3 ^ 
FASCICULI MALATENSES 
CHRYSOCOMUS GROUP 
Mus chrysocomus, Hofnin. Abh. Mus. Dresd. iii, p. 20 (1887). Celebes. 
Mus ruber, Jentink, Notes Leyden Mus, ii, p. 18 (1879). Guinea. 
Mus baluensis, Thos. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) xiv, p. 454 (1894). Kina Balu, Borneo. 
Mus fratrorum, Thos. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) xviii, p. 246 (1896). Rurukan, Celebes. 
Mus datae, Meyer, Abh. Mus. Dresd. vii, p. 25 (1899). Phillipines. 
The following six species are very distinct from all those that have gone 
before as well as from each other. They are merely noted here to show that 
they have been taken into consideration when making out the above list. 
Mus mettada, Gray, Charlsw. Mag. Nat. Hist, i, p. 586 (1837). Madras. 
Mus gleadowi, Murray, P.Z.S. 1885, p. 805, pi. li. W. India. 
Mus blanfordi, Thos. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5) vii, p. 24 (1881). S. India. 
Mus humei, Thos. P.Z.S. 1886, p. 63, pi. v. Manipur. 
Mus annandalci, Bonhote, antea, p. 30. S. Perak. 
Mus coelestis, Thos. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) xviii, p. 248 (1896). S. Celebes. 
I append a few notes to shew the distinguishing characters of some of 
the species and subgroups. 
The Edwardsi group are large rats of a dark colour, their fur intermixed with spines of 
medium stiffness. In M. edtvardsi and M. siporanus the tail is bicolor and has the terminal 
third white. In M. ciliatus it is uniformly dark. In the original description of M. siporanus 
Mr. Thomas was inclined to consider it as allied to M. macleari ; a comparison of the skulls, 
however, clearly shews it to belong to the Jerdoni group. I have pointed this out to Mr. 
Thomas, who concurs in the view here expressed. 
SabanUS group. M. sabanus is slightly smaller than the rats in the above group, and 
lighter in colour, especially about the shoulders. The tail is very long, bicolor, and with the 
tip w^hite. 
Jerdoni group. Smaller and much brighter in colour than individuals of the former 
groups. The fur in this group is much longer and softer than in all the others, being 
especially so in M. fulvescens and M. caudatior, which are synonyms. In M. coxingi, however, 
although the fur is very long it is very thickly interspersed with stiff spines. Tail moderately 
long and bicolor. 
The Nivei venter group closely resembles the last, but the fur is shorter and very spiny, 
especially in the case of M. niveiventer, where it is of a dull greyish brown on the back. They 
are all slightly smaller than the Jerdoni group, and the tail is shorter in proportion and 
bicolor. 
The Rajah group contains rats slightly paler in colour than those of the Jerdoni 
group. They are intermediate in size, between the Jerdoni and Sabanus groups, and the fur 
is thickly beset with spines. Tail only slightly longer than the head and body, bicolor, and 
white for about an inch at the tip. 
The Cremoriventer group is composed of smaller rats than the previous ones. Fur 
light yellow, thickly interspersed with spines. Tail of moderate length, unicolor. 
