1881.] Himalayas, Tibet, and Afghanistan. 113 



descriptions have been published, a large proportion of the anatomical de- 

 tails figured and explained in Mr. Hodgson's notes prove to be common to 

 whole genera or even families. Such is the case in the present instance. 

 There appears nothing in the anatomy of A. sikimensis to distinguish that 

 species from European Voles. # 



The intestines in two specimens, both females, were 26 and 28 inches 

 long, the caecum 3f and 4 inches, and £ wide, in one case 10 inches, in the 

 other 13 from the anal end of the intestine. In a male the intestines 

 measured 25 inches ; the csecum, 11 inches from the anus, was 6| inches long 

 and rather less than half an inch broad. " Liver 3-lobed, each lobe divided, 

 and a lobulus. Gall-bladder deeply imbedded in largest and central lobe, and 

 having a large clear duct. Spleen 1 inch, tongue-shaped, and deep red." In 

 the stomach the two orifices are said to be about a quarter of an inch apart. 

 Several measurements, evidently from fresh specimens, are given. 

 They are useful as showing to some extent the amount of variation. 



1, $ 2, ? 3, juv. 4, <? 5, ? . 

 in. in. in. in. in. 



Length from nose to anus 4J- 4i 3| 4-i- 4 



„ of head to nape \\ \\ \\ 1 T \ li 



„ from snout to fore angle of eye. 2 t\ 2 tt 



„ thence to base of ear J- \± \ -ff 



„ of ear entire \ \ i i 2 



Breadth of free portion (measured from 



the skull) T \ ... -^ I 



Length of tail If 1£ If 1^ If 



„ palma and nails T V tV iir I tit 



,, planta and nails (from os calcis). f \% f f -i-f 



Weight li oz. li oz. ... li oz. 1 oz. 



No. 5 is the type of Arvicola thricotis, which is separately figured. It 

 will be seen that there is nothing in the dimensions to show any difference 

 from A. sikimensis; the coloration is identical. But of several skins and 

 specimens in spirit presented by Mr. Hodgson, not one is marked as A. 

 tliricotis ; and as the publication of the name does not appear to have been 

 authorized by that gentleman, it is probable that he had recognized the 

 identity of the animal thus named with A. sikimensis. In Gray's second 

 edition of the British Museum catalogue of Mr. Hodgson's specimens all 

 that is stated of the species (which has, of course, never been described in 

 print) is : — " Hah. Darjiling, in woods near houses. India Office, Nov. 

 1852 (in spirits). Compare with Neodon sikimensis .?" From this it may 

 * For an account of the anatomy of A. amphibius and A. agrestis see H. Beger, 

 Zeitschrift ges. Naturwiss. XXX, 1867, p. 115 ; and Ketzius, Miillcr's Archiv. 1811, 

 p. 403. 



