MICROTUS. 433 



angles and without any narrow posterior lobe. First lower molar 



with 5 inner and 4 outer angles, third with 3 inner but only 2 



outer angles, other species having 3. 



Colour above earthy brown, not dark 

 (yellowish brown with a greyish tinge) ; 

 below brownish white ; tail light brown. 

 Base of fur above and below dark ashy 

 grey, terminations on back grey-brown, 

 with dark brown or black ends intermixed. 

 Dimensions of a fresh specimen : head 

 and body 4 inches, tail 1-35 ; of another, a 

 large female, 4-9 and 1-25. A skull is 1-03 

 in extreme length, and 0-67 in zygomatic 

 breadth. 



Distribution. Banks of Tsho Morari and 

 Pankong lakes, Western Tibet, also between 

 Leh and the Pankong lake at elevations 



above 13,000 feet. According to Stoliczka this vole is also found 



in Spiti, Lahul, and Kulu. 



Habits. This vole was found by Mr. Theobald to make deep 



Fig. 137. Crowns of 

 (a) upper and (6) 

 lower teeth of M. 

 blythi, x 4. 



Pig. 138Microtus blythi. 



burrows on the banks of the Tsomoriri. In a female he found 6 

 young. 



Two species of vole, M. mandarinus and M. guenilieri (the 

 former related to M. bfythi), have been obtained in Afghanistan. 



306. Microtus sikimensis. The Sikhim Vole. 



Neodon sikimensis, Hodgson, Horsfield, A. M. N. H. (2) iii, p. 203 



(1849) (no description); id. Cat. p. 146; Blyth, Cat. p. 125; 



Jerdon, Mam. p. 217 ; Blanford, York. Miss., Mam. p. 41 ; id. 



J. A. S. B. 1, pt. 2, p. 110. 



Arvicola thricolis (thricotis), Hodgson, Cat. Mam. $c., Nepal $ 



Tibet, B. M. 2nd ed. 1863, p. 10 (no description). 

 Phakhua, Xipalese ; Chik yu, Karanti ; Sing phuchi, Tibetan. 

 Ears thinly clad, projecting beyond the fur, which is of moderate 



