49 



Gerbillus persicus. 



Gerbillus persieus, Blanford Ann. Mag, N.N. (4), xvi, p. 312 (187S); id. 

 Persia, p. 66, pi. vii, fig. i. 



Distribution. — Persian plateau north and south. 



This species is allied to G. indicus ; it is distinguished by its 

 dusky greenish soles, the absence of the dark line below the tail, 

 and by its skull. In G. indicus the part of the skull above the 

 foramen magnum when viewed from behind exceeds in height the 

 vertical extent of the foramen magnum itself ; in G. persicus the re- 

 verse holds good. The specimen "c" in the list below has a 

 hairy tarsus and is doubtfully referred to G. persicus. 



Gerbillus erythrurus. 



Gerbillus erythrourus, Gray Ann. Mag. N. H., x, p. 266 (1842) ; Huiton 

 J. A. S. B., XV, p. 139; Horsfield Cat. E. J. Mus., p. 150 ; Blanford 

 Persia, p. 70; Danford and Alston, P. Z. S., 1880, p. 60. 



Gerbillus sp., Scully J. A. S. B., Ivi, p. 71 (1887). 



Distribution. — Afghan Turkistan and Afghanistan proper ex- 

 tending south to Kandahar and west to South Persia. 



There seems to be no reason why the Balkh Gerbille should 

 not be referred to G. erythrurus ; the skin agrees very well with 

 those of this species in the Museum and the skull has the same 

 extraordinarily inflated tympanic bulla so characteristic of 

 G, erythrurus, and also resembles it in other respects. 



a. Skin and skull ^ Shirar, 4,720 ft. Sir O. St. John. 



b. Skin Afghanistan (Griffiths) India Mus., London. 



