B02 A memoir on the Rats and Mice of India. [No. 4, 
with under the roots of trees. We have not been so fortunate as to 
see many fresh specimens ; only one was brought to us from Kadu- 
ganava: a premium is set by some coffee-planters on the heads of these 
rodents. The Malabar coolies are very fond of eating them roasted, 
or fried in oil.” 
G. MitTapA, Gray, WZ. WN. H., 2nd series, I. (1837), p. 586. 
“Length of body and head 43 in. Fur very soft, mouse-coloured 
varied with black; chin, and beneath, whitish. Under-fur lead-co- 
loured, with very numerous soft brown hairs having long black tips; 
of the belly white, with brownish tips. Lars large, hairy. Whiskers 
very slender, long. ‘Tail shorter than the body, scaly, covered with 
short adpressed black hairs, hiding the scales. Feet pale ; claws white. 
Tnhabits Bombay. Lives in cracks in the black soil, in pairs; and 
are often crushed, when the rain, or cultivation, obliterates the cracks.” 
Syn. Mus lanuginosus, Elliot, Madr. Jown. Lat. Sc. X. (1839), p. 212. “ Metta- 
de of the Waddurs. The name adopted to designate this species is taken from 
the word Mettade, meaning sott, in allusion to its fur, which is fine and soft, 
mettanu meaning soft in Telegu. It is about half the size of M. rnpicus, which 
it somewhat resembles. The head is short, but the muzzle, instead of beine 
square and truncated is sharp ; the ears are larger in proportion and more ovate. 
The general form is not so stout. The tail is shorter than the body. The co- 
lour above is reddish-brown, with a mixture of fawn ; lighter beneath, close and 
soft, with a few longer hairs projecting. A large adult male measured—length of 
body 5,8 in. ; of tail 4,3, ; total 9,,; of head 1,4; of ear 8. Weight 23 oz.” 
For description of habits, vede Elliot, foc. cit. I have not yet seen 
this species. 
G. NewnRaA, Kelaart, dnn. MW. N. H., 2nd series, VIII. (1851), 
p. 839. Length of body and head 8] in. ; tail 23 in. Fur soft, yellow- 
ish-brown varied with black; chin and beneath yellowish-grey; un- 
der-fur dark lead colour; soft long hairs on the upper parts of the 
head and body, with longer black-tipped hairs having a subterminal 
yellowish band ; fur of belly dark lead-colour, tipped with yellowish- 
grey ; ears large, hairy on both sides, of a light rusty or ashy colour ; 
whiskers slender, moderately long, some greyish, others blackish ; 
tail shorter than the body, tapering to a point, scaly ; upper surface 
of a black colour and covered with short semi-adpressed black hair ; 
lower surface yellow or ashy colour, covered with short hair of the 
same yellow colour; feet having dark brown claws, purplish, four toes 
