702 Description of the Kdthiah Nytil [Dec. 



Synonyma. Red-billed Erolia of Asiatic Journal. Ibidorhyncha 

 Struthersii of Gould's Century. 



The denticulation of the bill, and the strictlv cursorial character of 

 the feet, (with short, stout, very unequal, full, solid toes, and depress- 

 ed truncated nails,) constitute, I conceive, the marks of this genus. 



The species is 16 inches by 30 in length and extent, and 10 oz. 

 heavy. 



The intestines are 20 inches long, larger above than below, tough, 

 frequently semi- convolved or doubled, syphonwise, and at three inches 

 from the anal end, they have two cseca, nearly two inches in length, 

 each of them. 



The stomach is small, but very muscular and gizzard-like, and the 

 food of the species, chiefly, minute univalve mollusca, which it picks 

 up on the sandy margins of rivers and streams. In such sites it is 

 usually found ; nor does it appear to be gregarious. 



The generic name Clorhynchus, is derived from Clorios, a Greek 

 term for the curlew. The trivial name bears reference to the con- 

 spicuous gorget borne on the bird's breast. Had the former specific 

 name (red-billed) been retained, there must have been tantological 

 intrusion on the generic style, upon turning the specific appellation 

 into Latin or Greek : hence the change. 



Time and the discovery of more species will prove whether my 

 generic character be worthy of retention. Quoad the single known 

 species it is, I hope, both accurate and distinctive. 



X Description of the little Musteline animal, denominated Kdthiah 



Nyiil in the Catalogue of the Nepdlese Mammalia. By B. H. 



Hodgson, Esq. Resident at Katmandu. 



Genus. — Mustela. 



Sub-genus. — Putorices. 



Species new. P. Kdthiah, mihi. The Kdthiah Nyul of Nepal. 

 Habitat, the Kachar or Northern region. Specific character, deep 

 rich brown above, golden yellow below, chin whitish. Tail, limbs, 

 and ears concolorous, with the body above. Tail cylindrico-tapered, 

 and half the length of the animal. Snout to rump, 10 inches : tail 

 (less hair) 5 inches. 



This beautiful little creature is exceedingly prized by the Nepalese 

 for its services in ridding houses of rats. It is easily tamed ; and 

 such is the dread of it common to all murine animals, that not one 

 will approach a house wherein it is domiciled. Rats and mice seem 

 to have an instinctive sense of its hostility to them, so much so that 



