640 MR. oLDFiELD THOMAS ON [June 16^ 



present specimens. From the native reports I judge this animal 

 to be a rock-loving species. Its colour is very like that of the 

 local rocks. 



"Evidently rare in Shan-si." — M. P. A. 



8. EUTAMIAS SENESCENS Mill. 



(S . 1561, 1562. Imperial Tombs, 65 miles E. of Peking. 



The type of E. senescens was obtained about 15 miles to the 

 west of Peking. 



" Rare. I failed to see any alive, but got these two from 

 hunters."— iV/. P. A. 



9. Meriones psammophilus M.-Edw. 



d . 1644. Tai-Yuen-Fu, Shan-si. 2800' 



This species was discovered by Pere David at Suen-hoa-fu? 

 near Kalgan, but although Mr. Anderson, when in that region, 

 obtained a good series of the other species, M. unguiciolatus, he 

 did not get M. psaynmophilus, which we are therefore very glad 

 to obtain, as the only specimen in the Museum is without a 

 skull. 



" Inactive in winter, but doubtless conspicuous in warm 

 weather." — M. P. A. 



10. Meriones auceps, sp. n. 



J. 1647. East of Tai-Yuen-Fu, Shan-si. 4000'. 31 Dec, 

 1907. B.M. Iso. 8.8.7.30. Ty/^e. 



A medium-sized species with the immensely large inflated 

 bullae of M. erythrurus. 



Size about as in M. imguiculatits , the common species of 

 Mongolia. General colour above of the usual bufFy fawn, very 

 much as in that species. Sides with a brighter buffy band edging 

 the white. Belly practically pure white, the hairs mostly white 

 to their roots, but some few with a little grey at their bases. 

 Ears bright buffy, contrasting with the general tone. Hands 

 and feet pure white ; claws thin, whitish horn- colour, not blackish 

 as in M. imguiculatus. Tail well-haired, but not specially tufted, 

 rich ochraceous-buffy throughout, a few hairs at the extreme end 

 tijjped with black. 



Skull much more heavily built than that of M. unguicidatus, 

 with broad interorbital space and heavy muzzle. Bullae ex- 

 ceedingly large, the part just in front of the external meatus so 

 swollen as to touch the zygomata, which they surpass in lateral 

 spread. 



Dimensions of the type, a rather young adult : — 



Head and body 110 mm. ; tail 105 ; hind foot 31 ; ear 15-5. 



Skull — greatest length 36 mm. ; basilar length 27'5 ; zygomatic 

 breadth 19-5; tympanic breadth 20; interorbital breadth 6-2; 

 palatilar length 15-5 ; diastema 9-2 ; palatal foramina 7 ; greatest. 



