434 HUBIDJE. 



length. Whiskers moderate. Tail thinly clad, tapering, one third 

 the length of the head and body, or rather more. Mammae 8 : 

 2 pairs pectoral, 2 inguinal. Last upper 

 molar with 4 internal and 3 external angles ; 

 no posterior lobe. First lower molar with 6 

 inner and 5 outer angles. 



Colour dark brown, with a yellowish tinge 

 above, below pale brown. Base of fur 

 leaden black above, dark ashy below, tips on 

 back light brown mixed with numerous black 

 ends. 



Dimensions of a fresh specimen : head and 

 body 4-75 inches, tail 1-75, hind foot 0-75. 

 Fig 139. Crowns of j female in spirit the ear from the orifice 

 (a) upper and (6) A _ 



lower molars of $ measures 0-5. 

 sikimensis, x 4. Distribution. Sikhim, between 7000 and 



10,000 feet elevation. 



Habits. This vole inhabits forests and, according to Hodgson, 

 breeds in hollow decayed trees or amongst the roots of trees, 

 making a nest of moss or soft grass. The female has 3 or 4 

 young at a time. 



307. Microtus melanogaster. Pere Davids Vole. 



Arvicola melanogaster, M.-Edw. Nouv. Arch. Mus. vii, Butt. p. 93 

 (1871) ; id. Rech. Mam. p. 284, pis. xliv, xlvi a ; Stanford, 

 J. A. S. B. 1, pt. 2, p. 114. 



Ears thinly clad, shorter than in M. sikimensis, projecting 

 beyond the fur by one third of their length. Feet small. Last 

 upper molar with 3 or 4 angles on each side, usually 3 well-marked 

 and a fourth weak external angle on the U-shaped posterior ter- 

 mination of the tooth. Anterior lower molar with 5 external and 

 5 or 6 internal angles, the angles inside and outside sometimes 

 nearly opposite to each other, not alternating. 



Colour as in M. sikimensis. Some specimens are more rufous. 



Dimensions of a male in spirit : head and body 3'7 inches, ear 

 from orifice 0-37, tail 1-4, hind foot 0-6 (in a Bhamo specimen 3, 

 0-3, 1-4, and 0-65). 



Distribution. South-western China (Fokien, Sechuen) and Moupin 

 in Eastern Tibet. Mr. Thomas has identified this species amongst 

 Mr. Fea's collections from the Kakhyen hills, near Bhamo. 



Genus ELLOBIUS, Fischer (1814). 

 Syn. Myospalax, Blyth, 1846, nee Brandt, 1855. 



No distinct ear-conch. Head very blunt and rounded. Body 

 subcylindrical, feet broad. Claws 55, straight, compressed. 



