p; ears and tail long.

SIZE.--Head and body, about six inches; tail, 7-3/4 inches.

According to Blyth the Nepal specimens are darker than those from
Burmah, which he says "differs only from the Nepalese animal of Mr.
Hodgson by having the upper parts entirely of a bright cinnamon
colour."

NO. 345. MUS CONCOLOR.
_The Common Thatch Rat of Pegu_.

HABITAT.--Upper and Lower Burmah, Malayan peninsula.

DESCRIPTION.--I have been unable to trace any accurate description
of this rat, which Blyth says "conducts from the long-tailed arboreal
rats to the ordinary house mice." In his 'Catalogue of the Mammals
of Burmah,' published in the 'Jour. Asiatic Soc. Beng.' for 1875,
he remarks that "it requires to be critically examined in the fresh
state." In the 'J. A. S. B.,' vol. xxviii. p. 295, he describes a
young one as dark greyish mouse colour; but this is not reliable,
as the young rats and mice change colour as they attain full
growth.[23]

[Footnote 23: Since writing the above, Dr. Anderson has kindly
allowed me to examine the specimens of _Mus concolor_ in the museum,
and in the adult state they are considerably more rufescent. In one
specimen, allowing for the effects of the spirit, the fur was a bright
rufescent brown; but, whatever be the tint of the prevailing colour,
it pervades the whole body, being but slightly paler on the
under-parts. Size, about 4 inches; tail, about 4-1/2 inches.--R. A.
S.]

NO. 346. MUS PALMARUM.
_The Nicobar Tree Rat_.

HABITAT.--Nicobar Islands.

NO. 347. MUS CEYLONUS.

HABITAT.--Ceylon.

DESCRIPTION.--Fur soft, lead colour; hair of upper parts tipped with
dark fawn and black; ears large, naked; whiskers long, black; tail
longer than the head and body, scaly.

SIZE.--Head and body, 4-3/4 inches; tail, 6 inches.

"This small rat is found in out-houses in the cinnamon gardens at
Colombo. I have no reason to think it to be the young of the former
species (_M. decumanus_); the teeth were well developed; the darker
colour and long tail will easily distinguish the species from other
Colombo rats" (_Kellaart_). The character of the molar teeth is all
that can be depended on in the foregoing description, and this may
require further investigation. The young of rats and mice are always
darker than the adults, and the tail is longer in proportion.

* * * * *

The following are doubtful species:--

NO. 348. MUS PLURIMAMMIS.
_Jerdon's No. 177_