224 



(From " The Annals and Magazine of Natural History" Seventh Series, 

 Vol. 15, No. 86; Feb, 1905.) 

 ON A NEW VOLE FROM KASHMIR. 



- BY 



J. Lewis Bonhote, M.A. 



The collection of voles sent home from Kashmir by Colonel A. E. Ward 

 contains three specimens of a most interesting new species allied to Microtus 

 nivalis, for which I propose the name 



Microtus imitator, sp. n. 

 Differs externally from M. nivalis only in its smaller size and slightly browner 

 coloration. 



General colour above grizzled greyish brown, each hair being dark at its 

 base, with a light subterminal portion and a black tip ; interspersed among 

 these are longer pure black hairs. The colour is deepest acrofs the back and 

 paler on the flanks and cheeks. Underparts whitish, tinged with yellow ; hair 

 with dark bases. Feet greyish. Tail long and bicolor, brown above, white 

 below. Ears moderate, rounded, and clothed with short hairs similar in colour 

 to the upper parts. 



The skull is slightly smaller and flatter than in true nivalis, but the brsin- 

 case is rather more rounded at the sides. The auditory bulla? smaller, less 

 elongate, and well rounded, thus slightly compressing the basioccipital. 



Teeth generally resembling those of M. nivalis, with two important excep- 

 tions. In the species under consideration the spaces are rather narrower and 

 smaller than in nivalis, the third molar of the upper jaw has four external 

 angles instead of three, and the posterior lobe of the same tooth has a slight 

 constriction on its inner edge, tending to form a fourth interior angle. In the 

 lower jaw the anterior narrow-shaped head of the first molar is not symme- 

 trical, but is elongated on its external side to form an oblong rounded space ; 

 a tendency towards this shape is found, so Dr. Forsyth Major tells me, in a 

 specimen of nivalis from Mount Hermon, but is never found among the 

 western forms. The anterior external space of the third lower molar is 

 similarly modified. 



Dimensions. — Head and body 105 mm. ; tail 45 ; hind foot 15 ; ear 12. 



Skull, — Length of palate 12 mm. ; length of nasals 8 ; length of molar series 

 6 ; width of brain-case above posterior roots of zygomata 13. 



Habitat.— Tullian, Kashmir. .Alt. 11,C00 feet. 



Type.—B. M. 5. 1. 5. 12. $ ad. Tullian, Kashmir. Collected by Colonel 

 A. E. Ward, 14th July, 1903. 



In outward appearance, as well as in skull-characters, this vole i3 undoubt- 

 edly allied to M. nivalis of Europe, which, however, has not hitherto been 

 found east of the Caucasus ; so that its discovery in Kashmir forms a consider- 

 able eastward extension of this group. Its smaller size, slightly browner colora- 

 tion, and dental characters enable it to be distinguished easily from the 

 typical nivalis. 



