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Show 524 MR. W. L. SCLATER ON SOME INDIAN MURIDAE. [June 17, alexandrinus) is merely a geographical race of the old English Rat (Mus rattus), from which it is distinguishable by its softer reddish or greyish fur and by its white belly. This race (Mus rattus alexandrinus) wras originally described from Egypt; it has also been recorded from other countries bordering on the Mediterranean and Palestine. Specimens indistinguishable from this form were got by Dr. Scully from Gilgit and are now in the Museum. Mus rattus rufescens, the common Tree-Rat, is found over the whole of India, Ceylon, Assam, and Burma, ranging south as far as Mergui certainly, perhaps as far as the Malay Peninsula. To the already long list of synonyms of this subspecies may be added Mus sladeni and M. yunnanensis of Anderson, which seem to be identical in every way with the typical Mus rattus rufescens. This Tree-Rat is only distinguished from the Alexandrine Rat by its slightly smaller size. The Hill-Rat (Mus rattus nitidus) is another variety, distinguished by its rather shorter tail and reddish colour ; it is found in the eastern Himalayas and in parts of Assam. 8. Mus BOWERSII, Anderson, Anat. & Zool. Res. p. 304, pi. xvii. Mr. Thomas (P. Z. S. 1886, p. 62) has, since Dr. Anderson's original description of this species, recorded the occurrence of a Rat probably identical from Munipur. This Rat is apparently allied to Mus rattus rufescens, but is distinguished at once by its very large size-its length from muzzle to vent being 9-0 inches and that of its tail 10-26 inches; the corresponding measurements of a typical specimen of Mus rattus rufescens being 5-5 and 6-7 inches. The skull is not distinguished by any marked peculiarity except that the antorbital plate does not project above in the marked way in which it does in Mus rattus rufescens, but is evenly rounded and slightly sloping forward (see Plate XLIV. fig. 2). 9. Mus RUBRICOSA, Anderson, Anat. & Zool. Res. p. 306. This species was described from a unique specimen procured by Dr. Anderson in Yunnan. It does nut seem to differ from the ordinary Hill-Rat (Mus rattus nitidus), except in its very dark ventral surface; whether this is merely an individual variation or a constant character can only be proved by the examination of more specimens. The skull does not present any very special features. 10. Mus EULVESCENS, Gray ; Thomas, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 537. Thomas (I. c.) identifies with this species Mus cinnamomeus of Blyth, which was procured by Major Berdmore in the Schwegyeen District of Burmah. The type of Mus cinnamomeus agrees in every respect with the description given by Thomas of Mus fulvescens, so that there is a little doubt of the correctness of his identification. It seems that this species must be an exceedingly scarce one, as |
