MUS. 411 



Fur coarse, moderately long, without spines. Tail about the 

 same length as the head and body. Ears rounded. Nasal portion 

 of skull long ; the upper molars proportionally small, very distant 

 from the incisors, which are directed forward. Mammae 10. 



Coloiw above dark ashy grey, grizzled or speckled, without any 

 rufous or yellow admixture, belo\\' white. Dorsal hairs slaty grey 

 from the base to near the tip, then there is a whitish subterminal 

 ring and a blackish tip, the latter often wanting. Tail bicoloured ; 

 the upper surface of the basal half brown, the lower surface of the 

 basal and the whole of the terminal half pale, with whitish or white 

 hair. Feet white. 



Dimensions taken from skins : head and body 7 inches, tail 6"9, 

 hind foot 1'4, ear from crown 0-65 ; total length of skull about 1"5, 

 zygomatic breadth 0'8. Some skins may indicate a larger size. 



Distribution. The type, of which only the skull is now preserved, 

 came from Mergui ; specimens have since been obtained by Mr. Fea 

 east of Moulmein, by Mr. Hume in Manipur, and I have a skin 

 from the Khasi hills. From these the above description is taken. 



278. Mns blanfordi. The ivhite-tailed Rat. 



Mus blanfordi, Thomas, A. M. N. H. (5) vii, p. 24 (1881) ; id. P. Z. S. 

 1881, p. 541, pi. 1. 



Fur long and soft, without spines. Tail longer than the head and 

 body, hair on the terminal portion conspicuously longer and 

 thicker. Feet bi'oad, digits short. Mammae 6 in the only female 

 examined : 1 pair axillar, 2 inguinal. Fronto-pariotal suture of skull 

 forming almost a right angle in the middle. Anterior palatine 

 foramina long. 



Colour brown above, white below, the sides paler than the back. 

 Basal three quarters or more of the dorsal fur leaden grey, terminal 

 portion light brown or isabelline, the longer hairs on the back with 

 long black tips. Feet white in old specimens, brownish in younger 

 individuals. Tail brown at the base and for half to three-quarters 

 the length, the terminal portion pale, clothed wdth longer white 

 hairs. 



Dimensions of adult male in spirit : head and body 6 inches, 

 tail 8, hind foot 1-33 ; extreme length of skull 1-65, basal length 1'6, 

 zygomatic breadth 0'8. 



Distribution. Madras Presidency. This species has been found 

 ]iear Cuddapahby Col. Beddome, on the Nilgiri hills by Mr. Davi- 

 son, and on the Shevaroys by Mr. Daly. It is probably a hill form. 



279. Mus jerdoni. The bicoloured Eat. 



Leggada jerdoui, i?/_yf/(, J". A. S. B. xxxii, p, 350 (1863); Jerdon, 



Mam. p. 209. 

 P Mus octomammis, Hodc/son, Cat. Mam. S^-c. Nepal ^- Thibet B. M> 



2ud ed. 1863, p. 10 (no description), 

 Mus jerdoni, Bhjth, Cat. p. 121 ; Thomas, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 537. 



Fur long, usually mixed with flattened spines. Tail considerably 



2r 



