103 



and in having two narrow stripes behind the eyes instead of one. 

 The sexes resemble each other in colour, marks and size. 

 • Mus giganteus, Hardw. Ghoos of the Mahrattas. — In fully 

 grown individuals of the well-known Bandikoot Rat, none of the 

 teeth are tuberculous. Its body attains a length of 16 T V inches ; 

 the tail ll^v inches. 



Mus decumanus, Pall. Chooa of the Mahrattas. — The Norway 

 or brown Rat abounds in Dukhun. 



Mus Musculus, L. — The Mouse is comparatively rare in Dukhun. 



Another Mouse was observed by Major Sykes, which he believes 

 to be new. It is bright light chestnut above, reddish white below. 

 Tail much longer than the body: size of the common mouse. 

 Found only in fields and gardens. 



Sciurus Elphinstonii, Sykes. — Shekroo of the Mahrattas. 



Sc. supra nitide castaneus, infrh riifescenti-albidus ; caudce dimidio 

 apicali pallide rufe scent e. 



This very beautiful animal is found only in the lofty and dense 

 woods of the Western Ghauts. It is of the size of the Sc. macci- 

 mus, and the general arrangement of its colours is the same ; but 

 its colours are invariable, and do not present those differences 

 which exist in the Sc. maximus. 



Ears and whole upper surface of the body, half way down the 

 tail, outside of the hind legs and half way down the fore legs out- 

 side, of a uniform, rich reddish chestnut. The whole under surface 

 of the body, from the chin to the vent, inside of limbs and lower 

 part of fore legs, crown of the head, cheeks and lower half of tail, of 

 a fine reddish white, the two colours being separated by a defined 

 line and not merging into each other. Feet of a light red. Fore- 

 head and down to the nose reddish brown, with white hairs inter- 

 mixed, hides nut brown. Ears tufted. Length from the tip of the 

 nose to the insertion of the tail 20 inches ; of the tail 15^ inches. 



Dedicated to a very distinguished person and a zealous promoter 

 of scientific research, the Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone. 



Sc. Palmarum, Briss. Khurree of the Mahrattas. — The Palm 

 Squirrel is very abundant in gardens in Dukhun. 



Hystrix leucurus, Sykes. — Sayal of the Mahrattas. 



Hyst. caudd alba. 



This animal appears to be distinct from the European species, 

 which it closely resembles in form and covering. It is nearly a third 

 larger. All the spines and open tubes of the tail are entirely white, 

 which is not -the case in the Hyst. cristata. The spines of the 

 crest also are so long as to reach to the insertion of the tail. The 

 cars are much less rounded, and the nails are shorter, infinitely 

 deeper and more compressed, and with deep channels below. 

 The white gular band is more marked ; and, finally, the Asiatic 

 species is totally destitute of hair, spines where wanting being 

 replaced by strong bristles even down to the nails. 



Lepus nigricollis, F. Cuv. Sussuh of the Mahrattas. — This species 

 of Hare is very common in the stony and bushy hills of Dukhun. 



