78 SECOND YARKAND MISSION. 
A comparison of these measurements with those given for L. auritus will show how ^ 
close they are to each other ; the principal distinction being that in L. griseus the nasals 
broader behind, and the posterior portion of the palatine opening is much more open 
L. auritus. There are also important external differences between the two species ; the 
in L. griseus is longer and rather softer ; it is especially longer on the face, and has al 
basal portion in that region black, whilst in L. auritus the basal portion of the hairs on 
head is light-grey. The general colour of the two species, too, is quite different, L. 
being brown, whilst L. griseus is grey. liffef 8 
From L. macrotis the present species is distinguished by colour, and the skull ^ 
in the same characters as it does from that of L. auritus; the nasal bones being 
behind and the posterior portion of the palatine opening more open. The bony orbits also 
rather smaller in L. griseus. , oa tl 
The nasal bones of L. griseus approach in shape those of L. roylei, being nearly as 
behind as in front, but they are longer. gU b- 
It appears possible that L. auritus, L. griseus, and L. macrotis are all races on ^ 
species of one "typical form just as L. roylei, L. nipalensis, and L. tibetanus appear 
All these forms are very closely connected. ^ eS t 
The other species of Lagomys known from Asia are L. roylei, 1 from the Nortn- ■ 
Himalayas, L. hodgsoni • from the same region, considered subsequently by its &es 
identical with L. roylei, L. nipalensis , 3 from Nipal, and L. curzonice 4 from the Cliumbi 
north-east of Sikkim. By Mr. Waterhouse 5 L. nipalensis was considered a distinct eg ^ 
but Mr. Blyth 6 united it, as well as his own species L. hodgsoni, to L. roylei. As 
under L. ladacensis Dr. Stoliczka, in 1864, 7 identified the common Lagomys of LadaK 
L. curzonice, but the species occurring in Sikhim was found to agree better 8 with Mr- 
son’s description than the Ladak form did, and I consequently suggested that the latter ^ ^ 
prove to be an undescribed species, whilst I was disposed to consider the true L. y 
a variety of L. roylei. Dr. Gunther has, however, 9 recently examined the species repr 000 ^ 
in the British Museum, and he considers L. curzonice a well marked and distinct species, 
from his description I am inclined to doubt if the Sikkim form is really L. curzonice. ^ 
An additional species has been admirably described and figured from Moupin in 
Tibet by A. Milne-Edwards 10 under the name of L. tibetanus : this, however, appears 
closely allied to L. roylei and L. nipalensis. u jc 
The above are all from the Himalayan ranges and Tibet, but the genus is also ^ ^ 
presented in Northern Asia, where the three oldest known species occur. These w C * ^ 
cribed as long ago as 1778 by Pallas 11 as Lepus pusillus, L. alpmus, and L. ogotona ; * j 0 { 
from the Southern Ural, the second from the Altai, and the third from the neighbour 1 ^ ^ 
Lake Baikal and the deserts of Mongolia. To these a fourth was added by Pallas 
1 Ogilby in Boyle’s illustrations of the Botany. &c., of the Himalayan Mountains, p. lxix. ph 4. 
2 Blyth, J. A. S. B„ 1841, x, p. 816, PI. at p. 844. 
3 Hodgson, J. A. S. B., 1841, x, p. 854, PI. at p. 816. 
4 Hodgson, J. A. S. B., 1857, xxvi., p. 207. 
3 Mam., ii, p. 24. 
3 Cat. Mam. Mus. As. Soc., p. 133. 
7 J. A. S. B., 1865, xxxiv, pt. 2, p. 108. 
8 J. A. S. B„ 1872, xli, p. 35. 
a Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 4, xvi, p. 230. 
10 Rech. Mammiferes, i, p. 314, PI. XLVII1 and XLIX. 
n Glires, pp. 28-70, Tab. I, II, III and IV. 
12 Zoog. Ros. As., i, p, 152. 
I 
