1876.] W. T. Blanford — Description of a neto Mouse from Sincl. 181 



3. Description of Velomjs Watsoni, a new species of Mouse from 

 Sind.—By W. T. Blaotoed, F. E. S., &c. 



Amongst some small mammals and reptiles in spirit received from Mr. 

 H. E. Watson of the Sind Commission, are two si^ecimens of a mouse from 

 the southern extremity of the Khirthar range about 50 miles north-west of 

 Kotri. At first from the very peculiar characters of the molar teeth, I 

 was inclined to consider this animal a new genus, but, although the molars 

 of adult Pelomys have not been described, those figured in Peters's ' Eeise 

 nach Mozambique' being apparently scarcely worn, it appears highly pro- 

 bable that in an older animal they would exhibit the peculiarities of the 

 Sind rodent. In both species the upper mcisors are grooved, and the 

 hallux of the fore-foot has a small teguliform nail. I propose to name the 

 new species after Mr. Watson, to whom we are indebted for several addi- 

 tions to the Sind fauna, both Dr. Day and Mr. Himae having been much 

 aided by him when collecting in Sind. 



Delomys Watsoni, sp. nov. 



The fur is harsh and consists of very flat hairs each with a broad groove 

 down one side : the general colour is brown, approaching that of a hare, 

 above, dirty white below. The hairs are dusky grey at the base, then dark- 

 er, tawny towards the ends on the back and sides, numerous longer 

 hairs, either entirely black or Avith a black tip, being scattered through- 

 out the back. Average length of hair on the middle of the back half an inch. 



Ears rounded, naked outside. Feet pale brown above, soles naked, 

 toes 5 — 5, all with claws, the hallux of the fore foot rudimentary but fur- 

 nished with a small flattened nail. Tail stout, rather shorter than the head 

 and body, finely ringed, and thinly clad with short bristly hairs which are 

 black above, tawny on the sides and below. 



The skull is typically murine ; the anterior palatine foramina (forami- 

 na incisiva) very long, extending fully two-thirds the distance from the 

 incisors to the molars. The incisors in both jaws are deep orange in front, 

 the upper pair grooved, the lower smooth. The molars are three in number, 

 on each side of each jaw, with deep folds of enamel arranged in semicir- 

 cular lobes having their convex edges in front ; these lobes in the upper teeth 

 are arranged in 3 longitudinal rows, in the lower teeth in two. The an- 

 terior upper molar contains 7 lobes, the second 6, the hindmost 4, the 

 anterior lower molar has 7 lobes, the second 5, the third 4, the posterior 

 lobe in each of tlie lower molars being small and central. 



