256 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY. 
the genus, taking the twremaining Ethiopian forms tater 
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-parts 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 toa minimum. Length of head and body, to to 12 
inches; tail, exclusive of hair, 7 to ro inches. 
The variety 77. d¢rmanicus 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 
rg hear 
