192 iruEiifjE. 



of its feet, and also by the fine pelage and proportions of hydrophilus ; 

 aboTe smoky-black, below smoky gray ; legs dark. Length, head and body 

 1\ inches ; tail 6 ; ears l-j^j-th ; palm 1 (?) ; planta li|-ths." 



Blyth examined the specimen of Hydrophilus in the British Museum, 

 and writes me that the " fur is soft, much finer than in Indicus ;" so that 

 we must conclude that this rat of Hodgson, is certainly distinct from 

 Nesohia indica ; and if the dimensions of the ear and feet are correct, also 

 from Sardwickei. 



I recently examined a single specimen of a field rat, Nesokia, procured 

 by Colonel Tytler in Umballa. It has the incisors white, fur fine and soft, 

 the hairs fawn-brown above, plumbeous at base, mixed with some long, 

 slender, white, bristly hairs ; the tail almost quite nude ; whiskers mostly 

 black, slender, some of them white. 



Length, head and body 5 inches, taU 3|- ; ears f ths nearly ; palm |ths ; 

 hind-feet 1^. 



This differs from Huttoni vel Ilardwickei in the incisors being white, and 

 in the long hairs being white in place of brown, black-tipped. It also differs 

 from the description of M. hydrophilus in the white incisors, but agrees with 

 it in other characters ; but as I only have seen one specimen, it would be pre- 

 mature to increase the Hst of names of this perplexing group. It certainly 

 differs conspicuously from Nesokia indica ; though it approaches most 

 nearly to Gray's description oi M? pyctoris, from the British Museum 

 specimen, already alluded to. "Fur soft, dark brown, minutely gray- 

 varied, with scattered narrow white bristles ; lower cutting teeth very- 

 narrow, rounded in front, middle of belly whitish ; tail very slightly hairy. 

 Length, head and body 7 inches ; hind-feet 1-f^ ; tail ij." The most 

 obvious difference is the slightly larger foot of the UmbaUa specimen. 



From the above notices and descriptions, it appears to me obvious that 

 besides Nesokia Hardwichei and N. indica, there is at least one other 

 species of this group in northern India, but, with the few specimens hither- 

 to examined, it is at present impossible to decide whether the differences 

 noted depend on imperfect descriptions, nonage, or are of specific value. 



The next group is that of the true rats. 



Gen. Mus, L. (restricted). 



Char. — Incisors usually smooth in front. Ears more or less rounded, 

 somewhat naked, exsert. Tail long, scaly, usually thinly haired. Other- 

 wise as in the characters of the sub -family. 



