324 EODENTIA. 



the position which it occupies in H. pridnosus, Blyth, and much more so than in 

 It. baclins, Hodgson, so that the capacity of the posterior section of the brain- 

 case is relatively reduced to what that part attains in B. badius, Hodgson. The 

 contraction occurs opposite to the posterior third of the zygomatic fossa in the adult, 

 while in M. pridnosus it occupies the middle of that area. The nasals are more or 

 less pointed posteriorly, and the premaxillary suture with the frontal, is anterior to 

 their ends and nearly transverse. The muzzle is of variable breadth according to 

 age and is perhaps also influenced by difference of sex, as adult skulls are met with 

 in which it is broad ia some and narrower in others. 



This species extends from the Malayan peninsula northwards to Siam, where it 

 has been obtained to the north of Bangkok.^ 



Ehizomts erythkogents, n. s. Plate XIIIA. 



Quite recently, a living adult female bamboo-rat has been received by the 

 Zoological Gardens, Calcutta, from Mr. A. H. Hildebrand, Assistant Commissioner, 

 Burma. No details regarding the habitat of the animal have been as yet received, 

 beyond that it had been found in the Salwin Hill Tracts. 



McLelland's description of R. cinereus does not agree with this specimen, 

 and is more applicable to R. sumatrensis. I have therefore indicated this species 

 by its most distinctive feature, viz., its light red cheeks. I should not have done so 

 on this an isolated example, but on looking over the specimens of bamboo-rats 

 in the Indian Museum, I found a specimen, the counterpart of this living animal, 

 apparently specifically distinct from R. sumatrensis. This specimen came from 

 Tenasserim. 



This form is distinguished from >S'. sumatrensis by its bright golden-red cheeks 

 and sides of the head generally, by the absence of white spots on the forehead, and 

 by the dark iron-grey of the upper parts (many of the hairs being white-tipped) 

 becoming almost black on the top of the head, where it abruptly ceases between 

 the eyes in a sharp well-defined point. The upper lip, chin, and upper part of 

 throat are white, also the chest and belly, which are, however, more or less tinged 

 with grey and reddish. The lower portion of throat is dark- grey. The feet are 

 sparsely clad and leaden coloured, except the toes of hind foot, which are fleshy 

 wliite. The tail is rather thick at the base, quite naked, not scaly, and of a leaden 

 hue. Claws rather broad and moderately strong. 



Measurements of the living adult ? specimen. 



Inches. 



Tip of nose to ending of hair over root of tail ......... 14'75 



Ending of hair of body to tip of tail 5-35 



Length of hind foot 2'56 



Height of ear O'SO 



Breadth of ear Q-g4 



Tip of nose to anterior angle of eye \%\ 



' Recherches des Mammif. p, 295. 



