426 



297. Nesocia nemorivaga. The smaller Bandicoot-Rat. 



PMus setifer, Horsfield, Res. Java (1824) ; Cantor, J. A. S. B, xv, 



p. 204; Bhjth, J. A. S. B. xxiv, p. 712, xxxii, p. 334. 

 Mus (Rattus) nemorivagus, Hodgson, J. A. S. B. v, p. 234 (1830) ; 



id. A. M. N.H. xv, p. 200 (1845). 



? Mus macropus, Hodgson, A. M. N. H. xv, p. 208 (1845). 

 Mus bandicota, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxxii, p. 333, partim ; id. Mam. 



Birds Burma, p. 39 ; Jerdon, Mam. p. 193, partim, nee Bechstein. 

 Mus (Nesokia) elliotanus, Anderson, J. A. S. B. xlvii, pt. 2, p. 231, 



pi. xiv, figs, e-h (1878). 



Mus (Nesokia) nemorivagus, Thomas, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 529. 

 ? Mye-kywek, Burm. 



Fur softer than in N. bandicota, the long piles less developed, 

 and the underfur denser and finer. Proportions similar, but size 

 smaller. Mammae 12. Skull intermediate in form between those 

 of N. bandicota and N. bengalensis ; nasals about 3 the length of 

 the skull; anterior palatine foramina shorter than the upper 

 molars together. 



Colour. Dark brown above (black and brown mixed), paler or 

 whity brown below. Basal half of fur ash-grey both above and 

 below, tips on back pale brown, those of the longer hairs dark 

 brown or black. Feet above dark brown. 



Dimensions. Head and body of an adult female in spirit 9 inches, 

 tail 7-8, hind foot 1-9, length of ear 0-9 ; basal length of skull 2-1, 

 zygomatic breadth 1*2. 



Distribution. Bengal (Purneah, Calcutta, where it is rare), 

 Eastern Himalayas, Assam (Sibsagar), and Khasi hills ; also 

 Formosa. This species probably extends to Burma and the 

 Malay countries. 



Genus ACOMYS, Is. Geoffr. (1838). 

 Syn. Acanthomys, auct. nee Lesson. 



Hinder part of the back covered with coarse, inflexible, flattened 

 and grooved spines, without any hair intermixed. Mammae 6 : 

 1 pair axillar, 2 inguinal. Otherwise like Mus, from which the 

 genus is doubtfully separable. Three or four species inhabit 

 Western Asia and Northern Africa, and of these one has been 

 found in Sind. 



298. Acomys dimidiatns. The pale spiny Mouse. 



Mus dimidiatus, Rilppell, Atlas, p. 37, pi. 13, fig. a (1820) ; Wagner, 

 Schreb. Sdugeth> Supp. iii, p. 440. 



Sides, limbs, head, and lower parts covered with coarse hair. 

 Tail about equal to the head and body in length, coarsely ringed, 

 with short hair. Ears large, rounded. Feet short ; planta coarsely 

 granular near the toes, pads indistinct. Vibrissse numerous. 



Skull elongate. The mesopterygoid fossa opens about halfway 

 between the molars and the bulla; pterygoids short, meeting 



