the under surface of the skull, instead of merely seeing the posterior end of the
presphenoid and the foramen lacerum orbitale on each side of it, the presphenoid
is seen not to he thrown so far forwards as in such mice as M. tt/rbcmus and M.
homurus, and anterior to the foramen lacerum orbitale a spicule of hone is distinctly
observable on each side of the presphenoid, passing outwards and expanding in the
orbit as the orbital plate of the sphenoid, and anterior to each of these fine osseous
rods the optic foramina are clearly visible.
The infraorbital foramen does not form an incision in the anterior margin of
the maxillary root of the zygoma, as in Mus generally.
The pterygoid fossa is very shallow, and formed chiefly by the palatines, and its
base or floor is flattened and expanded as in M. homurus and M. urbanus, hut,
unlike these mice, is marked by a number of imperfections of ossification. I t is
very shallow compared with what it is in such burrowing rats as Nesokia and
the so-called bandicoot M. giganteus, in which it is very deep and perforated
at its base. The inner walls of the pterygoid fossa are entire, which is also the case
in the small mice already mentioned, whereas in these larger species just named there
are generally one or more large imperfections on the inner wall.
With regard to the number of species, Hodgson indicated another in addition
to M. ( V.) oleraceus, hut the following table does not reveal any marked distinction
between two Nepal specimens and examples from Central India, CMrd-punji, Burma,
and Western Yunnan ; any differences that do occur are probably due to individual
variation, or to the diversity in the physical conditions of the localities from whence
the animals come. I am therefore disposed to recognize only one species. I t will
he observed that the upper dental line is the same in all.
I would also direct particular attention to the proportions which the tail holds
to the body in the young animal, as it only slightly exceeds the length of the trunk,
while in the adult it is nearly half as long again as the body and head. Erom this it
is evident that the rapidity of the growth of the tail must he considerable, and this
probably conduces to that variation in the length of the tail which is so observable
in adult individuals of the same species. This would seem to be the case in the
long-tailed rat which usually goes under the name of M. rufescens, in which the
proportion of the tail to the body in the young and adult animals is much the same
as in M. {V.) oleraceus.
Measurements o f Mus ( V.) oleraceus, Bennett.
Tip of muzzle to vent
Length of tail
„ hind foot
Height of ear
) 0-70 0
5 0-55 0
2 3 00
5 4 50
) 0-70
) 0 65
2-65 2 65
4-20 3-72
0 70 0-64
0*59 0-48
0-82
0-47
0'20
Measurements o f skulls of foregoing.
‘ l ’f
e
5
6
1
1 j
1
1
t
. Jf §.
It t
11
< W A M n !a B J 5 6 'A a *
i <f s i 9 9 9 9 9 9, 9 9 9 9 Juv. juv.
of premaxillffl . . . .
Tip of premaxilbe to middle of
0-90 0-87 0*86 0*77 0*75 0*83 0*78
f o r a m e n ........................................ 0'26 0*20 0*20 0*17 0*17 0*20 0*19 0*21 0*19
0*13 0*14 0*14 0*14 0*13 0*14 Olfi
Greatest breadth across parietals . 0*42 0*47 0*43 0*4i 0*40 0*40 0*41 0*46 0*43
arch .................................................
Tip o f premaxilbe to posterior bor-
0-49 0*50 0*48 0*46 0*45 0*47 0*43
0 ’45 0*45 0*45i 0*41 0*37 0*4J 0*4iJ
Length of palate . . . .
Posterior border of palate to
0-17 0*19 0*19 0*17 016 0*16 O’lV 0*19 0*19
0*34 0*35 0*33 0*29 ... 0*29 0*31 0*28 0*30 0*30
(molar series) . . . . 0*16 0*15 0*16 0*16 0*16 016 0*16 0*16
*Mus (V a n d e l e t j r ia ) o l e r a c e u s , Bennett.
Mus oleraceus, Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc., June 26, 1832, p. 121; Elliot, Madr. Joum. Lit. and Sc.
Oct. 1839, p. 214; Wagner, Schreber, Saugeth. Suppl. pi. iii. 1843, p. 422; Schinz, Syn.
Mamm.j vol. ii., 1845, p. 150; Blyth, Cat. Mamm. As. Soc. Mus., 1868, p. 120; Journ. As.
Soc., Beng., vol. xxxii., 1868, p. 844; Jerdon, Mamm. of Ind., 1867, p. 202.
Mus longicaudaim, Elliot, Madr. Joum. Lit. and Sc.. July 1889, p. 94, etp. 214.
Vmdeleuria oleraceus, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. x., Dec. 1842, p. 265.
Mus (Vandelewria) dwneticola, Hodgson, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. xv., April 1845, p. 268.
? Mus povensis, Hodgson, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. xv., April 1845, p. 269.
The muzzle is moderately long and slightly contracted behind the moustachial
area. The eye is rather large, also the ears, which are sparsely clad and more or
less rounded at the tips. In height they nearly equal the distance between the end
of the muzzle and half-way between the eye and ear. The length of the head is
about one-third the length of the body. The feet are moderately strong, and the
toes are of nearly equal breadth throughout, and the claws are rather short. The
tail is about one-half longer than the combined length of the head and body. I t
tapers to a point, is finely ringed, about thirty rings to the half inch, and is sparsely
clad with short hairs between the rings. The hairs are more numerous and longer
towards the end of the tail.
The upper surface is rich rufous, or chestnut-red, paling to brown on the ears and
on the muzzle before the eyes; the sides of the face below the eyes and moustachial
area, the chin, throat, and under parts generally are white, with a yellowish tinge.
The feet pale-brown, passing almost into white on the toes. The pads and undersurface
of the feet yellowish. The tail brownish or dusky; the hairs greyish.