PLA.TACANTHOMTS. 



395 



Dimensions of ail adult in spirit : head and body 4-5 inches, 

 tail without hair 3'8, with hair 5, hind foot from heel 0-95, ear O8. 

 Basal length of skull 1-05, extreme length 1-25, zygomatic breadth 

 07. 



Fig. 1'26. Platacanthomys lasiuru. 



Distribution. Anaimalai and Travancore hills at elevations of 

 more than 2000 feet above the sea. There is a specimen in the 

 British Museum labelled Ootacamund, but I feel doubtful if the 

 locality is correct. The species has not been recorded from 

 Ceylon. 



Habits. The Rev. H. Baker, who discovered PlatacantJiomys, in- 

 formed Mr. Blyth that the species lived exclusively in large trees, 

 in which these rats hollowed out little cavities that they filled with 

 leaves and moss. They were said by the hill-people to destroy 

 much pepper and to do serious damage to angely and jack fruit 

 (Artocarpus incisa and A. intq/rifolia), also to be fond of fermented 

 palm-juice or toddy. 



