854 



Of a new species of Lagomys inhabiting Nepal, (with Plate,) — Lagomys Nepalen- 

 sis, Nob. JBy B. H. Hodgson, Esq. Resident at the Court of Nepal. 



Two fine specimens, male and female, lately received from Gosainthan, 

 enable me to add the genus Lagomys to the Catalogue of Nepalese Mam- 

 mals, and it may be remarked as characteristic of the enormous and sud- 

 den inequalities of elevation proper to this kingdom, that the tropical ge- 

 nus Rhizomys, and the arctic genus Lagomys, have been taken within 

 40 miles of each other. 



The specimens of the latter genus just procured by me, were shot by my 

 hunters on the margin of the sacred lake whence the Trisal Ganga River 

 issues, and close to the verge of perpetual congelation. There were but a 

 pair, of which both were obtained, as they moved about in the vicinity of the 

 small natural cavity, or rocky fissure, that formed their abode. Their sto- 

 machs were full of fresh vegetable matter, like the contents of a hare's belly, 

 nor was there near their abode any evidence of the hoarding propensities 

 of the genus, or of a habit of digging for food. The height of the summer 

 being the season at which the animals were taken, may explain the former 

 circumstance however, but not the latter, and though it is said that these 

 Rat-Hares dig for their food occasionally, I fancy this must be a mistake. 



My species appears to be nearly allied to Roylii, and possibly may be iden- 

 tical, but I think not, and shall therefore give a summary description of 

 it, which with the beautiful drawing of my painter, will serve at once 

 to decide this specific distinctness or otherwise. Gosainthan, where 

 the pair were killed, is not above 30 miles north of Catmandoo. No 

 European has ever visited it ; but as it is on the verge of the perpe- 

 tual snow line, it cannot be much less than 16,000 feet above the sea. 



The male of the pair is seven inches long from snout to vent, and 

 the female half an inch less. The general appearance of the species is that 

 of a Guinea-pig, but the natives of India, who know no such animal, liken 

 it to a Rat, and as its Leporine teeth and soles (of the feet) are not obtru- 

 sive signs, the association of it to the Murine race seems natural enough. 

 Its general likeness, for instance, to the Rhizomys or Bamboo Rat is very 

 noticeable, particularly as the latter is apt to hide its tail. But a nice ob- 

 server will at once mark the greater superior massiveness of the head in 

 Rhizomys, together with the smaller eyes and ears, and will not be slow to 

 refer these peculiarities to the highly fossorial habits of that genus. 



Our present subject which, we shall name provisionally " Nepalensis," has 

 a moderate hare-like head, but ears quite similar to those of the common 

 Rat, with the exception of that small internal process near the conch, 



