ON INDIAN MICROMYS. 281 



The material available for examination is very limited ; except two 

 Series from Kashmir and Ladak sent by Col. Ward and some speci- 

 mens from the Panjab collected and presented by Majors Dunn, 

 R.A.M.C., and Magrath, I can find no Indian specimens in the 

 Museum Collection. Mr. Thomas has recently described several 

 species of Micromys from China and Japan, and a form was described 

 from Eastern Thibet more than 20 years ago. It is to be expected 

 the genus will be found to be represented at all our Himalayan hill 

 stations. It would be most interesting to see if and to what extent 

 the species varies as it passes Eastward, for the Japanese and Chinese 

 forms are specifically distinct from M. sylvaticus, and have their 

 mammary formula 2 — 2=8. Wherever it occurs, it is likely to 

 be very common, and I would appeal to members of the Society, who 

 may have the opportunity, to collect and send in series of specimens. 



Key to the known Indian Races of M. sylvatkus. 



A. Tail as long as head and body or slightly longer. 



a. Larger; colour ochraceous-brown (Kashmir)... griseus True. 



b. Smaller ; colour drab. ..(Ladak and Skardo).. ivardi subsp. n. 



B. Tail shorter than head and body (Panjab) .pentax subsp. n. 



Micromys sylvaticus griseus. Tr. 



1894. Mus arianvs griseus True. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., xvii., p. 8. 



True distinguishes his subspecies griseus from Mus arianus by its 

 " having the upper surfaces ochraceous grey instead of rufous." He 

 gives " Central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal " as type localities of his 

 subspecies. Col. Ward has collected a long series from several 

 places in the Kashmir Valley, and they almost certainly represent 

 True's griseus. They are a very even series, showing little individual 

 variation. General colour " wood-brown " ; each hair slate grey for 

 f its length then buff, in a certain proportion of hairs (large on the 

 back, small on the flanks) the buff is reduced to a mere ring by a 

 long black tip. Belly white, the hairs with slate-coloured bases. 

 Hands and feet white. Tail like back above, wbite below. 



Dimensions of an adult male : — 



Head and body, 113 mm. ; tail, 114 ; hind foot, 23 ; ear, 15. 



Skull : greatest length, 30 ; basilar length, 24 ; diastema, 8*5 ; 

 zygomatic breadth, 15 ; interorbital breadth, 4*5 ; brain case breadth, 

 13*5 ; palatal foramina, 6 ; upper molar series, 4 ; bullae, 4*5. 



