18/1.] DR. J. ANDERSON ON RODENTS FROM YARKAND. 563 



so observable on the latter region, where they are pure white, 

 whereas on the dorsum and sides they have either long black points 

 or are wholly black. Length of largest specimen : — Tip of nose to 

 vent 9f § inches ; nose to anterior angle of eye ^-| inch ; posterior 

 angle of eye to ear ^| inch ; greatest length of ear 1 inch, greatest 

 breadth 1 inch ; length of fore foot and nails 1^ inch ; length of 

 bind foot and nails lfy inch. 



The hair of this species, and of the members of the genus gene- 

 rally, becomes much worn by age. This is doubtless due to their 

 habit of life, and not to any disease produced by insects* ; for it is 

 only observed, as a rule, on the parts exposed to friction, such as 

 the lumbar region, rump, and sides, and is rarely, if ever, observable 

 on the head or on the belly, and does not occur in the young, and 

 only to a very slight degree in adolescents. 



I have received no less than nine specimens of this species from 

 Ladak, all procured in one month and within a few days of each 

 other, but I cannot state at what elevation they were found. It is 

 worthy of note that six are females, three of which are adults, two 

 adolescents, and one young ; while the three males are all of one 

 size, about 7| inches long, but evidently not full-grown. The latter 

 are paler fawn-coloured than the females of their own age, but 

 slightly darker than the young female. There is altogether a greater 

 intermixture of dark hairs in the adolescent females than in the 

 males ; and the hair on the back of the ears is more rufous in the 

 former. 



Dr. Stoliczka (7. c.) states that it ranges all over the eastern por- 

 tion of Ladak from 14,500 up to 19,000 feet, the probable limit of 

 vegetation in these parts, but notes that Hodgson's specimens were 

 from the Chumbi valley to the north of Sikkim, which would indi- 

 cate that its eastern distribution is considerable. Dr. Hooker men- 

 tions a tailless Rat in the Lachen valley to the north of Kinchinghow 

 at 16,000 feet, associated with a Marmot; but, from the elevation 

 mentioned it is probable that the species is L. roylei, which appears 

 to be identical with L. hodgsoni, Blyth, and L. nepalensis, Hodg- 

 son. The type of Blyth's species is in this museum, and was 

 afterwards correctly referred by him to L. roylei ; and as specimens 

 of L. nepalensis, presented by Hodgson, are also before me, I am 

 enabled to state that it in no way differs from L. roylei beyond ex- 

 hibiting the slight variations of colour which are to be looked for 

 and occur in all species. L. roylei takes the place of L. cursoni.ee at 

 lower elevations than 16,000 feet, its usual distribution, according to 

 Jerdon, being 11,000 to 14,000 feet ; but it probably extends up to 

 16,000 feet. It occurs in Ladak, Kashmir, on the Chor mountain, 

 not far from Simla, and extends to the east through the high northern 

 ranges of Nepaul and Sikkim. 



Lepus tibetantjs, Waterhouse. 



Lepus tibetanus, Waterh. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1841, p. 7. 

 Lejms oiostoliis, Hodgs. Journ. As. Soc. Beng. ix. p. 1 18(1. 



* Stoliczka, /. e. 



