LEGGADA LEPIDA. 209 



196. Leggada Jerdoni. 



Blyth, Cat. p. 121. — Memoir on Rats, &c. 



The Himalayan Spiny Field-mouse. 



Descr. — Above bright dark-ferruginous, pure white below ', some fine 

 long black tips intermingled among the spines of the back ; limbs marked 

 with blackish externally ; the feet white. 



Length 4 inches ; tail 3^ ; hind-feet |ths. 



I procured specimens of this large field-mouse at Darjeeling, and 

 lately in the valley of the Sutlej in Kunawur, at an elevation of nearly 

 12,000 feet, living under large stones. 



197. Leggada lepida. 



Mus apud Elliot, Cat. 41. — Leggada booduga, Gray. — CMtta hur- 



kani, Chit i/elka, Chitta ganda, Tel., of Wuddurs. — Chitta yelka, Tel., 



of Yanadees. 



The Small Spiny Mouse. 



Descr. — Above pale sandy -brown, pure white below, separated from 

 the upper colour by an exact line. The spines are small, fine, trans- 

 parent, and of a dusky tinge tipt with fawn. The head very long, and 

 muzzle pointed. Ear large, ovate, naked. Tail naked. Limbs rather 

 long, fine. 



Length of a large individual, head and body 2^^ inches ; tail 2^-^. 



This pretty little mouse lives in pairs in the red soil, but sometimes a 

 pair of young ones is found in the same burrow with the old ones. 



I have found this species in gi^avelly soil, in gardens and in woods, in 

 most parts of Southern India, making a small burrow, which generally 

 has a little heap of stones placed at a short distance from the hole. It 

 is preyed on now and then by the common Indian roller or jay, and it 

 is very generally used as a bait to catch that bird with birdlime. 



Near these spined mice perhaps should come the " cui'ious spiny rat 

 of South Malabar," which Mr. Blyth considered as belonging to the 

 Dormouse family, Mijoxidce, but Professor Peters has recently* called 

 in question this location, stating it to be a true Mui'ine type. 



* Proc. Zool. Soc. 1865. 



