CATALOGUE. 165 



Fam. 5. ASPALACID^, Gray, Cat. Mamm. 

 Br. Mus. Syst. List, XXV. 



Genus RHIZOMYS, Gray, Proceed. Zool Soc. 1831, p. 95. 



228. RHIZOMYS MINOR, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 

 X.p. 266. 



? Rhizomys badius, Gray, Cat. Mamm. Br. Mus. p. 150 ; 



Cat. Hodgs. Coll. p. 24. 

 THUR, of the Siamese, Finlayson. 



HAB. Siam, Finlayson. 



A. From Surgeon G. Finlayson's Collection during the 



mission of J. Crawford, Esq., to Siam. 



B. A Drawing from the same Collection. 



Mr. G. Finlayson' s Zoological Journal gives the following details : 

 " Our specimen is about 6 inches in length, and appears to be a young 

 one. It readily submits to confinement, and is easily tamed. Like most 

 animals of the genus, it is destructive to furniture, to grain, &c., and 

 when suddenly surprised he throws himself upon the offensive, instead 

 of making a precipitate retreat. His principal food is unhusked rice 

 or other grain, and he is fond of yams, pumpkins, &c., found in forests 

 and woods near to Bamvasor." 



229. RHIZOMYS BADIUS, Hodgson, Calcutta Journ. Nat. 

 Hist. I I. p. 60. 



Rhizomys badius, Gray, Cat. Mamm. Br. Mus. p. 150 ; 

 Cat. Hodgs. Coll. p. 24. 



HAB. Nepal and Sikim, Hodgson. 



A. A specimen from Sikim. Presented by B. H. Hodg- 

 son, Esq. 



Further observations and comparisons of specimens from different 

 localities are required to determine whether Rh. minor and Rh. badius 

 are specifically distinct. As here enumerated, they differ in -colour, 

 relative size, and geographical distribution. The Rh. minor was 

 collected in Siam, is uniformly brown, with a slight deep chestnut 

 reflection, and is six and a half inches long ; the Rh. badius inhabits 

 Nepal and Sikim, measures nine inches in length, and the bay or chest- 

 nut colour predominates in the upper parts, while the abdomen is gray. 



