192 MURIN^E. 



ness of its feet, and also by the fine pelage and proportions of liydro- 

 pJiilus ; above sinoky-black, below smoky-gray; legs dark. Length, 

 head and body 7 inches ; tail 6 ; ears l T Vth ; palm 1 (?) ; planta l|-|ths." 



Blyth examined the specimen of Hydropliilus in the British Museum, 

 and writes me that the " fur is soft, much finer than in Indicus ; " so 

 that we must conclude that this rat of Hodgson is certainly distinct 

 from Nesokia indica ; and if the dimensions of the ear and feet are 

 correct, also from Hardwickii. 



I recently examined a single specimen of a field-rat, Nesokia, procured 

 by Colonel Tyler in Umballa. It has the incisors white, fur fine and 

 soft, the hairs fawn-brown above, plumbeous at base, mixed with some 

 long, slender, white, bristly hairs ; the tail almost quite nude ; whiskers 

 mostly black, slender, some of them white. 



Length, head and body 5 inches; tail 3J; ears fths nearly; palm 

 fths ; hind-feet 1 J. 



This differs fromffuttoni vel Hardwickii in the incisors being white, and 

 in the long hairs being white in place of brown, black- tipped. It also differs 

 from the description oOf. hydrophilus in the white incisors, but agrees with 

 it in other characters ; but as I only have seen one specimen, it would be 

 premature to increase the list of names of this perplexing group. It cer- 

 tainly differs conspicuously from Nesokia indica ; though it approaches 

 most nearly to Gray's description of M. ? pyctoris, from the British Mu- 

 seum specimen, already alluded to. " Fur soft, dark-brown, minutely 

 gray varied with scattered narrow white bristles; lower cutting-teeth very 

 narrow, rounded in front ; middle of belly whitish ; tail very slightly hairy. 

 Length, head and body 7 inches ; hind-feet 1 T \ ; tail 4J." The most 

 obvious difference is the slightly larger foot of the Umballa specimen. 



From the above notices and descriptions, it appears to me obvious that 

 besides Nesokia liar dwickii and N. indica, there is at least one other species 

 of this group in Northern India, but, with the few specimens hitherto 

 examined, it is at present impossible to decide whether the differences 

 noted depend on imperfect descriptions, nonage, or are of specific value. 



The next group is that of the true rats. 



Gen. Mus, L. (restricted). 



Char. Incisors usually smooth in front. Ears more or less rounded, 

 somewhat naked, exsert. Tail long, scaly, usually thinly haired. Other^ 

 wise as in the characters of the sub-family. 



