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



This species seems to be most nearly allied to Leggada buduga, 

 Gr., the description of which (p. 553) should be carefully examined 

 before any specimen is set down as the present form, which is much 

 rarer and apparently almost confined to Nepal and the neighbouring 

 region. 



With regard to the identity of Mus strophiatus with this species 

 I think there can be but little doubt. Hodgson's drawing of M. cer- 

 vicolor represents two specimens, with the following notes attached : — 

 "Male's colour darker and duller, female's lighter aad purer." 

 This distinction, which Hodgson, when the drawing was done, thought 

 to be sexual, he later founded M. strophiatus upon, as there is a 

 second note on the same drawingtothe folio wing effect: ''There are two 

 species, 1 st, duller hued and ungorgetted ; 2nd, brighter and gorgetted," 

 This " gorget " is merely the extension upwards on the neck of the 

 light breast-colour, a character of no value whatever, as far as I 

 can judge by the specimens presented by him ; and the difference in 

 brightness seems to be very slight. We have not any specimens 

 named M. strophiatus ; but one of those sent as cervicolor agrees very 

 fairly with bis figure and description of that animal. 



Mus albidiventris was referred to this species by Blyth himself in 

 his memoir ; it seems possible, however, that it is another synonym 

 of M. buduga, which is very closely related to this species, and which 

 is more likely to be found in Calcutta. 



It is very probable that M. cunictdaris, Blyth ', from the Khasi 

 Hills, is a synonym of 31. cervicolor, the description agreeing very 

 fairly, though the colour would seem to be somewhat darker ; this, 

 however, can only be settled by a reference to the types. 



14. Mus ARIANUS. 



Mus sylvaticus, L., De Fil. Viagg. Pers. p. 344 (1865). 

 *Mus erythronotus, W. Blanf. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (4) xvi. p. 311 

 (1875) ; East Pers. ii. p. 54, pi. v. fig. 3 (1876) ; Zool. Yark. Exp. 

 Mamm. p. 54 (1879), nee Temm. Faun. Japon. Mamm. p. 50 

 (1850). 

 *M. arianus, W. Blanf. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (5) vii. p. 162 (1881). 

 Hub. Eastern Persia (Blanford), Gilgit, Cashmere (Scully), 

 Kashghar and Wakhan (Stoliczka). 



Fur soft, without spines ; above dark red, the basal three fourths 

 of the hair dark slate-colour. Belly white. Mammse 6, one pec- 

 toral and two inguinal pairs. Tail slightly longer than the head 

 and body, brown above, white beneath. Ears long; laid forward 

 they reach quite to the eye. Caecum quite simple and rather long, 

 measuring TS inch in specimen a. 



I J. A. S. B. xxiv. p. 721 (1855). 



