434 MUKiu.^. 



length. Whiskers moderate. Tail thinly clad, tapering, one third 

 the length of the head and body, or rather more. Mammse 8 : 

 2 pau*8 pectoral, 2. inguinal. Last upper 

 i^^ (S^ molar with 4 internal and 3 external angles ; 



^^fej ^^ ^^^ posterior lobe. First lo^\■er molar with 6 



^^^ ^p^ inner and 5 outer angles. 



^^ ^tei' Colour dark brown, with a yellowish tinge 



t*^^ above, below pale brown. Base of fur 

 ^^ leaden black above, darlc ashy below, tips on 

 ^^ back light brown mixed with numerous black 

 <:^p <^ ends. 



^ Dimensions of a fresh specimen : head and 



"' body 4-75 inches, tail 1-75, hind foot 0-75. 



Fig. 139.-Ci-owns of j^ ^ female in s])irit the ear from the orifice 



(a) upper and (o) ^ r- ^ 



lower molars of M. measures O'o. _ ^ 



sikimensis, X 4. Distnbution. Sikhnn, between /OUO and 



10,000 feet elevation. 

 Habits. This vole inhabits forests and, according to Hodgson, 

 breeds in hollow decayed trees or amongst the roots of trees, 

 making a nest of moss or soft grass. The female has 3 or 4 

 young at a time. 



307. Microtus melanogaster. Pbre David's Vole. 



Arvicola melanogaster, M.-Ecltv. Noiiv. Arch. Mus. vii, Bull. p. 93 

 (1871) ; id. Rech. Mam. p. 284, pis. xliv, xlvi a ; Blanford, 

 J. A. S. B. 1, pt. 2, p. 114. 



Ears thinly clad, shorter than in M. sikimensis, projecting 

 beyond the fur by one third of their leiigth. Feet small. Last 

 upper molar with 3 or 4 angles on each side, usually 3 well-marked 

 and a fourth \\eak external angle on the U-shaped posterior ter- 

 mination of the tooth. Anterior lower molar with 5 external and 

 ;■) or 6 internal angles, the angles inside and outside sometimes 

 neai'ly opposite to each other, not alternating. 



Colour as in M. silimensis. Some specimens are more rufous. 



Dimensions of a male in spirit : head and body 3*7 inches, ear 

 from orifice 0*37, tail 1*4, hind foot 0"G (in a Bhamo specimen 3, 

 0-3, 1-4, and 0-65). 



Distrilmtion. South-western China {Fokien, Sechuen)and]Moupiu 

 in Eastern Tibet. Mr. Thomas has identified this species amongst 

 Mr. Fea's collections from the Kakhyeu hills, near Bhamo. 



Genus ELLOBIUS, Fischer (1814). 

 Syn. Myosjjalax, Blyth, 1846, nee Brandt, 1855. 



No distinct ear-conch. Head very blunt and rounded. Body 

 subcylindrical, feet broad. Claws 5 — 5, straight, compressed. 



