552 RODENTIA 



ear large, its height from meatus usually about 23 to 25 mm. ; 

 under side of tail white throughout. 



External characters. — General form slender, the head rather 

 large, not much elongated, the tail about as long as body without 

 head. Muzzle bluntly conical ; the nostrils near together, 

 separated by a deep groove which continues downward to lip ; 

 eye rather large and prominent ; ear large, extending nearly 

 half-way from eye to muzzle when laid forward, its general 

 outline a simple rather narrow oval, its inner and outer surfaces 

 covered with a fine velvety pubescence ; a low inconspicuous ridge 

 extending inward above meatus, its outer extremity not forming 

 angle on margin of conch ; front foot with four digits, the two 

 median equal and longest, the inner and outer sub-equal and 

 extending about to second phalanx of median ; palm naked, the 

 palmar tubercles live, three of which are sub-equal and closely 

 crowded at bases of phalanges, and two larger at internal and 

 postero-external edge of palm, the internal tubercle with pro- 

 jecting semi-detached extremity representing last vestige of 

 thumb ; hind foot with five digits, the thumb abruptly shorter 

 than the others and extending barely to end of first phalanx of 

 second digit ; fourth longest, third and second successively a little 

 shorter, fifth extending to middle of second phalanx of fourth ; 

 sole rather narrow, naked except at heel, the six tubercles well 

 developed but less crowded than those on palm, the postero-inner 

 much elongated and conspicuously difterent from others in form, 

 their surface smooth, the region between them noticeably 

 papillose ; claws well developed, small, those of fore foot slightly 

 exceeded in size by those of hind foot, except by that of thumb, 

 which is decidedly smaller than the others ; tail rather thick, the 

 skin readily breaking and slipping off" from the vertebra?, after 

 which the stump partly regenerates and puts forth a dense brush 

 of long hairs ; * hairs of tail completely concealing the annulations, 

 their length about 5 mm. at median terete portion of tail, 

 increasing to about 20 mm. at slightly flattened terminal portion. 

 Mammae : pi -I ; al — 1; i2 — 2 = 8. 



Colour. — Upper parts light grey, the back, middle of neck and 

 whole of crown strongly tinged with russet, the sides clearer 

 grey. In some specimens the grey predominates throughout the 

 dorsal region, while in others the russet is in excess ; sides 

 ranging from ecru-drab to smoke-grey, usually forming a slight 

 but evident contrast with back. Underparts and inner surface 

 of legs dull creamy or buffy white, irregularly darkened by the 

 slate-colour bases of the hairs. The white covers cheek almost 

 to lower eyelid. Face with conspicuous black area beginning at 

 roots of whiskers, surrounding eye and extending to beneath and 

 slightly behind ear, the posterior portion becoming decidedly 

 broader ; a small but noticeable white spot immediately in front 



* Bee Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1905, ii, p. 491. 



