MUS UBBANUS. 203 



Colonel Sykes merely observes that, " it constructs its nest of leaves of 

 oleraceous herbs in the fields." This I have not observed myself, but 

 had once a nest sent to me at Trichinopoly, said to have been found in a 

 garden on feome low shrub. 



Hodgson's descriptions agree well enough with the characters of this 

 mouse. He merely observes that it frequents woods and coppices. 



185. Mus nilagiricus. 



Jerdon. — New species ? 



The Neelgherry Tree-mouse. 



Descr. — Above deep but bright chesnut-brown, beneath bright fawn- 

 yellow, with a distinct line of demarcation between the two colors ; head 

 rather elongated ; ears long, oval : tail somewhat hairy. 



Length of one head and body, Sf inches ; tail 5 ; head IJ^; ear j^ths. 



I have on several occasions fomid this tree-mouse in woods on the 

 summit of the Neelgherries, near Ootacamund. The first I observed was 

 brought into the house by a cat. I afterwards on two or three occasions 

 found the nest, a mass of leaves and grass, on shrubs and low trees, from 4 

 to 6 feet from the ground, and on one occasion it was occupied by at least 

 eight or ten apparently full-grown mice. 



Blyth has Mus badius and Mus peguensis, of this group from Burmah, 

 and M. gliroides from the Khasia hills. Gray has also described Mus 

 castaneus, from the Philippine islands, similar in color to the Neelgherry 

 mouse. 



The following group chiefly comprises house-mice, and perhaps a few 

 field ones. It has been named Musculus by Hodgson and others. 



186. Mus urbanus. 



HoDOsoN. — Blyth, Cat. p. 118.— if. musculus apud Elliot, Cat. 39, 

 and Kblaart. — M. dubius, Hodgson. — M. manei, Gray (undescribed). • 



The Common Indian-mouse. 



Descr. — Above dusky reddish-brown, below paler 'and more or less 

 rufescent ; feet paler. 



Length of one, head and body, 2| ; tail 3| ; head iJ^ths; earJ^ths; 

 palm §ths; sole \ : of another, 3 ; tail 4. 



