MUS URBANUS. 203 



Colonel Sykes merely observes that " it constructs its nest of leaves 

 of oleraceous herbs in the fields." This I have not observed myself, but 

 had once a nest sent to me at Trichinopoly, said to have been found in 

 a garden on some low shrub, 



Hodgson's descriptions agree well enough with the characters of this 

 mouse. He merely observes that it frequents woods and coppices. 



185. Mus nilagiricus. 



Jerdon. — New species 1 



The Neelgherry Tree-mouse. 



Descr. — Above deep but bright chestniat-brown, beneath bright fawn- 

 yellow, with a distinct line of demarcation between the two colours ; head 

 rather elongated ; ears long, oval ; tail somewhat hairy. 



Length of one, head and body 3| inches ; tail 5 ; head 1-^ ; ear 

 ^Vths. 



I have on several occasions found this tree-mouse in woods on the 

 summit of the Neelgherries, near Ootacamund. The first I observed was 

 brought into the house by a cat. I afterwards, on two or three occasions, 

 found the nest, a mass of leaves and gi-ass, on shrubs and low trees, from 

 4 to 6 feet from the ground, and on one occasion it was occupied by at least 

 eight or ten apparently full-grown mice. 



Blytb has Mus hadius and Mus j^eguensis of this group from Burmah, 

 and M. gliroides from the Khasia hills. Gray has also described Mus 

 castaneus, from the Philippine Islands, similar in colour to the Keelgherry 

 mouse. 



The following group chiefly comprises house-mice, and perhaps a few 

 field ones. It has been named Musculus by Hodgson and others. 



186. Mus urbanus. 



Hodgson. — Blyth, Cat. p. 118. — M. musculus apud Elliot, Cat. 39, 

 and Kelaart. — M. dubius, Hodgson. — 31, manei, Gray (undescribed). 



The Common Indian Mouse. 



Descr. — Above dusky reddish-brown, below paler and more or less 

 rufescent ; feet paler. 



Length of one, head and body 2f inches ; tail 3| ; head l-^^ih. ; ear 

 -/gths j palm |ths ; sole | : of another, 3 ; tail 4. 



