42 
SECOND YAKKAND MISSION. 
1852. According to Blasins 1 A. leucurus, Gerbe, is identical with A. nivalis, Martins, 
(Hypudveus alpinus, Wagner), so that those naturalists who do not consider that a name 
need he altered if the same specific term, given previously, does not stand, may retain 
Blyth’s name for the present species. At the same time it is objectionable, for this vole 
cannot rightly be said to have a white tail. 
There is another species recently described by Severtzoff as A. lemur a 2 from Western 
Turkestan ; the name of this form, if really distinct, will also, I think, require alteration. 
In general colouration and characters, length of tail and form of teeth, A. blythi is 
very near A. manclarinus 3 from Chinese Mongolia; but differs in its much larger ears, in 
the tail not being so dark above, and slightly in the shape of the teeth. In A. mandarinus 
the posterior portion of the last upper molar is shewn to be less developed, and the hind¬ 
most inner salient angle much blunter; the anterior inner angle of the first tooth in the 
lower jaw is also less developed, and all the prisms of that tooth broader and thicker. 
The solitary skin referred to Arvicola roylei in the Asiatic Society’s Museum has been 
mislaid, and its identification, if it came from Bind Dadun Khan, 1 2 3 4 is very doubtful; but 
the species was described originally 5 as rufous-grey above and grey beneath; and Jerdon 6 
calls it ashy-brown above, pale brownish-ashy below. The second and third lower molars 
are said to have three equal folds on each side ; 7 8 whilst the hindmost upper jnolar is 
described as elongate, narrow, with three slight folds on each side and an elongate lobe 
behind. I have an Arvicola from Murree agreeing with the description of A. roylei in 
external characters; but the posterior upper molar has but two folds on each side. As, 
however, there may be an error in the original description, I am not sure that the species 
is really distinct. A species of Arvicola has been described by A. Milne-Edwards from 
Eastern Tibet under the name of A. melano g aster ? Another species is Neodon sikkimensis, 
the genus Neodon, as was pointed out in a note to a preceding page, being founded upon 
characters of no generic value. This species, though attributed to Hodgson, was never 
described by him; the genus was announced, but without any definite characters being- 
pointed out, by Horsfield, 9 and it appears to have been first definitely described in Jerdon’s 
Mammals of India. 10 
30. Arvicola stoliczkanlis. PI. VIII, Eig 1; Pl. Xb, Eig 2. 
W. Blanf., J. A. S. B., 1875, xliv, Pt. 2, p. 107. 
A. supra Icete fusco-rufescens, sive sordide ferruginous, subtus albus ; vellere molU, 
longiusculo, ad basin schistaceo, palmis tetradactylis, plantis pentadactylis nudis brevibus, 
tarsis subtus pilis indutis, auriculis parvis e vellere baud emergentibus, rotundatis, caudd 
1 Archiv. f. Naturgesch. 1856, Pt. 1, p. 261. 
2 Turk. Jev. p. 82 ; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 4, Yol. xviii, p. 52. 
3 A. Milne-Edwards, Recherches Mamm., i., p. 129, PI. XII, XIII. 
4 Blyth, Cat. Mam. Mus. As. Soc. p. 125. 
5 Gray, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1842, x, p. 265. 
6 Mam., p. 216. 
7 Gray, 1. c. 
8 Rech. Mamm., p. 284, PL XLIY, XLYI a. ■ . 
9 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 2, iii, p. 203. 
90 p. 216. 
