336 A memoir on the Rats and Mice of India. [No. 4, 
but not rigid. Snout to vent 95 in.; tail 9} im.; head 24 in.; ears 1 im. ; palma 
Zin.; plantal? in.; weight 12 to 15 oz. (Hodgson).” 
“<M. bruaneusculus, H. Lesser Brown Rat of Nepal. Closely resemblirg the 
last, but considerably smaller, as proved by numberless specimens: above 
rusty-brown, below rusty. Extremities pale. Snout to vent 8% in.; tail 9 in.; 
head 24; ears 1; palma —?; planta —?; weight9 to10 oz.” (This as before 
remarked, Dr. Gray assigns dubiously to M. rnpicus, Geoffroy, apud Gray ; nec 
M. indicus apud nos.) 
In the Ann. Mag. N. H., N.S. XVI. (1855), p. 112, Dr. Horsfield 
describes :— 
“ Mus tarayensis, Hodgson. Nearly allied to M. brunneusculus. Colour of the 
body and head above, dark brown, delicately variegated with blackish and 
rufous hairs; a very slight gloss on the surface. Outer sides of the extremities, 
rather darker. Under parts from the chin to the vent, and inner parts of the 
extremities, greyish-brown, with arusty shade, Tail shorter than the body, 
tapering to an abrupt tip.* Head lengthened and compressed, muzzle gradu- 
ally tapering to an abrupt tip— Distinguishing character. A dark-brown surface 
with a slight gloss. Head lengthened. Tail shorter than the body. Underneath 
rusty-grey. Mr. Hodgson’s collection,’ continues Dr. Horsfield, “ contains 
only a single specimen, and further observations are required to confirm the 
distinctness of this species.” 
Mus prurtmammis, Hodgson, ibid. “* Colour above, brown, with a rufescent 
shade; fur soft, consisting of brown and rufous hairs intermixed in equal pro- 
portions, forming an uniform upper surface; a rather obscure band extending 
from the gape over the cheek, terminating under the ears; and the abdomen 
and adjoining parts, rufous-grey. Head proportionally short, muzzle abrupt, 
ears moderate. ‘Tail equal in length to the body, tapering to a sharp point, and 
minutely annulated. Length of the head 23 in.; of the body from the neck 
to the snout 53; of the tail the same.” 
“The distineuishing character, according to Mr. Hodgson,’ remarks Dr. 
Horsfield, “rests on the number of teats exceeding that of other species; but 
the number is not stated!” This is perhaps a GOLUNDA ? 
Dr. Kelaart called “the attention of observers to a yellow reddish-brown 
variety of the common house Rat, found at Trincomali and Batticaloa which 
may probably,” he suggested, “be the Mus decwmanoides of Hodgson :—this 
Rat may be thus described ;—above, dark yellowish-brown, with long thin 
black hairs. Beneath, dingy, or yellowish-ash, with a few long grey hairs: 
Shorter fur of the back very similar to that of I. rufescens, (Gray, v. flavescens, 
Elliot) ; but much darker and of a slight rufous or reddish shade on the ramp 
and posterior limbs. Base of hairs ash. Feet brown; soles purplish. Length 
of head and body 7% in.; tail 8} in.; planta 1,13, in. This is the common 
* Qu. Mutilated and healed? E£. B. 
