64 MR. O. THOMAS ON THE MAMMALS OF [Jan. 19, 



edge of the anterior zygoma-root is concave, with an overhanging 

 point ^ instead of being convex, (2) the palate is produced to behind 

 the edge of the last molar, instead of ending opposite its centre. 

 The first of these characters, although fairly common among the 

 Austrahan Muridse, is, to the best of my knowledge, not found in any 

 of the other Muridee either of Asia or Africa. In all other characters, 

 in the development and direction of the supraorbital ridges, the 

 length and shape of the nasals, the angles formed by the sutures on 

 the brain-case, the length of the palatine foramina, &c., the two skulls 

 are absolutely identical. 



Teeth large and powerful ; incisors short and stout, the lower ones 

 projecting only about 3 mm. beyond the bone, smooth, rounded, and 

 ungrooved in front, dark orange-yellow above, rather lighter below ; 

 molars broad and heavy, their structure as in Mus, and with no 

 resemblance to those of Golunda ; last molar nearly as large as the 

 second, consisting both above and below of two well-defined equal- 

 sized laminae. 



Measurements of the largest skin, a female. Head and body 

 125 mm. ; tail 106; hind foot 25-0. Of a specimen softened and 

 placed in spirit, head and body 1I8"0: hind-foot 26*5; heel to 

 front of last foot-pad 12"0; forearm and hand 3r5; ear, above 

 crown, 12"0. 



Skull. Length, bregma to nasal-tip 26*0 ; greatest breadth l.'i'O ; 

 length of face 14'5 ; nasals, length lO'O ; interorbital breadth 4-5: 

 palate, length 16'0 ; incisors to m^ 8-3 ; palatine foramina 5*1 ; molar 

 series 5"8: length of anterior zygoma-root 4'0 ; lower jaw, length 

 (bone only) 18*3 ; to incisor-tips 19'2 ; projection of incisors 

 (behind) 4-5. 



The general appearance of this species is infinitely more like that 

 of the GxA&wdii {Golunda ellioti) than that of any of the other Indian 

 members of the genus Mus. So like Golunda is it, indeed, in colour, 

 proportions, and even in the general shape of its skull, that it might 

 easily be mistaken for this animal, were it not for its slightly longer 

 tail, less spiny fur, ungrooved incisors, and a few other little prominent 

 characters which might easily be overlooked by a superficial observer. 

 It thus seems to bear the same interesting relationship to the Gulandi 

 that Siffmodon hispidus, S. and O., does to Rheithrodon alstoni, 

 Thos.- 



The only species to be referred to in describing M. huniei as new 

 is Mus erythrotis, Bly th ^ from the Khasia hills, the colours of which 

 agree very closely with those of this species, but which is stated to 

 be only 57 mm. in length, with a tail 60 mm. long, and a hind foot, 

 including the claws, only 17 "4 mm. long, a difference in size far too 

 great to admit of any question as to the specific distinction of the 

 two animals. 



' This type of zygoma-root is figured Ann. Mag. N. H. (5) ix. p. 414, fig. 3 

 (1882). 



SeeP.Z.S. 1880, p. 693. 



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



