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Show 548 MR. O. THOMAS ON T H E [May 3, This species seems to he most nearly allied to Leggada Buduga, Gr., the description of which (p. 553) should be carefully examined before any specimen is set down as the present form, which is much rarer and apparently almost confined to Nepal and the neighbouring region. With regard to the identity of Mus strophiatus with this species I think there can be but little doubt. Hodgson's drawing of M. cervicolor represents two specimens, with the following notes attached:- " Male's colour darker and duller, female's lighter and purer." This distinction, which Hodgson, when the drawing was done, thought to be sexual, he later founded M. strophiatus upon, as there is a second note on thesame drawingtothe followingeffect: "Thereare two species, 1st, duller huedandungorgetted; 2nd, brighter andgorgetted." This '* gorget" is merely the extension upwards on the neck of the light breast-colour, a character of no value whatever, as far as I can judge by the specimens presented by him ; and the difference in brightness seems to be very slight. W e have not any specimens named M. strophiatus ; but one of those sent as cervicolor agrees very fairly with his figure and description of that animal. Mus alBidiventris was referred to this species by Blyth himself in his memoir; it seems possible, however, that it is another synonym of M. Buduga, which is very closely related to this species, and which is more likely to be found in Calcutta. It is very probable that M. cunicularis, Blyth ', from the Khasi Hills, is a synonym of M. cervicolor, the description agreeing very fairly, though the colour would seem to be somewhat darker; this, however, can only be settled by a reference to the types. 14. MUS ARIANUS. Mus sylvaticus, L., De Fil. Viagg. Pers. p. 344 (1865). *Mus erythronotus, W . Blanf. Ann. & Mag. N . H. (4) xvi. p. 311 (1875) ; East Pers. ii. p. 54, pi. v. fig. 3 (1876) ; Zool. Yark. Exp. M a m m . p. 54 (1879), nee Temm. Faun. Japon. M a m m . p. 50 (1850). *M. arianus, W . Blanf. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (5) vii. p. 162 (1881). HaB. Eastern Persia (Blanford), Gilgit, Cashmere (Scully), Kashghar and Wakhan (Stoliczka). Fur soft, without spines ; above dark red, the basal three fourths of the hair dark slate-colour. Belly white. Mammae 6, one pectoral and two inguinal pairs. Tail slightly longer than the head and body, brown above, white beneath. Ears long; laid forward they reach quite to the eye. Caecum quite simple and rather long, measuring 1*3 inch in specimen a. i J. A. S. B. xxiv. p. 721 (1855). |