MUS. 59 



Nesokia sp ? 



Nesokia sp ? Anderson J. A. S. B., xlvii, p. 225 (1878). 



Distribution. — Muscat. 



a. Ale. skull $ juv. Muscat, Persian Gulf, J. E. T. Aitchison. 

 6-4-72. 



Genus MUS. 

 Mus, Linnaeus Syst. Nat., 12th ed., i, p. 79 (1766). 



In the following account of the Indian rats and mice Thomas' 

 paper (P. Z. S., 1881) has been followed with such additions as are 

 necessary to include the few Assamese and Burmese forms not 

 found in India proper. The key is also founded on Thomas' 

 key. 



Key of the Indian Species. 



a. Hind-foot with six well defined foot-pads, 



b. Large four to nine inches in length, except M, erythrotis ; 

 proximal hind-foot pad elongated. 



c. Whole tail covered with short hairs, upper side of tail dark ; 

 mammae 8 to 12 in number. 



d. Tail dark above and below. 



el Tail shorter than the head and body ; 10 to 12 mammae ; 

 hind-foot I'S to 17 in. M. decumanus, p. 6i. 



e^. Tail longer than the head and body. 



/. Anterior edge of zygoma-root with a rounded 

 angle above; 10 to 12 mammae. 



g. Large, head arid body about 9 inches. 



M. bowersii, p. 62. 



^. Medium, head and body from 5 to 8 inches ; 

 hind-foot, V2 to r4. in. 



M. rattusand its allies, p. 62. 



g''. Small, head and body between 4 and 5 inches ;. 

 hind-foot, -90 in. M, concolor, p. 68. 



/^. Anterior edge of zygoma-root nearly perpendi- 

 cular; hind-foot '95 to I'oj. 



M. fulvescens, p. 69.. 



d^. Tail sharply bicolor, dark above, white below ; mammae 

 8 in number. 



