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Show 1881.] INDIAN SPECIES OF MUS. 527 Nesokia hardwickei, Kelaart, Prodr, Faun. Zeyl. p. 65 (1852) (nee Gray). M. (N.) providens, Anders. J. A. S. B. xlvii. p. 225, pi. xiii figs, eto A (1878). Hab. South India and Ceylon. Specific Characters.-Form stout and heavy, muzzle blunt. Fur rather short and harsh, grizzled brown above, rather paler below. Ears short; laid forward they do not reach to the eyes. Tail shorter than the head and body, uniformly brown above and below. Feet of medium size, nearly always brown above. Foot-pads small and rounded, five on the fore and six on the hind feet, as in the other species of the subgenus. Mammas very numerous, from 14 to 18 in number, often different on the two sides of the body. The skull is rather more like that of a true Mus than in N. hardwickei. The most important differences between the two have been mentioned under that speeies. Varietal Characters.-Var. Bengalensis. Size comparatively large. Tail somewhat longer in proportion, and anterior palatine foramina often (but by no means always) larger than in the southern race. Skull otherwise quite similar. Var. kok. Smaller. Tail somewhat shorter than in the typical variety. Anterior palatine foramina very narrow. Measurements. Var. bengalensis. Var. kok. Calcutta1. Ootacamund. Madras. o* 2 cS 2 Head and body 8*0 7*8 7*3 7*0 Tail 7*4 7*0 5*7 6*3 Hind foot 1-4 1*45 1*32 1*4 Forearm 2*0 2*05 1*75 1*81 Ear-conch, length -82 *80 -80 '75 Muzzle to ear 1*6 17 1*6 1-6 This species is the common Nesokia of the whole of India. The only animal with which it could possibly be confounded is Mus de-cumanus, from which, however, it may always be distinguished by its comparatively shorter head and broader incisors. Dr. Anderson, in his paper above quoted, keeps the northern and southern forms separate under the names of N. blythianus and providens. The following are the characters upon which he founds his opinion as to their specific distinction:-" The skull (of N. providetis) is considerably smaller than that of M. {N.) blythianus of the same age, from which it is also distinguished by its more outwardly arched malar process of the maxillary, by its considerably smaller teeth, and long but less open palatine foramina." The external characters given are those I have used to divide the species into varieties, except the " somewhat smaller ears "of N. kok, a character which does not 1 These seem to be exceptionally large specimens, none of the specimens measured by Dr. Anderson having hind feet as much as 1-4 inch. |