226 J. Anderson — On the Sub-Oenus Nesokia. [Xo. 4, 



tail nearly equals the length of the trunk and head, and is thus longer than 

 in M. (iV.) hlytliianus, seminude, ringed and with short brown bristly hairs 

 around the margin of the annuli. Whiskers full and long. 



The fur is rather harsh and long and consists as in the other species of 

 three kinds, but the long piles are not numerous. 



The general colour of the upper parts is brown, paler than in 31. {N.) 

 hlytliianus, with an intermixture of yellowish or fawn-coloured hairs as in 

 that species, producing a varied hue of brown and yellow : the under parts 

 are whitish with a yellowish tinge, and there are no brown or long hairs 

 intermixed. There is a variety occurring in the red soil and which Elliot 

 says is much redder* in colour than the common Kohu of the dark land. 

 The nose, ears and feet are dark flesh-coloured or brownish, and the feet 

 are covered with short brown hairs. The claws are yellowish. The whiskers 

 are black. 



Sir Walter Elliot gives the following measurements of an old male : 

 length of body 7 inches ; of tail 6i ; total 13i ; of head 1^-^ ; of ear ^^ ; 

 of fore palm y*^ ; of hind palm 1^ ; weight 6 oz. 5 drs "f 



The skull is considerably smaller than that of M. (iV.) hlytJiianus, of 

 the same age, from which it is also distinguished by its more outwardly arch- 

 ed malar process of the maxillary ; by its considerably smaller teeth, and 

 long, but less open, anterior palatine foramina. The brain case also is rela- 

 tively shorter and more globular than that of 31. (i^.) hlytJiianus. The total 

 lengths of two female skulls of the same age of these species stand in the 

 following relations to each other. 31. (N.) ;providens, l''-45. 31. {N.) hlytJiia- 

 nus, 1"'67. Molar line in the former 0"'30, in the latter 0"'33. The upper 

 surface of the skull in the fronto-nasal region is less arched in 31. {N.) provi- 

 dens, than in 3£. {N.) hlytJiianus. The incisors are brilliant orange, more 

 so than in M, (JS/'.) hlytJiianus, but this is a variable character. 



The external features which distinguish this from the nearly allied M. 

 (iV.) hlytJiianus are its smaller size and slightly shorter head and muzzle, 

 and somewhat smaller ears and longer tail, associated with a paler brown 

 fur and fewer long piles. 



This animal occurs in southern Western India and also in Ceylon. In 

 the Indian Museum, there is one of Kelaart's specimens of 3Ius duhius, and 

 which he afterwards considered to be NesoJcia JiardwicJcii, but its skull and 

 features generally are those of this species. 



This species produces from 8 to 10 J at a birth. Elliot relates that this 

 burrowing field-rat is largely eaten by the Wuddurs, or tank-diggers, who also 



* It is a curious circumstance that the pelage of M. (N.) hlythianus, becomes 

 quite rufous in alcohol, and that stuffed specimens long exposed to light, change to the 

 same hue, as do also stuffed examples of M. (N.) providens, 



t I. c, p. 210. 



X I c, p. 210. 



