1900.] MAHMA.LS OF SIAM AXD THE MALAY PENINSULA. 363 



but what it is we cannot yet say for certain. Cantor seems to 

 have observed two species : one (p. 45) he calls Mus bandicota, 

 Bechstein, the other Mus setifer, Horsfield. Of the former he 

 gives the Malay name as " Tikus besar " (i. e. big rat), and the 

 habitat as " Pinang," and says : — " The larger of two individuals, 

 captured in gardens, measured, head and body, ten and one-eighth 

 inches (258 mm.); the tail seven and four-eighth inches (181 mm.)." 



In May 1895 a species of Nesocia was common about out- 

 buildings in the barracks in Penang. 



Subsequently in April 1898 I trapped more Bandicoots in 

 Georgetown, Penang ; they were in colour : — above grey, with 

 very long black hairs giving a very dark appearance ; throat 

 whitish buff, remainder of lower surfaces pale grey. 



Three skulls and skins I sent to Mr. Oldneld Thomas, who 

 kindly wrote to me they were " allied to N. bengalensis — perhaps 

 N. barclayana, Anderson." 



Pamily Spalacidje. 



133. Ehizomys badius Hodgs. The Bay Bamboo-Eat. 

 Rhizomys minor, Horsfield, Cat. Mamm. Mus. East India Co. 



1851, p. 165. 



Rhizomys badius, Blanf. Faun, lnd., Mamm. p. 438. 



Horsfield (1. s. c.) records a specimen from Siam obtained by 

 Dr. G. Pinlayson, who says it is called " Thiir " by the Siamese, and 

 adds : " Our specimen is about 6 inches in length, and appears to 

 be a young one. Tt readily submits to confinement, and is easily 

 tamed. Like most animals of the genus, it is destructive to 

 furniture, to grain, etc., and when suddenly surprised it throws 

 itself upon the offensive, instead of making a precipitate retreat. 

 Its principal food is unhusked rice or other grain, and it is fond 

 of yams, pumpkins, etc., found in forests and woods neur to 

 Bamvasor." 



Distribution. Nepal, Sikhim, Bhutan, Assam, Manipur, Burma, 

 Siam. 



134. Ehizomys sumaxrensis (Baffl.). The Large Bamboo-Eat. 



Rhizomys sumatrensis, Cantor, p. 47 ; Blanf. Faun, lnd., Mamm. 

 p. 439. 



"Dekan" of the Malays (Wray). 



" Woo'n " of the Siamese ; also called " Tun." 



Cantor records this species from the Malay Peninsula, describes 

 its colour, gives dimensions, and says " In confinement, it is very 

 savage, scarcely tameable." W. L. Sclater (Cat. Mamm. Indian 

 Mus. ii. 1891, p. 96) records specimens from Malacca and from 

 Alma Estate, Province Wellesley. The Baffles Museum possesses 

 specimens from Malacca. The Museum at Taiping contains 

 specimens from Batu Gajah and from Bukit Gantang, Perak. 

 The Museum at Kuala Lumpor contains several specimens caught 

 in the neighbourhood of that town. There were in the Siamese 



