268 Mr. B. H, Hodgson ufi the Rats, Mice, and Shrews 



by its small ears, which are hardly above one-third the length of 

 the head ; also by its short tail, and by a pelage that is short and 

 line, though not so mouse-like as in the last. Above dusky brown, 

 below and the limbs nearly white. Long piles inconspicuous. 

 Head larger and muzzle thicker than in the common land-rats. 

 Snout to vent 3| inches ; tail 2| ; head \\ ; ears y^^^ ; palma ^ ; 

 planta ^. 



10. Must macropus, mihi. — A water-rat like the last, but 

 twice as large. Distinguished by the largeness of its feet, and 

 also by the line pelage and the proportions of the last, as well as 

 by a similar blulf face, though less so than in Pyctoris. Above 

 smoky black, below smoky gray. Legs dark ; toes pale. Snout 

 to rump 7\ inches ; tail 6 ; head 2y^ ; ears \-^^ ; palma plus 1 ; 

 planta ly| ; weight 6oz. 



IL Mus Horeites, niihi. — Dwells in houses and out-houses. 

 Is a small land species with line pelage, and no peculiarity of 

 physiognomy or proportion. Tail longer than the animal. Co- 

 lour above sordid broAvu, below sordid white. Snout to rump 

 4 inches ; tail 4| , head 1;^ ; ears y^^ ; palma ^ j planta 1^. 



Mice. 



13. Mus cervicolor, mihi. Common Field Mouse. — Structure 

 typical. Distinguished by its short tail. Above dull fawn, be- 

 low sordid white. Lining of ears and extremities pale. Snout 

 to rump 3| inches ; tail 2^ ; head 1 ; ears -f-^; weight | oz. Females 

 less and having ten teats. 



13. Mus strophiatus, mihi. — Another field-mouse closely al- 

 lied to the last, but seemingly distinct. Bright fawn above, pure 

 white below ; a cross or gorget on the breast. Snout to vent 3^ 

 inches ; tail 2^-^ ; head less 1 ; ears y^^j ; weight ~ oz. 



14. Mus {Vandeleuria) dumeticola, mihi. Wood Mouse. — Te- 

 nants woods and coppices. Remarkable for the extreme length 

 of its tail. Above fawn-coloui", below white. Snout to rump 2^ 

 inches ; tail 4 ; head ^ ; ear | ; weight A oz. 



15. Mus dubius, mihi. — A house-mouse, but also found in 

 out-houses and gardens rarely. Allied to the last by its long tail. 

 Above dusky brown, touched with fawn; below sordid fa\^^l. Snout 

 to rump 2:^ inches ; tail 2f ; head ^ ; ears ^. 



16. Mus homoourus, mihi, Common House Mouse. — Distin- 

 guished by a tail equal to the animal, being usually quite equal, 

 but sometimes rather less. Coloured like decumanus but purer, 

 or rufescent brown above and rufescent white below. Hands and 

 feet fleshy white. Snout to rump 3^ inches ; tail 3i ; head ly^^ ; 

 ears y%; palma — ?; planta — ?; weight | oz. It has eight teats 

 only in the females ? The other mice have ten and the rats 

 twelve. 



