226 SOME CHINESE VERTEBRATES. 



Measurements: The external measurements of the fresh specimen are 

 recorded by the collector as follows: total length, 310; tail, 184; hind foot, 

 31. The size is thus practically as in E. confucianus. The measurements of the 

 skull follow, and for comparison the corresponding dimensions of E. confucianus 

 from No. 7605, from Kiating, western Szechwan are added in parentheses: 

 greatest length, 35.5, (37); basal length, 29.7 (30.3); palatal length, 17 (17); 

 incisive foramina, 6.5 X 1.8 (5.4 X 2.8); nasals, 13 (15); zygomatic breadth, 

 16 (17.6); mastoid breadth, 12.7 (13.2); palatal width outside last upper molar, 

 6.1 (6.8); mandible from condyle to tip of incisor, 22 (22.5); upper molar row, 

 6 (6.2) ; lower molar row, 5.8 (6). 



Remarks: This is a species of the Epimys niveiventer group, and as already 

 pointed out, seems nearly related to E. confucianus. I should have hesitated to 

 describe the species on the basis of a single specimen were it not for its striking 

 color and cranial characteristics. It is not impossible, also, that as in case of 

 certain other vertebrates, it is a species that has become locally differentiated 

 and is confined to this isolated group of mountains. One of its noticeable 

 peculiarities is the encroachment of the lateral coloration on the venter, producing 

 a narrowed white median area, which is only about two thirds as wide as in 

 similarly prepared skins of E. confucianus. 



I have named the species in honor of Mr. Walter R. Zappey, to whose zeal 

 and skill is due the discovery of this interesting animal. 



EPIMYS NIVEIVENTER (Hodgson). 



Four specimens from near the eastern border of Tibet seem to represent this 

 Himalayan species; two are from Ramala Pass at 12,500 feet and two from 

 Nachuka at from 11,000 to 12,000 feet in extreme western Szechwan. Probably 

 as in case of other Himalayan species, these highlands mark the eastern boundary 

 of the range of this rat. 



EPIMYS LING (Bonhote). 



This small rat, recently described by Bonhote from Chinfenling, in north- 

 western Fukien, seems to be a species of the lower elevations of eastern China. 

 At all events Mr. Zappey did not find it west of the Province of Hupeh. In 

 this province, however, he obtained ten specimens at the following localities : 

 Changyanghsien, Chetzekow, Hsienshanhsien, and Ichanghsien, between alti- 

 tudes of 4,500 and 5,600 feet. The extremes measured by the collector are: - 

 total length, 250-280; tail, 135-170; hind foot, 26-31. 



