NESOCIA. 425 



296. Nesocia bandicota. The Bandicoot-Rat. 



Mas bandicota cmd indicus, Bechstein, AUgem, Uebers. d. vierfiis. 



Thiere, ii, pp. 713, 714 (1800). 

 Mus malabaricus and perclial, Shaw, Gen. Zool. ii, pt. 1, pp. 54, -55 



(1801). 

 Mus giganteus, Hardioiclie, Trans. L. S. vii, p. 306, pi. 18 (1804) ; 



Kelaart, Prod. p. 58. 

 Mus (Neotoma) giganteus, Elliot, Mad. Jour. L. S. x, p. 209. 

 Mus baudicota, Bhjth, J. A. S. B. xx, p. 1G7, xxxii, p. 333, partim ; 



id. Cat. p. 112 ; Jerdon, Mam. p. 19-3, partim. 

 Mus (Nesokia) giganteus, Anderso?i, J. A. S. B. xlvii, pt. 2, p. 232, 



pi. xiv, figs. a-d. 

 Mus (Nesokia) baudicota, Thomas, P. Z. S. 1881, p. O'lS. 



Indur, Sanscr. ; Ghous or Ghus, PI. aud Mahr. ; Guru, Kol. ; Hegijin, 

 Can. ; Pandi koku, Tel. of tank-diggers (pig-rat, whence the term 

 bandicoot) ; Ura-miyo, Ciug. 



Size very large. l\ir coarse, with long black-tipped piles, some 

 of them ofteu 2 or 3 inches long, on the upper parts. Ears 

 moderate, rounded. Tail a little shorter than the head and body. 

 Mammae 12 : 3 pairs pectoral, 3 pairs inguinal. Skull longer in 

 proportion to the breadth than that of N. benr/alensis ; nasals broad 

 aud long, being about f the length of the skull. Anterior palatine 

 foramina as long as the row of upper molars or a little longer. 

 Transverse laminae of molars not straight but slightly wavy. 



Colour above blackish brown, sometimes grizzled with pale 

 yellowish or grey, especially on the sides ; lower parts greyish 

 brown or brownish grey. Dorsal fur light greyish brown or 

 ashy at the base, then (in some specimens) whitish, the longer 

 hairs with long black terminations. In old animals whitish tips 

 are mixed. Eeet above dark brown. 



Dimensions. Head and body 12 to 15 inches, tail 11 to 13, hind 

 foot 2-5 ; weight 2| to 3 lbs. Basal length of a skull 2-6, zygomatic 

 breadth 1*4. 



Distribution. The Peninsula of India and Ceylon ; not found in 

 Lower Bengal, nor, I believe, in Sind or the Punjab ; common in 

 parts of Kajputana, aud said to occur in the N.W. Provinces. 

 Owing to large individuals of M. decumanus being mistaken for 

 bandicoots, the present species has been incorrectly reported from 

 several localities, Calcutta especially. 



Hahits. The bandicoot is, like other Nesocice, a burroAver. It is 

 found about cultivated tracts and is common in villages and towns, 

 especially in the south of India. I believe it is also found in 

 forest. It is very destructive to grain, on which it feeds largely ; 

 it also consumes fruit, vegetables, &c., and it is said occasionally 

 to kill fowls. When it is attacked (and when running about at 

 night according to McMaster), it grunts like a pig, hence its Telegu 

 name. McMaster has shown that it is sluggish and cowardly, and 

 killed by a dog more easily than would be anticipated from its 

 size. Sterndale succeeded in taming one individual completely. 



