs of the head and body light

blackish grey towards their roots ; those on the back and upper portion of

the sides are of that colour till near their tips.

Form, & c. — Figure slender and elongated. Head small and very narrow

anteriorly ; the nose is almost pointed ; extremities slender, the fore ones

very short, the hinder ones considerably more lengthened. Ears rather large

and oval. The middle toe of the fore feet longer and stronger than the other

two, the wart which supplies the place of the hinder toe small and obtusely

pointed ; the outer toe of the hinder feet shortest, the next to it longest, the

third rather shorter than the second, and the inner one shorter than the third,

but rather longer than the outer one ; hinder toe very short, and consists of

little more than the nail. Tail long, cylindrical, and rather smaller at the

point than at the base, it is distinctly ringed and each ring consists of a series

of small scales. Nails rather short and slightly curved. The fur of the head

and body is long, soft, silky, and recumbent, that on both surfaces of the ears

and on the lower joint of the leg short ; on the tail the little which exists is

short and rather rigid.

DENDROMYS TYPICUS

Teeth, &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 dis-

tinctly concave ; the last molar has its crown occupied by two ill-defined points

standing transversely. For views of the teeth, see Mammalia, Plate 21. 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 magni-

fied to the same extent.

DIMENSIONS.

Inch. Lin.

Length from the point of the nose to

the base of the tail 3 9

of the tail 4 0

of the head 1 0

Inch. Lin.

Length of the fore legs 0 7 5

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 neighbour-

hood of Cape Town. It is very active in its movements, and runs from branch to branch

with great rapidity.

DENDROMYS MELANOTIS.— Smith,

Mammalia. — Plate XXXIV. Fig. 2.

D supra cinereus rufo-tinctus, infra griseo-albus ; linca longitudinal! nigra, inter scapulas et basin cauda,,

in medio dorsi ; macula parvula alba infra aurem, et una ante oculum nigra.

Longitudo ab nasi apice ad basin caudse 3 unc. ; caudte 2 unc. 6 lm.

Dendromys Melanotis, Smith. South African Quarterly Journal, New Series,

No. 2, p. 158. 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

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 ion o

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 me

on the centre of the back, from the shoulders to the root of the tail. Ma -

kers blackish brown towards their roots, dusky white towards their tips. He

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 an

head slate-coloured towards the skin.

FnRM &C. — Figure rather more robust than that of Dendromys Typicus ; in

other respects the form of the two animals areverysimilar. Ears broad patulous

and rounded at the points, both surfaces sparingly sprinkled with short hair.

ToesTong and slender, the innerone of the fore foot rather shorter than he other

hioh are of equal length; nails slender, nearly straight and pointed. The

tubercle which occupies the place of the thumb small and pointed The

re Of the hind-foot is rather short, the two next long and of equal length,

“I 11 '" er one is slightly shorter, the thumb is short and rudimentary. The

l , ‘T o id outer toe are without nails, on the other toes the nails are like those

thumb and slightly curved, and pointed. The upper parts of the

of *' ,e ., L. closely covered with hair, the under parts more sparingly, and

Sit the scafy rings which encircle the tail are distinctly visible.

DENDROMYS MELANOTIS.

The incisor teeth of the upper jaw each have a deep longitudinal groove,

the cutting edge is slightly emarginate ; those of the lower jaw are plain

and pointed.

DIMENSIONS.

Inch. Lines.

Length from the point of the nose to the

base of the tail 3 0

of the tail 2 6

of the head o 11

Length of the fore-legs

of the hind-legs

Height when standing

The colours of the Male and Female are nearly the same.

Inch. Lines.

0 8

1 4

The only examples of this species which I have seen were procured about three hundred

miles to the eastward of the Cape Colony, and all of them were upon underwood at the time

they were obtained. Though it would appear that they are generally found upon shrubs, yet

I am disposed to believe they also resort to the ground, and that probably they have their

subterranean retreats to which they fly in case of danger, as one individual which I dis-

covered upon a small shrub manifested a decided inclination to descend to the ground, and

it would have accomplished its object, had it not been killed just as it was about to abandon

the lowermost twig.

(

GERBILLUS AFER.— Gray.

Mammalia. — Plate XXXV.

G capite, dorso, lateribus superne extremitatibusque extern^ versus corpus cinereo-isabellinis; capite, dorso,

lateribusque superne brunneo - penicillatis ; partibus inferioribus artibusque interne albis ; oculis

brunneis ; capite antieb attenuato ; vellere in capite rigido et breve, in corpore longiore et laevigato.

Longitudo ab apice nasi ad basin caudse 6| unc. ; cauda? 5^ unc.

Gerbillus Afer, Gray, Spicilegia Zoologica, p. 10 ; 1828.

Meriones Schlegelli, Smuts, Dissert. Zoolog. enum. Mam. Capen. p. 41 ; 1830.

Gerbillus Africanus, F. Cuvier, Transactions of the Zoological Society, vol. ii., p. 143; 1836.

Colour, &c.— The ground colour of the head, the back, the upper portions

of the sides, and the outer surface of the extremities towards the body inter-

mediate between reddish orange and wood-brown, the head, back and

higher parts of sides pencilled with deep umber-brown ; the hairs towards their

roots dull lavender-purple ; tail coloured like the back, only not so ree j

pencilled. The lower parts of the sides, the belly, the chin, the throat, and

the inner surface of the limbs towards the body white ; the line of demarcation

between the superior and inferior colours of the sides clearly defined. Tarsi

rusty white. Ears internally a light flesh colour, except towards the margin,

where there is a thin sprinkling of hair of a light umber-brown tint;

externally they are thinly coated with hair of the same colour as that on the

back. Eyes deep brown ; claws of hinder feet towards their points horn-

coloured, towards their base wood-brown, which is also the colour of the claws

of the fore feet. Incisor teeth of upper jaw white, of lower jaw pale reddish

orange. ,

Form, &c. — Figure slightly robust, and moderately elongated ; head ratiiei

lengthened, broad posteriorly, attenuated anteriorly, the point of the nose

subacute. Eyes large ; ears long, patulous, and ovate ; whiskers long and

rather rigid ; fore legs short ; hinder legs long, the claws of both, but more

esnecially of the fore ones, elongated, slightly curved, and moderately strong ;

those of the fore feet are blunt, laterally compressed, and convex above;

those of the hinder feet vertically compressed and sharp pointed. The fur

mverino- the centre of the face and the forehead rather short and rigid, that

of the other parts of the head, the body, and the extremities above the tarsi,

Ion- soft, and recumbent; the hair of the tarsi, toes, and tail short, w.ry and

so closely set, as to form a continuous covering.

GERBILLUS AFER.

Teeth, &c. Incisors of upper jaw rather slender, protruding about a

me and a half beyond the alveoli , their points sharp and formed for cutting

the anterior surface of each divided longitudinally by means of a deep and

narrow furrow ; the incisors of the lower jaw about twice the length of those of

the upper, moderately strong, and without a furrow. The first molar of the

upper jaw is composed of three divisions, and the others of two, and each

division, as seen in the crown of the teeth, resembles a flattened tube, with

its edges in some almost in contact about midway between the outer and

inner extremities, in others the distance between the sides is throughout

nearly equal or even greater about their middle than at the extremi-

ties. The hinder tooth is much smaller than the second, which again is

considerably inferior in size to the first. The first and second molars of

the lower jaw consist of the same number of divisions as those of the upper ;

the third is entire, and in form is like one of the other divisions. The ossa

nasi are 7\ lines in length ; the distance between the upper incisors and the

base of the first molar six lines, and the length of a row of molars three lines.

Specimens of this animal are to be obtained in abundance at the Cape of Good Hope, and

there is no difficulty in procuring them even in the immediate vicinity of Cape Town. * It is

known among the Colonists by the name of Nacht-muis, which appellation it has received

from the circumstance that it rarely leaves its burrow excepting in the night, and that all its

operations are carried on under the cover of darkness. It is commonly found in open plots of

ground, which are clothed with a short grass, and situated in the vicinity of brushwood, and in

such situations a number of individuals generally congregate and form their burrows, extend-

ing them in different directions so as not to interfere with each other. The courses of the

burrows are at first oblique, but after reaching into the soil to about a foot in depth, they com-

monly run horizontally, and frequently are from three to four yards in length, and it sometimes

happens that one intersects or communicates with another in its course. When 'young are

about to be brought forth, a nest of soft grass is formed at the distal extremity of the subter-

ranean passage, and in it they are placed until they are able to run about and provide for them-

selves. The nacht-muis rarely continues for any great length of time in one situation; hence

it may be considered as by nature a truly migratory animal. When it leaves one locality to

take up its abode in another, it performs the journey during the night, and manages its time so as

to be able to form a portion of its new habitation at least, before day-light appears. Specimens

are most readily procured by digging in the course of the burrows, but care must be taken to

ascertain that they arc actually inhabited at the time they are discovered, else much labour

may be expended without an individual being captured. The ground immediately adjoining

the holes must be closely examined; and if, on such examination, no recent footmarks can be

discoiered, it may be inferred that they are the abandoned burrows, of some family which

has taken up its residence elsewhere.

GEKB1LLUS MONTAND'S. Fig.l.

GERBILLUS TENUIS. Yig.Z.

Mammalia. Plate. 36.

GERBILLUS MONTANUS. — Smith.

Mammalia.— Plate XXXVI. Fig. I.

G. capite, dorso, lateribus, extremitatibusque externe versus corpus pallide rufo-flavis, dorso lateribusque

brunneo-penicillatis ; abdomine extremitatibusque interne albis ; capite lato breveque ; oculis rubro-

brunneis.

Longitudo ab apice nasi ad basin caudse 6 unc. ; caudae 5 unc.

Colour. — The head, the back, the sides, and the outer surface of extremities

towards body, intermediate between sienna-yellow and yellowish brown, the

back and upper parts of sides freely pencilled with umber-brown, the pencil-

lings so arranged as to produce an appearance as if these parts were marked

with small brown blotches ; the hairs towards their roots pale blackish purple.

Tail the same colour as the body, the upper surface freely pencilled with

umber-brown ; chin, throat, belly, and inner surface of legs towards body

pale cream-yellow or yellowish white. T. arsi towards toes ash-grey ; claws

pale cream-yellow. Ears, internally, light wood-brown mellowed with a

flesh colour; externally, the hair is of a broccoli-brown pencilled with sienna-

yellow. Eyes deep reddish brown. Incisor teeth of upper jaw Dutch-orange,

of lower jaw white.

Form, &c. — Figure robust, and less lengthened than that of Gerbillus Afer ,

though in size the two are nearly alike. Head short, bulky posteriorly, and

attenuated towards the nose, which is moderately acute. Eyes large ; ears

moderately long and oval : whiskers rather bushy and wiry towards their

origin ; fore legs short, hinder legs rather long, toes shorter than in G. Afer,

and the claws of fore and hinder feet vertically compressed, and more

arched The hair covering the snout and forehead short and rather harsh,

that of the other parts of the head, the body, and the extremities, as low

as the tarsi, moderately long, soft, recumbent, and closely set. Tail tapered

and densely covered with short, rigid, recumbent hair.

Teeth, &c.— The incisors of the upper jaw are moderately strong and pro-

ject about two lines beyond the alveoli, each having anteriorly a deep longi-

GERBILLUS MONTANUS.

tudinal groove along its centre; those of the lower jaw long, slender, and

plain. The molars are six in each jaw, three on each side, the front one of

upper jaw is largest, and its crown consists of three transverse divisions, each

division a sort of tube, the anterior and posterior sides of which are nearly in

contact, and only connected with the adjoining division at a point about equi-

distant between their inner and outer sides; the second and third teeth consist

of two divisions constituted in the same manner as the first, the last division

of the third tooth being very small and subtriangular. The molars of the lower

jaw are similai'ly constructed. Length of the ossa nasi 7 lines ; distance between

incisors of upper jaw and base of first molar 4j lines ; length of the row of

molars 2§ lines. For representations of the Teeth, &c., see Plate XXXVII.

This species inhabits the summit of hills in the country to the north of the Orange River

towards its sources, and is generally found in situations devoid of shrubs, where the grass is

short. Its principal operations are carried on during the night, and under the cover of dark-

ness it seeks its food, forms its burrows, and changes its residence.

The incisor teeth of the upper jaw are much larger in this species than in Gerbillus Afer,

and the distance between the incisors and first molar is less ; hence the muzzle is considerably

shorter, and consequently, the head appears more clumsy : there is also a difference as regards

the fur; it is more closely set and better adapted to protect against the greater cold to which

it is necessarily exposed. The nails of the fore feet also furnish diagnostic characters of the

animal, as will be seen by comparing the descriptions of those organs in the two species ; the

nails of G. montanus are vertically more compressed and like those of G. tenuis.

GERBILLUS TENUIS.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XXXVI. Fig. 2.

G. capite, dorso, latcribus, cxtremitatibusque externe pallide rubro- aurantus, dorso brunneo-

penicillato; partibus inferioribus cxtremitatibusque interne versus corpus albis ; oculisrubro-

brunneis.

Longitudo ab apice nasi ad basin caudse 4 unc. ; caudee unc.

Colour.— The head, the back, the sides, and the outer surface of the

extremities a clear pale reddish orange ; the hack freely pencilled with liver-

hrown ; the hairs towards their root dull lavender-purple ; chin, throat, belly,

and inner surface of limbs pure white ; tarsi pale ochrey white. The line of

demarcation between the colours of the sides and belly distinctly defined.

Tail the same colour as the back, only lighter, and towards its point many

of the hairs are of an umber-brown tint. Ears internally a pale flesh

colour, externally, pale yellowish brown. Eyes deep reddish brown. Claws

pale wood-brown. Incisor teeth of upper jaw pale Dutch-orange, of lower

jaw pale straw-yellow.

Form, &c. Figure slender and moderately lengthened ; head rather small

and anteriorly attenuated ; the apex of the nose rather acute. Eyes large ;

ears moderately long and oval : whiskers very long, and towards their origin,

rigid. Hair of the muzzle short and rather strong, that covering the rest of

the head, the body, and the extremities, as far as the tarsi, long, soft, silky,

and recumbent. The hair disposed along the centre of the back not quite

so soft as the rest ; hair of tarsi and toes very short and rigid. Tail slender,

cylindrical, and tapering, the hair dense, rigid, and very short, except at the

noint, where it is lengthened and forms a thin tuft. Fore-legs short, hinder

jeg S long ; toes moderate ; nails pointed, vertically compressed, slightly arched,

and those of the fore-feet longest.

Teeth &c Incisors of upper jaw incurved, moderately strong, and with

sharn-cuttiim points : they protrude about a line-and-a-half beyond the alveoli,

and each anteriorly along its middle, is marked with a deep longitudinal

furrow; the incisors of the lower jaw are slender, considerably longer than

GERBILLUS TENUIS.

those of the upper, laterally compressed, and sharp at the point. The molars

of the upper jaw are constructed much like those of the last species, and each

consists of the same number of divisions, the second and third divisions

of the front tooth differ however a little in configuration, the sides of

the tubes being so compressed as to give the surface of the crown of each

division more or less of the form of the figure 8. The front molar of the

lower jaw is triangular anteriorly, and composed of two distinct portions, the

anterior of which is again sub-divided into two, so that, when the tooth is

viewed laterally, it exhibits an appearance of three divisions ; the central con-

cavity of the anterior division, which consists of the two sub-divisions,

resembles somewhat the figure of a club, as painted upon playing cards ; the

cavity of the second division is narrow and nearly of equal width throughout ;

the second tooth consists of two transverse portions in close approximation to

each other, and the third of one with its centre concave. The nasal bones

are 5^ lines in length ; the distance between the hinder edge of the incisors

of the upper jaw and the anterior surface of the first molar, where it is in

contact with the alveolar processes, 3| lines ; length of the row of molar teeth

2j lines. Zigomatic arch anteriorly flat, thin, and moderately broad, pos-

teriorly narrow, slender and very delicate. For representations of the teeth,

&c., see Plate XXXVII.

This species was first found after the expedition passed to the northward of Latakoo, and

although a number of individuals were seen from time to time, yet only three were captured.

It inhabits open localities, similar to those resorted to by the species already described, and,

according to the statements of the natives, its habits resemble those of G. Afer.

Its size and slender form at once bespeak it as a distinct species, and its anatomical charac-

ters lead us to regard it as more allied to G. Afer than to any of the other South African

species with which we are yet acquainted.

CATOBLEPAS TAURINA. A. Adult female. B. Young.

(Mammalia — Plate .38.)

CATOBLEPAS TAURINA.

Mammalia.— Plate XXXVIII. (Female and Young.)

C. facie, vertice, juba, cauda, medioque pectoris subnigris ; cervice corporeque flavo-griseis ; cervice,

scapulis laterumque partibus anterioribus fasciis verticalibus rufo-brunneis variegatis ; artibus flavo-

brunneis ; naribus exteme valvulis instructis externe nudis ; corpore antick robusta, postice gracile

nitide formata ; oculis rubri-aurantiis.

Longitcdo e naso ad basin caudae 7 ped. 4 unc. ; caudse 21 unc . ; altitudo ad humeros 4 ped.

Catoblepas Tatjrina et Gorgon, Hamilton Smith.

Colour. Face black or blackish brown; space under the eyes rusty

white ; sides of the head pale dusky brown, grizzled with dirty white ; upper

lip white, its sides with a rusty tinge ; sides of the lower jaw deep black ;

bristles of the sides of the lower jaw, and those which exist and form a fringe

behind each angle of the mouth, deep black. The top of the head, the space

between the horns and the long hair which fringes the neck, superiorly and

inferiorly deep black. Sides of the neck yellowish grey, lightest towards the

black mane, and freely variegated with vertical dark stripes, consisting of

two colours, the one colour greyish brown, and divided by a central stripe

of blackish brown. Shoulders, back, upper portions of side and haunches, a

glossy colour, intermediate between brownish purple-red and yellowish grey ;

the shoulders and anterior portions of the side variegated like the neck, but

more sparingly, with vertical stripes of a light blackish brown colour ; the

centre of the breast between the fore legs, a glossy reddish brown. The out-

side of the upper half of each fore leg rusty yellowish brown, the inside light

grey-brown ; the lower half light reddish brown. The anterior edges of thighs

below groins rusty white, the remainder of the hinder legs rusty yellowish

brown. The central portion of the upper or hinder part of the tail dirty

yellowish brown, the other parts deep black. Ears externally the colour of

the body, internally white, tinged with yellowish grey. Eyebrows blackish

brown the hinder portion of each surmounted by a spot of yellowish brown ;

valves’ covering nostrils black. Eyes light reddish orange ; eyelashes

blackish brown.

The colours above described are those most generally observed in this

species nevertheless various modifications of them are occasionally to be

noticed • in some the ground colour is almost a sort of drab-grey, with a

strong lustre : the number of vertical stripes also vary in different individuals ;

in some they are more numerous than in the specimen figured, in others

less

Form, &c.— The form of the head, neck, and anterior parts of the body,

CATOBLEPAS TAURINA.

lobust and clumsy; of the posterior parts and limbs, delicate and elegant.

The head is shaped somewhat like that of an ox ; the face is moderately

wide, and with a distinct lateral bulge on each side, a short way behind the

nostrils ; facial line slightly arched ; sides of the head flat ; eyes rather

laige ; eyelashes strong and rigid, as are also the tufts of bristles which are

over the eyebrows ; the hairs of the beard are also strong and rigid : about

two inches below the anterior corner of each eye there is a circular bare spot,

about an inch in diameter, through pores in which a tenaceous glary fluid

exudes. Nostrils wide, and superiorly furnished with a sort of valve, lined

internally with short hair, and which at the will of the animal can be so

depressed as to shut completely the openings of the nostrils ; this valve is

bare externally, and is the only part of the nose which is denuded of hair.

Ears ovate, elongated, narrow, and pointed, and the upper or anterior edge

of each is fringed with long hair. The horns are placed above, and con-

siderably behind the plane of the eyes, and at their origin, which is on the

summit ol the forehead, they are close together. From their origin they

descend downwards and outwards, then with a curve upwards and backwards ;

towards the base they are flattened or compressed, towards apex cylindrical,

and their surface generally is rough and irregular. The neck superiorly and

interiorly is fringed with long, closely set, rigid hair ; above the fringe or mane

commences at the hindhead, and ends on the back a little behind the hunch;

on the throat it commences under the angle of the lower jaw, and ends a little

in front ot the breast. Shoulders very 7 deep, and surmounted by a moderately

high pointed hunch. Body rounded, and shaped like that of a horse ; limbs

delicately formed, and like those of an antelope. Tail long, reaching to

about midway between the houghs and pastern joints, its tip furnished with a

brush about twelve inches in length ; the hair elsewhere short, that on the

sides rather longest. Hoofs rather broad, large for the limbs, and anteriorly

where they come in contact at their base, there is a tuft of long hair ; false

hoofs long, convex externally, concave internally, and fringed at base with

long hairs. The skin of the knee joints in front generally bare, callous, and

rough.

DIMENSIONS.

Feet. Inches.

Length from the nose to the base of

the tail 7 4

of the tail 1 9

of the horns ] 91

Distance apart at base 0 ~l\

at apex 1 e±

Feet. Inches.

Height at the shoulder 4 0

at the crupper 3 10

Distance between the eye and nose 1 Of

Length of the ears 0 7

CATOBLEPAS TAURINA.

Male.— The neck is broader, and the animal generally is stronger made;

the colours are nearly the same as those of the female, only deeper and of a

brighter hue. The horns are stronger, and the mane and hair under the

throat is more bushy.

Young.— Form and appearance clumsy and unseemly. Forehead and face

intermediate between umber and reddish brown, the lower parts of the latter

darkest : the upper parts of the neck and body light yellowish brown washed

with grey : the lower portions of the neck and sides, the legs, and the tail,

intermediate between ash-grey and yellowish grey. Hoofs brownish black.

Ears externally and internally towards tips blackish brown.

This animal and the common Gnu, ( Catoblepas Gnu,) are perhaps the two most interesting

and extraordinary quadrupeds which occur in South Africa. Their configuration and their

manners equally excite our wonder, and let our attention be directed to these unitedly or

individually, the curious compound is not but to be perceived. When we survey their foim

either while roving at large in their native haunts, or when prostrate at our feet through the

efforts of the hunter, we feel alike with the native population the difficulty of discovering

whether they partake most of the ox, the horse, or the antelope.

When either the one or other of those animals, especially under excitement, stands in front

of an observer, with the head and anterior parts of the body only distinctly visible, the idea of

its strong resemblance to a small ox immediately arises. When again its body and posterior

parts are the portions most conspicuously in view, the likeness to a horse is remarkable ; oi

when its limbs only are taken in review, it presents a strong similarity to the more typical

antelopes.

As in their form, so likewise in their manners and habits, they manifest considerable resem-

blance to several very different animals; but the ox is the one to which in these respects they

approximate most closely, at least as far as my observations go. A herd of either of the

species evinces in its proceedings much of the manner which is observed among a group of

wild cattle, and no one who has noticed with but common attention the practices of the latter

under various circumstances, will find himself disinclined at times to suppose that he is

while looking on a herd of Gnus surveying a herd of wild oxen of a diminutive size. In their

mode of carrying themselves when alarmed, or when their attention is otherwise excited, the

resemblance is palpable, and in the toss of the head, the plunge, and the kick, which precede

a forced flight, it is not less so. The propensity of cattle to threaten with an attack, as shown

by certain fantastic motions of the head and body, is also regularly betrayed by this and the

other species; and the inclination of wild cattle to survey any thing or any one who approaches

their retreat, even should they have to fly immediately, is also the preponderating tendency in

both the species of Catoblepas. Almost every species of animal which occurs in South Africa,

excepting the Buffalo and the Gnu, retires at once, when even the cause for alarm is but

trifling, prolonging their flight until, in their own opinion, they are out of danger ; and although

all do not progress uninterruptedly, yet few if any halt longer at a time than is simply necessary

to enable them to survey for an instant the position of the object which had alarmed them.

CATOBLEPAS TAURINA.

T he Gnus and the Buffalo, on the other hand, rarely fly immediately on their discovering

noises or appearances which excite their surprise or apprehension ; and although they manifestly

experience feelings which incline them to escape danger by a retreat, yet they appear so

strongly influenced by a desire to acquire some insight into the nature of the danger, that they

rarely depart without first making strenuous efforts to gain their point. That sort of curiosity

often leads both, but particularly the Gnus, to expose themselves to danger greater than that

from which they might readily escape in the first instance, by its inclining or propelling them

to approach the objects of their fears ere they fly, apparently for the purpose of ascertaining their

real nature and character. From this peculiarity in their disposition we often see a herd whose

curiosity may have been roused by wagons and hunters passing in the vicinity of spots, over

which its members may be browsing, scamper towards them, and even approach within musket

shot of them before they halt to carry out their purpose. The discharge of guns often proves,

during these advances, the cause of their halting, and it is rarely that they will take a hint, as

is done by most other animals, from the reception they experience, and turn and fly.

Frequently the only result which follows the discharge of muskets is a momentary halt, a gaze,

a confused rush in no given direction, and then a determined attempt to persevere in the direction

they had been pursuing, even though such should carry them nearer to the position of their

assailants. In proportion as the degree of danger increases, in the same proportion does also

their disposition to persevere and manifest fantastic movements and plunges increase ; and

every shot which is fired at individuals under such circumstances only calls forth further extra-

ordinary gestures, tosses of the head, or wild kicks of the hinder extremities, just such as are

practised by wild cattle similarly situated.

Their gait as they fly bears a strong resemblance to the gallop of a horse, and in their manner

of arranging themselves during their flight, one upon the heels of another, they strongly resemble

many of the larger antelopes.

Both species of Gnu inhabit, during a certain period of the year, the extensive grassy plains

which exist some considerable distance to the northwards of the Vaal River ; and at another

period a portion of each, at least, advances to the southward to feed upon the vegetation which

occurs in that direction after the fall of the summer rains. Both species advance simulta-

neously as far as the southern branches of the Orange River, but on reaching those, the species

here figured ceases to advance, and the common species ( Catoblepas Gnu ) passes by itself

into the Colony. The appearance of the latter is the signal to hunters of all denominations to

prepare for the chase, and though the yearly slaughter is very great, there is apparently no

reluctance in the survivors to renew their periodical visitations. From having for a period of

years attentively observed the proceedings of animals which migrate, I am much disposed to

believe that among them at least two different impulses operate : the one, the result of the will

of the animal ; the other independent of that will, and purely an uncontrollable instinct, which

forces them blindly to follow their inclination even when the doing so necessarily leads to

their destruction. Among the animals of the first description, I would rank the Elephant,

Hippopotamus, and Rhinoceros; among the latter the Gnu — the Spring Boh ( Antelope

euchore ) the Gems Bok ( Oryx Capensis ,) &c. The facts which have led me to form these

opinions, I shall detail at length hereafter; and although I do not feel that they are sufficient,

either in number or strength, to establish the point, yet they are sufficient to justify me in

surmising such to be probably the law of nature.

G. RAPHIURUS CAP. E N SIS

( Mammalia._Plate39.)

< ■■

GRAPHIURUS CAPENSIS.— F. Cuv. et Geoff.

Mammalia. — Plate XXXIX.

G . supra cinereus nigro-brunneo penicillatus ; fascie, infra oculos, macula supra aurium, genis, ventre,

lateribusque corporis albis ; cauda supra flavo-albd, infra brunnco-rubra ; fascia semicirculare inter

labrum superiorum et partem inferiorem auris, supra oculum transiente, nigro-brunnea ; cauda

versus basin subrotundata, versus apicem disticlia.

Longitudo ab apice nasi ad basin caudse 4 unc. ; caudse 4 unc. 6 lin.

Myoxus ocularis. Smith , Zoological Journal, vol. iv. p. 439.

Colour. — The forehead, the upper surface of the head, the upper and

lateral parts of the neck, and the back, and the upper parts of the sides ash-

grey, profusely pencilled with liver-brown, the pencilled appearance arising

from a great number of long and rather rigid liver-brown hairs, being scat-

tered among the soft and light-coloured fur. The upper surface of the tail

yellowish white, the lower surface and the edges inferiorly deep reddish

brown. A blotch over the upper margin of each ear, the cheeks under the

eyes ; a vertical bar in front of each shoulder, and the belly and sides pure

white ; the white of the sides rising highest immediately behind the shoulder

and in front of the thigh. A narrow liver-brown stripe on each side of the

head, commencing at the edge of the upper lip immediately behind the muzzle,

and terminating under the ear, forming in its course a sort of semicircle in

order to pass over the eye; lower portion of each shoulder liver-brown.

Upper lip, angles of mouth, lower lip, under surface of neck, and the tarsi

of the anterior extremities rusty-reddish orange, the tint darkest round the

mouth ; breast and tarsi of hinder extremities rusty sienna-yellow. Whiskers

partly white, partly liver-brown. Eyes blackish. Incisor teeth pale-yellow.

The basal or concealed portion of the fur, intermediate between black and

lavender-purple : — this colour only seen by deranging the surface.

Form, &c. — Body moderately robust and the extremities very short; head

rather short and broad ; face rather flat ; cheeks bulging ; nose obtuse, the

muzzle bare and the nostrils opening downwards. A pencil of long delicate

GRAPHIURtTS CAPENSIS.

bristles about midway between the muzzle and the eye, and a few others of the

same description towards the tip of the nose and also above the eyes. Mouth

rather small, the upper lip divided, the furrow extending upwards to the summit

of muzzle; eyes small and prominent; ears short, semicircular, and thinly

sprinkled with short, rather rigid hairs. Tail bushy, the hair about an inch

in length and rather rigid, generally recumbent, but towards the point diver-

gent to the sides. Tarsi and toes short, the latter four in number on the fore-

feet and five on the hinder ones ; they are all directed forwards, the two

middle ones nearly of equal length and longest, the outer one slightly shorter,

the innermost considerably the shortest ; soles of the feet furnished with four

warty callous tubercles, and each toe near its point also with a prominent

conical callosity ; nails short, weak, slightly curved, and covered by procum-

bent, rigid hair. Teeth : — incisors of upper jaw short, plain anteriorly and

obliquely truncated at the point, the outer edge of each most prominent ; in-

cisors of lower jaw long, slightly curved, and flattened, the point of each with

a sharp cutting edge.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches.

Lines.

inches.

Lines.

Length from the front of the muzzle

Length of the hinder legs

to the tip of tail

of the tarsus of fore legs and

of the tail

toes

Distance between the muzzle and the

of the tarsus of hind legs and

eye

between the eye and the ear

Height at the shoulder

Length of the fore legs

The individual described is the only adult specimen I met with in South Africa, and the

Hottentot who killed it, stated that it was running to and fro upon the branches of a tree when

he first saw it, but that the moment it discovered him it remained motionless. Nothing

is known concerning its habits. A young individual I once saw in the possession of a dealer,

and from it I drew the characters given in my description of Myoxus Ocularis*

* Zoological Journal, vol. iv. p, 439.

BOSEIAPHUS ORE AS , (Male.)

( Mamma.! ia _ Hate 40.)

BOSELAPHUS OREAS.— H. Smith.

Mammalia. — Plates XL. and XLI.

B. supra rufo-flavus pnrpureo-tinctus, infra flavo-albus rufo-tinctus ; fronte pilis longis, rigidis, flavo*

brunneis, tecta ; facie ante oculos brunneo-rubris ; mento albo ; cauda penicillata; cornubus fortibus

ad basin in spiram convolutis ; oculis castaneis.

Longitudo e capitis verticc ad basin eaudse 8 ped. 11 unc. ; caudae 2 ped. 6 unc.

Antilope Oreas, A uct .

Eland of the Cape Colonists.

Male. Plate XL.

Colour. — The sides of the neck, the back, the sides of the body superiorly,

and the outer surface of the extremities towards the body rusty sienna-

yellow, with a pink or purplish shade shining through it; the sides of the

neck thinly pencilled with reddish brown hairs ; the lower parts of the sides

and the belly pale cream-yellow ; sides of head and lower portions of

extremities bluish white, strongly tinged with cream-yellow. Forehead clear

yellowish brown, all the hairs toward their root brownish red ; the middle of the

face below a line uniting the eyes brownish red, and fading laterally towards

the sides of the head, the centre of the face is darkest, being blackish brown ;

portion of face and sides of head near to muzzle rusty white, pencilled with,

brownish red ; muzzle black ; mane thin brownish yellow, shaded with

brownish red, and from the spot where it terminates, behind the shoulders, a

narrow reddish brown stripe extends along the course of the back bone as far

as the base of the tail. Hoofs brownish black, and each edged superiorly

with a ring of brownish red hair, the hair of the fetlock is also of the

same colour. Eyes chesnut brown ; eyelashes brownish red. Tail towards

base the same colour as the back, the tuft at its base rusty yellowish brown,

elsewhere brownish red. Mane of dewlap yellowish brown, pencilled with

brownish red.

BOSELAPHUS OREAS.

Form, &c. — Head small, for the size of the animal, rather delicately made,

and with a gentle and somewhat ovine expression ; neck tapered superiorly

rather deep, and bulky towards chest. Body heavy, robust, and rounded ;

limbs elegantly made, and rather slender; hoofs small, false hoofs subhemi-

spherical. Tail slender, with a bushy tuft of long hair at the point. Forehead

rather broad, and covered with a dense coating of long rigid hair, all of which

is inclined backwards and towards the centre of the head ; the hair covering

the lower part of the face and the sides is short and recumbent, that on the

under surface of lower jaw longest and very wiry; on the sides of the upper

lip, towards the muzzle, some long bristles, others on the under surface of the

lower jaw. Eyes moderately large, full, and soft; eyelashes bristly and

long. Lachrymal punctum small, circular, and situated a little in front of

the inner canthus of the eye, in a narrow longitudinal bare stripe, which

extends forwards from the union of the two eyelids. Horns placed on the

crown of the head, upwards and backwards from the eyes ; they slope

slightly backwards and are very thick towards the base, near which each is

so twisted as to exhibit two spiral turns, each turn having superimposed an

obtuse spiral ridge ; the two last thirds of the horns straight, and tapered to

a point. Ears long, narrow, pointed, and internally with three longitudinal

bands of rather long coarse hair, outer surface covered with short hair.

The hair of the neck is abundant, and longer than that on the body ; that of

the mane is reversed, is longer than that of the neck and shortest towards the

hinder part of the shoulders, where it terminates ; the hair of the dark dorsal

line, and of the back, sides, belly, and legs rather thinly set, short, and

directed backwards on the body and downwards on the limbs. The hair of

the tail is very short till close to the point, where, in the form of a tuft, it is

nearly eight inches long. Dewlap situated near to the breast ; subovate,

compressed, and edged with a fringe of long rigid hair ; muzzle bare.

DIMENSIONS.

Feet.

Inches.

Feet.

Inches.

Length from the horns to the base of

Height at the shoulder

the tail

at the crupper

. . 5

of the head

Length of the fore legs

of the ears

. 3

of the horns

of the tail

Distance between the eyes and the

of the dewlap at its base .

. . i

horns

BOSE LAPHU S O RE A S (Female 8c Young .)

( Mammalia Plate .41 .)

BOSELAPHUS OREAS.

Female and Young. Plate XLT.

Colour. Female . — Forehead cream-yellow, tinted with yellowish brown ;

rest of head purplish white, tinted with cream-yellow ; neck wine-yellow,

tinted with hair-brown ; back, upper portion of sides, and outer surface of

extremities towards body pale sienna-yellow, deadened with pale broccoli-

brown; lower parts of sides, belly, and extremities towards hoofs dirty white,

slightly tinted with cream-yellow. Hoofs and horns light liver-brown ; tuft

of tail rusty yellowish brown.

Form. Figure elegant, and very delicate as compared with that of the

male ; limbs slender and finely turned ; mane short and reversed ; a little

long coarse hair on the centre of the forehead. Horns long, straight, and

rather slender, somewhat spiral towards and at the base, with a rudimentary

ridge on the spire. Dewlap narrow, and nearly the whole length of the

under edge of neck ; tuft of tail smaller than in the male.

Young .— The prevailing colour in young specimens is a tint intermediate

between reddish orange and yellowish brown, which tint only ceases to be the

prevailing one when the animal has attained to lull maturity. In specimens,

apparently full grown, the tint described is often very distinct, particularly in

females, and in the latter it continues longer to be the prevailing colour than

in the male. In some middle-aged females there are indications of veitical

white stripes on the sides, which are distinctly visible on one in the British

Museum.

Elands are generally found associated in small herds, each herd commonly of from eight to

fourteen individuals, and more than two adult males are seldom met, even in the largest herds.

They appear at one time to have ranged over the whole of Southern Africa ; but of late few

have appeared within the limits of the Colony. In the districts they inhabit they are often

observed upon the plains, but more frequently near to mountains or broken hilly tracts, to

which they retire upon being disturbed in the open country. They ascend hills, or even

mountains, with great ease, and wind their course over peaks of the latter which appear almost

impassable. While retiring, they generally arrange themselves in single file, and they only

vary from that course when hotly pursued, and when the effort of every one is to effect escape

in any way possible.

When young, or but little advanced in years, and not over-fed, Elands are rather fleeter

than a Cape horse ; but when older, and more especially if in good condition, they are so heavy

and unwieldy, as to render it no very difficult task to come up with them, provided they have

but little advantage in point of start, and be hotly pursued at once. In the event of their not

beino- closely approached soon after they start, they are rarely overtaken, unless the chace be

contffiued with fresh horses, as, when once they have run for a considerable distance, they

either improve in speed, or, on the contrary, the horse diminishes in a greater proportion.

BOSELAPIIUS OREAS.

When put to flight they invariably, if they can exercise a choice, run against the wind; and

from their so constantly adopting that course, there cannot be a doubt that they are conscious

of the advantages it affords.

The hide of the Eland, particularly that of the neck, is very thick, and is highly esteemed as

soles for shoes ; the rest of the hide, on account of its toughness, is much sought after by the

farmers, being valuable as traces for horses. Its flesh is highly esteemed as food ; and from

the animal being on these various accounts so useful, it is much hunted by the Boers, which

accounts for its being now so rarely met within the boundaries of the Colony.

DAM A LIS ( Steep siceros) CAPE1STSIS

(Mammalia — Plate 42. Male)

DAMALIS (STREPSICEROS) capensis.

Mammalia. — Plates XLII. and XLITI.

D. superne rufo-griseus, inferne albus, corpore postice strigis verticalibus albis notato ; linea vertibrale alba

et facie, fasciola angulare ejusdem colons, signata; cornubus spiralibus carinatis; collo sub-jubato.

Damalis strepsiceros, H. Smith ; Griffith, Translation of the Animal Kingdom of Cuvier, vol. v.

Antelope strepsiceros, Aucl., Koodoo of the Cape Colonists.

Plate XLII. — Male.

Colour. — The upper and lateral parts of the neck and body, together with

the extremities, rufous grey, the grey tint most distinct on the neck and

shoulders ; the breast, under surface of body, and inner sides of buttocks

rusty white. The forehead, chaffron, and sides of the head immediately

behind the angle of the mouth dirty rufous, the cheeks and sides of the head

posteriorly rusty grey; — the colour of the face broken by the intervention ol

an angular narrow white bar, which extends from one eye to the other, and

has its most depending point or angle on the middle ot the chaffron ; the

hair edging it superiorly, as well as that towards the base of the horns, being

in general rusty brown. The sides of the head are variegated with several

small irregular white spots, one in front of each ear, one under each lower

eyelid, and one on each cheek ; the eyebrows, the chin, and the lips are also

white. The muzzle black. The ears externally rufous grey, internally rusty

white ; the mane light rusty brown. Between the shoulders and the base of

the tail there extends a narrow white line in the course of the vertebral

column, and from this line there descends seven or eight vertical lines of the

same colour, part of which are situated on the sides of the body, and part on

the outer aspect of the buttock. Tail posteriorly brown, anteriorly white,—

the tuft forming its point dark reddish-brown. Eyes brownish red. Horns

light brown with a faint greenish tinge; posterior aspect of fetlock joint

reddish-brown. True and false hoofs brownish black, and the base of the

latter narrowly edged with hair of a reddish-biow n coloui.

DAMALIS (STREPSICEROS) CAPENSIS.

Forms, &c. — Figure moderately robust and elegant. Head superiorly

broad and rather bulky, toward the muzzle narrow and tapered ; the forehead

is flat and square, the chaffron straight and the muzzle moderately broad.

Eyes full, soft and expressive. Horns robust and situated on the top of the

head, almost in contact at their base, but wide apart at their points, and each,

as it diverges from its base, takes two spiral turns and is furnished with a

narrow ridge or keel which follows the course of the wreaths described. At

the base the horns are robust and rather rugous, then somewhat compressed,

— the points are cylindrical sharp and directed outwards and forwards. Ears

large and patulous, especially towards their middle, they stand obliquely

outwards and are acute at the point. The neck is robust, rather long,

fringed both above and below, with some long and coarse hair which supe-

riorly forms a sort of mane, about three and a-half inches high, and which

extends from the base of the horns to the hinder edge of the shoulders ;

interiorly the long hair is irregularly disposed and forms a thin shaggy coating

to the throat. Body rounded, the shoulders well developed, and about equal

in height with the crupper. Limbs elegantly formed and towards the hoofs

very slender. Tail slender and at its termination has a tuft of long coarse

hair, which reaches to within a few inches of the houghs. Hoofs narrow and

anteriorly rather pointed ; false hoofs, short, cylindrical and pointed. Hair

generally very short; muzzle bare; dewlap slightly developed.

DIMENSIONS.

Feet. Inches.

Length from the horns to the base of

the tail 7 0

of the head 1 6

of the ears 0 8

of the horns 3 0

Feet. Inches.

Height at the shoulder 4 0

at the crupper 4 0

Distance between the horns at points 2 7

Length of the tail 1 7

Plate XLIII. — Female.

Colour. — Rather paler than that of the Male, the number of vertical stripes

generally greater, some of them occasionally bifurcate, and the white is less

pure, — the upper part of the forehead between the ears is generally mottled

rusty brown and white.

►

D AM AX I S ( Strep s icero s ) C A P E N S I S .

( Mammalia, Plate 4-3. Female)

DAMALIS (STREPSICEROS) CAPENSIS.

Form, &c. — Figure rather more delicate than that of the Male, and its

head superiorly narrower. No horns; neck long and slender; tuft of tail less

bushy. Length from the horns to the base of the tail five feet five inches,

height at the shoulder three feet eight inches.

The Koodoo, like the Eland, is generally found associating in small herds of from four to

eight or ten individuals. Its favourite resorts are the slopes of low hills and the banks of

rivers, which are thinly sprinkled with brushwood or trees, and in districts in which it exists it

is looked for in those situations. It feeds upon buds, shrubs, and grass.

When the southern parts of Africa were first colonised, Koodoos were frequently discovered

even in the vicinity of the locality where Cape Town now stands. The efficient weapons of the

European hunters, however, soon diminished the number, and now specimens are rarely to be

found within the Colony, which extends in an easterly direction about six and in a northerly di-

rection about three hundred miles. Even beyond these limits the animal is at present compara-

tively rare, partly from colonists hunting it on the ground of the aborigines, and partly from

the natives themselves being to some extent supplied with fire arms, and therefore now more

able to kill it, which they eagerly do whenever opportunities offer, not more from the importance

of its flesh as an article of food than from the value of its skin, arising from its peculiar

durability and pliancy as an article of harness for horses, &c.

The Koodoo is an animal naturally shy and timid, and on being disturbed in its retreats,

immediately takes to flight, and so long as no obstruction to its retreat occurs, it moves briskly

and quietly along, but if closely chased so as to feel itself in danger, the male often turns on

the pursuer, faces him with determination, and manifests a strong propensity to defend himself

and his companions. Its gait is elegant, its pace a moderately swift gallop, and while pro-

gressing it often springs over distances with great agility, and its bounds are frequently very

expansive. It produces one young one at a birth.

L SO REX MARIQUE'NSIS.

2l. S O R E X YAKUT S .

( Mammalia Plate 44. )

SOREX MARIQUENSIS. — Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XLIY. Fig. 1.

S. supcrnc brunneo-ruber ; inferne pallidior et griseo-tinctus ; villo versus pellem griseo-nigro ; cauda

cylindracea, ad basin obessa, versus apicem attenuata ; auribus semicircularibus, fere nudis ; villo

rigido.

Lon'Gitudo e rostri apice ad basin caudse 3 unc. 4* lin. ; caudte 1 unc. 10 lin.

Colour. The surface colour of the head, back, sides, extremities, and tail

brownish red, the head and tail lightest ; the throat, breast, and belly the

same colour, only lighter and with a distinct tint of pearly grey. Colour of

under surface light greyish black. The thin sprinkling of fur which occurs

on the anterior surface of ears the same colour as that of the back. Whiskers

greyish black. Incisor teeth white ; naked extremity of snout purplish black;

claws brownish red.

Form, &c.— Figure slender, and tapered both anteriorly and posteriorly.

Head small and terminated by a short slender somewhat cylindrical snout

which anteriorly is slightly bifurcate, and with a small cylindrical nostril in

each division. Eyes small, and rather nearer to the ears than the apex of

snout. Ears moderately large, semicircular, and their anterior surface

sprinkled with only a fine short hair, the meatus auditorius externus covered by

the recumbent fur of the parts in front of it, and also by that which edges the

lower lobe of the ear. Tail cylindrical, thick at its base and tapered towards

the point, the latter with a delicate pencil of rigid hairs. Extremities short

and slender ; toes of fore feet short, the three middle ones nearly equal and

rather longest ; those of hinder feet longer, particularly the middle ones.

DIMENSIONS.

In. Lines.

Length from tip of nose to base of

tail 3 4

Length of the tail

In. Lines.

Distance between the tip of the nose

and the eye 0 5

Height when standing 1 3

The only specimens of this species I have seen, two in number, were obtained in a wooded

ravine near the tropic of Capricorn, and when discovered they sought concealment under some

decayed leaves which were accumulated under a small shrub.

SOREX VARIES.- Smuts.

Mammalia. — Plate XLIV. Fig. 2.

S. superne griseus rufo-tinctus ; inferne griseus, pallide rufo-tinctus ; rostro ad basin valido, versus

apicem attenuato ; auribus fere in villo abditis ; cauda cylindracea fere a; quale, crinibus rigidis tecta ;

villo mollissimo et subcrispo.

Longittjdo e rostri apice ad basin caudee 3 unc. 10 lin. ; caudse 1 unc. 10 lin.

Sorex varius, Smuts. Diss. Zool. enumer Mamm. Cap. p. 108, Leyden, 1832.

Colour. — The outer surface of the head, back, and sides finely pencilled

yellowish brown and pearl grey, the colours so finely blended as to appear

a sort of rusty silvery grey ; the lower portion of the sides, the chin,

throat, belly, and extremities towards body rusty ash-grey. Lower portions

of extremities and tail wood-brown, the latter tinted with yellowish brown.

The fur inside of the surface intermediate between lavender-purple and greyish

black. Edges of upper lip and under surface of snout dirty white ; incisor

teeth white. The proportion of yellowish brown varies in different specimens

and in those in which it is most abundant the grey tint is but faint.

Form, &c. — Figure slender. Head small, snout rather robust, its point bare

and anteriorly slightly bifurcate, with a small circular nostril in each division

with elevated edges. Ears semicircular and almost concealed in fur, a part

of which exists on the anterior surface of the ears themselves. Tail cylindrical

and with a delicate pencil of rigid hairs at its extremity, elsewhere it is coated

with short strong hairs. Extremities slender and short. Claws of fore feet

rather long, and only slightly curved. Incisors of upper jaw strongly arched

downwards from base, those of lower jaw horizontal till near the point, which

is slightly bent upwards and received within the upper jaw. Fur long, soft, and

cottony on the body, shorter on the head, and very short on the snout and tail,

where it approaches in character to hair. On the head and body it is slightly'

frizzled.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from point of nose to base of

tail 3 10

of tail i jo

Inches . Lines.

Distance between the tip of the nose

and the eyes 0

Height when standing 1 10

Inhabits the southern and eastern parts of the Cape Colony, and is usually found where

brushwood exists in abundance.

l.SOREX CAPENSIS .

Z. SO REX F LAYESCENS.

Mamma.li a _ f late 45 .

SOREX CAPENSIS. — Geoff. St. Hil.

Mammalia. — Plate XLY. 1.

S. supra cinnereo-brunneus, subtus flavo-oinnereus ; rostro antice integro ; cauda breve cylindracea.

Longitudo e rostri apice ad basin caudae 4 unc. ; caudae 1 unc. 5 lin.

Sorex Capensis, Geoff. Annal de Mus. tom xvii., p. 184.

Colour. — The upper and lateral parts of the head, the hack and upper

parts of the sides, the extremities and the tail intermediate between broccoli-

brown and chestnut-brown ; lower parts of sides, belly, breast, throat, chin,

and inner surface of extremities intermediate between ash-grey and yellow-

ish grey ; anterior surface of ears the colour of the body, only paler, posteiior

surface flesh coloured ; muzzle brownish red ; whiskers partly liver-brown

and partly bluish white ; claws horn -coloured.

Form, &c. — Figure slender. Head small, and between the ears broad and

arched, in this respect different from Sorex jiavescens, which is rather con-

tracted. Muzzle moderately robust, the point bare and entire ; extremities

slender ; tail cylindrical and slightly tapered to the point.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the tip of the nose to

the base of the tail 4 0

of the tail 1 5

Height when standing 1 3

Inches. Lines

Distance from the ear to the eye ... 0 5|

the eye to the tip of

the nose 0 5|

When in Paris some few weeks ago, I was informed by M. Geoffroy St. Hillaire, that he con-

sidered the Shrew which had been described as Sorex Capensis to be identical with Sorex Indicus,

and he was of opinion that the individual which formed the type of the species was actually

obtained from the Mauritius. The specimen here figured and described, however, was cer-

tainly an inhabitant of the Cape of Good Hope, and as it is smaller than either the species

which is found in the Mauritius or that which is known under the name Sorex Indicus, I have

considered it as an example of the Sorex capensis of Geoff. It inhabits rocky situations in

Southern Africa, and is found most abundantly in the Cape District. It is readily to be

distinguished from Sorex Jiavescens by the tip of its muzzle being entire, by its colour, and

by its head being shorter and less conical.

SOREX FLA VESCENS.- Geoff. St. Hil.

Mammalia. — Plate XLY. 2.

S. supra rufo-flavus, subtus flavo-cinnereus ; villo breve rigido; rostro elongato antice bifido ; auribus,

magnis, semicircularibus, fere nudis.

Longitudo e nasi apice ad basin caudas 4 unc. 4 lin ; caudse 21 lin.

Sorex Flavescens, Geoff. St. Hil. Mem. des Mus. d’Hist. Nat. tom xv.

Colour.— The back and the upper parts of the sides broccoli-brown, dis-

tinctly tinted with light yellowish-brown, —the tint of the upper surface of the

head darkest ; the lower portion of the sides and the under parts, wood-

brown ; the chin, throat, sides of neck and breast strongly tinged with dull

reddish orange; the fur, at its base, slightly inclined to pale bluish black

Tad rusty grey ; ears, anteriorly, pale yellowish brown ; muzzle black •

whiskers partly reddish brown, and partly bluish white; extremities wood-

brown, exteriorly and anteriorly faintly tinted with yellowish brown • nails

white.

Form, &c.— Figure moderately robust. Head small, superiorly slightly

compressed, anteriorly conical, the muzzle prolonged, cylindrical, and its

apex slightly bifid, the two portions, one towards each side, inclined

slightly outwards and forwards, as wall be seen by reference to fig. b 2. Ears

semicircular, with, anteriorly, a sprinkling of fine short fur, and^the inferior

margin of each, as well as the oblique septem behind the meatus audilorius exter-

nal, fringed with some rather coarse white hair. Legs short and rather robust •

toes strong, rather long, and armed with short, very crooked, and pointed

claws. Tail cylindrical, and tapered from its base to its apex. Fur short

rigid and closely recumbent ; hair of tail very short, and rather scanty, the

tip of the tail with a rudimentary tuft of short white hairs.

dimensions.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the tip of the nose to

the base of the tail 4 4

of the tail 1 9

Height when standing 1 4

Distance from

Inches. Lines.

the ear to the eye 0

the eye to tip of the

nose

7 £

This species, first described by Geoffroy St. Hillaire, is quite distinct from that which was

previously recognised by Desmaret* and others as Sorer Cape, ms. Both the one and the

othei, liowevei, occui in the same localities, and both are occasionally found in rocky situations

in difieient paits of the Cape District. They are also occasionally found in wooded ravines,

and when they occur in such situations they are found most frequently under decayed vegetable

matter, or else about the roots of shrubs and small trees.

Encyclopedie Methodique Mammalogie, page 152, No. 241.

» ’ '•

1. MUS PUM1LI0,

2. MUS DORSALIS.

(Mammalia Hate. 46 j

MUS PUMELIO . — Spar.

Mammalia.— Plate XLYI. Fig. 1.

M superne griseo-album, castaneo et subnigro parce penicellatum ; doxso lineis quatuor longitudinals

' subnigi variegate; capite gracile ; pilis recumbentibus ; auribus ferrugmers.

Longitddo e nasi apice ad basin candm 4 unc. ; caudm 3 unc. 6 lin.

Colour, &c.-The ground colour of the upper and lateral parts of the

head of the back, the sides of the body, and the outer surface of the extre-

mes grayish white, sparingly pencilled with chestnut and liver-brown, and

the blck besides is variegated with four longitudinal liver-brown stripes,

each about a line in width. From the point where the stripes commence, at

the anterior part of the back, a single line, alike in width and colour, extens

forwards along the back of the neck and down the face till it is lost on e

latter between the eyes, -this and the four on the back are distinctly t mug i

sparingly pencilled with a bright deep reddish orange. The sides and ang es

of the mouth, the chin, the throat, the breast, the belly, the inner surface o

the extremities towards the body, and their entire circumference towards the

toes rusty white. Ears externally and internally intermediate between

chestnut- and orpiment- orange. The upper surface of the tail is liver-brown,

the under surface yellowish brown. The incisor teeth of the upper jaw are

light reddish orange, those of the lower yellowish white ; whiskers and eyes

liver-brown. Hair towards the base a slate colour.

Form, &c.— Figure moderately slender. Head small and narrow, the

muzzle prominent, slightly obtuse, and projecting but little beyond the

incisor teeth of the upper jaw; ears moderately large and posteriorly semi-

circular. Hair rigid, moderately long, and recumbent. Extremities slen ei,

the hinder ones rather long, and the three middle toes of each of equal length.

Tail cylindrical, long, and densely covered with short rigid hair.

DIMENSIONS.

Length from nose

of tail

Inches. Lines.

to base of tail 4 0

3 6

Inches. Lines.

Length of tarsus and toes of hinder ex-

. . A I 1 JL

tremities v J 1 2

Height of the animal when standing

. nponrs in everv part of Southern Africa which has yet been visited and is gene-

This mouse Y P with underwood. In these situations large

„,, y descried '“ ^“^ncl-^c., .re of.ee .o be obrer.ed s«rroo„di„ s the s.eo,

“““the' 'ground of some of the larger shrubs, and in the interior of these .masses Mus Pumeho

forms its burrows, constructs its dwelling place, and produces and lears i s joung.

MUS DORSALIS.— Smith.

Mammalia.— Plate XLVI. Fig. 2.

r — <

Longitudo e nas. apice ad basin caud* 4 nnc. ; caudee 4 unc. 6 Iin.

thfbacr th e C ^d The T f r e COlOUr ° f the Upper and lateral parts of the head -

back, the sides, and the outer surface of the extremities a pale buff nr

bro 181 ° range ’ P rofusel y pencilled with liver-brown: the back with a liver

betw * en the >“» of the neck

. .. . . 1 ' *P S ’ C l,ll > space round angles of mouth throat

belly, and inner surface of extremities, rusty white ■ leas toward ,

sienna-yellow ; muzzle an uniform rusty Lte^lloT- eT^LTsh

oiange; ears antenorly and posteriorly deep reddish orange. Eyes live,

brown. Hair towards the root slate-coloured. *

Form, &c -Figure rather robust ; head, posteriorly, broad ; anteriorly

narrow and tapered. Muzzle rather full, compressed, and slightly Tb, n t’

Ears rather large, and posteriorly semicircular HinrW * g 7 USe>

and rather long. Hair ‘of head.Lk,

:!“r herSOft; -.air of tail shfrt ’ri^d mld

Length from tip of nose to base of tail . 4 o

of tail 4 g

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length of tarsus, toes, and claws of

hinder extremities j

Height of animal when standing i

Inches. Lines,

o - 10

th“^r:i:7r ,y V7 ]y Within the llmitS of b«t abundantly beyond

rtlylld I bulk f °b "I - / tHe Greal ° ran§e RiVCr - The Width 0f ita head poste-

from Mas V ° ° “7 * fUrn ' Sh characters whlch enabl e «« readily to distinguish it

haT aTd I' 6V8n , W ^ tating lnt ° 3CC0Unt thG S reater rigidity of its

hair, and the existence only of one dark stripe along the back. *

MUS LEHOCLA. Fig-,1.

MUS NATALENSIS. Tig. 2.

MUS COLONUS. Fig-. 3.

(Mammalia . Plate 4' 7.)

MUS LEHOCLA.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XLYII. Fig. 1. Male,

M. superne, pallide rufus subnigro penicillatus, inferno rufo-albus ; auribus magnis, expansis, fere nudis,

margine externo semicirculari ; pilis rigidis ; cauda longa subnudaque.

Longitcdo capitis corporisque 4 unc. 9 lin. ; caudso 5 unc.

Mus Lehocla. Report of Expedition into Interior of South Africa, App. p. 43, 1 837.

Colour. — Head, back, and sides, pale buff orange, or light sienna-yellow.

The middle of the head, of the back, and the upper parts of the sides freely

pencilled with liver-brown ; the outsides of the extremities the same colour as

the sides, the dark hairs only less abundant. The lower parts of the sides,

the belly, the throat, the chin, and the inner sides of the extremities rusty

white ; ears pale purplish brown, with a scanty sprinkling of liver-brown

hair ; eyebrows white ; whiskers pale brownish red ; tail intermediate

between light brownish red and yellowish brown ; eyes black ; incisor teeth of

both jaws pale yellow.

Form, &c. — Head rather long, posteriorly of moderate width, anteriorly

narrow and tapered ; apex of nose subacute and immediately behind the

point the parts bulge considerably, having in this respect more of the cha-

racter of a rat than of a mouse. Ears short, broad, and patulous, the outer

edge subovate or semicircular. Eyes large and prominent. Whiskers mode-

rately bushy, hairs rather long and somewhat rigid. Body moderately

robust ; limbs rather long ; toes and nails of fore feet rather short, nails of

hinder feet long and curved ; tail long and thinly coated with short rigid

hair; hair of the head and body long, closely set, and slightly rigid, re-

sembling in its nature that of a rat; incisors of upper jaw short, slightly

curved, and moderately robust ; of lower jaw long, slightly arched and

slender.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from tip of nose to base of tail 4 9

of tail 5 0

Length of tarsus, toes, and claws of

hinder extremities

Height of animal when standing

0 10

2 0

MUS LEHOCLA.

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 observed in masses of decayed vegetable matter, which occur here and there in situa-

tions abounding with underwood.

MUS NATALENSIS. — Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XLYII. Fig. 2. Male.

M. superne flavo-brunneus nigro brunneo-penicillatus ; infra rufo-albus ; auribus ovatis subnudis ; cauda

parce pilis brevibus rigidis sparsa.

Longitudo capitis corporisque 5 nnc. ; caudag 4 unc.

Mds Natalensis, Smith, South African Quarterly Journal.

Colour.— 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.

Form, &c. — Body 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. Lines.

Length from the nose to the base of the Length of the fore legs

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.

Inches. Lines.

... 0 9

... 1 9

MIS COLONUS.— Licht.

Mammalia.— Plate XLVII. Fig. 3.

31. superne flavo-brunneus nigro bmnneo-penicillatus, infra griseo-albus ; mento-guttereque albis ; cauda

superne brunnea infra alba ; auribus ovatis, singulorum apice semicirculari.

Longitddo capitis corporisqne 3 unc. 6 lin. ; cauda; 2 unc. 6 lin.

Mus Colonus, Smith, South African Quarterly Journal.

Colour. — The ground colour of the upper parts of the head, the neck, and

all the back, pale yellowish brown, pencilled profusely with liver-brown ; the

sides of the head, neck, body, and the outer surface of the extremities towards

the body wood-brown, the two last sparingly pencilled with brown ; belly,

insides of extremities and tarsi, pale rufous white \ chin and throat white.

Hair on outer surface of ears rufous, on inner surface brownish red ; whiskers

vaiiegated liver-brown and yellowish brown. Eyes black. Incisor teeth of

upper jaw Dutch-orange, of lower pale straw-yellow. Tail, above umber-

brown, beneath dirty white.

Form, &c. — Figure rather robust ; head posteriorly moderately broad,

anteriorly pointed. Ears oval, the apex of each nearly semicircular, the

external and internal surfaces coated thinly with short and rigid hair. Legs

shoit, nails short, strong, curved and blunt. The fur or hair of the back and

head short and rather stiff, of the sides and under parts soft and downy. Tail

covered with short rigid hair. Eyes large and prominent.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length from the nose to the base of the Length of the fore legs

- 3 6 Height when standing

of the tail 2 6

The colours of the male and female are nearly alike.

Inhabits the eastern districts of the Cape Colony, and is found in localities coated with

brushwood. It either resides in burrows under ground or in masses of decayed vegetable

matter, which occur commonly in the situations it inhabits.

Inches. Lines.

... 0 7

... 1 3

PTEROPUS LEACHII.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate XLVIII.

P. capite superne, dorso, bracliio, antibrachioque plene pilis brunneis sordidis vestitis ; alarum mem-

prana pone brachium lanosa ; gutture, abdonrine, extremitatibusque inferne brunneis, viridi-griseo-

tinctis ; caudce dimidio posteriori libro ; oculi cantlio anteriori oris anguloque in linea eadem

verticali.

Pteropus Leachii, Smith. Zoolog. Journal, vol. iv. page 433, 1829.

Temminck, Monog. de Mammalogie, onzieme, page 88, 1835.

Colour. — The upper surface of the head and neck, the back and the

extremities superiorly dull umber-brown ; the sides of the head and neck, the

throat, breast, belly, and under surface of extremities a colour intermediate

between hair-brown and clove-brown (a sort of dirty greenish-brown); nostrils

and point of lower jaw liver-brown. Toes of the hinder extremities brownish

red ; claws sienna-yellow. Wing and interfemoral membranes between

brownish red and chocolate-red ; the phalanges of the anterior extremities

yellowish brown. In some specimens, the fur of the upper parts is tinted

in places with yellowish brown, and below, especially on the breast and belly,

it is occasionally observed of a slight rusty yellow tinge.

Form, &c. — Figure rather robust ; head large ; forehead prominent ; face

rather flattened ; nostrils tubular, and opening laterally ; eyes moderately

large, situated nearly midway between the nostrils and the ears, the anterior

canthus of eye directly over the angle of the mouth. Ears moderately long,

rather narrow, and slightly rounded at the point, externally and internally

without covering, a few hairs only on inner surface towards meatus. Incisor

teeth small, in pairs ; molars, six in the upper jaw and seven in the lower.

Vide plate — a, teeth of upper jaw, b, teeth of lower — both as seen from

above. Fur generally very short, soft, and silky, that of the sides of the

neck, throat, and anterior edge of the breast much the longest, that on the

alar membrane, adjoining the flanks and anterior extremities, the shortest,

and very thinly set : on other parts where it occurs, it is dense and thickly

set The two first joints of the anterior extremities thickly covered below

and above with fur, the portion of hinder extremities near to body covered

but not so thickly, the more distal portion with only a sprinkling of coarse

PTEROPUS LEACHII.

hair. Thumb armed with a strong claw, the small claw of first finger directly

in front of the distal end of the first phalanx of second finger. Wing mem-

branes thin, and posterior to fore-arm veined from before backwards ; towards

body two of the veins are larger than the rest ; one begins near to axilla, and

terminates before it reaches the hinder edge of the wing, its course obliquely out-

wards and backwards ; the other commences a little in front of base of hinder

leg, and extends outwards and backwards to within about three lines of the

margin of the wing. The interfemoral membrane edges the coccyx and

inner side of the hinder extremities as far as the tarsus ; it is deeply emar-

ginate the emargination of the figure of the letter V reversed. At the tarsus

it is about half an inch in width, and the latter increases a little as the angle

it forms with the portion of the opposite side is neared. Tail rather more than

half an inch in length, the last half free and projecting beyond the inter-

ernoral membrane. Toes rather strong, all of equal length, and armed with

DIMENSIONS.

In. Lines.

Length from nose to base of tail 5 3

Length of head 1 9

antibracliium g 2

tail 0 8

Expanse of wings 0

Distance between thorax and thumb

when wings are extended 4 q

In. Lines.

Length of thumb, including claw 0 9

1st joint of forefinger 1 51

1st joint of second finger ... 2 1

1st joint of third finger 2 0

1st joint of fourth finger ... 1 11

Female.— As regards colours, the two sexes are nearly alike.

During the season when the grapes are ripening and ripe, specimens of this Bat are

easily obtained in Cape Town and its vicinity ; at other periods they are less readily procured.

Pnougli it is not restricted to Cape Town and its neighbourhood, it occurs nowhere else in the

same abundance. One or two specimens have occasionally been procured far in the interior ;

and I was told when at Latakoo, that a large Bat was often seen about the garden in the

fruit season, which, from the description given, I am inclined to believe is, if not the common

Cape species, at least a Pteropus.

I hough I heard much while at the Cape of the large species [Pteropus Hottentotus,

lem ‘) 1 never > during m y residence there, was so fortunate as to obtain a specimen.

DYSOPES NATALEN SIS

( Mammalia _ Plate 49 .)

DYSOPES NATALENSIS.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate 49 .

D. oorpore superne inferneque sordido-brunneo-rubro ; alls membranaque mterfemorali pallide

rubris ; facie parce pilia rigidis brevibus tecta.

Longitudo e nasi apice ad basin caudse 2 unc. , cau se

Colour -Fur above and below dull brownish red, that on the under parts

lightest ihednt at the base and surface nearly, if not quite, the

Wing and interfemoral membrane slight chocolate-brown , p >a an c

ears rathe, targe, and

narrow ; antebrachial membrane triangular, arising from apex of

"at seven-sided ; the tail projecting considerably beyond Jt, where the

two hinder sides meet ; it is attached to the hinder extremity of The body d

the inner side of each hinder leg throughout its whole length Thumb

she slender, and armed with a small crooked nail. Toes of hinder ex_

f milies latemlly compressed, slender, and each with a large, highly-curved

., , lhe base of each of which there is a scanty tuft or pencil of long,

her coarse hair. The tail is long, and tapers to a point, rather more than

1 ,f from its base, inclosed in the femoral membrane, the remainder is quite

r Z of the back, throat, and belly, short, silky, and closely set ; face thinly

sprinkled with short rigid hairs, or rather bristles; anterior edge oi ear a.

DYSOPES NATALENSIS.

InC “ OT te ' th of “PP« jaw two, small,

lower jaw closely set and fill n ’ owards each canine ; incisors of

teeth; the latter h, eachfaw L P T7, y tbe Space hetween ‘ he eanine

upper jaw, 6 ; of lower, the sametutber CUrVed ’ ° nd P0 ‘“ te<1 ' Grindera of

Length from the apex of the nose to the

base of the tail

of the tail

of the head

Expanse of wings

dimensions.

to. Lines,

Length of anti-brachium

first joint of second finger ...

middle finger ...

third finger ...

fourth finger ...

In. Lines.

1 5

on tllS 6 Cat 5 ~ ““

my possession,

coi^ rorest it msiio -f . near t0 Port ^tal

no. been long on the wing before . wa, i„ W ’"“? e “ ““ < '“ Sk ° f * ,,e and bad

•peeies I have seen. " P» ss ™- » h the only individual of the

YESPERTILJO LAN OS US.

( Mammalia _ Plate 50)

VESPERTILIO LANOSUS.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate L.

V. corporis colore superne flavo-brunneo, pilis argenteis variegato, inferno rubn albo, pilis ad basin mgro

brunneis ; auribus externe emarginatis; membrana interfemorali postice ciliata ; pilis ano 5 is

subcirratis.

Longitudo e nasi apice ad basin caudse 2 unc. 3 lin. ; caudas 1 unc. 6 lin.

Colour. The fur of the upper and lateral parts of the head, of the neck,

and of the back, three coloured, viz., towards, and at the point, dirty white,

or pale sienna-yellow, at the middle intermediate between brownish red and

yellowish brown, and towards, and at the base liver-brown ; the points of

some of the hairs of the back are silvery white. The fur of the sides of the

head, the throat, the breast, and the belly, is dirty reddish white towards the

surface, and towards the base pale liver-brown, that which is thinly sprinkled

on the upper surface of the interfeinoral membrane at its base, is diity white.

Wing and interfermoral membranes dark brownish red. Ears pale biownish

purple-red, tinted with flesh-red.

Form, &c. — Figure slender; head broad ; ears rather large and somewhat

semicircular, the outer edge {helix) immediately below the highest point

emarginate, or as if a small portion of it, nearly a line and a half in length,

had been cut out, at the lowermost point the ear is truncated ; tragus, long,

narrow, and slightly curved. Nose depressed, bare, and rounded, the nostrils

situated on its edge, one on each side. Wings from anterior to posterior

ed°e rather wide; from tip to tip rather short ; the antebrachial membrane

extends from the point of the shoulder to the base of the thumb. The

interdigital spaces much veined ; the veins close to the sides of the body,

numerous, and slightly oblique. Interfemoral membrane large and five-

sided, the two hinder sides where they unite form a prominent angle behind,

at which the tail terminates ; this membrane, like that of the wings, is freely

veined, the veins nearly all with a slightly oblique course from the sides

VESPERTILIO LANOSUS.

backwards toward the tail, which extends along the middle of the membrane.

Hinder feet, small, slender, and superiorly thinly sprinkled with short hair ;

the claws rather long, moderately strong, and not much curved. Thumb

about two lines long, and very slender, the claw short, slightly curved and

pointed. The first finger reaches to the distal end of the second joint of the

second finger, the fourth, and the membrane connected with it at its point

form a prominent semicircular or subtriangular projection, which extends con-

siderably beyond any other part of the hinder edge of the wings. The ears,

externally, are thinly covered with short hair. The face, head, neck, back!

breast, and belly, with rather long and frizzy hair, much resembling wool.

The base of the interfemoral membrane superiorly, with a thin sprinkling

of short hair of the same description ; hinder edges of membrane fringed with

very short, rather rigid hair.

DIMENSIONS.

In. Lines.

Length from the nose to the base of

the tail 2 3

of the tail 1 (j

of the head 0 7

Expanse of the wings 9 10

In. Lines.

Length of the anti-brachium 1 4 .1

of the first joint of first finger... 1 2|

second finger 1 2g

third finger 1 24

fourth finger 1 2 J

In respect of colours, the male and female of this species are nearly alike.

The only specimens I obtained were killed in a wooded district stretching alon- the

sea-shore, about two hundred miles to the eastward of Cape Town. Like other species

of the genus, it appears as night sets in, and may then be seen flitting from spot to spot

along the open spaces which exist here and there in different parts of the forest. ‘

VE SPE.RTJ L10 M1F

(Mainmalia,_ Plate 51.

VESPERTILIO MINUTUS. — Tem.

Mammalia. — Plate LI.

y. superne, vellere rubro-brunneo, infra flavo-brunneo versus basin rubro-brunneo ; alis membrana inter-

femoralique brunneo-rubris ; auribus subovatis, margine externa emarginata.

Longitudo e nasi apice ad basin caudee 2 unc. 6 lin. ; caud® 2 unc.

Vespertilio, Hottentota et Capensis, Smith. — South African Quarterly Journal, New Series, vol. i. 1832.

Colour. — The fur of the upper and lateral parts of the head, neck, and

body, deep reddish brown, towards base inclined to liver-brown, below the

same colour tinted at the surface with pale yellowish brown. Wing and

interfemoral membranes intermediate between brownish red and liver-brown ;

antibrachium and phalanges yellowish brown tinted with flesh-red. Ears

light yellowish brown clouded with pale aurora-red ; apex of nose flesh-red ;

eyes dark liver-brown.

Form, &c. — Body rather broad; head small; nose bare and slightly

truncated, nostrils apical and directed forwards. Eyes small ; ears subovate

and as wide as they are high, the outer margin of each a little below the

point slightly emarginate ; tragus narrow, about half the length of the ear,

and slightly curved forwards, its apex arched. Thumb short and slender,

claw small and much hooked ; the termination of the first finger about

midway between the first and second joints of the second finger. Wing

membranes faintly veined ; interfemoral membrane rather large, subtri-

angular, and posteriorly pointed, the tail not extended beyond the mem-

brane. Fur moderately long, soft, and silky. Muzzle with a number of

short, rigid hairs.

The incisor teeth of the upper jaw four, in pairs, close to the canines, — of

the lower six, all contiguous, small, and multicuspidate, the points blunt ;

canines large and pointed ; molars of upper jaw four, of lower five, each

with one or more points on the outer edge, and with a more or less concave

heel internally; the first molar both above and below, much the smallest.

Length from the nose to the base of the interfemoral membrane 2 inches

and a half; of the tail 2 inches; expanse of wing 12 inches; length of the

antibrachium 1 inch 8 lines.

Inhabits wooded districts throughout the whole of Southern Africa. It commences to

seek its food about dusk ; continues on the wing throughout the night, and retires to caves

in the rock, or cavities in decayed trees, as daylight appears.

SCOTOPHILUS DINGANII.— Smith.

Mammalia. — Plate LIII.

S. superne villere viridi-brunneo, infra viridi-flavo; alarum membrana purpureo-brunnea ; caudse particula

ultra membranam interfemoralem extensd ; capite magno ; labiis crassis.

Longitttdo e nasi apioe ad basin caudae 3 unc. 6 lin . ; caudas 2 unc.

Vespertilio Dinganii, Smith.— South African Quarterly Journal, New Series, vol. i. 1832.

Colour. The fur of the upper and lateral parts of the head, neck, and

body intermediate between honey-yellow and dull orange coloured brown ;

of the under parts light honey-yellow. Wing and interfemoral membranes

light reddish brown shaded with brownish red. The muzzle anteriorly, the

upper lip and the ears yellowish brown tinted with flesh-red and faintly

clouded with pale brownish red. Antibrachium and the phalanges inter-

mediate between brownish red and lake-red. Ears light brownish red, with

a tint of flesh-red. Wings and interfemoral membrane deep purplish brown.

Form, &c. — Head rather large ; nose broad, full, and rather square ; sides

of head over upper lip prominent, nostrils projecting and opening for-

wards ; ears subovate and broader than high ; tragus long, narrow, linear

and subfalciform, its apex slightly rounded. Body rather robust ; wings

moderately large; antibrachium long and strong. Thumb slender, weak,

and slightly hooked ; the first toe reaches nearly to the second joint of the

second toe. Interfemoral membrane rather large, posteriorly triangular, the

tail projecting slightly beyond its point. Toes of the hinder feet moderately

strong and nearly of equal length ; claws strong and much curved. The

nose and the sides of the head, towards the upper lip, thinly covered with

short coarse hair ; the rest of the head, neck, and body, densely coated with

a fine, silky, rather long fur. Interfemoral membrane towards its base with

a few short rigid hairs both on the upper and under surface.

The incisor teeth of the upper jaw, in the specimen described, two, small,

conical, and pointed, one close to each canine ; those of the lower jaw six,

closely set, small, laterally compressed, and each more or less bicuspidate.

Canines large, slightly curved, and pointed. The first molar, both above and

below, conical and pointed ; the others with several pyramidal points.

Length from nose to base of tail 3 inches 6 lines ; length of tail 2 inches ;

length of antibrachium 2 inches 3 lines ; expanse of wings 12 inches.

Specimens of this species are rarely procured in South Africa. The one I possess, and

another which I saw in the possession of a trader, were both obtained in the country between

Port Natal and Delagoa Bay. The former, when it was killed, was flitting to and fro on

the margin of a forest, about sixty miles to the east of N atal.

S C O T O P HIL V S D 1 N G AN 1 1 .

(MainmaAin ,_.PIale 53.)

MIFIOPTERUS DASYTHRIX

( Mammalia .Plate 52)

MINIOPTERUS DASYTHRIX— Tem.

Mammalia. — Plate LII.

M. superne rubro brunneusflavo brunneo-tinctus, capute dorsique parte posterioris griseo brunneo-umbratis,

infra pallide brnnneo-ruber flavo-brunneo tinctus; lateribus, abdominisque parte postenore sord.do-

albis ; auribus acuminatis, margine externa versus apicem emarginata.

Longitudo e nasi apice ad basin caudae 2 unc. 9 hn . ; caudse 1 unc. 3 lin.

Yespertilio Natalensis, Smith.— South African Quarterly Journal, New Series, vol. i. 1832.

Colour.— The fur of the upper part of the head, neck, and body,

intermediate between chestnut-brown and yellowish brown, that of the

head and posterior part of the back tinted with broccoli-brown. On the

under parts the general colour is a dull, pale brownish red, tinged with wood-

brown ; the flanks and hinder portion of the abdomen, dingy white. The

wing and interfemoral membranes intermediate between wood-brown and

yellowish brown, in places strongly tinted with pale reddish orange. Ears,

tragus, and nose, nearly the same colour as the wing membranes.

Form, &c. — Head, posteriorly rather broad, anteriorly narrow ; nose

rounded, the nostrils at its apex close together, and each with a raised

margin ; ears broad at the base, narrow towards the apex, which is

pointed, the external margin of each slightly emarginate a little below

the point; tragus narrow, subfalciform, and pointed. Eyes small, and

situated close to the ears. Body moderately full; wings rather wide;

interfemoral membrane large, somewhat triangular, and envelopes the whole

of the tail. Toes of hinder feet short and nearly of equal length, claws slender

and much curved. Alar membrane much veined, one large vein extend-

h obliquely from the mesial extremity of the antibrachium to nearly the

a pex of the fourth finger ; anterior to this, towards the body, the veins extend

hi straight lines from the antibrachium ; toward the finger their direc

tion is obliquely outwards and backwards. Behind the first-mentioned vein

one portion of the more delicate ones, which are numerous, extend across

M1NI0PTERUS DASYTHRIX.

towards the fourth finger, and another portion, more or less directly back-

ward toward the hind margin of the membrane, and by crossing the former

give rise to a number of small square compartments. - /

The incisor teeth of the upper jaw four, in pairs, wide apart, one pair

close to each canine, the first of the two bicuspidate, the second simple and

pointed; incisors of lower jaw six contiguous, the hindermost of each side

which is in contact with the canine tooth, the largest. The canines are

conical and pointed, each with an elbow at the base on the inner side.

Length from the nose to the base of the interfemoral membrane 2 inches

9 lines ; length of the tail 1 inch 3 lines ; expanse of wings, including body,

11 inches 6 lines; length of antibrachium 1 inch 9 lines.

Inhabits the eastern parts of the Cape Colony, and also the districts to the north-

ward and eastward of the frontier, more particularly those on the Southern Coast.