202 MURiNvTi;. 



shade, the hairs with inconspicuous black tips, under parts white, abruptly- 

 divided from the upper colou.r, sometimes yellowish-white. Muzzle rather 

 sharp ; ears long ; tail long. Like M. rufescens, but smaller, with pro- 

 portionally longer tail and softer fur. 



Length of one, head and body 6 inches ; tail 7f ; hind-feet \\. 



Blyth has recently identified Hodgson's species with the one described 

 by himself from Burmah. Hodgson's specimens were from Nepal. I 

 procured one or two individuals at Darjeeling. Those from Nepal are 

 said by Blyth to be " much darker than those from Burmah, but other- 

 wise similar." This is considered by Blyth as one of the best marked 

 species of this group. The only other rat of this section noticed by 

 Blyth is Mus concolor, Blyth, the " common small thatch-rat of Pegu 

 and Tenassei-im." He states, however, that Mus palmarum, Scherzer, 

 from the Nicobar Islands, probably belongs to this gi-oup. 



Another group consists of some small arboreal, long-tailed mice, dimi- 

 nutives of the last, which constitute the genus Vandeleuria of Gray. This 

 he characterizes as having the upper incisors triangular, grooved in 

 front ; ears haiiy ; hind-feet very long, slender ; claws small ; tail long, 

 with scattered hairs, more crowded at the tip ; the fur soft, with long 

 bristles interspersed. 



184. Mus oleraceus. 



Sykes. — Blyth, Cat. p. 120. — Elliot, Cat. 37. — M. dumeticola, 



and M. j^ovemis, Hodgson. — Marad ilei, Can. — Meina yelku, Tel. of 



Yanadees. 



The Long-tailed Tree-mouse. 



Descr. — Above light rufous or pale chestnut ; lips, feet, and lower 

 parts pure white ; tail almost nude, very long ; muzzle slightly rounded; 

 head of moderate length ; ears ovate. 



Length of one, head and body 2| inches ; tail 4 : of another 3 ; tail 

 4J : another measured 3 ; tail 4y% ; head 1 ; ears J. 



This very pretty little mouse has been found in all parts of India, 

 from the Himalayas to the extreme south, but is not recorded from 

 Ceylon. I have found it most abundant in the south of India, where 

 it frequents trees, and very commonly palm-trees, on which it is said to 

 make its nest generally. It, however, occasionally places its nest in the 

 thatch of houses, on beams, &c. It is very active, and from its habits 

 difficult to procure. 



