1905.] MAMMALS OF CHIXA. 389 



In external appearance it i-esembles Mus cremoriventer Mill, very 

 closely; the bicoloured tail, however, serves as an easily dis- 

 tinguishable feature, but that it is very nearly related is shown 

 by the tendency in the young and even some adults to the uni- 

 eolorous tail. The immature pelage is, as a rule, soft and 

 destitute of bristles, and resembles in colour true M. confuciamos. 

 This species seems to be most abundant at Ching Fen Ling, 

 but it also occurs at Kuatun. 



Mus LATOUCHEI Thos. 



Mus latouchei Thos. Ann. & Mag. N. H, ser. 6, vol. xx. p. 113 

 (1897) ; id. P. Z. S. 1898, p. 772 ; Bonh. Fasc. Malay., Zoology, 

 vol. i. p. 34 (1903). 



General colour of the upper parts clear grizzled grey. Fur 

 light at its base, with a greyish-brown subterminal portion and 

 white tip, thickly intermixed with soft spines similar in colom" 

 but lacking the white tip. Under parts pure white, the haii's 

 being white to their bases. Hands and feet white along their 

 margins and on the digits, brownish in the centre. Tail dark, 

 covei-ed with short hairs, white at the tip in some individuals. 

 Ears large, rounded and almost naked. 



The skidl most nearly resembles that of Mtos boioersi, from 

 which it differs, according to Mr. Thomas, in having the line of 

 the fronto-premaxillary and fronto-nasal suture running straight 

 from side to side, instead of being bowed backwards, and the supra- 

 orbital rims more developed. The incisors are broad and pale 

 yellow. 



Dimensions (of type from skin). Head and bodv 310 mm. ; 

 tail 290 ; hind foot 60. 



Skull. Greatest length 58 mm. ; basilar length 48 ; palatilar 

 length 28 ; diastema 17 ; length of incisive foramina 11 ; length 

 of nasals 23"5 ; interorbital breadth 8 ; breadth of brain-case 22 ; 

 length of molar series 10. 



Habitat. The type came from Kuatun, as do all the seiies of 

 specimens that have hitherto been obtained, although Mr. Thomas 

 mentions a specimen in the Paris Museum from Pere David. 

 It is evidently a scarce Rat, and little seems to be known of its 

 habits, but according to Mi'. La Touche it inhabits the forest 

 country. Its uniform grizzled-grey colour and large size are 

 sufficient to distinguish it from all other Chinese rats. 



Mus FLAVIPECTUS A. M.-E. 



Mus ? Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 382. no. 26. 



Mus canna Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 636. 



Mus alexandrinus Geoffr., Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 635. 



2£us Jlavipectits A. M.-E. Nouv. Arch, du Mus. vol. vii. p. 93 

 (1871); id. Rech. Mamm. p. 289, pi. 42. fig. 1 (1874); Bonh. 

 Fasc. Malay., Zoology, vol. i. pp. 35 & 37. 



Mus ouangtJiomo} A, M.-E. Nouv. Arch, du Mus. vol. vii. p. 93 

 (1871); id. Rech. Mamm. p. 290, pi. 40. fig. 3 (1874). 



