266 Mr. B. H. Hodgson on the Rats, Mice, and Shrews 



they may sometimes be situated on the leaves themselves. Guet- 

 tard^s clavate glands appear to belong here. The object of the 

 corynidia with their phytozoa seems to be rendered only more 

 mysterious by their frequent occurrence in Phanerogamia. 



XXXIX. — On the Rats, Mice, and Shrews of the Central Region 

 of Nepal. ByB. H. Hodgson, Esq., late British Resident at 

 Nepal. 



The Bats and Mice of the mountains of Nepal are as numerous 

 and troublesome both in house and field as they are in Europe. 

 Their forms are, in general, typical of the genus as now restricted, 

 and the most common species are closely related to those most 

 frequently met with in Europe ; nor are there in the mountains 

 any of the Jumping Rats (Gerbilhts) or other types more espe- 

 cially characteristic of the plains of India, though we have the 

 singular Bamboo Rats of China, Indo-China and the islands, 

 being one instance of many in which our fauna inclines rather to 

 China than India. With these few words of introduction I pro- 

 ceed to a summary description of the several species, which are 

 eighteen in number, viz. eleven rats and seven mice, to which we 

 will add the shrews, four in number. 



Rats. 



1. Mus nemorivagus, mihi. — ^A very large species, closely affined 

 to the bandicoot, if not identical with it. It is much rarer in 

 the mountains than in the plains, and is a house-, not wood-rat, 

 as I had supposed. General structure typical, but distinguished 

 by a prseputial gland furnished with two pores, one placed on 

 either side, the penis close to its point, and whence is emitted a 

 quantity of thick yellow pus-like secretion of very offensive odour. 

 I have not noticed this organ in the other rats. General colour 

 very dark, brown-black above, hoary blue below ; the limbs dark ; 

 the fingers only pale. Long piles very abundant and lengthened, 

 but not rigid. Tail shorter than the body and head, nude and 

 annularly scaled as usual. Snout to rump 12 inches ; tail 9^ ; 

 head 2|; ears 1^ ; palma with nail 1; planta 1^; weight 17 to 

 20 oz. 



2. Mus brunneus, mihi ? Common House-Rat of Nepal. — As 

 nearly allied to decumanus as the last to the bandicoot. Above 

 rusty brown ; below rusty, more or less albescent. Extremities 

 pale ; fleshy white nearly. Tail barely longer than the head and 

 body. Long piles sufficiently numerous, but not rigid. Snout 

 to vent 9^ inches ; tail 9^ ; head 2| ; ear 1 ; palma J ; planta 1| ; 

 weight 12 to 15 oz. 



