1878.] J. Anderson— 0« tlte Siih-Genus Nesokia. 227 



plunder its burrows for the grain that is stored up for its winter con- 

 sumption, and he mentions that in favourable localities the Wuddurs 

 find the grain in such quantities as to subsist almost entirely upon it, 

 during that season of the year ! Sir Walter Elliot has also described the 

 burrows of this species, Avhich apparently closely correspond to those of 

 M. (JV.) hlytliianus, and he states that a variety is said to frequent the 

 banks of nullahs and to take to the water when pursued, but that these 

 differ in no respect from the common kind — an exact parallel to what 

 occurs also with the allied form M. (N.) hlythianus found in Bengal. 



Mrs (Nesokia) bltthianus, n. s. 



? Arvicola hengalensis, Gray and Hardw., 111. Ind. Zool., Vol. II, 

 1833-34, pi. 21, not described. 



Mus (Nesohia) indicits, Blyth, Cat. Mamm. As. Soc. Mus, 1863, p. 112 

 partim, nee M, indicus, Geoffroy St. Hil. 



Nesokia indica, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng., Vol. XXXII, 1863, 

 p. 329, partim, nee 3Itcs indicus, Geoffrey St. Hil. ; Jerdon, Mamm. Ind. 

 1867 p. 187, partim, nee M. indicus^ Geoffroy St. Hil. 



Head moderately large, but the muzzle broad and deep compared with 

 Mus decumanus. Ears rounded ; about one half the length of the interval 

 between their base anteriorly and the tip of the snout nearly nude, but 

 sj)arsely covered with minute hairs. Eye moderately large, placed a little 

 nearer the ear than towards the tip of the snout. Feet well developed, 

 moderately large. Claws short and stout. The length of the tail some- 

 what variable, but rarely exceeding the length of the trunk, exclusive of the 

 head. It is ringed and sparsely covered with short bristly hairs at the 

 margins of the rings. 



The fur is rather coarse and the piles are profusely intermixed among 

 the pelage and project a long way beyond it. These long hairs are most 

 numerous on the lumbar and sacral regions. 



The general colour of the animal is dark brown with fleshy-coloured 

 nose, ears and feet, the under-surface having a somewhat greyish tint ap- 

 proaching to hoary. Intermixed among the generally brown hairs of the 

 upper parts, are numerous yellowish hairs producing a speckled appearance, 

 and these yellow hairs give rise to a somewhat rufous tint in the brown 

 colour. The under-surface is without any intermixture of brown and yellow 

 hairs. The ears and upper surface of the feet and the tail are clad with 

 short brown hairs. The whiskers are black. 



