44 



MURID^. 



Nesokia. — Incisors very broad, finely scrnlptured in frotit ; moTairs 

 eomposed of transverse lamina ; size large ; form stout and heavy ; 

 tail rather short ; fur coarse, not spiny. 



The following chaFacters of the Sind species are given by Mr. Oldfield 

 Thomas : — 



I. Anterior palatine foramina much shorter than the upper molar 



series. Mammae 8 M. (iV.) Hardwickii, 



II. Anterior palatine foramina as long as, or longer than, the 



molar series. ManamEB 14 — 18 M. (N) Bengalensis. 



III. Palatine foramina as in 11., though rather more open behind. 

 Mammae 12 M. (N) bandicota. 



Mus (Nesokia) Hardwickii, Oray, A. and M. N. H. x., p. 



265.; Anders. J. A. 8.B.-s\.-v\i.,T(). 22\, 1878. Arvicola indica, Gray 

 and Hard. III. Ind. Zool. i, pi. xi. Mus Hardwickii, Gray, Charlesw. 

 Mag. N. H. i, p. 585. Thomas, P. Z. 8. p. 524, 1881. Var Huttonii; 

 Mus Huttoni. Blyth, J. A. 8. B. xv., p. 139. M. (N) Huttoni, Anderson. 

 1. c. p. 223. Neaokia Huttoni, Blanf. East. Pers. p. 59, pi. vi. fig. 1. 



Fur variable in quality. Above yellowish brown, or bright rufous ; 

 dirty white or dull yellow below. In the variety 

 Huttoni the fur is long and soft, of a bright 

 rufous colour, and the hind feet are longer than 

 in HardivicMi. Head short and bluff; muzzle 

 broad and deep. Eye situated about half way 

 between the ear and the end of the muzzle. 

 Ears not large, rounded, semi-nude, but clad with 

 minute hairs. Tail variable, ringed, nearly nude, 

 less clad with minute hairs; upper surface of 

 the feet sparsely clad. Fur generally soft and 

 moderately long, (or silky in var Huttoni) and 

 somewhat harsh sometimes. Pelage, of three 

 kinds of hairs, short underlying fur, and ordinary 

 hairs, intermixed among which on the dorsal 

 and sacral regions are numerous long black hairs 



visible beyond the length of the fur. Skull stout and strong. Teeth 

 more rounded than in other species. 



Length.— Resid and body 5-9" to 7*, tail 3-8'' to 4-5'', hind foot 1-45*. 

 The specimens from Lower Sind appear from comparative measure- 

 ments given by Mr. Thomas to be smaller than those of Upper Sind, 

 and the Beloochistan specimens of Huttoni larger than either the 

 Lower Sind or Upper Sind specimens. 



Hab. — Sind, Punjab, N. W. P., Beloochistan, Persia a,nd Afghanistan. 



Mus (Nesokia) Bengalensis ; Arvicola Bengalensis, Gray and 

 Hard. III. Ind., Zool. ii., p. 21. Nesokia Indica, Blyth, J. A, 8. B. 

 xxxii., p. 328; ,Jerd. Mam. Ind. pi. 187. Mus (N) Blytbianus, 

 Anderson, J. A. 8. B. 47, p. 227, pi. xiii. Mus (N) Barclayanus, 

 Anderson 1. c, p. 229, pi. xiii,, fig. i. to 1. 



Sbttll of 



Nesokia Hardwickii, 



Bat. size. 



