Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

94 Journal of the F.M.S. Museums. [Vol. VII,
pencillatc at the tip, blackish at base above, whitish beneath,
the distal third whitish above also. Ears extremely finely
haired, almost naked.
Skull -—Except for the large size of the teeth there is
nothing especially peculiar about the skull. It is lightly built
and even in very aged specimens not heavily ridged, nor does
it present the marked cranial flattening present in rats of the
surifer group. Nasals are slender, pointed posteriorly and
extend up to or beyond the maxillary suture. Mesopterygoid
space markedly horse-shoe shaped, the palatal foramina long,
extending behind the roots of the anterior molars. Ante orbital
plate broad, projecting slightly forwards, zygomata slender.
Bullae small but not flattened.
Specimens examined :— Over sixty of all ages.
Measurements :—For detailed measurements see pp. 96, 97.
Ill - pretty rat was extremely abundant on the Gedeh
and Pangerango at high elevations, becoming scarce below
about 5,600 feet. It was seen throughout the day and at
Kandang Badak no trap remained
few minutes.
set for more than a very
In the crater of the Gedeh it was observed in numbers
feeding on the pods of a leguminous tree (Piihecolobium)
Remarks:— This species belongs to a group of which the
following can be stated to be members, though the section
probably contains other Chinese forms regarding which we
are not in a position to make any remarks. From comparison
with the type the present form is closest to R. brahina (Thos).
1. Mus Gray, Cat. Mamm. etc. Nepal and
Tibet B.M. (1), p. 18 m. Nepal.
2. Epimys eha, Wroughton, Journ. Nat. Hist. Soc.
Bombay, xxiv, p. 420 (1916). Sikkim (8,1
j. Epimys lepcha, Wroughton, loo cit. supra, p. 428.
Sikkim (5.350 feet.)
4. Rattus Kloss, Records Indian Mus. xiii, p. 8
(1917). {Mus cinnamouieus, Blyth nee Pictet.)
5.
Shwegyin, Tenasserim.
Epimys brahina, Thomas, Journ. Nat. Hist. Soc. Bombay,
xxiii, p. 231 (1914).
Anzong Valley, Mishmi Hills.
The following an intly related and possibly
form a connecting link between
venter section.
tins group and the cremori-
G. Epimys Miller, Smithsonian Misc. < ol!.
vol. 61, p. 21 (1913).
Mount Muleyit, T<
7. Epimys solus, Miller, lot . cit. supra, p. 22.
Pulau Terutau. W. Mala) Peninsula.
8. Epimys orbus, Robinson & Kloss, Ann. & Mai;. Nat.
Hist. (8) Xii, p. 2 88 (1914).
Bandon. N.E. Malay Peninsula.
.