LEGGADA LEPIDA. 209 



196. Leggada Jerdoni. 



Blyth, Cat. p. 121. — Memoir on Rats, &c. 



The Himalayan Spiny Field-mouse. 



Descr. — Above bright dark ferruginous, pure white below ; some fine 

 long black tips intermingled among the spines of the back ; limbs marked 

 with blackish externally ; the feet white. 



Length 4 inches ; tail 3^ ; hind-feet |ths. 



I procured specimens of this large field-mouse at Darjeeling ; and lately 

 in the yalley of the Sutlej in Kunawur, at an elevation of nearly 12,000 

 feet, living under large stones. 



137. Leggada lepida. 



Mus apud Elliot, Cat. 41. — Leggada booduga, Gray. — Chitta bur- 

 kani, Chit yelka, Chitta ganda, Tel., of Wuddurs. — Chitta yelka, Tel., 

 of Yanadees. 



The Small Spiny-mouse. 



Descr. — Above pale sandy brown, pure white below, separated from 

 the upper color by an exact Une. The spines are small, fine, transparent, 

 and of a dusky tinge tipt with fawn. The head very long, and muzzle 

 pointed. Ear large ovate, naked. Tail naked. Limbs rather long, fine. 



Length of a large individual, head and body 2^°^ inches ; tail 2-^. 



This pretty little mouse lives in pairs ia the red soil, but sometimes a 

 pair of young ones is found in the same burrow with the old ones. 



I have found this species in gravelly soU, in gardens and in woods, in 

 most parts of Southern Lidia, making a small burrow, which generally has 

 a Httle heap of stones placed at a short distance from the hole. It is preyed 

 on now and then by the common Indian roller or jay, and it is very 

 generally used as a bait to catch that bird with bird-lime. 



Near these spined mice perhaps should come the " curious spiny-rat of 

 south Malabar," which Mr. Blyth considered as belonging to the dormouse 

 family, Myoxidce, but which location Professor Peters has recently* called 

 in question, stating it to be a true Murine type. 



• Proc. Zool. Soo. 1865. 



