igog.] R- E. Lloyd : The Races of Indian Rats. 43 



members and the abundance of their fur. Our conclusions are 

 based on the examination of four rats which were received alive, 

 ' and confirmed by an examination of five specimens received in 

 alcohol. The measurements are — 



Considering these measurements and judging also from the five 

 spirit specimens, we may conclude that the average length of the 

 members of the race is about 210 mm., and the average tail length 

 some 5 — 10 mm. more than this. The hind feet are relatively short. 

 The fur is remarkable for its length and density, spines are absent 

 in some, present but inconspicuous in others. Slender bristles 4 — 5 

 cm. in length are present in all. 



The general colour of the fur is not unlike that of Mus deci4- 

 manus ; the brown element is well represented, the terminal quarter 

 of each hair being yellowish brown. In this respect they differ 

 from the darker rats of the Darjiling race (Djl. i). 



The hairs of the ventral surface are long and plentiful, with 

 grey bases and reddish fawn-coloured tips. The whole circum- 

 ference of the tail is deeply pigmented. The ears, unlike those of 

 most thickly furred rats, are covered with very short inconspicuous 

 hairs ; except for their size, the skulls show no constant peculiarity. 



Npl. 2, Gimomys tarayensis (?) — 



There are eight specimens from Butal, a place situated in the 

 plains on the Nepalese frontier. They were taken from burrows 

 in the fields. 



They closely resemble one another and are remarkable for 

 the length and density of their fur ; an average specimen measures 

 196, 140, 31, 21. Their skulls resemble the Gunomys of Calcutta. 



Npl. 3, Bandicota nemorivaga — 



One specimen from Katmandu must be referred to this species ; 

 it is not more thickly furred than the members of the same species 

 found in Calcutta, and it appears to be indistinguishable from these 

 in every way ; it was found burrowing in the gardens of the Resi- 

 dency. It measures 260, 225, 50, 30, The length of the nasal 

 bones is 34 % of the total length of the skull. 



The United Provinces. 



Allahabad, 



We have received the measurements and skins of 182 rats from 

 lyieut. Palmer. This useful collection consists entirely of Mus rattus. 

 The frequency with which rats of different lengths occur, is dis- 

 played by the upright lines in the diagram, text-fig. 4. This shows 



