48 



SECOND YARKAND MISSION. 



the typical section of true Nesokia, the skull (PL X a, fig. 2, 2a, &c,) is very much broader 

 and shorter than in Mus, and the head consequently has more the form of Arvicola, the brain 

 case is especially short and broad, the muzzle short, the anterior palatine foramina compara- 

 tively short and narrow, both molars and incisors are very broad and the worn surface of the 

 former composed of transverse laminae. The hinder margin of the palatine bones is much 

 thickened. The tail is comparatively short (except in N. scullyi), and the claws are flattened 

 and peculiarly adapted for digging. In all these characters the second section forms a 

 transition between typical Nesokia and the bandicoots, so that there is a complete series of 

 gradations from an extreme form like N. scullyi to a typical rat like Mus decumanus. In 

 N. blythiana and its allies (PL X a, fig. 1, la, &c.,) the molars are more distinctly transversely 

 laminated, and both they and the incisors are broader than in Mus, although the teeth are 

 inferior in all these characters to those of the typical group of Nesokia ; the skull is not so 

 broad as in the latter, nor are the anterior palatine foramina so short, but still the skull is 

 much broader and shorter, and the anterior palatine foramina much narrower than in true 

 Mus. The tail in this section of Nesokia is but little shorter than the head and body, and 

 the claws are more compressed than in N. hardwickei and its allies. 



I quite agree with Dr. Anderson that if, as he appears to have ascertained satisfactorily, 

 the Mus indicus of Geoffroy is a typical Mus, the name indica is inapplicable to the common 

 Nesokia of Bengal, for, as he has also shewn, the Arvicola indica of Gray and Hardwicke's 

 " Illustrations of Indian Zoology " agrees better with Nesokia hardwickei, with which it was 

 identified by Gray. Dr. Anderson also considers that the Arvicola bengalensis of the same 

 publication represents the long-tailed Bengal Nesokia. If the fact that these two figures 

 represent the two species of Nesokia can be satisfactorily established, N. hardwickei must, 

 I think, stand as N. indica, and this will be inconvenient, because the name has been generally 

 applied, for at least 16 years, to a distinct species. The long-tailed species, N. indica of Blyth 

 and Jerdon, N. blythiana of Anderson, would in the same way retain the oldest name of 

 N. bengalensis. But the figures in Gray and Hardwicke's " Illustrations " are by no means 

 sufficiently good to render it at all certain what species is represented. There is still, however, 

 much probability that one or more of the names given by Mr. Hodgson, Mus hydrophilus, 

 M. pyctorhis, M. macropus, or M. plurimammis, may apply to the Bengal Nesokia, and if so, 

 such name will take precedence of N. blythiana. 



I am also inclined to think Dr. Anderson right in separating N. providens, the South 

 Indian form, from his N. blythiana. As regards the distinction of N. bar clay ana, however, I 

 am disposed to suspend my judgment. Dr. Anderson has examined the two animals alive and 

 has compared a much larger series than I have, so I adopt his nomenclature, but I cannot 

 help doubting whether N. barclayana is more than a local variety of N. blythiana, differing 

 slightly in colour, and being of a rather more yellowish-brown tint, owing to its inhabiting a 

 drier climate. The differences by which the two species are distinguished besides colour are 

 small, and consist of a shorter muzzle, larger, longer and more arched skull, and relatively 

 broader nasals in N. barclayana. The last character is noted as variable and the difference in 

 size is not sufficient for specific distinction, even if it be constant ; but the skull of N. barclay- 

 ana does appear a little more arched. My impression is that the latter is merely a variety ; 

 but I may be mistaken. 



The Srinagar specimens collected by Dr. Stoliczka have very harsh, coarse fur, yellowish- 

 brown on the back and yellowish- grey below. I think, however, these skins are slightly 

 stained, and that when fresh the yellow tinge was not so marked. The fur on the back 



