256 Lloyd's natural history. 



the genus, taking the two remaining Ethiopian forms later 

 on, since they differ in certain respects from all the others. 

 Like the foregoing species, the Oriental ones have only two 

 cusps on the inner side of the last lower molar tooth. 



Belonging to the group in which there are no bands or 

 stripes on the body, and the whole pelage is more or less 

 uniformly coloured, the present species is specially dis- 

 tinguished by its small size, close and compact fur, which is 

 not longer on the rump and the root of the tail than else- 

 where, though on the remainder of the tail the hairs are 

 considerably elongated. Tail, exclusive of hair at the tip, 

 about three-fourths the length of the head and body. Tarsus 

 partly haired. In the typical form the colour varies from 

 light grey to dusky-brown, with minute speckles of white or 

 yellow ; the under-pcirts being paler and more uniform, or in 

 some cases white without annulation of the hairs. Under-fur 

 of the back brown basally, then pale brownish-grey or yellow 

 for some distance ; the long hairs beyond this blackish-brown, 

 then pale brown or white, and in some cases with dark tips. 

 Hairs of tail with from five to seven alternations of black and 

 white. Some individual differences obtain in the proportions 

 of the black and white rings ; dark specimens having the latter 

 reduced to a minimum. Length of head and body, 10 to 12 

 inches; tail, exclusive of hair, 7 to 10 inches. 



The variety H. birmanicus is of rather larger size, with the 

 general colour dark brown, minutely speckled with grey or 

 yellowish-grey, the under-parts being scarcely paler than the 

 back. Under-fur dark brown at the base, then whitish ; on 

 the back the long hairs beyond this at first black, then with 

 a yellowish ring, and finally a black tip. Annulations more 

 numerous on the hairs of the tail. Length of head and body, 

 14 or 15 inches ; of tail, with hair, 9 or 10 inches. 



Distribution. — South-west Persia, Sind, Kandahar, and the 



