Natural History of the Mammalia of India and Ceylon

Genus Lagomys

Animals of small size and robust form; short-eared and tailless; two premolars above and below.

No. 418. Lagomys Roylei.
Royle’s Pika (Jerdon’s No. 210).

Native Name.—Rang-runt, or Rang-duni, in Kunawur.—Jerdon.

Habitat.—The Himalayan range, from Kashmir to Sikim.

Description.—Rabbit grey or brown, with a yellowish-grey tinge, more or less rufous on the head, neck, shoulder and sides of body; a hairy brown muzzle, with pale under-lip; long whiskers, some white, the posterior ones dark; under-parts white; fur soft and fine. The upper lip is lobed as in the hare; ears elliptical, with rounded tops.

Size.—From 6 to 8 inches.

The first specimen was sent to England by Dr. Royle, in whose honour Mr. Ogilby named it. It was obtained not far from Simla. It lives in rocky ground or amongst loose stones in burrows, and is the tailless rat described by Turner in his ‘Journey to Thibet,’ which had perforated the banks of a lake by its holes.