OCR Text |
Show 1904.] MOUSE-IIARES OF THE GENUS OCHOTONA. 2 1 7 1875); id. J. A. S. B. xlvi. p. 326 (1877); id. Yark. Mamm. p. 74, pi. vi. fig. 2, pi. vii a. fig. 2 (1879). Lagomys griseus Blanford, J. A. S. B. vol. xliv. p. I l l (Oct. 1875); id. Yark. Mamm. p. 77, pi. vii. fig. 1, pi. vii a. fig. 3 (1879). Superficially this species is not unlike a pale form of 0. rutila, but a glance at the skull shows it to belong to the curzonice group, and its large ears will prevent confusion with any other members of that group. This species is of moderate size, and the general colour above is pale brownish grey, each hair being dark-coloured at its base, white in the centre, and pale bufiT subterminally with a black tip. Apparently it moults only once a year, in August, but in summer the hair is much abraded and the animal is then much whiter. The under parts and feet are white. Along the sides of the face, across the shoulders, and from the nose over the occiput, the general greyish colour is tinged with rufous, this rufous being more marked in summer; the eye is surrounded by an ill-defined greyish ring. The inner sides of the ears and a patch behind are white, the outer sides having dark brown hairs with white tips. The skull belongs typically to the curzonice group, the sides of the combined palatal and incisive foramina sloping outwards in a regular slant from their anterior point. Another peculiarity about the skull is the presence of two small oval foramina above and in front of the orbit at the anterior end of the frontal bones. These foramina, which measure about 3 mm. by T5 mm., are constant and uniform in all specimens of this species that I have examined, though they may also be found sporadically throughout the genus. In other respects there is nothing of note to be observed in the skulls. Dimensions (from skin). Head and body 200 mm. ; ear 27 ; hind foot 32. Skull. Palatal length 17 mm.; zygomatic breadth 23; length of nasals 14; length of molar series 9. Habitat. Doba, Kuenluen Mts.; Pamirs ; Ladak. The large ears, correlated with skull-characters, enable this species to be easily recognised. There are two species, 0. aurita and 0. grisea, described by Blanford, which may probably be assigned to this species. I have not had the opportunity of comparing any specimens, but from the description and figures there can be no doubt that, if not identical, they are very closely allied to 0. macrotis. OCHOTONA ROY LEI (Ogilby). Lagomys roylei Ogilby, Royle's Him. Bot. p. lxix, pi. iv. (1839) id. Geoffr. Voy. Jacquemont, Mamm. p. 62 (1841); Waterh Mamm. ii. p. 26 (1848); Adams, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 520; Blytli Cat. p. 133 (1863); Jerd. Mamm. p. 226 (1867); Blanf. J. A. S. B xli. jit. 2, p. 35 (1872); Lydekker, J. A. S. B. xlvi. p. 286 (1877);. Scully, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 5, vol. viii. p. 100 (1881) |