279 



ON A NEW MURINE QENU3 AND SPECIES FROM 81AM. 

 Kv C. BoDEN Kloss, F. Z. S. 



Tautatus, genus nov. 



Skull with superficial resemblance to Mas but the rostrum shal- 

 lower and no masseteric knobs at the anterior bases of the zygomatic 

 plates. No raised supraorbital ridges, the edges even more rounded 

 than ill Mm. Palatal foramina long, extending posteriorly well be- 

 tween the first molars ; j)alate extending beyond the posterior extre- 

 mities of the last molars. Mesopterygoid space normal, slightly di- 

 verging posteriori}'. Bullae of medium size. 



Incisors with no trace of a notch in the bevelled edge. Upper 

 molars with proportions as in 3[us, m^ being longer than Mi- and m-* 

 combined. Laminae of m^ less distorted, the inner tubercles less poste- 

 riorly situated. The reniaining molars of more angular outline : the 

 anterior edge of iu~ straighter, owing to the more advanced position 

 of the antero-internal tubercle; the internal edge short and followed 

 b}' an oblique postero-internal edge almost concave : antero-internal 

 point of m^ forming the apex of a markedly triangular tooth. 



External characters apparentl}' not peculiar : fur dense, rather 

 long and stiff, but not mixed with flattened spines. Hindfoot with 

 fifth toe reaching to the middle of the basal phalanx of the fourth. 

 Only the pollex with a flat nail. Ears of medium size. ( The number 

 of mammae and plantar pads cannot be ascertained ). 



The place of this genus in the synopsis for a few of the Indian 

 Muridre given bj' Thomas ( in Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc, XXIII, 

 p. 415 ) would be after Mus as follows, presuming G plantar pads : — 



h'> Bevelled edge of incisois not notched. 

 No frontal ridges. 



a fi I'alatal foramina shorter. Masseteric 



knobs present ... ... ... Ciclomys. 



I'' Palatal foramina longer. Masseteric 



knobs absent ... ... ... Tautatus. 



VOL. n, DEO. I '.II 7. 



