OCR Text |
Show 1 9 0 4 . ] MOUSE- HAKES OF THE GEN'US OCHOTONA. 2 0 9 Mamm. p. 71, pi. vi. tig. 1, pi. vii. fig. 2, pi. vii a. fig. 1 (1879); id. Faun. Brit. India, Mamm. p. 458 (1891); W. L. Scl. Cat. Calc. Mus. p. 110 (1891); Biichner, Mamm. Przew. i. p. 185 (1890). Lagomys curzonice Stoliczka (nec Hodgs.), J. A. 8 . B. xxxiv. 2, p. 108 (1865); Anders. P.Z.S. 1871, p. 562. General colour light brownish grey, many of the hairs, more especially along the dorsal region, tipped with dark brown. Head rather lighter, with dull rufous patch extending from nose to the crown. Ears moderately large and rounded, clothed externally with rufous hairs, longer on the inner margin. Under parts yellowish white, with a trace of a rufous collar, which is also visible on the shoulders. Feet clothed with white hairs. The coat just described is that of an individual shot on the 22nd July, and represents a very typical skin ; there are, however, other forms of pelage which it would be as well to notice, although I am unable to say exactly in what sequence they may be found. Specimens in June have, as a rule, very short woolly rufous coats, sometimes shading to pale yellow and interspersed with long black hairs. In September a moult takes place and the new coat is long and thick and of a warm brownish grey, becoming lighter and paler along the sides. The rufous markings mentioned in the first pelage described are present and visible but not so intense. There is another specimen from the same place and date as the first mentioned, but the pelage is rather shorter, more woolly, and not so grey. In a specimen in fresh pelage at the beginning of October the hairs are a deep slate-grey at the base, and shade through vinous to pale white, ending in a buff subterminal ring and a black tip. I am of opinion that there is only one moult in the year, namely in September, and that during the summer the pelage gradually wears away, giving the aniihals the different appearances which I have noted above. Of the skull not much need be said as, except in the foramina already alluded to, the specific differences between the skulls in this group are very slight. As, however, the figure given by Buchner (pi. xxiv. fig. 8) is rather misleading, it may be mentioned that the palatal foramen, as shown in fig. 2, much more resembles that of the type of ladacensis. In other respects fig. 8 accurately represents ladacensis, and it is unfortunate that the specimen figured should have been slightly abnormal in an important feature. The dimensions of an adult male are Head and body 180-5 mm.; hind foot 35 ; ear 24. Shull. Greatest length 49-5 mm.; basal length 39 ; zygomatic breadth 25; length of nasals 15; length of molar series 1 0 ; interorbital breadth 5. Habitat. Originally described from Ladak. This species has jdso been found to the N.E. in Northern Thibet. It is seldom found at a lower elevation than 14,000 feet. Type. B.M. 75. 3. 30. 2. Collected by Col. J. Biddulph. P roc. Z ool. Soe.-1904, V ol. II. No. XIV. 14 |