MAMMALIA. 443 



Hti.omys, MnJhr. 

 Oiljit imperfect. Pelvis posteiioily depressed. 



Dentition, I. J; C. S ; P.M. » ; .M. I = 11. 



H. SUILLUS. 



a. Peguensis, Bljtli. 



This species was named by Elytli from specimens received from Srliwep;yeii<» 

 (J.A.S.K. 18.59, p. 294); but that naturalist, after examining the Eoniean animal, 

 considered them identical. 



Valley of the .Siltouug, and Ponsee, iu the Kakhyen Hills at 3000, also Borneo. 



Famili/ Erinaceidse. 

 Gtmntoa, Vigors and Horsfiold. 

 Dentition, 1. f ; C. |; P.M. S ; M. -g = 44. 

 G. Rafilesii, Vig. and Ilorsf. 



Mr. "W. T. Blanford thus describes the Tcnasserim animal: — "This species 

 ■was mentioned in Mr. Blyth's list of the mammals of Burma as jirohahly existing in 

 Mergui, although its occurrence within British limits luui not been recorded. It has 

 since been obtained at Bankasun iu Snuthern Tcnasserim, by Mr. Davison, to whuui 

 I am indebted for a perfect teniale in spirit. 



"The skins from Bankasun vary much in the extent of white on the foro part of 

 the body. Generally tlie head aiul neck are white, with the exception of a broad 

 black patch above each eye and a variable amount of black bristles mixed with white 

 on the crown. The anterior portion of the back is clad with mixed white and bla('k 

 bristles, the proportion varying ; on the hinder back, sides, limbs and lower parts 

 from the breast, the long hairs are generally black, but in one specimen there is a line 

 of white bristles down the middle of tlie breast and belly; this line is wanting in tlie 

 other two skins which I have examined. The extent of the white varies so much 

 that it is not at all improbable that specimens wholly white or wholly black may 

 occur. The fine woolly under fur is dusky olivaceous at the base, brown at the tips 

 on the upjier parts, ashy with brownish ends beneath. The terminal portion of tlie 

 tail is compressed, and in some specimens partially or wholly white in colour, and 

 the under surface of the tail is thinly clad throughout with scattered short bristles, 

 about a quarter of an inch long. These bristles are wanting on the upper part of the 

 tail, which has very much shorter scattered hairs. The small scales covering the 

 tail are indistinctly arranged in rings, and subimbricate ; on the lower surface the 

 scales are convex and distinctly imbricate, the bristles arising from the interstices. 

 Thus the under surface of the tail is very rough, aiid may probably be of use to the 

 animal in climbing. 



" The characters of the tail just mentioned, do not appear to have been noticed in 

 the published descriptions of Gi/innura, all of which are probably copied from that by 

 Horsfield and Vigors. Another important difference from the original account is to 

 be found in the claws of the specimens before me not being retractile. In the 

 original description the retractility of the claws is mcnti(raed, both in the Latin 

 characters and in the Engli.sh note pointing out the distinction between Gijmnura and 

 Tapaia. It is possible that the Tcnasserim animal differs from that found in Sumatra, 

 but the distinction between retractile and non-retractile claws would in all probability 

 be of generic importance, and it is difficult to conceive that two genera of insecti\'oi'a, 

 BO closely resembling each other in their very peculiar external characters, and j-et 

 differing in so important a detail, should inhabit two regions of which the fauna is, 

 for the most part, identical. At the same time it is possible that I am mistaken iii 

 referring the Tcnasserim animal to Gtjmnura Raffled. 



" The following are the dimensions of the female specimen in sjiirit — 



" Length from nose to anus, . . . . . . I'i inches. 



„ of tail, ........ 8-.5 ,, 



,, of ear from orifice, ...... 0'91 ,, 



,, of tarsus and hind foot (claws not included), . 2' 15 ,, 



