216 SOME CHINESE VERTEBRATES. 



palatal length, 14.3; zygomatic breadth, 15.5; mastoid breadth, 12; interorbital 

 constriction, 4.6; mandible from condyle to tip of incisor, 18.4; greatest vertical 

 height of mandible at tip of coronoid process, 9; alveoli of upper molar row, 6.7; 

 alveoli of lower tooth row, 6.8. 



Remarks: The relationship of this species is undoubtedly with M. melano- 

 gaster. The enamel pattern of the molars is essentially similar and the coloration 

 not so brown as is that of M . aurora. The presence of a distinct median spine 

 at the posterior edge of the palate is apparently unusual in the subgenus and 

 recalls the condition in the subgenus Anteliomys, between which and Eothenomys 

 the new species may be somewhat annectent. 



The fur of M. melanogaster is close and short, recalling that of the subgenus 

 Pitymys, and this in connection with the small ear may indicate that the species 

 is more subterranean in its habits than M . aurora or M . mucronatus in both of 

 which the fur is long and soft and the ear larger. From the former, M. mucrona- 

 tus is at once distinguished by its blacker coloration, quite without the rusty 

 tinge above and the brassy reflections, while the belly is blacker much as in 

 melanogaster. The slight but constant differences in the shape of the enamel 

 folds of the molars, as well as the more massive skull with the deep palatal grooves 

 and prominent median spine are further striking differences. 



In addition to the type, Mr. Zappey obtained three other specimens, all 

 at Tachiao, western Szechwan, where however, he did not find any other species 

 of the subgenus. Milne Edwards in his original description of melanogaster 

 remarks on what he calls a brown phase of that species, occurring in the same 

 localities and it is not impossible that these brown animals are really the new 

 species here described. The skull, figured of natural size, seems to be a trifle 

 larger than that of our specimens of melanogaster, but the details of structure 

 as well as the description and measurements given in the text refer clearly to 

 the small black species. 



The two species of the subgenus Eothenomys here described do not seem 

 referable to any of the half dozen forms lately described by Mr. Thomas from 

 western and southern China. 



CRASEOMYS AQTJILUS, sp. nov. 



Type: Skin and skull No. 7190 M. C. Z., male adult, from Showlungtan, 

 Hupeh, China. May 17, 1907, Walter R. Zappey. 



General Characters: A very brown species, appearing superficially much 

 like a brown Microtus; tail long, more than half the length of head and body. 



