1865.] DR. W. PETERS ON PLATACANTHOMYS LASIURUS. 399 
The size of this curious little animal is nearly the same as that*of 
the Black Rat. The head is rounded, rather flattened, with pointed 
snout, naked muzzle, extremely long whiskers, eyes of moderate size, 
ears moderate, pointed, and, with the exception of a few scattered 
hairs on the outer side, entirely naked. The fur is soft ; on the upper 
part, from neck to tail, intermixed with flat, longitudinally grooved 
bristles. The limbs are proportionate and of moderate length, the 
anterior shorter than the posterior ones. The fourth toe is the 
longest, but only a little longer than the third ; the second and fifth 
toes are much shorter, and nearly of the same length; but the first 
is very short, and provided with a well-developed claw. The tail is 
nearly of the same length as the body ; it is thickly covered with hair, 
which is short on its base, and becomes more lengthened and disti- 
chous from its second third. 
métre 
Total length ...... alg» ERR oth Oa), STAM AMER 
Distance from snout to base of tail . .......... 0°138 
Dieniecpteet Chemin 262 5 co-ce's <5. ees ow We leas 8 0-030 
Gttheienrsasoe I vss SR CPT AUE: - 0014 
of the anterior extremity (from the elbow 
to the end of the fourth finger) ............. 0°035 
of the sole of the hand and fingers ...... 0-014 
of the hinder extremity (from knee to the 
fourth toe) </fo.2 5. af Reade ct) 0:050 
of the sole of the foot S ides aS Ae ae 0°025 
iPotablenstlilar tae tal ** > $409) fA se: 0-110 
Length of the tail without hair................ 0°080 
The specimen represented was obtained by the Rev. H. Baker, of 
Mundakyum, Alipi, in Southern Malabar, who gives the following 
note on the species (J. A. S. B. xxviii. p. 289) :— 
“«T was ignorant of the existence of this animal till about a year 
ago, when I found it in a range of hills about 3000 feet high. It 
lives in the clefts of the rocks and hollow trees, is said to hoard ears 
of grain and roots, seldom comes into the native huts, and in that par- 
ticular neighbourhood the hill-men tell me they are very numerous. 
I know they are to be found in the rocky mountains of Travancore ; 
but I never met with them in the plains.” 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XX. 
Fig. 1. Platacanthomys lasiurus, of the natural size. 
Fig. 2. Skull and lower jaw, side view. 
Fig. 3. Skull from above. 
Fig. 4. Skull from below. 
Fig. 5. Front view of the skull. 
Fig. 6. Lower jaw from above. 
Fig. 7. Upper molar teeth of the left side, magnified. 
Fig. 8. Lower molar teeth of the right side, magnified. 
Fig. 9. A bristle, magnified. 
