LAGOMYS. 459 



Ears large, rounded. Toe-pads exposed in summer, but nearly 

 concealed by long hairs in winter. Skull very different from those 

 of other Himalayan species. The auditory biillae are less tumid and 

 differently shaped, and the cranium more convex above. The incisive 



Fig. 149.Lagomysladacensis. 



foramen is constricted about halfway between the incisors and pre- 

 inolars, and almost divided into a small anterior elongate elliptical 

 orifice and a large posterior pyriform space between the premolars. 



Colour above pale rufescent fawn with a greyish tinge varying to 

 rufous, below pale buffer whitish. In worn summer fur, the face 

 and back are distinctly rufous and the dark basal portion of the 

 hair shows. Basal half of fur or more than half leaden black 

 throughout the body, distal portion fulvous, tips on the back dark 

 brown or black. Pace and outside of ears generally more rufous 

 than the back. Whiskers mixed black and white. Soles of feet 

 pale-coloured. Young animals light-coloured. 



Dimensions. Head and body 9 inches, ear from orifice I'l, hind 

 foot and nails 1'5 ; total length of skull 2-25, zygomatic breadth 

 1-25. These measurements are those of a large old individual. 



Distribution. Eastern Ladak and Eukshu at great elevations 

 between 14,500 and 19,000 feet. 



Nothing particular has been recorded of the habits. The skull 

 of this species differs from those of all other Himalayan and Afghan 

 forms in the peculiarly shaped incisive foramen, which resembles 

 those of L. (Oyotona) dauricus and L. alpinus. L. rufescens, how- 

 ever, is somewhat intermediate in this character between L. lada- 

 censis and its allies on the one hand, and L. roylei, L. curzonice, &c. on 

 the other. 



Many other species of Larjomys inhabit Central and Northern 

 Asia. 



2 i 



