GEHBILLUS. 397 



base of three middle toes, one inside the base of first and another 

 inside the base of fifth toe, four in all. Eyes very large. 



Fig. 128. Gerbillusindici(s. 



Colour light brownish rufous, varying from sandy brown to 

 fawn-colour above ; lower parts white, the colours sharply divided 

 at times (probably in summer fur only). Basal two-thirds or more 

 of dorsal hair leaden grey, a few longer hairs on the back, especially 

 towards the rump, with long black tips. Area above arid behind 

 the eye, a spot behind the ear, and the whole upper Jip white. 

 Tail with a light brown band down each side, above and below 

 darker, the upper surface becoming blackish and clothed with 

 longer hairs towards the end, which is tipped with a pencil of 

 long dark hairs almost black. Feet whitish above. Planta pale 

 or dusky. 



Dimensions. Head and body 5 to 7 inches, tail 6 to 8|, hind 

 foot 1-3 to 1-7, ear from head 0-55 to 0-7 ; weight about 6 ounces. 

 Basal length of a skull 1-65, extreme length 1-85, zygomatic 

 breadth 1. 



Distribution. Throughout India and Ceylon in suitable localities, 

 extending west into Baluchistan, but not east of the Bay of 

 Bengal. 



Varieties. The Southern Indian form, G. cuvieri, is more slender, 

 with longer tail and limbs, the planta dusky, and the first hind 

 toe more proximally situated. Some specimens from Northern 

 India are. however, similar, and there appears to be a complete 

 gradation into the stouter typical G. indicus, which is found 

 throughout Northern India, Sind, Baluchistan, &c. In a typical 



2B2 



