SPALACID^;. 437 



310. Cricetus fulvus. The fulvous-grey Hamster. 



Cricetus (Cricetulus) fulvus, Blanford, J. A.S. B. xliv, pt. 2, p. 108 

 (1875), xlviii, pt. 2, p. 96; id. Yark. Miss., Mam. p. 45. pi ix fin- 1 

 pi. x b, fig. 3 ; Scully, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 205. 



Precisely similar to the last in structure but larger. 



Colour fulvous grey above, white below. More rufous or 

 isabelline than 0. phceus, but otherwise similar. 



Dimensions. Head and body about 4-5 inches, tail 1'45, ear 0-6, 

 hind foot 0-7 ; skull 1-17 long (total length), O64 broad. 



Distribution. Kashghar, Yarkand, and the Pamir, extending to 

 Gfilgit, where it occurs with the last. 



311. Cricetus isabellinus. The large grey Hamster. 



Oricetus isabellinus, De Filippi. Viagqio in Persia, p. 344 ; Scully. 

 P. Z. S. 1881, p. 205. 



Precisely similar to C. pliceus but much larger. 



Colour greyish isabelline above, white below. 



Dimensions. Head and body 5-35 inches, tail !!. 



Distribution. Found by De Filippi at Tehran, Northern Persia, 

 and by Scully in Grilgit. 



It is somewhat doubtful whether these three forms of Cricetus 

 should be considered species or only varieties. C. fulvus is about 

 doable and C. isabellinus fully quadruple the weight of C. phceus. 

 The different forms occur in several places, but this is not in 

 favour of their being distinct. 



Family SPALACID^. 



The Spalacidce are sometimes called 

 rodent moles, and resemble a mole in 

 general aspect, having cylindrical bodies, 

 short limbs, small eyes and ears, large claws, 

 and a short or rudimentary tail. The 

 infra-orbital opening is small or moderate, 

 with no perpendicular plate ; and the palate 

 is narrow. The incisors are large, the 

 molars rooted, with re-entering enamel 



Kg ' 'utfpeT 23 !&) '"'A single genus, BM*mf, inhabits South- 



molars of Rhizomys eastern Asia and occurs m the Himalayas 

 pruinosus, x 2. " an( j Burma : other members of the family 

 are Palasarctic or Ethiopian. 



