1S90.] MR. W. L. SCLATER ON SOMK INDIAN MURIDyE. 535 



at its tip they reach a length of nearly half an inch ; the tail is 

 covered with square scales forming a series of rings which run to 

 about 20 to an inch ; the tail is of a light brown colour above and 

 below. 



In the hind foot (Plate XLV. fig. 8) the toes are very long, they 

 form about 5 of the total length of the hind foot ; the three middle 

 digits are all equal in length and bear well-developed claws ; the 

 fifth digit is smaller and bears a very small claw that does not 

 nearly reach beyond the pad ; the first digit is about the same length 

 as the fifth, and is very much swollen transversely, it bears a fiat 

 nail as in Chiropodomys. The toe-pads are very large and swollen, 

 so that the claws hardly extend beyond them ; dorsally below the 

 claw, they consist of two flat plates divided by a median groove ; 

 ventrally, they consist of the usual series of transverse plates, but 

 much more developed than usual. The sole-pads are six in number ; 

 they are large and well-developed, and the proximal internal one 

 very long and curved as in Rats. 



The digits of the fore feet (Plate XLV. fig. 9) are four in number ; 

 each bears a very small claw, which is almost embedded in the toe- 

 pad ; the first digit forms a slight projection on the inner side of the 

 hand, but has no trace of a nail ; the toe-pads are swollen like 

 those of the hind feet ; the sole-pads are five in number as usual. 

 The ears are very small and rounded ; the edge of the conch bears a 

 fringe of long hairs all round, more than | an inch in length ; the 

 short hairs inside the conch are white, outside brown. The mammae 

 are 8 in number — two pairs of pectoral, two pairs abdominal. 



The skull (Plate XLV. fig. 7) has the same general appearance as 

 that of Chiropodomys, being considerably shorter and wider than 

 that of Mus ; the nasals and the anterior part of the skull are much 

 shorter than in Mus ; the interparietal is broader and more rounded 

 in outline than in Chiropodomys ; the anterior wall of the antorbital 

 foramen is perpendicular and does not project at all ; below, the 

 anterior palatine foramina are of moderate length, not markedly 

 short as in Chiropodomys ; they end some distance in front of the 

 line of the anterior molars. The palate is somewhat narrower than 

 that of Mus rufescetis, and ends on a level with the line of the hind 

 ends of the posterior molars, whereas in Mns rufescens the palate 

 projects an appreciable distance further back ; the bulla is larger 

 than that of M^(S rufescens, and is not provided with the thickened 

 anterior edge to the bony meatus which is found in Mus rattus. 



It is, however, the teeth which present the most distinctive 

 characters. The incisors are quite smooth and have no trace of a 

 groove or of any markings on them : the lower incisors are very 

 broad, resembling those of Nesol-ia and much broader than in Mus ; 

 the anterior upper molar consists of three central, three external, 

 and three internal cusps all arranged in a remarkably regular way, 

 as will best be understood by reference to the drawing (Plate XLV. 

 fig. 12). The cusps are all more or less equal to one another ; the 

 second upper molar exactly resembles the anterior molar, but consists 

 of six cusps only ; the posterior molar consists of one central, one 



