SPALACID.^. 



437 



310. Cricetus fulvus. The fulvous-grey Hamster. 



Cricetus (Cricetiilus) fulvus, Blanford, J. A. S. B. xliv, pt. 2, p. 108 

 (1875), xlviii, pt. 2, p. 90 ; id. Yark. Miss., Mam. p. 45, pi. i.x, %. 1, 

 pi. xb, fig. 3 ; Scully, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 205. 



Precisely similar to the last iu structure but larger. 



Colour fulvous grey above, white below. More rufous or 

 isabelline than O. phmis, but otherwise similar. 



Dimensions. Head and body about 4*5 inches, tail 1'45, ear 0-6, 

 hind foot 0*7 ; skull 1-17 long (total length), 0'64 broad. 



Distribution. Kashghar, Tarkand, and the Ptimir, extending to 

 (xilgit, where it occurs with the last. 



311. Cricetus isahellinus. The large grey Hamster. 



Cricetus isabellinus, De Filippi, Viaqqio in Persia, p. 344 ; Scully, 

 P. Z. S. 1881, p. 205. 



Precisely similar to C. phceus but much larger. 



Colour greyish isabelline above, white below. 



Dimensions. Head and body 5-35 iuches, tail 1*1. 



Distribution. Found by De Filippi at Tehran, Northern Persia, 

 and by Scully in Gilgit. 



It is somewhat doubtful whether these three forms of Cricetus 

 should be considered species or only varieties. C. fulvus is about 

 doable and C. isabellinus fully quadruple the weight of C. phceus. 

 The different forms occur in several places, but this is not in 

 favour of their being distinct. 



Fig. 142. — Crowns of (a) 

 upper and {b) lower 

 molars of Bhizomys 

 pruinosus, X 2. 



Family SPALACID^. 



The Spalacidce are sometimes called 

 rodent moles, and resemble a mole iu 

 general aspect, having cylindi'ical bodies, 

 short limbs, small eyes and ears, large claws, 

 and a short or rudimentary tail. The 

 infra-orbital opening is small or moderate, 

 with no perpendicular plate ; and the palate 

 is narrow. The incisors are large, the 

 molars rooted, with re-entering enamel 

 folds. 



A single genus, Rhizomys, inhabits South- 

 eastern Asia and occurs iu the Himalayas 

 and Burma : other members of the familv 



are Palsearctic or Ethiopian. 



