170 MAMMALIA. 



227. Talpa leucura. 



Talpa leucura, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. vol xix, 1851, p. 215, pi. iv, 

 fig. 1 (skull); Wagner, Schreber Sdugeth. Suppl. Bd. v, 1856, p. 578 ; 

 BIyth, Oat. Mamm. As. Soc. Mas., 1863, p. 88. 



Hai. Sylhet, Kliasi Hills, and Tenasserim. 



Wholly velvety black ; considerably smaller than T. micrura 

 and with the snout neither so long nor narrow. The snout is 

 clad as in T. micrura, but the hair crypts are not so pro- 

 minent. The manus is somewhat less broad than in T. 

 micrura and the nails are not so long. The tail is consider- 

 ably longer than in T. micrura, and it is dilated into a rounded 

 knob^ sparsely covered with longish white hair ; its length ex- 

 ceeds two-thirds of the breadth of the manus. The eye is 

 covered by a membrane, and there are no defined eyelids. 



The skull is at once distinguished from the skull of T. mi- 

 crura, by its much smaller size, and by the presence of 

 only three pairs of premolars in the upper jaw. The adult 

 skull is I'-S long, whereas that of T. micrura measures l'*37. 

 This difference of size is well mnrked in all the bones. The 

 caudal vertebrse are longer, but feebler, than in T. micrnra, and 

 their number (8) is the same in both. 



2a7a to c. Three stuffed specimens, Nos. 270 A, B and C of 

 Blyth's Catalogue, p. 88. Sylhet. Presented by W. Skip- 

 witb, Esq., and R. W. G. Frith, Esq., 184.5-51. 



d. An adult female in alcohol. No. 270D of Blyth's 

 Catalogue, p. 88. Charapunji. Presented by R. W. G. 

 Frith, Esq. Types of T. leucura, Blyth. 



e. An adult female in alcohol. No. 270E of Blyth's 

 Catalogue, p. 88. Hilly region bordering on the Sittang 

 River, Tenasserim. Presented by Major Berdmore, 1848. 



f. A young female in alcohol. Khasi Hills. Presented 

 by W. S. Atkinson, Esq., 23rd December 1867. 



g. A natural skeleton. No. 270P of Blyth's Catalogue, p. 

 88. Hilly region bordering on the Sittang River, Tenasserim. 

 Presented by Major Berdmore, 1848. 



h. A natural skeleton. Prepared from a specimen pre- 

 sented by Arthur-Grote, Esq., 4.th July 1868. 



i. A skull : no history, apparently the skull figured by 

 Blyth in the Journal, Asiatic Society, Bengal, vol. xix, 

 1851, pi. iv fig. 1. 



j. Skin of an adult. Naga Hills, Assam, found at 

 an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet above the sea-level. 

 Presented by A. ^\ . Chennell. Esq., 11th April 1875. 



