3fAMMALS OF ENGANO— MILLER. . 821 



I 



Family MURID.E. 



MUS near RATTUS. 



1894. Muft rdffus var. Thomas, Ann. Mus. Civ. di Stor. Nat. di Genova, (2) XIV, 

 p. 109. April 10, 1894. 



Four specinions were taken on Pulo Dua and a fifth on the main 

 island. Doctor Abbott remarks that rats were common about the 

 houses but were scarce in the forest. 



Modigdiani colh^cted one specimen on Pulo Dua. 



MUS ENGANUS, new species. 



1894. ?Mus sp. Thomas, Aim. Mns. Civ. di Stor. Nat. di (ienova, (2) XIV, ]). 110, 

 April 10, 1894. 



Type.— Adu\t male (skin and skull). No. 140976, U.S.N.M. Col- 

 lected on Engano Island, December 4:, 1904, l)y Dr. W. L. Abbott. 

 Original number, 3823. 



jiracters. — General appearance not unlike a light-colored Mm 

 norrt-gleu!^^ l)at tail longei' than head and body, and fur of a soft, almost 

 silky texture, except along middle of back, where it becomes somewhat 

 harsh. Skull with rostrum fully one-half deeper and broader than in 

 Mus norregieun; maxillary teeth with lateral cusps relati^'ely more 

 developed. Tail with 12 rings to the centimeter at middle. 



Fur and color. — The fur is of a soft, almost silk}' texture, though 

 without trace of woolliness. On sides the hairs are about 12 mm. 

 long. On back the mass of the fur increases to about 18 nmi. in 

 length, at the same time })ecoming somewhat harsh in texture, while 

 there is an evident sprinkling of slender, grooved bristles 3.5 mm. 

 long. These bristles arc so slender as to resemble ordinary hairs, but 

 their grooved character can be detected with a lens. Whiskers long 

 and soft, reaching to axilhe. Hairs on tail slightly exceeding length 

 of scales, but becoming somewhat longer near tip, though without 

 forming pencil. 



Underparts pide smoke-gray, the hairs becoming darker (about 

 gray No. 6) basally. On sides and cheeks the gray becomes suffused 

 with a dull, pale, ochraceous-bufl', this decidedly predominating on- 

 back, crown, and face, where it is further darkened by the sprinkling 

 of black bristle hairs. Muzzle washed with hair-brown. Feet scant- 

 ily sprinkled with fine, light-gray hairs. Tail uniform, dark-brown 

 throughout. 



Skull and teeth.— 1\\ general appearance the skull somewhat resem- 

 bles that of a large Miis norveglcus, but it is at once distinguishable 

 by the greatly increased breadth and depth of the rostrum, each of 

 which is decidedly more than half the length of nasals. The nasals 

 are abruptly truncated in front, a character which adds to the peculiar 



