342 MR. OLDFIELD THOMAS ON [Nov. 28, 



" Not uncommon ; usually found in the embankments that 

 bound the terraced paddy-fields. Often accepting bait of rice or 

 wheat. The stomach contents of those examined was largely of a 

 vegetable character, not mixed with earth as when earthworms 

 are the chief food." — M. P. A. 



This observation about the food of Urotrichus is of remarkable 

 interest, as it is quite opposed to the general rule in the Talpidse. 

 I can find no previous statement on the subject, either as regards 

 this genus or its American ally Neurotrichus. 



15. Urotrichus talpoides pilirostris True. 



Dymecodon 2nUrostris True, P. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 97 

 (juv.). 



f? . 53, 61, 62, 65, 73, 74, 75. $ . 55. Tsunagi, near Morioka, 

 Iwate Ken, N. Hondo. 



c? • 94, 95. Morioka, Iwate Ken, N. Hondo. 



S. 142,144,145,162. $. 143, 152, 161. Nakaomi, near 

 Ohito, Izu, S.E. Hondo. 400'. 



These specimens, from Hondo, are all of a " slate-black" (grey 

 no. 2), with a slight tinge of " mouse-grey," alid are without the 

 distinctly brown tone of the typical talpoides of Kiushiu and 

 Shikoku. They are also very slightly smaller, with shorter tails 

 and shoi-ter hind feet. 



The following are the measurements (in mm.) of a pair from 

 Izvi, near the typical locality of '■'■ Dymecodon pilirostris" : — 

 J . Head and body 92 ; tail 30 ; hind foot 14-5. 

 $. „ 90; „ 26; „ 14-5. 



A study of Mr. True's description of the genus Dymecodon 

 convinced me that his specimen was a young Urotrichus, and this 

 suggestion has been confirmed by Mr. Geixit Miller, who tells me 

 that the type, noAv in the U.S. National Museum, " is young, 

 with the milk-dentition still in place." 



But Mr. Miller goes on to state that the molars of joz^irtisfo"?s 

 are smaller than those of talpoides, and that there ai'e other slight 

 cranial difi^erences, although, owing to the youth of the specimen, 

 he cannot express an opinion as to their value. " My surmise 

 would be that Dymecodon is the same as Urotrichus, but that the 

 species pilirostris is quite distinct from the ordinary animal." 



On geographical grovinds, however, it appears to me so unlikely 

 that there should be a different species of Urotrichus at Yeno- 

 shima, a place in the Bay of Tokyo qviite close to Misaki, where 

 we know the ordinary form occurs, and not far fi'om the Izu 

 peninsula, that I do not at present feel justified in giving the 

 Hondo subspecies any other name than j>9^7iros^m. 



16. Canis hodophylax Temm. 



c^' . 255. Washikaguchi, Nara Ken, Hondo. 



" The Wolf was purchased in the flesh, and I can learn but little 

 about it. It is rare, some say almost extinct. Japanese name 

 ' Okami ' or ' Aamainu.' " — M. P. A. 



