64 
SECOND YARKAND MISSION. 
The two specimens in the collection were both procured by Dr. Bellew; (Dr. Stoliczka 
did not traverse the Nnbra valley). They differ so much from each other, that I was for 
a time disposed to consider them as belonging to distinct species, but there is no important 
difference between the skulls. Both were shot in October. The following is the description 
of the older specimen, which I suppose to be still in summer vesture. The skin has been 
slightly stained, and is rather more rufous than it should be. 
General colour rufous brown (very dark-brownish tawny) above, white below; tail 
whitish below, sooty black above; face and anterior surface of ears like the back, tips of ears 
black, the colour running for some distance down the posterior margin. 
Eur soft but short, scarcely an inch long on the middle of the back, very pale brownish 
at the base for about half its length (palest as usual in the middle of the back), then darker 
brown; towards the end pale rufous brown, the extreme tips being frequently black on the 
back. Neck and breast pale rufous ; the basal portion of the hair browner. Head in front 
brown; cheeks rather paler; ears brown in front outside, pale brown behind, black at the tip 
and for some distance down the posterior margin ; hair on the inside of the ear and on the 
anterior margin isabelline. The hair on the head and ears everywhere very short, so that the 
ears are almost naked inside. A light brown band down the front of the fore-leg, the exterior 
portion of thigh and tarsus the same colour: pads darker. Hairs of lower portion and sides 
of tail huffy 1 white throughout, those of the upper surface sooty black near the end, 
blackish ashy towards the base. Length of dried skin from nose to rump 16^; tail with hairs 
at end 4, without 3 ; tarsus to end of claws 2‘75; ears outside, from the head between the ears, 
4'5, from orifice 3 - 5 ; breadth laid flat 2‘25. 
The following is the description of the younger specimen which has been, I think, shot 
whilst assuming the winter coat. In midwinter, however, it would doubtless be paler and 
greyer, its dark brown colour being due to the newness of its fur. This is the specimen 
figured on PI. IV. 
General colour above dusky brown, with an ashy tinge on the rump, lower parts white ; 
tail white, with a broad black band on the upper surface. The fur is very soft and short; the 
hair on the middle of the back being only three-quarters of an inch long, and on the rump 1J. 
The dorsal fur is ashy at the extreme base, then very pale, hair brown; in the longer hairs 
towards the tip there is a dusky ring succeeded by a very pale rufous one, the extreme tip 
being black. Nape and neck above and at the sides pale rufous; breast similar but paler and 
duller. Head dusky brown; the hairs buff and blackish mixed, whitish round the eye and on 
the chin; whiskers mostly black, the apical portion of the longer and a few of the smallest 
lower hairs white. Ears thinly clad near the margins inside with whitish hair; a brown 
band near the posterior edge; the edge itself buff, the anterior edge with longer white hairs, 
anterior external portion of the ear mouse-brown, (finely mixed dusky and buff,) posterior por¬ 
tion very pale-brownish grey. Apex of the ear externally black; a line of the same colour 
runs forward for about an inch from the apex and just outside the posterior margin for about 
half-way dowm the ear. Limbs mostly white, a very light brown stripe down the front of 
the fore-legs. Length of skin (apparently stretched) from nose to rump about 20 inches ; 
ear from head between the ears 4*25, from orifice 3 5; breadth laid flat 2*23 ; tarsus from 
calcaneum to end of claws 4*6. 
1 The colour is probably white, hut the specimen with some others was packed damp and appears to have become stained. On 
this account the specimen has not been figured. 
