544 MR. o. THOMAS ON THE [May 3, 



the lateral view of the skull (Plate LI. fig 4) redrawn from the 

 adult specimen, in order that the properly developed form might be 

 shown. The figure of this species (Plate L.) is taken from the im- 

 mature specimen. There are, however, scarcely any extreme differ- 

 ences between the two individuals, except that of size. 



The teeth of M. blanfordi seem to be somewhat broader than in 

 M. alexandrinus ; and in this respect they resemble those of M. 

 mettada. 



1 1. MUS URBANTJS. 



*Mus tnusculus, Ell. Madr. Journ. x. p. 214 (1839). 



*Miis nepalensis, Hodgs. J. A. S .B. x. p. 915 (sinedescr.) (1841). 



*Mus manei, Gray, Cat. Mamm. B. M. p. 1 II (sine descr.) (1843), 



*Musurbanus, Hodgs. Ann. & Mag. N. H. xv. p. 269 (1845). 



*Mus dubius, Hodgs". t. c. p. 268 (1845). 



*Mus homourus, Hodgs. t. c. p. 268 (1845). 



^Mus darjeelhir/ensis, Hodgs. op. cit. iii. p. 203 (1849) (sine 

 descr.); Horsf. Cat Mus. E.I. C. p. 143 (descr. orig.) (1851). 

 Mus tytleri, Blyth, J. A. S.B. xxviii. p. 296 (1859). 



*Musrama, Cant., Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxxiv. pt. 2, p. 194 (1865). 

 Ilab. The whole of India, in houses. Malacca {Cantor). 

 Fur sliort, crisp, quite spineless. General colour varying from 

 bright fawn to dark rufous-brown ; belly but little hghter, never white 

 as in M. bactrianns. Hairs all over the body slate-coloured for 

 three fourths of their length ; then follows a yellow or orange-coloured 

 tip. On the back there is a certain admixture of black-tipped hairs, 

 which, however, are absent in the brighter-coloured specimens. 

 Tail generally decidedly longer than the head and body, sometimes 

 only just about equal, brown, more or less paler beneath. Ears 

 short, rounded. Mamma) 10, three pectoral and two inguinal pairs. 

 Cascnm of medium length and not very markedly curled round, 

 0"56 in. long in an adult male. 



Dimensions, 



Nepal {Hodgson). Darjiling Ceylon. 

 {Blmiford). 



a. cJ. b. 2- c- d- d. 2- 



Head and bcdy 2-6 3-0 3-05 3-0 



Tail 3-27 3-23 3-20 3-.54 



Hind foot -65 "67 "69 "68 



Forearm and hand .... '74 "80 '80 '79 



Ear-conch, length .... '40 '40 -45 '43 



Muzzle to ear '67 75 76 76 



This species, to which such a large number of names have been 

 given, seems to be the common liouse -mouse of the whole of India 

 and even of Malacca, as the Miis rmna, Cant., of Blyth is un- 

 doubtedly referable to it, as proved by the type. Blyth and, follow- 

 ing him, Jerdon considered that there were at least two species of 

 house-mouse in India — the one, Dhis homourus, Hodgs., being that of 

 the Himalayan region, and the other, M, urbanus, that of the plains ; 



