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A NEW MOUSE-HARE OF THE GENUS OCHOTONA. 



As the result of " a large and valuable series of Ochotona from Kashmir, 

 recently sent home by Colonel A. E. Ward," Mr. J. Lewis Bonhote was induced 

 " to take up and study the whole genus, so far as the Palaearctic Eegion is 

 concerned," and the results are published in the P. Z. S. 1904, Vol. II., p. 205, 

 including the description of a new species collected by Colonel Ward. 



For the convenience of Members we quote below the full description of this 

 new species, of which Colonel Ward has contributed several specimens to our 

 collection. 



Ochotona W.vrdi, Bonhote. 



Ochotona icarcli, Bonhote, Abstr. P. Z. S. 1904, No. 10, p. 13, Nov. 22. 

 In the summer pelage, worn from June to September, the whole of the 

 head, shoulders, and fore-part of the body (excepting a small patch behind 

 the ears, which is white) is bright chestnut (cinamon- rufous, Ridgw.), becoming 

 more vinaceous on the throat. The remainder of the upper parts is dark 

 greyish rufous, each hair being black at its base with a light sub-terminal ambula- 

 tion, the tips being either dark or rufous. This latter colour encroaches greatly 

 on the light portion often to its total exclusion, especially on the sides of the 

 body. The underparts are white lightly washed with pale buff. The feet are 

 of the same colour. Ears moderate in size, very scantily clothed with hair. 



In the winter pelage this animal is of a uniform dark iron-grey all over, 

 with the exception of the light patches behind the ear, which are white as in 

 summer. Underparts dull white. Slight traces of rufous are generally to 

 be found at the base of the shoulders, on the crown of the head, and along 

 the flanks. The young resemble the adults in winter, but are slightly browner 

 in general colour and have the rufous on the head and shoulders more marked. 

 The skull is very similar to that of the type of 0. roylei, as figured in the 

 original description, and does not show any great features of note. The com- 

 bined foramen, while having the narrow anterior third and the slight constriction 

 typical of the rufescens group, shows a tendency for the constriction to become 

 less marked, but it can nevertheless bt clearly made out in every example. 

 Dimensions of type in flesh. Head and body 187 mm. ; hind foot 25 ; ear 22-5. 

 Skull. — Greatest length 44 mm. ; basal length 37 ; palatal length 17 ; length 

 ■of foramen 12 ; Zygomatic breadth 21 ; interorbital breadth 5 ; breadth of 

 brain-case 17 ; length of molar series 9. 

 Habitat.— Talien, Kashmir, 11,000 feet. 

 Type (in Coll. Brit. Mus.). A. E. W. No. 56. Ad. $. 

 Collected on the 8th August, 1903. 



In external appearance this species most nearly resembles O. roylei; the 

 latter, however, is much darker and lacks the conspicuous white patches behind 

 the ears. 



{From the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1904, Vol, II., Part II.) 



