1874. J MR. BLANFORD ON NEW MAMMALS FROM SIND. 661 



often interrupted, being far less distinct and regular than in the 

 allied species C. asmussi. Abdomen covered with rhomboidal scales, 

 equal in size to the smaller scales of the back, subimbricate, and in 

 regular transverse rows. Anterior part of the fore leg clothed with 

 diamond-shaped scales, becoming more imbricate, smaller, and much 

 broader in proportion to their length on the foot and toes ; on the 

 latter, with the exception of the one or two large shields at the base 

 of each claw, the scales are very much smaller than in C. asmussi. 

 Scales below the hind leg much like those of the abdomen ; on the 

 outside they are small, with scattered spinose tubercles ; toes much 

 as in the fore foot, but the fourth toe has a well-marked fringe of 

 pointed scales along the outer edge. Scales beneath the feet keeled, 

 the keels on the fore foot longitudinal, on the hind foot transverse. 



Colour in spirits isabelline, almost cream-colour, with dusky spots 

 on the back caused by some of the enlarged scales being much 

 darker than the remainder of the surface. 



9. On two Species of Herpestes, and a Hare collected by Dr. 

 F. Day in Sind. By W. T. Blaniord, F.R.S., F.Z.S. 



[Received November 17, 1874.] 

 (Plate LXXXI.) 



The fauna of Sind is still far from thoroughly known. The country 

 is a desert, traversed by a fertile belt watered by the river Indus ; 

 and, with the exception of this belt, both the surface and fauna agree 

 with those of Bahichistan and Southern Persia, and differ widely from 

 those of the more fertile parts of India. In the better-watered tracts 

 some peculiar species are found, which have not hitherto been ob- 

 served elsewhere ; but the number of such forms is very small. 



The birds of Sind have been described by Mr. Hume (' Stray 

 Feathers,' vol. i.), and some of the reptiles by the late Dr. Stoliczka, 

 * Proc. A. S. B., 1872, p. 85. The species noted in the paper last- 

 mentioned, and several of those included in Mr. Hume's list, were 

 collected by Dr. Day. The same naturalist has placed in my hands 

 for description skins of a Hare and of two Ichneumons obtained by 

 him near Sakhar, all of which he considers new to the fauna of India. 

 After examining the skins in question, I agree in this view, one of 

 the Ichneumons being, in my opinion, identical with a form already 

 described from Mesopotamia, whilst the other two mammals I look 

 upon as undescribed. 



Herpestes ferrugineus, sp. nov. (Plate LXXXI.) 

 H. affinis H. griseo, sed colore ferrugineo albo nee griseo mixto 

 facile distinguendus. Pili ex annulis rufis cum albis alter- 

 nantibus compositi, ad basin sordide rufescentes, subtus pal- 

 lidiores, apicem caudce versus longiuscnli, omnino ferruginei. 

 Hab. baud procul ab urbe Larkhana, in provincia Sind. 

 General colour ferruginous, minutely speckled and mixed with 

 white. Fur moderately fine. Hairs of the back long, dull, rufes- 



