PLATACATsTHOMTS. 



395 



Dimensions of au adult in spirit : head aud body 4j5 inches, 

 tail without hair 3-8, with hair 5, hind foot from heel 0-95, ear 0-8. 

 Basal length of skull 1-05, extreme length 1-25, zygomatic breadth 

 0-7. 



Fig. 12ti. — Platacanfhoynys lasiurus. 



Dixtrihution. Anaimalai and Travancore hills at elevations of 

 more than 2000 feet above ihe sea. There is a specimen in the 

 British Museum labelled Ootacamund, but I feel doubtful if the 

 locality is correct. The species has not been recorded froui 

 Ceylon. 



Habits. The E-ev. H. Baker, who discovered Platacanthomi/s, in- 

 formed Mr. Blyth that the species lived exclusively in large ti'ees, 

 in which these rats hollowed out little cavities that they filled with 

 leaves aud moss. They were said by the hill-people to destroy 

 much pepper aud to do serious damage to angely and jack fruit 

 (Artocarpus incisa and A. int&jrifolia), also to be fond of fermented 

 palm-juice or toddy. 



2ji 



