1881.] INDIAN SPECIES OF MUS. 529 



M. (Neoioma) giyanteus, Ell. Madr. Journ. x. p. 209 (1839). 



M. {Nesokia) giganteus, Anders. J. A. S. B. xlvii. p. 232, pi. xiv. 

 figs, a tod (skull) (1878). 



Hab. All India south of the Himalayan region, and Ceylon. 



Size very large, over a foot in length. Tail generally about one 

 fourth shorter than the head and body. Fur very coarse and harsh ; 

 grizzled black and white above, grey beneath. On the back the fur 

 is very thickly mixed with long harsh black piles, much more 

 numerous than in M. (N.) nemorivagus. Mammae 12, three pectoral 

 and three inguinal pairs. The skull is very large and heavy, being 

 more than 2| inches long in full-grown individuals ; it has been 

 vrell figured by Dr. Anderson (/. c), together with the skulls of the 

 other species of Nesokia. 



The Common Bandicoot or Pig-rat is found all over the peninsula 

 of India, and is almost too well known to need any description. It 

 may always be known from large individuals of Mus decmnanus by 

 its much broader incisors and by the presence of the long black piles 

 mixed with the fur of the back ; these piles are often nearly 4 inches 

 long, while they are quite absent in M. decumanus. Mus (N.) nemo- 

 rivagus, its nearest ally, is the Bandicoot of North-eastern India, and 

 is certainly very closely related to it ; but I think that the two forms 

 are specifically separable, the Himalayan form being smaller and 

 having much softer fur, fewer long black piles, and narrower nasal 

 bones. The differences in the skulls will be readily perceived by ll ' 

 reference to Dr. Anderson's plate above referred to. 



4. Mus (Nesokia) nemorivagus. 



* Mus nemorivagus, Hodgs. J. A. S. B. v. p. 234 (1836) ; Ann. 

 & Mag. N. H. XV. p. 266 (1845). 



1* M. macropus, Hodgs. Ann. & Mag. N. H. xv. p. 268 (juv) 

 (1845). 



1* Nesohia hydrophila. Gray, Cat. Hodgs. Coll. p. 19 (1846) (nee 

 Hodgs.). 



*M. bandicota, Swinh. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 635 (nee Bechst.). 



M. (Nesokia) elliotanus, Anders. J. A. S. B. xlvii. p. 231, pi. xiv. 

 figs, e-h (skull) (1878). 



Hab. Nepal, Sikhim, Assam ; Formosa (Swinhoe). 



Smaller than the Common Bandicoot, from 9 to 11 inches in length, 

 the tail about seven eighths of the length of the head and body. 

 Fur comparatively soft, a certain number of longer piles intermixed ; 

 but these are neither so numerous nor so stiff as in M. (N.) bandi- 

 cota. For further information about this species I must refer the 

 reader to Dr. Anderson's description and figure of his M. (N.) 

 elliotanus. 



The following dimensions, as being those of a spirit specimen, 

 may be of use. It is an adult female, and was obtained from the 

 Khasi Hills by Mr. Blanford :— 



Head and body 9 inches ; tail 7"8 ; hind foot I'O ; forearm 2"35 ; 

 ear-conch, length 0'9. 



