Descriptions of East Asiatic Mammals 297 
The Japanese Dormouse, Glirulus japonicus, is a strongly 
colored animal with the aspect of a small Chipmunk. A dark 
stripe runs down the back from head to rump, on either side of 
which is a broad area of light brown; the sides are brownish 
gray. A tuft of silky hairs springs from the base of the short 
ear. The tail is straw-colored. The length of the head and body 
Fig. 60. Japanese Dormouse, 
Glirulus japonicus. 
is 3% inches, tail 2 inches (including the hairs). This is re- 
puted to be a rare animal. It was first discovered in the Island 
of Sikok, Province of Awa, Japan. Later it was taken near 
Yokohama. 
THE SPINY DORMICE (FAMILY PLATACANTHOMYID^) 
This tiny family, considered related to the True Dormice, is 
differentiated by peculiar anatomical features. There are but 3 
cheek teeth in the toothrow, compared with 4 in True Dormice. 
The family contains only two genera, Typhlomys of China and 
Platacanthomys of India. 
The Blind Mouse, Typhlomys cinereus, is a mouse-like crea- 
ture about the size of a House Mouse. Above it is colored uni- 
form mouse-gray; the underparts and inner sides of the limbs 
are light gray with the tips of the hairs white. The tail, longer 
