74 



SECOND Y ARK AND MISSION. 



The skull of L. ladacensis differs entirely from those of L. roylei and L. rufescens, and 

 appears to approach those of L. alpinus and L. ogotona} As in the last named species, 

 the maxillary hones approach each other so as nearly, but not quite, to isolate the front portion 

 of the anterior palatine opening from the longer portion between the anterior molars. The 

 nasals are much narrower behind than in front, and rather convex anteriorly ; the orbits close 

 together, the sinciput flattened, the occipital plane low and broad, and the rows . of upper 

 molar teeth considerably curved inwards in front. 



The following are dimensions of a skull : — 





Metre. 



Inches. 



Total length . . . . . . . 



•048 



1-9 



Breadth across zygomatic arches ...... 



•024 



0-95 



Do. between orbits ........ 



•0035 



0-14 



Length of nasal bones ........ 



•016 



0-62 



Breadth of do. behind at posterior end of premaxillaries 



•0035 



0-14 



Do. do. in front where broadest . . . . 



•006 



0-24 



Longitudinal diameter of bony orbit including temporal portion . 



•014 



0-55 



Transverse diameter of do. ...... 



•0105 



0-43 



Length of 5 molars in upper jaw taken together 



•01 



0-4 



Distance from anterior molar to hinder incisor 



•012 



0-45 



Breadth of palate between last pair of molars 



•008 



0-32 



Length of palate behind palatine opening . . . . . 



•002 



0-08 



Length of palatine opening ...... 



•014 



0-55 



Breadth of do. behind ...... 



•004 



017 



Length of lower jaw from angle to symphysis . 



•033 



1-29 



Height of do. ........ 



•019 



0-75 



Unfortunately Dr. Giinther has only described the external characters of the true L. curzonia, 

 and it is uncertain whether the skull is like that of L. ladacensis or that of L. roylei, &c, 

 but the latter is more probable. 



To the account of the distribution of this Lagomys already quoted from Dr. Stoliczka, 

 it is only necessary to add that it appears to be extremely common on the plateau north of 

 Ladak. It was not observed in the Indus Valley, nor on the Pankong lake, nor is it noticed 

 in Dr. Stoliczka's diary before reaching Chagra, north of the Pankong lake. 



47. Lagomys aueitus. PI. VI, S fig. 2 ; PI. Vila, fig. 2. 



W. Blanf., J. A. S. B., 1875, xliv, Pt. 2, p. 111. 



L. supeme sordide fulvus fusco-lavatus, capite humerisque rufescentibus, auriculis magnis. 

 rotundatis, pilis isabellinis indutis, vellere molli, pilis basin versus nigrescenti-plumbeis, 

 apices versus in dorso lateribusque isabellinis, fusco-terminatis, subtus albis. Long, (in corio 

 dessicato) tola circiter 7'5, cranii 1'8, auris 1, tarsi 1' 2 poll. 



1, skin ; 2, skeleton, with flat skin ; Lukong, on the Pankong lake. 



General colour above smoky or wood-brown ; the head, shoulders and rump rather paler 

 and more rufous ; lower parts whitish, with the dark basal portion of the hair shewing through. 



1 This species is made the type of a distinct genus, Ogotona, by Gray, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1867, Ser. '3, xx, p. 220. The 

 characters given, entirely drawn from the skull, appear to he scarcely of generic value. 

 3 See foot-note p. 71. 



