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Show 280 MESSRS. DANFORD AND ALSTON ON [Mar. 20, and passing into fawn-colour on the flanks ; behind each ear an oval patch of pure fawn. Snout, lips, lower cheeks, underparts, and feet pure white, the line of demarcation well marked, and the dark colour of the outer side of the limbs not reaching to the carpal and tarsal joints. Whiskers mixed.black and white; tail distinctly bi-coloured, dusky above, white below. All the fur dusky at base. Measurements of two adult males (in spirits) :- inches. inches. Length of head and body 4*75 4*45 ear *60 *60 longest whiskers .... 2*00 1*70 tail 5*05 4*30 hind foot 1*00 1*00 This Mouse, which we believe to be undescribed, differs from the last species in its shorter naked ears, much larger size, and different coloration. In the latter respect it approaches M. al bipes, Riipp., of Abyssinia1, from which, however, it is at once separated by the differences of its size and proportions. It was common at Zebil, in the Bulgar Dagh, on the rocky bushy hill-sides, at an elevation of 3000-4000 feet. Three specimens preserved are all adult males, and do not differ from one another except in the proportional length of their tails. Ainsworth says, " The Mouse observed at Bir was an undescribed species;" possibly it may have been the present one. 33. CRICETUS FRUMENTARIUS, Pall. Herr Kotschy states (torn. cit. p. 234) that when he visited the river Cydnus the inhabitants complained of the damage done that year to their grapes by Bears and Hamsters, and that a specimen of the latter which he obtained was identified at Vienna with the European species. It is also included in Ainsworth's list under the name of C. vulgaris; but the only Hamster met with by Danford belonged to the next species. 34. *CRICETUS NIGRICANS, Brandt. One of these curious little animals was brought to Danford by his retriever, who was evidently much puzzled as to what he had got hold of. Its cheek-pouches were closely stuffed with some green clover-like food. The locality where it was found was between the villages of Buroon-kysla and Jazli-tash, about the centre of the long stretch of undulating steppe country, covered with dried grass and stones, which lies to the north of Kaisariyeh. The measurements of this example (a female, in spirits) are : - inches. Length of head and body . . 6*25 ,, tail -60 ear -50 „ hind foot -70 1 Mus. Senckenb. iii. p, 107. |