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Prof Allen has alone treated of the fossil species of the order. The general superintendence of the volume during its passage through the press has devolved upon Dr. Coues. The memoirs have been accepted for publication and put to press in the order in which they have been transmitted to this office. Their sequence in the volume, therefore, is not according to the natural classification, which will be found upon a subsequent page. The Bibliography of North American Mammals (Appendix B), with which the work concludes, has been contributed by Prof. Theodore Gill and Dr. Coues conjointly. Though regarded by the authors as incomplete, it is, nevertheless, by far the most extensive nnd elaborate exposition of the subject extant. The thanks of the Survey are due to the Public Printer, the foreman of printing, and the proof-readers and compositors of the Government Printing Office, for the pains they have taken to render the typography of the volume so creditable to all concerned. In this connection, I take pleasure in men- tioning particularly Mr. William Young, who (nay be justly regarded as one of the most accomplished proof-readers of the country, and whose zealous discharge of his duties and long experience in scientific publications have rendered his services invaluable. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, F. V. HAYDEN, United States Geologist. Hon. Cabl Schurz, Secretary of the Interior, Washingtcn, D. C. UNITED STATES OBOLOGIOAL SURVEY OV THE TERRITORIES. MONOGRAPHS NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. ELLIOTT OOUES, OAPTAIM AND AH8IHTAMT 8UII0KON rNITKD g.'ATKS ARMY, BKCRKTAIIV ANI> KATtlRAMST OF THE 8PPVF.V ; JOEL ASAPH ALLEN, AgSUTANT IN TUK MUSBDM Or COMPARATIVK ZOfiLOOY, CAMBRIBOB, 8PBCIAI, CObLARORATOR OF THR BDRVBY. WASHINGTON: OOTRRNHENT PBINTINO OPPIOB, 1877. vn' SYSTEMATIC TABLE OF CONTENTS; OH, CLASSIFICATION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Order GLIRESs Rodents. Suborder I.— 8IMPLICIDENTATI : Ordinary Rodents. Series I.— SCIUROMORPIIA: Sciubinb Rouksth. Family I.— SCIVBIDJEi 8<)uiiiiikm, etc. Pagra. MONOGRAPH XL—A/ien 631-940 Family II.-HAPIX»DONTIDiE* Skwkujsl. MONOGRAPH lX.—Coue.i 543-600 Family Ili.-CASTOBID.K I Beavkk. MONOGRAPH Yl— Alien 427-454 Sbbies II.— MYOMORPHA: Mdrine Rodents. • ■ Family IV.— ntVBIDiE i Mick, etc. MONOGRAPH I.—Coues (i-x), 1-264 Family V.— XAPODIDJB i Jiimfiko Mouse. M .v^GRAPH Vll.~a'ttc.v 455-480 Family VI.-8ACCOniYID.Kl Pouched Mice. MONOGRAPH Yllt—Couea 481-542 Family VII.-OEOm VID JB i Oophkbs. MONOGRAPH X.—Coues 601-630 ix* I ; X* MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. Series III— IIYSTRICOMORPIIA: Hystricine Rodents. Family VIII.-CASTOROIDIDA : (K088IL.) Pages. MONOGRAPH Y.— Allen 416-426 Family IX.-HVSTBICIDiKt I'oncui'iNXS. MONOGRAPH III.— Allen 379-398 Suborder DUPLICIDENf ATI : Leporine Rodents. Family X.— JLEPOBIDiE I IIaiiks. MONOGRAPH II.— Allen '. 265-378 Family XL-LAGOMVID^S;: I'ikas. MONOGRAPH lY.— Allen 399-414 GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE VOLUME. (for Special Tablet of CtmtenU tee each Monograpk.) Piges. Title of the Eleventh Volume op Reports i* Letter to the Secbetary (F. V. Hat/den) iii* Title op the Monographs of the Rodentia (Coues and Allen) vii* Systematic Table op Contents (classification) ix* General Table op Contents (of the whole volume) xi* MONOGRAPH I.— nVRID^. By Elliott Coues (i-x), 1-264 Title ' I Introdaction (Letter of Transmittal) m Table of Contents Tn List of lUnstrutions IX Family MnridsB 1 Bibliographical App(endix , 255 MONOGRAPH II.-LEPORID^. By J. A. Allen ...' 265-378 Title .". 265^ Letter of Transmittal 265 bis Table of Contents 260 Family LeporidiB 867 Bibliographical K6snm6 277 Supplementary Note : Extinct American Hares 373 MONOGRAPH lU.— HTSTRICID^. By J. A. Allen 379-398 Title 379 Letter of Transmittal 381 Table of Contents 383 Family Uystricidae . 386 Extinct North American Porcupines 307 MONOGRAPH IT.-IiA«OIHTID2E. By J. A. Allen 399-414 Title 399 Letter of Transmittal 401 Table of Contente 403 Family Lagomyidae 405 MONOGRAPH V.-CA8TOROIDID^. By J. A. Allen 4 15- 126 Title 415 Table of Contents 417 ' Family CastoroididtB •. 419 XI i« Hi Xli* MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. Pages, MONOOKAPH VI.-CASTORID^. liy ./. A. Allen 427-454 Title 427 Table of Contents 429 Family CastoridoB 431 Bibliographical Appendix 454 MONOGRAPH V1I.-ZAPODIDJB. By ElUott Coues 455-480 Title : 465 Letter of Transmittal 457 Table of Contehts 459 Family Zapodido) 461 MONOGRAPH YlU.-$iACCOinVID^. By Elliott Coues. 481-542 Title 481 Letter of Transmittal 483 Table of Contents 485 Family SaccorayidaB 487 MONOGRAPH lX.-HAPLODOWTIDiB. By Elliott Coues . 543-600 Title 543 Letter of Transmittal 645 Table of Contents 547 Family HaplodontidsB 549 MONOGRAPH X.-GEOin¥ID^. By Elliott Coues 601-630 Title 601 Table of Contents 603 Letter of Transmittal • 605 Family Geomyidaa 607 MONOGRAPH XI.-SCIURID.S:. By J. A. Allen 631-940 Title 631 Letter of Transmittal 633 Table of Contents 636 Family Bciaridse 637 Extinct American Sciuridoe 929 Appendix A.— Synoptical List op the Fossil Rodentia op North America. By J. ^. Allen 943-960 Appendix B.~Material for a Bibliography of North American Mammals. By Theodore Gill and Elliott Coues. 951-1082 Index to the Whole Volume • 108:j-1091 MONOGRAPHS NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. M. I.-MURIDJl. By ELLIOTT OOUiCS, t-u -\ Vo i^'i-^ 17 ^:^^' \ INTRODUCTION, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C, January 1, 1876. Sib : A inemoir on the Muridce is herewith trantitiitted as one of the series of "Monographs of North American Rodentia" in course of prepara- tion by Mr. J. A. Allen and myself, for publication by the Survey un|ym a\'>Te 1673 Fig.87. " " akolUn profilii 1673 Flg.88. " " left Jaw, oat».de 1878 Fig.89. " " akall fhND below 1678 Fig.30. " " akall firom above 17J6 Flg.3l. " •■ akall in profile 1796 Fig.38. " " left Jaw, outaide 1796 Fig.33. " " akall firom below :.. 1796 Fig. 34. " aarcoiiif, akull from above 8088 Fig.3&. " " akull in profile 8088 Fig.36. " " left Jaw, oalside v 908S Fig.37. " " aknU from below 8083 Fig.38. Xvottmfi fopj"*^ •knU from above 1767 Fig.39. " " ikuU in profile 1787 Fig.40. " " leftJaw.oaUide 1767 Fig.41. " " skall fkom below 1767 IX LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PLATE IV. JIo. Fig. i'l. Arvioola ripariui, aknll from above "** Kig.43. " " skull In profile ' 1^9 KIk.44. " " left Jaw, ont«i(le 'W t'lg. 4f>. " " sknll from below 'W KIg. 46. " " iikiill from above *"* Kig.47. " " skull In profile ^*8 Flg.48. " " left Jaw, ontdltle *** Fig. 49. " " aknll rroni below..*. <** Fig.OO. " (oifiumdl, iknll from above 6*89 Klg.r.l. " " aknll in profile 9808 Flg.na. " " left Jaw, onlalile «*» Kig. M. " " aknll from below WW Fig. 54. " zaiifAoffiialAiM, ekull from above 1*118 Flg.WJ. " " akull In profile 18118 FIk.56. " " lift Jaw, outalde 18118 Fig. 57. " " aknll from l>elow 18118 PLATE V. Fig. 58. Anicola aNaferu, aknll from above 1863 F'„.59. " " aknll In profile 1889 Flg.60. " " Jaw, both aide* , 18«8 Flg.61. " " akoilfVom below : 1868 Fig. 68. kuU from above. .". 948 Flg.63. " " aknll in profile .♦. 948 Flg.64. " " left Jaw, ontalde 948 Flg.66. " " aknll from below 948 Fig.66. '• curfalM, akull from above 18160 Flg.OT. '• " aknll In profile 18169 Flg.68. " " leftjaw.onteldo 1S169 Fig.69. " " akull from below 19169 Fig. 70. " pinetomm, akull from above 1930 Flg.71. " " akull in profile 1990 Fig.72. " " left jaw, outaide 1030 Flg.73. " " Hkull from below 1930 Fig. 74. SgnaplotKHi cooptri, skull from above 6916 Flg.75. " " akull in profile 6915 Fig.76. " " leftjaw.onteldo ;.... 6015 Flg.77. " " akullfVom below 6016 Nora.— Tbe nninbers of the rlgbt-hand column at« thow of the speeimen* Kgored. -k, . ; . ' Family MURIDAE. The family Muridte will be taken in itH current acceptation, as far oa Korth American representatives are cnncern««l, but with exclusion of the genus Zapua* {Meriones or Jaculua of American authors), which, as type of a oeparate family Zapodlda, will be treated in a subsequent memoir of this series. This genus differs sufficiently from any of the Murida in certain cranial and dental characters, proportions of limbs, ana other features. With the exclusion, then, of Zapus, the fairtily Murida is represented in North America l)y only two subfamilies, Murinas and Arvicolina, out of the number of groups into which it is usually divided. We are inclined to believe that the same considerations which induce us to eliminate Zapus as the type of a distinct family (as has already been done by Gill), would require certain Old World genera, in which the molars are more or less than §, to be likewise separated from Murida proper, which would then be constituted solely by forms in which there are § molars. Such construction of a family Murida would render it rather equivalent to the subfamily Murine of authors. But in our present ignorance of many exotic forms usually brought under Murida, we do not venture upon general considerations touch- ing the definition of the family at large. As represented in North America, and by the two subfamilies Murinee and ArvicoHna;, the family Mu ' '^ may be recognized by the following characters : T 1-1 r. 0-0 T> 0-0 ,, 3-3 8 .„, ,, ^- r-1' ^- (Po' P- oiU' *^-3::3 = 8 = ^^*'^^**'- Anteorbital foramen a large pyriform slit, bounded exteriorly by a broad plate of the maxillary. Coronuid, condylar, and descending processes of the mandible well developed and distinct. Tibia and 6bula united below. * ZapuM, H. g., Codes, Ballotla U. S. Qeol. Surv. Terr. Sd ser. No. 5, 1875, p. 863 2 MOXOGRAPIIS OF NOUTQ AMERICAN RODENTIA. The character of tlie antcorbital foramen is peculiar, and probal)!}- dia;,'- nostic of the group. "This," as Baird has said, "consists of a narrow vortical fissure anterior to the corner of the frontal bone, widening above, and bounded externally by the zygomatic branch of the upper maxillary, wiiich, instead of standing out more or less horizontally, is l)ent up, so that its ante- rior edge, at least, is almost in a vertical plane, and parallel with its fellow on the opposite side. In fact, the zygomatic process is ■■' ;■■ uvniDx. uuniNA. Aimcousx. Uuret. Sigmodontet. ^ i a + HefjMro- Anitala. 1 11^ a o ph ^ a a g 1 1 + + + S " ' i 1 + + ■ s 1 St I'alatsCon tliewbolo): Liltlo aacendiiiE ontoriorlj— nearly piano + H + + + + + + + + luoislve foramina : + + + + + + + + + + + -t + + ■( 1 + +: ■ + + + + Sburt, Dot rcQctiicg opposite DK^aiti luterorbital coDRtriction : Narrower than roatniin About equal Id breadth to rostrum Rather broader tfann rostrum, or much broader. . Mnrnin of nrbit posteriorly : H + + ^ + + + + + + + + + + h + + Smooth and rounded off, or with intraorbital ridg« Polato endiof; poatvrioily : Aa 0 broad, traosTerae, straight ehclf across BpBCO bet'.trefn second and third molars Bimilar shtif, but not quite so perfectly trans- verse, and with lateral fosscD shored under its border Similar shelf, but still less excavated at sides, f + + + + + + + + + •• + .. .. Similar shelf, but about opposite last molar, the shelf narrow, occupying ooly the median part. + + ^ h - + • + •* As in the lest, but farther back, and with a small fossa on each side As in the last in sbnpe, but in position far back of the molara, and without fosse + + With n mediau emargination, opposite the sec- ond and third molars, bounded on each side by a deep fosaa ; this terminal portion of the pal- ate on a different plane from the rest Upper incisors: + + -. III ... + ■• + -i + + + + + .. + •• + + + + + + Each wider across than deep No wider than, or narrower than, deep + + + + + + + + + + + f + + f + + f + + + + + Under incisors: Knnnlng up back of condylar procMs + + Stopping abruptly at posterior molara Molars: Booted 1 With S roots apiece Ftnt upper one with S or 3 roots + + + •• " " " " 8,3,or4 roots " *' " ■* 3, 4, or more roots Normally rootless + + + + + •• f •r 4 + •fttV!!"*'^ i il ' s f» 6 MONOGRArnS OF NORTU AMERICAN RODENTIA. Diag«oi,lic table of .o»ie cranial and denial character, of Xorth American MtiiUD^-Continnoa. MURIDiE. 1 MUllIN^. AIIVICOUX*. Mures. Sigmadontet. a s 'A + + + i + \ 1 + 1 + + + + napert- Arvicola. •j N + + + + >> el a + + + + t I + + + + i 1 o + + + + 1 S + + + 1 &. > + + + ' + 1 + + + W + + + + + + + i 1 o + + + + 4 + + + + 4 >\ B + + + + Molar crowns ; TiibtTtulato, crcnate-cdjictl ; + PrUmalir.: Sharply anjrnlflr, both 8iilc« Sbarp one siile, obtim* tlie other ■Whon fully worn, coiiBi»tiD(j osseDtiolly of one dentine area, within ad t-namel wall, which. however tlwply plicate, does not, fuse from + + Even Bft*r wear still couaistinK of several tleu- tine iRtaocls. owinf; to fusloD of tbo enamel watts from opposite sides Molar scries : Strongly convergent anteriorly Little, if any, converg»'iit anteriorly Uppormolars: Of approximately rqnal size thronKhoiit Decreasing in i*ize from before backward Subfamily MURIN J). Tlie characters of this subfamily having already been given in sufficient detail for present purposes, we may at once proceed to consider its subdivision into the two tribes or scries of genera ; namely, Mures and Sigmodontes. This separation of the Old World (Mures) and New World (Sigmodontes) repre- sentatives of the subfamily seems to us warrantcid, and not alone upon geo- graphical grounds; for a decided difference in dentition is found, serving for their immediate identification. ; Mures. — Molars of upper jaw, with the tubercles in three series. Palate e.\tending back of the molars. (Palajogrcan.) Sigmodontes. — Molars of upper jaw, with the tubercles in two scries. Palate ending opposite last molars. (Neogrean.) The Mures which occur in North America, — namely, four species V ' MUBIDiE— SIGMODOKTES— NEOTOMA. ■'- T of the t^ipical genus Mus, — not being indigenous to this country, and being, moreover, among the best-known of mammals, will not be treated in the present paper, .» . . Tribe SIGMODONTES. Under tliis head come all tlie Murince indigenous to America. Those of the northern division of the hemisphere may be grouped under four genera, — Neoloma, Sigmodon, Oclietodon, and Llesperomijs ; the latter with three subgenera. Full descriptions of these and of their respective species follow. • Genus NEOTOMA, Say & Ord. ;"' Miu'ap., Say & Oiii), 181B-a3.— Dksmauest, ISiS. |}.j jj -,,. ylri'ico/a, sp., llAltLAN, 1825. Lemmiu, up., KiscilKU, l&Jti. Xcoloma, Bay &, Onu, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila. iv, pt. ii, 1825, 34C (typo, X. Jloritlana).—Avi>. & Bach., Qiincl. N. A. i, 1849, 31.— Baihd, M. N. A. 1857, 486.— CouES, Proc. Acud. Nat. Soi. Pliila 1875, 174. Hyoxm, Bp., RicilAliDSON, Zoiil. Journ. iii, 1828, 517 (N. cinerea). Teonoma, J. E. Gray, Proc. Zoiil. Soc. Load, 18—, p. — (xV. cintrea). CiiAHS. — Embracing sigmodont rats of the largest size ; highly murine in general aspect ; peculiar to North and Middle America. Snout pointed, mobile; whiskers very long (the longest ones reaching to or beyond the siiouldcrs) ; eyes large and full (as in Dipodomys) ; ears very large, orbicular, nearly naked. Tail long, nearly equaling the body with or without tiie head, either scant-haired (nearly as naked and scaly as in Mm) or bushy (much as in Myoxus). Feet small, but broad for their length, with short toes ; the fore with four perfect clawed digits, which in length run 3d, 4th, 2d, 5th ; and a rudimentary tiiumb bparing an abortive nail; the hind with five perfect clawed digits, tiie middle three of which are subequal and longest ; the 5th is not much siiorter, its claw reaching about to the base of the 4th claw, while the 1st reaches about to the median node of the 2d. Palms naked, 5-tuberculate ; one tubercle postero-external, another postero-intemal near base of poUex ; two at bases of 2d and 5th digits, respectively, and one at base of 3d and 4th digits together. Soles naked at least for their anterior two-thirds — the pos- terior third hairy in northern species, mostly naked in tropical forms; fur- nished with seven tubercles, thus : one near postero-external angle of foot, only evident in naked-soled species ; * a larger one a little farther in advance on internal border; another (smaller) in advance of this externally; throe 'ILirdly n true tiiburelu, howovor; being mutol; oaiued by protuberance of tbe lattjaccnt bone, ovot which the skin ia not particularly thickened. . ' 8 MONOGBAPUS OF NOllTU AMERICAN RODENTIA. II large ones at baf5es of 1st, 2(1, and 5th toes, respectively; and one at con- joined bases of 3(1 and 4th toes; tiiose at (he bases of all the digits, except the hallux, being more or less connuent.* Pelage soft, lustrous, white below. To the foregoing characters, rather descriptive than simply definitive, and indicating little else than an overgrown Hesperomys, we may add the fol- lowing more diagnostic features, derived from the skull and teeth : Skull elongate, twice (at least) as long as wide, in spite of the divergent zygomata; these do not sink to the level of the palate, and turn toward the scpiamosal almost at an angle {cf. Hesperomys). Maxillar bou idary of ante- orbital foramen developing no pointed process {cf. Sigmodon). Palate ending as a simple emarginate or concave shelf, opposite the interspace between lost and penultimate molars ; the palato-maxillary suture opposite the interspace between first and middle molars {cf. any other sigmodont genus). Incisive foramina very short, Foramen magnum broader than high. Auditory bullse rather small; their axes very oblique to the axis of the skull. Nasal bones not reaching as far back as nasal branches of intermaxillaries, which gain the interorbital region. No definite bead on upper margin of orbits. Inter- parietal bone subquadrate, but with a large, well-defined spur on each side. Posterior aspect of skull truncate ; i. e., the occipital plane is about perpendic- ular, meeting the (lattened superior surface of the skull nearly at right angles (in all other genera, the coronal rounds more or less gently into the occipital surface). Under jaw with long, acute, coronoid process, overtopping condyle ; root of the under incisor causing a moderate protuberance on the outside of the jaw, rather at the root of the condyle itself than at the notch between condyle and coronoid. Teeth of the ordinary sigmodont pattern ; nearest to Hesjieroimjs proper, and, as in that genus, decreasing regularly in size from first to last — in tiic upper jaw at any rate ; in the lower, t he last tooth conspicuously smaller than eitlicr of the other two. All the upper teeth with usually two external and one internal reentrant loops of enamel (but tiie first often with a supplementary internal loop, and the last often with only one external loop). First and second under molars each with two internal and two external reen- trant loops; last under molar with one of each. In unworn teeth, nil the reentrances open, tiie saliencies correspondingly sharp and divaricating, thus simulating the prismatic structure of ArvicoUna ; in old teetii, however, these •The tubercles at bases of all the exterior lingers and toea show a tendency to develop little accessory tubercles upon tlioir outer faces. MURID^— SIGMODOJJTBS— NEOTOMA. 0 appearances arc obscure or lost. Upper molars mostly 3-rooted ; under with only two roots apiece. - In amplification of the characters of this genus, we continue: Ncotoma shows us the largest murine skull of North America, and many strong generic characters. The zygomatic width is relatively greater than in other forms, amounting to half the length of the skull, mainly in consequence of the outward obliquity of the zygomata, which diverge from each otiicr as they pass backward, instead of lying nearly parallel. The same length of skull, with parallel zygomata, would much exceed twice the zygomatic width. They also do not dip so low down as in most other genera, not descend- ing to the level of the palate ; and the union of the jugals with the squamosal spurs is abrupt, almost angular. In general contour, there is an observable difference in the two sections of the genus — that with scant-haired tail and the bushy-tailed species ; the latter having the rostral portion of the skull more lengthened and the internrbital constriction greater. In N. Jloridana the interorbital width is about one-seventh of the total length, and rather exceeds the rostral diameter, though this is swollen. The nasals are much widened anteriorly, where they end with crescentic outline; behind, they stop opposite the anterior roots of the zygomata, and always (we believe) in advance of the nasal branches of the intermaxillaries, which reach into the interorbital constriction. In most other genera, there is no special difference between the length of the nasals and the intermaxillary behind, or else the difference is fluctuating. At the extreme antero-superior corner of the orbit, the maxillary, just where it unites with the frontal, throws up a tubercle for muscular attachment stronger than we have noticed in other genera. The thin plate of the superior maxillary that forms the outer wall of the anteor- bital foramen has a gently-rounded anterior borddr, with its convexity looking forward, instead of running into a sharp point as in Sigmodon, where the same edge is deeply concave by reason of this pointed proi >s ; and likewise, when looked down upon from above, the foramen appears as merely an emar- gination instead of a nearly-closed oval. The edge of the orbit is sharp above, but not beaded. The interparietal is moderate and subquadrate, with a spur; the paroccipital processes are strong; the tympanic bulla?, medium; the pterygoids large, hamulate, and fenestrate. The foramen magnum is remarkable for its depressed elliptical shape, being usually much wider than high ; the condyles are far apart at the ends of the major axis. The ))alatc ends behind as a simple shelf with concave border opposite the last molars 10 MOXOGBAPnS OF NORTQ AMERICAN KODEN'TIA. or space between tliese and the penultimate pair. The incisive Ibramiiia are of nearly usual size and sliape; liicy do not quite rcacii to the molars. The under jaw is noticeable for the great size of the coronoid process, whicli over- tops the condyle. The descending process is large, subquadrate, and flaltish, with (lie under edge thickened and curled inward. AVith a general resemblance to that of Sigmodon, the molar dt^ntition of Ncotoma exhibits a meutionable tendency to recede from the ordinary sig- modont style, and approach the arvicoline, in the somewhat prismatic nature of the extra-alveolar j)art of the teeth. The teeth, however, are firmly rooted, and the arvicoline bent is at\er all little more than a superficial resemblance. The upper teeth are 3-rooted, as usual in the tribe, ciich with two exterior and one interior fang; but the anterior two of these arc ollen or usually (except in the first tooth) more or less fused together. The under ones have only two prongs, seriatim. The tuberculation of the molar crowns is an open question : we have never .seen any teeth not worn flat, and cannot, therefore, speak of the character of the tubercles, if such exi.st after the teeth are extruded from the gums; and, at any rate, this ftict indicates a tooth that grows much more ra))idly than in Mus, Ilesperoinys, or Oc/ielodon. It is much tiic same with Sigmodon as witii N^eotoma. The teeth, as in Ilesperomys, &c., decrease in size from first to last, in both jaws, though in this case there is less diirerencc; for the posterior upper one is at least two-thirds as large as the anterior one, and is but little less plicated. In the upper series, the decrease is regular from first to last; in the lower, the middle tooth is as large as the front one, but the back one suddenly diminishes in size nearly one-half Average adult examples show a state of llie teeth as follows: All the upper ones are trilobate externally, bilobate infernally ; that is to say, there are, upon the outer side, two deep, opdn Indentations, where the eiuimcl-sheet loops into the tooth, and, consequently, three rounded saliencies or h)bes, as just men- tioned; while on the inside there is one such indentation, or loop, opposite the middle of the tooth, producing two such rounded saliencies. On the front upper molar, however, the autero-interior lobe is slightly indented, making three lobes in all, as on the outside. The interior reentrant loops of enamel arc wide open and sliallow, not reucliiug half-way across liie face of the tooth; the exterior loops, on tlie contrary, are very deep, reaching nearly or quite iiCHLss Ihe tooth. At tiic outset, these exterior loops are wide open, like the intoiior ones; but they soon shut, the two folds of enamel being mutually MURID^— 8IGMODGNTBS— NEOTOMA. 11 apprcsscd, and thus, as one double enamel fold, they penetrate the tooth. The apex of the antero-exterior Ioo|) in each upper tooth abuts against the apex of the single interior loop; the apex of the other exterior loop abuts against the surrounding wall of enamel of tiic opposite side; and thus the crown is divided into three distinct dentine islands. But, in other cases, these reentrant promontories of enamel do not reach either the internal loop or the inner wall; then we have a straggling djntine area on the face of the tooth partially cut up into three. The faces of tlie crowns difl'er in sculpture to a considerable degree with age, as in other genera ; but, owing to the more pris- matic form of the teeth, this variability is not so great as in Ilesperomys or Mus, and the pattern above described will be found essentially preserved in most cases, except in the extremes of youth and old age. In very worn leeth the reentrant folds are all ground out, leaving a single irregular dentine area surrounded by a. crenulate enamel wall, as in Sigmodon, &c. ; at one period, there are enamel islands left in this area. The back molars wear down from the condition above described to a simple figure-of-8, or hour-glass shape. The under molars differ from the upper in being more complicated, but also vary among themselves to a greater degree still. In the upper, moreover, the lateral protuberances are essentially alternate (there being two outside and only one inside) ; while in the lower, there being the same num- ber of indentations on both sides, these are opposite. The front an.l middle lower molars are extremely similar to each other, both having two reentrant loops and three rounded saliencies (all mutually opposite), so that their crowns make a figure-of-8, with an extra loop. The chief difference between them is that the anterior lobe of the front one is enlarged a little, and shows a shallow indentation. The apices of the lateral reentrant loops abut each against its fellow, by which means the crown is divided into three dentine spaces, one behind the other ; often, however, the ends of the loops do not touch, so that passage-way is left from one dentine space into the others. The hinder tooth may be best described as a two-thirds of either of the others : i. «., it is a figurc-of-8 without the extra loop above mentioned ; it has one reentrant fold of enamel on each side, opposite the middle. These folds may meet or not in the center of the tooth ; and, in very old teeth, the grind- ing-away of the folds leaves simply a somewhat irregular subcircular crown. One specimen shows an instructive condition of this last under molar. The exterior reentrant loop is becoming detached from the side-wall of enamel, If 12 MONOOUAl'US OF NOHTII AMKRICAN KODENTIA. un.l about lo appear as nn island of c.a.nd i.i tl.c dcnlinc area. This is exactly what occurs in lIcq>eromi/ti, &c. Upon attentive eonsi.lerution of the sul)j.;ct. wo conclude that there is really no es.sevtiul difference in the molar structure of our several f>eneru ; that N,'ofo»ia and SIgmodon merely wear off their teclh faster than He.s- peromi/s docs ; that the pattern just described for Neotomu is indicative of early maturity; that with age the reentrant folds of enamel are ground off from their connection with the general enveloping sheet, and appear as islands of enamel in the general dentine area; and that, finally, these islands are rubbed out, when we have, as a condition of senility, a continuous, depressed dentine surface bounded by a raised, indented wall of enamel. We tabulate together a part of our skulls of the several species, both real and nominal. The difference in the length of muzzle of the bushy- tuiled species is evident from the figures. Table I.—Meaaaremeiitii of eighteen tkulh of varioiu «jicci«« of Neotoma No." ;i44a Ui:\ 80.M) 22U1 nm a4(io 21G0 3,')97 ;i59d ;i,VJ9 3()00 3G01 3602 yoio Il>7() Locality. .a a Si 3 o H South Atlantic St.ites.... do Saint Simon's, Ga do Soutbeiu States Geoi(!iii , do Sonora Fort T.'jon, Cttl .... do do do 2.10 a. 0.-. a.0o 1.90 1,80 1.9S l.(W 1.80 1.9o 1.87 i.ei , do I , do 1 Santa Clara, Cat 1 Cliarco ICitcondido, Mox.. .' W:ialiiii)!ton Territory....! Deer Creek, "Nob", 1.92 1.90 2.10 2.10 2.05 I 0.72 0.70 0.68 0.65 0.61 0.62 0. 62 o.ns 0.65 0.62 ° it 1.08 1.05 1.02 0.65 0.68 0.98 0.84 0.97 1.02 0.94 0. 95 0.92 0.95 0.95 1.12 1.07 1.05 ? 3 0.27 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.82 0.24 0.21 0. 22 o.2;t 0.23 0.26 0.22 0.25 0.21 0.85 11 0.77 0.77 0.75 0.70 0.08 0.70 0.61 0. 65 0.76 0.72 0.71 0.70 0.75 0.70 0.77 a is 9 O ►J ~ 1.40 0,20 0.25 0.86 0.82 1.30 1.25 1.20 1, 25 1.10 1.22 1.2.1 1.18 1.22 1.12 1.20 1.20 1.40 1.20 1.42 1.45 Remarks. floriiana; iierfootly adult. do. floridana; mature. do. floridana; youngish. floridana ; nearly adult. floridana ; quite youug. "niexioana"; mature. do. do. do. do. do. do. fatdpet ! adult, "niieroiius"; adult, "occidentalis"; udult. cinerea; adult. \ti *Of the specimen, in the register of the National Museum, Smithsonian lustitution, and on its label. The same with regard to the nnmbers in the first column of each table throughout the present monograph. t Taken by laying the skull on a flat surface, and rocasnring perpendicularly from the surface to the highest point of the parietals. The name mode of measurement in snhsequent tables. t From the tip of the incisors to the back of the condyle. The same, in following tables. N. 1).— Measurcmouts, throughout this article, are iu decimals of the Uuglish inch. MUIlIDiE- SIGMODONTES— NEOTOMA. 18 We tabulute none of the very young skulls before us, ns these would vitiate the results, especiiilly as regards the lengthened muzzle of the busiiy- tailed species ; the young of that animal not having the snout noticeably dillcrent from that of tiie rest. The difference in length of snout betwecsn cinerea a.m\ Jloridana does not seem to be much from the figures; but n tenth of an inch on the end of a rat's nose is something; and, viewing the naked skulls, the rostral part in cinerea is seen to be slenderer, ns well ns longer, than it is \n Jloridana ; the interorbital space is more constricted and more deeply indented. Aside from this, the skulls show nothing diagnostic among the several real or supposed species. Adult ones average about two inches long (1.84 to 2.10) by an inch broad (0.84 to 1.12J across the zygomata, and barely over two-thirds of an inch in height (taken as described — see under Tab. 1, p. 12). The extreme length of the under jaw is about an inch and a fourth on an average, but runs from 1.10 to 1.45 ; a part of this difference being due to the fluctuating length of the under incisor. This generally protrudes one-half of an inch, or a little more ; the upper incisors protrude about one-third of an inch. The molaV series is from three- to nearly four- tenths of an inch long ; thereis nothing diagnostic in its length. ' In connection with the rostra^ elongation of the skull of N. cinerea, we should note another slight peculiarity — not, however, diagnostic of species, much less of sections of the genus. In all the western skulls examined, includ- ing even those of N. Jloridana, there is a tendency to a narrowing of the con- duit of the posterior nares by more or less filling in of bone from the alveolar border. Thus, in ordinary South Atlantic _/?on'dri«a, the whole palate is defi- cient behind the. point indicated in the generic diagnosis — nothing bounds the space on either side but the alveolus itself. In the other extreme, there is quite a little shelf on either hand, noticeably narrowing the aperture. But the feature is extremely variable, and cannot be relied upon for even specific diagnosis. We know thiee good North American species of this genus : first, there is the ordinary N. Jloridana, really Inhabiting most of the United States, except New England, though decidedly southerly, and ranging thence into Mexico ; secondly, the N. fuscipes, which appears to be perfectly distinct, and is a highly interesting animal, opening the way, through several of its features, into the tropical aspect of the genus, such as is exhibited by the N. ferruginea of Tomes, from Guatemala, and furnishing an analogy to tlie 14 MONOdHAPIIS OF NOllTfl AMERICAN ItODENTIA, long blnck-tnilcd, partly (lusky-footca. style of He^peromys witnessed in such a species ns Nijdemys sumkhraMi ; tiiinlly, tlie still more peculiar N. cinerea of Uritisii America and various western Territories— nn animal tiiat, although a true Ncotomn, sliows us the densely luiiry, almost l)ushy tail of Myozus—n condition, in fact, tliat would almost equal a squirrel's, were the tail perfectly distichous instead of rather terete. It has, indeed, been made the type of a ditlerent genus, Teonomn, but this, like many of Dr. J. E. Gray's genera, need not l)e adopted. We tabulate the three species, together with the Guate- malan one. Analysis of species of Nkotoma. 1. Tail scANT-iiAiKEi) (nearly as in Mus), hicolor, grayish and whitish, in length at most barely equaling the body without the head. Feet entirely white. Adults with the general body-colors of the Norway rat, l)ut more fulvous on the sides; white below; young, gray or slate. Upward of 9 inches long; tail upward of 6; hind foot upward of 1.50. Skull averaging 2 inches FLORIDASA. 2. Tail scant-haiked, as before, nnicolor, blackish, nearly as long as head and body (up to 8^ inches). Feet pnrtly dusky. General body-colors as before, if anything darker. Aver- ' > '■ aging larger than the last? FUSCIPES. 3. Tail seANT-nAiUKD, as before, unicolor, blackish, nearly as long as head and body. Feet partly dusky. General body- ' colors of adults rich ivarm rusty-red, hardly darker on the ' l)ack ; vnder parts snowy, with distinct line of demarkation. Small; upwr.rd of 7 iuclies; tail nearly as much; hind foot under 1.50 ; skull about 1.75 ferruqinea. 4. Tail densely hairy (as in Myo.vus), bicolor, brown or gray, and white, ^'izc of Jloridana, or c\cn larger ; l)ody-colors . d of Jloridana, but varying between dark plumbeous and pale ' luteOUS CINEREA, NEOTOMA FLORIDANA, Say & Ord. , ; Wood Knt. -' '^ u Ifut fionAamm, Obd, Hull. Soc. riiilom. Phila. 1818, 181.— Desmahest, Mamm. il, 1R22, 307.— Sat, Long's Expert. R. Mts. i, 1S23, 54. ArricoXa Jloridamis, IIai i.an, Fn. Aiiicr. 1885, 141 j Med. and Pliys, Rc8. 1835, 53, pi. x, f. 1, 8. 3, 4. MUPIDiE— SKiMODONTKS— NEOTOMA FLOUIDANA. 16 Jfeoloma JImidana, Sav A Oiin, Joiirii. Ai-ni\. Nut. S<^i. Pliiln. Iv, IHar>, ar.2, pi. x, f. 1, 9, n, 4; 7M\. Joiirn. il, IHari, aU4, iil. x, f. l, a, :), 4; liil», IH^T, xx, IU;ir>.— Oihi-fith, Aiiim. KIuk'I. iil, l'"-'7, w\ 111. — .— AuD. A. Uacii., y. N. A. I, lrt4ll, :«, ]il. iv.— ('ikokkmoy, ZhoI. Vciy. Vimhih, IKA, 154, pi. xili.— Kknnkott, AKrIc. Ucp. U. H. I'lito'it Olllc'u for IWid (1h:i7), (iio ti'xt), pi. xi\-.— Il.Miil>, M. N. A. IfTiT, 4M7.— Maximilian, Ari;li. NiilurK. xviil, IHO'J, p. — ; Vcrz. N.-Aiii. HitiiK. IHIIU, iur>.— Am.kn, Hull. MiiH. C'uuip. Zuiil. ii, 1671, ltiit.—CovM, I'roc. Acud. Nut. hc\. riiilii. 1H74, 175. Lfmrnut Jtoi-tdamiii, Fisciikii, SynopsU, l«89, WX Xeotona vutiea»a, IIaiiid, I'mc. Acud. Nut. Mvi. I'liiln. 1855, vli, :i3n; M. N. A. 1857, 400; II. R. &. Mvx. Iloniiil. Siirv. ii, pt. ii, 1850, Mnimii. p. 44, pi. 24, f. 1, a to ff (Bkiill).— CouK-f, Am. Nut. i, 18117, ;i'JO. Xeolona micropu; Daikd, I'roo. Acud. Nut. 8ei. Plilla. vii, 1855, XU; M. N. A. 18,57, Vfi; V. H. & Mex. UuiiikI. ijiirv. ii, pt. il, 1850, Mniiini. p. 41. Habitat. — Southern United States and Northern Mexico. North, some- times, to Maryland (Audubon), New York (Bell), and Massachusetts (Gihbs). Daliota. Illinois. Kansas. Arkansas. Very abundant in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of California. • Diagnosis. — N. (adultvs) luteo brunnea, dorso obscuriore, later ibus fulves- centihus, infra alba, pedibus nivek, caudd bicolore; (juv.) svpra schistaceo-grisea, infrd, Candida. Long. tot. G-d-poll., caudce i-G-poll., cranii bipoll , pedis sesquipoll. . The adult animal is colored above very nearly like the Norway rat, but is brighter, and still more so on the sides. The difference is parallel with that between Ochetodon humilis and Mus muscitlus. Thus, OchetoC80 to— % 1 ■a i RcniArha. 1 1 t :m Pi! vm 1628 9CM 2C'J7 30T! SC78 441) 2951 2953 2954 8iar ei3ti «ai OCO'.i 04X1 3715 1730 1731 1732 vm 1328 1329 3051 3053 :I0,54 8434 11151 liiic.lnmlCoimty.N.y.. South CiirolitiB GeorHift ilo J. o. Bell 8.00 0.85 0.37 7.23 0.75 0.00 5.50 4.E0 4.00 0.30 4.30 3.33 5. '.15 5.75 0.40 1.55 1.45 1.33 0.80 0.80 0.75 Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry; tall atrotched. Dry; younR. Dry; young. Alcobolio. Alcobolio. Alooholio. Alcobolio. Dry. Mounted. Dry. Dry; very yonng. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry: younR. Alcoholic; yonng. Dry ; gray. Dry. Dry. Dry; much atTOtcbod. Dry. Dry; much atret«bad. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. do S.W. Wilson . . . ... do ...do 1. 33 ; 0. 75 ....do .'. ...do ... do ...do 0.85 1.06 2.10 1.42 1.48 1.38 1.40 LOO 1.35 L45 1.20 Lao 1.40 L37 1.40 1.20 1.00 0.70 0.80 0.77 0.70 ...do ...do Florida B. L. C. Wailes Fort lialulall Arkansas F.V. Hoyden A. W. Whlpplo... 1.10 2.20 9.40 7.50 0.00 0.00 4.12 5.00 W. A. Hammond.. ... do .... 1.00 2.00 ...do ...do ...do ... do A.Croclier ... do 0.07 1.00 ROO 8.00 8.25 0.25 0.00 ,5.00 4 75 4.00 ...do ...do CnU'radoTerii',^r> T«-\afl ...do J Stevenson 0.05 0.85 tT.I'opo Now *j[cxtco W. W. Audorsoo 7. SO 4 40 8.00 10.50 7.00 10.50 g.oo 0.00 8.50 0.75 7.50 4.50 4.90 5.00 O..'i0 0.50 0.00 4.90 4.7-1 1.18 1.33 L33 L40 1.18 1.33 1.30 1.30 1.32 1.20 1.30 0.70 1.05 1.00 0.95 0.80 J.roiw ... do ...do ...do ,...dr California ....do ...do J. F. Hainmond . . . A. Schott ... do .... ....do ...do ...do ...do ...do i Arizoua ...do F.Blecboir MURID.E— 810M0D0NTES— NEOTOMA FU8C1PBS. 19 Tablb II. — Meaaurementt of fixly spedmcxi of Neotoma floridaka— Continued. 1 • Locality. Collector. Noaoto- t 1 1 SemarkB. 1 i i H808 8809 8800 8801 8800 8803 886S 8801 8804 8809 8810 8811 eoos 8900 0089 to 9900 1339 to 1343 1328 1339 1033 903 389 954 961 3099 8100 1.00 1.00 1.90 6S!S 7.50 1.00 1.50 0.15 1.35 1.40 &00 6.35 4.15 4.15 5.50 4.75 5.75 5. CO 4.00 5.00 5.7S 1011 1. 85 1.25 1.35 1.15 1.30 1.30 l.i» 1.20 1.30 1,35 0.90 0.90 0.85 0.05 1.00 0.95 0.90 0.05 1.00 0.95 Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. - .: Dry. Dry. Dry; yonng. Dry; yonng. Alcoholic. Alcoholic; notgrow^. N08. 9980-04 are alco- holic; very yonng. holio; embryos. Alcoholic i very yonng. Dry. Dry. Monnled. do do ....do ....do ....do do . ....do ...do ...do .'. do l.OO 0.0.« 1.80 1.10 1.85 ...do do ...do do .. do ....do ... do do do do do ... do do 1.09 8.00 7.50 &00 6.00 3.75 1.25 1.15 1.10 ... do . . do I .0 . do J J. Colorado BItct, Ariz. . . ....ia do 10.90 0.00 a 75 6.60 1.33 1.30 1.00 0.95 ....do . . do ....do ....ilo T.H.Wobb 5.00 7.90 9.00 6.90 4.89 1.17 1.18 1.40 Chihaahna Mojioo ...do J.PottB 0.?4 Dry. a an Tim ^ Tvimh nf "mi. D.N. Conch ....do ....do ... do Alooholif , rery yoong. Alooi 'Ho; very yonng. ....do ...do NE070MA FUSCIPE? I'lJopper Jluiky -t )OV.^d Wood Bat. Mcvlima fntdpeii, Cooper, MiiS.— B.tTRr>, M. N. A. 16S7, 495.— Cocas, Proo. Aoad. Nat. Soi. Fhllu. 1874, 17C. Diagnosis. — N. caudd unicolore, nigricante, elongatd, truncum sine capite aquante sive exceedente, pedibus supra partim fuscis, auriculis plantisque ferh nudLs ; nigro-badia, infra albida. Long. tot. 9.50 poll., caudd 8.50, pedis 1.60. Habitat. — California. This remarkable rat is much unlike any other of the genus we know of Witii a general agreemci.*. in form with other species of the scanty-haired tailed group, there are striking difTcrcnces, the first of which that we shall 20 MONOGRAPUS OF NOHTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. notice is the length of tiiil. In N.Jloridana, tlie tail only exceptionally equals the trunk vvitliout tiic head; in N. fuscipcs, tiie tail is only exceptionally so short us this, ranging usually from a little more than length of the trunk to tlie full length of tiic trunk aiui head together. Besides its length, the tail in the dried specimens shows the peculiarity remarked hy Professor Baird, being compressed for its terminal third, somewhat as in the muskrat. At first, we thought this was a taxidermal or other accident, but all the specimens show the same thing; so that, whether or not the tail be compressed in life, it, at any rate, dries in that shape. Nothing of the sort occurs in N. Jhridana. The pilosity of the tail is about the same in the two species. The ears of fuscipcs are larger than those oi'Jloridana, although the general size of the two animals is nearly the same. The soles o( fuscipes are nearly naked throughout, but not perfectly so ; a scant hairiness occupying the posterior third of the sole, which is densely furry in Jhridana. The general pelnge of /«scy;cs is coarser and iiarsher than it is'm floridana, although the differ- ence is not very noticeable ; not more so than that between prairie and forest examples of N. cinerea. In other respects, of size, form, and pelage, we note no essential characters. In color, however, there are likewise marked features, the most promi- nent of which is the nearly uniform blackishness of the tail, and the next most so is the duskiness of the hind feet. This peculiarity is uniform and very conspicuous in all the specimens examined. The surface of the meta- tarsus is dark-brown, like the outside of the leg; the toes being abruptly white. This coloration and that of tiic tail are especially interesting in the geographical connection mentioned below. In general color, the animal is of a darker and warmer shade than ordinary jf?o/iV/aHa, and many times deeper than the pale desert-breed of the latter from neighboring regions. The main color is a strong reddisli-brown, overpowered with blackish on the back, but very bright on the sides. The under parts are white, as usual ; the hairs oh the middle line white to the very roots, but those along the sides of the belly ashy at root. On the fore leg, the dark color runs to the wrist and then stops abruptly ; on the hind, as stated, it reaches the roots of the toes. We have not specimens enough to show the full range of variation in size and proportions; but tiiese, no doubt, are perfectly parallel with those oijloiidana ; and, similarly, we cannot give the entire variation in color. We Bhould judge, from the restricted area that this species occupies, that its colors MUKlDiE-SIGMODOHTES— NEOTOMA FDSCIPES. 21 woultl only vary us much as, say, those of South Atlantic coast Jloridana do. Wc have no very young animals before us; but Nos. 1169 and 1182 show much the same signs of juvenility that Ihe same ages oi Jloridana do. The gray, however, is tiot so slaty; being more lined with yclIowish-brown, result- ing in a color almost identical with that of Mus decumanus. The feet are dusky, quite as in the adult. We should very much like to see specimens of this species from other localities, especially a little to the southward, where the physical influences that give the peculiar fades to Mexican MuridcB could be observed at play. As Dc Saussure has remarked (/. c), there is a tendency to extension of the color of the back down the legs and on to the feet in the Mexican forms of Hespe- romys ; thus, in H. azlecus, the basal third of the metatarsus is sharply dusky, while, in H. (NyctemynJ sumichrasti, the whole metatarsus to the toes is dusky. These two species also finely illustrate two other parallel tendencies : these arc, to the change of the ochrey or yellowish-browns of northern species into a ricii rusty red, with lengthening and blackening of the tail. Neotoma ferruginea of Guatemala and Southern Mexico shows likewise all three of these features. Neotoma fuscipcs, with closest relationships, if any, to Mexi- can forms, shows us the beginning of changes that appear to culminate in N. ferruginea ; but we have no links to excite suspicion that it is not perfectly distinct from the last named, as it certainly is from any other United States species. Mr. Samuels's Petaluma examples are strictly identical with Cooper's types. • The Fort Tejon example is interesting, and merits special mention. By referring to our table of N. Jloridana, it will be seen that we record three specimens of that species from this locality ; these are pure Jloridana, abso- lutely identical with South Atlantic styles ; they do not even approach in color the paler "mexicana" of the neighboring desert regions. But No. 3655 is equally \i\iTG fuscipcs ; the dusky occupies the posterior two-thirds of the metatarsus, and the tail, which is only an inch shorter than the head and body, is of a nearly uniform blackish" color all around. This occurrence, at Fort Tejon, of the two species of Neotoma, each preserving its own characteristics, confirms the specific distinctness of fuscipes, and is an interesting parallel with the case of the Hesperomys of the same region ; for it will be seen further on, that while the ordinary mouse of Fort Tejon is the "gambeli" strain of leu- IT 22 MOXO(il{Al'US OV NOKTII AMEUICAN KODENTIA. if II: M'l it if )■' copus, yot. the siiifjularly difrcrcnt //. californicus (parasiticus of Cooper) also occurs tlicre; and tliat some of the samples of "gaml)cli" seem to tend a little toward ca/iforniciin. Here appears to be the gateway, both iii Hesperomijs and in A^eofoma;, ihai leads out from an ordinary type into a localized ditTeren- tiation. We must confcs.8 that wc suspect that certain intermediate Ncotoma and Ilcspcronii/s will yet be found in this region to show us the steps of depar- ture from N. Jloridanas inU) fuscipcs and from H. kucopus into californicus. The skull of A'", fuscipcs shows nothing diagnostic ; a slight narrowness of the post-palatal notch being shared by the other western and Mexican forms. One example, No. 2040, measures 2.15 in length by 1.15 across the zygomata. T.MII.J lll.—Mtamremenl» of MX »j)«cifflen« of Neotoma I'USCirES. 1 1 Locality. ColU'Ctor. Noaeto— t 8.50 6 TiO i 0.75 1 s la ■A KciuarkH. 1 i 1 '3 H 1 158 ' Snntn Clara. Cal 495 9.00 9. .10 ft SO 6 25 1.55 1.00 1.02 1.58 1.28 1.35 1.10 1.00 1.05 1.20 1.00 1.00 Drj'; ndult; type. Dry J youDK. Dry i young. Alrnholic; adult. Alcoholic ; young. 1159 ....do do ... . iie-j ....ilo ... do 7.10 ! 7. 90 1 0. 85 0.25 0 76 6^50 0 70 8679 sei^o PetaluDiQ, Cal ...ilo K. Snliiucla ....'", bead 1" 9'", fore foot 8'", bind foot 1" 8'", tail 0".)— CoUKS, Pnw. Acad. Nut. Sci. Phila. 1874, 17.5. Diagnosis.— (No. 9507, Mus. Smiths., ex Tehuantepec.)— iV. aureo-fcrru- ginea, dorso obsciiriore, infra nivca, auriculis suhnudis, plantis ferii nudis, caudd nigricante unicolore, truncum cum capite suhcequante, metatarsis supra ex alhklo fuscescenlibuK. Long. tol. l.bi) po//.; criudce G.50; pedis 1.40; auricula 0.90. Upper parts of a rich rusly-red, almo.st golden-rust, color along the sides ; on the back obscured witli considerable admixture of blackish hairs; the line of demarcation on the sides very sharp: (he color of the upper parts (or a duskier hue) running down the outside of the legs to the wrists and ankles; the superior surfaces of (he feet of most of the s|)ecimens white, clouded with dusky, sometimes the dusky strongly predominating, in other specimens, haw- ever, hardly or not appreciable. Extremity of muzzle colored; but, on the sides of the lip, the white reaching up to the roots of the whiskers, wiiile just behind this the ferrugineous dips abruptly downward, so that the outline of the white and ferrugineous is tar from a straight line. Below snowy-white ; H' MURID^— SIGMODONTE8— NEOTOMA FERRUGINEA. 23 the liiiirs white to the roots in the middle, but along the sides with ashy roots, somewhat obscuring the purity of tlie white. Tail nearly as long as the head and body together, at least exceeding the body alone, and i)lackish throughout, or so nearly unicolor that the under side is merely a shade paler than the upper. Whiskers very long, all jet-black at base, paler at ends. Soles very scant-haired back of the posterior tubercle; ears likewise nearly naked (both much as m fuscipes). General form and proportion of parts as in the other scaly-tailed Neotomas. Size averaging somewhat less than in Neotoma Jhri- dana (see table of measurements). The fine series collected by Professor Sumichrast enables us to ciiarac- terizc this animal with precision. The five specimens vary but little, the difference being mainly in the purity and intensity of the colors ; the meta- tarsus, however, in one specimen at least (9435), is white, whereas in all the others it is clouded with dusky. The animal is related to N. fuscipes in this respect, as also in the length and blackness of tail, but is smaller than that species, and otherwise distinguished at a glance by its rich rusty-red color, by which, furthermore, it is separated from any other of the rat-colored United States Neotomas. The skull of No. 9507 has no structural peculiarities, but is smaller than any adult United States skulls examined; it measures 1.80 in length by 0.95 across the zygomata. The post-palatal notch may be rather n; w, but is not conspicuously so. The dentition affords us nothing diagnostic, as, in fact, is the case with all the rest of the genus ; and we suspect that any peculiarity Mr. Tomes may have noticed in his types of ferruginea will prove only an individual feature, to be matched in other species. We have not seen the young of this species, and do not know how gray it may be in youth ; but we should expect that the dark gray or slate color oi floridana and other northern species would not be perfectly exhibited in this case. Tablk Vf.—Meaturtmmtt of five apeoimetu of Nkotoma vkriiugikba. 1 Locality. CoUector. NOMiO— t« 1 n 1 Bemuks. i ^ fnv>V'.l,"^ 24 MONOGKAIUIS OF NOliTII AMERICAN KODENTIA. ii NEOTOMA CINEREA, (Ord) Baird. Basby-tallfd IVood Rat. A»h-iohured rat, , fiiilliiii'« (ii'oR. id Am. c. & Hacii., Q. N. A. i, 184!t, 22a, pi. xxix.— Maximilian, Arch. Niitiir);. xviil, Iritii, |i. — ; Vcrz. N.-Am. .Siiiif,'. lf^>2. l"*!. Xeoloma occtrf(n(a/i», CooI'kk, MSS.— Uaiiid, Troc. Acad. Nut. Sci. Pliiln. vil, 1^55, 335 ; M. N. A. 1857, 496, pi. nil. f. 3.— CooPKit & SUCKI.EY, Not. Hint. Wash. Terr. IHtiO, 128. Tadlb v.— J/;a«iireraeH(» of forty specimcm of Nkotoma cineiika. Locality. 4301 f>3l4 1091 5n07 fioei .Viiia SfiTO 10616 10017 3S4 lllil 4330 4303 4301 4:108 m)1 3898 3751 i):iS4 11.3-U 3181 37.'i8 .37.'iO 2397 8544 8130 463 4KI OTi 3806 3733 89 068 3318 3370 4068 Ftirl C'liiirrliill, nnilwm'HRay. SHHtinlcliewaii Kivrr Flirt niilliil, Uml. Il«y Tit... Fori Manl, Hiiil. Hay Tor. . . .. ..ilii (lo ilo do (lo ?, Hiiilnnn'ti Hay Ter . . . ?, I'liitcil Slaica YellowatoiiL' Kiver, Mont do MllltKlvtr F.irt Sarpy, Veb BigUnrn River, Nob Deer Creek, Neb (lo Williani'a Springs, Utah do I'iko'a Peak, Colo Campl9,Colo do Fort Maa8ac'bllHotl^ N. Mox do _.. Fort Riircwyn, N. Mex Straita of Filca Waxliiiigtoii Territory do Shoalwater Ilay, W. T do do Lake DepAt, Utah Simiahmoo Columbia River Aatoria, Oreg do Fort Umpiina, Oreg Fort Crook, Cal Collector. Noao to— Tall lo- \V. Mactavinb .... .T. McCaiiley .1. Liickardt W. L. nardiHty ... ...do ..".do ...do ..do ...do It. Campbell J. A. Alien ...do G. Suckley F. V. Hayden — (i.U.Trook ...do F. V. Itayden .... ..do C.SMcCartliy... ...do D.C.Collier RRidiiway ...do D.C. Peters E. C. Itowman W. W. AnderaoD. G.Suekley J.n,,Swan ...do .T.G.Cooper ...do .. do C. n. R Kennerly •T. Wayne J. K. Townaend . , .T. Wayne ...do E.P.Vollum D. F. Parkinson . . 3.10 11.00 9.50 9.00 9. .'.0 10.75 9.00 aoo a 75 0.00 8.50 8.35 7.75 7.00 6.00 5.75 9.SS 6.00 4. 75 5.50 5.75 5.00 .5.50 6.00 5.00 4.00 7. 50 i 5. 50 10.00 9.00 10.00 8.00 0.50 7. .10 7.50 10.50 aoo a5o 8.75 9.73 10.00 10.00 9.00 11.00 9. 33 a 33 10.00 Rao aoo aso 7.00 6.00 .5.00 6.35 5.33 7.50 6.50 5.50 5.75 7.00 5.00 7.35 7.75 6.75 7.35 6.00 ass 6.75 ,5.50 6.50 7.00 1.65 1.53 1.60 1.03 1.60 1.65 1.80 1. 53 6.50 7.75 7.00 a 10 7.33 6.(0 a 40 7.00 a 50 7.00 &30 6.30 7.73 a. 50 6.70 5. .50 aoo 5.73 1.40 1.65 1.55 1.19 1.50 1.45 1.63 1.40 1.50 l.riO 1.70 1.60 1.75 1.69 1.85 1.00 1.53 1.75 L73 1.60 1.63 1.00 0.90 1.15 1.06 Remark a. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dr>-. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Drj-. Dry. Drj-. Dr.v. Drj'. Dry. Dry. Dry. Fresh. Dr.v. Dry. Fnah. Frrsli. Fresh. Dry. Dry. Freah. Fresh. Dry. Dry. Dry. MUUID^— 8IGMODONTE8— NBOTOMA OINBREA. 25 Diagnosis. — N. caudd hirsutmhnd, {myoxina s. subsciurina), bicolorc, supra f^riseo-fusca, infra olba ; corpore supra cinerco {luteo- s. badio- .«. fusco- cinerco), infra ex albido albo. Long. tot. circ. 9 poll., caudce circ. 6.00, pedis 1.40-1.76, (luriculcB 1. Habitat. — Western and Nortliwcstern Nortli America. Eastward to Hudson's Bay, Nebraska, and Colorado, &c. Southward to New Mexico and California. Westward to the Pacific. • - ' :r ' Since both form and color come into play in consideration of the nominal species we shall presently discuss, we have at once inserted our table of measurements, after examining which we shall note the coloration of the animal, and then investigate llie supposed N. occidentalis. lu size, this animal is rather the largest of the genus, averaging near the maximum of Jloridana. The only specimen that touches 11 inches is some- what stretched; but as several others reach or exceed 10, 11 inches is prob- ably not beyond a natural maximum. Only one (No. 3898) that seems by ita coloration to be adult falls below 7 inches, and this one appears to be some- what compressed in the make-up of the skin. We may safely deduce, therefore, striking off somewhat from both ends, an ordinary range of varia- tion in length from 7.50 to lO.ftO inches, with an average dimension of about 9 inches. The tail, as usual, is still more variable ; and as, moreover, it is badly stuffed in most of our specimens, the true dimension is hard to reach. We find, as the figures stand, the vertebra; running from 4.00 to 7.50 inches, and the hairs from 4.50 to 8.50. Cutting off 0.50 eacii way for probable error, even then there is left a range from 4.60 to 7.00 inches for the vertebrre, and from 5.00 to 8.00 for the hairs. This variation amounts to nearly 33 per cent, of the average length of the head and body. Excluding some of the more striking extremes in relative length of tail to body, we may safely say that the shortest normal length of tail to body would be about as in No. 5662, or No. 1321, where the proportion is as 5 : 9, or 4 : 7; 56 : 100 nearly, or but little over half the length of the head and body ; while the longest rela- tive length of tail is about as represented by No. 3270, where the tail is as 70 : 85, as 82 : 100, or four-fif\hs the head and body. But, since this animal (No. 3270) is supposed "occidentalis", we might here be accused of assuming in the premises what we wish to find in conclusion ; so we will take another specimen, No. 3758, from New Mexico, being typical "cinerea" ■^Jjn"iiiijr>v)r.» X'. ' 'MJV 20 MONOGKAPnS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Ilorc th(3 figures arc 6.25 to 8.50. or nearly as 75 : 100; that is, tho tail ii» about three-fourths the length of the head and body, at any rale. But, to be fair to ourselves, we will take one other. No. 380G, a typical "occidentalis;" here the figures arc 5.50 : 9.25, or about 59 : 100; that is, considerably undci two-thirds thi; Iciigtii of the head and body. In other words : throughout the whole series, the tail (vertcbr«3) ranges from about half as long to about four-fifths as long as bead and body ; in the scries of true cinerea alone, the tail ranges from about one-half to about three- fourths as long; in the series of "occidentalis", so called, the tail ranges from less than two-thirds to about four-fifths as long; and the respective ranges of the two series overlap each other by about as much as they difTer from each other. Throughout, the variation is by insensible degrees; there is no l)reak in the series. Obviously, therefore, the characters "caudal vcrtebraj about as long as the trunk", as opj)osed to "caudal vertebroB considerably shorter than the trunk" {Baird, op. cil. 487), fail to be diagnostic of two species. The average tail is about two-thirds as long as the average body. Excluding No. 3898, which seems to be an abnormally small individual if really adult, as it appears, the hind feet range from 1.40 to 1.85 in length, a more customary range being 1.45 to 1.75; and the average settles very nearly at 1.66 inches. The fore feet (not given in the table) are about one-third of an inch long. The ears, measured from the notch in front, average a little over un inch iu lengtli, ranging from 0.90 to 115. The whiskers are immensely long — the longest ones averaging nearly 4 inches. An idea of their length will be gained when we say that in one specimen the distance between the tips of the outstretched whiskers is over eight inches. The densely hairy tail of this animal, unique in the genus, early attracted attention. The average tail is haired almost exactly as in Mi/oxus ; the hairs increase in length, usually, from base to tip, and likewise, as in Mijoxus glis, are more or less distichous in arrangement, so that the tail is flattened. In some of the more heavily-haired tails, the resemblance to Tamias is striking; and the hairiest of all even approach the condition of Sciurus itself, although the shape is sul)terete rather than perfectly distichous. Thus, in No. 8314, the hairs, pressed out flat, measure fullij three inches across, and the terminal MDBID^— 8IGHODONTES-NBOTOMA CINBBBA. 27 ones form a brush two inches beyond the end of the vcrtebroe. This maxi- mum of hairiness, however, is rarely if ever seen, except in borjal specimens : the most hcavily-iiaircd United States tails are only about tvo inches across; an average one is rather less than this; the average pencil at tlie cn • FoHlI Xeotona. ' ' ^ratoiiui magiiler, Bairo, H. N. A. 1S57, 408 (in text).— CouKS, Proc. Aonil. Nut. 8oi. Phils. 1874, 17n. Locality of remains.— Ca\es of Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg and Carlisle. This species is based upon a number of under jaws gathered in the above-mentioned places. These differ from the same bones of the existing species in averaging rather larger; but the difference is not decided. Thus, No. 12207 i,s precisely the size of No. 6883 (iV. cinerea). The teeth show no appreciable peculiarities : we have them in various stages of wear, all of which can be matched in our series of recent specimens ; and the same is true of the shape of the several parts of the jaw. As far as these fragment- ary witnesses go, we cannot determine N. magister to be anything more than a former condition of one of the existing species — probably Jloridana ; but as we have it separated by a considerable lapse of time, and have no assur- ance that it was not quite different in color, or in the proportions of the limbs, ears, tail, &c., the expediency of retaining the name is evident. With this case in hand, we offer an hypothesis that is none the less rea- sonable for being presumptive. Neotoma magister was the original species at the time the genus was differentiated from the then coexistent types of Murines, and became the progenitor of the four kinds ("species") of Neotoma living in America to-day. Those individuals that remained at and about the locality of the parent stock have varied the least, and present the assem- blage of characters we call N: "Jloridana". Other individuals, migrating westward, met, in the regions now known as Colorado, Kansas, &c., physical 'v^'^^w'K "fw" " f •;vT*y^*-'>>'^ 30 MONOGRArHS OF NORTH AMERKJAN RODENTIA. ^^ influences resulting in the sliglit* diifcronces in ti)c color and texture of the pelage. The northward emigration from this point assumed, probably through the influence of thermometric conditions, the longer fur and especially the dusky tail of the now iV. "ciiien'u"; this attaining its maximum in the Arctic regions. Secondary, slighter difl'crentiations of this branch, due to hygro- metric conditions, resulted in the light-colored variety from the dry plains ('^cincrea" of Baird), and the dark variety from the wet, wooded region of Oregon and Washington Territories; in the Arctic regions the color being intermediate, though the pelage is at an extreme of length and density as a protection from cold. Other westward migrants from the Kansas and Colorado center, encountered in the vicinity of Fort Tejon influences that .vhat arvicoline. Profile of head strongly convex ; muzzle short, obtuse, hairy, e\ ipt the nasal pad. Tail from two-thirds to three-fourths as long as the head and body ; generally less than the body alone. Ears large, orbic- ular, sub-naked outside, hirsute inside. Antitragus well developed, valvular. Fore feet small, not half as long as the hinder; palms nuked, 5-tubcrculate (two large tubercles abreast, posterior, one at l)ase of 2d and 6lh fingers respectively, one at base of 3d and 4th together) ; thuinl) rud'mentary, with an obtuse, flat- >Im ^ Hi I i^ a 32 MONOORAl'IIS OF NORTH AMKKIOAN UODBNTIA. tened nail. Hind feet very long, generally about equali .^ distance from nose to ear; 1st and 5tli toes subequal and very short, the latter reaching but little beyond the basal joint of the 4th. Soles entirely nailed, granular at bases of toes, perfectly smooth i)ehind, G-tul)ercnlate, the tubercles all small, the hindcrmost not lengthened and linear as in Mux; the 2d tubercle just outside and a little in advance of this one; a tubercle just inside the base of the 1st and 5tii toos respectively ; one between bases of 2tl and Ikl toes ; one between bases of 3d and 4th toes. Although this forni of sigmodont Murina is undoubtedly strongly marked, yet we cannot see that it stands apart from the rest so far as it is tacitly sup- posed to. A good deal that has been written about its peculiarities of denti- tion might be advantageously toned down ; in fact, we do not find much, if any, greater dental characteristics than those slightly superspecific ones mark- ing several other forms usually ranked as subgenera of Hesperomys. The loops of enamel on the posterior molars tlo form a sort of sigma, but it is usually a broken and always a distorted one, never more evident than in some other sigmodont forms. The pattern of the teeth is fully as changeable with age as it is in Hesperomi/s, Scotoma, Mus, and other genera; and it is only to a particular stage of the crowns that the details of pattern, usually ascribed to the genus, hold good. Moreover, we have, in the section Oryzomys, a perfect link between Sigmodon and the ordinary small Hesperomys of America. The connection is so close and complete, that, in fact, we should almost think Ory- zomys ought to take |)lace as a sui)genus of Sigmodon rather than of Hespero- mys; or, if retained where it is now, Sigmodon ought to be laid over against it as another suljgcnus of Hesperomys. In external characters, Oryzomys agrees better with Sigmodon than it does with ordinary Hesperomys ; the two are so much alike, in fivct, that the relative length of the toes and the com- parative size of the ears are the most readily-expressed differences. We are not sufficiently familiar with all the exotic American Murinee to come to a final conclusion : but we suspect that it will in time be found advisable or necessary to combine most of the species of the sigmodont Mures into one genus (for which the name Sigmodon, antedating Hesperomys, woulil have to be adoi)ted), with several subgenera or groups of species; for, with the exception of Neutoma, perhaps Holochilus, and possibly one or two others, the various superspecific groups seem to differ from each other by characters of ai)out ecpial or equivalent value. The impropriety is, that it is at present customary to hold some of these groups fur genera, others only for subgenera ; MUUIDJi;— SIGMODONTKS— SIGMODON. 33 wliorens tliey do not appear to aflbrd grouiuls for any such subordiiuition. Thus, Onychomys seems to us fully as diH'erent from Hesperomys proper as Signwdon is ; and we should judge the same to be the case with such forms as Abrothiix and Oxymictervs. But as we are not now undertaking a critical revision of the whole sigmodont tribe, we prefer to accept the groups as we find them, provided they are established with any considerable show of reason, rather than present decided innovations; and for the present, in order to bring out tlie groups in the strongest relief, we accord generic rank to some that probably we should reduce to subgenera upon final survey of the whole. The principal diagnostic points of the skull of Sigmodon are those men- tioned in a preceding paragraph. The shortness of the skull, in comparison with the great width, resulting from the widely divergent zygomata ; the short, swollen, rostral portion ; the arched frontal profile ; the curious little pointed process of the lamellar plate of the maxillary that bounds the foramen "(wanting in other groups we have examined — even in Oryzoinys) ; the posi- tion and peculiar sculpture of the palatal shelf; the small bulte ossete; tiie bead on the orbital edges, — all are strong characters, in peculiar combination. We might easily describe several additional, more minute features, but this seems unnecessary. The following table shows the size, proportions, and variations of the skull of the single species of the genus we have examined. Table VI. — 3/ea»iirfmeii(« of fourteen tkulU ofapeciet o/8iomoi)ON. i Loeallty. i 1 5- 5 •a 1 i t 1 Q 1 1 S u S s s p 1 i; Remarkg, 4783 Georgia 1.37 0.99 0.S0 0.90 0 .w o.9n 0.79 0.03 0.37 0.96 hupidiui adnlt. 4764 .. cc, Ufxtco .. 1.40 0..''4 0.79 0.90 0.97 a 94 0.79 0.90 0.33 0.39 " berlandieri. " 9irM ...do 1.97 0.40 0.80 0.90 O.SO 0.93 0.60 0.84 0.39 a 94 " borlaodleri. " wm ...do 1.30 0 48 0.70 0.10 0 49 0.19 0.60 0 77 0.90 0.90 " borlRndleri"tyoun)(lBh. 7910 OriMba, Uoiloo 1.19 0.70 0.18 0.49 a 19 0.60 0.77 0.99 0.90 " toltecua " i yuunglah. Dentition. — Selecting an average adult example, as No. 47C3, in wiiich the teeth are full-grown, yet not so worn as to deface the pattern, we find as 3 H ri 34 MONOOIJAI'IIS OF NORTH AMKIMCAN IfODKNTIA. 41 follows: — Tho upper molars have three roots each: a large interior fang, and two smaller exterior iiiiigs, placed side by side; but the anterior of these, in the, fiinl molar, is as large as tiie interior, and stands directly to the front, instead of to tiic outside, while this same tooth also often shows a fourth ,oot — a small one interposed between the two exterior ones. But the under molar roots show us something that may be peculiar — at least, we have not observed it in other genera ; this is, that they have more than two roots apiece, and the disproportion in size of the roots is very ^reat. The front lower molar has four fangs: a moderate anterior fang; an enormous posterior fang; and two little intermediate iangs, placed side by side. Tlie next two under molars have each three roots : two small anterior ones placed side by side, and one enormous posterior fang. The larger tlmgs seem to result from the con- Hucnce of two small ones ; and, in both upper and under teeth, there are some- times minute accessory fangs that do not effect a distinct perforation of the alveolus, and are, therefore, not enumerated. We think it very likely that this mode of rooting may be really charricteristic of Siginodon, but have not ventured to include it in our diagnosis, in our uncertainty as to its permanence, and our ignorance of what, if any, other sections may show the same thing. Tile front upper molar is larger than the other two ; but these are of about the same size, since, contrary to a general rule, tiie back molar does not diminish in l)ulk. All three have externally two deep reentrant lobes, or folds, of enamel, reaching almost across the face of the teeth ; the front upper molar has two similar interior folds ; the otiier two l)ut one such interior loop apiece. In the front molar, the first exterior loop abuts against the second interior loop, or else is received in the space between the first and second interior h)ops; similarly, on the other teeth, the first exterior loop abuts against the only interior loop, while, in all three teeth, the second exterior loop abuts against the postero-internal angle of the general enamel-wall. The abutment of these folds is more or less perfect with different specimens, but, generally, it divides tlie enamel-area into several dentine islands. In the under jaw, likewise, the molars do not decrease in length from before backward, the back molar being as long as the first, and, if anything, even broader; still, the complexity of the crown is much greater on the first than on either of the others. The first lower molar shows three interior and two exterior reentrant folds of enamel, alternating with each other; the apex of each fold is received against the apex of the next succeeding, so that the face of the tootii iu II MDUID^-SIGMODONTKS— SIGMODON. 86 divided mtn five separate dentine islands (when the abutment is perfect). Tlie nicks in the border of the tooth between these fohls are more open tlian in any of tlie other teeth ; in fact, approaching the open recntrances of Nvotoma The two last under molars differ much from the first, and are almost precisely like each other ; they have usually but one perfect reentrant loop on both inside and outside, and, as these loops alternate, an appearance something like the letter S is produced. But the imperfection, and csp'^cially the incon- stancy of this pattern, has been already mentioned, and is further shown below. Often, in case of the middle lower molar, there is another imperfect loop, either internal or external — or two such, one external, one internal ; these we have not noticed on the back tooth, where the "sigma" is best shown. The teeth of the Mexican ekuUs before us, including 8. "toltecus", offer nothing noticeably different from the ordinary style. M. De Saussure figures {I. c. pi. ix, f 3*) an average example — perhaps rather elderly, however. Our No. 7510 is still older, showing many of the reentrant folds dissevered from the surrounding wall, and forming conspicuous islands in the dentine area. The teeth of an aged Sigmodon (No. W»*, South Carolina) show conclu- sively that the progressive changes of the molar crowns are as described in Viu-perimus, although Sigmodon, like Neotoma, loses its tubercles so early that we have not observed the primitive unworn condition. The senile con- dition that the molars of this specimen have reached may be said, in a word, to be the penultimate one, in which the reentrant loops of enamel, though still evident, are nearly severed from their connection with the general envelope — the peninsulas are almost islands in some places, in others have become quite isolated. These molars are nearly worn down to the roots. The only further change of which they would have been susceptible had the animal lived, is the final rubbing out of these islands, when the teeth would have presented a single continuous depressed dentine area, irregularly bounded by the external sheet of enamel. The front upper molar shows two external and two internal in-lying folds ; the former still perfectly peninsular, the latter almost isolated. The middle shows one perfect internal peninsula and two external folds; the anterior one of which is already insular, the posterior nearly so. The back upper molar is in the same condition as the middle one. The front under molar shows two internal peninsulas alternating with an external peninsula and an external island. Both the other under molars show one external peninsula; on the middle one the internal loop has become insular, while on the last one the same loop remains peninsular. il: \\l 3G MONOCJUAPIIS OF XOKTII AMIMJICAN UODENTIA. SIGMODON IIISPIDUS, Say & Ord. . • ■ .i^ff- Cotton Rat. :^v'. :, Sigmmloii Uhpidum, Say & Oim.. .I..iiri.. Xvm\. Nut. Sci. PUiln. iv, IHiS, :J54, i.l. x, f. 5, 6, 7, 8; Zool. Jonrn. ii, IHiS, ifflfi, pi. X, f. 5, «, 7, 8 — Wacinkh, Snppl. Sclirob. iii, 1M4S, 556.— AuD. & Bach., Q. N. A, i, lri41», 829, pi. XXX.— Bamid, M. N. A. 18,-)7, 502.— Allkn, Bull. Mob. Coinp. Zoiil. ii, 1871, 183.— CouF.s, Pioc. Acad. Nuf. Sci. Pliilu. 1874, 170. ArrlcoU hhpidiiii, OoDMAN, Ain. Nut. Hint, ii, 182(i, fi8. Arricola horlensia, Haiilan, Fn. Amcr. 1825, 138 ; Med. & Pliya. Kes. 18.35, 43, pi. — , f. 5, 0, 7, 8.— GWKFITH, Aiiiin. KiiiKd. v, 1827, sp. 547. ■ Arvicota femiqineut, Haiilan, Am. .loiirn. .Sci. x, 182i5, 285 (rusty var.). '■ ■ ■. .' ' An-kula Imaua, Aui>. & Bach., Q. N. A. iil, 1853, 229, pi. cxlvii, f. 2 (not Arvicola lexarni, AuD. & Bach., iHd. p. 319, wliicb is /fcn/xromy* leiicopue). Sigmodoii berlaHdUri,.)i\mit, Proc. Acud. Nat. Sci. Phila. vii, 1855, 333; M. N. A. 1857, 504; U. S. & Mox. Bound. Siirv. ii, 18,')9, tlainuials, p. 44, pi. vi, f. 2, 2" (Texas; Mexico).— ToiiKS, Proc. Zool. Soe. 18G1, 2H1 (Guatemala). Ilenperomijii (/(ci/omi/s) (o/(ccu«, Dk Sal'ssuhe, Rev. & Mag. Zool. 18fiO, p. — , pi. ix, fig 3« (Cordilleras of Vera Cruz). Diagnosis. — S. caudd suhnuM truncum sine capite subcequante ; pedihiis validis, digito b^ vix l"""' superante, nee valde ultra arliculum proximum 4" par- recto ; plantis nudls, tesselatis. 6-tuberculatis ; auriculis m/ignis orhiculatis, intus liirsutis extus subnudk ; rostro obtuso, piloso (septo narium excepto); mystaceis spnrsis brevhsimis ; vellere Ivspido ; supra nigra budloque inlime limbaius ; infra ex griseo albidus, pedihus dorso concoloribus, caudd sub-bicolore. Habitat. — Soutliern United States and Mexico, especially coastwise. North to the Carolinas. South to Vera Cruz and Guatemala. A sigiiiodont rat, vvitii a nearly naked tail about equaling the trunk with- out the head (from a little less tlian the trunk alone to about the length of the trunk and head together) ; large hind feet, of which the 1st and 5th toes are but little unequal in length, the latter reaching but little beyond the base of the 4th (never to tiie penultimate joint of the 4th) ; entirely naked granulated soles, with six small tubercles; largi; rounded ears, hairy inside, nearly naked outside; l)luiit muzzle, furry except at the septum, and very few whiskers hardly reaching to the ears; the pelage long and hispid, from admixture of much bristly hair, finely lined above with black and brownish-yellow, below grayish-wiiite ; feet not white above, and black below ; tail very indistinctly bicolor. It will probably l)c admitted that the foregoing diagnosis is tolerably stringent and reasonably specific; yet we propose to prove it comprehensive enougli to include several nominal species. It is unnecessary to go into any elaborate descripfion of this familiar ani- mal, viewing the several excellent accounts already in print, and especially since the essential characters have been fully elucidated in our notice of the MURIDiE— SIGMODONTES— SIGMODON IIISriDUS. #r genus. In entering at once upon tlic discussion of the nominal species tlmt luive been coined at the expense of Sigmodon hinpidus, we first present a table of measurements of thirty-four specimens collected in the same locality by the same persons. A part of the measurements being from alcoholic speci- mens and the rest from very nicely-prepured skins, the figures are reliable. They serve to indicate the normal individual variability of the animal in size, unaffected by geographical or climatic influences, and give us data in the problem that cannot be galnsayed. Taiilk VII. — J/<:o»ureme(i(»o/(/iir/j-/oMr«p«!i«fi»8o/SloM()miN uiavmvs from Society Hill,SoHlh Cmolimi, collKted in 1M55-5(> by llcv. M. A . Curtia and «o»«. SG85 «i86 2f)rt7 2688 8089 2690 2693 1990 1991 1988 1989 1987 1985 1966 19'J2 1237 1238 I83J 1241 1242 1240 1243 1245 1246 1244 "1303 1304 i:<06 1307 979 NoBe to— Eye. Eur. Occiput. 0.70 0.60 O.GO 0.65 0.65 0.06 O.riO 0.65 0.70 0.65 0.62 0.65 0.05 0.60 0.62 0.66 0.62 0.60 0.70 0.60 0.70 0.65 0.57 0.66 0.64 0.68 0.00 0.61 0.65 1.45 1.25 1.25 1.30 1.30 l.SO 1.25 1.30 1.45 1.35 1.30 1.25 1.25 1.40 1.42 1.30 1.15 1.25 1.45 1.20 1.40 1.40 1.10 1.40 1.20 1.25 1. 15 1.20 1.35 1.67 1.46 1.42 1.47 1.48 l..'>5 1.46 1.50 1.60 1.50 1.45 1.40 1.45 1.05 1.50 1.40 1.40 1.35 1.60 1.30 l.ti7 1.60 1.25 1.65 1.45 1.55 1.35 1.30 1.50 Tail. 5.45 4.75 4.65 4.90 4.80 5.05 4.90 4.80 5.90 5. 05 4.50 5.25 5.85 5.50 5.25 4..'i0 5.00 4.25 5.00 4.10 5«75 5.25 4.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 4.40 4.80 5.75 4.00 4.00 4.40 4. .50 6.00 Tail. 3.75 3.25 3.20 3.40 3.45 3.30 3.26 3.35 3.75 3.30 2.25 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.00 8.75 3.10 3.00 3.20 3.10 3.20 3.60 i8.75 3.90 3.50 3. 40 3.00 3.10 3.75 8.50 8.r.o 2.70 2.40 3.20 Palm. 0.68 0.60 0.58 0.61 0.60 0.63 0.55 0.56 0.60 0.60 0.58 Sole. 1.85 1.15 1.15 1.80 1.20 1.20 1.17 1.80 1.85 1.80 1.20 1.17 1.15 1.80 1.10 1.10 1.15 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.80 1.88 1.05 1.30 1.12 1.15 1.10 1.12 1.25 1.00 t.05 1.05 1.03 1.20 Ear. 0.70 0.60 0.(i0 0.70 0.70 0.65 0.60 0.70 0.75 0.60 0.70 0.65 0.00 0.68 0.62 0.68 0.70 0.66 0.65 0.60 0.70 0.67 0.57 0.65 0.63 0.64 0.55 0.60 0.67 Bemnrlu. Alcoholic Alcoholic Alcoholic Alcoholic Alcoholic Alcoholic Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry, Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. copied from Uaird. chnlie. Aleellolie. Alcoholic. Alcobolio. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Alcuhulic. Alcoholic; younc. Alcoholic; youuK. Alcoholic ; yonnR. ,...do ....do ....do ....do ....do ....do ... ilo J. LoConIo .. ..do J.I'ostell 0.C3 0.15 ceo 010 'a 7.1 0.70 1.30 1.30 1.40 1.85 1.50 1.30 1.30 1.0(1 1.80 1.40 1.75 1.00 ....do J. J. Auduhon Dr. Gcsner H.W. Wilson ....do ...do ....do 5.50 3.40 0.00 3. CO 3.,'iO 3.75 3.50 3.30 4.30 0.35 0.56 0 55 0.55 Florida E. Palmer . 0.65 l.SO 1.40 5.75 5.00 .150 6.00 5.00 7.00 Texas ... do L. C. Elrondberg ...do... ,.... ... do ...do do ...do ...do n. D. Dutchor .... J. n. Chirk . do o.ao 0.00 1.50 l.CO ....do ...do California ....do MutaiuoruB, Mcx — Coahulla, Max Nuovo Leon, Hex. . . Santa Rosalia, Mox Tamaulipss, Mex . . . .. do 7.00 5.65 6.00 5.50 4.50 5.07 4.00 3.03 4.00 3.80 3.40 4.00 3.00 0.54 0.60 0..15 0.50 0.60 A. Schott 0.05 1.30 1.45 J.C.IVCB ....do Dr. Berlondler.... D.N. Couch ....do 0.59 0.70 1.18 1.50 1.38 1.07 ...do 4.75 ...do ...do Zohnolan, Mex ...do 5.50 6.00 5.00 4,40 .. do \00 4.70 4.40 .1.35 3.35 3.30 3.00 3.60 3.50 0.51 0000 0510 0534 flOOS eo9« TJio; oogo 8:io-j G300 48C4 TehuaDtcpoo, U«x.. ...do ....do ....do ....do ... do ...do 5.00 5.30 4.50 .'i 00 Tuxpango, Mox ...do ...do ....do . do Mirador, Hox ...do 0. Sortorlus ....do 0.03 1.85 1.45 4.73 ....do ....do ....do * There Is some mistake In Professor Bolrd's measurement of No. 34 (0.00 long ; tall. 4.35) i tho spedmeu does not show these dimensions. t Typo of «. '■ twrlandtsri ", Baird. ; Kupresentinff Ur^penmya {DciUmyt) " toltteua '\ Do Sausevrfl. If these specimens are all really of one species (as wc hold, and aim to prove), the limits of variation are set somewhat further apart, as would be expected from the extent of country, representing different climatic conditions. Excluding Nos. 8 and 8820 as ol)viously overstuffed (they could not have exceeded 6.00 in the flesh), the length of the body remains substantially •I 40 MDNOaitAl'US OF NOUTU AMERICAN KODENTIA. , fi tlio siuiu', and with nearly tin; same limits of variation that were found in tlio Carolina series (4.40 to 6.00), though none drop to 4.00. The same may be said of the cars, fore t'cci, head, nose to ear, and nose to eye. The case is dilfereut respecting tiie tail and hind feet, in which we get some new figures reipiiring attention, as the dimensions of these parts have entered into the specific (lingnoses. ' For all the United States .specimens, except three (Nos. 8820, 666, and S), both the absolute and relative length of 'the tail is almost exactly as in Carolina skins; if anytiiing, tiie tail is rather shorter than longer. In none of the United States specii'iens do the feet differ appreciai)ly from the Carolina figures. In No. 8, the tail first touches 4 inches ; the tail of 8820 is u little longer (4.30); that of 5GG (type r)f "l)erlandieri") is still longer (4.60). But not one of these even equals, not to mention excce(ling, the head and body, as alleged for "berlandieri". In .several Mexican skins, similarly, the tail sur- passes 4.00 (Nos. 9385, 9508, 9.J09, 9510); and in two of these (9509, 9510) it actually equals the truidi. These are the oidy instances of this occurrence in the whole series; and tiiat they fall in the category of individual variations is proven by the following considerations : — First, these specimens are associ- ated with otiuMs (Nos. 9534, 6995, 6996. 7210) positively identical in every respect, and in which the tails bear the ordinary positive and relative length of Carolina skins ; secondly, the Texan and Mexican skins diflfer more inter se in length of tail than they do from the Carolina ones ; tiiirdly, we can form from our two tables the following graduated series of tails' lengths: 2.2.5, 2.40, 2.50, 2.70, 2.75, 3.00, 3.10, 3.20, 3.30, 3.40, 3.50, 3.G0, 3.70, 3.75, 3.90, 4.00, 4.30, 4.40, 4.60, 4.70, 5.00, 5.25 ! Wiiere shall we make a break in this chain to establish specific difference upon length of tail 1 It is hard to admit a variation of two inches in the tail of an animal the tail of which only averages three inches long; but we do not see how to get around the figures. We found the feet of Carolina specimens to range from 1.00 to 1.30. Among the Southwestern United States and Mexican examples, we have a slight widening of the limits— from 0.97 to 1.37 and 1.40. The foot of 4927 is indeed enormous, 0.10 longer than the maximum Carolina foot, and heavy in proportion ; while that of 9384 is hardly less. But No. 9385 (a specimen that might have been twin-brother to 9384, the two are so absolutely alike in other respects) innnediatcly sinks the figure to 1.30, which is at the Carolina extreme; and No. 4927 bis (taken along with 4927) has the foot within ordiiuiry MUltlDiE— SIOMODONTEB— SIGMODON U18PIDU8. 41 limits. And, on the otlier hand, Nos. 0996 and 7210 have feet a trifle under an inch, yet are positively identical with No. 9508 for example. And in only fifteen Mexican skins the feet range thus: 0.97, 0.98, 1.05, 1.10, 1.10, 1,12, 1.14, 1.15, 1.1?, 1.19, 1.20, 1.26, 1.30, 1.30, 1.37! * > Mr. Allen hi.s already {I. c. 184) culled attention to the fact that Professor Ikird's own measurements of S. "berlandicri" do not bear out his statement that the tail is "equal to or longer tlian the trunk." "In the latter [S, hispidus], the length of the tail to the length of the trunk is as 69 to 100; in the for- mer (S. berlandieri), as 6^ to 100 ! " Moreover, if the statement were correct, it would conflict with Professor Baird's generic characters; for he says (p. 501, B. N. A.) that in Sigmodon the tail is "shorter than the trunk." But color has been adduced also, and we are to inquire about this. No. 5Go, the type of "berlandieri", certainly does not show us the slightest shade of color clifTerent from many Carolina skins ; the same is the case with some other examples of "berlandieri". Others, however, as Nos. 9021 and 8820, are appreciai)ly paler than any Carolina ones we have sect: ; being "grayish yellow brown lined with black", exactly as stated by Professor Baird ; and this pallor is even surpassed by Nos. 9384 and 9385. Here tiie bleached color is striking; indeed, the animals are as whitish as Arvicola "breweri" compared with riparius; and the tail of one of them (the other's tail is broken off) is longer than usual, though still an inch shorter than the trunk. But these are the specimens with the enormous feet, and so differ from "berlandieri" quite as much as they agree with it ; and they are associated with other specimens quite as dark colored as the ordinary Carolina hispidus. Some of Professor Sumichrast's skins are typical of the "Hespcromys toltecus" of De Saussure {I. c), upon which this naturalist based his subgenus Dnlemys, There is no question of the accuracy of this identification ; the specimens agree in every particular* with De Saussure's elaborate and faithful description. When we began to examine the animal, we were inclined to think it different from S. hispidus, viewing the remarkably small feet, which appear the smaller when compared with such feet as those of No. 9384 for * Snvo otiu. Do Suii88nro, in coninieuting upon tbe affinities of Deitemyt, remarks its lilcencss to Orytamjii, but says tbe skull lacks tbe supraorbital "crAte" as ribed to Or^wmyii by Baird ; wberens we fiuil it present in a skull of Sigmodon toUfCiu, takeu from Mo. 7S1U. But De Saussure may bave misnp- prebenilcd Baird's remarks, or may bave bod a skull not quite mature. Tbe rai8e<1 rim of the orbits is not fairly hIiuwu oxoopt l)y perfectly ailnlt animals. Moreover, wo find it in miiny otber Mexican Bliocies, even in sucb a delicate one as M't/ctcmyi lumiiihnuli, Vo Suussuro, in wbicb tbis autbor likewise says it does not cxint. 42 MONOUltAl'IiS (3F NOUiri AMERICAN ItODENTIA. u irDi ! ! o.X!im|tlc. Hut. ill every oilier respect, it is identical with onlinnry Carolina Uhpidus; it will i)(^ observed tluit it is not in the long-tailed set; in color it is fully as dark reddish-brown as average hiqndun, while the feet are, after all, only at or banily below (0.02 or 0.03) the niiiiiiinnn of those of liixpidus. Tims it is impossible for us to regard "lierlaiidieri" or "toltecus" as spe- cirically diilereiit from Mspidus. There may be tiiose, however, who are ready III admit all we claim, and yet may think these extremes of one species worthy of iieiiig dislingiiished by name as varieties. We have no real objection lo this cour,'illalli).~Ai'i>. .V IIacii., Q. h. A. {lonminiiii, I^iC. ; Irzaim, WuckIIi. ; nml orj/tjrorn, Auil. i.V Uiich, — !Uut ]>aluiilriii,Uat\.). XllijpHdmu, nil., Maximilian, UcUo, &c. ii, 1841, DU (i/. kucogailir, ilax. — ilui minourivKtli, Aud. & Iliicli.). > MuHCului, Kakinksquk, Am. Mmitlily Mng. HI, 181S, 44(1 (type, U. hucopun, Haf.!). < Uctpiromya, Watkiiiiouhr, ZouI. Voy. Kcaglo, 18'JO, 75 (eatal)liiilii'il In iiccoiiiuiiNlnte Dm New VVurld mice cnllvctively, nnd therefore ci|Uivnlent to the tribe Slgmmlonltt UHUonr unduratood). > Catomyn, Aw. & Bach., Q. N. A. il, IfiSl, 30;l (aurcolun). (Not of Wuterh.) > OHschnmyt, UAlltn, M. N. A. 1H57, 45B (type, Ilypudam leucogaster, Max.). >Ortf»oiH!/», Baiiid, oj). ft loe. oi(. (type, jtfiM pa/M«(H», Harl.). . ''^"• > VetperitHHi, CoUKS, Proc. Acad. Nat. 8ci, Pblla. 1874, 178 (type, II, leucopHt). In proposing the name Henperomys, VViiterlioiise's iden, ns w evident tlirougiiuut his article in the Zoology of the Bangle, was simply to scpanite the New World Murince, collectively, from the typical Mures of the Old World, upon the broad character of the tuberculation of the molars, which is biserlatim in the former and triseriatim in the latter. Although treating exclusively of the South American species, he says in one place, ^^Mus leu- copus, Neotoma, and Sigmodon certainly belong to the same group." It is plain, therefore, that his "genus" HeKperomys is precisely equivalent to the "tribe," or supcrgenus, now called Sigmodonles. In a word, "Hesperomys" is a tribal name, comprehending in itself the genera and subgenera that here follow : A, in South America, (Jnlomys {^zEligmodontia, F. Cuv.), Hahrothrix, Phyllotis, Scapteromys, Oxymicterus, HolochUus, Reithrodon ; and, B, in North America, Vesperimus, Onychomys, Oryzomys, Ochetodon, Sigmodon, Neotoma, Almost from the very first, naturalists perceived the lietcregeneous char- acter of this assemblage under the comprehensive term Hesperomys, and sought to eliminate proper generic groups. Waterhouse himself made a number of subdivisions, which, with some modification, have been generally accepted. It is a matter of obvious necessity to restrict Hesperomys, and so define it that it shall designate a homogeneous group. To do this, we have first to throw out the forms worthy of generic separation, then to mark out the subgeneric divisions of Hesperomys, and finally to tie down the name in its strict sense to the species upon which it is based. From the circumstances under which Hesperomys was instituted, and the author's evident intention in founding it, it is difficult to say what should be considered as his type-species; really, he had no type in view. But, in draw- .fi »«W^i:,VW",MHl ' 44 MONOGUAITIS OK NORTH AMEllICAN KODENTIA. i-ii:i 1:1 I I ill' • i iiig his comparisons between Miis ivnd the new groui) he was about to estab- lish, he liappcncd to select Mu.s rattus and Mus hlmaiulatus for that purpose. We may therefore, with entire propriety, elect Mm himaculatus as technically the type of Hcyirivmi/s. When, in 1837, Waterlunisc established the sub- genus Calomi/s upon C. ekgans, he included in it both bimacutatus and graci- llpn. Eligmodontia of F. Cuvicr, of tlu; same date, has the same strictly consul)gencric species as its type. It is a cpiesfion, therefore, whether either Cdliiiiujs or Eligmodontla ought not to take precedenc^c over Hesperomys ; but as the latter name has become firmly established, and as the prior name Cdloinys is by the same author, and at least as early as Eligmodontui, there is really no necessity for a change. Resting, then, upon this application i)i Hesperomys, in its strictest subgen- "ric sense, to such species as biiiiaciilatu.s, elegmis, and gracilipcs, we will inquire how far th(! name may l)e extended in its generic application. In his able e.ssay of 1857, Professor Baird points out, in elaborate detail, the characters of the South American species, and, excluding ReUhrodon and Holocheilus as worthy of full generic rank, he makes Hesperomys to include three subgenera, \'h.,—C(i/omys, Waterh. ; Hahrothrix { = H)pi'rly rcfiiiiiis from Hauling thiH wclioii. It d(MW not n)ipear to UN to 1111VUI.VUU biiligi'ucric value, iiu (lie b:iref»utedue»a is niercly au accideut of the uuiiunl's desert liitbitul. » MUUIDAE-SIOMOnONTES-nKSPEKOMYS. 45 an entirely diirerent genus. And although other species of tiie large genus Hesperomys may not necessarily be separated generically, yet the subgenera seem entirely different. The form Onjzomys appears not to be represented at all in South America ; while, likewise, the form Oxymicterus of South America has no exact analogue. Onychomys and Habrothrix would seem to represent each other in their arvicoline form, yet they are abundantly worthy of subgeneric separation. Probably the closest approach to identity of form is found in the North American leucopus group (and especially tlie species aureolus or nuttallii, where alone we have yellowness underneath) with the Calomys group (i. e., Hesperomys sensu strictiss.) ; but even here there is room for the subgeneric separation that we make in the succeeding article. In our comparative ignorance of the South American forms, we shall not venture upon any diagnosis or description of the full genus Hesperomys. Ample details of the North American forms will be found under the respect- ive heads of Vesperimus, Onychomys, and Oryzomys. For similar reasons, we refrain from any but North American citations in the foregoing list of synonyms. ' • •; / We append a table, which may serve to exhibit the correspondences or other relations of the North American with South American forms. North Ameeican. | South American. a. With groaced upper incisors. Genua Ociietodux, Cuiies. Furin niiiriue. | Geuus REmiKonoN, Waterli. Form leporine. b. With smooth upper itioisors. SubKenns Vkspkrimits, Cones. Form murine. Subgeuua Onyciiumyh, Baird. Form arviuuline. f Snbgenna Oryzomys, Bairil. Form rat-liko. Oeiiua HoLOCiiiLUK, Umiidt. Furui rut-like. 1 Subgenus Calomys, Wnterb. Form murine. Bnbgenus HAnROTiiRix, Waterh. Form arvicoline. Subgenus OxYMictBHUs, Waterh. f Genna Sigmodon, Say. Form arvicoline. Genua Nkotoma, Say. Form rat-li' e. Subgenus VESPERIMUS, Coues. = ifutculut, Rafikkkqur, Am. Monthly Hog. iii, IdlS, 44G (leumpiu). < Henperomyi, of North American writers. = Htupvromyii, Kaihd, M. N. A. 1H57, 4r)8 {leucoput). > Cttlomut, Ai;i>. & Bai;ii., Q. N. A. ii, IS51, 303 (onreo/m). Not of Waterbouse. = Ve»ptrimHt, C0UE8, 1'roo. Acad. Nut. Sci, I'bila. 1874, 178 (type, Mnt lencopHi, anc'.) We restrict our term Vesperimus to leucopus and its immediate North American allies. As intimated in the foregoing article, it is exactly equivalent m i It 46 MONOCIJAIMIS OP NORTH AMEUICAN IIOUKNTIA. ^ \: ''Mf > Mm to Hespcwwys of Baird, as limited l)y tliiit aiiflior, as above cited. Ctilomys, as used l)y Aiidulmii and Ikchinan for their Mus aureolas, is not a synonym, sul)geiicrically, of Cnlomy.^, Waterlioiise ; aureolas being strictly of the same group as leucopuK, while Calomys of Waterhouse refers to the South American elegans, Uimculatus, &c. The only other name, except Hespcromijs, that we can find has been applied to the present subgenus, is Musculus of Rafinesque. Tills name, in strict teciinical conformity with the rules of nomenclature, ought to be adopted ; and it is nothing to the point that its proposer did not jiroperly define it, for we know that he used it in connection with leucopus. ]}ut the name is so inseparably connected with Mas muscalun, that to use it in a different connection, and one where the tribal distinctions from Mas especially rc'-'ire to be signalized, would result in an evil of far more consequence than the breach of a rule of nomenclature. While we regret that we happen to be personally interested in tiiis, one of the rare cases where tiie law of priority must be set aside, nevertheless we cannot disregard its obvious requirements. The following paragraph is diagnostic of tiic subgenus VespcrimuH : — Chars. — Of medium and small size, lithe form, and quick movement. Eyes large, prominent. Snout pointed. Ears large, rounded, thin, finely scant-pilous ; antitragus evident but not valvular. Fore feet hardly or not iialf as li>!ig as the soles ; palms naked ; fore claws not larger than hind claws, that of the -'l)soln^o thumb rather a nail ; other fore digits slender, 3d and 4th subequal and longest, 2d and 5th successively much shorter. Hind feet long, slender; soles 6-tuberculate, naked, or scant-furred on the posterior third ; 2d, 3d, and 4th toes much longest and subequal, oth shorter, 1st much shorter. Tail terete, slender, closely hairy, subequal to tlie trunk in length (ranging from as long as body alone to a little longer tlian head and body togctiier). Pelage sof>, close, glossy, with but few longer bristly hairs ; feet and under jiarts white or wliitish ; body and tail more or less distinctly bicolor. No lauuginous tuf\s of hair al)out the ears. Back upper margin of orbit not beaded. e skull and teeth of all the North American Hesperomy.i are so mucli f.-...e, while the external form is so different in the three sections of Vesperi- mus, Onychomys, and Oryzomys (as will be evident upon comparing the diagnoses given l)cyond of tliese gencraX tiiat we hav(« preferred to deiine Vt'spcrimus chielly by e.xlernal cluxrarters. The skull of Onychomy.i merely differs from that of Vrsprrimux in being a little larger and heavier, not (luilc ^r.: MUllIDAE— 8IGMODONTE8— IlKSl'KltOMYa 47 so constricted across the orbits, and having a rather shorter and more swollen rostral portion ; the molars are a little larger, with more open indentations of enamel along the sides. Tiie skull of Onjzomys enhirges a little upon that of Omjchomys, and has the sharp edge of the orbits raised into a slight thin crest ; there is also some difference in the palate, as described beyond. But these differences are all so slight, that, were they unaccompanied by striking external characters, they could hardly be considered as of more than specific value. In the following description of tlie skull of Vesperimus, the cranial characters of all North American Hesperomys will be essentially reflected. The skull is thin and papery, showing nothing of the solidity and massive- ness and strong ridges of Arvicolina. The cranial part is broad and depressed ; the lengthwise profile of the top is one very gentle curve, both behind and before, from the highest point opposite the orbits. The zygomatic width is almost precisely half the total length ; the height of the cranium is three- eighths of the total lengtii ; the length of tlie lower jaw is two-thirds of the total length. The zygomata, very slender and strictly styloid, dip deeply down to the level of the palate. At first, they stand out at nght angles with the skull, then sweep abruptly backward li'l they become parallel, and then turn abruptly up to liie squamosal. Nearly all the arch is made by the large processes of the maxillary and squamosal; the jugal itself being extremely minute. The cranial part of the skull does not noticeably encroach upon the orbits, which are rather shallow subcircular cups, with the principal foramina crowded into a depressed corner low down and far back, just above the alve- olar level — in fact, a little behind (if anything) the last molar. Tiie interor- bital constriction is moderate, but always wider than the rather slender and tapering rostrum. The nasal bones stick far out in front, with the intermax- illaries, surpassing a perpendicular let full upon the faces o£ the incisors ; behind, these bones are likewise subequal, and they nearly or quite reach to opposite the orbits (they vary a good deal in different species, as well as in different specimen^ of the same species, in this regard). The foramen magnum is large, subcircular, or trefoil from emargination superiorly. The parietals are small and subquadrate ; the interparietal is small and short for its width ; the bulljB osseae are small, very thin, and very obliquely placed, owing to the wedge-shape of the basi-occipital. The incisive foramina arc rather open, but short, ending in advance of the molars. The palate ends behind almost exactly as in Afus, as far as configuration is concerned ; but it does not reach .^ 48 MONOdUAlMlS OF NOUTH AMKUIOAN HODKNTIA. If:; III-. 1 ■A so liir buck, Icrmiiiiifmg nearly or cxiiclly opjxisilc tlic last molars (sec Ort/- zomijs). The lower jaw is straiglitcr on the whole Hum in many Murines, from the great backward set of its condylar ramus; but in spite of this obliquity, the coronoid is so short (a mere little sharp point of bone) that it does not attain the level of (he condyle. The outside of the ramus is strongly ridged by the passage of tiie incisor-root. The descending process of the lower jaw is rather slight, subtriangular, with a sharp termination, lies below the level of tiie molars, and has its under edge inflected. ' Before noticing the dentition, we may j)ause to observe what indication bf the habits and food of the animal the bare skull affords us, without refer- ence to the teeth. Tln' comparative weakness of the whole masseteric arrangement is evident It is a wide remove from the climax of rodent masticatory apparatus seen in the ArvicolincB, where the short solid skull and massive jaws and deep muscular impressions and prominent bony paints d'ajipui, are all so conspicuous. There is even less of this sort of thing than is seen in Man or Neotoma or Sigmocton. The thinness and smoothness of the skull, and the comparatively slight bony points it develops, prepare us for the very modest dental armature that we find, and clearly indicates a diet of much softer substances. The teeth of Neotoma or Sigmodon or Mus are hardly more inferior in power to the ever-growing heavily-mailed grinders of Arvkoliiue than arc the teeth of IJasperomt/s to those of the genera just named. Among American forms, no one except Ocfietodon has such small and weak molars as Vesperiinus shows. The incisors offer nothing specially noteworthy. The upper are short, much curved, narrow across, a good deal deeper than broad, smooth in front, and shortly oblitpicly beveled behind ; the under are much longer and slen- derer, and with longer beveling. The molar series is both short and narrow, between one-sixth and one-seventh the length of the skull, and thus hardly longer than the distance between them, or the width of the palate. The molars rapidly decrease in size from before backward, particularly in the upper jaw, where the last one is subcircular, nnd not more thanHialf as large as the middle one, whicii itself is less than the front one ; in the lower jaw, the .same progressive diminution occurs, but the difference in size is not quite so evi(len^ The molars of the upper jaw have three roots apiece, two exter- nal and one internal ; those of the under jaw have but two, placed one after tliC wiii.ir on the median line. MURIDAE— 81GMODONTES-H B8PEROMY8. 49 In Hespeiomys, as in Mus and Ochetodon, and not as in Sigmodon and Neotoma, the tubercles of the molar crowns are long persistent. A great majority of the specimens of Hesperomys in the collection before us present the tubercles intact, while it is rare to see skulls of Neotoma and Sigmodon in which the crowns are not already ground flat, so as to show the dentine area surrounded by the plicated enamel-sheet. This wouhl seem to argue a much slower growth of the grinders. In the rapidly and continuously growing molars of Arvicola, the crowns are worn flat, and show their characteristic dentine triangles as soon as they fairly surmount the alveoli ; here the oppo- site extreme is witnessed. Tlie unworn molars of Hesperoviys show a double lengthwise scries of conical tubercles connected by lowei crosswise ridges, and the whole face of the tooth is encased in a sheet of enamel continuous with that of the sides of the tooth. Althougli, as we have said, the main tubercles are bisoriatim, yet the first pair of the front molar of either jaw may appear like one, from being so close together ; this azygos anterior one being followed by two perfectly distinct pairs ; the second tooth has only two pairs, but perfectly distinct ones ; on the small hinder tooth, the pairing of the tuber- cles is obscure. The tubercles are not exactly opposite each other in crosswise pairs, but aie half-alternating. Down between the bases of these conical eminences are seen furrows, the more readily noticeable because generally blackened, apparently by the sticking of foreign matter in them. They rep- resent the deep close-curved plications of enamel that penetrate the tooth from either side ; the ends of the loops nearly or quite meeting in the substance of the tooth. If the foregoing account is perfectly intelligible, ii will be seen that, after abrasion has commenced, the molar crowns will present a different pattern with each stage of the process. The main conical tubercles are first razeed, and then the connecting crests and little accessory tubercles follow by the same filing-down operation ; consequently, the patterr' of the molar crowns must be used as a zoological character with great caution, if at all ; the minor details are of no sort of consequence ; and even in using this broad pattern it is necessary to compare age for age (or rather condition for condition, since different individuals get their teeth filed down with variable rapidity) in draw- ing uj) the characters of species or subgenera. At the last stage specified, namely, when main tubercles and connecting crests and accessory tubercles have disappeared, we see a single dentine area occupying the whole face of 4 H no MONOGRArnS OF NOKXn AMERICAN liODICNTIA. i!i the toolli, sunotiiHlcd by a zigzn<,' onanifl-vvall, wliicli semis into the dentine space, iVom caoli sidi;, two iiidoiitatioiis; these indentations on Ihe outer side bcinj? much deeper tiian those from the inner side, and semicircular in out- line, with convexity forward ; these insulations being loops of enamel, i. e., ciuisisUnj^f of tii(! enamel-sheet folded af,'aiust itself; at the point of the begin- niiig to fold, there is, of course, an external nick or reentrance, and so there are two of these on each side of the tooth, the inner being the more open. In the next stage, a little further abrasion grinds out the continuity of these inlying enamel-folds with tiie general enamel-envelope, because the folds are not so deep down in the substance of the tooth at its edges as they are in the interior ; and then we have the condition of crescentic islands of enamel lying in the general dentine area that is surrounded by the general indcted enamel- wall. This occurs at full nuitiirity. The final condition of senile decline is still something dilferent; for, lastly, these enamel islands are entirely rubbed out, and tiie face of the tooth is one continuous area of dentine, a little exca- vated or sunken l>cl(tw the level of the continuous exterior sheet of enamel that irregularly surrounds it. These special details, though readily observed, arc difficult to describe clearly, and the description must l)e followed with specimens in hand. The student may inuigine the top of a pigeon-pie, full of humps and hollows, gradually razeed down by a succession of thin, parallel, horizontal slices. Let the crust be the enamel, and the substance of the pie the dentine ; the first slice will shave off the tops of one or more humps, exposing the interior (dentine) in isolated places, these i.slands lying in a net-work of crust (enamel) ; other slices will make a continuous hole through the crust (enamel), exposing a continuous area ( Wbitc-routed or Deer MouM. ' " ^'' -^ Amrleaii MM iloiine, or Hat, I'knnant, SjnopBis, 1771, No. 303; Hist. Quod. 1781, No. 30S; Arot. Zool. i, 1781, 131. American IVandcriiig Home, Bauton, M«d. & Surg. Journ. Pliila. i, 1805, 31 (iioticos a groat migrutiou b; Lnke Kric). MURIDAE-SIGMODONTES— HESrEROMYS LEUCOrUS. 51 Mui tyhaiioM; var., £rxledkn, Syst. Au. 1, 1775, 31)0 (bniieH, fitndcg do Microni. IKU), (i7. Mu agrariut var. amrricanun, " Keiik'm Linnmiia, I7U2, 231 " (liaiwU on Pennant). Jfnperom!it(Fctpiriviu») americanHt, Coukh & Yahrow, Rep. ZtMtl. Kxpl. W. lUOtb Mcrid. 1875, — (iu prciw). J/hi ajraHNt, OOUMAN, Am. Nat. Hist, i, 3d vd. ISliO, 316 (nlw) iu tlio earlier editiona).— Linslrv, Am. Journ. Svi. xlii, 1843, 301. Mutmlua le»copv«, Rafinksque, Amer. Monthly Mag. iii, i8H, 44C. Mmh le»copiii, Desmarest, Mamm. ii, 18a2, 307.— Haiilan, Fn. Amer. 18'25, 151.— Griffith, Anini. Kingd. V, 1837, aw.— FiscngR, SynopsiH, 1820, 326.— ? Uichardhon, Zool. Jonrn. iii, 1818 ; Fn. Bor.- Am. 1, 1829, 142 (perhapa rather referable to var. a»iiorj«i«ia).— DkKay, N. Y. Zoo), i, 1842, 88, pi. 23, fig. 1.— AUD. & IlAcn., Q. N. A. 1, 1849, 300, \A. 40.— Tiio.mi-s«)n, Nat. Hist. Vermont, 1853, 13 — Kknnicott, Agric. Rep. U. 8. Patent Office for IKiO (1857), 90, pi. 10. JIupmmgh leuoopH; LkContk, Proc. Acad. Nat. Soi. Phlla. vi, 1852, 413.— Bairp, M. N. A. 1857, 459.— Allen, Bull. Mns. Conip. Zool. i, 1809, 827 (Mniwiichusetts), and ii, 1870, 178 (Florida).— Dali., Alaska and its Keiionrces, 1870, 577.— Maximilian, Arch. Nalnrg. xviii, 1862, pi. 4, f. 4 (penis-bone) ; Verz. N.-Am. SUug. 1802, 156. — And of must lato writera. Hetperomyt ( rra/xriiimii) leMcoput, CnuKS, Proc. Acud. Nut. Pci. Pbila. 1874, 178. Crieelus mi/oidn, Uapper, Zool. Journ. v, 1830, 804, pi. 10 (Canada). Henperomyii myoidtt, Baikd, M. N. A. 1857, 472 (Vermout ; based on Gapper), '■ '■' ■' Jrrioola emfHOHtii, UeKay, Uep. Quad. Mas«. 1840, 61. Hespiromyt manicvlalH; Waoner, Wiegniann's Arehiv, 1843, ii, 141, and 1845, ii, 148; Ahhand. Akad. Wissensch. v. pt. ii, 1848, 310 (Labrador). Baperomy poUonolM, Wagnkk, Wlegniann's Arcbiv, 1843, ii, 52 (Georgia). napcromyi eampairlt, LeCostk, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sol. Phila. vi, 1853, 413 (New Jersey ; typo. No. 4726, Hns. Smitlie.).— Al'i>. Sl Bach., Q. N. A. Iii, 1654, 295 (after LeConte).— Baird, M. N. A. 1857 485 (after LeConte). Bt»perear in Kerr's Linnoeus, 1792. The latter will be found used by Dr. Yarrow and ourselves in the forthcoming volume above cited ; as we fully expected, at the time of allowing it to pass into metal, to be able to verify the quotation. Reference to Kerr's work, however, having proved impracticable, the term leucoput is allowed to stand, pending final settlement of the question. The characters of Hesperomys leucopus will have been so fully elucidated by the time we have concluded the investigation that we purpose entering ^9 MONOOKAPriS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. upon to prove the position we assume regarding certain nominal species, that no detailed description is required in this connection. Some general observa- tions, however, will not be out of jdace here. Tiio under parts of the ndult animal are snowy white, and this includes the upi)cr surfaces of both fore and hind feet to the wrisi, and ankle, and usually the greater part of the outside of the fore leg also, so that the sharp line of dcmarkalion between the white and the color of the upper parts gen- erally passes in a pretty straight line by the shoulder along the side of the neck and side of the head, a little l)elow the eye, to the snout. But the extension of color down the fore leg is utterly indefinite, for two reasons: — first, in tlie young, while still gray, tiie color normally reaches the paws, and its subsequent restriction is a matter of gradual change with age ; yet a great many individuals do not seem to perfect this change, but remain for some seasons at least in the same condition ; and, secondly, many young ones have the outside of the legs as largely white fis they ever become in the old. As a si)ecific character, therefore, tliis feature is not of the slightest consequence. In general, the color of normal adult examples, as No. 1434 from Massa- chusetts, is a rich fawn, witli a pretty well defined dorsal darkening length- wise from occurrence of black-ti|)ped liairs along the back. But this "typical" coloration is expressed in noticeably few of the specimens that make up an average miscellaneous lot — probably not one in six ; while the departures from it defy description. This is, moreover, independent of the normal regular change of pelage witli age. The young are at first i)luinbcou.x-gray above and ashy-white liclow, without a trace of brown or fulvous shade ; this has to change gradu- ally into the hue given in the last paragraph. In a considerable proportion of .spocimcus, the change is observed to begin along the sides as an indistinct stripe of fulvous ; and this progresses until the whole pelage is changed. This lateral .stripe is sometimes pretty sharp, but oHener merges insensibly into the gray color ; so that we are unable to lay down any appreciable stages in the transition. .1 .'■ ' It is also liighly probable that a considerable percentage of individuals pass their whole lives in a pelage nearer gray than iiiwn color; and it is uu(iuestional)le that the animal can and does breed in such condition. In the vast majority of instances, the tail is pretty shaqdy bicolor — white underneath, and on top corresponding in color to the back. The dark area MDIUDAE— SIOMODONTES— HESPBUOMYS LEDCOPUS. 53 occupies from one-third to nearly or quite one-half of the circumference — g(;nerally about two-fifths. Hut, in many cases, the line of separation is «)l)scure, and tlien tlic tail is simply paler below than above. Even some other- wise typical Massachusetts specimens show this last condition. The variation in absolute and relative length of the tail is greater than in any other dimension. It ranges from obviously longer than the head and body to about equal to the body alone. This, it should be observed, is inde- pendent of locality, and exclusive of what we have admitted further on as a variety nonorietms. Mr. J. A. Allen, who has paid jiarticular attention to the variability of feral animals, finds that in Massachusetts specimens alone the proportion of tail to trunk may be as 1.18 : 1.00, or as 0.69 : 1.00 — a difference of over fifty per cent, of the mean ; and that the number of caudal vertebral tiienhsclves ranges from twenty-four to thirty or more. But this ceases to be remarliable when we recollect that it is purely a matter of what has been aptly calle'i "vegetative repetition". It seems to be a well-nigh universal law that those parts or organs that are the least specialized, — i. c, those of which several have the same or corresponding character and function, — are liable to be pro- duced with a iiigh degree of irregularity as regards their number; and the more such there are the wider are the limits of variation apt to be. In this species, one of our longest-tailed rodents, the law is perfectly illustrated. Since none of the nominal sjjecies that have been erected upon the vari- ations of leucopus depend in any way upon cranial characters; and since the valid species of Vesj)erimus likewise offer no noticeable cranial features beyond slight differences in dimensions (greater in californicus and less in michigan- ensis for example), the skulls of all our North American Hesperomys, except those of the subgenera Onychomys and Oryzomys, may be most conveniently examined collectively. .')4 JIONOOUAl'US OF MOUTH AMERICAN UODESTIA. 1^ 1^ TAin.K \\.-MmMnmml> <./ Hnrnlii-fin hMIh of llKHPKimMVH i.KUCOl-us ami il, varlotic, and oj the othr tprclcii Ihal nrv Kiilxjcntrlcalln affinal thenicilh. Lociilily. s s BlfT v.v 'j'i r v.,v 'jntif. KH il';3 iJ!lJ DUIItt 1 7 I'll Jftb Miil(]li'biiruii);li, Miih8. .. ilo do .1(1 . I... do. ilo. do. dn. .lo. , ilo. , .lo. .1.1. do. do. do. ilo. d... do. do. do. ilo. do. do. do. do. do. .lo. do. do. do. do. Typical of " myoidos ". do. Supposed goiiigpintu, do. Rupreaentiiig "coKnututi", do. do. Typical of "boylii". TyiKiof "bojlil". Supposed to be " Kiunboli ' * III ttii> friictioTiiil iinnilHTH, the niunci-iitrir in tliat of hKuII itsi-lf, tlii! itiMiniuiiiator being tbat of tbo currmpouillnK Akiu. t Thi> " ln'i):!it " in tiikrii hy lii\)u;: tlir nUuU on ii ^laNH iilalu (wlicn it reHtii u\nm tlin iiiciHurN ami liiilliv obm«>is», anil mcaaur- in;! tVoiii till' t:l-iHN to till- l)i}:lirHl iHtint. whicli ih ut lliv imriulala, ina[ien>cDdicubirthatpii8aC(iBli(£bUy InfruDtuf tbeballlD. ; From lip ol' ini-i^ora 1 1 luck of L-otiilylo. MUi:iDAE— 810MODOHTE8— IlESPEKOMYS LEUOOPUS. 55 Taiile lX.—ifea»tirrmtnU of trreiilg-fift tIcuVt pl», Ariz do do Sanln Cruz, Sou. Fort Pierre, Dak do Little MiwHiuii liiver ... Klunmtli Luko, Orrj; New Jerwy Sniitn Clura, Cul 8aiiit Louis, Mo do do Ituciiie, WiH Saint LouiH, Mo Kuoxville, Tenu Kemiwr County, Miss ... flociety Hill, 8. C Schuylkill River, I'a Carlisle, Pu Unkuunn a o.v o.:i7 0.4:1 0. 4'.' o.:t7 0.37 0.35 0.38 0.3e) 0.3H 0. 30 0.40 0.40 0.43 0.40 0.4;! 0.38 0. ;w 0. 3C. o;tH. 0.3U 0.37 0.41 0.38 0.37 0.35 0.36 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40 O.lO o.:k) 0.38 0.&3 O.M o.r.4 0.51 o.co 0.50 0. 45 0.54 0.50 0. 55 0. 54 0.48 O.CO (I. ra 0.50 o.co 0.5G 0.40 0.48 0.17 0.17 0.18 0.18 0.18 0. lU 0.17 0.15 0.tG 0.17 0.19 0.18 0.18 0.20 o.ao 0. IG 0.17 0.18 0.18 0.17 0.17 0.17 0. .ir) 0.52 0.57 0.51 0.51 0.50 O.ao O.lfi 0.10 0.15 0.15 0.17 0.19 0.18 0.20 0.18 0.18 0.18 s Ji 0.(i5 0. 05 0.<'>5 0.04 0.61 0.61 0.60 0.64 o.a-i O.fiO 0.68 0.68 0.09 0.59 0.58 0.63 0.60 0.68 0.60 0.70 0.(iO 0.60 0.57 0.00 0.64 0.68 0.64 0.65 0.68 0.64 S|ieclinrn And ronmrks. Typicul of "gundM'li". do. Represeutiug " gaiubuli ". do. do. ' ^ > ■ •. do. SuppoHed " nusturus" or " lioy I i i. ' Typical of "nusterus". do. Keprescuting " toxnuns", do. do. do. •( =' • -■ '■' Purport in); to bo var. aonoririK/i. KepreHenting BOiiorieniiit, do. do. Var. »oHor(eii»l». lo. : • do. do. Itepreseuliiig " gninboli ". TyiHjof "cunipcstris". Typical of H. aalifomicHt. Typical of O. i^ichiganeniu. ......dn. do. do. Typical ufH. aureotu. do. do. ' ■ '; do. //. aurniluH t H. aurrolmi T ' In the fyuctloaal nnmbert, I be nnmenlor la that of akull llaclf, tbo denanilnatiir bcisK tbat of Ibe corrMpondinK aliin. t The " height " io taken by laj inff 1 he akuU an aglaaa plate (when it rcata u|wn the Inclaera and bnlloQ oaacfe), and monBUring frotn the glaaa to the bl{;bc8t point, which IH nt tbo jtariotals, in a perpeniUoular that pasaea aliKblly in front of the bulla;. J From tip of tuoiaora to back or condyle. All the skulls of obviously ungrown animals are excluded tVuiii the fore- going table as tending to vitiate general results, although there are many included of specimens in the gray state of pelage. On examining the tablt;, it will be seen that the chief discrepancy the scries utt'ords is in the case of H. michiganemis. This averages noticeably less than TjB MONOUUAl'US OF NOUTII AMEIllCAN KOUKNTIA. Ww. iivciagc of \\\i'. rest, and iiltout ('(|ual.x, (»r rather fulls n little short of, the iiiiiiiniuiii of Icucopits. In length, no fnll-grown .skull of kitcopux drops to 0.90, while the uvcrage of mickigiinenm is only 0.94 ; mid the uvcrnge Icngtli of the under jaw of inichiganensk is similarly just under the miniinuin of leucopus (0.(!0). It is proi)al)l(! that californicus wotild just overreach, on an average, the maxiiiiuni of Iciicopun; hut, with only one specimen before us, we cannot declare this to he so. All the other skulls in the lot fall entirely within the iisuid limits of variation of leucopus jnoper. Here the range is from 0.94 to 1.10, as minimum and ma.xiinum, with nn average of barely over 1.00. Tiie zygomatic width of the skulls is just about half their length ; it ranges from 0.45 to 0.57. Tiie height of the skulls, measured as already explained, is about 0.37 ; the length of the lower jaw is about 0.62 ; the interorbital width runs a tritle under 0.20. We open the discussion with the examination of a series of eighty-two specimens, collectcil at all seasons in the same locality. This will certainly give us the individual variability of the species, — its normal llexibility, indc- l)endent of those topographic or climatic influences which tend, when opera- tive, to bend it into geographical ditrcrentiation. The measurements are relial)le, at least half of them being taken irom alcoholic specimens; while tile dried skins were prepared with especial care by Mr. Jcnks. Neverthe- less, we shall make lil)eral allowance (see below) for taxidermal defects and other sources of error in calculating our limits of natural variation, as well as in deducing the normal standard of size and proportion of parts. 'i'Aiii.K \.—iIett»wremenl» of Highly fpecimenii of Hksi'i:komvh lkucopuh, from ilidilkborough, Uatt., col- Icclcd by J. IK P. Jenks. a ki Uutc. Nose to— Tail to end of— 1 1 1 3 i Nature ofspo- cimeu. Eye. Kur. Occi- put. Tail. Vcr- tchriB. Hairs Ti\.\ '.•714 a? 15 !i710 •2717 •.!7v.'l Aiij;. or Sept . . . ....do ....do ....do ....do ....do ...do ...do n.5,'-. (t. .'•jO 0. .'■)0 n. .-)0 0.50 0. ,50 0. Xfi 0. 51 0.95 0.U2 O.DO 0.90 0.91 0.90 0.94 o.9;t 1.16 1.14 1.14 1.14 1,14 1.14 1.19 1.15 :i.C5 a. 41 ;t. 13 a. 110 a.:i5 a. ao a. 45 a. ao 2.8;t 0.36 0.35 0.36 0.38 0.;i5 o.:m 0.40 0. 36 0.80 O.KJ 0.80 0.80 0.81 o.eo 0.8:1 0.80 Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. 3.25 3.00 a. 15 3.10 3.10 3.18 i {i> MUUIDAE— SIOMODONTBa— UESl'EUOMYS LEUCOl'US. 57 Taulr \.—Ueaturemenli of eighlf npfcimeiu of HKSPRiinMV)! LRVcnpiiH— Cdiitiuiietl. I •/I'M !i725 27S7 iim afro 8780 2781 a782 2784 2785 278fi 2788 2789 2:yo 747 748 749 760 763 7r>3> 871 678 873 874 876 870 877 878 m\ 892 803 894 897 000 926 Dnte. 1866. Aug. or Sept.. — do ....ilo ....do ....do ....do do , ....do ....do ....do ....do ....do ....do ....do ....do ....do ....do ....do June n May 31 ....do Juno 18 , April... May , April ....do May ftud Juue. ....do ....do ....do ....do ....do \ag. aud Sept ...do ...do .do .do. .do .do , .do. .do. .do . No«o to— Eye. 0.40 0.4» 0.60 0.62 0.64 0.62 0.62 0. 61 0.62 0.61 0.62 0.60 0.61 0.60 O.'IO 0.60 0.60 0.4rt Ear. 0.80 0.88 0.05 0.04 1.02 0.90 0.08 0.00 0.96 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.87 0.83 0.80 0.00 0.80 Occi' put. 1.12 1. 11 1.10 1.16 1.10 1.17 1.25 1.10 1.10 1. 10 1.10 1.20 1. 16 1.10 1.05 1.10 1.14 1.08 1.17 1.17 1.08 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.16 1.08 1.08 1.18 1.00 0.00 Tail. 3.00 8.96 .3.15 .3.50 3.45 3.40 3. 46 3. 42 3.25 3.39 3.:i6 3.56 3.08 2.95 3.06 3.25 3.01 2. 02 4.00 8.75 3.20 3.20 3.00 3.25 3.00 3.10 3.00 2.80 2.90 3.10 8.75 2.60 2.75 3.50 3.17 2.96 3.60 3.00 3.25 3.00 2.3:t 2.50 Tail to end of— Ver tebriu. 3.00 8.75 3.12 3.21 3.;t8 3.30 3.:io 3. 2« 3. 8.'i 3. 50 3. 05 3.10 3.34 2.70 8.01 2.90 2.00 3.80 2. CO 3.00 2.00 3.08 3.17 2.80 3.20 2.80 2.00 2.50 2.00 8.60 3.25 8.75 2.17 8.42 3.33 8. CO 2.r,0 3.33 •■lAiO 2.00 Haira 3.5.1 3.50 3.41 3.70 3.86 3.90 3.17 3.30 2. CO 3.00 2.60 2.90 8.33 2.60 3.00 2.60 2.06 3.60 I I 0.36 0.36 0.38 0.40 0..34 0.34 0.3;) o.:i4 0. ;t3 0.38 0.38 0.33 0.31 0.32 0.31 0.31 0.30 0.36 0..T5 0.38 0.35 0.36 0.37 0.37 0.40 0.36 0.36 0.34 0.78 0.79 0.80 0.78 0.85 0.82 0.83 0.81 0.81 O.tfO 0.81 0.81 0.86 0.78 0.77 0.78 0.77 0.77 0.7H 0.76 0.80 0.70 0.77 0.81 0.80 0.82 0.79 0.75 0.81 0.80 0.76 0.80 0.70 0.79 0.83 0.78 0.76 0.75 0.60 0.61 0.57 0.66 0.67 0.66 0.50 0.60 Natiirrof Kpi'- eiini-ii. Alcoholic!. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Alcoholic. Alcoholic, Alcoholic. Alcoholic, Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Dry. Alcoholic. Alcoholic 58 MONOOKAIMIS OK >'OJa'II AMKRKJAN KODENTIA. .!^ ^1 ■ 1,1 1 A mm: X. — SlmnHrt-mvutH of eiijlili/ Kpnimiim «/ Ilr.si'KlioMY.s i.Klcorr.s- -Continued. *3 1)27 7429 74;«i HOI H02 H);t yo4 827 !):tr. !);ui '.);i7 iiit'.t !M0 '.142 «4:t "J44 no.". 110(> 1107 1108 1110 nil 1112 nil) 1114 iiir. IlK! 1117 lllH nil) 1120 1122 i4:s:i I4;i4 271)1 to 27!Kt 10828 tn 108!):) 1 Diitc. None to- • Tiiil to end of- 1 1 '2 Nulnreof »!«- cimen. Eye. Ear. Occi- put. 1.17 Tail. Ver- tebrn' Hnirit. .... .... i i 9 :l. :i5 :i. ,^o Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Aleohcdic. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Alcoholic. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Yonng; dry. Dry. YonoK; dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry. Fresli. Fresh. Alcoholic. Alwdiolic. i do .Inne Dll Jiiuc.MI ....do JlUlt! 0. ,V. 0. 4.-. 0. .7.) 1.00 0. 89 0.98 1.10 1.15 1.18 1.14 1. l.-V 1.17 ;t.50 :i. :« 4.00 3. 75 3.40 3.75 :i. 50 :i. :io 3. 75 2.80 :t. 40 2. 75 3. 40 3.25 2.90 ;i. ,3;i 3.40 3.10 2.ii0 2.40 2.00 2.40 2.90 2.40 2. a5 3.25 2.40 2,70 ;i.oo 2.90 3.00 3.50 3.50 3.'.0 2.70 2.50 2.75 2. 50 3.00 2. 95 :i.:i5 2. 45 2.80 :t. 05 3. 00 0.37 0.30 0.34 0.38 0.80 0.80 0.78 0.80 0. 5:) 0. .54 0.03 Octolierl Oilol.crllO Octolicr 21) ....do Novcnihcr 1 o.r.0 0. .--.i 0..I8 0. 411 O.'M 1.00 0. 9,1 0.9:1 0.99 o.:i;i 0.:!5 0.34 0. :i:i 0.30 0.35 o.:w 0.32 0.80 0.79 0.78 0.75 0.81 0.7;) 0. 70 0.75 0. 8:i 0.82 0.82 0.78 0.81 0.74 0.80 0.78 0.70 0.83 0.79 0.72 a 73 0.79 0.80 0.81 0.59 0.58 0.54 0. 52 0. 05 0. 54 0..'W 0.50 U.55 0..58 0. 5.5 0. .52 OctolwrlO Octobcra.') 0.48 0.88 1.15 Nr.vi'nilii'r 1.1 .. NovemlHjr lit .. 3. 75 3. 75 :i. (>o Novenibcr 11. .. 3.90 3 40 November 8 . .. Novoniber 1) ... November 12 .. :i.90 Dmimber 10 .. 3 10 2. ,55 3, 25 2. IB :i.io 2. 10 2. (m 2.60 2.75 3.25 2. (i,-, 2.80 .3.1L 2. 15 2.70 0.x. November 10 .. 4.00 3. 90 November 21 .. November 7 . . . :i 50 N'.ni'mber 20 .. November 10 .. ;i. 40 November 0 . . . :t. 75 ....do 185<). March 28 O.M 1.00 1.17 1.17 3.00 3. :i3 :i.50 Mnreh 29 1 I 1 (Av,.ra-r) .... n. .-,1 0.9I ..14 • 2fi :t.oo :i. 20 _ _ o,:t4 0.80 0. .55 MUinJ)Ai:~81(;MOI)()NTES— UESI'EKOMYS LEUCOPUS. 59 Tlic average leiigtli of tlie trunk (liend an to the length of the head and body is as 68 to 100 ; in the other extreme, or in those with long tails, as 118 to 100. The variation • Itiill. MiiH. Cdiiip. Z(«)l. i, !W7. MUIIIDAE— 8IOMODONTES— HESPEROMYS LEDCOPU8. 61 between these extremes is hence about fifty per cent, of the me^n — n striking example of the unreliability of this character as a specific distinction The number of the vertebnc varies from twenty-four or twenty-five to above tiiirty. In regard to absolute size, the length of the head and body together in Massachusetts specimens rarely exceeds four inches; the average is between tliree and a quarter and three and a half; perhaps nearer tho 'i.tter." In continuation of this matter, we next bring in our entire series of Hesperomys Icucnpus from Eastern North America, embracing specimens from Labrador to the Carolinas, and westward to Kansas, inclusive (our Arctic and western examples are elsewhere tabulated and discussed). We admit to this series only what we claim as unquestionable leucopus jiropcr, excluding even the recognizable geographical races. And even after this exclusion, there are six nominal species from the region just indicated requiring our attention. Taule Xl.--i£e(uuremenl» ojabout one hiindral (and lint of many more) tpccimcfit of Hksfkromys lkucopus from Eastern Sorlh America. [N. B. — All iDOflHnrtMl dry UDless olberwtiso atAt«<1.] 1 i Locality. Collector. Noacto— Tall to und of — 1 0.34 i S 1 Roroarka. k 1 1 t t > •> an i 'a n 3.00 IK J. 73 190 175 1.00 1.40 1.30 1.43 3SS4 3995 147S nn ma 9030 8060 3MI nst 1338 3910 083 n. DoSannare.. ....do 0.M 0.4C I.OI 0.03 7 00 n 7A 0.58 0.33 "artlcna", Sausa. •balrdll", Sanaa. SappoBoA "myoldcB", but typ- ical lewoput. Typical Uueojivt. SuppoBPil myoidtSy but typical \eueiypm. Typical UucQp\u, do. Type of " niyoldoa ", do. ...do 9. 9o'3. 40 0.330.74 .. 0.80 ...aso 0.80 Halifax, N.S do do 3.90 3.70 3.60 9.M 3.35 3 10 3.93 do . do do . do 0.8. 0.81 0 83 O.TJ .. do ... do ...do ....do .... ....do ...do ...do ....do J.R.Wim» G. E. llrackett 0.00 1.33 ;i.oo 4.30 3.00 3.00 3.U 110 1.16 J 13 113 J. 70 Montreal, Canada. I)elfast,Me BarllngtoD, VI ...do 0.83 U.80 0.78 0.80 0.83 0 07 O.Ou 0.05 833 833 834 1.113 1313 104341 to ( 10490/ 8741 3749 9 Z. Tbompaon .... 3.60 3.30 J. 40303 9.75360 3.003.00 .. do .. do ...do ...do ...do ... 1.17 1.17 ...do ...do 4.93 ..Co ...do Aloohotio; 3-otuig. Mtinmimd tn aloohnl) typical of "niyoidea''. . do. ...do do ....do do 9743 ...do ..do do. .(44 a ...do ... do 0.90 11.87 1,11 9.03 3.03 1.88 o.3a 0.78 0.«4 do. -.. ■^■3.; .•■■■. (;2 iMONOOISAPHS OF NORTH AMIMJICAN RODHN'TIA. 'I'aiii r. XI.— .V('«i(i(')«in(« ofnhoul one huiiArnl (diiil linl ofmiiiiy moiT) »;wimfii» 0/ IlKSPEliOHYs i.ECCorus ffiim lUiHlirh \orlIt .tmn-itv — Ci)lilil)nfc(ililj-. Cdlirlor. Nimo U>— Ta OUll il(o ol- 4 X t i, 11.31 i 1 Kfiiinlkfl. 0.S 0.8 1 n l.K 2.94 If > 1.1; i "a .1.3 '.14.1 iiiii:iii;:tuii, vt .. Z. ThoniiiMiii . . . 3.75 a.(» McaBiiriMl In alcoliot; typicnl of '• Miyoidi'H". S'llj f .. I'l) .. do 0.4! o.m 1.0( 1703.72 18: .1.38 0.8: 0.U .... do. a;7ii Wal.rvillc, N. Y .. H. DnviH 0.3(1 0.PI 1.0! 3.98 3.13 .1. 4-. '0.37 0.78 do. Ml] V WllliiiiiiHt'n, MiiMH S. ILSioddiT... 0.5: 0.08 1.1^ :l.73 3.3: 1.4: 0,30 0, 75 0. K Alcoholic. 7l7(i . Clll ..do 0.5: O.I»7 1. It. J. 73:1.25 .1.45 0.40 0.80 0.(10 do. 2:(:i v lliiifjhiuii, MilttH .. T. M. Ilriwor... 0,53 11.00 1.1.' 3.ti'i:i,3.' ,1. 5: 0.40 0 8-. 0. 05 do. ;ii:i!i V NiiiiNlinn S. IMtolid :l. 30 3. 00 1 15 0 78 !!«!( Wt'llitTHfiflil. Conn C. Wiiulit Alixiliollc. mm NWliiilnN. Y 1;. IIow.ll 0.51 0.05 1.11 .1. SO 3, 08 0.30 0.88 0.01 do. 27X1 ..do .. do .1. 54 0.08 1 fK) 1. 53 3. 20 0 IP 0 8-^ 0, 03 do. •■mt ...Co . do U.3( a 80 1.13 .1.25:1.04 .1.33 0,78 O.Cit do. a73,-. ...lo ...do 0.41. 0.8: 1.08 3. 07 2.41: 0.3:1 0.77 0.33 ilo. 3740 TiopnCounty, N. Y ...do 0. 4t^ O.ilO 1.1!. :P.002.UO o.;ii 0.80 0. .V. do. 2741 .Sill! llurlKir, I.. 1... K. N. llyram . . . 0.05 O.Oil I.Sl, 1.033.00 a3!i 0.8(j 0.5... do. 'J74g .. >ln ....do 0.40 0.8- 1.0: 3.70 3.24 0.32 ■.78 0.53 do. iriH l'lnliiilil|iliiii. Pii. . W.S. WiKxl .... 0..->4 0.04 1.18 1.43 2.83 0.38 0.80 O.Ci .... do. 37311 ...iln ..do 0.31 0.92 1.10 ;l. 40 2.07 0.35 0. 75 11. a do. 37:lli SI 1 .Jiiy, I'll . . . .I.StauniT 0. 51 0.!H l.U :l.252.9l- 0,:i5 0.78 0.01 .... do. 37:17 ..do ...do 0.4! 0.87 l.ll J. 04 a. a 0,35 0.71 0..'.7 do. 4nw Mi'iulvill,.. I'ii ... .I.F.Tllliknlon. .. i... ^ do. r>»i< Cartihit', I'li S. K.llalrd 1.1; 1. 2.VJ. e: 3.93 Kl ...d,. ..do ..do ...do .. do .. do 1. 10 2. 70 0.77 do. Yoiinir. do. 51SB V .. do .. do :l.a32.!10 .1.00 0.8 0.(13 riiM Pt-niiHv tv.iniii — S. VC. \Vi««lUouw 0.4r 1.402.00 •3.70 0.60 0.37 1:170 Ni'W .liTwy W. Cooper 3.00 3.40 0.75 IW) 473(1 13111 1320 New .JiTHcy ? Nfw .IfiBcy C'lurki« County, Va .. dii ..do .1. IrfiConto C. 11. U. Konncrl.\ ...do .. 3.20 3.75 123 2.00 :i.io 0.83 "■ 0.81 0.74 0.43 0.5.-. VinlllK; typo of "citnilH'atliH" 1331 1332 1235 ? ..do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do .1. .10 3. 20 J.(»'3.30 0.81 0.75 0. .32 0.50 1337 ? ? ...do ...do :L8o'2.(I0 1,78 0.72 0.73 0.79 0.3C 0..')5 1231 ..do ..do 12U7 ...do .. do 13*IH do 1.TO 10313) ...do ...do .0 10.-I73) ...do ...do -I- Alcoholic, 2773 8774 2773 7407 9810 10188 073 005 a ..do ...do .. do .SoulliiTn SlnlcR 1 Tftrlioro', N. C ...do milslxiro', N. C. . . do ...do ...do ...do !... .1. L. Itridgiir .. do M. A.Ciirlls ... ..do \V. (Jeauer ...do 0. 5'. D.5.-i a.5f I.4U ).04 0.98 0.80 1.73 1.1: l.S( .K .17 100 1.33 103' 3.94 1.00 1.30 iOO 1.40] ISO 3.84 iC5 3.03 J. 33 i30 1.00 1.73 LOG t.19 0.31 0.38 .33 ... .. l).71 0.82 a. 80 J.74 J. 7: J. Vi 1.8-. 1.83 ■■ 1 ■■! 1 48 1. 43 1.S0J do. do. do. Alcoholic; Hiippo8e(l"cogDatiiii. ' do. do. Ory; Hiippoacd '• cognntllB ". do. Alcoholic. 4810 0O87 CoIoinlmH, Oil.* . . , ...do ' 'I'liciio CeiirBia »pc('lraon» tend toward, porhsna Irnin ordninry f(>uro;>((j. thoy aro, vnr. 30Mi/pi)iu» ; but I cannot dinllnnni.th tht'in aallafac' irlly MUBIDAE— 8IOMOI)(>NTK»— DESPKUOMYS LEUCt)PUa. G3 Taiii.i; XI.- -Mcantremrn la of about one t iiNrfrnl (iiNd litt of maun more) tpeciuieii$ of Hrmpkrom Y8 lkuci >i*1'h from EatbTH Xoith Jmtrioo— Continued. .. tooee 10089 10000 4910 lOOW t0857 SKI S8lj 831 sua 2750 27.") I 1»I4U1 to 10433 J 47443 .'BW 070 704 73a 7X1 734 73S 730 sni 8747 274rt mn S7S3 SI793 2133 10430 goi 4710 10902 0833 S360 547 310 .•>iin 3128 3077 3078 4003 Locality. Coluinlins, Ou ...llo .....la .St^w Orleans La . . Prairio Mor Kougr, La. riraud CotCAU, La ...llo (>xrord,Misa Luuialaua Washington, Mlsa .. llo CloTolanil, Ohio ... Soleni.Uhio ...llo ...do ..do . Illliii la It. liiilifnay W. Owner.... ....do ...do J. Vardnn Junjca Fairio. St. Cbarloa Col- lofO. ...do ftO.L.WailM.. J. Fairio . ...do .... ...do J. r. Kirtland . . £.Nowton ....do ....do New Lebanon, Ind. West Mortbfiold .. ..do ..do ..do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do Kacine, Wla ...do .. do ...do Wiaoonain Wiaconainl Mich. i)!aul Oliiot Indian Riror, Fli>. Pembina, Minn... Fort Uipley, Minn Saint Loula, Mo . . . ln(le))cndence, Mo .. do Fort Riley, Kana . . ...do ...do S.lt.Davia ... n. Kennicott . ...do ....do ....d,. .do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do A.O.Barry.... ...do ...do P.RUoy J. LeOonto ....do O. Wiirdoniann . C.Caviloor .r. F. Uead Cu Engelraann. . J. O. Cooper — ...do K.l)randt ....do ...do Tail to ujid of— 1. ou . . . 3.00 \M 3.41 3.00ri75,a.83 II. .%5 0.02 0.52,0.'J.'i 0.5j 0.52 0.0C 0.0-J 4 7,12.25 14'. 3.2.'. i.» I. Si 120 i7.'>2.f 150... .1. 05 . . J. 90... 3.10 .. 2.60 3.95 3.32 3.35 a06 3.03 190 3.40 SO 3.40 3.70 4.C 3.401 ...0.7f 0.82 0.82 o.n 0.75 a77 0.4: 0.37 O.BS U7I. i.35 3.00 io- 3.32 t70 140 2.40 190 2.70 0.35 0.40 0.38 100 1901 Il40' 0.57 0.35 0.87 0.76 0 7t 0.85 0.8.' KentarVa. AloohoHo. do. do. Alcoholic; anppoaod "co;inii- tna". Alooholio. .do. do. Aicoholie; Buppoaoil "oogna* ■ma". Six ynang in alcohol ; anpiMaed "cognotua". Alcoholic] anppoaed "cogun- tua". do. Alcoholic. do. do. .do. 0.80 0.32 0.800.00 0.37 0.37 0.34 0.36 0.37 0.80 0.82 0.82 0.75 0.70 0.77 0.7f 0.48 0.50 0.71 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.85 0.88 0.78 Aleoholio. Young. Tonng. Yonng. Yoang. Alcoholic, do. do. do. do. do. do. do. Yonng. Young; "gracillE". Type of "graciiia" Alcoholic. do. .11 (54 MONOdlSAIMIH OF NORTH AMKIIKJAN UODENTIA. 'I'Am.K XI. •.V((Hiir(mrn(« nfohout otic hiimlrid {ami UhI of mnn-/ morr) iipfcimenii »/IlHRrF.IiOMYS I.KI'COl'US /mm Kunlirn fiorlh /Imciira— Oontiimed. 1 d * B a y, 4 LiK'nlily. Coll.i'lor. Koiio to- end Ito of- i 1 i a D.m & lion.arkfl. ll i 1 J..W 1 "3 Fort Wloy, Kiinii K.Ilrnndt .'ilk'J .f ...il.i Ni'okIio, KmiH .... ....do 3.0(1 3. 7,'i J.UO 1.50 0.70 1.8t Frcah. II. !•'. (JOHB 4317 'f ,...il ... d 3. 7." 3.50 I). Ml do. KtH ,f ...III. ....do ;iao JK7 3 00 II, Kl do. ma 9 ....lo .. do 'I no 3 50 2.70 0.8.1 do. Young. rnu ...ilo ..do 0.80 <«:! "NclirnHka" .I.O.OmlHT 0. 30 1.00 i.ao •J.M iOO 3.00 0.39 0.82 0.02 Alcoliollo. lOllb ..do ...do O.K 0.00 1.00 3.00 J. 05 2.72 0.3C 0.78 Vk do. loorm Tciiw J. Il.Clarko.... 0.,Vi 0.0.-. 1...J 3.75 ..«) .1. 10 i).3« 0.80 0.50 do. 101.^9 ... il ... do O.Sli 0.08 1.18 .1.2.-, ■IV. 2.00 i).3« 0.80 0.5t do. nei Mictilpirotoii C. Itarnnton — 8.00 100 1.71 do. 41K11I Caiiiula Wi'Ht IJ.W.Bcadk'.... .... do. 74K(1 Illn;jhiin), MnRH .. Dr. Ilrewor do. iii4'.'a .. do ...do do. Iii4'.i:i ...del .. d.) do. 1(I42H 1 .„ NUhoKN.y ItUowcll Alcoholic; young. I(i4:n 1 IOI3i<| .o WltliiiiimCii, ,Mni*H S.II.Scuddcr.... do. I044'J 1 48 s si c i 1, t Q 1 4iH 1 May !i3 Fort Sla'pMD U.ll.Ho»» 4.00 0.80 nw « Mar. !!'.! ....(1 ...do O.liO I.OO 1.12 J. 00 3.00 3.15 0.75 0.02 f . .V) i:ai J Miir 10 ....do ...do U. 57 43 * Mar. 23 ...do ....do O.K. 0.05 1.05 1. 30 2.80 2. 9(1 II. 79 3. 1(1 0. 80 0.00 0.55 4.'i*! 9 Mnr. 22 ....do ...do U.C0 1.10 1.20 3.50 iOO 0.08 0.95 4.ra .! Mnr. 31 ...do ...do 0.02 1.0( 1.20 3.90 0. 85 0.80 0.05 4.M9 J May 2 ...do ... do 3. 00 3.10 3.25 0.70 l.'itti ^r Apr. 27 ...do ...do 3.25 2.r. ■2.50 0.78 4.'i,".7 .^ Mny 22 ...do ...do 1.00 2. 20 ■2. ,')0 0.70 4:>i 1 9 Apr. 10 ...do ...do 0. 55 0. 95 1.10 1.70 iK 3.00 0.83 4J13 J Apr. 7 ...do ...do 0.00 1.05 I. 15 3. 00 ■i. «. .3. 05 0.77 J535 d Supt. (J ...do R. Kcniilcc*t 0.00 0.™ I.IO 3. f 0 3. 3(1 3.55 0.85 o.ai 11.60 (;hoolc-poiicli0.40to aii^lu of niouth 4.'>4li :«) 9 Si.pl. 7 ...do ...do 0. 5t*^ii. O'J l.OH 3.00 3. iulo.7e 4534 cf Si'pl. 7 ...do ....do 0. 00 0. 9i: 1.10 3.«l 3.00 :l. 20 0. 80 0.80 0.03 Ckorkpoiicll 0.42 to angle of mouth. 451.>0 J Si.pt. 7 ...do ....do 0. Oi 0. W 1. 15 3. 75 3.00 3.200.80 0.79 45;ia 9 Ool. lii ...do ....do 1.0.-. 3.50 ■2. CO ,110 0,78 0.85 4534 ■S Si'pt. (1 ...do ...do 0.011 0.90 1. 10 3.30 •iOO 2. 85 0. 75 0. 75 0. i>5 Cbeek.poiicli 0.40 to nnglcsof moutb. 4511 J Sfpt. 1 .. .do ,, ..do 1. 1.'. 3.40 3.70 2.50 3.00 ■2. 75 3. a;. 0.78 0.80 4531! J S,.|,t. ti ...do ....d 0. 03 0.9.' 1.10 0.80 0.!)5 Clieek pouch 0.40 to 1 nn^lo of month. 453H 9 SIny 15 l-'ort livaolutiou ...do 0.00 1. CO \.lll- 3. 40 2.00 ■2. SI 0.78 454T 9 Apr. 24 .. do .. llo 1). G4) 0 IK 1.0.' 1.20 3.40 3.30 2.50 ;i.oo •175 3. a.'. 0. 75 0.70 45:t;i 9 r.h. 15 r.irt l.ianl Avi-rnyt' ii.m 0. 'X l.li 3. 04 ■i-o :i. Of 10. 71 0.75 0..58 M;(.\iiiiuni 0 t)5 1. 1.' i.a 1.0.- I. 2.- '3.3.- ., .± o,L ,.. Mitiiniuin 0. solo. 90 3. 00 2. 10 .1. ,» 2.2.-. l).70<).60 0. ('»5 0.5!i *Tlii» Arctic < is ..iiinply a piirt (if tlic Arctic scries iiitrmluct il fiirtlicr on. Jt rcprcKentH the variety s:morwmu, ami is only l)ron«lit m here to show the matter of the ehcek-poiiehes, Wc have only to icuiark further, in this iilae,., that the Arctic series averages larger thau 'Juited States siieoiuieua, anii has shorter feet and ears, as well as shorter tail. MURIDAE— SIGMOnONTES— OESPKROMYS LEUCOPUS. 67 All the foregoing thirty-one specimens, from sui)stiuitially the s«me locul- ity, were labeled "myoiiles" at the Smithsonian, und the cheek-poiuhes upi)ear to have been carefully examined by the naturalists who colleeleil tlu" series. Tlie pouches measure from a little less than two-thirds to a little over three-fourths of an inch in eroinys "gracilis" of LeConte is another nominal species. It was referred by Baird to his "myoides" with a query. We have LeConte's type before us ; it is tabulated in the foregoing table along with another speci- men (No. 4710), also labeled "gracilis"; both are from Ohio, Wisconsin, or Michigan, and are in the gray pelage. The larger one has the tail 3.60 long, just about equal to the body, which latter, however, is stretched, and now is rat-eaten. There is absolutely nothing to di.stinguish either of these speci- mens from ordinary leucopus. H. "gracilis, LeConte" is a taxidermal acci- dent, the specimens having been stuffed so as to look slenderer than usual. We have before us the type and only known specimen of Heqyeromys "campestris," LeC, from New Jersey (No. 4726 of the preceding table). LeConte's description shows nothing whatever different from ordinary leuco- pus, and the specimen bears out the description. The animal is ungrown, and from long immersion in alcohol (out of which it has been lately skinned, in a wretched state of preservation) has lost every trace of its original coloration. Of two specimens before us from Labrador, one (No. 3924) is labeled "arcticus, Sauss.", and the other (No. 3925) "bairdii, Sauss." We trust that ¥*! (JH MON()(H{AI'JI8 OF NOHTII AMKKICAN KODENTIA. M. Dc Siiussurc! Im« been iiHin! tbitunnto in handling Mexican Ilesperomys tliiin lir wiis ill (hi8 case, for one of these specimens is an adult and the other a yoimj,' cxiimplc of /ruco/ius; neither of them shows the sliKlitest departure Ironi the ordinary ty|)e. We Imve not mot with either of these names in print, and il', indfcd, they were never published, we shall regret their appear- ance on our i)age ; for a synonym once rooted is havd to eradicate. Now, passing over for a moment a certain Eastern Unitc'; 3676 71K1 17184 71K'i 7IW 10317 mux 10310 1 '" io:«4 J 10963 7485 Lucullty. f'olhftor. Koae to- 1 * 1 1 Ri'marka. ll ; & ! 1 1 t n 1 ■s 1 1 1 n Port Towmend do Cnncadi. M't'n. W»»h AHtdriii, Orf;;. Tcr ... Fori I)Hlla», Ore)!. Tir Kliiiiiiith Lakr 8itiiiitlini'H it|H't'iiiit>un Hitiiir ilitwky nt linttn of iiiciiitarHiiH; w) tUtcs 71^4. t Tlii'Mi H|ifcitiu'im of Dr. Kt>iint>i I'v'h are iiitrlk-ulm l.v iiitt^rt-Rtiuif. Wn briitif tlii>m in ))rn> b('raiiM> w<> hiivo prt-pntrd no M-pi)iiiti> titlilc for ' iMivlii": liiit iiio(tb \\w ta'i ovrr J.M. Ub- serve bow ilmi in iliew' fmiriiMn f«pi-t-iiiicimthi< \a\\ midki-m fntm bHlfnii liirhitboiiHi tnovt'r balf nii IikIi Iniiprr tliiin tbr Ixirijr, niKlhnw il iNi^rniliialfilbyW-iithHor imhiH. iMmtTvi', nlmi tbi* (liMn-piinrii'H in ihfHir.i'of t bo fret itncl fiit« riicNe niiMiinre- iui'IiIh, \w\\\^ all iilrotiolir. ari< |H'rli-i>ily icliahb'. It ia iih iiDiiomtibb- to iliiiw a line Hiiywbetp )H-twifii tlit'M> ii|H-<'.'nienH tw It ia to m>|iarattMbt> Vi-rmiitii binfftulb-il iiiici^ from ibiMnof tbu ri-st of Mow Euftlnnd. Tbin iitnulv a part of our Krt«» tn>m tbm Iwalily. Wi- bavi< ultui nninlHTa I0U.'> to 101(>3. whub wo bavo duenied it uoncoeaiiary to meaaiiro or prraenL in u tabniur form, ai) tbcy Riniply mI>uw tht> aaino ilitng. MUKIDAE— 8I0M0D0NTES— UK8PKUOMY8 LEUCOPUS. 7 J. Taui.rXIV. — Ati^aauremcntnof about fi/ly {atidlint o/other)»ptcimenKpurporting toheUKfirFAtoyi\'»**GAyinKt.l" from tynnhimjtoH atul Oregon Territorim and California — CiuitiuiiL'd. 1 LooUlty. CoUeolor. Nowlo- 1 i i 0. :i:i 1 1 « o.eo 0.73 0.75 0.85 0.70 O.M) 0.80 0.«1 0.84 0.00 a 75 0.83 0,9S 0.P0 i. 0.03 0.63 0.69 0.65 0.08 0.60 0.6U 0.06 0.73 0.68 0.65 0.75 0.78 0.60 Itcmnrka. 1 & 1 3 7444 504J 91140 0S13 .'i033 MH 10138 10139 10140 10141 10143 10143 10144 7473 101641 to I0173J toaoii 1. 10397 J 776S 7460 4»i!l 10396 10397 to 10301. Siminhraoo C. II. R. Kennerly. .. do .100 3.0U 3.00 3.33 3.70 3.10 3.3.-I 3.30 3.30 130 3. 10 3.40 31>0 3.40 ;ioo 3.00 3.00 3.10 3.eo 3.19 :i.30 3.60 3 7.'! 3.60 ;i.wi 4.00 9. CO Alcoliolie. — do. ..do. ..do. ..do. — do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ..do. ...do. .. do. ...do. ...do. ... .do. ... do do ...do do Pllget Hniuil do ... do ...do ...do .lo do ...do do do. . do . . do ... do do do ....do ... do FortTiJoD.Cal da J. Xantns 0.46 0.70 1.07 ....do do ....do ... .do. do do Fort Umpqua, Orcg . . . do ...do ...do E. P. Vollnui •. . . . 0.M U.SO 0.03 0.00 i.ao 1. 18 xm 3. SO 140 3.90 3.70 .130 4.40 ISO o.:i5 0.39 0.8.1 0.81 0.09 a 81 0.06 0.68 0.07 0.67 ...do. ...do. ....do. ....do. ...do. ....do do ....do * Thrae npecllncna of Dr. Vollum'a bear out tlio romnrka madu under Dr. Kennerly* 'a. One of them ia referable to " boylii "t tbe real are apparently " ganibelU ". The foregoing tnble is to be compared with the following items in the original diagnosis of "gambeli" : — " Very similar to It. leticopus in size and pro- portions." This is true, even without the qualification. "Feet perhaps shorter." This is not so; the feet arc wholly within the range of variation of eastern leuco- pus, and the average of the foregoing table is within an inappreciable fraction (0.01 or 0.02) of the eastern average. *' Ears larger." The largest ear in tiie series is not over the length of a large percentage of tlie eastern series ; all the cars are within the eastern limits of variation, and tiie average ear is within an inappreciable fraction (0.02 or 0.03) of the eastern average. " Tail generally less than the head and body, sometimes a wry little longer." This expression is precisely diagnostic of typical leucopus. ^^ Above yellowish-hroxcn, m..^h mixed with dusky, hut without a distinct broad wash of darker on the Itack" Most of" the specimens really are paler and more nnitltrm on the liack than in average I i! ^ IF "i ■i ■ 72 MONOGRAPHS 01-" NOUTII AMKUlCAN UODKSTIA. leucopus, and this is pnrticulariy evident in those from tlie open, dryer piuts of Southern Ciiliforiiin, and especially such examples as No. 7185 from the Colorado Ucsert region, where the coloration is a hrisk fulvous, without dorsal stripe. But nearly all the specimens can he matched by eastern examples ; and, moreover, all the northern ones are actually darker than average leucopus, while most of them show a distinct doisal stripe. " J'//e entire outside of llir fore leg below the shoulder white I" In a part of the specimens this is so, and in another part of the specimens it is not so; and the same is the case with ordi- nary leucopus. It is evident, therefore, that the characters ascribed to the suppo.sed "gambeli" fall to the ground. Passing now to another Pacific-coast species, so-called, we will premise that in establishing his //. "austerus", Professor Baird intimated his suspicion that it might not prove valid. "It is barely possible," he says, "that my //. austerus may be a northern variety of the common Califbrnian species" (/». e., "gambeli"), "of smaller size and darker color, somewhat like the gray and smaller //. leucopus of Nova Scotia and probably Labrador, * * and further materials will be necessary to decide the question." With the necessary addi- tional material before us, we cannot only confirm tiie suggestion here mode, but we can also show a perfect intcrgradation between "gambeli" and "aus- terus"; a melting of this last into "boylii"; and, finally, the positive identity of "boylii" with "myoides", which last we have proved to be the same as leucopus. The Simiahmoo specimens, which arc, as we have just shown, referable to "gambeli", are so much darker than "gambeli" from the dry, open parts of California, that they stand rather nearer "austerus" in color than to the former examples of the species they are supposed to belong to! Color thus giving us nothing tangible, we will interrogate dimensions, and see if these show anything of specific value. We accordingly present a short table ; most of our samples of supposed "austerus" being immature, and therefore excluded as tending to vitiate the result. • y MURIDAE— BIGMODONTE8— HE8PEKOMY8 LI5UC0PUS. Taiilk X\.—Me«;iM«N«»/y!i'ii "ajjectM" («M»IJi 0.82 0.87 Gar. 0.01 0,») O.Ot 0.U4 " I'rinteil in SI. N. A. ".La.")" by t.vpngrapliical error. — A le'coiul (i|>eeinien of •' boylii " (No. &78)iihow8 longer tail, feet, nnil care:— trnnk, M.Oi' ; tail, 4.U8 ; miIc, 0.il.'> ; ear. 0.7.'i; nhilo a tliird ^No. HIO) Iiim tlie tail conviilerably Hliorter than tlii' trunk (trunk, 4.00 ; tail, 3,t>.1). rrofewor Uainl remarks of this No. 810, that iHiNNibly it is "(ranilieli", anil prints it also iiniler "gunilieli", witli tbo remark, "possibly II. boylii". It is, in fact, Just as much like one as like tbe utber. I I'robably abunt 3.r>0, but iinpossiblu to iloterinine now, owing tu the stretched and rnt-eat«u state of the specimen. A scries of alcoholic specimens from Capo Saint Lucas, the first exam- ined, we believe, from tiiis locality, ofl'crs some interesting features. Although it is not easy to judge of color in their present condition, they appear to be light-colored, with the dorsal stripe of the tail very narrow, and in this and other resi)ects most of the series are undoubtedly referable to "gambeli". A part of the series, however, shows an extraordinary length of the tail — in this respect surpassing the most marked examples of "boylii" or "myoides". In one specimen, the tail is nearly an inch and a iiulf longer than the head, and in this one, as well as the rest of those with the tai' decidedly longer than the body, this meml)cr is almost as naked as in a Mus, and unicolor, of a dull-grayish hue. In all these, the dark color of the leg extends on the base of tiie metatarsus — a feature shown distinctly even in a suckling specimen. Altliough in their present state these specimens tlo not show any apprecial>le diirerence in the body-colors from the "gambeli" com- posing most of tlie series, we have little hesitation in referring them to the //. aztecus. Tiie lengtli of tail of this species, it will be seen beyond, has not been known ; for all three of Dc Saussure's types had lost the tij) of the tail. Our type of azlecus, received from De Saussure, agrees precisely with 1r ' ■ C: MURID^B— 8IOMODONTE8-UE8PEKOMYS LEUCOPUS. 75 the specimens from Cape Saint Lucas in the nakedness of the tail and extension of tiic dusky on the metatarsus — tlie latter being one of the essential features of the species as compared with leucopiis. In length of tail alone, these speci- mens grade into the "gombeli" with which they are associated; yet, the other features being [icrfectly tangible and distinctive, we shall refer the specimens in question to mtecus, with no reasonable doubt of the correctness of so doing. As Mr. Xantus collccte«l extensively on the west coast of Mexico, as well as in Lower California, it is possible that these examples o{ aztecus have been accidentally mixed with his Saint Lucas collections. The following table gives the measurements of a part of the specimens referable to Itucopus ("gambeli") with measurements of some of them. Those representing azlecua will be found under the head of the latter. Table XVII.— Li»l of tpeciaunt of H. leucopus (" gamieli ") /row Capi Sainl Luctu, collreled Ay J. Xanlut, tritk me(uurrmen($. 5 Locality. From tip of noae to— Tail to end of- L3, 411 (ClmrRia).— Baird, M. N. A. 18.'i7, 4C!) (Gi'orKiu nml Huiith Carolina).— Allkn, Bull. Miia. Conip. Zoiil. ii, 1H70, 180 (Florida). Ilvfpnomijn ( IVi/Krimuii) leumpua gommiiiiuii, CoL'CS, I'ror. Acad. Nat. S<:i. I'liila. li^4, I'D. Ui/puilaiu gouiyplnyt, LkContk, McMiirtriu'H Ciivler, I, 4;)4, app.— AuD. &, B.icil., Q. N. A. i, 305 (in text; couBiilcr it a.t a vur. of Iruropuf), Diagnosis. — //. staturd II. kucopum cxcedens (A-poU.), caudd breviore fere unicolore, pedil/us nwjoribus (subimll.), color ibus obscurioribus. Habitat. — South Atlnnlic States. Kansas? Mouse larger than //. leucopus (some four inches long), with a shorter tail, but little paler below than above ; liind feet nine-tenths of an inch ; fur of the upper parts dark rusty-brown, and of the under parts not pure white. The few specimens below enumerated show some tangible diflcrences from ordinary leucopus, as expressed in the foregoing paragraphs. Besides averaging in stature a dimension that leucopus very rarely attains, the tail is absolutely shorter than in the average of that species, and therefore ])ropor- tionally still less. It is, moreover, nearly unicolor in some specimens; in others, however, it is evidently, but not sharply, bicolor. The hind feet are about 0.90 long, a dimension that leucopus only reaches in exceptional cases. The general colors are much darker, and, ])erhaps, never of the bright fulvous of typical leucopus; it is much as if the darker dorsal wash of leuco- pus was spread over all the upper parts. Correspondingly, the under parts ore dull soiled whitish, or wiiite with an ashy-gray hue. , ' Our specimens are obviously too few for a final conclusion, and we have been much perplexed to determine how to treat this form. All the seven below given arc distinguishable at a glance from leucopus ; but our suspicion is very strong, indeed, that if we had, say fifty instead of seven examples, some of them would be indistinguishable from leucopus, and others would show indissoluble connection. This was the mature opinion of Audubon and Bachman, who say: — "We were for several years disjMJsed to regard it as distinct, and have, not without much hesitation, and aileran examination of many hundred speci- mens, been induced to set it down as a variety only." Mr. Allen (/. c.) allows the name to head his paragraph, but expressly states his belief that it is not a valid species, both in this place and in a previoi.s paper (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. i, 1861), 229). Under the circumstances, we judge that nature will be the more faithfully reflected to consider H. gossypinua as a variety of leucopuSf MUUIDiE— SIOMODONTES— n. LEUCOPUS GOS8YPINU8. 77 ranking nearly with sonoriensis as to the degree of geographical (Hffercntiation that it has sustained. The propriety of this step will appear in still stronger light aflcr exam- ination of the so-called " Hesperomys cognatus" of LeConte and 13aird, which we are now prepared to discuss. Apart from the ])ublished accounts of the two authors just named, our material is, first, tiiree dried specimens, labeled "cognatus" in what we presume to be Major LeContc's own handwriting, as it is the same as that upon his other types now in our possession ; secondly, five dried and several alcoholic specimens referred to this species by Baird, /. c. The latter will be first noticed. •". Two of these, Nos. 673 and 905, from North and South Carolina, respect- ively, are precisely like leucopus in every respect, except that the tails of both are much less distinctly bicolor than usual in leucopus. Out of our series, however, of unquestioned and unquestionable leucopus, we can precisely match this feature. The other three specimens are from Mississippi (Nos. .')62, 583, 586). They are all in wretched condition, having been skinned out of alco- hol. One of them, 562, is not half grown (body, 2.25; tail, 1.42, &c.); it is dark lead-color, and from the shortness of the tail represents sonoriensis, if anything different from leucopus. The second is nearly grown, but still in the mouse-gray pelage ; the tail is 2.50 to a body of 3.00, and therefore not shorter in proportion than in leucopus; and the tail is very sharply bicolor. The third appears grown, but the colors are indeterminable, from immersion in alcohol and from loss of most of the fur ; the tail is plainly bicolor ; the proportions are just as in an average of leucopus. We must confess that, even if there were a species "cognatus" distinct from leucopus, we do not see how these five specimens could be taken to represent it Much as we regret our decision, we must say that they are all unquestionably leucopus. The remaining specimens (alcoholic) we cannot distinguish even as a tangible variety of leucopus. Major JjcConte's types do not seem to have been in Professor Baird's hands when the article on the Mammals of North America was being pre- pared ; and the latter had to guess at the former's meaning — a difficult matter indeed, since Major LeContc's description amounts to exactly notiiing. Of his three specimens, one of them (from Illinois), we find to our great surprise, is an example of H. trAchiganensis, pure and simple ! (Head and body, 2.90 ; tail, 1.90, sharply bicolor ; hind foot, 0.66 ; &c.) The other two, Nos. 4708, "I :' ^ -rt 78 MONOOUA1MI8 OF NORTH AMERICAN KODENTIA. L 1 470!), lire not marked lor locality, hut proljultly came from Ohio, Wisconsin, or iMiihigaii, and are really his types. They arc exactly the size of ordinary ieucopus; tiio tail a little shorter, relatively, tliali the average of leucopus, but not shorter than is often found in Ieucopus; and they an; colored exactly as in gossi/piiius, the u|)|»er parts being very dark, the under impure white, and the tail indistinctly bicuKir. Here, then, is an exactly intermediate form between Ieucopus ami gossy- pinus, proving that the latter cannot properly be regarded as specifically tlitlerent from the former. It is ol>viousIy a matter of indilTerence where we make our break in the chain between the two ; /. c, whether we assign the links "cognatus" to one or the other. Practically, however, it will be found most convenient to assign "cognatus LeC." to Ieucopus, so that we only recognize the extreme of differ- entiation in gossi/piiius. Tiiis course is the more commendable, since "cog- natus Baird", based as above explained, is assuredly Ieucopus. Taiii.k will.— j:,i«l of ijifdmeiu of Hespkromys i.rucopuh riir. uossypinl's. s Locality. Bocoived trom. 'S 5 1 Nature of ■pecimeu. 470.1 4711 MS 4-i 8X17 Geor);la ,lo J. LoConto ...... ...... ...... 4.00 4.25 4.50 3.50 2.90 2.50 2.05 3.00 2.90 2.35 3.00 0.86 0.90 0.90 o.es 0.87 0.89 0.90 Dry. Dry. Dry. Alcoholic. Alcoholic. Dry. Dry. do do do do do do 3.90 4.00 4.50 West Kausos * ' We licHitate In tlie determination of this speoiuien, since part of its size is due to overstuffing; the under parts are white, and the tail sharply bicolor; the locality, too, is against the sup|HMition that it is goftj/pinm ; and it h accompanieHr.-Aiii. I, \*^iO, 14-J. Unptromyn »oi««n>i«iii«, LkCoktk, I'roc. Acad. Nut. 8ei. I'liiln. vl, liiVI, 4i;i (8unurn; typw, No. 140, Mug. 8111III1P1.).— Al!l>. & Uacii., Q. N. a. Ill, IMM, aiKl (after IxiCoiite).— lUiitii, M. N. A. \«i1, 474 j U. H. & Mi'X. Iluiiiid. 8iirv. li, pt. 11, tHoU, 411. Ihtprromy ( I'nijxriiHU") leucopm lonoriemif, Col'kh, I'roc. Acad. Nat. 8cl. Plilla. 1H74, 170. JJaiieromyt auiivrjrii«i4i var. nebriuceniil; Uaiiio, M. N. A. 1H57, 4nR arc not fairly diatincitlahablo tnm ordinary leveoput.\ § 'A Locality. Collector. Noaeto— Tall to end of— 1 1 i 1 • Renwrka. IS A i 1 t 170 i no 1140 1 9838 4309 «10 4311 13P« 1:199 1969 C'll •;o» 1779 1789 1181 1788 1783 r.V. Ilaydon 0.7l'.... 0.79].... 0 78 ... Dry. Dry; atretched. Dry. Dry. do do Doer Creek, Nebr do do do Littlo Misaoari Rlvrr . do 1.00 1.08 1.00 3.40 ;i.40 175 3. as 3. OH las 9.33 130 9.90 ■» 71 0 77 .. ilu do 0.4^ g.8s 0 7T ....do do 0.33 0.73 0.80 0.77 n 74 AlooboHo. Dry.* do* Fort IMorri), Dak do do do do 1.17 1.00 do i.75;a8S . io.' do Dry. Dryi yoaBK. .. do do do rto do do do 9.W 1.73 0.80 Dry. ...do. do do * TlieM neem to be Ifueopu*. ' Reully from 1.93 to S.UOI For No. 145, collected by Mr. Clark ou the Mexican Bonndary, Bhowed a tall of 3.05, and no bad to be turned over to " texanns". ■fi y|!ij MURID^— 8IOMODONTE8— II. LEUCOPU8 80NOUIEN818. 81 TAnL* XIX.— il/nMiimii«ii/io/rlfJb(yoii«(aiid IM of other) ipnlmeiu of lunponfil HiwrKitoMrR i.kucopus RDNORIKNHIH from IM JVirfif/r UrgiaK, I'liUtd Sta/ia— C'oiitlniieil. 1 '' 1 Looalltjr. Colliictor. Noaalo- Tall to uud of— 1 '[ las 0.33 O.l'i 0. 0 D.XI 0.38 0.4U 0.40 0.30 0.40 0.19 0.40 0.31 1 •9 a i 9.81 1.1> I.7'. I.7-. i.ir i.-j I.e. I.7t l.K i.;ii 11.71; ii.7;i O.TJ 11.73 .I.7K 0.7,- an aw 0.W a 7a a 75 a IB J.7i aw aeo a 75 a 79 aeo 0.63 0 85 aeo a 63 a 75 073 a 84 a 74 a 76 171 ass a7!i a8o & Ilomarkn. • 1 ^ ^ 4 f t lU) LOU 185 100 4.00 I7i I.TO 1.05 3.0: 1.00 i.00 i« 115 LS. 150 3.00 140 4.00 175 X 7.-I X10 I. BO 1«5 175 135 IW 1» i: 100 100 3.W 9.00 lie IM 110 t75 4.0S 100 100 i90 J. 00 I.FO i.CO JL3 lai 13(1 ia5 100 ISO iSO 1.80 l.M I.OO 19U 9.50 a. 30 l.DO i.no 1.00 is.- iLlO 165 i.in 183 17C iCO til 15( IIS 103 l.K 103 140 140 Its 100 IM i>40 lie i 1 I1M IMOII to 10418) iota lo 101143 XttU 3154 XU7 .'UM XIU WW aan 3M1 aw 3M3 4173 7704 I04IU 3311 3.'«» ^4a 314U itt S43 544 943 144 140 147 «733 VTM 0739 0730 1948 8343 1944 1949 II940 «947 aS48 1990 aS91 1901 1993 1994 SJS9 S99« »J97 TcllowMoud BIrer "Nabnuka" r.V.lla> don ...... do 0.01 LIS bty. ...do. AlcoboUo. .. ilo. Drjr. ..do. .. ilo. ..do. ... do. .10. ...dn. Dryi ■Irxlched. Dry. ..do. ryi jtouog. ...do. ..do. Dry. Dtyi atratshed. ..do. ....do. ...da Fort Brldmr. Uuh C. Oratler do do 8 XiillU I'lottc Uiver .Midicino Iliiw Kivcr Kt'piiliUcau ItivtT do Fort Ivtwriiuy do Fort Laraniio ,lo do J.C.CooiHr do do I'O do W. A. lliimoiond — do J. P. McCown E. TalmtT I!. Ridswny 11. D. .Schmidt do . ...do 1.8.Vi.50 3 10 J. .V) I'cilfCriik l'*ort Raiitlall' Fort Lyon(», Colo 4.00 3.50 3.10 2.30 9.75 ■1 9(1 do do 3.10 2.75 :i. 10J2. 10 3. .-lO i 30 do ... ... do 0.44 n vi O.S-J 0.05 (1.95 0 Pb 0.05 •• " 1.0(1 I.W LOf 1 VcoH lUvcr, Tex do .1. Poito . ...do 9.P0 1 m do do Qilnpaw XatioQ J.U.Clark .... do 3.002.10 X 40 i. on do 0.55 0.47 0.55 3.10 i70 rppcr Platte Kivor do G. Suckloy do do do J.O.Cooiicr do C.Drojlert do do a.0o'i25 3. .'■n -V ito do 1. 15 3. 40 *L 00 do do 3.10 ISO •3.75 3.50 Fort Shaw Mont K.11. Hiu: do ...do Fort Brldger do do ... ... 195 do . do .. . . do . do Santa K6,N.M«l Unknown LiontunHUt Mnllfu. » Drooler's cxtcnslvo gatht^rtn^N of iiiicr. both from thr Vlutieroginn nnd fnmi Fort Drldjipr, aro all (*Mu>ntlnlly of Ihn jrnnorientn* style. TIiom: finin tho IMiitte, Uko HnvltirH Ki'lirnMknniii) Uiipcr IMiBHOtirllnlH.rut! xvxy pntn and Hhort-tiillrd. wlhle tho ITinh nues crii rathiT iiimo lllto ietjcoptw i 1 color, and Ibc bicvlty ot tin' tuil Ih not (|iiil« mt BiroDnly inarkpd. Iti both tliOBo BPiios tbo Bpeclmeiif* grado dln-cily \nXu Irucopua. Viv have. Iiowcvcr. lulH'lrd thcin all "var. BonorjcnKia", Iktiuiro (lie ntU-inpt todi" iniiiiato liu» |irovtd iiitcily ImpoHHibie in tbirt uHlnotbor Bimilar catieB ivbero wo have been obiluiHl to label geoqraphicnU], ,1 to wpeak. Thin grjidiition Into ordinary Irvcop^u iH In Hlrlyt nccordancn irith, nnd aniplj I'onQnna, utir mature opinion rPBiieotiog tho " variety " ionoricntit. ; Colonel Simpson'* exHmpleH, from Fort Ilrldgcr, are pare »onoritnwi*s ao are Dr. HIts'a, tnm Fort Bhaw. MURIDJ3— SIGMOUONTE8-H. LBUOOPUS aONORIENSIS. 83 We will next show tlxit the shoit-tailedness ot var". sonoriensis likewise characterizos, ulinost uncxceptionally, the mice of Arctic Nortii America. Indeed, this fact has already been shown in the previous table, wliich we intro- duced to settle the mi/oidex question ; these additional specimens, indeed, are merely the rest of our Arctic lot, positively the same as those of the "myoides" table. Most of these Arctic ones are noticeably larger than United States specimens, as was to have been expected ; they average about 3.66 iu lengtii, with tail about 2.75 ; while the relative lengths of tail and body of sonoriensis are nearly repeated, about half an inch has been added to the abso- lute lengths of both trunk and tail. The feet are rather smaller, both abso- lutely and relatively, than in true leucopus, averaging only 0.75, notwithstanding the increase of general size. This feature, as well as the shortness of the tail, might be explained upon the well-known law of smallness of |)eripheral parts in Arctic animals; but it is curious that it should correspond exactly with the shortness of tail of the New Mexican animals, which, of course, are not amenable to this law. The tail and feet are both unusually hairy. Here is the table : — -iti Table XX.—Me(uureiHeniH of sUty-tiiHC {and tut of other) additional »peoimen» of Brilisk American and Arctic He8I*kkomyh LF.ucorus, nu)9tiy of the **Miiori«n«is" ett/te. [Nut much roliiiuce can be placoil on the ilry mcaauremoiita, at the eUna aro all badly prepared, beiog nlmoat withoat exoopttuD overstuffed, tbe talla iM'tng aktnued aud distorted, and Itau feet liaviDg the toes curled up.] 1 i Loailllj. Collector. Now to— Tail to eod of— i 1 i n 1 Kenmrkt. S ^ i t i S760 5TtO S780 S704 3783 om 9761 S76J 57M 8769 S774 5799 5n6 .1771 S76} STTO S76J »T7a 5766 STTB Fort Bie ...do I.. CiMke.Jr.... 4.93 4.00 3.7,^ 4.0O 3.75 4.95 3.90 4.50 4.10 3.90 3.90 4.10 3. 75 3L60 3,60 4.00 4.00 3 60 4.00 3L7S 9.90 130 0.8J 0.76 a73 a 71 0.79 aso Dry. ....do ....do .. ....do ... do. ...do ....do do 3.95 SL40 9.40 a95 9.00 >L60 9.30 &40 9.30 9.00 do. ...do .. do. ...do ...do ....do. do do ... 0.19 0.78 0.89 0.76 an o.n 0.18 0.11 0.70 0.80 0.1i 0.10 0.H do . do do do ....do ...dii ...do .. do . do . . . .do. do ...do.. do ....do ...do do ....do ....do do. ..do ...do ...do ....do. . .. do. ...do 9.60 a. 30 9.M ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do. 9.00 4.40 ....do. ....do ...do ■In 1 -I 5 ■ r 84 MONOGUAPII8 OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. TAiir.E XX. -MeaBiiremenln ofmxujninr (niirf /is/ of other) ndrfi/ioiifi/ «ji<(i»if(i« of lirilith American and i^rc/fo Hkri'khosiys ij'.rcoris, mtntlij of the '• mnorimnu" tlyle — Ciiutiuneil. 1 'A Looility. Colleelor. Now) to— Tail to end ol— i. i 1 Reniarka. i & 1 3. .50 i. 50 \.'M 4.00 3. 50 4.0O 3.50 A CO 3.70 3.70 3.60 4.00 3.50 1 3.10 4 30 ■.'.80 3.00 3. 73 3.90 3.10 3.35 3.30 3.71, 3.00 3.50 i 1 377J 5781 0448 U447 U450 !l44a U44II 578.'1 5786 709a 5787 5784 5708 4J50 454G 8093 30-J8 oO» •OMO 74;)7 4S53 •9878 •lOOftl •loosa 4543 Fortn^iii L. Cliirke.Jr .... ....do 0.70 0.75 ano a to a 70 0.70 0.78 l)r.v. ...do. ...do. ...do. FollSiliipHuu do (It) do ..'. .... ..do. .do ...do. ...ill) IIIK Inkiiil, (IriHt Kluvii Lake. ...ill) ...ito ...*) Fnrt Shnpsuu ilo ...do d.Reid ,...di) ... do ...do li. li. UOIM do do. .. do. ...do. do. do. o.-.u .0.80 .. .do. do ...di) R. Kounieott .. ...do. do Sllkn. AliiHta Xi'Ihoii Uivor ... ilo Lake WiDnip(>i; Jtcil River SnttleuicDt ...ilo F. liiwiiotf D.(iiiuii ....do ....do ....do R. KennicnU . . W. Urass ...do 3.01 3.25 a. 90 :i. i") 3.00 3.00 3.90 3,U) 3.00 3.00 3.30 3.30 3.:ia 3.30 3.00" 3.50 3.05 0.69 a 70 0.73 0.70 0.73 0.70 0.83 0.80 0.79 do. ....do. Alcohi.lis. .. do. .. do. do Llanl River ....ill, ...ill) ...d Dry. 4£l.1 ^louHO Factory til) C. Droller 3.50 2.75 0.7» 7487 7480 •10093 ■10094 •10093 745a 7479 980'j 10090 10097 10098 10009 10100 lOIOl lOIUl 10103 10104 10105 0851 7494 749.) 7500 1759 do ...ilo do 3.40 3.00 3.(10 3.00 aiK, 3.90 3.0) .140 3..'i0 3.50 4.00 3.73 4.00 3. :io 3,10 3.40 .'1.40 3.00 3.85 3. S3 3.70 ISO 3.30 3.80 3.80 3.70 3.73 5.80 3.80 3 00 3.50 3.45 3.00 .1.33 3.90 3.™ o.ai 0.78 a 76 0.78 0.74 0.74 0.83 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.83 0.81 0.811 0.83 0.77 0.83 jouna. ...do. Alcobolic. ...do. ...ill) ...do ...til) ...do ....ilo ...do Fort Situps-^n ...ilo B. II. Rom ...do ...ilo . . do .... do ...ilo ...lio ...ilo ...do ■■"- ...do .. ilo ...do ...ilo ...do ...do .. do ..do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do .. R. Kennlcott .. ...do n. 55 0. .-I' II. .•)0 0. 5;i 0.48 0.51 0.49 0.48 0.45 0.5J 0.53 0.95 O.tO 0.90 0.10 0.119 0.98 0.95 0.90 0.90 0.00 0. 05 1. 15 1.08 1.10 1.10 1.14 1.13 1.09 1.05 1.00 1.13 1.30 3.10 3.10 3.80 3.00 3.00 3. 05 3.35 3.03 9.00 3.15 3.00 0..13 0.35 0.33 0.37 0.34 0.30 0.38 0.;I5 0.31 0.40 0.05 0.55 0.00 0.68 0.06 0.05 0.C3 0.00 0.5] 0.58 0.60 ...do. .. do. ..do. ..do. ...do. ..do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do ...do 3.10 lo ...do .. do. ....do ....do aso a30 .. do. _„ 1 * III length uf tail, tluuft HiM-iiiuiitH ili'imrt iVniii tli<^ ruin for Arctic IIritj>eromyii, nnd »tv trws Itwoputi bnt tbo UtlU Huil wtk'B uru very hairy, lu luiual, aud tlu^ ciainpluH nru jirubiibly best enuiiiuratutl lu this lUi. MURID^-SIQMODONTES— U. LEUC0PU8 SONOlilBNSlS. 85 Tablk XX. — ilcaiuremenUi of »ix/i/->iiiic((iiid lint of other) adiHtioiial upevimem of Brilisli American and Jii/io IlK8rEi!i>M YS LEUCorus, mo»Uy of the " mnorh»iiin " hIijIc — Contiuiicd. 1 1 Locality Culluctor. NoKlo— Tail til orid or— 1 £ 1 n 1 Remarks. h k 1 I i nm 101 11 IUII3 10! 13 lOll-l lOllj 7501] t. Fort Sirupaon ...do la') 3.eo 3.00 0.76 0.77 0.80 0.70 0-fl AlooboUo. ....do. ...do ...do .. .do ....do. ...do ....do Siting in nloobid ...do. ....do ...do '.. do ....do . . . .do. ...do ....do ....do. NOTB — Wohavo Imuislit t«(rptlier our eotini Arctic Rorios of H, IrtwopMiiiiderllio lifad of '-Miuori4'D8lfi", and nrui-ly lilt our HpiH^iiiu'nH vill bo foiintl ln))i>tf;(l " II. IciiRopiin var." It i» liiinliy iicccMary t^i add thnt. Iinw4>ver, in ttiiH Rerit'A evpry ((raclo iif approacli Xn ordinary Utitloil HtatuH letuMpiu ia fuuud, and that a curtain pcn-culii;;)! of Itio 8|K!Ciniena aro idontical Willi Maasacbnauttrt sliius, lor oximiplo. Turning now to the matter of color, we find that certain differences in this res|)ect have been ascribed to sonoriensis as diagnostic. This we can prove, first, to be so variable with specimens of "sonoriensis" inter se tiiat it cannot distinguish them inter alia; and, secondly to be dependerlt upon local climatic influences. It fluctuates between wide extremes, and is assuredly unreliable, both on this account and because it is within the ordinary limits of color-variation oi leucopm (see imder "gambcli" and "austerUs"). The infonsity of coloration has precisely the same relation to hygrometric influ- ences that Mr. Allen pointed out in the case of birds : the depth of color ia in direct ratio to the mean annual rain-fall, or, in other words, to average humidity of the atmosphere. In dry, treeless regions, we have the palest Ibrms ; while the darker-tinted s])ecimens occur in moist, wooded localities. This is precisely correspondent to the case of "gambeli"and "austorus", already noted. Some of our |)alest prairie specimens almosl, suggest albinism ; most of the Nebraska series are remarkiibly pale, with an indistinct or almost inappreciable darker dorsal wash. Fort Crook specimens arc darker than the average (just as the Fort Crook Aroicolas are), approaching ansterus in this respect ; Utah and New Mexican samples are intermediate. The narrowness of the «lark stripe along the upper surface of the tail is simjjly of a part with the general pallor; so is the hoariness of the ears, which appears as a sort of silvery edging in most specimens. {Cf. per contra B.\1KD, op. cit. 474.) Recurring now to the Arctic series, we find that instead of being paler than average leucopus, they are almost without exception darker. In this ^^T'lS'i IH ^]: 86 MONOGRAl'HS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. [ respect, Ihcy differ more from both leucopus and sonoriensis than these do from each other. Tlicy never gain either the rich "brown" of Massachusetts ku- C'pus nor the silvery-gray or light fulvous of sonoriensis. They are nearer the house-mouse in color; the dark dorsal gray-brown washing over all the upper parts and the white below being far from snowy. It is evident, tiien, that the coloration of these short-tailed mice of Inte- rior and Arctic America cannot form part of a specific diagnosis. Thus we have endeavored to show exactly what "sonoriensis" amounts to; and this done, it is a matter of indifference wliether we retain the name or not. But, of course, afler this exhibit, the animals bearing it cannot be considered specifically distinct from leucopus. Nor, in retaining the name, as we have judged it best to do, qualified by the sign "van", can we look upon it as expressing a pure geograpliical race; for unquestionable kucopus occurs throirghout the United States range of "sonoriensis'', and everywhere the intergradation is perfect. In labeling our immense series, we sliall hesitate to write "variety sonoriensis" on the placard of any but the shortest-tailed, palest, or grayest specimens. . , i , j .^ , Before leaving the subject, we will examine an interesting series of skins from Fort Cobb, which will point our above remarks, and then notice some very instructive sets from Arizona, which pave the way for onr discussion of Hesperomys "eremicus". Tabu: WL—McmnremenU of tweke specimens of Hbbfeiiomvs like leucopus fivm Fort Cobb. 1 M Date. 9-251 9 Mar. 14 KHa ? Mm. e ^iXt d Mar. 7 93S4 ? Mar. 9 9855 Mar. 7 933S Mar. 8 9357 cf Mar. 8 9tU9 9 Mar 4 II360 J Mar. !) UMl ? Mar H 996) . 3. 60 3.75 3.90 140 3.00 3.50 a 10 3.30 3.73 3.10 3.80 S.75 3.10 }.30 I 3.30 3.23 3 75 300 335 3.30 9.50 330 335 330 300 310 310 300 1 i 0.37 0.39 0.33 0.33 0.33 1 1 i Bemarks. IM43 8430 8441 8441) 8449 8440 8145 ')446 8448 8494 M44 8431 8447 8433 84S3 9 rS May 3,1863 Mar. 9S, 1863 Feb. 3,1863 1 lly 13, 1864 Uiiy 11, IHU JaD. 38, 1865 May 11, 1865 Feb. 13, ISTi Jan. 31, 1863 Jan. 31, 1865 Jon. 3:1, 1865 Apr. 10, 1865 Jau. 1, 1865 May 34, 1865 Mar. 33, 1865 Mnr. 30. 1865 Mar. 39, 1863 Fort Whipple, Ari. do do do do do do E. Cones 0.70 0.73 0 73 0.73 0.73 0.74 0.78 0.13 0.79 0.78 0.78 ».75 0.77 a 71 0.76 0.05 0.G5 0.04 0.6j 0.71 0.69 Dry! adnlt. ....do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do •do ....do ...do ...do ....do do do do ...do ...do ....do Dry; youngiab. ....do do ....do Dry I yonng. ... .do. do ...do do ....do ...do. do ...do ...do. DryjTeijyonnK. Dry; ■nokllog of 8450. ...do. do ....do do ... do do ...do This series* w^a taken in the store-houses at Fort Whipple, where the mice had taken up v fcimena of supposed IIkspehomys soNOniENSis/i-om South- crn Jriiona. 1 •a i Date. Locality. Collector. h 3.40 3.50 3. CO 3.00 a. 70 2.90 a.!0 3.40 a CO t i Itomarka. mi egt-i flCKI ppea mt8 9 9 9 Feb. 10, 1807 Ajir. IP, lf-C7 Fib. tO,IS07 Fib. 10, IfOT Fob. ao, 18C7 Apr. 14, 1^07 CumpGrniit, Ariz ill) ilo ilo .... ilo E Palmer 3.10 2. as 2.30 a. 25 2.10 a. 30 2.50 3. SO a. 40 a. 10 0.37 0.34 0.31 0.31 0.80 0.70 0.75 0.78 0.75 0.78 0.7S 0.70 0.75 0.70 Dry ; adult. ... do. Dry ; yonliKiah. ... do. Dry; yonng. Dry; yonogiab. ...do. ... do. ...do. Dry; adult. ilo do do . . do ilo .... ilo do . ...do 8887 8879 S874 9 Anr. IR Iflfi7 ilo . ..do rf Mar. 10, 1807 ilo do do do The foregoing specimens were taken at Camp Grant, near Tucson, Ariz., at the same time as Dr. Palmer's examples of eremicus were collected, the two forms living side by side. As we say in another place, most of Dr. Palmer's specimens are true eremicus; but the above seem referable to the short- tailed, pale variety sonoriensis ; the soles are all furred as in ordinary leucopus ; the cars are short ; and the distinctly bicolor, rather hairy, tail ranges much less than the head and body, while the nearly uniform pallor of the tints is much like that of prairie specimens. Only one. No. 8884, is more like true kucopus in its length of tail, exceptional in this series; while the ' shade of its coloration is almost exactly a in typical eremicus. No. 8874 is a precise duplicate of //. gossypinus in coloration. HESPEROMYS LEUCOPUS EREMICUS (Baird). Desert Mouse. Hetperomys eremicus, Baird, M. N. A. 1857, 479.— CouKS, Quad, of Arizona, Am. Nut. i, 398 (In part). Uesperomys ( Ve>2>erimuii) Icueopun eremicus, CoUES, I'roc. Acad. Nut. Sci. Pbilo. 1874, ISO. Diagnosis. — He.sp. leucopi staturd, caudd elongatd, truncum cum capite subaquanic, sparse pilosd, auriculis majusculis, subnudis, plantis pulmisque mh MUltlD^E— 810M0D0NTES— ri. LBUCOPUS EIIEMICUS. 89 'nudis granulatis ; supra flavido-grma vix nigro limbata, lateribus Jlavicantio- ribus; suhtus a/ha, caudd obscure bicolore. Mouse about as large as H. leucopus, with rather longer and less hairy tail and ears, naked palms and soles, of a pale yellowish-gray above, thinly mixed with blackish hairs, more fulvous on the sides, the under parts white, the tail obscurely bicolor. Haditat. — Valley of (he Gila and Colorado. Taiii.k XXIV. — Mcaturcmcnti of «ix tpecimaif of IIkspeiiomvh lkucopus eiikmicuh. a p Locality. Collector. Now to— 1 i 1 1 S & Nnluro of ipccl. men. ^ 1 i I.-18I K>74 8815 1335 Kort Viimn, Cal ilo do 0. n. Thomas . . . 1.03 1.07 1.00 3.1T m S.58 3. GO 3.30 3.50 4.08 3.70 3.14 3.00 3.30 3.30 0.30 0.30 0.10 o.so O.M 0.fO 0.78 0.76 o.co O.G.'> Dry. Alcoholic. .. do. ...do. do. ...do ... do A.Scbott 0.4S 0.43 0.05 0.85 do do ....do ... do This highly interesting form of Hrsperomys was based upoi>a few speci- mens from the Colorado Desert, and none but the original ones appear to have fallen under the notice of naturalists. In discussing its relationships to leucopus, its peculiar habitat in the midst of the Great American Desert, in the hottest region of the continent, must be kept prominently in view. Not- withstanding the remarkable characters in some respects (hat it OiTcrs at first sight, it will be found on closer examination to differ from leucopus solely in characters readily superinduced by the isolated physical conditions under which it lives. The ornithologist, in particular, is fully prepared to meet with the whole aspect of this case, from his knowledge of the modifications in color that the birds of the Colorado Desert afford, notably in such cases as (hose of Harporhynclius, Pipilo, &c. Nevertheless, the characters accurately given )>y Baird mark all the specimens as at least a highly specialized geographical race of leucopus. The palest specimens of Hcsperomys that we have hitherto inspected were from the comparatively dry and treeless regions of the Central Plateau ; but these desert mice offer still more bleached coloration. The upper parts are of a pale fulvous-gray, obscured along the middle of (he back by rather few blackish hairs. The sides fade insensibly into a pale brownish-yellow, or dull tawny cinnamon (almost with a pinkish wash), which reaches down tiie i 'A •si! I-; 90 MONOGUAPH8 OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. I' ( tore le^'s to the liiiiidti Tiie iiiidor parts are pure white, as usual, with pretty distiiiei line of dciimrkation almig the s\(\vs. The tail, along its dorsal aspect, is inueh paler thai. .;;ual, agreeably with the general hue of! the upper parts; hut, on the conlrary, it is so much darker than usual uiulerneath that it appears nearly unicolor, and, at any rate, there is no deliiiite line of separation of the two shades of color. 'i'lic soles of the feet present the extreme condition of nakedness as yet ohscrvnl in ajiy North American species of the genus. There is a light hairy tringe all along tlie sides ; but at least a central median space, perfectly denuded, may be traced to the very heel. But this character, at first sight apparently so distinctive, is, as just intimated, merely the extreme of an insensible grada- tion from the dense hairiness of specimens from northern cold regions, and is strictly agreeabh? to a well-known law. The ear will mrragc a little longer than in leucopux, and corresponds with the feet in its scantier hairiness. The tail, likewise, is scant-haired, revealing the annuli very plainly. In length, this member will average con- siderably over ll'.e average of leucopus; l)ut still it falls short of Ihc extreme of the latter, as witnessed in Vermont "myoides" and Washington Territory "boylii"; and in the six specimens before us it varies in length about an inch ; thus, it i.s, in No. loSl, nine-tenths of an inch longer than the head and body, and, in 11)36, it is two-tenths of an inch shorter than the head and body. Since the foregoing remarks upon //. eremicus were penned, we have handled an interesting and highly instructive series of skins from Camp Grant, sixty miles east of Tucson, Ariz., collected by Dr. Palmer. This series con- firms our views by furnishing the stepping-stones before lacking, and proves that eremicus slides insensibly into the ordinary western form, of which it is, therefore, a geographical differentiation. Of the twenty -two specimens in the series now lying before us, twelve are referable to eremicus ; these are measured in the foregoing table. Of tln'se twelve, ciglit or nine are, pure typical eremicus, agreeing in having per- fectly naked soles, very large, leafy, nearly naked ears, the scant-haired indis- tinctly bicolor tail about equal to the head and body (or, if anything, rather longer than shorter), and the coloration of the peculiar pinkish or ochrey- fiilvoiis mixed on tiie back with quite black hairs; thus being identical witli the original types »[' eremicus. The individual variations in these eight or nine specimens are quite as usual in any species or variety of the genus. In two MUmUiE-81QMODONTE8-U. LEUCOPU8 ERFVIICUS. 1)1 or three of the twelve, n slight hniiiiiess of the soles, in varying degree, is evident, and the tail is noticeably shorter than the head and body ; the ears, likewise, are not so large. The rest of Dr. Palmer's specimens, ten in number, all taken in the sani<' place and at the same time as the others — the two forms living side by side — are all distinctly refernl)le to sonoriensis. They are elsewliere tabulated and commented upon. Tabi.k XXW.—ileatunmtitti ' tweloe additional niieciment of IIespehomys leucopus khemicus. 8876 8817 8880 8881 H»7 Feb. 10, May in, Apr. 18, Feb. 10, Fob. 10, Apr. 18, Apr. in, Apr. 10, Mar. 10, May 3, Feb. 10, i?(rr 1807 1807 1807 1M7 1867 1867 1867 I8G7 1867 1887 Locality. Cauip Orant, Aril . do do do do do do do do do do do Collector. £. Palmer. ... do do do do do do do do do do do 3.10 1. 1 1 a 3 i3 Romnrks. aso 0.33 0.7U 0.07 Dry. ij.:5 3 ti 0.31 0.74 0.58 ...do. 3.30 a 30 0.33 0 78 O.CU ....do. 330 3 m o.:il 0.-8 0.01 ...do. 3.00 aw 0.30 0.78 0.71 ...do. S.9U aw 0.31 0.79 0.00 ...do. 3.75 3 73 n. -.a 0.81 0.70 ...do. aw ass o.ai 0.81 0.66 ...do. .1..M) a 60 0 31 O.SO 0.73 ...do. 3.8.1 asC' 0.32 0.80 0 67 ...do. aoo 350 0 33 0.77 0.63 ...do. 3. as a 10 0.33 0.f0 U.71 do. HESPEROMYS (VESPERIMUS) AUREOLUS, (Aud. & Bacii.) Wag. Bed Mome; Golden Moase. Jfn* (Cafom;*) aureoUi, Add. A Bach., Journ. Acad. Mat. Soi. Pbila. vi, 1843, 302; Q. V. A. ii, 1851, a03, pi. 95. Hetjieromyt aunolui, Wagnkb, Wieg. Arohiv, 1843, ii, 51.— Allen, Ball. Mas. Comp. Zool. il, 1870, 180. /feaperomya ( Fetperimiu) aurcolut, CoURS, Pruo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phllo. 1874, IHO. ^Arricola MuilalH, Harlan, McDtbly Ainer. Jonrn. 1832, 446; Med. & Pbya. Res. 1835, 55, pi. — . llaipcnmyf nutlalli, Baird, M. N. A. 1857, 467. Diagnosis. — H. staturd formdque Hesp. kttcopi ; corpore supra aureo-cin- namomeo, auriculis concoloribus, dorso medio obscuriore ; infia luteo-albido. Mouse like leucopus in size and shape, but very different in color, being golden-cinnamon above, and yellowish-white or pale buff below; cars agree- in;^ with- the general tint of the upper parts; middle back darker from admixture with blackish hairs; fore legs colored to the wrist ; the dividing line between the color of the upper and under parts of the body and tail usually indistinct. Feet densely pilous above, and below to the tubercles, which are large and crowded ; toes rather short. "Mammee, four; situated for back" (Aud. & Bach.). Habitat. — Central and Southern States. m % iji: 1 0'> MONtKJUAl'US OK NOUTU AMliltlCAN KODICNTIA. ■ Tlie iil)s()liit(! size ftiid rclativo proportions of tliis species will he illiis- Iraled by tlie following tiil)l(! of menstircnients, and reipiire no further remark. Taim.k XXV. — Mittnurcmenli of liitlrc «;«iimdn of IIkxpriiomym AURKOu;g. 1 E a y, IS3I ftV» ■(819 4X20 4'a'l 45 ?1! I.0 9.110 3.10 9. "5 0.38 O.XI .... a 14 0.70 0.70 0,011 0.70 0.71 0 19 0.54 0. .')9 0.57 0.5.-> .....lo. .....lo. Alcoholic. .. Ilo. Dry. ...ilo. — ... Dr. OcsofT A. (terhanlt WliltHdil Connty.Oa Gi'iirKill t Kt'tii|K'r C.xtnt.v, MiM. Knowillr, Ti'Dii .1.) Cairo, 111 Saint Loiiw, Mo . Jn n.c. l1"m1 J. 11. JIlUl.oll . ...lo I!. Koonliiitt . . (1. Kiiui'lmaini . - ilo 0.51 o.w 1. n 1.80 ... .lo. 9. 00 0. 40 1 0. 1.'i 9.:i0 ' 0.M 9.15 0.™ 0.03 AI(»hollo. Dry. ... .do. 10014 1 9 .lo. d„ ...do 1 Alo.t viTy.VMonjr anililiiulitfol. . do. ... ilo .. (Id We lire iiniihlc to appreciate any (lifTerences whatever in the series of skulls of this species as compared with a large nuinl)er of those of leucopux. This elegant species inuy usually he distinguished at a glance from leu- copiis hy the i)eculiar and hcautifiil tint of tlie fur— a rich golden-cinnamon^ a little darker from admixture of blackish hairs along the hack; the ears like the general color, this extending on the fore legs to the paws, and a tiiint wash, of the same tinting the under jiarts, between which and the upper parts the line of deinarkation is usually obscure, , and often, as in No. 1580, from Knox- villc, Tenn., inapi)recial)'e. The brighcst-colorcd samjdes of leucnpun we have seen invarial)ly lean to ciiestnut-fulvous, instead of the peculiar orange-fulvous of aureolux. The dilKjrence in the shade is hard to express in words, but it catches tlio eye at once. These brighter Ifuco/iu.s, moreover, have tlie cars dusky and the under parts snow-white, while in nureolm the orange tinges both these in a per;;eptible degree. The tail is but little paler below than aliove, with rarely, if ever, a line of deinarkation. While there is no question of the positive difference of this species from /eucnpuK, even tiie sinull series liefore us shows considerable variation. In No. 1 I '■: ii r>Hi MUIUD^-SIOMODONTKS— IIUSl'KHOMYH AdHEOLUvS. 9;} 4703, from the Soutlicrn Stiitcs, prol)al)Iy Georgia, the under ]mr(s- nre not white at III!, nor even whitisii, but cinnamon, only a iittlt; paler lluiii tin; sides. No. 981 has quite a l)hick stripe alon^r tlie i)aei\. No. 2D(i 4, ironi Illinois, is interesting in several respects. In the lir.st place, the feel are reinarknltly small, less tiian in any Ilesperonn/.t we have seen, except mkhiganeiiniii ; and in some other respects, especially ^'bitccis Jltrviii", it corresponds better with Audubon and Baehman's descriptio//.) auricuUs parvLs, ]>edibns breoibux ij_M /)«// \ caudii truncum sine cnpite suhaquanle {\'^-l-poll.)^ supra cum pedi- bus ,'iuiijulns((nli /irunnt'u.i, j'loi^a dorsali ob.scurioic ; infra cttudidus. Very hiiiiiII iiihiisv, ^cllipwi.sli-lirosvii above, with n broad dorsal stripe ol' s(iot}-bro\vii, below ^nnv white; feet not entirely white, us usual in leucopus; tail bicolor. IJurely 3 inches or mtire long ; hind foot never exceeding O.Tij, oih-ii inut'li shorter; ears J, or less, high; tail about equal to the trunk without the heatl. HAitiTAT. — Upper Mississippi Valley ; especially Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Kansas. Without speculating upon the probable derivation by actual descent of this species from 11. leucopus, we will rest upon the fact that here we have un animal positively distinct from leucopus. The difTcrentiation from a com- mon stock has proceeded so far that the connecting links, if any once existed, arc broken or at least concealed. Out of a considerable number of speci- mens (sec tal)le below), there is not a single one that is not disfinguislin'de on sight fiom leucopus This, if not more remarkable, is, at any rate, the nioie interesting and instructive, since the true leucojms abundantly inhabits the regions where michiganensis occurs. As far as is known at present, mkhiga- ncnsis is one of the most restrictedof our species in geographical distribution, being nearly confined to the valley of the Upper Mississippi. This, probably. Is the reason why it adheres so faithfully to one particular style ; and siiould it ever become dispeised over an area large enough to bring difi'erent individuals under decidedly ditferent climatic and other inlluences, a divergence and varia- tion would undoubtedly ensue. The only sign of such possible or probable ditfenMitiation at present is represented by what has been called Mus '"bairdii" by Hoy and Kenuicott. These excellent naturalists were unquestionably wrong in supposing a distinction of species here. Dr. Hoy ex|)ressed the whole thing in a nutshell when he wrote to Professor Baird : — "One thing is certain — we iind one species in the oak o|)enings, while the other is confined Ms" MUHIIM:— SIOMODONTKH-mCSI'KltOMYS MICIIIOANRNaiH. «.».') to the pmirie"; thul is to say, the diflTcreiiccs rietuilcd In- tlicso niithors arc simply and exactly dependent upon whether the animal lives in woodliind or in prairie. As will be seen l)y tlie (able l)cIow, //. michiganensis is miich snialK'r than kucopus, averaging under three inches long (2.f)5), and only exce|)tion- ally, in extreme cases, reaching the average dimensions (3^) of leucopus. Some adult examples, indeed, are hardly over 2J in length. The next most conspicuous feature is tiie uniformly shorter tail, both relatively and absolutely. With an average of just two inches, it ranges from 1§, or a little less, to 2^, but is hardly ever over 2^, and not very often below 2. In general, it about equals the head without the trunk, having, therefore, much the same relative strength us in H. var. sonoriensis. The smallness of the feet is equally marked and characteristic. The very largest hind feet do not exceed 0.75, which is below the average (tf leucopus ; they range between 0.65 and 0.75, settling at 0.G9 for the mean size. As it is rare for the smallest foot of leu- copus to drop to 0.75, this feature alone gives indications by which probably nineteen specimens of every twenty could be identitied. The ears are notice- ably short and small every way ; usually under 0.50 high, they run from 0.40 to 0.50, only very rarely surpassing the latter figure. The coloration is almost equally distinctive in its uniform darknesn. Most of the specimens come nearest to "austerus" in this respect. The dark color almost always* extends on both feet lothe digits, whereas in teucopus the I'ect are (usually) white. The shade is difficult to name, but may be called a mix- ture of gray and yellowish-brown on the sides, passing along the middle line of the body above, from nose to tail, as a broad stripe, into blackish-brown. The under parts are snow-white. The tail is always distinctly bicolor, and usually sharply so, but sometimes the under surface is brownish-white. The ears are blackish, usually without the slightest pale edging. The whiskers are light and dark, and the longer ones exceed the head This animal is stated to have six mammx — four abdominal an»1 two pec- toral. The label upon one of Mr. Kennicott's infant specimens says, "five found together." On the label of another of his, he states that "two old ones, with three young, were found in a rail-fence on the prairie." Aside from the question of "bairdii", which must be summarily disposed * A KauBas specimen, which I refur to this species, forwarduil lor examination by Prof. F. H. Snow, prewnta the oxceptional featoru of nearly white feet ; the dusky color of the legs only reaching a little way past the ankle, and not at all beyond the wrist. w ■:ji i u ■ 96 MONOGRAPHS OP NOUTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. of, tliore arc no synonyinical points to be determined in this case. There are, however, several discrepancies between the description of Audubon and liachnian and the characters of the animal which Hoy, Kennicott, Baird, and ourselves describe. Thus, they say, "mammae, six pectoral and four abdom- inal." We fiiil to realize "clieeks yellow," thougli, perhaps, they arc a little brigliler tlian surrounding parts. The dimensions given, 4 inches (()r length of liead and l)ody, are so much greater (by a full incii) that possibly the fig- ure " 4" may be a typographical error ; but then the tail, 2J, is nearly as much in excess of wiiat we tind. It is barely possible, alter all, tiiat, as Professor Baird iiints, none of our specimens are what Audubon and Bacliman called mic/iiganciisin. In tiiat event, and if positively distinct from Audul)on's and Baclinuurs animal, they would, of course, bear the name of "bairdii", and "michiganensis" And. & Bacii. be relegated among the unnumbered synonyms of /cucojiiis. But, in the seeming impossibility of determining this point, it is better to let mic/iigaiiensis stand for what we now describe. T.MiLK XXVI.— .l/m8iii'('ni«i(« of forlij-seren (and Vu-t of other) »ptTimf«« 0/ HEsrEROMYS miciiiqanensis. •ej 7i';i OO.'.! CV) 7m 7117 708 739 077 NUI> a7J7 S7,'iS 27M WOO a-ni S7C1 870:) 3704 8703 8700 8771 7435 0937 Dniil. .Vpr, Apr. Si'|)l. .\|n-. May Mn.v May Mar. Ldcallty. llIiuoiH rK'iiHiiit, III Nose to- Culloctur. ip.'),-i IMS M.iriu:i Conuty, III .. Wist .NorlliUdil, 111 . do do do do do do do do .do., .do., .do., .do.. do., .do., .do.. .do., .do., .do., .do . .do . .do . J. LpConte.... W..r. SImw.. .. do 11. KflHiicott . .. do ...do ..do ...do. ... ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ..do ...do .. do ...do ...do .. do ...do ...do ...do ..do , ...do 43 0. 480. ,4.-,;o. SCO. 50 0. 05 05 [0 10 Oij oe w 00. 008. I. go i.g. 10 iOO 1.7( 1.90 iOO 3.85 a. 33 0. :i3|o. 71 0.70 0.71 11.08 0.70 0.70 iLOr i0 0.4t' 0.flS0.4J 0.35 0.70 - joju. ;. 33 (1. i. 550. gO|i.o: 80 i 30 2.0* 3;i i IB 80 0 0 Otj ).73 0.70 0.65 ;).75 ). 05 1). 70 0.09 0.70 Koiunrks. 0. 4h 0.48 0.4C 0.50 0. 0..'« ,0. 481 0.48! 0.90 0.45 0.55 a98 Dry. ..do. Dry i yoDDg. Dry; "llaliTlll." Dry. ..do. Dryi veryyoonir. Dry. . . .do. .. do. ..do. Ak-4)holic. .. do. ...do. ...do. ..do. .. do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. .. do. ...do. ...do. *0950: labeled " ooj;natiiB " I MURID2E- . GMODONTE8— HESPEROMYa MIOIIIG^NENSIS. 97 Taiilk XXVI.— 3/('(M«rcnien(8 of forty-ieten tpecimeni, 4'o.—Coat\nueH. 1 ^ Date. Locality. t'oli.wtor. NOBOIO— t 1 1 1 1 Itenurlis. H 0.50 U.40 0.41 0.65 o.-t O.K g. I 1.04 1.03 I.Of I ma 9930 9931 74:14 9933 99:13 9U34 9933 9936 9937 9938 9939 9940 0941 t9943 10463 10164 1046S 104etl| to I047»J 1040S] to I05UJ il667 8668 ti669 9767 a768 2769 8770 ft,¥i 990 iSVV 107691 to io7nJ West Northfleld, III .. do do do li. KODUlCOtt... ...do ...do ...do i7( ii;o i7r, i:o i.cc tct ).M i7(, 1 l( 1. ;.". J. 00 i.t« 1.7.1 i.5 1.85 J. 10 100 1.50 1.70 iOO •i20 J. 10 1.50 1.60 0 3310.06 0. 34'a 68 0. 3.'i>0. 70 ... !o. Oil 0.34 0.49 0.34 Alcoholic. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ....do. ...do. .. do. do do do do. .. do ....do .. do ...do 0.68 0.70 0.71 0.69 0.03 0.70 0.73 o.-a 0.69 0.68 0.68 do do do do ... do . do ...do, do ...do ...do. ...do. ...do !.90 1 f 6 do ...do do ..do ...do _ i.60 iSO do . do ...do ....do. ....do. do. do ....do . ..do ....do do do do ... do do. ....do Alci ynuDg. Alcoholic. ...do. ...do, ....do. — do. ...do. .. do. . do . PRDoy .. do I.CO 3.15 i.80 ;I.S3 3.00 'J.QO 0 :m 0 74 0.70 0.68 0.7(1 0.70 0.46 0.30 0.43 0.43 0.43 do 0 4'iO fVi U.4J 1. go 0. 30 do do ....do ...do 0.44 0.85 9.93 I.BV 9 30 do ....do do .. do . . . do do ....do. 9 ..do .. do 0.90 0.83 1.04 LOO •1.17 0.4a 0.70 0.70 0.64 0.44 ....do. Dry. ... do. .. ..do .. do . do .. do Salut Loala, Ho do 0.84 1.08 ).84 J. 00 1.93 1.84 1 nri ....do. ....do ....do. do ..do . . .. J,60I'X0A ...do. WoitNorthaBld, 111... Naoaho Falls, Kani.... H-Keunlcott .. N.a.Ooai AlcohoUc. Dry. 7 K t Thia lot fnrthar incliidoa anvon yoaDK, Noa, 9943 to 9949. f ii r 98 MONOGliAPIIS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. HESPEROMYS CALIFORNICUS, (Gambel) Baird. Parasitic House. Miis ealifoniiciia, Gamiikl, Proc. Acml. Nut. Sci. Pliila. iv, 1848, 78 (Monterey). IIcsperomnK eali/orniciiii, Uauid, M. N. A. 1857, 478 (Suutii Clora Comity, Cal.). nmiierumiiH ( I'mpmrnm) californieus, C'0UE.s, Proe. Acad, Nat. Sci. PUilu. 1874, 180. Ili-speromijK paravliom, Cooi'EU, MSS.— H.iini>, op, cit. 479 (in text). Diagnosis. — H. crassitie dimidlum muris decumanm suheequans, caudd lon- gissimd suhntidd vix hicolore, pedibus uncialibus jilantis nudh, auriculis maxi- 7nis .warsisfdmh pilosis ; supra fuscus, lateribus sensim Jlavicantibus, infra albidus. Nearly as large as a half-grown house-rat, with extremely long nearly naked cars and tail, the latter scarcely bicolor ; feet an inch long, with naked soles; dark grayish-brown above, becoming pale cinnamon-brown on the sides, the under parts whitish. Habitat. — Southern and Lower California. Our few specimens, mostly the same as those described by Baird in 1857, indicate a species perfectly distinct from leucopm. The animal looks, in fact, much like a partly-grown Neotoma ; it is quite as large as some examples of Oryznmyx pahistris, wliile its long and sparsely hairy tail, no less than its size, gives it somewhat the aspect of a young Norway rat. No one of the interminable variations of kucopus have so far shown us anything like this. The size and proportions of the species rre illustrated in the table given below. It may be said to l)e four or five inches in length of trunk, with the tail about the same — half an inch longer or as much shorter than the head and body. The feet are an inch or a little more long, and share with eremicus the peculiarity of naked soles, although the very extremity of thi; heel is not |)erfectly denuded. The immense ears are a striking feature, measuring three-fourths of an inch or more in height by about two-thirds of an inch in widtli. They arc very closely pilous on i)oth sides, as will be seen i)y close inspection, l)ut appear at first sight quite naked. The little hairs are so short that they do not form any perceptible fringe. Tiie shape of the ear is also remarkable ; instead of I)eing evenly rounded, it is like the two sides of a rectangle with the upper corner rounded ofi". The tail is scant-haired, showing the annuli plainly. The pelage is renuvrkable for its softness, fullness, and gloss, although it is not long, measuring less than half an inch on tl\e back. It is very different MUBID^— 8IGMODONTE»-nE8PEUOMYS 0AL1FORN1CU8. 99 from average Icucopm in its sootiness, being, in fact, periiaps darUcr than leuco- pus ever becomes, unless in the "gossypinus" variety; and here the shatle is different, being of a leaden grayish-brown, mixed with a good deal of black, yet watered throughout with fulvous. The color reaches to the wrist and ankle, but the upper surfaces of the hijnds and feet are whitish. On the sides, the color shades into a pale tawny-cinnamon or brownish-fulvous, very nearly of the same tint as in eremicus. The under parts can hardly be called white, owing to a suffusion of leaden-gray showing through the white tips of the hairs. The tail, as already stated, is dark, and not much paler below than above, with a very indistinct — sometimes inappreciable — dividing line. The ears siiow blackish in the dried state ; probably dusky flesh-color in life. The very long whiskers, many of which rcacii to the shoulder, are partly black and partly white. Among the Fort Tejon specimens {Xanlm), we find two examples of califomicm instantly distinguishable from the numbers of "gambeli" with which they are associated, and typically representing californicus. Several Tejon "gambeli", indeed, show a tendency toward californicus in their large size and length of ears and tail, but nothing quite up to this remarkable form. Besides the dimensions tabulated below, No. 7478 shows these measurements: Nose to eye, 0.55; to ear, 1.02 ; breadth of ear, 0.70; pencil of hairs at end of tail, 0.30 ; whiskers, 1.75. The soles, which have the ordinary six tuber- cles, are almost entirely naked ; the ear is sparsely and delicately pilous. The liand and feet are white above; the tail is indistinctly bicolor, brown above, whitish below ; it is nearly five incfws long, with the terminal pencil about 5.25, which, the body being only 3.60, is the longest tail, both rela- tively and absolutely, we have seen in a United States Hesperomys. Tablk XXVII.— il/«u«re?Hcn(8 of four ii}>edmens of Hkspkkomys calikornicus. i i Date. LoMllty. Collector. 1 n ¥ 1 1 i 1 & Nature of ■pocimen. nsa 1157 M70 74T8 9 Nov. — , IB53 Not. — , 1855 S>nUClan,C*l J.a.Coopar .. ....do J. Xutna ...do 1.35 I. fa 1.30 4.60 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.00 aeo 4.80 0.53 1.05 1.08 1.00 0.75 0.70 0.75 0,90 Dry. Frwh. Dr.r. Fresh. Dry. Alcoholio. 4.00 4.50 4.00! 0.45 a»8 1.00 do ,^;^; ' The different H. californicua aside, all the California Hesperomys we have seen are referable to "gambeli", excepting the Fort Crook scries, which r • ■Hi 100 M 'lAPnS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. rnthor full under -ne sonoriends category by reason of the shortness of the tail. 'I'licro is little to note regarding these specimens. No. 7186, from Fort llojavc, is al)out the palest fulvous all over the upper parts wo have seen, hut still is not at all like eremicus. No. 7183 is almost a typical leucopus. The two adults of (ho Tejon series have-almost exactly tiie body-colors of gossi/- piniis ; and wo should not omit to note that they have a suspicious sod of resemi)lanco to //. califor?iicus. Nor should we be surprised if .some mice tiDin tliis vicinity should be found to bridge over the chasm that now appears between the leucopus styles and the seemingly very different "californicus"; one, at least, of the Tejon specimens (No. 3G70) being veritable califurnkus. We have already noted that Northern Californian mice, and more particu- larly Oregon and Washington ones, are darker than those of Southern Califor- nia (in this respect precisely matcliing Massachusetts leucopus), an— Tall to oud of— Lougtb of— i "S i Nature of BiMwimon and remarks. 4^ 1 1 t g .a > 1 1 1 .S M 3980 1(1320 103i0 10327 1032« 103S9 10330 Mexico 115 3.10 a80 3.00 2.80 3.30 4.40 4.15 4.10 3.70 3.00 4.50 4.25 4.15 3.75 0.?8 0.35 a 34 0.33 0.33 0.00 0.83 0.80 U.77 0.79 0.63 0.C8 0.70 0.64 a 63 0.62 Dry; tjpe. Alcoholic. ....do. ....do. ...do. Alooholio; nngrown. Alcoholic; auoklioK. Cane Saint Lucas o.tn O.M 0.4j 0.ii 0.08 aoo asa a so 1.15 1.15 1.10 1.10 do do do ... do ... d/.. HESPEROMYS (VESPERIMUS) MELANOPHRYS, Coues. Biack-cjed Moase. tnetperomyf mexioanus, Ve Saussube, R. M. Z. 1860, 103, pi. iz, f. 1, la.* Hcspcromyi (Ve»perimu») melanophryB, Col'ks, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Fbila. 1874, 181. (No. 10183.) With the general aspect of a large species of the Hcsperomys leucopus group. Tail a little longer than the head and body together, slender, '"Velutiuus, griaeiis, muriniu; in Interibus pauluiii fulvcscens, frequenter subferrnginens ; snbtUB albidus, pcctoroetmentofulveacontibus; pedes anticialbidi; auricnlai permagnw ; canducorporelongiur; niyiitaces elongati. "Intermedial in size between M. m\ucu}u» and il. ratliif. Feloge soft and velvety. Head conic, lengthened ; lip cleft to the nose ; mnzzle bairy except the Reptum. KarH very large nnd broad, bnt higher than wide, ronnded, but with the upper margin a little angular. Tail long, nettrly equal to the head and tody together, hut tometimea only exceeding the body alone. Feet (' pattes' — more likely meaning limbs here) very lung, especially the hinder, the animal Htanding high. Color, dark brownish monso-gray ('gris de Bonris brun-noiratro'), with a slight silvery sliado on tbu back, the very tips of the haira being yellowish- gray ; head not ipiite so dark ; checks rusty-gray ; the yellowish always stronger on the flanks. Ft-et, externally yellowish-gray (gris-fauvc). Lips and chin palo yellowish-gray, nnd entire nndor parts gray- ish-wbiti', npporently plumbeous, because the slaty roots of the hairs show through ; the white (listinctly separated from the color of the flanks. Breast and front of the shoulder washed Kith yellow. Fore feet white, or groyish ; the hinder brown, irith the ends of the Iocs trhite. Ears apparently naked, but covered with short close hairs. Tail scaly, slightly bairy, black above, white below. Whiskers blackish, very long, reaching to or beyond the shonlders. " Some individuals are yellower than as above ; the sides becoming ferrnglneona, strongly marked on the flanks at the line of separation between itself, the white of the belly here becoming almost palu orange. Sides and under surface of the head, as well as the shoulder and breast, strongly washed willi ruRty-ycllow. In other specimens, on the contrary, the rusty color is not very evident. " l-e«glh of one specimen, about 4fy, teith tail 4i ; of another, about i, with (ai( 3^; hind foot slightly over one inch." The foregoing is M. Dc Saussure's diagnosis, with an abridged translation of bis further descri|i- tion ; the chief points of discrepancy, as compared with our specimens of melanophrys, being italicized. It is inseited for convenience of comparison. . > MUlllDiE— S10MODONTB8— HESPEROMYS MELANOPDKYS. 103 rather scant-lm.red. Absolute and relative proportions of both fore and hind feet and tiieir digits as in leucopus ; soles moderately hairy on the posterior third. Ears large and leafy, appearing naked, but, with a hand-lens, may be seen covered with short, sparse, close-pressed hairs. Whiskers reaching to or beyond the shoulder. Skull strictly as in Hcsperomys leucopus (the palate ending opposite the last molars, not far behind them, as in Mus, Onjzomys, &c.), but less thin and papery, and developing a slight bead on the superior margin of the orbit, as in the larger mice generally ; this may be traced nearly to the occiput. Color above giving the general impression of a uniform gray mouse, rather than a red mouse with darker median dorsal area, like leucopus or aztecus. It is a gray, enlivened with fulvous suffusion, slightly darker along the back, more lecidedly fulvous on the sides, and everywhere with a peculiar slight glaucous or hoary suffusion. On the head, the gray shows noticeably purer, and the eyes seem encircled with a black ring, in marked contrast, tlic edges of the eyelids and a small anteocular space being jet-black. This is strong enough to suggest and warrant the specific name above imposed ; I have seen nothing like it in any other species. Color below pure white, but the plumbeous roots of the hair show through, giving a grayish cast. Line of demarkation everywhere abrupt between the white and the color of the upper parts. The outside of the fore leg is colored to the very wrist, but the top of the hand is white. On the hind leg, likewise, the color runs to the tarsus and a little beyond, forming a definite dark spot at the base of the metatarsus; the remaining five-sixths of the surface of the foot is pure white. Tail above like the back, below • gray — not pure white, nor the line of demarkation very sharp, though evident. Ears an undefinable color in the dried state, showing simply flesh-colored, probably, in life. No yellowish nor fulvous tinge on the chin, breast, or any other under parts. * ''**' Length four inches, or a little more. Tail four and a half to Jive inches. Hind foot one inch, a slight fraction more or less. Ear, measured from the notch in front, about four-fiflhs of an inch. Nose to eye, 0.62 ; to ear, 1.12. HABrrAT — Southern Mexico (Tehuacan; Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec, Sumichrast). The great difficulty of recognizing from descriptions the smaller mice that show no striking peculiarities of form is well known, and must be our ? I' I- w ■ ' ;i ll' ■■■\ ' •ill 104 MONOOUAl'US OF NOllTU AMERICAN KODENTIA. W\ i ;l ajMjlogy ill tliis instance if melanophri/s turns out to be simply mexicanus. At first, we referred our specimens to the latter with little hesitation; but, on reviewing the subjt.'ct, they show so many differences from M. Ue Saussure'a description that we cannot effect an identification. In general dimensions, the two species, if sncli I hey are, seem nearly the same; but in tnczicanus, the tail is only longer than the body alone, never even etjuuling the hea«l and body together; while in. all our specimens the tail is considerably longer than the head and body. This, however, taken alone, we should not consider a specific difference, aflter our experience with Hcspcromys "myoitles" and "boylii"'; but there are other differences. De Saussure speaks of grayish- white under parts, with yellowish on the chin and breast; but in these speci- mens the whole under parts are as uniformly pure white as in kucopus. lie says the hind feet are brown ; in our animal, they are pure white, with a defi- nite dusky area at the base of the metatarsus The tnil in his animal is described as white below ; in ours, the bicoloration is not so evident as this would imply. Finally, he makes no mention of the singularly conspicuous black ring around the eye. All things considered, it is most probable that De Saussure had in view an entirely different animal. The skull, as already stated, is extremely similar to that of Hesperomys leucopus, the species thus falling legitimately in the restricted group, of which leucopus is typical. The chief difference is the presence of a distinct bead on the margin of the orbits, traceable nearly to the occiput. This, however, we cannot consider as even subgeneric ; for, as elsewhere stated, it is only the smallest and most delicate Hesperomys that are entirely devoid of this crest, which makes its appearance with a very slight increase in the general size and vigor of any s|)ecics. The dentition shows nothing peculiar. The pal- ate, as in H. Ifucopiis, ends as a simple transverse shelf opjiosite the last molar — a feature by which, as well as by its general slenderness, elongation of rostrum, &c., it is distinguished from that of Oryzomys ; the latter agree- ing in the development of a slight orbital bead. Skull No. fHt measures 1.20 in length by 0.G4 in breadth, thus obviously exceeding that of leucopus. The coronoid process appears extremely short and slight, merely a little spicu- lum ; the bulla; osseiE are noticeably small. Two female specimens show two pairs of inguinal mammae and one axil- lary pair. A note of Professor Sumichrast's, accompanying one of these, gives the following particulars: — "Nov. 30, 1862. Found among the leaves nil w ' MUltlD-K— SIOMOOONTES— ONYUUOMYS. 105 of a maguey, in a nest built of lil)res of 'ziiiatc', contuining two little ones." Tills tinimnl, comimred witli tlie soinewluit smaller nnd tlic lirigliter- colored aztecus, beurs mucii tlie sanie relations tliat tiic large gray californicus bears to tlie leucopus ("gambeli"), witli which it is associated in Califlirnia. Table XXIX. — iJtaiuremmti of three (drji) iiidiriduaU of II. iiELANoriiiiYB (=rHRXiCANUS, DeS.) from Soulhem Mexico. a a Looulity. Collector. Noso to— t 1 £ 1 n 1 Ejo. Ear. Occi- put. Tall. lOlKl 10296 9511 Santa Efigcuia , Tehiiacnn F. SuinicliraBt do cca 1.12 1.40 1.30 4.15 4.00 ;i 90 n.oo 4.60 4.90 0.42 0.40 0.40 1.04 1.06 0.99 0.78 0.81 0.77 TebuuuterM^o do . . Mote. — Since writing the preceding, wo liavo examined tbree otlier specimens from Tcbuantopeo, which, if tho same an the types of melanophryf, lessen tbi; cbanccB Ibat tlie latter is different from mexi- canm. Bat tbey differ in many reopecta from tbe specimena Jnut enumerated, being so very much smaller tbnt we cannot satisfy mirselvea of tbeir identity. Tbe tail only exceeds the body in one Hpecinieu, and beru only by little ; in tbe otbera, it is about ns long, relatively, as De Saussuro gives for nicricanus. That these 8|>ecimcuH are not immature is shown by tbe fact that one of Ibem is a nursing female. In color, tbey are almost precisely like the foregoing, but do not show the black ring round tbe eye, nor the dusky spot nt base of tho metatarsus. One of them Is pure white below; another is grayish (it looks as if soiled); while the third has the faintest possible fulvous tinge all along tiie under parts. Much more material than that now in our possession will be required to determine the limits of variation of this large, gray, feuoopiM-liko mouse of Mexico, atd Qx the species upon secure basis. Taiilk XXX.- -itauurrmentt of thre* dried s/jccimens, proiably of .mklakofiirys, Couea (=f MEXIC.VNUS, DeS.), but much smaller. Number. Locality. Collector. Length. Tail. Foot. IKKM 9:183 Barrio, Tehuanteifeo - - . . . F. Sumicbrast 3.50 3.20 2. 90 3. 20 3.00 3.10 0.67 0.70 0.69 do do . do . do .. Subgenus ONYCHOMYS, Baird. HgpudafU' sp. Maximilian, Reise, etc. ii, 1841, 99 (neo uuct.). Hut sp. Aiju. &. Bach., Q. N. A. ii, Xmi, ;t27. Onychomyn. Baikii, M. N. A. 1857, 458 (type, Ilnpudccun kucogaftrr, Max.). — CofES, Proc. Acad. Nat. Soi. I'bila. 1874, 182. CiiAKS. — Skull strictly as in Heii)>eromi/.s, i)ut molars larger, with sharper salient and reentrant angles. External form departing (rom Hesperomys, and ili itr ■1 106 MONOGEArHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. : If! ( . '■ !■• approaching Arvicola in stoutnc-s, and especially in shortness of tail and cars. Tail not one-half the length of the body alone, little if any longer than the head, very stout, tapering to an obtuse point. Ears small — about as in Evotomys — rounded, pilous both sides. Fore feet very large, two th' ids to one-half as long as the hind, with large, little curved, fossorial claws, longer than those of ihe hind feet ; the latter at most two-thirds aa long as the tail. Soles quadrituberculate only, densely furry to the tubercles. Fur short, close, white beneath, as in Hesperomys. The remarkable mouse upon which the section was based is worthy of subgeneric separation, at least, from the Hesperomys group of which leucopus is typical. In its peculiar combination of characters, it stands quite alone among North American species. Although unmistakably a true Murine, as shown by the cranial and other fundamental characters, it nevertheless devi- ates much from Mus and Hesperomys, and approaches the Arvicolines. Its affinities with Evotomys are really close ; and it is through this genus that the way for it into Arvicola proper is opened. In external form, indeed — the stoutness of body, shortness of ears, and especially the shortness of tail — it resembles Evotomys rutilus, for example, more than it docs Hesperomys leu- copus; wiiile, at the same time, of its real affinity with the latter there can be no question. An interesting parallel can be drawn between Onychomys as compared with Hesperomys, and Synaptoniys as compared witii Myoides. Onychomys has the skull and dentition of Hesperomys in a body externally resembling Evotomys, while Synaptomys lias the skull and dentition oi Myoklef in a body externally resembling Evotomys* Onychomys offers another inter- esting parallel. In the subgenus Fi/ymys as compared with Arvicola proper, three external characters are shortness of tail, shortness of ears, and length of fore feet and claws ; and therefore Onychotnys stands in much the same relation to Hesperomys that Vitymys does to Arvicola. These analogies are to us extremely interesting; and the habits of Onychomys leucogaster, when I'ully known, will doubtless be found to offer some peculiarities corresponding to the structural features. We arc unable to point to any perfectly diagnostic characters of the skull of this section as compared with that of Hesperomys. In size it about equals the larger examples of H. leucopus ; it appears, however, somewhat uarrow'i, l«l, Hg. Una mmoiinVimi*, Aui>. & lUcil., Q. N. A. ii, 1851, 327, |il. 100 (Fort Uniun). IIahitat. — Upper Missouri region. Red River of the North (Coues). Our notice of the subgenus Onychomijs has necessarily involved the details of its type-species so largely that but little r(!mains to be added. The absolute dimensions and relative i)roportions of several specimens, most of them additional to any heretofore published, are fully elucidated in the following table. In color, the animal closely resemhhs IIi'sperom>/ii /eiicopug — so closely that it is (litticult to describe any ditlerences. When young, it is of the same pluml)eous-gray above and ashy-white beneath ; and, with advancing age, these colors change to snowy-white below and fulvous-brown al)ove, wilii n dusky dorsal area. Tlie feet are white ; the tail is bicolor ; the whiskers arc black, with a few white ones intermi.xed. The chief distinguishing feature in coloration, as compared with Hesperomy.i kucopus, is the mostly wiiite muzzle. In leucopus, the white usually slopes down to the lips, leaving the nose of the color of the forehead ; while, in leucogaxter, the white keeps on, niid embraces the snout. This curious difTerence holds good in all the speei- •As intdui.;ted beyond, no are not pcilV'tily gum tliat the .vcllowish tiut isnot due tudiiicoloia- tiou in olooUol. Hv.l ! ; 4f» '=1 MUItlD^';— HIGMODONTKS— IIKSl'KKOMYa TOUUIDUW. lOS) mens before us, nnd we do not doubt its consfnncy. It is well shown in Audu- bon's Icn-imnd figure. One young specimen (No. 3002) from the Medicine Bow Mountiiin.s in the gray jjelage, is renuuUtil)ly jmle-colorod above, the tail nearly white, tte Tiiis corresponds exactly with the pale Ilesperotmjs var. sonoriensh and the pale Aniicola of the Prdoinya section, from the same region. The only skull l)efore ns (No. Wa'-) ofVors the following measurements: — Length, 1.07; interorbital width, 0.20 (the zygomata are destroyed); width across cranium, 0.48 ; lower jaw, from tips of incisors to condyle, 0.72 ; length of upper molar series, 0.10. Tadlk WX.—Meaturenuntt of nine tpeciment of Ilr.HPKiiuMYS (O.nyciiomys) LEUCOOASTKn. m 4007 JODS 3091 3.178 3703 37U4 July 93, 1857 Si'pt. 10, iej7 Locality. Xunr MiMouri River . . . do KuniiiiiBWatiT Fort Kiley. Knnii Modicine lk>w MoiintAinii . . . HH])ul>ii('aii Hivor, Knns. T»r Neosho Falls, Kans. Tor — do do Collector. F. V. Uaydoii . ...do do. U. Brandt .. W. 8. Wood., ...do HF.Oon... ..do , ..do MoHto- 0.00 0.01 OlOI O.SO 0..t« 1. 03.1. SO LOoLl.t I.Oo'l. 13 I d iS 4.0O 4.00 ItU 3.50 3. US f 50 4.50 4.i» 4.40 H 0.40 H P4 1.40 .. 0.86 1. HO 0 39 0.85 1. 05 0.,% 11.88 0. CO l.00O.4o'o.7OO. 40 i.300.40Jj.70 0.5JI i. 00 a 44 0.87 0.59 1.300.430 83 0.48 1.30 0.50 0.890.53 1.40 0.53 a 83 0.59 Remarks. Dry. Alcoliolio. .. do. Not grown. ..'do. 8trot<*"l. Dry. ...do. ...do. * Other metMiirempntM of 9340, given by Ituird, aro :-.Fon« arm, 0.89 ; longest linger and claw, 0.b« ; ita ohiw alone, 0.90) femur, U.83i tibia, l.05| lougoat too nnd cluw, 0.30 1 Its claw ulone, 0.14. HESPEROMYS (ONYCHOJIYS) TORRIDUS, Cones. Arliona Hole-Mou«o. Uaffromijt {Oiiijchomijn) lorridui, CoUKS, Proc. Acail. Nat. 8ci. Pbila. 1S74, IS."?, Di.\GNOSis. — O. imaghiem O. kucogastiin referens, sed caudu longiore, nu- riculis prtecipue major ibus, planlia minus pilosis, unguibus tnanus debilioribus, et coloribits mag'is Jlnoesccntibus, primo visa differt ; tnurino-fulvus ; rostro toto, pedibus, partibusque omnibus inferioribus JUtvo-albis ; caudd lined fused angus- tald nee ad apicem porrectd supra, nolatd. Long. 3v, caudw 2, manus ], pedis i, auriculce fere \. Habitat. — Arizona. (No. 9886, 9.") — On comparing this animal with typical Uucogaster from Kansas nnd Nebraska, the differences in general form are obvious. Truly Onychomyn, with the unmistakable aspect of that section, yet the members are 1 rrr i . f ■ H3 110 MONOGRAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN BODENTIA. ! J'i. ', 3 i On the whole, we may consider this animal as (next after Onijchoinys leucogaster, which leans so strongly toward Arvicola through Evotoinyx) the most aberrant of the North American group of small Hesperomys, sharing many features of the larger Sigmodon, showing a slight approach, by analogy at least, to Fiber, aYid having much real affinity with the Old World Miis proper. It is certainly the nearest to typical Mus of anything we have in North America ; it inclines toward Mus proper, and especially to Sigmodon,* much as Onychomys, our only other subtypical section of Hesperomys, does toward Arvicola. HESPEROMYS (ORYZOMYS) PALUSTUI?, (Htrl.) 'V,:g„er. , Blcc-fleld Moose. Jfii» palmtrit, Harlan, Am. Joarn. Sci. ixxi, 1837, 3^ (New Joreey). He»peromy$ palmtrU, Waonrr, Suppl. Schreb. Hi, 1843, 543.— LrContk, Proc. Acad. Nut. Sci. Phila. v\, 1853, 410.— Allen, 3ii1I. Mii». CoDip. Zuol. ii, 1870, 182 (Florida). nesptromyt (Orgtomi/t) pntuitrii, Uaikd, M. N. A. 18.'i7, 482 (Oeorgia and South Carolina).— CouES, Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila. 1874, 184. Arvieota oryzitora, AUD. &. Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1853, 214, pi. 144, fig. 3. Habitat. — South Atlantic and Gulf States, especially in maritime por- tions and in rice-fields. Kansas! (Gro«a). Mexico {Sumickrast). Jamaica?? The specific characters of this animal are necessarily involved with * We have already noted how clou is the relatinn between' Orynmiy* and ligmodon, showing that the former in na much to be considered a section of Sigmodon as of Beaperomjii, auu that Sigmodon itself is hardly or not more different from ordinary Huperomyt than OrftoMj/i is. 8 M -tl ■&< hv: l1 114 MONOGRArnS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTrA. M\ii [• 1^ 1^ those of llic subgenus of wliicli it is tlio type and only representative, and probably most of tlicm have already been mentioned in our account of Ory- zomys. The aniinal varies a great deal in size, from the dimensions of a third-grown house-rat up to the size of a small individual of that species ; and these larger ones really look so much like Mas decumanus that one might almost be excused for making the mistake. The tail, as usual, varies still more than the body in lengtii. The body and tail average, perhaps, about equal to each otiicr in length ; the former ranges usually from about four to five and a half inches in length. In the largest specimen before me, No. 3327, from Neosho Falls, Kans., the total length of trunk and tail together is 10.} inches; figures far above any reached by any other North American Hesperomys (the largest H. californicus falls short of 9 J in the same measure- ment). The general range of variation is much the same as in other Hespero- mys. This, with the absolute size and relative proportion of parts, is so fully illustrated in the table below that further notice here is unnecessary. The pelage of this animal is rather coarse, if not harsh, but it is glossy from the great proportion of long, glossy, soft bristles that it has. Perhaps the most interesting point in this connection is the unequal hairiness of the upper and under surfaces of the tail. On top, this member is so scantily hir- sute that the pavement of granular reticulations is distinctly visible ; below, the plates are generally hidden by longer and more numerous hairs. The difference is most evident in those tails that are distinctly bicolor. There is a great range of variation in this latter regard ; some tails being almost as siiarply bicolor as in H. leucopus, while others are merely a little paler below than above. In this case, as in others throughout the genus, we have often thought that the difference is not so much an individual matter as one depend- ent upon season, age, and state of health ; and that the same individual may change in this respect. Like H. aureolus {nuttalli), this animal does not show the sharp dividing line along the sides between the colors of back and belly ; the two generally blend insensibly. The darker color always reaches down the limbs to the ankle and wrist, and involvfes the extremity of the snout, although the lips and cheeks are like the belly. The color is a mixture of yellowish-brown, grayish-brown, and black, producing the grizzly rat-color impossible to name. The mixture is very intimate ; only the lighter shades prevail over the sides and rump, and the darker along the dorsal area, some- times producing a pretty distinct stripe, but oftener shading insensibly into the general hue. The under parts arc whitish, of varying pitrity, but rarely MURID^-SIGMODONTES— HESPRHOMTS rALUSTRIS. 115 quite pure; generally, it is obscured l»y the ashy of the roots of the hairs showing through, an«l it often has a faint brownish wash, like a very weak dilution of the color of the sides. The cars have no distinctive coloration. The eye is usually surrounded by a slight blackish area, which sometimes, as in No. 1305, extends as a frenum to the muzzle, there meeting its fellow. Tiic moderately abundant whiskers, of medium length, are some of them black, others colorless. The palms and soles are both perfectly naked ; on top, these members are clothed \o the nails with short close-pressed hairs of satiny texture and luster, sometimes pure glossy-white, at others soiled ; this furring is generally dense, but sometimes so scanty that the flesh-color of the skin shows through Sometimes the palms and soles are flesh-colored, sometimes they are black ish. The soles are 6-tubercuIate : (1) a long linear tubercle along the inner side, midway between toe and heel; (2) a very minute one just outside the anterior end of the last ; (3, 4) one at base of both inner and outer toe ; and (5, 6) two at bases of the three central toes. Where non-tuberculate, most of the sole is granular-reticulate ; all the toes are annular-scaled transversely underneath, with a terminal node. The 2d, 3d, and 4th toes are very long, and almost of equal length ; the 5th reaches nearly to the middle of the 4tli ; the 1st scarcely beyond the base of the 2d. The claws are all short, thick, little curved, and not very sharp ; the calcaneal tuberosity is prominent ; traces of the several metatarsals are evident. The largeness of the foot itself is in«triking contrast with the shortness of the hind leg. There are five tuber- cles on the palms, almost entirely occupying the surface : two very large ones posteriorly, subequal in size and side by side, in fact almost coalescing; the inner of these bears the little nodule, capped by a bit of horn that represents the pollex. There is another smaller tubercle at the base of the 2d and 5th fingers respectively ; and a fifth at the conjoined base of the 3d and 4th fin- gers. The 3d finger is longest, the 4th but little shorter ; the 2d and 5th successively diminish rapidly. Unlil, from Tiicliitnn, Tehuantcprc (Professor Stimichrcut), I caDiiot distin(;uiHb from the ordinary palmlrit of Cnrolina. It la about 4.25 long ; tail, 4.50 ; foot, l.iiO. In color, it is a little clearer tlian most Carolina Bkins, yet not of the paler yellowiBh-brown noticed in Kansas ones, but rntber a brigbler fnlvons-bronn ; the under parts are nnnsnally pure wbito. I have not met wii^h any Mexican quotations of Orj/zomys ; but if any species has been described from Mexico, and of which No. !)4'36 is an example, it cannot well prove difl'ereut from patutlris. The cose seems to me to be parallel with that of the 8igmo<1ona elsewhere discussed. Two Jamaican skins of Orysomyii (Nus. 7775 and PUT), received since the preceding was written, agree completely with paluilris in size and shape, bnt are noticeably difierent in color. They are of a rich furrugineous-brown, oiily'a little darker along the back, and the under parts are strongly washed with a dilution of the same. The difference, indeed, from the ordinary dark Carolina palutMi, is nearly as evident as iu some of tlio dullest Ilmperomyt OHreoluB compared with hucopm. Probably these siwci- mens represent a race if not a good species ; but, in my ignorance of the pbysico-geograpbical iofluencea that work npoa the West Indian rats, I cannot pursue the subject, and especially refi'ain from giving any name to the animal, aa I presume it baa been described, thongh 1 have not met with any reference to it. 1 , I m\\\ MUBID^— SIGMODONTES— nESPEROMYS PALD8TKIS. 117 Journal (vol. xxxi), bestowing on it the name of il/«s palustrit, making use of the head of our specimen for an examination of the teeth." Thus it appears that Harhm's species was based, in part at least, upon the very same specimen tliut atlerward became the type of Arvkola oryzi- vora, Aud. & Bach. The latter authors, naturally disliking Harlan's pre- emption of their species, re-appropriated it to themselves in this wise : — They took it for an Arvicolu, and reasoned thot "as the name 'Aivicola pnlunfris' is preoccupied (Harlan,* Fauna, p. 13G) we are favored with an opportunity • * of restoring it to its true genus under the name [ori/zivora] given by its legitimate describer." How such excellent naturalists as Audul)on and Uachman could have been betrayed into such a blunder as to consider Onjzo- mys on Arvkola, we cannot imagine ; but they were just as wide of the mark when they placed Hesperomys sonoriensis, LeC, and "campestris", LeC, and "texana", Woodh., all under Arvkola; and when they described the Texan Sigmodon as Arvkola texiana. To be sure, it was vexatious that Harlan should have anticipated them in such a summary way; but for this oflen- recurring accident there is no help that we can see ; ond, at any rate, the genus Arvkola proved an inconveniently small loop-hole in this case. Tablb TiWI.—ileMuremnU of ItreKlg apednuiu of Hesperomys palcstris. i LookUty. CoUMtor. XoMto— 1 1 1 Nktura. ■i i 1 6 is ^ 1 t t 1 a ^ mi Society HIU, 8.C U. A.Cartlt 4.00 4.50 0.50 1. 18 0.94 Dry. ..do. J do ...do 1.33 3.15 3.60 0.48 1.11 0.93 1M7 do ...do 4.00 3.80 0.93 1.11 0.90 ...do. ISM 8603 do ....do 0.94 1.13 1.30 4.90 4.10 4.80 C03 0.53 0.49 1.13 t.io 0.93 0.93 ..do. AlooboUc. do ...do 90M do ..do 0.fO 1.10 1.35 4.S9 4.05 0.90 1.19 0.98 .. do. M09 do ...do-. 0.53 1.00 1.95 3.15 0.43 1.08 0.45 ..do. 9009 S^ot 8linoD'>Iid>nd,0*.. aW.WUMn 0.5J O.M 1.85 3.10 3.80 Oil 1.11 0.93 ..do. MIO do ...do 0.110 I.IO 1.35 3.80 4.90 0.50 1.18 0.50 ...do. Mil rf do ...do U.OO 1. 33 4.00 4.30 0.48 1.18 0.55 ..do. Mia ? do ...do 0.53 1.00 1.85 4.00 3.00 0.44 1.05 0.50 ..do. 8103 pearaace (see also under Uchetodon). Indeed, wo arc not satisfied that tbo three species originally referred to Heilhrodon do not themselves share sulcatioH of the superior incisors as a character only incidental to two diifureat types of at least subgencric value. Tbcy certainly differ notably in several cranial peculiarities as well as external fea- tures. There is a remarkable difi'erence in the shape of the plate inclosing the onteorhital foramen, in the details of the palatal structure, and in the form of the under jaw j while there are external charac- ters in the proportions of tbo tail, feet, and ears. In the respects of palatal structure and the form of the anterior zygomatic root, there is a curious analogy to the same points as distinguishing Sigmodon and Oriizmiya from each other. We may t^tbulato the distinctive characters of Keitkvodon, and of Euneomy», as we have termed the now subgenus), as follows : — Ileillirodoii, Watekiiuuse. — Anterior root of zygoma deeply cmargiuated in front. Palate ending much behind tbo molar series, and showing a median ridge intervening between lateral paired deep excavations. Pterygoid fossiB deeply excavated, aud tbo bones very closely approximated. Incis- ive foramina reaching beyond first molars. Condyloid process of lower jaw concave internally; descending process rounded off inferiorly ; coronoid process very obliqne. — Type, H, cmiouhida. ICuncomije, KoB., Proc. Acad. Phila. 1874, 185.— Anterior root of zygoma about straight in front. Palate ending nearly opposite the last molars, slightly ridged or excavated. Pterygoid fosso) shal- low and these bones less approximated. Incisive foramina reaching only to first molars. Condyloid process of lower Jaw (lat internally ; descending process angular; coronoid process nearly vertical. — Typk, a*, fhinchithidcs. There are other differences in the relative proportions of the sknll ; and doubtless additional diag- nostic features could bo adduced, but these will suffice. Aside from the grooving of tlie upper incisors, the dentition of this genns is of the ordinary sigmo- doiit pattern, calling for little further comment. The incisors, as usual in tbo subfamily, are deeper antero- puKtoriorly than they are wide across. The molars decrease regularly iu size and complexity from before backward ; tbo front upper one has two external and two internal folds of enamel, the resulting tbreu salieiicii's on each side being about opposite each other, while the two rcentrances from each side, which meet on tbo face of thu tooth, are alternate. The other two upper teeth have but one internal and two external folds ; the posterior one of the latter, in each tooth, being much deeper and more tortuous than any ol' tlin otliers. The front under molar shows on the onler side three perfect reentrant loops, nnd mi the inner side two such, but may have one additional slight loop on each side, from indentations of the anterior end of tbo tooth. The mid-lower molar has two folds on the outside and one on the inner side, Bometiuics, however, with trace of another. Thu buck lower molar has but one fold on either side; these MURID^— SIOMODONTES— REITHRODON. 119 alternata, and in some stages of near show a porfeot letter S, at one time auiiposcd to bu cbuructoi- Istic of tbo genus Sigmodoit, but now known to be a pattern of couimou, if, indeed, it bo uut uf universal, occurrence'amoug American Murtvai. Tlie geuUB appears to bo ooutlned to tbo southern part of South America, fruiu which tlireo siiucio^i have been d'-sctibed. Two of these, tt. cunieuloidn and M. ehinchiltoida, are sharply distingiUHhed by the characters already pointed out, and others ; but the diflTerences between It. cunicutoideii aud Jl. lypivai ure not so clear. It Heems to us probable that the latter will prove to be, If not identical with, at most only a geographical race of «Miiicii(o(({p<— the ascribed characters appear, according to our experience with this family, to be within an ordinary range of variation in the same species. But without specimens wo can- not, of course, presume to say that such is the case; and we rcdesorihe the three species, as we have the genus itself, from Waterhouse's original notices. KEITHBODON CUNICUL0IDE8, Waterbonse. UMhrodon cuHiculaidei, Waterhodse, Proo. Zool. Boo. 1837, SO; Zool. Voy. Beagle, pt. ii, 09, pi. xxvi (animal), pi. zzziii, figs. 2b, So, id, 2e (teeth), pi. xxxiv, figs. 2a, 2b, 2a (skull). DuGNOSis. — Yellowish-gray mixed with bluck ; throat and belly pale yellow; rump and fuet white; ears of medium size, yellowish, with a yellowish-white patch behind them; tail about half as long as the bead and body, bluolor, dusky above, white belo'.r. Length, 6i ; tail, 'H ; hind feet, H ; ear, }. Habitat.— Patagonia (Port Desire, Saint Julian, Santa Cruz ; Darwin). The fiir is described as long and soft ; the general color of the upper parts is " gray isb-Urown with s considerable admixture of yellow"; the sides are yellowish-gray, paler below, fading into yellowish- white underneath, aud there is a patch of the same behind the ears, which are also yellowish; mous- taches very long and nnmerous, black and gray ; soles partly hairy ; hairs of the tail snfflcieut to hide the annuli, dusky abcve, white below ; incisors yellow. The dimensions of a skull are given as follows : — Length, 1^ ; width, {. The teeth are very satisfactorily figured, enlarged in the plate above cited, while a glance at plate 86 is sufficient to show the curious general appearance of the species which suggested its specific name. ■EITHBODON TYPICUS, Waterhonse. BeUkrtdim tfpUiu, Waterbovse, Proc. Zool. Boo. 1S37, 30 ; Zool. Voy. Beagle, pt. ii, 1839, 71, pi. xxxiii, fig. 4a (teeth). As described, this supposed species differs from the last in being smaller, with shorter feet and longer can, and of darker color. The dimensions assigned are, length, 6 inches ; hind foot, 1 inch 8i lines ; ear, 6| lines. From La Plata (Maldonodo, Darwin). As already intimated, we admit the species on probation, suspecting it will not prove distinct from e»niimloide$. It does not appear why it was named " typicus", since the genus appears to have been drawn up from the better-known oaiiuia/oidM, wbioh must stand as the type uf Jieilhrodon, B. chinchil- hida was not described nnlil two years afterward. KEITHBODON (EUNEOMYS) CHINCUILLOIDES, Waterhonse. Heithrodon ckincWloida, Watbbhodsk, Zool. Voy. Beagle, 1839, pt. ii, 78, pi. xxvii (animal); pi. xxxiv, figs. 20a, 206, 20o, 2Qd, 2Ue, 20/ (skull and teeth). Iteitkrodon (Buneomyt) ckinckilUridet, CouES, Proc. Aoad. Nat. Sci. Pbila. 1844, 185. Diagnosis. — Cinereons, washed with yellowish-dusky, under parts yellowish-white ; tail dusky above, white below, half as long as the head and body ; ears and tarsi rather short. liCUgth, 6 inches; tuil, 2i ; tarsus, 1 ; ear, hardly i. I^kull, 1^ long, 8^ lines wide. Habitat.— Straits of Magellan. We have already detailed the notable structoTal characters by which this species differs from cnnioiloidet or igpUMii and the plate above cited shows an animal of different external appearance. It is smaller, with apparently disproportionately smaller members, the color different, aud the for particu- larly long and soft — a ciitinmstance snggeating its specifio name, althoogb it has, like ennicnhidn, the curious rabbit-like aspect characteristic of the genus. ■TT^ !l ] ] I . 1 i j 1 ■ M i^^R^ » 1 I 120 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. i\ Genus OCHETODON, Coucs. X Mill sp-, Al'D. & Bach. X Uinpeiomiji 8|).> Waonkh, = Ilritlirodon, LkContk, Proc. Acnil. Nat. Scl. PLIIn. Ifc'33, 413.— Baiiii>, M. N. A. 1H57, «7. JS'eJ(/ Waterh. =z (khtlodoH, CotiES, Proc. Acad. Nnt. Sui. Pbilii. 1874, 184. Chars. — With the general nppearancc of 3fus proper, but the essentiol charactor.s of Ilesperoini/s, except that the superior incisors are deeply grooved lengtin.ise. Tail about as hmg as the head and body. The occurrence in North America of sigrnodont mice with sulcate inci- sors was first made known in 1841 by Audubon and Bachman, who descril)ed iI/(/.s- humilis. Their animal was almost immediately referred to He.speromt/s by Wagner. These authors overlooked, or, at any rate, did not take into special consideration, the remarkable condition of the upper incisors, and it was not until twelve years subsequently, in 1853, that Major LeConte took np tills point and referred a species to the South American genus Reithrodon of Waterhousc. In tlii.s course, he was followed, in 1857, by Professor Baird, who united two of Audubon and Bachman's species {humilis and lecontei) in one, gave Mus carolinensis, Aud. & Bach., as a doubtful species of the genus, and described tiiree new ones, 11. montanus, K. megalotis, and R. longicauda. Although adopting Reithrodon alter Waterhouse, Professor Baird com- ments at length upon the obvious differences between the North American mice with grooved incisors, and the several species of Reithrodon from South America, expressing his surprise at the re-appearance of the genus in the United States. Without an opportunity of direct comparison, however, he refrained from separating the North American Ochetodon from Reithrodon, although he indicated some of the prominent distinctions. We regret tiiat, like Professor Baird, we are unable to make the direct comparisons o^ Reithrodon and Ochetodon that are needed, having neither skins nor skulls of the former for examination. Judging from the figures and descriptions that have been published of Reithrodon, we are satisfied that the genus we have founded will prove valid ; and, indeed, we should not be sur- prised if the grooved incisors proved to be the chief character that Ochetodon and Reithrodon share in common. As is well known, the South American Sig- modonts are almost without exception widely different from the North Ameri- can ; Calomys being the only one of them that closely approaches ours. The following differential diagnosis may doubtless be largely supple- mented with additional characters: — MURIDiE— 8IGMODONTES— OCHETODON. 121 Sigmodont Murina: rcilh grooved tipper incisors : Size very largo. Tail Imlf ns long Size very sinnll. Tail avernging Reithrodon. — Form stout, leporine. as tlie trunk. Ochetodon. — Form slender, murine. as long as the trunk. With typical examples before us of all but one of the described species of Ochetodon, we are oble to notice the genus with entire precision. Oc/ietodon com])ri8es the smallest Murines of North America ; the small- est mammals of this continent, excepting some of the Soricidee. In general appearance, they are hardly distinguishable on sight from ungrown house- mice, they conform to the latter so closely in size, proportions, and color. The teeth, however, ot once distinguish them from Mus ; the molars being sigmodont, as in all Murina indigenous to the New World, and almost exactly as in North American Hesperomys, while the sulcale incisors are sui generis. The remarkable sulcation of the upper incisors is unique among North American Murina, though recurring in the arvicoline genus Synaptomys. (It is much as in Zapus, which latter, however, is the type of a family apart from Murida) The grooves are deep and conspicuous, and nearly as broad 08 the prominent face of the tooth on either si»le ; they are median in situa- tion, run the whole length of the tooth, and terminate in a notch, so that the conjoined ends of the pair of incisors present four points instead of a straight bifid edge. The anterior face of each incisor is a prominent rounded ridge on either side of the groove; but the face, as a whole, is so much beveled off externally that, when the tooth is viewed in lateral profile, one of these ridges is entirely in front of the other, and the tooth appears double by the amount of separation that the groove affords. As usual in Murina, each incisor is deeper antero-|)osteriorIy than it is wide transversely ; but the incisors differ noticeably from those of Hesperomys, &c., in their great curvature, which is sufficient to cause their apices to full behind a perpendicular let down from the tip of the nasal bones. The under incisors are simple, and, with the entire molar series, much as in Hesperomys. But there seems to be a difference in the tooting of the mo- lars. In all the Hesperomys examined, the anterior upper molar, at least, invariably showed us three roots, making as many distinct perforations of the alveolus : two exteriorly, in a line with each otber ; and oao interior, midway }i 122 MONOORArnS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Mi between the two outer ones. In Ochetodon, the same molar has four routs; three larj,'c ones, just ns in Ilcspcromyi ; and an aihlitional very small exterior one, midway between the other two exterior ones. The second molar (in No. 2282 lor example) has only three evident ones, but a similar, only very minute, fourth one also appears. The last upper molar makes but two perforations. Some difTorcnce in the molar crowns of Hesperomjjs and Oclietodon, correspond- ing to the different rooting in the two genera, may yet be established. This additional root of Ochetodon is an approach toward Mus proper ; for, in an example of J/, decumanus before us, we find that the alveolus of the upper anterior molur is perforated with six distinct holes. There are several remarkable peculiarities in the skull besides the grooved Tipper incisors. Prominent among these is the singular shape of the descend- ing process of the under jaw. This is really a subquadrate plate, retaining the essential characters that here mark off Murina from Arvicolina, but, nev- ertheless, when viewed in lateral profile, more nearly resembles the charac- teristic hamular process of the ArvicoHncB. This appearance is due t« the abrupt inward inflection nearly at right angles of the lower border of the process; nothing like this is seen in Hesperomys, &c. The coronoid is very small and acute, and curves very obliquely backward. The inside of the ramus of the jaw shows, as usual, a ridge denoting the passage of the under incisor up toward the condyle. The skull as a whole is broader and shorter than in Hcsperomys ; the lengthwise convexity on top is greater, and the cra- nium is quite as wide across the parietal portion as between the zygomata. The latter dip deeply down to the level of the palate, but do not stand out much, their middle portions being nearly parallel. There appears to be a peculiarity in the anteorbital foramen, which is settled far into the zygomatic part of the maxillary, and, of a consequence, appears almost circular above, suddenly contracting into a narrow slit below (somewhat as in Oryzomys; in Ilesperomys proper, the broad upper part of the foramen is rather pyriform, and narrows gradually below). The incisive foramina are large and very long, reaching from a point opposite the anterior molars almost to the incisors. The l)alate ends beiiind abruptly as a transverse shelf, opposite the back border of the last molars ; but this shelf-edge is very narrow from side to side, owing to the close approximation of the nearly parallel pterygoid ridges; and, on eitlicr hand, the palatal level almost directly continues into tlie shallow depressions, of unusual width, that lie between it and the bullae auditoiise. ■I'M MURID^— SI0M0D0NTE8— OCnETODON. 123 (In all this, however, there is nothing essentially different from Ilcsperonii/s.) The hitter arc very large and tiiin, and widely separated by a broad wedge- shaped basioccipital, their axes rapidly approximating from behind forward. In external form, there is little or no difference from Hesperomys to note. The hairiness of the tail and cars is much ab in that genus, and more than in Mus. The tail averages about as long as the head and body — a little less in O. humilis, and a little more in O. longkauda and O. mexicanua. The fore feet are about half as long as the hind ones; both arc rather scant-haired above, though the hairs reach to the end of the claws. The palms show the ordinary five tubercles. The soles are scantily hairy for about one-third their length, being for the rest granular-reticulate, with six very distinct tubercles: the first internal, midway between heel and base of inner toe ; the second just in advance of this, but external ; the third in advance of the second, but internal and at base of the inner toe{ a fourth and fifth lie at bases ot^ respectively, the fifth and second toes ; the sixth rests upon the conjoined bases of the third and fourth toes. We append Uie measurements of several skulls of Ochetodon, without distinction of species, since no specific characters rest upon peculiarities of the cranium. Tadli XXXlI.—Utaturenuntt offitt tlculU of Ochetodon. 1 1 i 1 1 a Tip of under iuci- Bors to — 1 Locality. N 1 t n 1 1 Species. m- Saint Louis, Mo 0.76 0.40 0.12 0.29 0.14 0.47 0.37 0.40 haniUn. nv, 8oao» 0.82 0.43 0.13 0.30 0.15 0.50 0.40 0.49 "megaloHB." v^ Boolty HoDDtains 6.78 0.40 an 0.28 0.13 0.48 0.38 0.45 "mOKtdNIM." •HH Potalama, Cal 0.69 0.38 0.11 0.26 0.12 0.42 0.31 0.40 longioawla, do. do 0.70 0.40 fl.lS 0.27 0.13 0.47 0.35 0.40 ' No. 2&J2 is, perhaps, uot tiuito full-grown. OCHETODON IIUMIUS, (Aud. & Bach.) Coues. Little narvest Honge. JtfiM kiimllif, AtiD. Sc Bach., Proc. Acad. Nat. Scl. Pliila. i, 1841, 97 ; Jonm. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1842, viii, pt. it, 300 ; Q. N. A. ii, 1851, i03, pi. Ixv (South Atlantic States). netprromgi kitai<(i«, WAOHKn, Wieg. Arch. 1843, pt. ti, 51 (after And. A. Bach.). SeitkrodoH hamilu, UAinD, H. N. A. 1857, 448 (South Carolina, Qeorgia, and tMissonri). (kheiodof humilU, Govts, Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1874, 185. JKm /(ooiiNJ, AuD. & Bach., Journ. Acad.Mat. Sci.-Phila. viii, 1842, 307 ; Q. N. A. iii, 18D4, 324 ((at. aitNa), (South Carolina). M 124 MONOGKAPnS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. I :; i'J Ilcupiromyt hconiii, Waonkh, Wicg. Areli. 1S43, pt. ii, 51 (after Aud. & Bacli.). lUillirodon kcotilii, LkConth, Proo. Acnd. Nat. Sci. I'liila. vi, 18."3, 413 r Mtt» caroliiiriiHia, Ai'D. & Hach., Joiirn. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. viii, pt. ii, 1842, 306 ; Q. N. A. iii, ia'>4, 3,12. (.Suntli Cnruliiiu, iu iunndatcd lands, rare. "Tail longer than the body, ears long and hairy, color liglit pltinibi'ons; * * nnder surface Hcarcely a shade lighter. Length of head and boily ^.33, of tail 2.75, ear 0.33, tarsns 0.54.") f ITcuperomyii cttroliiiemie, Wao.nki!, Wieg. Arch. 1843, pt. ii, 51 (a''ter And. & Uach.). t r.iilhroion carolineum, IIaiiid, M. N. A. 1857, 4.")2 (after And. & Bach.). * llcUhrodon meiialolin, 1!aiiii>, M. N. A. 18.')7, 451 ; liep. U. S. and Mex. Bound. Surv. ii, pt. ii, 1859, Mam- mals, 43, pi. vii, fig. 4a~c, and pi. xxiv, flg. 4a-g. (Sonora. Largest of North American species. Head and body, 2j-3 ; tail, 2} ; sule, i-} ; oar, 0.43 high. Colors as ia B. humile.) Diagnosis. — O. mure musculo minor seu staturd suheequans, caudd trun- cum suhcequante Iiirsutd, suh-bicolore, auriculis prominulin, himutis, plantis semi-nudis, vfllere moUi, supra murino, infra griseo-alhido, lateribus fulves- centihus. Habitat. — South Atlantic States. Gulf States into Sonora. Up the Mississippi VuUcy to Saint Louis. Iowa. Kansas. Nebraska. Numerous e.xccllent examples, from the South Atlantic States, of this diminutive Rodent, which, with the general appearance of a small house- mouse, is instantly distinguished by its generic ciiaracters, present very little variation cither in size, shape, or color. None show the peculiar proportions attributed by Audubon and Bachman to their Mus carolinensis. The tail is always a little shorter than the trunk. The hind feet range from 0.50 to 0.60 in length ; the ears project beyond the fur, and have a somewhat character- istic shape, difficult to describe, represented with indifferent success in Audu- bon's plate above cited. They are rather obovate in siiape, and narrow for their length; the antitragus is valvular; the interior below is nearly naked and flesh-colored ; this part is overlaid by tlie long hairs of the cheeks ; the rest of the ear is rather coarsely liirsutc than closely pilous. The fur is soft and silky; above, the color is exactly as in the house-mouse and nearly uniform, being merely a little darker along the middle of the back ; but all along the sides tlie brown is enlivened with a decided wash of fulvous or pin'wish-gray, never seen in M. muisculus. Generally, this tinge is diffuse, but it sometimes forms quite a striking lateral stripe. The tail is distinctly bicolor, but not very sharply so. The under parts are whitish, obscured by the plumbeous of the roots of the hairs showing through, and generally also noticeably washed over with a dilution of the fulvous that tinges the sides. The lips, however, arc pure while; and the whole oral and mental region, with the upper sur- face of the feet, arc likewise white. The ab.solute size, and to some extent the range of variation, of this species appear from the table given below. m m MURIDiE-aiGMODONTES-OCnETODOX HOMILIS. 125 The Kansas specimens there enumerated are identical in every respect with typical Carolina and Georgia ones, l)ut with tliis exv;eption : we find that directly we turn from South Atlantic to other skins we are met by a devia- tion from the type that threatens difficulty in determination of other western forms that have been described as distinct. Thus, the two Saint Louis skins, 569-570, have the tail at least equaling the head and body. They are, how- ever, in too imperfect condition to admit of positive determination, and we assign them to humilis with a query, just as Baird did. The Nebraska skin, No. 3095, shows the same thing ; but the tail has been skinned and stretched on a straw, so that probably in life it was really shorter than the head and body. It further differs in its paler colors; but this is like what is seen in the Hesperomys, Ncototna, and A 'vicola, from the same region, and need not worry us at all. The Iowa skin, No. 9339, is one of the largest we have ever seen, and unusually bright fulvous on the sides — not pale like the Nebraskan, nor dark like the Carolinian. It falls, however, within ordinary limits of variation, and does not excite a suspicion of distintness. The Mus leconlii of Audubon and Bachman is certainly the same as their i)/. humilis; but the determination of their M. caroUnensis offers some difficulty, as the description above quoted ascribes characters that we do not recognize in our specimens from Carolina. We have never seen an Ochetodon from the South Atlantic States with a tail even equaling the head and body, much less as 2.33 to 2.75, nor a specimen from any locality in which the under parts were not decidedly lighter than the upper. But as it is improbable that a second good species, differing as these authors say, occurs in South Carolina alongside O. humilix, we are forced to believe either that there is some mis- lake in the measurements given* and colors ascribed, or else that O. humilis varies to the degree indicated in the description of Mus caroUnensis. This latter supposition is very like'.y ; -'f* have already cited instances of colcr-varia- tion quite as great as those ascrii»i., *o caroUnensis, and have seen, in Saint Louis and other specimens, tails at least tq 'aling, if they do not exceed, the head and body. After all, the variation in this lattei respect is quite within the limits we elsewiiere establish for species of Hesperomi/s, Sigmodon, and other genera. The case is noteworthy in connection with the long-tailed species O. longicauda, that we next describe. There can be but little doubt, and there is none at all in eur mind, that . \U :i * More gUrliig inooourncieB tbaa thin wear Id the work Id question. 120 MONOORAPnS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Mili' ;!■ 1 ■ ', •! : 1 I ■ I :■• tlio RcUhmlon megalotis is tlie same ns O. humills. The colors are confess- ciUy the same. Tlic hciglit of the car (0.43) tliat is dwelt upon is no greater tlian occurs in typical humilis (see table). The size (3.00) of one of the two type-specimens is greater than we have ever determined for humilis by four- tcntlis of an inch, but tiic other type (2.42 long) is well within the ordinary range of humilis. It is interesting to observe that these two animals (Nos. 1039, 1040, fiO>n Sonora, Dr. Kennerly) do not approximate toward either O. longicauda nor to tlie still larger and longer-tailed O. mexicanus. T.vDLK XXXIII. — ileaiuremcnU of twenty-six upcdment of Ociietoix>n humiijs. i s 9 Locality. CoUectoT. Nose to- ■s I I 225 2.01 1.10 1.07 1.83 1.65 200 1.75 t 1 <9 a 5 "S 1 Nature of spec- imen. h 1 0.T7 0.80 0.70 i 1 •2.42 2.10 2.10 2.15 2.10 S533 axw 2537 8538 loci IMS 1993 199.5 2248 4099 4-00 4-01 4948 8520 S527 8528 6529 8,530 BI33 9339 3095 1569 1570 7302 4957 9997 Society Hill, a U do do do do do do do Liberty County, Ga do do do Southern United States . . . Ncoahu ]?'u1Ih, Kans do do do do Burlington, Kana Buchanan County, Iowa. . Polo Creek, Nebr M.A.Cnrtis ...do ...do ...do ... do 0.38 0.40 0.33 0.35 0.89 0.90 0.85 0.86 0.30 0.28 0.27 0.28 0.27 0.96 0.60 0.60 0.50 0.57 0.62 0.58 0.61 0.69 0.50 0.60 0.61 0.56 0.58 0.69 n.63 0 64 0.63 0.60 0.64 0.05 0.64 a64 0.61 0 66 0.60 0.61 Alcohollo. do . do do 0.40 a 41 0.41 Dry. ...do. ...do. do ....do ....do 2.40 l.H) 3.20 ....do J. LeConto ... do 0.39 10.43 0.40 ...do. ...do. ....do. do 9.15 2. CO 1.90 1.00 2.30 3.90 2.25 1.70 2.00 1.90 9.10 2.50 9.00 1.75 2 90 l.fO i.eo 0.97 0.98 0.25 0.30 0 9-1 0.24 ...,do 2.30 2.60 2. IS 2.55 2.33 2 37 2.30 9.00 2.00 8.60 2.50 2.00 1.75 ft20 2.00 2.00 ....do 1 B.F.Go8a 0.35 0.73 0.69 0.47 Alcoholic. Fresh, except feet, do ....do .. .do do ...do ...do A. Crocker 0.35 0.33 0 72 0.70 0.8» 0.40 0.88 Alcoholic. ....do. Dry. . . do. O.iC. Blackburn W.a Wwd ... do. Snlnt Louis, Mo 0 75 Alcoholic. .. do. . ..do I alcaslou Pasa, La Camp Floyd, Utah do ...do G. Wiirdeoiann .. C. a McCarthy... ...do 0.38 0.33 0.34 0.70 0.62 0.63 0.80 0.82 0.83 0.37 0.40 a3» ....do. ...do. ....do. * Thia la tho idcDtioal length of bmly wwribod to the smaller of the two ipeclmons of "megalotis". t Thia is tho identical length of oar ascribed to the larger of the two specimens of *' mogalotia'** OCHETQDON LONGICAUDA, (Baird) Coues. JMthrodon longi'auda, Baiiih, M. N. A. 1857, 451 (California).— fToMKS, Proo, Zool. 800. 1861, 884 (Gunteninlii). OchelodoH longicaHiUi, Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pblla. 1874, 18C. Diagnosis. — O. humili simili^, sed caudd longiore, truncum superante, et pedibus paululum validioribus ; coloribus magis Jlavicanlibus. Long. tot. 2-2J, caudcE 2J-3, pedis §. MURTDiT!— SIOMODONTES-OCnETODON LONOICAUDA. 127 Habitat. — California (Samuels, Stiwpison, Xantus). ? Guatemala ( Tomes). " Size small. Tail considerably longer than the head and botly (which measure from 2.10 to 2.30 inches), usually from 3 to 8 tenths of an inch longer. Hind foot .65 to .70 of an inch. Above, dark brown : beneath, white, tinged with reddish yellow, A broad wash of bright fulvous on the sides and checks." — {Baird, I. c.) ''""'v^', . This animal, accurately indicated by Bnird as above, is certainly dis- tinguLshable from O. humilh, though the full question of its specific difference from humilis is perplexing. While we have never seen an Atlantic Ochetodon with the tail even as long as the body, and while even in the Middle Region the tail never exceeds the trunk, there is no example of longkauda in which this member is not notably longer. The trunk ranges, as shown by the fol- lowing table (mostly copied from Baird's published one), from 1.83 to 2.40, settling near 2.25 as an average, while the tail ranges from 2.25 to 3.15, only once, however, touching this last figure, and usually falling under 3.00. The feet, likewise, are somewhat larger, ranging from 0.60 to 0.70, with an aver- age of 0.66, only once reaching 0.70, and perfectly connected with those of humilis by intermediate measurements ; though in humilis the feet rarely reach 0.66, and will not average over 0.60. The colors of longicauda are likewise noticeably different; only a restricted dorsal area is as dark as in ordinary hvrr.'Ms, while the whole sides of the head and body are broadly and brightly fulvous, and the under parts are washed with the same. This lively shade is not even approximately attained in any specimen we have seen except 9339 from Iowa. We have, therefore, little hesitation in indorsing the name, though certain facts arouse our suspicion and prevent us from making out a perfectly satis- factory case. Thus, Audubon and Bachnmn have described a Carolina animal nearly identical with longicauda in proportions. Then, again, in our speci- mens from intermediate localities, as Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska, the tail lengthens to an equality with the body, and the feet averoge over 0.60. The question is resumed and more fully stated under head of the next species, mexicanm. We cite the above Guat(!malan reference with a query, suspect- ing that this particular form does not occur in that locality ; but, of course, we have no assurance that such is not the case. f \M ■ < u \' ] ' 128 MONOGIIAPUS OF NOUTII AMERICAN llODBNTIA. Taiilk XXXIV.— J/ca»Hi-emeii(« of twentii ipecimem of Ociiktodox LoxaiCAUDA. 1 i Locality. Collector. From tip of nose to i 9.70 Lengthof— Natnre of specimen. (3 i 1 1 £ & 1 1 a a.m 0.72 n.PR 0.96 063 n:i\ OS!): Fort Ti'jon, Cat Monterey, Cal do o.ai 0.fi5 0.83 3.30 9.40 0.95 0 09 do. C S.CaD&eld 0.39 0.76 0.90 9.90 3 00 0.39 0 68 do. ....do 0.34 0.75 0.88 iI3 3 CO 0.28 0.67 ....do. laijo ilo ...do 0.35 0.70 0.88 !L90 3.00 as5 0.64 ...do. 14IH retalumn, Cal E.SnrouelB 0. 75 ■1.08 3.95 0.25 0.63 Frcah. IJK) 1419 do .. ao 0.83 0.83 1.88 ass 3 33 3.43 0.95 0.98 0.63 0.68 ...do. ...do. ...do 2.-ISI do ...do 0.35 0.70 0.00 a. 15 9.30 0.93 0.65 Aloohollo. 3S«3 Jo ...do 0.55 0.C9 o.e« 9. IS 9.45 0.30 aes ...do. 1)383 do ...do O.40 0.80 0.95 9.10 3.80 0.39 0.68 ...do. a-'wi do ...do 0.35 a 73 O.CO 9.10 '2.40 0.96 0.60 ...do. aoS3 do ...do 0.35 0.70 0.CO 3.13 a 15 0.30 0.70 ...do. £3811 do ...do 0.30 O.CS 0.84 3.00 3.3.1 0.95 0.63 ....do. 8587 do ...do 0.40 0.73 0.00 3.30 3.63 0.30 0.66 ....do. aMs do ...do 0.40 0.70 0.90 3.00 3.60 0.30 0.63 ....do. 2.t89 do ...do 0.40 0.M O.OO 3.40 9.68 0.31 0.05 ....do. S390 S3JI do do .. do 0.38 0.88 0.711 0.70 0.90 0.87 3.10 3.30 2.70 9.65 0.30 0.30 a66 0.60 ...do. ....do. ..do 10013 do .. do 1.83 9.00 0.95 a64 ...do. OCHETODON MEXICANUS, (Do S.) Coues. lieilkrodon mrxicanm, Dk Sai'ssuiie, Rev. & Mag. Zonl. 18G0, p. — (p. 27 of the separate reprint). — ToMEf, Proc. Zool. Sac. 18G1, 284 (Guatemala). Ochetodon mexioanus, CouKS, Proc. Acad. Nut. Sci. Philu. 1874, Wi, Diagnosis. — O. maximus, caudd Irunco longiore, pedibus validissimis , murino-bmmieus, siibtus ex brunneo albidus, lateribus suhflavicantibus. Long lot. 2J-3, caud(B 3-3;], pedis 0.70-0.80. IIaiiitat. — Mexico {De Saussure, Sumichrast). Guatemala {Tomes). Louisiana (Saint Charles College). Larger than eitlier of the foregoing ; upward of 3 inches long, with the tail averaging 3J, thus much exceeding the head and body, as in O. longi- Cauda, but feet much larger thin in that species, 0.70 to 0.80 (whereas the feet of longicauila are barely larger than those of humilis, very seldom touch- ing 0.70). Upper parts a rather warm mouse-brown (rufous or dull ferrugine- ous, not mouse-gray), wiiich on the sides usually grows brighter, and is sometimes almost crange-brown ; this, again, fading on the under parts into a muddy-whitirth (not wiiite at all). Tail extremely scant- liai red, nearly as naked as in Mas musculas, in dried specimens appearing nearly unicolor; in alcoholic ones, dull pale brown above and whitish underneath. Hands and feet whitish above (like the tail Jinderneath). MtJRlDiE— SIGMODONTES-OCHETODON MBXIOANUS. 129 We have no doubt that Professor Sumiclirnst's specimens represent typi- cally the Reithrodon mexicanus of De Saussure. Though they present some discrepancies in dimensions, De Saussure's measurements, he says, are prob- ably a little under the mark, while Sumichrast's specimens seem a little stretched ; this is enough to bring about perfect concordance. Our Louisiana specimens are highly interesting, as showing for the first time the occurrence of the true Mexican form in the United States. They are unquestionably identical with Sumichrast's examples from Tehuacan, and agree even better than these with De Saussure's figures. The discovery of this style of Ochelodon in the United States is especially important in its bear- ing upon the identification of Mus carolinemis, Aud. & Bach. Nos. 7748-7749 agree with the account of carolinensis in length of tail, and in the dullness of color of the under parts ; and it may be, after all, that this long-tailed mexi- canus ranges coastwise up to the Carolinas. Still, there are discrepancies that cannot be overlooked between Audubon's description and the present animal, especially as to the size of the feet ; and we are not at present war- ranted in calling the form Ochetodon carolinensis. The latter name must be assigned, with a query, as a synonym of humilis, at least until we find the long-tailed large-footed form in Carolina. That there is a regular gradation in length of (ail and size of foot between humilis on the one hand and mexicana on the other is undeniable ; and if we could have proven in the genus Ochetodon the same amount of varia- tion with locality that has always been admitted in the case of Zapus hud- sonius, and that obtains with Hesperomys leucopus and Arvicola riparius, we should h° forced to merge the three supposed species into one, with two geographical variations. Failing in this, however, at present, we can, at any rate, conveniently mark off three kinds of Ochetodon. The following analysis (in which coloration, which though an aid in identification, may not be always reliable, is omitted) will, it is believed, enable us to readily distinguish ninety per cent, or more of our specimens: — A. Tail shorter than head and body (at most barely equaling bead and body). a. Hind feet under 0.70 long (usually 0.55-0.65) humilis. B. Tail longer than head and body. b. Hind feet under 0.70 (exceptionally just reaching 0.70) . lonqicauda. c. Hind feet over 0.70 (rarely, if ever, falling to 0.70). . . mexicanus. 0 H i i r- ! : b w *( 'i, 1 5 ' ( 1 , * 130 MONOGCAPnS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Tablk \X\V.—Mea»ureme«t» of clneti apeciment of OcilETODON mexicanus. 774S 7749 700T 70O7» 7007" 8390 8459 8460 7490 •48«a 8393 Locality. Grand Cotcau, La . ■ do TekuocAD, Mexioo.. do do Orizaba, Uozico — Cordova, Mexico... , do Mirodor, Moxicius, Wirbeltli. 1843 (type, Anicola glareola), (not of lUiger, vhich in- cludes ifut lemmH», amphibim, and analis). = B$puda>u», Baird, M. N. A. IWiT, 513, 51.^), .MB (»yiie, ArHeola gapperi). = Elill». 1874, 187. Arricolu gapperi, Dall, Aliiskii iind it» KcHonrdes, 1870, 577. IIahitat. — Circumpolnr regions of both hcmisplieros. Description. — This animal is less than the average size of Arvicola proper, about equaling Vitymys pinetorum in (limcnsions, and in color it is so conspicuously different from' any other of North America that the somewhat extended notice we sliall give it is for the purpose inaiidy of settling its rela- tionships to its own varieties, not of distinguishing it from other species. With one exception, it has an external form indistinguishable from tlmt of Arvicolm generally. This exception is in the ears, which are always visible above the fur, even wiien, as in winter and in northernmost specimens, the ])elage is longest and thickest. The ears are of ordinary shape, but dilfer from tliose of some species of neighboring sections in being very closely pilous, like a squirrel's, for instance, instead of rather loosely hirsute. The hairiness Ibrms a slight even fringe around the margin, but below internally is almost wanting; the part that is covered by the general fur of the head l)eing otherwise naked, so tlmt the portion of the auricle that projects beyond the general pelage is the only part really furred. The antitragus is well develoj)ed ; and just at its base there is a slender tuft of long hairs equaling, if tiiey do not exceed, the wliole ear in length. Possibly the snout is a trifle less blunt than in some other Arvicolines; but the difTerence, if any, is not very obvious. The end of the muzzle is completely hairy, except the two little pads in wliich the nostrils open; beneath these, the hairs of the cleft upper lip fall like a moustache over the teeth, completely hiding the edges of the lips. The eye is of ordina.y size, and in the usual situation relative to snout and ears. The whiskers are medium in number and length, equaling — some of the longer ones a little exceeding — the head. The fore feet are from little less than half to about three-fifths the hinder. They are softly and densely hairy above and along the sides, only the palmar tubercles and under surfaces of the annulated fingers being completely exposed. The 3d and 4th digits are of alwut equal lengths and longest; the 2d is much shorter; the 5th a little less than the 2d; the 1st obsolete. The furrincss of the feet is much the same as that of the hands ; the soles being hidden to the tubercles, and the sides of the toes fringed with m^\\ MDBID^— AEVICOLlNiB— EVOTOMY8 11UTILU8. 137 •J, I i hoir; and, in some specimens, especially in winter, the entire sole is covered with fur, although no hairs really grow on the tubercles. The 2d, 3d, and 4th toes are about equal in length, and longest ; the 5th is only about half their length ; the 1st still shorter ; all bear ordinarily developed naiU. On the whole, the furring of the feet of this animal is much heavier than that of Areola living in less rigorous climates, and is only surpassed in length and density by that of the Lemmings. The tail is similarly indicative of a hyper- borean habitat, and merits special attention, since the difference in this mem- ber between true rutilus and its conspecies of lower latitudes is the most conspicuous feature. If we call to mind the stumpy, heavily-furred, almost rabbit-like tail of a Lemming, and then lengthen it to half-way between this and the tail of more southern Arvicola generally, we shall have about hit the mark. Even including the unusually long pencil of hairs at the tip, the tail is barely or not twice as long as the sole, and it oflen falls much short of this proportion. It is remarkably thick, and hardly diminishes in caliber to the very tip, which is obtuse. It is densely hairy throughout, having no trace of scales or annuli ; and the long, thick, terminal pencil averages fully a third of the length of the vertebral portion. The size and relative proportions of this animal are sufficiently illustrated in the table below to render further notice here unnecessary. The peculiar color of this, the type of the genus — and the shade is shared to a greater or less extent by all the forms of the genus with which we are acquainted — is almost of itself diagnostic. The middle lengthwise area of the upper parts, from the forehead, or even the snout, to the tail, are of a bright rusty-red, or brick-color, just as if a trace of orange, or even a touch of vermilion, were mixed with the rufous-brown that marks so many other Arvicolines. This rusty-red always has a few black longer hairs in it; some- times these are so sparse that its uniformity is not perceptibly removed, but at others the very central dorsal line becomes a little blackish, especially over the haunches. The width of this dorsal area and its sharpness of distinction are very variable; sometimes the red is spread over the whole back, and washes imperceptii)ly into the color of the sides, and at other times it is narrow and pretty distinct. The color of the sides is luteous, like unbaked yellow clay, but is often grayish-yellow rather than yellowish-gray. . Just as the back fades into the sides, so these wash out into the color of the belly, without much sharpness of definition, though the line of change is usually LI ^'1 ■-^tJ IP- I ; !i 138 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. ' i! !'■ Ijcrccpliblo. The under parts arc dull white, much soiled, with a weak shade of the yellowish clay-color of the sides, and the ashy of the bases of the hairs is always more or less apparent. The luteous shade of the under parts is sometimes almost as strong as on the sides, especially across the abdomen. Between the thighs and arms, and under the throat, a whiter and ashier shade prevails. The tail is distinctly bicolor, but not very sharply so; the under surface is like the belly or rather yellower, the upper like the back or rather '/i' MUlllDiB— ABVICOLINiE— EVOTOMYS RUTILUS. 139 Taiilk XXWl. -ifeaauremmls of nine skuUt of a. iiutiujs, "i 0.17 0.17 o.ia 0.20 0.19 0.19 0 22 0.20 0.21 0.20 0.80 0.19 0.15 0.14 0.13 0.16 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.17 0.16 0.52 0.50 0.51 0.49 0.48 0.49 0.68 O.ft'l 0.64 0.66 0.68 0.65 0.C2 0.60 0.70 0.65 0.60 0,62 0.65 0.68 0.08 0.61 0.61 0.67 0.80 0.80 0.81 0.83 0.23 0.23 0.80 0.82 0.20 0.24 0.23 0.22 0.24 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.26 0.26 do Thus it appears that the differences between the Lnpland and Massachu- setts sUulis are no greater than those discrepancies that occur in either, and that all are largely within the limits of individual variation. A detailed account of the skull, especially as regards dentition, will be found under head of var. gappcri. We here tabulate our specimens of true rutilus, with measurements.* -:v lil Table XXXVII. — .Vi^asuremenU of Bixly-scven (and Utt of other) »j)eo'iBen» o/ E votomys ncTiLL's/iwH Asia, Europe, and North America. 1468 IDTG 404 405 3087 am H758 OlhIO 5184 5725 5723 4.Vi3 0917 Locality. KAnitMbAtka . ilo Lapluid ilo NHion R., H. : T. DiK Island Flirt Clootl nope Furt Norman Fort lUo Arotio America — FortLlonl ilo J^ Pierre llotise. . . Collcotor. MiiAoun) Hcrlin — Mitt)6um St. Peters- linrg. KoDgLSvoQBkAk.. ». 48 0.00 0.510.00 .do . D.Gnnn J.Reld C. P.Oaadet N. Taylor L.Clarke aaRoaa W. 'j. HardUty.. A. McKenzie J. Flett Noee to — 3.40 3.5C J. 60 3.50 iOO 3.10 3.50 3. 175 aoo 1.00 1.15 1. 30 0. 37 1.500.34 1.08|1 1.00 1. 1.10 0.05 0.80 0.00 1.80 1.00 t.00 1.10 a 70 0. 40 0.63 0.4r. 360. 340. 300. 3:10. 30 0. ...0. .3i.a ...0. 330. 310. 36a 0.411 68 0.30 7S0.54 KomarkM. Dry. ..do. ...do. ...do. ...do. Dry ; stretched. Dry. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. * About thirty other skins, collected by Eaqnimaax in the Anderson and Mackonziu River ref;lonB, are prepared m> wretchedly ns to aiTonI no data of size of the body, while the feet and tail are as with the rest. Tliey are therefore not iutnxlnced. Some of these skins measure npward of six inches in length, II striking instanue of tl: ) elasticity of the skins of these small maiumols. 1 140 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. Tablb XXXVII.— Mea««remen(« of nixly-seveii (and Vml of other) specimum o/EvoTOMYs iiUTiLUs/roin Asia, Europe, and Norl^ America — Continued. a i 1 1 LooiUity. ColleoUir. Nose to— Tall to— i Si n 1 Romarks. k i3 t 1 t i *s n 6919 ()9ie J Flett 0*1 V} .40 0.34 0.70 0 S9 Dry i Biretched. . . .do. do ..do .00 .10 .50 0.330.76 0.55 7005 1090 J. Lockhardt 100 1.00 .30 .00 .50 0.33,0.700.48 .30 ... o.Ta|o.oo Drj-. ...do. do ...do 7097 7098 4J59 do ...do 1.00 ).00 3.90 3.85 170 9.71 9. 79 9.70 9.47 9.47 1.40 ».r, ...do. ...do. FreaU. ..do. rto ...do .90 .23 .08 .50 .55 .36 ... ).35 9.35 9 R. Kouuicott ...do ).Mo.m ». 50 0. 88 .00 .oo; Fort Simpson 4561 ^ do ...do »..■» ). 9.-I .05 3.50 .95 .63 9.40 9.75 0.38 ...do. 7745 ... do ...do D.43 9.88 1.05 J. 40 1.05 1.35 9.37 9.70 D.55 Alcoholic. 7747 ? do .. do 15 9.95 1.05 3.20 1.10 1.45 [1.36 D. 68 0.49 ....do. 6898 900 milM S. W. of Yukon R ...do 0.51 9.06 i.oa 0.90 l.35 0.33| 0. 74 0. 45 Dry. 089;i 0891 .do ...do 0.33 0.34 0 73'n Wl ...do. ...do. do ...do 0.53 0.9: 1.30 0.75 0.47 6894 6895 6907 do ..do 1.15 i.to 1.55 0.37 1.50 .. 0.66 0.75 0.50 ...do. ...do. ...do. do ..do ...do 0.47 0.97 ... Porcupine River 6904 do ..do 1.83 1.10 1. 43 0.37 0.70 ..do. 6911 6901 61X19 0908 0903 do ...do 1.10 1.00 1.08 l.O.'i 0.90 1.50 1.33 1.5C 1.45 1.30 0.33 0.30 0.31 0.31 0.34 0.72 0.68 0.70 o.«; 0.79 do do ...do ....do 3..'i0 ....do. ....do. do ....do ....do. do ...do ....do. 690-2 (1898 do do ...do ...do 0.50 1, or. 3.00 1.00 0.95 1.40 1.40 0.33 0.39 0.70 0.70 ....do. ....do. 0897 do ...do .... .. 0.05 1 40 0.37 0.75 ....do. 6004 do ....do XK 1.00 1.43 0.39 0.68 . . . .do. 0899 l>900 1 61115 6914 6913 6',l0a 6ui;i 0896 wail to OlOflJ do ...do 1.00 1.10 0. 05 0.95 1.10 0.90 0.95 1.00 0.69 0.75 0.73 0.M 0.74 0.79 0.75 0.73 ....do. do do ...do .do ...do .... 1.50 1.40 ..30 1..50 1.30 ,.33 1.45 0.34 0.33 0.31 0.35 0.34 0.35 0.39 ....do. - ...do. ....do. ....do. do .. do do .. do »•• ....do do ..do ....do. do . do ....do. 01171 ,o 91191 do ....do ... ... ... ....do. gllMI 9iwj do do ... ... ....do. 1 eoio Korl AiidersoD ....do .).4t 0.9( ):... 3.0( 0.9( 1.3C 0.34 0.7. 0.5: ....do. 8017 do ...do 1 3 .V 0 0. 1 8. 0 3. 0. 70!o. 5. ....do. 8018 9 do ....do O.S( 0.88;... 3.1 I.W I.5( 0.3- 0.7 0.5 ...do. 6019 rf do ...do 3.7 1.0. 1.51 0.3 l\7 0.5 i....do. eoao rf do ...do 3 7 1 W 1.45'0.3( 0.61 . ... do, 8014 oine SI60 SlOO 9171 9 do . .do . . ... do. do ....do . . 0.«( 11.3. 1 ... 0.7 1 ....do. do ..do ...do. 9 do ...do . . i.a SI. 3. S ... 0.T i ... ..do. ... do. do ...do i MUBID^— ARVICOLIN^— EVOTOMYS RUTILU8. 141 TABI.E XXXVII.— Jlfea«iirem«n<« ofaixty-smen (oh<1 list of other) specimen) of Evotoxyb nuTiLUs/rom Alia, Europe, and North America — Coutinued. X J LocaUty. CoUeotor. Nose to — TaUto-- 1 1 1 1 1 Bemulu. h 1 t 1 1 0103 8736 8306 83D7 8«M tm 4681 7S69 9083 9984 0085 0988 0987 d Dry. ....do. Alcoholic. ....do. ...do. Dry. ...do. do ....do 3.40 3.10 3.40 1.00 0.95 U.86 l.SO 1.35 1.80 0.39 o.3e 0.75 0.74 0.73 0.70 0.78 0.70 0.79 0.80 0.77 0.76 0.75 0.35 0.48 0.55 0.49 do ...do ...do ... do .... ? d do do Aiiderai)D Rirer do ...do do 0.S0 3LS0 3.50 3.10 3.70 3150 3.11 .180 3.40 1. at I. CO 1.101.25 1.00 1.40 1.301.70 1.30 1.60 1.80 1.50 1.801. 55 0.35 0.31 0.3,5 0.38 0.40 0.36 0.34 0.75 do NaUto, Aluk* ...do W.H Dall ...do ...do do a 30 0.85 0.47 1.00 0.46 0.94 0.45 0. 00 0.46 0.85 0.50 0.90 1.10 l.SO l.It' 1.10 1.00 1.10 0.49 0.55 0.48 0.45 a 50 9.SS Alcoholio. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. do do do a do ....do 1.15 1.55 Observations made just now regarding the identity of the measurements of Lapland and Massachusetts skulls *may be here repeated respecting meas- urements of Asiatic, European, and American skins: there are discrepancies, but only those of individual variability. The distance from nose to eye averages half an inch; from nose lo ear, about nine-tenths; the length of the head about an inch. The average length of the body we cannot make out precisely, as all our specimens are dried skins, and many of them stretched or otherwise distorted. Doubtless the average derivable from the table, as the figures stand, is a little too high. We doubt that any one of the specimens exceeded 3.75 in life, and think that few touch this dimension, which we are inclined to fix as about the normal maximum; the average is probably just about 3.33, while the normal minimum of adults may be a trifle under 3.00. The tail-vertebrse run between O.SO and 1.2.5, with an average of iiard upon 1.10; the pencil of hairs at the end is the fullest and longest of any North American representative of the subfamily, a Lemming hardly excepted. It is rarely under a third of an inch, averages upward of four-tenths, and sometimes reaches the half-inch. The tail to end of hairs averages clo.se upon \.hO. The palms are within an inappreciable fraction of a third of an inch, while the soles correspondingly bear upon 0.70, with two-thirds and ihree-fourths as apparently minima and maxima. The ears run between barely over a third to little more than hall an inch, averaging nearer the latter dimension. «r-' 1 1:i. •■1^^ m liijffl" 142 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. EVOTOMYS RUTILUS GAPPERI, (Vig.) Coues. Bed-backed Honsc. ArvicoTa gapperi, Vigors, Zool. Journ. v, 1830, 804, pi, 9 (Canada).— DeKay, N. Y. Zool., i, 1843, W.— ScniNZ, Synop. Mam. ii, lt<4S, 3.'i2.— Allen, RiiII. Has. Coinp. Zool. i, 1H69, 831. Arvicola {Hi/pudceus) gapperi, Bairo, M. N. A. 1857, 518. EfOtomys rutilM gapptri, CoUKS, Proc. Aoad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 1874, 187. Arvicola fitha, Aud. &. Bach., Jonni. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. viii, 1842, pt. ii, 895 (name pre-occnpied and afterward cbanged to " dcAoyi ").— VVaonxr, Wiegniann'H Arcbiv, 1H43, pt. ii, 53. Arvicola dekayi, AuD. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1854, 887 (same as their fulra of 184'.!), (exclude tbe synonym "oneida De Kay", whicli belongs to Arvicola riparim). Diagnosis. — A. rutilo similUmus, sed staturd paululum major, colorihus ohscuriorihus, caudd, pedibus auriculisque longioribus. Habitat. — The northern frontier of the United States, fro- Atlantic to Pacific, and an adjoining belt of British America; further north replaced by the true rutilus. Nova Scotia. South to Massachusetts. The occurrence of the true A. rutilus in North America was not more unexpected to us than the relationship of A. gapperi, which we had always unquestioningly taken as a valid species, proved to be. The differences, as detailed by Baird (op. cit. 521), seemed perfectly satisfactory; but, with more exten.sivc material than that writer enjoyed, we are enabled to make out a different stiite of the case. Our views would have received strong corrobo- ration upon a priori considerations from the mere circumstance of finding the true rutilus in America; but, independently of this, we are prepared to present a chain of evidence that cannot be broken down, from direct com- jiarison of specimens irrespective of locality. The general tendency of animals that range from temperate to frigid regions, to shorten their members, or, as it were, withdraw peripheral parts from the cold, and to put on thicker, warmer covering, in higher latitudes, is a well-known law, of which the present case merely affords another example. We have already seen the condition of the pelage, and the proportions of the tail, ears, and feet, in true rutilus, from high latitudes; and the present variety, witli the same general characters as rutilus, differs in the length of its several members, and their amount of hairiness, as well as in the condi- tion of the general pelage. The difference, however, is not abrupt, nor is it, ill fact, even well marked, except in its extremes. The transition from typi- cal rutilus to tiie extreme of southern gapperi '.a so gradual and insensible that there is no break in the series. This will be evident from the table given lielow, in whicli the various examples of gapperi differ as much among Ihenisulves as some of them do I'rom true rutilus. Still, comparison of the MDRIDJS -AltVICOLIN^— BVOTOMY8 RUTILUS GAPPERI. 143 two tuMes gives an average difference between gapperi and true rutilus which is readily appreciable; and most specimens are sufficiently marked to enable us to assign tiiem to one or the other form with much confidence. We have never seen a United States example that was not unmistakably gapperi, nor un Arctic one not as evidently true rutilus. But the two forms dovetail so nicely that they cannot possibly be specifically separated; and, moreover, we are unable to assign the geographical limits of either with greater precision than is given in the opening paragraph under the heading.^ Mr. Kennicott's Red River specimens appear to be gapperi, but stand liard against rutilus. The Fort Churchill animal, although so northern, is one of the longest-tailed of the whole series. Regarding the name of this southern form, there is little or no question. As we have shown, the long-tailed and -footed forms extend a little north of the United States; Nova Scotian examples, for instance, are truly like those of the United States, and so are others from the Red River of the North. Gapper's animal was from Canada, and therefore quite within the known range of the southern form. In 1842, the United States style was renamed "fulvus" by Audubon and Bachman, probably in ignorance of Vigors's pre- vious name gapperi; but, in 1854, these gentlemen, finding their name "fulvus" pre-occupied (by Lemmus fulvus Geoff., a French Arvkola), changed it to dekayi. They gave an excellent and unmistakable description, and only err in adducing ''^. oneida DeKay" as a synonym, the last being one of the interminable designations of Aroicola riparius. This animal is so much like rutilus that we can only characterize it in comparative terms. Possibly it ranges a trifle larger ; but the difference is never very evident, and often none exists. In color, it runs a little darker, we believe ; that is to say, the upper parts are more strongly chestnut rather than yellowish ferrugineous, lacking the "red" or "orange" shade that rutilus shows; the sides are not so luteous, being more yellowish brown, as in Arvi- cola riparius for example, and underneath the iur is simply grayish-ashy-white, instead of having a strong clay-colored cast. Generally, the feet are less purely white ; a difference in the length and thickness of the fur is notice- able. But the chief discrepancy lies in the relative and absolute length of the feet and tail, especially the latter. Without professing to draw an infallible dividing line, we may say that in true rutilus the tail (vertebraj) is as long OS the head, and tliat in gapperi it is longer. In either case, it is, with the hairs, about twice as long as the sole; but then it must be remembered V'f, 'M w m II V ' i 144 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. ['U^i} that in gapperi the feet and tail are lengthened pari passu. There seems to be a positive difference in the shape of the tail, which in gapperi, besides being longer, is slimmer, or of less caliber, than in rutilus, and it tapers to a finer point. In gapperi, again, the hairiness of the tail is much less than in ruHlus, the annul! being always visible, and the terminal pencil never equaling a fourth of the length of the member. There is a corresponding decrease in the hairiness of tiie feet; the soles of the Massachusetts specimens, even winter ones, showing a naked space behind the posterior tubercle. Wc cannot agree with Professor Baird that gapperi "appears quite dis- tinct from the Hypudceus glarcola of Keyserling and Blasius". It is true that our material is insufficient to bring us to any conclusions to which we should wish to finally commit ourselves; but, for all that we can see, rutilus has in Europe undergone precisely correspondent modifications with climate, result- ing in the so-called "glareola". Our samples purporting to be of this last are only two, Nos. 402 and 403, both from Sweden, and one of these is young and in poor condition, and therefore not eligible for comparison ; but No. 402, taken in the depth of winter of 1847, seems to us in every respect identical with winter skins from Massachusetts and Lake Superior. Thus No. 402 and No. 910 (from Lake Superior) might have belonged to the same litter, for any difference that we can discover. We feel justified in using substantially the same language respecting the so-called Hypudaus ruhidus of Europe; that is, provided No. 2994, from Switzerland, labeled "Myodes rubidus", be really an example of that form. This, our only example purporting to be "rubidus", is a little smaller, perhaps, than average gapperi or "glareola", with length of tail and feet at a maximum, as was to have been expected from its very southern habitat; but we find nothing to raise a suspicion of its specific distinction. However, in a memoir upon North American mammals, we need not go out of our way to discuss a question affecting those of other countries exclu- sively. We do not, therefore, pursue the subject; and in the same spirit we refrain from adducing any European names as synonyms of the American gapperi, or rather we retain the latter name as the designation of our animal, not making the change in nomenclature that might be necessary were gap- peri, glareola, and rubidus combined. A specimen of gapperi from Chilowk Lake, Washington Territory, collected in August by Dr. Kennerly, while attached to the Northwest Boun- dary Survey, enables us to extend the known range of the species materially. MURID^— ARVICOLIN^— EVOTOMYS RUTILUS OAPPERI. 145 Tadlr XX^Vlll.— Measurements of thirty-eight (and IM of otiier) apecimenii of Evotomys iiutih:h OAPFEili from the Northern States and adjoining Ilrilinh I'rovinceii. 1 i Dslo. Locality. Colleotur. NOBO to— railto- 1 •a i I Nnturo of B|Hx:imeu. C S .1 i H 3.75 3,4'. 3 93 1.40 1.33 I.8S 1.8; LIS 1.90 1.56 1.33 I..V1 1.40 1.40 1.13 1.36 1.43 1.30 1.50 1.13 1.70 1.55 1.58 1.43 1.50 1.50 1.40 1.13 1.70 1.38 i 'a 1359 im iV/r Sd71 S873 i!8T4 8875 7640 0M4 M» 950 1091 1093 1093 1094 1097 T^23 9065 8530 ftyfe 1794 9894 HfttIfikx.N.S 1.60 1.43 1.43 1.43 1.8. 1.40 1.7t 1.3f 1.63 1.00 1.50 1.30 1.53 1.60 1.43 1.63 1.3(1 1.9C 1.70 0.4i. 0.35 0.30 0.J8 i).43 |).33 0.40 i 37 0.20 0.30 0.38 0.30 0.33 0.34 0.33 0.34 0.37 as* 0. 7.'i 0.70 J. 6!) 0.73 0.70 0.70 0.75 0.73 0.73 0.73 O.CO 0.73 0.66 ).60 0.70 0.70 0.71 .1.73 0.74 173 0.75 0.73 0.73 0.67 0.73 0.60 0.75 0.73 0.45 0.48 Dr)'. Fruah. ...do. if J d <5 July — , 1853 July — , less July — , less July — , less July — , 1855 July — , less July — , less Oct. 88,1853 Not. a, less Not. 9, less Not. 14, 1835 Not. 7,1855 Deo. 6,1855 Dec. 10,1855 Mlddleborougb, Mus do do do do do do ....do J.W.P.Jenk..... ... do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do 0.40 0.40 '.45 0.4f o.4r. 0.4S 0.4J 0.S0 0.40 0.43 0.44 0.43 0.40 0.50 0.44 aeo 0.7.-. o.eo 0.R5 0.83 0.05 0.90 0.05 0.94 0.90 0.05 0.9a ... 0.80 l.OO 0.83 1.00 1.08 1.04 a 8.' a re if* I.OI 3. If 1. 10 1 S( 1. 03 :i i;i I.1S3 73 Aluoholio. do. ,1.45 ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. do do do do do do do do MlnneMU . ...do ....do ....do ....do ...do ...do ...do ....do ....do P.F.Odell ...do 1.18 1.80 1.19 1.10 1.17 1.08 1.10 1.03 0.98 1.80 .1.50 150 130 4.00 4.50 170 4.00 190 no 185 164 183 <60 130 160 9.68 i v\ 0.40 0.30 0.40 0.48 ..43 0.43 0.57 3.32 Dry. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ... do. Alcoholic. ...do. ...do. ? 9 Lake Superior do do do Upper Miaaonrl rhllowk T.>kn L. A(!av.i8 ...do... ...do a A. Bniihca (t) . J. 0. Cooper r,. R IL Krnni-riT Jnno 7,1660 1.60 1.73 1.70 1.60 1.70 1.30 1.90 1.33 0.40 ).40 0.37 0.31 0.36 0.88 0.40 0.37 0.48 0.50 0.49 0.53 0.39 0.57 0.4: Dry. ...do. Alcoholic Dry. Minio Maiii Atom 1.07160 ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS. 7783 9966 0»<7 9968 99S9 9970 0971 9974 9973 9974 9975 •9976] to 9988 7«89> 7046 8357 1 bloSoyale do do do do do do B, A. Hoopea ...do ....do ....do ...do ...do ....do ....do o.sa 0.47 0.43 0.43 a 43 0.4A 0.46 0.45 0.43 0.43 0.S0 1.00 0.92 0.8U 0.07 0.90 0.91 a93 aw 0.9f 0.05 1.00 1.80 1.15 1.00 1. 10 1.05 1.10 1.10 1.03 1.05 I.OS 1.18 1.73 1.53 1.55 1.30 1.43 1.70 1.50 1.60 1.60 1.50 1.73 0.37 0.33 0.38 0.37 0.33 0.38 0.38 0.39 0.39 0.40 0.38 0.78 0.77 0.75 0.75 0.74 0.75 0.78 0.75 0.78 0.80 0.73 0.60 0,55 0.5O 0.50 0.51 0.54 0.S3 0.58 0.50 0.53 0.43 Alcoholic. ...do. ....do. ....do. ...do. ....do. ...do. ....do. ...do. ....do. Dry. AlcohoUo. ...do. 170 190 175 160 4.00 190 leo 175 4.00 too 1.30 1.35 1.93 1.80 1.4S l.SO 1.33 1.40 1.30 1.5(1 do rf Aug.-.— do do SedRlTer ...do ...do B.Konnlcott ....do do do ....do do ....do ...do. ?l FortChufohlU J.MoTaTiah 0.45 aos 1.15 190 1.65 .... 0.37 0.77 0.S7 ....do. W ' ■ ' * No. 9976 and the eight ancceeding Dnmbera are young, or otberwiw ineliglblo for meaanrement. \ 6357 1— Maramie, 6 j 9 paira pectoral i 8 paira Inguinal ; tie two aeta widely aeparotod. 10 M ■i -'j; < A^ii'j.ncl.t^'l^uj^ . ■ ' 1 i w ■ h ft 1 it 146 MONOOKAPUS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Tlie forogding fiiblc is inndfi up of measurements publislicd by Bnlrd in 1857, witli tiiose of twelve ndditionnl specimens. Tlie dry measurements are, of course, only approximately correct, and, as far as the total lengtii of body is concerned, are a little ovfjr the truth, from over-stuffing, as is certainly tlie case with No. 10!)2. T'- >bly no one of them was in life over 4.00 at the outside, and the real av ;n.ge cannot be over 3.50, instead of 3.60, as the fig- ures stand No. 2872, whiclv we have not seen, is most likely ungrovvn. These circumstances tend to bring the maxima and minima a little nearer together, say 4.00 and 2.75 for total length, &c. On comparing this table with that of A. ruli/us, it will be seen that the average size is greater; that the tail-vertebrae average about a third of an inch longer, and the tail with its iiairs little if any longer, showing the great •lifference in the length of the terminal pencil ; the foot is 0.72 instead ot about 0.70 on an average. The tables also show that while gapperi touches figures tiiat rutilus rarely reaches, and that the average of the latter is near the minimum of the former, especially as regards tail, feet, and ears, that nevertheless the intergradation is complete. Description of the skull and teeth of A. gapperi. — Aside from the generic features given under head of Evotomys, the skull of gapperi does not differ very noticeably from that of Arnicola in general. It averages in length 0.95, by 0.^)2 in zygomatic breadth, or about as 100 to 55. The interorbitul constriction is al)i)ut as broad as the rostral portion of the skull. The molar series is one-fifth or liarely more of the total length. The upper incisors protrude a little less, and tlie under a little more, than the length of the molar scries. In the lower jaw, the distance from the tip of the incisors to the end of the hamular process ccpiuls or is even less than the distance from the same point to the i)ack of the condyle. This is as in Pitymys, and not as in the riparius section of Arvicola, where the former measurement exceeds the latter. The height of the skull, measured from the last molar inclusive perpendicularly upward, is just about oiic-tliird of the length. The interparielal bone is acute-angled laterally; there is a little foveole on the frontal; the nasal branch of the premaxillary is not longer than the nasal bone, and neither extends back of the anterior root of the zygoma. The tympanic bullae are very much inflated and papery; the foramen magnum is large and subcircular. The incisive palatal foramina arc long and narrow; the auteorbital are as usual in the subfamily. In adult skulls, the muscular impressions are distinct, leaving a shield-shaped plateau on top of the skull. MURIDiE— ABVICOL1NJ5— EV0TOMY8 UUTILL'S GAPPUIU. 147 /I As usual in Artncolince, the upper incisors nre broader tlinn they are «leep, ungrooved, and yellow on their faces. As in all ArvicoHnce, except Mijodes and Synaptomys, the under incisors run past the lust molar, and reach up the ramus half-way to the condyle itself. The molar series nre not quite parallel, diverging a little from before backward. Spite of their rootcdncss, in which they resemble the teetii of Marina, they are essentially constructed upon the plan of Jrvicoli/ifr, being truly prismatic, with acute salient and reentrant angles, and flat crowns composed of triangles of dentine surrounded by enamel walls — these walls meeting in several instances along the middle line of the tooth, and isolating denline islands, in other instances allowing contiguous dentine islands to become continuous. Details of the molar crowns are as follow: — The front upper molar presents little or nothing characteristic, having the form constantly preserved throughout the subfamily. There is an anterior closed triangle or semilune, then an interior closed triangle, then an exterior one, then an interior one, then a postero-external one — five in all. The middle upper molar is the same essentially, but with only four alternating tri- angles, of which the first after the anterior one is external, the second inter- nal, the last postero-external. This is much as in the Pedomys and Pitymys section of Arvicola, and not as in the riparius section, where the last triangle develops a snag or spur from its inner face, making five in all, two of them internal. The back upper molar is the most peculiar and characteristic of all; indeed, it seems to be the case throughout ArvicoHnce that this tooth is diagnostic of the genera and subgenera; the sculpture of its crown certainly differs more than that of any other tooth. In the present case, the tooth is remarkable, first, for being absolutely longer antcro-posteriorly than either of the other upper ones, which is not the case in Arvicola. In general, it comes nearest to the riparius type of Arvicola, having really the posterior crescentic loop and two distinct external triangles,' so characteristic of riparius (instead of a simple posterior trefoil and one exterior triangle, as in Pedomys and Pitymys and Chilotus); but the details are even more complicated than in riparius. We have, first, the anterior loop quite across the tooth in front, then comes the first exterior triangle, then the first interior triangle; then all the rest is the plication of the immense posterior crescent, thus: the crescent has its l)ack, which is long and nearly straight, to the outside of the tooth, but it throws off a spur anteriorly, forming the second exterior triangle, ?''! 'ir RRHMI il lii; "4 148 MONOOUAI'IIS OF NOUTII AMHUICAN IJODKNTIA. .'i • which may he quifc! dosed, or its nrca coiilluent with the generul iHluixl of tlie crescent; l)ehiii(l, the crescent hwjis broadly, forming tlie end of the toofli, then throws out a spur on the postcro-internal corner of tlic tooth, then in front of tliis is tlnown into a large loo|», which makes the second interior triangle, not closed, however, but continuous with the general area of the crescent. Thus there are in nil, on the back upper molar, three exterior salicncies and four interior saliencies. The precise details of this tooth vary a little with individuals, but the pattern, as just described, we have never lijund effaced or even obscure; it is, therefore, highly diagnostic. The molar crowns of Arvicola; in general appear to liave central enamel, or interior folds and ridges separated from liie general enamel wall that enfolds the teeth, but this appearance is deceptive; there is but the single enveloping sheet of enamel around the whole tooth, which is so deeply indented or folded in at the reentrant angles of the several prisms that the enamel sheet of opposite sides meets and fuses along a central line, often no wider tlian a single sheet of enamel, producing the appearance just mentioned. Now, in Erotomys, the enamel of opposite sides, in the upper jaw, meets at various places, but the fusion is not complete; either the two sheets are apparent where they touch each other, or else the imperfect fusion results in a wall the composition of which is evident by its being broader or thicker than a single sheet of enamel is anywhere. And in the under series, which we now come to examine, the enamel walls are still more distinct, revealing their true relations; they never quite fuse, and, even where they press upon each other most closely, we can discern two distinct folds, and thus trace the single enveloping sheet of enamel, in and out, in its various plications, all around the tooth. The posterior lower molar aflfords nothing diagnostic, being, as in Arvicola, composed simply of an anterior, a middle, and a posterior spheri- cal triangle, each one of these reaching quite across the tooth, and thus lying directly one after the other; but a singular thing is, that the middle lower molar copies tiie same pattern. In our Arvicola: proper, this middle lower molar has an anterior triangle, succeeded by alternating lateral triangles; but in this genus the lateral triangles arc opposite instead of alternate, which fact, together with the lack of a me cuHJcutarii, Pallah, N. Sp. Glirium, 1776, 77. Jlfynomea, Raklsesquk, Am. Monthly Mag. ii, 1817, 45. Type, If. pratenm — Wilson's Meodow-monse, =^ Anicola penntjiliianica On\. > rmmmomyt, LeContk, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. 1829, 1:1:2 {pinetorum). Not of Rucppel. > rUyniyit, McMuRTniB, Am. od. Cuv. R. A. i, 1*11, 434. Typo, A. pinetorum, LeC. > Hemiolomyi, Sblys-Lonociiamfs, fitudos do Microm. 1839 85 (iucludus amphibiut, terratrit, &o.). > ^i«ra(iM, 8KLY8-LONOCIIA.MP8, op. cit. 1839, 8S. >/'ii««iHj», Lesson, NouT. Tab. R. A. 1848, 13 (pinctoriim). ' ' ''■ • > /femiotom^a, Daird, M. N. A. 1857, 515. Type, ^rvico'a ri;iariu< Ord. > Pedomi/s, Baird, op. cit. 517. Type, Arcicola aitsleriit heC. ' ' > Ckilolui, Baird, op. cit. 510. Typo, Arvioola oregoni Bach. The foregoing synonymical list of itself indicates the limits we wish to set to Aroicola. All the earlier names, Mus, Lemmus, Myodes, Arcicola Lacdp., and Hypudeeus III, marked <, were of wider applicability than Arvicola, as wc define it, is-, for they all (unless Aroicola Lacdp. be an exception) included the Lemmings, and made no distinction of the rooted-molar species of what Keyserling and Blasius afterward called Hypudeeus, and what we now call Evotomys. The many later names, marked >, are of less enlarged application than our Arvicola, being simply based upon particular species of the genus; most of them will stand as convenient subgeneric terras for the 'Ai b "S i!« f! I, ' m ' 150 MONoouArns op north American rodentia. vaiimis sections iil' \\w i;(Miiis llmt it is quite wortii while to recognize. The niinics l'.i(i)iimomijs LrC. {iwc Rupp.), PUymys McMurt., and I'incmys Less, are mere synonyms, nil having been based on the same annual (pinetorum), and two of them being simply amends for LcCoiite's mistake in taking I'tiiimmoinyi Riip|». for his Ani'wola pinetorum. *^ Mlcrotus" Solys. appears to bo about the same tiling as PUymys. Ilem'wtomys Selys. {nee Baird) goes to the VA\ro\')cm\ amphibius. Myonomes Raf and Pcdomys and Chilotus Baird are tcnaljle sul)gonerio names for particular American groups. Doubtless there are some other generic or subgencric names that have not como to our notice. In proceeding now to define Arvicola, we may premise that our dias;- nosis of the genus will simply be equivalent to such restriction of the char- acters of the subfamily Arcicollnce as will exclude tiie Lemmings, the remarkal)l<^ Synnjifomys of Haird, and tiic rooted-molar group {Ei'otomys nob. := Ilyjiiiilceus Keys. Bias. Bd. nee 111.). Some of the more boreal Arvicola do indeed closely approximate to the Lemmings in the shortness of their ears, tail, and feet, and in the mollipilose pelage; but the radical differences in dentition arc never, so far as wc know, obscured. It may be that there are some species of Arvicolincc that require generic separation from Arvicola besides tiiose just mentioned, but none such have come to our knowledge. Some of the characters we arc al)out to give are rather those of the sub- family than of the genus; but the particular combination, as expressed in the whole paragraph, is generally diagnostic. • ' ' • ' , ',' ; Gkn. Chars. — Ciownsof the (^, rootless, perennial, prismatic) molars plane, divided into several closed islands of dentine by folds of the surround- ing sheet of enamel that meet from opposite sides and fuse along the median line (cf Erotomyn) ; the saliencies and reontrances of the alternating prisms strong and sharp, equally so on both inner and outer sides of the molar series, the profile of which is therefore equally serrate on both sides (cf Myorlet, Synnptotny."). Anterior upper molar of 5 prisms, — 1 anterior, 2 interior, 2 exterior. Middle upper molar of 4 (or 5) prisms, — 1 anterior, 1 interior, 2 exterior (the last sometimes giving off a supplementary postero-intcrior one). I'osterior upper molar of 4 to 7 prisms, of which the first is always anterior and transverse, the last a variable treffle (C, G, U, V, Y, &c., in siiape, according to subgenus or species), and the intermediate ones lateral and alter- nating. All upper molars subcquul in length and breadlii (cf. Myodas, Synap- 31' ■i Hi MUBID^— AHVICOLIN^E-AIIVICOLA. 151 ioini/n). Anterior lower inolnr of 5 fo 8 prisma, of which tlio anterior forms an irregular trefflc, the posterior 11 tmiisverse h)op, tlie interme, hirsute; eyes small, midwoy between cars and snout; muzzle furry, except nasal papilte; whiskers 5-seriate. Ears well developed (cf Myodeii), but never noticeably overtopping the fur, orbicular, more or less hirsute both sides, with valvular antitragus. Fore feet J-^ the hind feet, with mostly naked tuberculate palms, 4-digitate ; thumb obsolete, with abortive, obtuse, flattened, sessile nail ; fin- gers unguiculate, inferiorly scutellate. Hind feet with soles neither entirely naked nor entirely furry, 5-G-tubcrculate, the posterior tubercle long, 5-digitate; three middle toes longest and subequal, ftth and Ist successively much shorter. Tail terete, always hairy encmgh to obscure or conceal its annuli, and with terminal pencil, sometimes densely hirsute ; always longer than the sole, generally exceeding the head, but ranging in length from about. ■ii\ ■ss 152 JlONOOUAl'IIS OF NORTH AMERICAN ItODENTIA. as loiif,' lis lu'iul fo iirarly Imlf as loii",' as trunk. Pelage thick, soft, of ordiiuiry fur, iuhirspcrsf-'d dorsally witli longer bristly hairs; the fur at the roots uniformly l)lunil)oous, colored only at the tips; general colors subdued, the shades diiluse, rarely with distinct parti-coloration, but under parts ordinarily lighter than upper, and tail bicolor from sharing the respective shades. The North American species fall naturally into four groups, as originally ])ointed out by Professor Baird. These groups may be thus conveniently analyzed : — ((f) ]}ack u})per molar with 2 external triangles and a posterior crescent Mijonomes. 1 external triangle and a posterior trefoil {h). {!>) Front lower molar with 3 internal and 2 or 3 external closed triangles Chilolus. 2 internal and 1 external closed tri- angle (c). (c) Fore claws not larger than hind claws Pedomys. obviously larger than hind claws . Fitymys. There are no tangible differences in the skull and teeth between Pedomys and Pitymys ; nevertheless, the external peculiarities of Pitymys are greater than those of either of the other forms. Chilotus, in general external char- acters, is so like both Myonomes and Pedomys that we cannot diatinguish them, except by the peculiar construction of the ear. It shares the posterior trefoil of the back upper molar with Pedomys and Pitymys, but shares the greater number of lateral closed triangles of the front lower molar of Myonomes. Myonomes, again, is not separated from Pedomys by any external character, but by its posterior crescent and two external lateral triangles of the back upper molar. So, coml)ining dental and external characters, wc may draw up the following antithetical diagnoses, making combinations perfectly tangible and satislactory : — A. — MvoNOMiis. Back upper moiar with 2 external triangles and a posterior crenent. Middle upi)er molar with 2 internal triangles. Front lowet molar wi' I) 3 internal and 2 or 3 external lateral triangles. Ear unrim- med in front. Sole G-tuberculate. Fore claws not longCi th;.i hinder ones. Tail about J the head and body, or more, Peliige ordinary. Of maximum and medium size. MURID^— ARVIC0LINJ3— AUVICOLA. 153 B. — CiiiLOTUS. Back upper molar with 1 external Iriaiiglu and a posterior trefoil. Middle upper uiolar witli 1 internal triangle. Front lower molar with 3 internal and 2 or 3 external triangles. Ear with a rim in front of the meatus, owing to meeting there of the anterior and poste- rior roots of the auricle. Sole 5-tuberculate (?). Fore claws not larger than hinder ones. Tail about J the head and body. Pelage ordinary. Of minimum size. C. — Pedomys. Back upper molar with 1 external triangle and a posterior trefoil. Middle upper molar with 1 internal triangle. Front lower molar with 2 internal and 1 external triangle. Ear unrimmed. Sole 5-tuberculate. Fore claws not larger than hinder ones. Tail about ^ the head and body, or a little less. Pelage ordinary. Of medium size. D. — PiTYMYS. Back upper molar with 1 external triangle and a posterior trefoil. Middle upper molar with 1 internal triangle. Front lower molar with 2 internal and 1 external triangle. Ear unrimmed. Sole 5-tubcrculate. Fore claws larger than hind ones. Tail about J the head and body, or less. Pelage dense, mole-like. Of small size. Subgenus MYONOMES, Rafinesque. < Arricola of American writers. =Arvicola A, Ilemiotomyi, Baiiu), M. N. A. 1857, 515 (type, Arvicola ri/urtv« Onn). Not of Selys-Lono- ciiAMi'8, wlioBe typo is the European Arvioola amphibim. =.Mynonu»' RAFlNcsqcE, Am. Monthly Mag. ii, 1817, 45(tjpe, Munomea pratetuia Rakinesquii, wliioh is baaed on Wilson's Meadow-Mouse, Am. Oru. vl, pi. 50, f. 3, and is therefore = Arvioola peniujilvanioa Ord and auot.). := Myonoma, Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sui. Phila. 1874, 189. Chars. — ^'osterior superior molar witii an anterior loop, an internal closed triangle, (wo external closed triangles, and a posterior crescent. Ante- rior inferior molar with a posterior loop, an anterior trefoil, three lateral inter- nal closed triangles, and two (or three t) lateral external closed triangles. Middle superior molar with a supplementary postero-internal triangle. (Other dental and cranial characters as in Arvicola at large.) Ears abouL 'equ % the fur, rounded, hirsute, with well-developed valvular antitragus; no pc.ul- iar construction of the concha. Tail exceeding the head in length (about one-third as long as head and body), fairly hirsute and with terminal pencil, 'The original orthography is MynoMtt. I do not know what, if any, meaning attaches totliis word, bnt snpposo it to be compounded with //vf, so that it should bo spelled ifyonomeii, if not further altered into Atyoiiomus. t When there . I'O three, tho third reeclts from change of tho outer leaflet of the anterior trefoil into a triangle. \''4 11: m ■ 1 154 MONOGRAPHS OF NOllTn AMERICAN RODENTIA. i ^1 l)ic()l(>r. Vc.ci inodiM-alc; tlio fore al)out thrcc-fiftlis as long as tlie hinder; fore claws not larger tiiaii hind ones. This siihg(!niis is fully illnstrated in our article on its ty])e, Myonoms ripnriux, where will l)e found an extended account of the dentition. Above we only give the diagnostic characters and their more prominent collat- (•ri;ls. The section is cs|)ecially characteristic of North America, not being, perhaps, exactly matched in Europe or Asia; it embraces the greatest numl)er of Anun-ican species of the genus, among them the most widely- distributed one of all, and includes, likewise, the largest of all; while none of th(!m are so small as our species of Chilolu.s, Pitymi/s, or Evotomys. It here becomes necessary to explain the synonymy above adduced, and show cause for adojjting the name Myonomes for the subgenus. In the first and only subdivision of the American species of Arvkola which has, to my knowledge, been atten.,,ie(l, and which was so satisfactorily accomi)lishe(l in 1B57 by Professor Baird, the term Ilemiotomys was adopted f<)r this section. Professor Baird is, however, careful to add tiiat this name was constructed l)y Selys-Longchamps to accommodate the European amp/iihivs, /erresfrls, &c., the skull of which is more like Pedomys austerus; and tiiis is exactly so. Now, the very first and most esscnlial character of Arvicola r'lpar'ius, as compared with Chilotus oiegoni, Pedomys austcms, and Pitymys intiefonim, is the remarkable posterior crcscentic or C- or G-shaped loop on the back upper molar, which is unique among American species of Arvicola proper, though again found in another genus {Evotomys). This particular feature is not seen in Arvicola fniipJiibiiis, where the posterior upper molar has but one external and one internal lateral closed triangle, and then a pos- terior trefoil almost exactly as in Pedomys austerus. The inapplicability, therefore, of the name Ilemiotomys to this section is evident; for to apply it here, is to ignore, by implication at any rate, the chief character of the section. If it is to I)e applied to any American section, it certainly ought to be given to that one of which A. austerus is typical, and thus be made to supplant PedoMiys. After coming to this conclusion, our first care, of course, was to sec what European or Asiatics species our A. riparius did agree with in this particular pattern of the last upper molar. Among the limited nund)er of skulls at our command, in addition to A. amphihius, we fmd as follows: — A Lapland skull, labeled ^'ratticeps" (No. 105G), has on the back up|)er molar an anterior loop, IT (,|.; MURID^— ARVICOLINiE— ARVICOLA. 155 two exterior closed triangles, (wo interior closed triangles, and a small sub- circular posterior trefoil, all of which makes a very dilferent pattern from that presented by A. riparim. Another skull, from Siberia, lal)eleil '^ohxcurus" (No. 322G), siiows an anterior loop, three external closed triangles, two internal closed triangles, and a posterior trefoil that is almost a short, very concavo- convex crescent by the depth of the notch of its inner leallet. This is nearer to A. riparius, but not exactly it, as there is an additional interior closed tri- angle, and the crescent is not quite a crescent. A close approach, however, is made by No. 3228, labeled "decoriomm? or aconomus?" from Siberia; and in another, No. 2026, labeled "tigresds", from Sweden, tiie i)eculiar pattern of riparius is exactly reproduced. Upon dental characters alone, there- fore, we would take as the name for our ripariux any special genus that has been proposed upon either of these last-named species. The external char- acters, however, of riparius, do not agree with those short-tailed forms of boreal Europe and Asia, such as agrentis,* aconoiiius, &c., but are very nearly as in "ratticeps". We, therefore, think it probai)le, as we said above, that the section for which we adopt the name Myonomes is not exactly represented in Europe, and consequently less confusion can ensue if we reject for the species not only Hemiotonujs, but any other generic name that may have been based upon an Old World form. All the sui)generic or even "generic" divis- ions that we know of in the genus Arvicola are (with the single exception of the strongly-marked Hypudicus of Keyserling and Blasius and of Baird, equal to our Evotoynys) so trivial as to be, in fact, but slightly superspecifie designations, only worthy of being retained on the score of usefulness; for it is practically a tfonvenient thing, in so difficult a genus as Arvicola, to strike * If tbo Central and f.oiitherti Enropeau speciuHiHB of "arvaU» " ami tbe iiortliorn ones of " agreotis" bo correctly liibcled, tbero appears to be soino mistake in wbat Professor Baird says (/. c. 513), in speakin"; of the species of his section Ilijpndwuii. "Arvicola ar%'alis of Suntbern Europe," bo says, "and Airimla agrmtit of Nortbern Eiirupu, supposed to bo identieal with the A. atra(i» of authors, fall le^-itiniit ,ely in tbo other genns" [i. e., in Arvicola proper instead of in lli/piidceus]. Bnt all our skins marked "arralit" have tbe proniincut ears, &c.,of " Ilijpudaui ", and their skutU have tbo peculiar palatal structure of "ZA/pii- da:m", and their molar teeth are rooted, with crowns exactly as in other " Hiipudnl". They certainly are Hypuda'm (ErolomyH), and must be ranged clcse alongside E. rutilm, E. nibidas, E. glareola, and E. gapperi. On tbe other hand, those skins marked " agrestis " have tbe bidden ears and short tail and other exter- nal characters, and the ordinary bifof..-,ite palatal strnctnr , of Arrieola prupcr, to say nothing of their rootless molars, with crowns fashioned nearly as in ripariun. So far, tlien, are our specimens from being specifically identical, that they are not oven congeneric. Wo do not know bow it may lie with tbe "arralin of authors", not having looked up the bibliography of tbo spociesj but, certainly, the "arvalis" before us is uot as Professor Itaird 6up|H)sed. On n subsequent page (.MO), ...iwever, Professor Baird correctly says that "A. agreetit from Sweden, in tbo character of its sknll and teeth, Vielongs strictly to tbe group having A. ripariiu for the type ". So tbo mistake scorns to be simply in confusing "arrafi*" with agreaiin. ■■!•' f 156 MONOGUAl'US OF >'0UT11 AMERICAN KODENTIA. as many dividing linos as can 1)0 drawn between individual species and liiUe f,M-(»ii|)s of conspecies. On (his consideration, we iiavc no scruple in drawing up (lie cliaractcrs of M/jonoi/ics so stringently that all the European and Asiatic forms sliail be excluded if possible. Though we adopt the term "Mi/onofr.cs" i'ur what Professor IJaird called I lemiolomys, we do not sup|)ose that Kafinesquc had any idea what he was about wiien he invented it. But there stands the name "Mynomes praten- sis ", l)ased upon Wilson's IMeadow Mouse, afterward Arvicola i)ennsylvanica ol' Ord, which is also Arvicola riparius of Ord. We do not see how the name can l)e rejected, seeing that his type — a now well-known species — Fs mentioned; and, after all, it is perhaps just as well that he did not try to explain what he meant. i1 ARVICOLA (MYONOMES) RlPAIilUS, Ord. Common American Uuadow Mouse. CampiKjnol or Meadow Home o/ Penmi/h-ama, Wardks, "Doscr. U. 8. v, (is!.')." Mcailow Home, Wilson, Am. Orii. vi, pi. 50, f. li. M ijHoims iiratemis, UAi'iNK.sguK, Am. Monthly Miij;. ii, 1817, 45. Anicola pcmwjhaniea," Ol, Giitliriu'H Qeo);. 'id Am. eil. ii, 1815, 2U2 (based on Wilson, /. c), — IIaklan, I'll. Aincr. 1825, 144 (in part. Quotes Ord, (. c, and describes piwetonim).— Wagnkii, Snppl. Sehreb. viii, 588.— Scni.vz, Syuopsis, ii, 1845, i!47.— AuD. & lUcii., Q. N. A. i, 1849, 341, pi. xlv. f. — .— LeConte, I'roc. Acad. Nat. Sci. I'liila. vi, 1«>;1, 4()7. ^riioilo paluatria, IIaui.an, Fn. Amer. 1825, 136; Med. & Pbjs. Eeseorcbcs, 1835, 47. Arcimla riparius, OnD, Jonrn. Atad. Nat. Sci. Pbila. iv, pt. ii, 182."), 305 (Pbiladelpbia), (not of liicbard- sou t).— UkKay, N. Y. ZooI. i, 1842, 84, pi. xxii, f. 2 (y< ungf ).— AuD. & liACil., Q. N. A. iii, 1854, .302 (not figiiitd. In text under "uiontana").— LkContk, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila. vi, 1853, 40().— liAUiD, M. N. A. IS.W, 522 (Eastern United States).— Godman, Aiuer. Nut. Hist. 3d ed. 18()0, i, 301.— .,>i.len, Mumm. Mass., Bull. MuB. Couip. Zuol. No. 8, 231.— And of late iintbors generally. Arvicola (ilyonomen) riparius. Cow ■ Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Plilla. 1874, 189. — CouES & Yarhow, ZooI. Expl. W. lOOth Mcrid. 1870, — . Jrvicoh riparius longipitis, Kknnicoit, Agric. Rep. U. S. Patent Ofllco for 1850-1856, 304 (spocimoua ill beavy winter peliigo from West Northfield, III.).— Baikd, M. N. A. 1857, 1)24 (in text; same us Kennicott's). Ihipvihrus riparius, Maximilian, Arcli. Naturg. xviii, 1802; Verz. N.-A. Siing. 1862, 174. Arrieola xanlliognaiha, IIaiilan, Kn. Anier. 182.'), 136. — Godman, Anier. Not. Hist, ii, 1826, 65; and 3<1 cd. 1800, i, 2'.)i) (»»( .)/ l.mch and RicAarrfson).— Say, Long's Exped. K. Sits, i, 1823, 3()',l.— UeKay, N. V. Zool. i, 1842, 90.— LiNSLEV, Am. Journ. Sci. xliii, 1842, 3,50.— f f Sauinu, App. Frank- lin's Jonrn. 1825,61)0.1 "This should stand, in strietness, oa thu specific name, with which Ord antedates Kaflnesqiin. Since, however, the nan;j is simply bused, without sufllcient description, upon a scarcely recognizable figure incidentally introduced in an ornithoh)gical work, I have preferred to a0.— DkKav, N. Y. I'li. i, 1H48, HIi (snme nn Eiiinioiin'H). Jrna)Iaiia«H(. ■^,K;(Miu<8Hi'liuiiL. & IIacii., Q. N. A. iii, 185;i, 211, pi. clxiv, f. 2 (Mn88.icliH«etts, N2, and Scbiuz, 251 "). Arvkota Oiieida, DkKav, N. Y. Zool. i, 1842, 88, pi. xxiv, f. 1 (youiiR ; Now York).— LkContk, Proc. Acad. Nut. Sci. Pljila. viii, 1853, 400 (same 08 DcKuj'n). /JiTirafo rufmceng, DkKay, N. Y. Zool. i, 1842, 85, pi. xxii, f. 1 (Nortliern New York). Anicota ocdden(o/i», Pkai.e, Mainni. U. 8. Expl. Exped. 1848, 45 (Piiget's Sound).— LkCdste, Proc. Acud. Not. Sci. Pbilo. vi, 185:1, 408 (miiub as PcoIoV).— Ai,l>. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1854, 2U4 (auine 08 Pcale's).— Baird, M. N. A. 1W)7, 5:14 (Peale's type described), Anicola cali/ornica, Pk.vle, Momm. U. S. Expl. Exped. 1848, 40 (Coliforniu).— LkContk, Proc. Acail. Nut. Sci. Pbila. vi, 185:1, 408 (same as Pcalc's).— Aid. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 18.54, i!93 (someoa Peale's).- BAlim, M. N. A. 1857, 532 (Peale's type). Artlcola montana, Pkale, Mainm. U. S. Expl. Exped. 1848, 44 (Mount Sbasta, Cal.).— Aim. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1854, :i02 (same as Peale's).- Baird, M. N. A. 1857, 528 (California and t Nebraska). - NEWUEKitv, P. U. K. Kep. vi, 1857, Zool. 61. Arricola edax, LeConte, Proc. Acad. Not. Sci. Pbila. vi, 1653, 405 (California).- Aui>. & Bach., Q. N. A. 1854, iii, 270, pi. 154, f. 2 (taken from LeConte's type, and description compiled from LeConte).— Baihd, M. N. A. 1857, .531 (description from LeConte's tyiMs). Arricola borealia, LeConte, Proc. Acnd. Nat. Sci. Pbila. vi, 18.53, 407, excl. syiion. (not of Ricbardson, &e. Tlie species is based upon specimens from Rbodo Island now in Mus. Smitbs.). Artsicola trotciridgti, Baird, M. N. A. 1857, .529, in text (name suggested from some supposed dental pecul- iarities of No. -fiW, Mus. Smiths., from Monterey, Cal.). inicola longiroalris, Baird, M. N. A. 1857, .5:10 (based on supposed cranial peculiarities of No. HH, Mns. Smitbs., from California).— Newberry, P. U. K. Rep. vi, 18,57, Zool. 01. Anicola modetta, Baird, M. N. A. 1857, .535 (based on No. VV'it, from Kocky Mountains; very young). Arvicola riifidorsum, Baird, M. N. A. 18.57, 520 (Holmes' Hole, Mnss. ; a very red specimen). Arvicola brcweri, Baird, M. N. A. 1857, 525 (bleached breed from Miiskeget Island, Mass.). Skull. — The cranium of Arvicola riparius bus not a single specifically diagnostic feature ; all its characters are subgeneric, shared by xanthognalkuit, and by the various geographical strains more or less deviating in external liiar- acters from ordinary riparius of the United Slates. It averages, of course, smaller than that of xanthognalhus or even of var. totcnsendi ; but the mini- mum of l)oth of these is within the average of riparius. Our table of meas- urements indicates both size and shape so perfectly that those points need not detain us here. The skull is not satisfactorily distingui.jhable, dentition aside, from that of Pedomys; for the difference in the length of the nasal branches of the intermaxillaries, given by Baird, does not always hold. From Fitymys, it may generally be known (dentition aside) by being larger and not quite so wide for its len;jth (as 0.59 to 1.00, instead of 0.62 to 1.00, as in Pitymys). It averages much larger than that of Cliilotus oregoni. . The dentition, likewise, offers nothing specifically diagnostic; all the speci' and varieties of the subgenus having the same pattern of tlie molar crowns. The present opportunity, however, is taken to fully describe tiie ■11 IW 1 .1 !. 1 58 M()X()(ll!APn8 OP NORTIT AMERICAN IIODENTIA. J it Icclli. 'PIk- iwculiarify of (lie l)iU'U iiitpcr molar i.s not sliarcd by any other Nortli Aincrican section ol" Arvicola, tliotigli re-occurring in Evofomi/x. 'I'Ik! buck lo\v(;r nioiar consists of three prisms, the crowns of vvliich form tiirec nearly transverse spherical triangles, with their greatest convexity posterior; the inclosed dentine islets reach across the tooth (/. c, there is no median lino of enamel dividing off lateral triangles on cither side, as is the case with all the other teeth; though sometimes, when the middle islet is very sliarjj-aiigled and a little oblique, it gives rise to a partial enamel-line, al)utting against the wall of the back islet). As elsewhere throughout the genus Arvicola, the tooth is abruptly narrower than the antecedent one. The middle lower molar has n posterior transverse crescentic ellipse, or spherical triangle, with its greatest convexity backward, its dentine islet reaching across the tooth. The rest of the tooth is of four alternating lateral closed triangles: the first internal, the second external, the third internal, the fourth or front one antero-cxternal. Thus there arc in all three saliencies on each side and two reiintrances on each side {three internal reentrances, if a nick between the antero-external and next internal triangle be counted). 'J'he median zigzag of enamel effects perfect closure of all these triangles, starting from the front of the back loop forward and inward to form the base of the next lateral triangle, then shooting forward and outward, then forward and inward, then forward and outward. This tooth is much shorter and a little narrower than the next one. The front lower molar is the longest of all the teeth; its crown is exactly that of the middle lower mo\f\v plus one more internal lateral triangle and the large anterior trefoil. Thus there are in all three external saliencies (two of them being closed lateral triangles) and four internal saliencies (three of them being closed triangles), without counting the lobes of the anterior trefoil, which give another saliency on each side; and likewise there are three external reentrances and four internal reentrances, without counting the nicks of the anterior trefoil, which give another reentrance on each side. The posterior loop and the several lateral triangles of this tooth are pretty con- stant, but the anterior trefoil varies interminably in precise size and shape. It would be useless to attempt to give its endless minor modifications. But we should note that cither lube of this trefoil may closely simulate an addi- tional lateral trFangle; that this is particularly the case with the outer lobes, and, when it is acconipanicd l)y a forward extension of the median line of MUltlD.E— AUVICOLIN.E— AUVICOLA UIl'AKIUS. ini) enanic'l, the l()l)o is cist olF IVoiii the rest, ot" (ho licloil, and traiisfoniicd iiilo an actual closed cxtnrnal triangle, of wliicli, tlieretore, the tooth may show indiiFerenlly two or three. A step further in nioditication is this: — tla; trefoil, after heing partitioned otF as just explained, may (hnelop an external lobe on its niidleaf, and so remain in efTect a trefoil, giving in uW Jive external salieii- cics, viz: one from the posterior loop of the tooth; two from the two closed triangles proper; one from tiie addilioiiul closed triangle; and one from the supi)lementary lobe of the trefoil.* We have not noticed the same thing with the inner leaHct of the trefoil, but presume it nuiy occur. The upper molars reverse the pattern of the lower; their transverse loop is in front instead of behind, and the lateral triangles alternate from before backv/ard instead of from behind forward; and the last upper molar ends l)ehind, just as the iirst lower molar begins in front, with a formation not seen on any other teeth. The first upper molar, like the last under molar, is very constant throughout the whole genus; the last upper and first under are our diagnostic teeth for the several subgenera, tiiough the middle ones, both upper and under, furnish collateral characters. The front upper molar has in front a transverse loop, sicceeded by two internal and two external alternating lateral closed triangles; the first of these being internal, the last postero-external. The saliencies and reentranccs on both sides are sharp; the saliencies, both external and intenial, are three in number, counting a corner of the anterior loop in each enumeration. The middle upper molar likewise consists of an anterior loop succeeded by alternating lateral closed triangles, but here the first is an exterior instead of an interior one. The anterior ellipse usually sits a little oblique, its con- vexity looking inward as well as forward. Regularly there are only two ])erfectly-closed lateral triangles on this tooth ; first an exterior, then an inte- rior, for the last one is as much posterior as interior, and not often regularly triangular. It may be called an exterior triangle, api)cndaged with a posterior lobe or spur representing an imperfect additional internal triangle. * This is our view of tue formation of a variable nnmbcr of lateral closed triangles in tUiH tooth ; it is simply a higher (le{,'ree of complexity in the ibids of tbu uutoiior trefoil. In Peilomya and Pili/myi, the reverse, of (oiii complexity, is h<'oii. Hero the median zigzag of enamel does not run so far forward ; the anterior triangles are not fairly closed np, and their openness throws their dentine islets into one dlaniond-Kbaped urea that is nsiiully also continuous with the interior of tho trefoil itself. This is nearly as gooen in riparius, nor completely closed in the other two subgenera. Chilotue, however, is iike ripariiM in this respect. ■• li I I' 100 MONOdUAIMIH OK NOIJTII AMERICAN kODENTIA. ( i ) , When lliis pxterior triangle is most perfcet — most like tlio antecedent one — tiien also it l)ears the most perlect 8iii>|)lementary interniil s|)nr; l)iit oftener tiie two logellier have an iiuletenninate contour and a common dentine islet.* The lust upper inolar is the diagnostic tooth of this section of the genus. Certain European species show it exactly as in our forms; but in North America, as tiir as is known, no Arvicola but xanthognathus and the varieties of riimrius show tiu; peculiarity. Tliis tootii consists essentially of an ante- rior transverse elliptical loop, one interior lateral closed triangle, two exterior lateral closed triangles, and a long oblique posterior crescent. The ellipse is succeede 4.01) 4.;io 4.J3 4.40 4.30 4.U0 4,110 4. ,-,0 4,;10 4.4U 4. a.-. 4.M 4.00 4.40 4 a-) 4.19 4.40 4. .10 l.."iO 1. .-.5 1. J.-. I.4II 1.55 1.1)0 i.:io 1. 4.-. i.:io 1. M I.CO 1.43 1.35 I.SJ 1..'* 1. g.-i 1.™ 1.30 1.25 0 ;io O.lt do ...do ...do ...do ...do .. ...do ,l„ .. do do do do do — . 0. :i5 ! 0. HO 1 do ilo ...do ...do ...do o.::o (I. :w 0. 35 0.30 11. :iii 0,35 o.:i4 0.35 0.3U 11. 30 0.30 11. 35 0.31 11.30 0.34 0.37 11. *0 0, lO 0.73 0,FO 0, tO 0 C-) (I.I ...do lo ...ilo . do . do ...do ill) ilo ilo ...d,. ..do do ... ,|o do •:- ...do . do 0, fu ; 0. 75 ' ...do do .. do n.;A j .. do do ...do (1.77 1 llll 111. ill, ...do ...do . . do ...do ,,„ do 0, 10 ' do ...do 11. 70 ' ... .111. 111. do .. do ...do — do do . ...do 0.78 11. 75 o.eo do ...do do do 4.113 1.4j 0.35 0.77 It appears from this tabic that the average length is 4.3.1, and, hi the best of our judgment, no allowance for shrinkage in the dimension is to be made. The extremes are from 4.00 to 4.75, a variation of three-fourtiis of an inch, or about 17 per cent, of the mean. The average of the tail, without its hairs, being 1.4i, we may simihirly set its true average length at an inch and a half; its variation amounts to 0..'17, about the same percentage. The fore foot, averaging 0.35 in its present state, ranges from 0.30 to 0.38, that is, a variatiim of over 20 per cent.; but from the sniallncss of the measure- ment, the difficulty of placing the calipers upon exactly the same spot in the several specimens, and an actual difTercnce in the ])osition of the ball of the thumb when this is dried, the true percentage of variation would probably fall below 0.20, and thus be nearly the same as in the cases of tiie head and body and tail. The average dimension of the fore foot in life may be set at three-twelfths of an inch, or three lines. The hind foot, from the tuberosity of the heel to the end of the longest claw, can be measured with great exact- ness; it averages 0.77, and so may be fixed at 0.80, or four-fifths of an inch, in life; it varies 0.12, or very nearly 17 per cent., as before. With these calculations for absolute dimensions and variation, we may further consider MIIUIIM';— AHVICOr.lN.K-AltVICOI-A UirAlMlS. llt.'i the sume relntivdy: — Tlin avora^t; liciul and Inxly is to tlir average tail :: 4.35 : 1.50 :: 1 : O.iU ; that !.•», the tail is almost cNactly one-third as Inni; as the head and body. Tlio average fore foot is to the average hind liiot :: 37 : 80; that is, it is a little less than one-half as long. It slionld 1>y an equally lengthened lore! foot. These caicniations, moreover, it should bo remembered, really exhiitit a minimum of purely individual variation; for the nineteen specimens occurred under the most similar conditions possible. We shall next introduce a table of sixteen specimens, all from the same locality, hut taken at different seasons, in dill'erent stages of growth, and ])reparcd by different persons, for which reasons the series may be held to fairly express an average of j)uveh/ itidiridital raiiahiHiy. In color, they an; all so much alike, that no tangible dillerence can be noted, some being merely a shade browner or grayer than others. On an average, they are a triile browner or brighter than the Philcdtlphia series. f TaBLKXL.— 3/pfl«w»'rt)if»/»o/*fx/(f» fjHcmcnav/A. ujVAV.ivn (olleclfdhy J. W. J', 'h iikti, at MiddUhoro\ .)faHH. 1 H Date. rii-pnifil liy— ^6 1 t 1 1 n Tall to- B I 1 1 i 1.08 lti>mnrkR. in\ d Mur. 1 1, leas S.G. Drown ... 1.43 4.85 1.80 11.37 0. 73 Tlio flrat iiiiio HppclinecA oiiuniprnltMl i'^^„ d Sept. — , 1»5J .. do 1.15 4.43 1.83 2. CO o.no 0.70 wiTo skliint'd fi-itiii ulcoliol liy Air. ■Pff:! ¥ Sept. — , \rXi ...ilo i.:w 4.37 1.56 1.73 O.M 0.80 Ilroffli, nnd ttii- llrMt four CfihillitiH v'.,% » S*pt. -, IPM .- . IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) I ^^"^^^ 4^ ^Ag ^ 1.0 1.1 la HI lit 140 IL25 III 1.4 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.6 HiolDgraphic Sdences Corporation 4^ ^. '^^-^S^^*' ^ %%^ 11 WBT MAIN STRH r WlftSTn,N.Y. MSM (71*)t71-4S03 . 1G4 MONOOltAPUS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. tlie mean. The nvcrnge length of the nine specimens, as mensurcd fresh, is 4.30, and of tlie seven dried ones is 4.75; the result 4.52, ns the true Icngtit of the aninial, is siigiitly in excess of thai deduced from the Philadclphiu series, and precisely what we should expect from the increase in latitude. But lu'tore considering the limits of variability in total length of this series, we must allow f()r the j)robal)le changes produced in stuffing. Thus No. 1578, which was 4.10 htng when fresh, measures in its present state only 3.75, without obvious "bunching up" of the skin; while No. 105)8, with apparently moderate overstuffing, reaches 5.75, and it doubtless was at least 5.00 in life. Making due allowance for these contingencies, it will be quite safe to assnnic one inch in length of head and body as the fair average varia- bility of nuiture individuals living in the same locality. It is beyond doui)t tiiat this capacity for variation will be found exemplitlcd in every considerable series of adult specimens from any locality. The tails of the above series average 1.C6 in length ; but this dimension, as we have remarked, is certainly in appreciable t'xeess. We should not place the true average above l.fiO at most, and this would correspond pre- cisely with the slight increase in average size of the Massachusetts over the Philadelphia series; the tail being, as before, one-third as long as the head and l»o(ly. We have, however, a higher rate of variation in the length of the tail, viz, from 1.37 to 1.80 at least, which is almost half an inch. Although this may .wem excessive, and be thought in)t quite reliable, owing to what \>ie said of the measurements as taken, yet we arc sure it is nothing unusual, and, in fact, we d(!monstratc further on, from consideration of more material, n greater variability of the tail than this. The pencil of hairs at the tip is n viTy inconstant feature, depending upon the general condition of the animal as to pelage, and |)crhaps upon season. It averages about a fourth of an inch, and ordinarily ranges between O.IO and 0.30. The measurements of the feet, in tlie above table, arc essentially the same as those of the Phila- dolpiiia series, and need not detain us, though we may gather the fact that increase- in total stature is noi always accompanied by corresponding increase in these members, since No. 101)8, the largest of the specimens, has feet of only average dimensions. As corroborative of the two foregoing tables, and ns introducing new data ill dimensions, we shall next present n table of sixteen specimens from sligiitly-separated localities (but of strictly the same geographical range), and separated from the localities already noticed by a considerable interval. M I- MDIllDiB— AltVICOLlN^— ABVICOLA UIPAUIUS. 165 Tadlr XLI. — McanremeMli of liitten tptelwuni of A. niPAniUH from XorlhiraUrn Slattn. I A^ an 741 74J 743 1404 v!,'A mi gas W3 M7 m i Ualo. Looaltty. CoIIocIimI by— i 1 TalllooDd If- ■6 1 1 0.3li u.;)7 0 3.1 0.30 0.3« a4o 0.38 0.37 0.3V 0.30 0.3:) 0.34 0.38 A 33 0.38 0.37 1 ^! 0.71 II. Nj Ui3 a 78 0.81 0. n 0.84 0.P0 0.75 0.81 0.H ft 70 aM) ft 78 0.1:0 ftEO i > 1 Went XorthaUd, III ILKenuleott 1 to 1.60 I.UU 1.40 I.K) 3. so l.ni ?.51 1.4(1 4.(W 1 I.7U 3 73 i 1- TU dii do SprlBB, 1833 Jan. -. I8U Hprinx, 1833 do do do do do do 4.83 4.33 3.83 4.90 4.80 4.40 3.73 4.93 4.43 4 00 4. SO aso 1.43 1. .VI 1.4'. 1.711 I.SO 1.23 1.53 1.33 1.40 1..^0 1.4U do do 9 9 Stint Lonla, Mo 1.70 1.33 I.f3 ITU 1.43 l.tO 1.40 l.fS 1.75 do do do do .-. dn IUelno,Wli do Dr.lMLUsy do 9 July 10, l»S3 do Dolroit, Mich Kelrolt Rlrar, Mich do.f n.Ftoi Ang. -, I8S3 Prof. 8. y. nainl 4.04 ft 70 These menHurcments arc nearly all from dried skins, which nevertheless are so well prepared that there is no appreciable source of error. The aver- age— barely over 4.00 — is less than that of the Philadelphia series by about three-tenths of an inch, while the tails average ratiicr more. While the pro|H)rtioii in the eastern series is as 1.00 to 0,34, here it is as 1.00 to 0.37. We also learn from this table of an interesting variability of proportionate length of tail to luidy. Thus No. iVar, which is 3.r)0 long, and No. iVnr, 4.60 long, both have the same length of tail, 1,60; in the former the proportion is 1.00 to 0.46, and in the latter l.CO to 0.36; that is to say, the tail may vary in specimens from substantially the same locality, from but little over one-third to nearly one-half the length of the trunk. The hinti feet remain substantially the same as in the two preceding scries (being slightly larger than the Philadelphia one and slightly smaller than the Massachusetts one), which, v/ith the decrease in total stature, gives relatively a little larger foot of these specimens. In animals, then, from the Upper Mississipiti Valley, we see a slight decrease in average stature, associated with a little longer (relatively) tail and hind feet. We desire it to be observed, for purposes of certain comparisons instituted beyond, that we have not yet seen any hind foot touch 0.90 in length, none exceeding, and but few reaching, 0.85. '1' ( I"' 111;/ %' n a '■if'.. I s i i" 1(5(5 MONOGUAPUS OF NORTH AMERICAN KODENTJA. [The peculiarities of pelage of a part of these Illinois and WiMCoimiii specimens, constituting the variety longipilis, are discussed elsewhere.] Before taking up the intricate questions that western specimens present, and to complete our review of eastern examples, we continue with a fourth table, comprising all the rest of the dry specimens that liave fallen under our observation from the United States east of the Mississippi. Taiii.e XLII.— Lfjt oftiMxlmmt (addilional to IhoM of Tablet XXXIX, XI,, a»d XLI) «/ AIIVICOLA IIIPAIIIL'S txamined dri/Jrom the VniUd Slain eatt of the Miulmippi, iri/A mcaturrtm xti of Many. a M Data. L0 1.43 1.70 0.33 a3« ft 70 ft 73 Dciul 1 liJ. Lubrndor l>r. J. Wyninu . . I038S T760 ,18311 , 1<«4 WhI'e Mo-.inUiut, .N. H. B. llflhil, VI I.M ILOO 033 ft 75 Albino ( :- " «(ta ^fn- C. .S. I'uille f-N, mi 9 IliirUiigtnn, Vt .... ilii /.. 1 liomim u . . ...do J 4. CO 1.-0 1.00 0.30 ft 77 Uc..d iS.X ■f iln ..do cC do ...do 1(17 i.ao 1.00 0,35 ft 73 ...«•>. ',.m ? Aug. ai, 1663 Wood! nolo, Mm H.F.Bolrd 4. no I.IO 3.10 a 43 ft 66 im J Aug. 81, ism ilo ...do 4.90 I.CO 1.60 ft 78 hm d Si'pt il,IM3 do ...do 4.33 l.SO 1.70 0.39 ft 61 • iw Jlllj lt>, lfl«l .... do ...do 3. SO 1.40 1.00 ftTO im 9 July ■a. leei do ...do 3.0) i.m 1.33 ft 10 im .Sept. 1:1, IW3 ScpL 11, letu ....do 1.60 1.05 4.10 0.40 0.41 ft 6-3 ft63 do ...do Sc'pt », I8C3 do ...do 4.33 1.33 1.63 0.40 ft80 im 9 July -, IHX Miirilieg(.t I., Mllu Dr. T.M. Brewer 4.30 1.63 I.IM 0.63 NoM to eye ftSV, to ur l.Oii : bead 1.35. S5?] rt July — , l«M Ao ....do 4.87 1.64 «.<4 0.45 ftOO NoM to eye 0.S0, to Mr 1.16 i head 1.40. !«l rf July — , leise do ....do Very yoaiig ; thli and Moa. M30-1 lypoa of •'brnurt'. ff IIIugliniu,UM>.... do do 4.90 1 03 L83 0.33 ft 63 Head 1.60(1) Head 1.33. Type of *- rM/Uormm". do 4 64 ] 7Q 1 00 0.33 ft 75 Uolmm' Hole, Maw Dr. J. Wymm. 4.W 1.35 1.85 ft83 im ? Sept U, 1963 do 8.F.B«lrd 4.73 1.60 1.60 a 40 fteo Like " ntfUormm". 017 Oct H, IMS UlddlolM>n>a||b,Uii» J. W. r. JenkB Voang. Bead 1 95. )T.\pe of "Jorealta", LeCoBto, 1653 1 nto > .RlehardKii. ff IVor.L.A|i*Mli aPowell ....do 4.90 1 40 1 55 0.34 ft63 Not. — , 18M N. r. — , IBM Newport, 11. 1 do J. SO 133 1.39 1.60 1.90 0.31 0.40 ft 79 ft 81 rm «ov. _, 18U do ...do 1.40 1.60 ass ft85 Type of "Mnto". tM Now York City do 0 N LawroBoe Very yonag. 8ST t7J ILOO 110 ft 80 Bimei Cooniy, N. Y do R E Halrt AV* (f ft'pt— .l«i.-| ...ilo 4.00 1.00 1.83 ft 70 Dead 1.33. rT Mibol.,N.Y It llnWfl 1 ^onng. Head 1.40. > 9 ...do 4.10 I.CO i.m 0.7« w MUKIDiE— ABVIGOLIN^— AltVICOLA RIPARIUS. 167 Table XLII.—XMii^qirdaimf (addUional IoHom of Tablu XXXIX, XL,and XLI)cfAnvicntJi ntPARius namimtdjnm the Vnittd Slata tail of Ike illuitnlppi, wilk «eaa«irm«nf« of maiijf— Cuiitinuml. !i4) Ml KS7 lU tier tl« 414S 41S0 ■ffh *tu SIM SIM fNS no iM3 ma fllT I3N Dal*. Anff.— .IdM 8«pl — , laM Fob. M, ISM Sept. II, 1896 Nov. — , 1836 Not. — , ins Not. — , 1)133 Hot. — , 1839 --,I8M Lwtlitjr. NI«hal>,N. T BtMlry'i Point, M.J C«rll*le,P* ....do.. ....do.. ....do.. ....do.. do Wllllanaiiort, Pa . do Fozbarnh, Pa. . ColaailiU,Pa do Philadelphia, Pa.. PenuaylTaiila (^Ilecled by— Rllowfll.. aF.BalrU. ...do ...do .. do ..do do. .. do .. do L UolUnn . ...do MIcblKaa CleTeUod, Ohio ... Racine, Wla LIvlnitatoo Co., Mo Saint Louie, Mo .. . Clarke Coonly, Va. IIIlUboraach,N.C. do Pmlrle Her Xoage, laataraUaltedSUIee do .do. Unknown ..do Mi(lw Ilc bounds, we will add 0.25 to the minimum and sid>tract 0.25 from the maxi- mum. With this very liberal allowance, it will be seen that we have proven a net variation of one and three-quarters inches to occur in the sixty-three specimen^! measured. The tail averages 1.59 in this series, with 1.10 and 2.00 as extremes. Making a fai'; allowance for error, as before, its true variation may safely be held at three-quarters of an inch. Its average length relative to the tnnik is as 4.43 to 1.59 :: 1 : 0.36 nearly, or a little over one-third the length of_ the trunk. The average hiiul foot is here 0.80, with 0.72 and 0.92 as extremes. Proiiably little or no allowance is here to be made for error, as the feet arc never skinned, shrink but little in^drying, and can be measured to a nicety. 'I'he hind foot, then, varies two tenths of an inch in length. Wc tabulate a resume of the four preceding series, as far as the three principal measurements, of head and body, tail vertcbrBf, and hind foot, arc concerned. Buries. t •si ^ a J - 3 a L«D|;lli of livod ntid botly. Tiill (verteliiir). Hind foot. Average. Masiniam. S B J 'a 1 1.44 I.Kt 1.41) 1.50 B a a 1 § a '5 a 1 1 a 1 M B B a a S Pliilurk>8 19 IG 10 4.35 4.D3 4.04 4.43 4.7.'> r..75 4. GO 5.75 4.00 4.00 3.50 3. r,o t.co l.UO 1.70 2.00 1.95 1.37 1.3S 1.10 0.77 0.70 0.79 O.SO 0.82 0.B6 0.86 0.92 0.70 0.70 0.75 0.72 Illinois, At'., Hvries Gciienil scries. .............. 114 4.:u 5.75 3.50 1.59 '2.00 l.IO 0.78 O.OS 0.70 Combining the results of the 114 specimens, wc have on average length of trunk of exactly four and one-third inches; a length of tail of 1.69, or alinust MUKID^— AKVICOLIN^— ABVICOLA RIPAKIIJS. 169 exactly one and three-jijths inches ; and a foot of 0.78, or nearly four-fiflhs of an inch. The innjority of the specimens run from 4.25 to 4.50 in Iciiglli; n large proportion run between 4.00 and 5.00. Only eight specimens (al)out 7 jMjr cent, of the whole) exceed 5 00, and only twelve (about 10 per cent.) of the adult ones fall below 4.00. The proportionally longest tail is as 0.41 to 1.00, or a trifle over two-fifths of the trunk; the shortest tail is as 0.27 to 1.00, or a little over one-fourth of the trunk; the average tail is to the average trunk as 0.37 to 1 .00, or about three-eighths. Only a single foot of the 1 14 (ixcccds 0.90, and only three touch this figure; not one fulls below 0.70. The limits of what may be called normal individual variability are easily set from the foregoing figures, and the bounds of (Hissible variation as readily |)erceived for both al)8olute size and relative proportion of parts. It must be observed that we have not yet presumed to inquire whether more than one species be represented in the series; but what we claim to have shown is that no more than one species can be predicated upon these specimens from size and relative proportion of parts, since the ab&olute dimensions gnidc imperceptibly between the extremes, ond the relative measurements are inextricably interlaced. As a supplement to the foregoing, we subjoin another table of more detailed measurements of numerous alcoholic specimens, all from the Eastern United States. This table extends and checks the above results to the last details of structure, and requires no further comment. Tablr XLSII.— Jtfiramimimto effortji-fitt (and IM nf Many othtr) alBokoUe ipteimau q/ A. miparicb flrom Ikt Saltern U»UedSMt$. ■y-:'U 1 1 u i Looaity. CollMtor. Fmmtipofuow to— Till to eod of- Loaglh of- i 1 0.30 Nature of Apoolroen. 1 A I.IO L90 i 4. so I 1.60 I.M 1 1 1 1 H a 81 T4« MM MM vn 1531) «n Ml* •m lom 1MI im 1BN BaUfla,NoT»8e .. dn, AI«oIhiII& do UkeSapwtor d« UwrpDanutm. ...do ... ... .... da ...do ... ... .... 0i4S ivn ... ....d«. ...do. ....do. ...do. ... dfc ....do. do ... do ■"1 do ... to ... Miiuraoto aF.Oilall RKmnkoU ...do ...do do < i t 170 MUNOURAPUS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Taiilk XLIII.— ]f«iMiirem«ii(« of fortg-fin (and IM of many oi\er) alcoholle tptelmtMt of A. uipadiv* firom Iht Eiuten Vnileil Slatn—ConUnnrt\. s 4908 1630 16iU 10.116 to losid ri 9899) 10319] to iosmI 9»l 1399 10383] to 10303 j 4913 10304 1616 1«« 10303 •888 lOSWI isn 9849 SfSO 9831 9869 9M3 1631 9834 1911 10991 10308 9868 10S09 10600 10601 10609 1603 10003] to loeiiJ 4893 10619] to 10691 1614 10623] to 10699) Loullly. Collfwtor. Froatlpornoeo to— Tall to end or- Length of- i 1 Nature of apadnea. A i 1 I I ^ i 1 i I i;*n*iliiWut HinneautA D. W.DavIa O.KaaiTtaon ... P.RBoy ....do A'oobulle. ...do. ...da do. Raolne, WU ... do do ....do ....do. ? Saint Loiili, Ho Wvtberatlitlil, Conn . . . do O.Kngalmiun.... C.Wright ....do 0.43 0S9 0.90 1.00 •• 1.90 1.00 I.9S 1.40 1.90 4.93 .. 3.00 1.90 1.80 1.60 1.10 0.40 9.10 0.4.1 I.W0.44 a 19 0.43 O.8«0.SS a*.... ....do. ....do. 3 Tery young. Toiuc. ...da ...da ...da TeMa: 4reot., 4abd. Aleohello. ....da do ....do ? MkiDD W.Stimpaoo ....do . do . EsuxCannt.T,N.Y... Walorrllle, N. Y . do O.A.Soott U.DaTia ...do nuisborough, N. C .. do M. A. Cnrtla .... 4.110 1,13 90(1 0.43 OlBO ...do Waihlngtoo, D.C Tiogft, N. Y — 1 B.Row«II 0.30 0.9ll Ol48 0.48 I.IO 1.09 9.01 9.91 1.90 1.30 1.96 1.90 4.30 HO 1.10 1.53 I.BO 1.40 1.90 I.IP 1.10 lis 0,4f a43 0.41 0.40 0.89 0.80 0.81 0.19 ....do. ...da ....da do do ...do ....do W.8.Wood ....do. PhlWIelphik, Pa . do ...da ...do ....da CUrka County, V*.... do . C. a B. Kanmriy ...do ....da 0.30 9.98 1.90 4.13 1.40 1.60 0.43 0184 0.49 ....da ....do. < SpatUjWaota Co., V» do A-W.Haaaay... ....do ....da do ....do ....do. Oneida Coniit.T,N.Y. do H.DaTia da ,...4o da do do do. do ....do da do ...do da ... Nlohola,ir.Y B. Howell ....da di ....do ....da Wa^JrTlll^N.Y .. ..do U.DaTia AloehoUeill young. AlooboUe. AleokoUe|4yonn(. AlookoUe. ....do Oo»ldaCoonty,ir.Y.. do ....do ....do MUKIDJS— AKVICOLIN^— AttVlOOLA RIPAKIDS. 171 Tahi.k XLIII.-.l/Mnii-eiM*f« of forlg-fin (amd litl qf mang other) mlcohoUe tpaimmi of A. fclPAiilUri from the Eatttrm Vnited •SI).4O0l7O|0i43 «8 0.43 0.80 9S 1.40 0.70 80 0.410,84 XM0.73 90 01401,79 0.93 0,74 0,43 9.43 40 Nntiiro of s,MMiiiiioll Aluobollo, ..do. . do, . do. ..da . •)« .do, . d& ^T)rpc«ar"Brrwurl.' AtoohoUc. ...da ..da .. (la .. da ...da ...da AlcoboUo. ...da .. da ...da ..da ...da ...da ...da ..da ...da ...da ..da ..da .da •TWawl KMIvradoM aaaMotl»nfniaiBurtiogt u ^ 1 ,r l'\ % *: 11 172 MONOOKAPOS UF NORTH AMHKICAN ROOENTIA. T.mi.K XlAlL—Mfamrrmtnlio/forlii-JIn (and fitf o/ many oiker) alcohollo tptrlmnt of A. t\iv.\mvii from lite Ka$lrm Vmlltd «ral««— Conliiiaeal. _ 7.WI io(n'i| *" lonotij saw ■UM 107711 1 10778 1 lOTMl I Ucmlity. CollMtor. Knmtlporuooi^ lo— Tall lo «nd or- Lrnglh of- i 1 Nuluraoriipnlaioo. 1 i ' t 1 ... 1 *' 1 1 n Batrm.Obla JailpiNewtaa.... ...do AlcolwUei TtryyouiiR. Alcoholic ...da Huppoanl .1 very yunnit. Huppond 6 very yiKlDK. Alcuholla .. da ... da ...da ..da .. da ...da .. ila ..da .. da .. do WiKtXiirthllrM.III . .... do ILKonnlnotl ..do .... do ...do do ....do ■■ .... .. " do .. do do ....do *t015 Pi' ni III mi. Ulna do ...do ...do do ...do do ....do .... do ....do BeH9 Wood • Hole, Uus... dn 8.F.Biilrd ...do loeifl do ...do l(M13 do ...do * Thi'M -n ap«clia»i not Idntlded by tootli, wllh fow uocptloiu. It It nKcwary to inilio * nots of Ihcte for foar thcrti mfty bv Mine /VdoMyf owlcnu aoioDf iben. Taiilb XL.IV.— Jfeafiirniiciita (/ tkirty-Mnt drf iptcimm of Ike hii'arics lipe from rarioHi tocalUia in tke VniM SUila tcft of Ike Miulnippi. a p M Date. LodOlW. Collected by- 1 i ■s 1 Konurka. »3JS 0336 0337 »3I7 43H 33«S «M mi 3096 84«8 aosi ■m iWr I09W »m 3391 Aug.— ,1871 Aon. — , 1871 June 10, 1871 Tellowstoae Lake do FurlNeof F.V.U«yd. l.lke " ados " In oelotr. ...do. Yonnit MebiMka .. do do ...do do ....do oK W.8.Wi.jyaa,iH8 JuM •,IH3<) JUBO 4,I8W IVirt Bridcrr, Citb do do O.Dreiler ...do D«rk«nlored. ....do. ...do. ....do. ...do. Tyi'. Typoof "«lo»". |"«l««". I.abeled " ttli/mniau" , like Typoof '•M<(A>mlnu". .. do fWtVhlppIv, Aril... do KINUmer ...do 9 M«r.3l,liM0 KortCraok Col J. Fellner . ...do ...do •• do do ...do ...do 9 d do FtortTfJon Col ..do J.XOIIIDO J.tl.Ne»lierfy ... ...do Upper Pit RiTor, Col ... Lool Rlrer, Col A.RT»yk>r J.r.llonmoad . ...do 8wi Dieco, Col do CollltaniUi J. LeCoate ...... C. S. Bi. Eip ... ...do do do Pniiet Sound .. do 4.10 1.93 0.W As will he seen, this series embraces the type-specimens uf all tiie nominal species we are to discuss except "montana", anil of this there is a typical exan:ple. The series was made up without the slightest reference to any desired or expected result, and simply includes, in fact, all i he dry speci- mens that have i^ome under our observation. The seven specimens marked "young" are not grown enough to furnish available measurements ; and as (hey would vitiate the result if included, they are omitted in computing the average. It is hardly necessary to more than allude to the average of this series OS compared with the eastern ones. The total length falls between that of the Philadelphia and the Illinois series, and is 0.15 below the general average. The length of tail is within a just appreciable fraction of the grand eastern average, taking place between that of the general series and. the Illinois series. The average proportion of body and toil is ^4.18 : 1.53) as 1.00 to 0.34, precisely as in the Philadelphia and Massachusetts series. The average foot is precisely as in the Illinois series, and within 0.01 uf the grand eastern nvrroge; only two feet touch 0.90, and none (of the adults) fall below 0.70. jl! m m m , -.i'l ti 174 MONt)OBAPn8 OP NORTH AMRRIOAN RODENTIA. jSii 13ut since several iiuniinal sppcicH ure represented in tlie list, which inigiit collectively strike a ji^ennrnl nvcriigc without being severally on an nverngn, it becomes n(?crHaary to discuss the scries in detail. On running the eye over the column of lengths ol Irunk of the adults, it will he seen that they are imperceptibly graduated from 3.50 to 4.75, an«l that this graduation is inde- pendent of geographical or other consideratiuns. We have only, then, to discuss the relative length of tail and feet as coni|Nired with the body. Now, the specimens from Nebraska, Utah, and the upper and mountain- ous parts of California do not differ in any way from the eastern in size or 8ha|)e (as will be seen by making a calculation from the figures). '1 hose from \\\c. lower parts of California and the Pacific Coast itself (representing "edax", "californicus", and "occidentalis") average a little less (3.92; that is, O.IG less) than the average of the whole; while the tails average a little more (1.3 '; that is, 0.15 more), giving a relative length of body an«l tail as 3.J)2 : 1.G8 :: 1.00 : 0.43; while that of the whol;; e.istern series is only 1.00 : 0.37. The feet are correspondingly enlarged, averaging 0.84 instead of 0.79. We may say, therefore, that these specimens are a little smaller than usual, with tail and feet both absolutely and relatively a little longer. But we must remember that this is only one end of a very long series of 145 specimens, a great many of which shade up to this extreme, and some of which overlap it, and that the utmost of variation in these 39 specimens is fairly within the normal limits of variability we demonstrated for the eastern series. We now propose to match several individual specimens out of this series, as nearly as may prove possible, with eastern ones. No. 4318 (Nebraska) is 4.50X1-60X0.78, and No. 3-)25 (North Carolina) is 4.75 X '-^OX 0 79; differing less than two specimens from Nebraska. No. 3551, from Utah, is 4 75X2.10X0.78, and No. 857, from New York City, is 4.75X2.00X0.80; difference much less than that between the several Utah specimens. No. 3867 (Fort Crook) is 4 25X1-40X83; No. 4723, from Pennsylvania is 4.00X1-40X0.82; the type of " longirostris" (No. 1268) is 4.50 X 1-«'>0X 0-73; a Philadelphia skin is 4.25X1-40X0.70 (precisely the same proportions). A typical specimen of "montana" is 4.50 X 1-55 X 0.81; a Philadelphia skin is 4.60 X l..'iJX0.82. The type of "edax" is 4.00X1-^X0.90; No. 903, from Nuntuckot. is 4.20 X 1-40 X 0.85; and No. 901 (type of rufidorsum) is 4.20 X 1..55 X 0 82. The type of " californicus " is 4.0d X 1-75 X 0.80 ; No. 1578, MURIDiK- AIlVlCOLINiE -AKVICOLA BIPARIUS. 175 from Massachusetts, is 4.00 X 1 -56X0.^0. " Occidentalis " alone lins pro- portionnlly longer tail and feet than any other of the whole series, but it grades through " californicus " to the rest The difference in the length of the foot between "occidentalis" and 'californicus" is only 0.07, which of course furnishes no character of the slightest import, as we have seen a vari- ation of more than twice as much in eastern specimens — enough to more than counterbalance the greater relative discrepancy, which is owing to "occidentalis" being a smaller individual. According to Duird's measure- ments, the tail of "occidentalis" is 2.00, and of californkm LfiO; but there appears to he some mistake here, and at any rate the specimens now in our hands show no such discrepancy, one being about 1|, the other 1^. They are both prepared in the same style, and apparently by the same person. The above will be sufllicient, we presume, to establish what wc claim : that in points of size and shape there is no difference whatever between the eastern series and nearly all the western scries, and that there is no difference in these respects of specific import, or even enough to constitute a geogroph- ical variety in any of the Wo spejimens; and that, therefore, if more than one species is to be r!st4ibli8hed, it must be upon something else than size or shape. To this we should add a word concerning Arvicola " modesti> ". We regret that we cannot agree with the proposer of this species, that although it is " not quite grown, the skull shows that it would not attain to much greater size". To our view, this skull is that of a very young animal, as shown by its size, smoothness, fragility, absence of muscular impressions, loose sutures, &c. It corresponds in tliese and all other respects with several specimens of very young eastern and western Arvicola measuring two or three inches long; while the external dimensions are the same as those of the several young ones with which it is associated in the last series given. We supplement the foregoing table with one of more det'-i'^d measure- ments from alcoholic specimens, dismissing it with the rerna ...at it amply confirms what has been alreaily deduced. l.'i] I 1 'i\ n a 11- .- iir 176 MONOGRAPHS OF NOIITIT ^ MERICAN RODE^TIA. Tablr \LV.—Me 1 1611 lOIIMj .« 10007 j 17m lOUOO lOOffl) 10070 10071 10078 1738 11B3 1269 1 1370 1 4833 7571 10073 701! 1 7739 25 J6 9e93 U«lfl 10074 1 to 10081 J C.Drcxler ...do 0.48 0.43 0.4S 0.50 0.47 0.99 0.40 0.S0 0.45 O.S,'! 0.93 0.IM 0.05 0.90 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.80 I.OO 0.02 1.05 1. 10 1.18 1.17 1.20 1.30 1.20 1.25 1.10 1.25 1.15 1.40 1.30 4.90 a2s 3.15 3.90 4.10 4.00 4.15 3.20 4.00 4.00 4.50 4.30 l.M 1.20 1.85 1.30 l.OS ■J. 00 i.eo 1.19 1.83 1.30 1.30 2.00 1.80 1.30 1.35 1.45 1.45 i.go a. 15 2.0J 1.30 1.90 2.10 1.90 0.38 0.33 0.40 0.38 0.40 0.40 o.:n 0.40 0.38 en Chutes.. TTppor Platte River Black IlllU. Dak.. Fort Shaw, Mont . . Fort Crook, Cal Fort TiJon.Cal Sau Diego, Cal Monterey, Cal do ...do W.S. Wood J. 8. Newberry.. ...do O.Drexler F.V.IIayden... R.B. IliU J. Fi'iluor J. Xiiiitua .1. F. Hammond Dr. Cauiaold .. ...,do ....do 1 ...do 1 * Dtexler's numerous Fort Itriilger Hpecimens wo have not tboni^ht necessary li> measnra in detail, as tlmy differ but Utile, and are proclaely like the dry ones alrt'ndy preseot^d. McCnrttiy'o, from the snnio locnlity . show h good deal of iitficrciic* in length nnd stutitnoiu of tail. It will bo observed thrtt these Hpectmena, which we cannot diatiu^^tflh even as a Inonl strain, fmni ordiuary ripariui, were collooteil la company with a lot of A. autte.tu var. decurtatu*, wliicli aoeina oomnton in thai locality, and is distingtiiiihable al a glnooe. Kvon the collectors appear to have separated the two species, tojudgo from tbo labels. t Uy some miHprint in Boird's work, Not. 130!>, 13T0 are given as mounted, whereas they now lie before us In nloohoL Having exhausted our data of size and external shape, we will next inter- rogate an extensive scries of skulls of eastern and western Arvicolas of the riparhts section, to see if there be any cranial characters upon which more than ii single species may be predieable. ' H '^ \ MURID-B— ARVICOLIK^— ABVICOLA RIPABIU8. 177 Tablb XI4VI. — iSetuHvdnentt of »ixl>j-eight »lt»Ui af eastern and tcmtern apecimena of AnvicuLA KiPARlUd. mi mi mi w/ iM «M! mi mi w w im w W4' «l!88 mt m} w \uu Locality. BurlinKton, VI. ilo do .do. Uiddlelioroagb, UaM . do do do do do do do do do Uaakeget^ Mau do do HlDgham, Mm« Wood'i Hole, Haw . . . ■ do do do nolmflc* Hole, Maaa . . . do Mioliol>,N.T Bawx Conoty, N. T .. Philadelphia, !■* Fozbnrgli, Pa do Carll>l«,Pa do do do .... do do do do VeonivlTanla do , WiiahinKtoo, D. C niarke County, Ta . . . Weat Hortkfleld, III .. do do .... do do do do D«trol),Mlota Dstrolt River. Mloh. 12 H 1.03 1.08 1.06 1.07 1. 01 1.90 1.09 LOS 1.08 1.00 I.IS l.OJI 1.10 !. II 1.08 1.14 1.19 1.03 1.08 1.05 1.08 1.00 1.07 1.09 1.00 1 07 1.13 1.00 1.09 1.06 i.ie 1.06 1.00 0.06 0.M 0.41 0.49 0.40 0.43 0.40 0.40 0.4J 0.44 0.49 0.43 0.40 0.40 0.44 a4i 0.41 0.44 0.49 a4« a 44 a43 0.39 a 44 a43 a4o 0.49 0.40 a4o 0.43 0.30 0.49 0.41 a 40 a 49 B.X 0.38 0.3i b40 0.S9 0.03 0.69 0.63 0.61 0.05 0.00 ass 0.69 0.65 0.61 aos 0.S6 aes ass a 64 a 69 a 61 a«i a TO as7 a 67 a 69 a 63 a 64 as9 a so a S3 as« a 66 a 58 as8 a so a 69 a 61 ass a64 ass ac9 a 18 a 16 a 17 an a 15 a 16 a 18 a IS 018 a 17 a 15 a 14 a 15 a 16 a 17 a 16 a 15 a 18 a 14 a 15 an a 16 a 18 a 17 a 16 a 17 a 17 a 16 a 15 a 18 a IS a 14 a 17 a IS a 18 a 16 a 15 an a 15 a 15 a 14 a 14 a 13 a 16 a 16 a 97 0.97 a 96 a '.IS a 97 a 97 a 98 a 97 a 94 a98 a 98 ago a 94 a 98 ar a 96 a 96 a 99 a 97 a99 a 97 a 98 a98 ass as4 a 97 a9S a97 a 97 a 95 a96 a 94 a9T a96 a 97 as? age a 98 a97 a9S a 94 a 94 a94 a 96 age Uiidur Jnw froni tip of inclsora to — a 18 a 90 ai8 an ago a 90 a 99 a 91 ago ago ago ago an a 93 a 10 ago a 99 a 15 a 99 ago ago a 94 ago a 91 ago ago a 94 a 18 agi a 18 agi a 19 ago agg a93 agi a«9 ass a 59 a 58 a 61 a 69 a 60 a so a S3 ass a 63 a so a SI a 69 a 60 ass a 57 a 54 a6s as8 a 63 asa a gi I a i» ail agi as9 ago a 18 agi an af9 a 69 a so a 58 a 59 ass as6 a 79 a 74 a 75 a 77 a 77 a 78 a 80 a 70 a 80 a 80 a 78 a 74 a 67 a 87 a 77 a8f a 8.1 a 81 a 75 a80 a 81 a 78 a 70 a 80 a 78 a79 aeg a 79 aso a 80 a7S a 76 a 71 a 70 a 79 a83 a 76 a 77 n.eo aM a 78 a 74 a79 a 70 a 77 a7g a 76 a 83 a 79 a 80 a 8:1 a -9 a 80 ago a 70 a 81 a 84 a 89 a 80 ass a 86 a83 o,:e a84 agg a 80 ae6 a 83 aB3 a S3 aso a 81 aTS a 71 a 83 ago a 89 a 81 a 89 aes a 89 a 78 a 77 a 79 aeo a 77 a 97 a 98 a 96 a 97 ass a 95 ago aao a 95 a 98 a 97 0.98 ago ag4 ag7 a 99 a 96 o.g7 agg age a30 a 33 a 34 0 39 u. GO aso a 39 a 35 a 98 ass ass aso a 97 ajo a 93 a 36 a 95 a 3.1 a 39 aso 0.34 aso ago I asi a97 a«7 ag7 ago age a9s aso ago aso ags age age ags ags ags a 98 a97 ags ag7 agg ag7 ags a 94 a94 age ag7 a 37 ass aso a 34 aso ass a 36 a 34 a S3 a 39 a. 10 asg aso ago a 31 a 36 a 31 a 31 asg a 31 a SI age a 33 ags ass asg Not fbll growD. k^^. 1 r t: l! 1 i y ti. 1 i[ ■ i i !! fli: 'S J'TT-f •J''!:' 'ill' I ) ■ I' !»' !li n; 178 MONOGKAPH8 OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Tablk XLVI. — itea»urementt of uMij-figM ukulU of Mtlem and teetlerH tpetime»» of AnvicOLA KIPARIUI — Coutinned. I a W mi me mi Looallty. Kacino, Wig HfllDt Loutrt, Uo do do PrAfrle Iftr Rouge, Lii. do Montorpy.Gal do Putalumo, Cal Sftn Diego, Cal Upper Pit River. Cal.. Luat River, Cal Fort Trjon, Cal California DeaChntoa, Oreg Puget Soand, Oreg 1.03 1.01 1.04 1.03 1.10 1.00 l.U I.U 1.10 1.08 1.01 l.OS 1.14 1.07 1.19 0.40 0.43 0.39 0.40 0.43 0.40 fl.41 0.44 0.4S a 43 0.49 a 43 0.40 0.43 Widtliat- N 0.S8 0.69 0.60 0.96 0.67 aoo a 01 0.69 0.60 0.64 0.61 0.63 0.63 COS 0.63 0.09 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.16 0.19 a 19 0.10 a 14 0.17 0.19 0.U 0.14 0.10 0.19 0.18 0.36 a 96 0.27 0.99 0.97 0.95 0.97 0.99 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.97 0.97 0.39 0.38 0.99 a97 Under Jaw from tip of ioclaora to— 0.91 0.18 a 34 0.30 0.33 0.30 0.39 a 17 a 18 a93 0.90 0.99 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.30 I a9i 0.60 0.61 aoo 0.98 0.64 0.69 0.66 0.B7 0.64 0.63 0.61 0.68 0.60 0.78 a78 0.80 0.74 0.80 0.76 0.80 O.tU 0.81 0.80 0.83 0.80 0.79 0.81 0.80 0.81 J! s.- 0.89 0.f» 0.8J 0.77 0.83 0.79 0 81 0.84 0.89 0.89 0.84 0.87 0.8U 0.84 0.83 a 37 0.37 0.97 a99 0.97 0.99 0.S7 0.39 0.30 0 9R 0.39 0.33 0.31 0.97 0.99 030 & B 9.31 0.31 ass 0.33 0.34 0.30 0.33 o.s:i 0.39 0.30 0.38 0.37 0.36 a39 0.33 0.39 Reniarka. wontanM t edax. idax. tong'roatrit. oondmfaiia The blanks in the foregoing table are owing to the defective condition of' certain specimens. The measurement of the length is made from tiie tip of the nasal bones to the upper border of the foramen magnum. The height is the perpendicular from the posterior corner of the last upper molar. The orbital width is at the point of greatest constriction of the orbit. The zygo- matic width is at the broadest point of the zygomatic arches. The molar seres are measured from anterior corner of the first molar to posterior corner of the last one. The length of incisors is their protrusion from the alveoli. The condyloid dimension is measured to the back corner of the condyle. The average length of the whole series is 1.08; the minimum* is 1.00 and the maximum 1.20, the latter occurring in one of the "breweri" speci- mens. The variation is, therefore, 0.20, or about 20 per cent, of the mean. The average zygomatic width is 0.64; the maximum 0.69; the minimum 0.55. The proportion of length to width is, therefore, as l.OH to 0.64, or as 1.00 : 0.59. The molar series in both jaws is about the same, and averages a little over 0.25 of an inch (from 0.24 to 0.30) ; the upper incisors protrude about 0.20 on an average (from 0.17 to 0.24) ; the under are rather Uble. 'Of aduH «peof inoua : aoverol youDg sknila, rnnging from 0.80 tu 1.00, are exolndcd fh>iu the MURID^— ARVrCOLIN^— AKVICOLA RIPABItTS. 179 more than half as long again as the upper, averaging about 0.33 (from 0.27 to 0.38). An interesting point is seen in the eighth and nintli columns: the distance from the tip of the lower incisors to the apex of the descending process of the jaw is invariahl}' a little greater than that from the same point to the back of the condyle. This probably characterizes this section of tlie genus; for in Pitymyit, at least, and perhaps some other sections, these two measurements are equal. The number of western skulls (eight) is too few to institute any very critical comparison; they average 1.10X0.64, while the eastern ones are 1.06X065; there is every probability that this dispropor- tion would disappear with larger series. It is only to be noted further that No. 4156 his (type of occid^nttilvi) is among the largest skulls «>f the series ; tending to show that the present dimensions of the skin (3J inches) are below the truth, and, therefore, that the disproportion we found in the length of its tail and feet is really not so great as appears from the dried skin. Its dimen- sions are in no wise appreciably different from those of "californicus", No. 4156. No. fHt is the type of J. "longirostris", and must be examined in this connection ; for, as we have shown, there is nothing in the dimensions, nor, as we shall show beyond, is there anything in the coloration that cannot be exactly matched in almost any half-dozen samples of riparitu. The diagnosis is:— "Skull 1.08X0.61, or as 1.00:55. Muzzle of skull very long. Distance between upper molars and incisors more than one-third the whole length of the skull." But this length, 1.08, is precisely what we found as the average of the whole scries. The width, 0.61, is within 0.03 of the average. Skull No, UH, from New York, gives precisely these dimensions, 1.08X0.61; several others approach it within one or two hundredths. I can appreciate but one single discrepancy between this skull and an average one The incisors are a little tilted forward, so that their tips fall in advance of a per- pendicular from the tips of the nasals, instead of about under the ends of the nasals, as usual. This, with the corresponding change in the alveolus, makes the distance from the incisors to the molars just appreciably greater than usual ; thus it is 0.37 in "longirostris", and only 0.34 in the New York skull jnut cited. But the molars are not "thrown further back than in other species"; for, on taking their bearings from any other points of the skull than the incisors, they will be found in the usual position. Examination of a number of skulls with reference to the "set" of the incisors shows that this is very variable; their tips may fall behind, below, or in advance of the nasals, and 'Hi '''m n 1 IP" 1 I' it! i;:: Bft-msasm^ B' ' ! ! Ml' tl' 5'' '* * 180 iVlONOGBAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. "longirostris" is only n sliglit increase in the forward tilting they often show; in fact, several eastern skulls differ more among each other than one of them (No. fsH) does from longirostris. There is nothing peculiar in the dentition of the latter. A. breweri is stated to, be narrower behind the zygomatic arches, and to have the interparietal acute instead of subtruncate. At a particular point across the back of the skull, it measures 0.40 ; several other skulls measured at the same point give dimensions equal to, greater than, and less than this. No two specimens in the whole series of skulls are exactly alike as to the lateral corner of the interparietal ; sometimes it is an edge instead of a corner, sometimes obtuse, sometimes acute; and when thus attenuated, as it fre- quently is, the sharp spur may be turned backward, forward, or neither way. Our general description of the skull and dentition of riparius is made elsewhere; here we will merely inquire whether or not any of the dental peculiarities ascribed to the several nominal species will hold good. A peculiarity of the last upper molar of A. californicus is stated to be a short lobe that f he posterior crescent sends outward near its posterior portion ; but we cannot agree with the author that this is a "character rarely observed among Americiin Arvicolte". It is, in fact, not an unusual condition of the several inextricably-graduated variations of this last upper molar; we have seen it frequently, and, in one specimen we have just picked up (No. 5Ht), the variation is carried to such extreme that the back part of what ought to have been the convexity of the crescent is made concave. The "supplementary internal lobe" of the same tooth of "occidentalis" is a very common feature in eastern and other skulls. Not to prolong this inquiry further, we may state that we have satisfied ourselves by personal examination that no one of the supposed western species possesses any dental features not matched by examples of eastern riparius. We will next turn to the matter of color. As already stated, there is no appreciable variation in color in the nineteen Philadelphia skins, unless it is that some of them have the tail a trifle more decidedly bicolor than others ; but in none is the definition of the lighter and darker surfaces very distinct. They are gray-brown, darker along the middle of tiie back, especially toward the tail. A bay tinge or reddish-brown is scarcely appreciable ; so that, without being at all "black- ish" in general hue, the shade is darker than that of rufescent specimens. MDRID^— ABVICOLlNiB— ABVICOLA BIPABIUS. 181 The shade is slightly grizzled with dull yellowish-browu. Beneath, tlie plum- beous hairs are all tipped with white, resulting in a hoary-ash, which is clearest ('whitest) on the breast and belly, darkest on the throat; there is no line of demarkntion between upper and under jiarts. There is no cinnamon, tawny, nor muddy tinge underneath; but a faint brownish wash, like an extreme dilution of the color of the sides, is barely perceptible. This typical coloration prevails a the majority of eastern specimens in the present collection. Nearly all those from the Middle States, others fron^ Nova Scotia, Massachusetts, the Carolinas, Wisconsin, &c., are not appreciably different. Other specimens show a departure from this standard in three courses: toward "red", "black", and "gray". The extreme of the rufescent variation is reached in No. i^PAr, type of "rufidorsum". In this, the color is an intense tawny above, a little darker on the rump, paler on the sides, and washing the under ports. The feet share the general tawny hue. This extreme case is not nearly matched by anything else in the collection, and raises a strong suspicion of an albinotic element. We know by the "albo- rufescens" of Dr. Emmons that such a state does occur; although there is really a gap in the eastern series between "ruiidorsum" and the rest, yet many specimens grade nearly up to it. In the Massachusetts series, where some (particularly winter and early spring skins) are quite as dark as any Philadel- phia ones, others are very much brighter. No. tW», for example, is very rufescent, from predominence of bay n the hairs. A I^abrador specimen (tV»V) is rather brighter still ; No. iJH, 1 Jm Nichols, N. Y., and a Pennsyl- vania skin, No. 4724, labeled "riparius" by LeConte, are quite as bright; so are a few of the Illinois and Missouri ones, and one from Louisiana (i^^). But the link between the extreme of nifidormm is afforded by No. 10083, the type of "occidentalis", which might be described in identical terms; and, although the tawny is not quite so vivid, it similarly tinges the feet. The extreme of paleness or grayness is illustrated in what has been called "breweri". In this, the upper parts are of a light dull grizzly-gray, with a small proportion of yellowish-brown, and the under parts soiled white; the hairs being only plumbeous at the extreme base, and consequently scarcely shading the whitish. The cause and nature of this variation have been so perfectly explained by Mr. Allen* that I shall quote his words: — "On Mus- keget Island (a small, uninhabited, low sandy island between Nantucket and * HamuaU of MuaiuuliaiiotU, in Boll. Mn*. Comp. Zool. No. 6, p. ^l. if- r\] I ill i,l m i 1 . .1 ! . ; ' :[':• ^n it 1 T: H' ; ' ;i. H' 182 MONOGRAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Martha's Vineyard) I recently fou.id the su-calleH A. breweri excessively nbuiidant. Thitfis the unly locality from which this supposed species has been reported. They are generally much paler in color than the riparius of the interior, and though not differing from them appreciably in other respects, they form an interesting insular nu;e.. From the peculiar character of the. locality, the scattered beach grass growing upon it affording but slight pn»- tection from the sunlight, the intensity of which is greatly heightened by the almost bare, light-colored sands, the generally bleached appearance of the Miiskeget Anncola might have been anticipated. Specimens occasionally occur of nearly the ordinary color, or which are undistinguishable from the lighter-colored specimens from the interior : but most of them seem to be quite like the ones described by Professor Baird. The mice living in the exten- sive sand dunes at Ipswich under circumstances similar to those of the Mus- keget mice, often present the half white appearance of A. 'breweri'." VVe were at first inclined to regard "breweri" as an isolated case of riparius; but the facts of the Ipswich mice, as given by Mr. Allen, and some intermediate specimens before us, show such a gradation that we cannot draw any line. Thus, No. 4713 (unlabeled as to locality) is much grayer than aver- age riparius, but not quite up to "breweri". It likewise resembles "brcweii" in the texture of the pelage, the fur having the fame coarse, harsh, lustreless character. Now, this style of fur is enumerated among the features of A. "edax", and characterizes all the specimens from the southern and lower parts of California, where the inf'requency of rain diminishes or altogether precludes forest-growth, and places the animals under conditions similar to those of Muskeget. An unregistered specimen* of LeConte's from the Eastern United States, undistinguishable from No. 4713, is absolutely identical, in color and texture of fur, with several Californian skins (as Nos. 3669, 2525, 2524) marked "edax"; is not appreciably diiTerent from LeConte's type of "edax", nor from Nebraska (as No. 43 1 8) and Utah (as No. 3350) specimens. The type of "cali- fornicus" combines the loose, coarse pelage of "edox", with r rufescent hue approaching "occidentalis". Specimens of supposed "montana" and the type of "longirostris ' are precisely matched in the color and texture of the fur with any of tl't rather grayer examples from the east. Of the two specimens referred (one with a query) to "A. modesta", one, tlie type. No. iVrV, is much 'Tbi8 Hpeciuien \» litbeled, in the bandwritiD); of all of the lot received from imoi LeConle, "tuuuUi Buoh., ripariiu DuK^y, noveioraccnnt Rioh., paluttnt Harlan". MURID^— ARVICOLIN^— ARVICOLA RIPARIUS. 183 darker than the other, iVA; but either can be matched in color by both adult and young examples from other localities. The third line of variation, into unusual darkness, is fully illustrated in the series. The darkest Atlantic example is a very large one from Beeslcy's Point, N. J. The muzzle, feet, and tail are almost black, and the latter is hardly appreciably paler underneath than on top, and has no line nf demarka- tion whatever. The fur combines shortness, thickness, and great gloss with a coarse, bristly texture; the longer glossy hairs being 'so numerous as to recall the pelage of a muskrat. The other darkest specimens are the series from West Northfield, III., and Racine, Wis., and that from Fort Crook, Cal. In these, there is no, or no appreciable, rufescent shade, and the blackish- brown is considerably grizzled with gray. The West Northfield and Fort Crook examples are among the most closely matched of the whole series; abso- lutely no difference is to be observed. They present the very long, dense, and almost fluffy character of pelage upon wbfbh the variety "longipilis" was founded. The fur of Arvicolas, however, varies in these points so much, with age, health, season of the year, and climate, that "longipilis" cannot con- stitute even a permanent variety. Only a part of the Illinois series exhibits the feature, and it is represented solely by winter or early spring skins The Fort Crook specimens, as just stated, are identical, and others on the Atlantic side approach to or recede from the character in indefinite and endless degree. The coloration of the tail, whether bicolor or not, is often introduced iuto specific diagnoses. In general, the tail above corresponds with the color of the back, whatever that may be, and below with that of the belly ; and usually there is an obvious dividing line between the two colors. This line may be sharp, straight, and conspicuous, or completely wanting, when the color above shades insensibly into that below ; and in either case the differ- ence between the two colors may be conspicuous or barely or not perceptible. In one specimen (No. 988, Racine, Wis.), the tail is of almost precisely the same dark-brown tint above and below, but has a large pencil of snow-white hairs at the tip. The condition of this pencil of hairs is extremely variable, as shown in the table of measurements; it varies from almost nothing to three or four lines in length. Although it is hardly necessary to discuss any of the names that have not been admitted since 1857, yet the Arvicola "nasuta" of Audnbon and J ' ! ! 184 MONOGRAPHS C ' NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. iW\ Bachmmi claims some attention on account of the very singular characters upon which it rested. It is stated to be " larger than Arvicoin pennsylvanica : tail shorter than the head ; legs small and slender ; nose sharper than in Arvicolfle generally ; length 5? ; head H , dl H ; heel to point of nail J^". It is based upon a specimen from Boston, Mass., and others are cited from New York and Michigan. As will be seen from the foregoing tables, we have several specimens ranging from five to nearly six inches — three from Massa- chusetts, six from Pennsylvania, and five others, and their tails range from 1.50 to 1.80. But there is nothing like the shortness of the feet, us slated. Tliis is certainly an error. Even the diminutive A. oregonus has the feet considerably over half an inch ; and this length, for an animal nearly six inches long, does nol, we are confident, obtain in this genus. There are other indications of error in the account, and we are satisfied that no such char- acter as unusual sliarpness of the nose occurs in any of the many specimens we have exaniined, although several of them are labeled " nasutus ". The authors evidently had before them some very large, overgrown specimen of riparim, like those old individuals above enumerated from Williamsport, Pa., and committed some error, typographical or otherwise, in their measurements. The Arvkola "oneida" of DeKay is certainly based upon a young example of riparim. The only other animal it could possibly be is the A. pinetorum; but the measurements given preclude this reference. Audubon and Bachiiian refer "oneida" in one place (ii, 219) to pinetorum, and in another (iii, 287) to their own fuloua or dekayi, wliich latter, however, is Evotomys gapperi. The Arvkola rufeixens of DeKay is certainly npariug also. Some of the expressions point toward Evotomys gapperi; but the statement "upper molars with nine external angles" is only applicable to the section of the genus to which riparius belongs, while the dimensions given ("head and body 3 inches; tail 2") apply to no species of Arvkola with which we are acquainted. The two specimens above enumerated (557, 659) from Prairie Mer Rouge, La., are the first ever quoted from the Gulf States, and are in fact the only Gulf specimens we have ever seen except pinetorum, and one example (No. tsW, Ca'casieu, La.) referred, with a shade of doubt, by Professor Baird to Pcdomys austerus. They are both unusually rufescent, and one of them has the minimum length of tail (1.10 inches) we have 'seen in adults of this section of the genus; the skulls, however, show them S! 1 MDRID^— ARVICOLIN^— ARVICOLA TOWN8ENDI. 185 to be not Pedomyit, and tljcre is consequently little danger in referring them to riparim. If this determinat'on be correct, the southward known range ot the species is considerably extended. In concluding this discussion of Arvkola riparim, we have a word of personal explanation. We sincerely trust that the manner in which we have conducted the investigation will be sufficient U> relievo us of any possible charge of arbitrary or even injudicious rejection of many species that stood upon high authority. We began the study with a mind as free from precon- ceived ideas as possible; and, if we had any Mas of judgment, it was a pre- judice in favor of the validity of the species that were recognized in 1857. At one stage of our study, we had already been forced to give up the idea that there were more than two species (riparius and townsendi) of this section in the United States, but still believed in the possibility of defining several geographical varieties that might be properly recognized by name. Final examination, however, of the subject, with facilities, in the immense and unparalleled amount of material, never before enjoyed by any naturalist, has satisfied us that it is impossible to diagnosticate even permanent varie- ties or geographical races. Even " breweri ", which seemed a clear case of an insular variety, has proved to graduate into the average form ; and we do not conceive that any good would result from retaining this, or any other of the names that have been pro^xised, in the system. We have no alternative, then, but to throw all the names together as indistinguishable synonyms of riparius. In 1857, many names, all doubtless supposed, by their several . proposers, to indicate valid species, were either formally or virtually sup- pressed ; and a further reduction of eight is simply an advance, paii paatu, with the increase of our knowledge on the subject. We trust that we have proven the position we take, and that we have seen the last of nominal species based upon the endless variations of Arvieola riparius. ARVICOLA (MYONOMES; TOWNSENDI, Bachman. TownMHd'i Meadow Moue. Arvicota towiumdii, Bachman, Jonr. Acad. N»t. Soi. Pbila. viii, 1H39, 60; Townsend's Narr. 1839, 315.— Waonbr, Wiaffmanii'i ArohW, 1843, (il), 53.— AuD. A Bach. Q. N. A. iii, 1853, 309, pi. oxiiv, fig. 1.— Baird, M. N. a. 1837, 527 ^Nkwberry, P. R. B. Rep. vi, 1867, Zcol., 61.— CooPRR A Sdcklbt, Nat. Hist. Wa«h. Terr. 1860, 139. Arvieola (JfyoiKMHm) townwiKK, Coubs, Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbiln. 1874, 190. Diagnosis. — Arvieola staturd inter majores, longitudine trunci 6-6 /W/., capitis setquipoU., caudte 2^-poll., pedis \-polL, mantis fere ^-poU.; auriculis ■ i Ml m '5 lif U' !i ■.ii>' ■i i I i.f it ■i:':\ 186 MONOGRAPHS OK NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. mngnis, paululum vellere cxstantibi n ; xuprd Julvo-badius, intimh nigra permix- tus, infra c griseo-brunneo albescens. IIahitat. — Oregon and Washington Territories (Columbitt River, July 21, 18iJ5, Toimsend; the type. Puget Sound and Shonlwnter Buy, Cooper and Suckleij. Cascade Mountains, Newberry). One of the larger meadow mice, 5 or 6 inches long, head 1^, tail 2}, hind foot 1, fore foot nearly j, ears nearly f high and as much or more wide, l)rojecting a little from the fur; color above blended yellowish-brown and black ; below whitish, shaded with grayish-brown. Table HlMll.—ittannmaiU of etgklten tpeeiment of A. townhkxdi, Mh drg and aloohoHe. 1 Loulily. Collector. NoMto- Tall to- i 1 1 s 1 Remarka. $ 1 i 1 1 1 JJif. Rho>lw»t«r 1l» . J.O. Cooper S.M S.00 9k 90 ILOO &n 4.7S 493 &93 i.O 9.95 4.9S ft 19 9.90 9.30 9.30 ^s» L70 1.75 a. 30 9.00 9.40 9.75 ft4S 9.45 it 90 9.90 9.08 9.10 tioo 9 43 9.93 9.80 aos 0.43 0.30 0.30 0.43 aso 0.44 a 49 0.50 0.99 0.44 0.48 1.03 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.19 0.88 a99 0.00 l.OO 0.»3 0.88 0.79 0.79 Dry. ...da ..da da MO vm ...do ...do ...do ...do S196 Pn|{et Sound SInilUnf Fnoa .. Slmialimno Puget Sound ... do ...do ...do ...do Columbia Rirer. . . ... do O Sneklev am mm 90M sow 5030 tans 9801 lOOIS 10016 10017 10018 1001* 10090 10031 11375 do 0.59 0.69 0.60 0.99 FrerJi.' Dry. Alcoholia ..da ..da ..da ...dat Alcoholic lyouuf. .. da Alcoholia ..da ..da ..da ..da ..da C.II.R.Kennerly ..do ...do ..do ....do 0.59 aso o.xt o.so 1.03 1.10 1.93 1.10 1.10 Ltt 1.30 l.M i.« 1.99 ...do . do ...do ....do ....do 4.93 4.33 4.95 4.90 3.73 &73 9.93 t.10 9.90 a40 1.90 ftOO 1.75 9.90 9.93 9.33 3.00 9.10 9.90 9.00 0.80 0.89 0.73 0.80 0.74 0.78 1.00 ...do ....do ...do ....do ....do ... do ...do ....do ... do ...du CaacadeMonnUins J. S. Newberry . . Diy. * MeunreDients onpie*! from Buoklry, op. eit, ; ■peclmen not Been. t This speoimen (since skinned oat of alcohol) U About the loiigest-titiled American Artficola wc 6T«r ww and bu given as some anxiety. It is small for toummndii, with feot at a minimum and Ucklo;; a peculiar rolmstnew Ihoae of fMm> wndti fienernlly show ; the pat likewise Is remarkftbly small. But wo can make no other dlspoattloD of the speoimen. NoTK.— As will be seen from the flf^ares. the Columbia Btver aeries, some of which, at least, appear ftill f(rowD, are not lRrK<>r than ordinary nparuu, and it Is mainly on aoconnt of the icfeat oomparatlTc lenfftb of the tall that we awaign them here. Tbey offer n gentle transition Into ordtoary ripariwi. No. I87S, as elsewhere noted, is still moro donbtfal ; it has the tail as short as is asaal in Hpariut, but the feet beyond the |ti*«liftBffi of ordinary ripariuf— exactly the roTerae conditions of the Columbia River series. Description (of No. tA^). — In form, this animal does not differ from other species of this section of the genus; nearly the usual relative propor- tions *)f head, body, tail, and feet being exhibited. The tail, however, will certainly average longer than in riparius; for in specimens no larger than the latter, the tail averages at or beyond a maximum of riparius. This length MUBID^— ARVlCOLINiE— ABVICOLA TOWN8BSD1. 187 .1 i ■ i 1 1 of tail is one of the strongest fentures of the 8up|)08ed species. The oars nppenr to us rather larger every way in proportion. They are three-quarters of an inch long and half an inch wide, and ohviously project a little (about 0.10) beyond the fur. This rathejf exceeds anything we have seen in the largest-eared "eda\'', and is positively beyond the limits of typical riparius, in which the ear rarely if ever overtops the fur. The character of the soles is the same as in riparius; there ore six tubercles. The soles are very sparsely hairy, and this oidy about half-way to the base of the nearest toes, but are fringed with hairs their whole length, as usual. The fore feet, measured from the back of the palmar callosity,* are a little less than half as lung as the soles; from the wrist, three-fifths of the hind foot. The relative lengths of tail and body are as 1.00 : 0.45 ; that is, the tail is somewhat less than one-half the head and body. Its hairiness is on an average. The head is a little over one- fourth as long as tlie bead and body together, and a little less than one-third the body alone. The whiskers are about as long as the head. In color, there is little to distinguish it from an average riparius. The upper parts, however, are somewhat paler or clearer, owing to greater pre- dominance of the yellowish-brown over the black. In the lighter-colored specimens of riparius, the shade is generally produced by a prevalence of bay rather than of tiiis yellowish-brown of tmenxendii. The under parts are clearer than is usual in riparius, and have a brownish wash from the sides, while the middle line of the throat is nearly white; but these differences are barely appreciable. In this, as in all the allied species, there is a curious seeming difference in color, according to the position in which the specimen is viewed. If held with the muzzle toward the eye of the observer, the general shade is very dark, because the longer blackish hairs are chiefly seen ; if the skin be turned the other way, so that these hairs are collectively foreshortened as much as possible, the general effect is yellowish-brown. There are no streaks or markings anywhere, except that sometimes the throat is quite decidedly whitish ; in one specimen, in fact (No. 5026), there is a perfect white streak along the throat; the whiskers are black and whitish ; the feet brown. The tail is blackish-brown, and nearly unicolor; that is, the under side is merely a little paler than the upper, and there is no dividing line. The terminal pencil of hairs is, on the contrary, white, almost exactly as in * Wt) take tbii lueMnnmeiit thns throoghuat this memoir. ThiB ezplaim an apparent diaorep- ancy twtween mini'* and oor meaiaramMita of tlie fin* foot; he taking it ftom the witot-Joiot Hia length of fore foot aTerages 0.61, exactly ai we should make ont in the same way. w i m F"' m ■ A 'M .1 I ' , Ifvi si'' 188 MONOGKAPIia OF NOKTIl AMKUICAN UODBNTIA. No. 988 of ripn 'un, from linciiu!, Witt., above inontutned. The incisors urn yellow, ns U8UIU ; the claw, browiiisli-whiie. • i: There is not much (liflTcrciico in color in any of the specimens before us. No. 3177, however, bus the under side of {\\c tnil decidedly whitish, with n pretty distinct dividing line; No. 2396. apparently a very old one, nnci(ically iliNtinct from ordinary riparius; \nii even witii v<>ry little nmterial to work up, wc nrc fairly drawn to the op|>oHite conclusion. In fact, the only tnngihlc diiferencc we ran make out '\» that towntcndii ia larger, witii a longer tail on an average; and even this is not constant, for sevenil, out of our few specimens, exceed average rij)ariu,\ but little, or not at all, and come well within the limits of riparius. Still these specimens might have grown a little larger, and the average of the scries stand at the extreme limit of ripariwt, while their tails and cars exceed this limit. Wo therefore feel justified in retaining the name tmonsendi as expressive of a geographical difTerentiation, occurring in a particular locality, to the apparent exclusion of the usual United States exponent of the subgenus. It is not at all a reliable species, and one of its strongest fcatures-^lcngth of tail — reminds us forcibly of the case of Uesperomi/s "boylii" from the same local- ities; while the Columbia River scries atTords direct passage into riparius. We have taken some pains to inform ourselves respecting tlie variation in size of the common large Euro|)ean species of the genus Arvicolti amphi- bim, the well-known water-rat; and wc find that all the variability we claim for rijiariui, and even for the Arctic forms of that species (as we shall pres- ently see), sinks into insignificance beside the variations known to, and admitted by, all the better-informed writers in the case of A. amphihius. The propriety of sinking A. townaendii to u mere variety of riparius will appear in still stronger light when we have dealt with Arctic animals of this subgenus full seven inches long. We tiiko up this question next. Discussion of the Arctic AsvicoLiE of the bipabius type. The United States variations of A. riparius are disposed of easily in com)>ari8on with the intricacies of the Arctic material, respecting which some general observations will be offered. Although we have handled a far larger number of these animals than has ever before been examined by all other investigators put together, yet, perhaps for the very reason that we have seen so many specimens, we are still unprepared to make identifications without reserve. Nor can we deter- mine with certainty all of Richardson's supposed species, afler careful study of his accounts, as well ns of Audubon's and Bachman's supplementary notices, and although we have been favored by Dr. Sclater with additional f7 fl ' Hi f Jl- p. l I ii: V 1 '■■ 190 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. r 1 ' i information respecting Riclinrdson's types, now in the British museum. The ease appears to stand thus: — Richardson says (F. B.-A. i. p. ) that " five species are common in the Hudson's Bay rep;ions, exclusive of the lemmings". These, ticcording to his views, are (1) " ri2)arius Ord''; (2) " xanthognathus heach"; (S) " pennsylva- nicus Ord"; (4) " novcboracensis Raf."; and (5) " borealis Rich." Now tliere is no reasonable doubt that all five of these "common" species are repre- sented in our immense series ; but the difficulty is twofold. In the first place, it is to the last degree improbable that there are five species at all. Richardson's four lemmings have to be reduced to two, and tiiere is no ques- tion that the grade of cliaracters he sometimes employed to distinguish supposed species are utterly fiillacious. Next, whatever the true number may be, we cannot make out, from Richardson's descriptions, which is which. This may seem strange, sceii^g the apparent minute detail of Richardson's descriptions ; but, when we con e to sift out his accounts, we find that three-fourths of all he says is generic (even ordinal) in character, and consequently pointless. Audubon's and Bachman's accounts are still more faulty in this respect; these gentlemen knew nothing about the animals they described except what they got from the Fauna Boreali-Americana. We will first expose the futility of what seem to be two strong points in these authors' accounts : — Respecting his "riparius Ord" (afterward " richardsonii A. & B.''), Richardson says that the "incisors are twice the size of those of A. xanthog- nuthus, although the latter is A\e larger animal of the two". And regarding his " borealis ", Richardson says ; — " It is distinguished by the form of the thuinb-nail" * * &c. Now, after examining hundreds of Arctic ^mco/a;, we have seen nothing of the sort in the matter of the incisors or of the nail, and must conclude that either we have not gut hold of Richardson's animals, or else that there is some mistake about the alleged characters. The former ■snppo.sition is untenable, for we have plenty of skins that show exactly all the other ascribed characters of " riparius " and "borealis''. We therefore ignore these points altogether. The ^^noveboracensis ? Raf." of Richardson (afterward drummondii A, & B.) seems to be different from the rest, and perhaps does not belong to the riparius section at all Professor Baird surmised that it might be aPedomifs, and we once rather inclined to the same opinion. It is described as having the "ears slightly overtopping the fur"; the "ventral aspect yellowieh-gray'' % MUR1DJB—ARV1C0LIN.E— ARCTIC ARVICOL^. 191 ("tinged with red" — A. & B.): "a slightly hairy scaly tail more than half the length of the head . . . ItV (according to A. & B. only 1.00); "above dark brown"; "head and body 4tt"i &c. Audubon's figure shows a bricky-red animal all over, with an extraordinarily short tail. But the tints of his plates are thoroughly unreliable, and measurements of the type sent us by Dr. Sclaterare, — ^liead and body 5.50, tail 1.50; while the same gentleman speaks of the color as "above, rather dark mouse-brown; beneath, much paler, grayisk". Some of Richardson's expressions point to Evotomys rutitus, and, indeed, it seems almost impossible that he should not have included this abundant animal in checking off his five common species; but other cliarac- ters assigned are totally incompatible. We should further remark that the ascribed length of the hind foot, 0.55, is less than we ever found for any species excepting the diminutive A. oregonus. We find it impossible to iden- tify Richardson's "noveboracensiif Raf" vt A. ^'pennsylvanicus Ord" 's another of Richardson's species; it has usually been assigned to the ordinary penasylvanicus of the United States (= riparius), and in all probability belongs there. He says it is " very abundant from Canada to Great Bear Lake", in which region we are pre- pared to show that the true riparius occurs ; most of the puzzling specimens we shall presently treat of coming from extreme Arctic and Northwestern areas. It is true that Richardson puts the total length ("3J inches") under average riparius; but this seems to be an error, for Dr. Sclater's recent measurement of them shows 4.70, while there is certainly an error (probahly typograph- ical) in the ascribed length of head ("2iV,', for not even the biggest xanthognaihus, 7 inches long, has such a head as this implies. On the whole, tbare is little risk of error in assigning Richardson's " pennsyhanicus Ord" as a complete synonym of true riparius. We will also bear in mind that Richardson states positively it is what Sabine described in Fmnklin's Jour- ney under the (erroneous) name of xanthognathus. Of a sixth species, less fully noticed by Richardscn, from Bering's Straits, under name of Arvicola ruhricatus, we know nothing. But we do not believe that this (or any other ^mco/«) ever had the sides (or any other part of the body) "scarlet", as alleged, or even "nearly scarlet'', as said by Audubon and Bachman. We believe, however, that this animal will prove to be an Evotomys, very near if not the *ime as Mus rutUus Pallas, with which Richardson has not shown himself acquainted, though we cat nut imagine how he overlooked it, as it appears he did. i' U'^.5 #'-ii 5 i::'; -I . J I, :l.!:i: ili' -!i I'l^' ■■■' lit •III f:'.;i. 192 MONOGRAPnS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. With what light we hiive upon the sulyect nt present, we make out the following case of Richardson's species: — ... : . 1. A. "riparius Ord" apud Rich. {■=.richardsonii Aud. & Bach.) is a transitional form hetween true ripar.us and xanthognalhus, as fully treated of beyond, li has no j)eculiarities of Licisor dentition. 2. A. xanthognnthus Leach et Rich, is positively identified, as explained beyond. •. • ' , v,., .,, ., 3. A. "])ennsylvanicus Ord" apud Rich, is a complete synonym of true riparius. 4. A. " noveboracensis ? Raf.'' upud Rich. (=^drumtnondii Aud. & Bach.) remains indeterminable. It may be a Pedomys. 5. A. borealis Rich, is a variety of riparius, as treated of beyond. 6. A. rubricatus Rich, is in all probability Mus rutilm Pall. {Evotomys rutilun nobis). We are now better prepared to interrogate the specimens before us themselves, to which final appeal must of course be made. At the outset, we lay down two propositions, to be proven in the sequel. I. All the specimens before us belong to the riparius section of Arvicola ( = Myonomes). II Any characters which may be taken to establish two or more species are found to melt insensibly into those of typical riparius. It is only at the close of an unusually protracted and laborious investi- gation that we venture upon this last extreme statement. , We had through- out been perfectly satisfied of the specific validity of xanthognathus and borealis. Typical examples of each differ so much from ordinary United States ripariu.* that we could not believe them to be the same, notwithstand- ing all these mice had taught us of the limits of variability in this family. We confidently labeled several hundred characteristic examples of xantho- gnathus, and a large number of specimens of borealis we disposed of with equal readinetis. There still remained, however, over a hundred skins, the attempt to identify which upon the supposition of the specific validity of xanthognnthus and borealis has involved us in utter confusion, from which we see no hope of escape except through abandoning our former position. It is, we sec now more than ever before, this having to tabulate and label every individual specimen that tells the story and applies the crucial test. It is in violation of our preconceived ideas to i)e obliged to identify such MDlUD^—ARVlCOLlNuE— ARCTIC ARVICOLuE. 193 an animal as No. 4504 (beyond) with No. 9235 (beyond), and both of them with riparius, as not specifically distinct ; yet we can find no other alternative, since our series supplies every link in the chain. If we take dimensions, we find every intermediate size, by tenths of an inch, from three to eight inches ; it is the same with proportions of feet, tail, and ears, both relative and abso- lute. Conditions of pelage are utterly confounding, even leaving season, if not also latitude, out of consideration. Those characteristic examples of xan- thognathus, in which the chestnut cheek is well marked, set aside, color gives us nothing we can rely upon. If, therefore, there be more than one species in the series, I must simply confess that I am not bright enough to discover or define it. In dealing with this lot of material, I shall, in the first place, eliminate the specimens not appreciably different in any respect from ordinary United States riparius. I will then separate those that have the chestnut cheek-patch (an easy matter) and label them xantliognathus, without reference to their being a variety only of riparius. I shall be able to label many of the rest var. borealis, and to indicate a considerable number as more or less nearly approaching either xanthognathus or borealis. But a large residuum (includ- ing most of the alcoholics, respecting which nicety of determination is obvi- ously im[K)S8ible) can be only marked as "riparius var. — ?". The distribution of xanthognathus and borealis will be perceived from the tables beyond. Southern and Central British American specimens, as a rule, are more or less completely similar to ordinary riparius. The extreme of borealis has only occurred, so far as we are aware, from the Arctic coast and contiguous northwestern regions. Well-characterized xanthognathus scatters over a larger area, but likewise focuses in the Northwest. It is a further source of difficulty ond doubt that these extremes are not geographi- cally marked ; on the contrary, they occur side by side, and are, therefore, not explicable upon the rules of geographical variation that we have elsewhere laid down and somewhat successfully applied. This may be held as strong evidence that these forms are specifically distinct ; but we must beg any one who may so believe to show us any reliable specific character. The following table embraces a number of specimens more or less per- fectly similar to ordinary riparius, not distinguishable in ony way from that form, and not noticeably inclining to the characters of either var. borealis or var. xanthognathus. What slight discrepancies there are in average dimen- flions are noted at the conclusion of the table. 13 H ^H ;'■ 8 ''HI |i| i i|l 1 ''1 liiiffi "'•11, ;li: L;l! m^'i 194 MONOOltAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Taiii.i; XLVIII. — ileaaurementt of tirealg-iiine «> diHtiiiyuighuL vorlhcrM Akvicolx of the iui'arivs type, md not that tpecia. 1 s 'A i 9 d V 9 9 9 9 9 Dato. Locality. Ckillector. Nose to— Tall to ^nd of— • i 1 Remark!, I 1 1 i 1 % 1 i '5 5-54 6-4( I»43 .->745 574- 5720 57,15 5^50 5757 577? .... do Kelmii River .... do .. do ...do ...do .. do do Selkirk Settlement... do ...do .. do MoiiBe Factory do J.HoKenilr... f). Dreiler R. Konuicott... J. Reld do Red River Settlement do .. do Furl Reanlntlon FoitRae ...do J. .UeKentle. .. LhClarke do . do .do. ■ do .. do . do. do ....do ...da do ...do . do. do .. do . do. do ... do .. do. It appears from the foregoing that the average of this series is nearly at the minimum of United States ripuriuit, and that its maximum is at the average of ordinary riparius. The average tail (1.32) is below the smallest average of any of the United States series of riparius tabulated, while tiie average foot (0.71) is about at the minimum of the latter; only three feet, MUEID^—ARVlCOLINii!:— ARCTIC ARVICOL^. 195 indeed, of this series touch the average (0.79) of United States rijmriuii, the rest being between 0.65 and 0.75 ; whereas the United States ripariuii' feet apparently never fall below 0.70, and may range from 0.80 to 0.90. The following is an enumeration (we did not think it necessary to tabu- late) of the specimens in the present series that depart more or less noticeably in some respects from ordinary ripnriun, yet do not show the peculiarities of either borealis or xanthognathus strongly enough to enable us to label them as belonging to either of those forms. We shall simply label them "riparius var. — ?". In general, their absolute size is neither above nor below that of riparim; few being so small as those we tabulate beyond under head of borealis, and none being as large as the doubtful xanfhognathus beyond given. They differ from ordinary riparim principally, as would be expected in these boreal cases, in their smaller members and heavier pelage. Nos. 6847, 6849, 6850, 6851, 6855, 6857, 6858, 6859, 6861, 6864, 6866, 6867, 6870, 6872, 6873, all collected by Mr. Kennicott on the Yukon, at the mouth of Porcupine River. They run directly into the specimens from the same locality, tabulated beyond as borealis. Nos. 6832, 6881, 6882, 6876, 6889, 6887, 6884, 6885, 6886, 6883, 6888, 6880, taken by the same explorer in spring, two hundred miles southwest of the last-named locality. Owing to the season, they average remarkably dark-colored. Nos. 9157, 9156, 9151, 9152, 915K, 9160, 9164, 9174, 9167, 9159, 9149, 9144, 9142. 9161, 9148, 9165, 9150, 9166, 8022, 8025, 8026, 8163, 8755. Fort Anderson, north of Great Bear Lake; R. Mr larlane. Nos. 6836, 6937, 6841, 5749, 9194, 684'->, o834, 6839, 9193, 9114, from Anderson River ; R. McFarlane. Some of these, as 6841, run very close to certain styles of xanthognathus. Nos. 9109, 9122, 8820, 9213, 9205, 9126, 9101, 9187, 9127, 9123, 9206, 9130, 9217. This lot was received by Mr. McFarlane from the Esquimaux of McKenzie's River, and is less homogeneous than either of the preceding. Nos. 8037, 8027, 8041, 8031, 8045, 8032, 8040, 8050, 8029, 8052, 8038, 8049, 8043, 8054, 8042, 8045, 8044, 8030, 8046, 8039, 8034, 8036, 8035, 8028, 8053. From the Arctic coast, brought by Esquimaux to Mr. McFarlane. VV: < 11; i!' I ' if ', ! 196 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTU AMERICAN RODENTIA. fARVICOLA RIPARIUS var. BOREALIS, Rich. Little Northern Meadow House. Anieola borealii, Richardson, Zool. Joiirn. 1828, r>17 ; Fu. Bor.-Ani. i, 1829, 127.— AcD. & Bach., Q. N. A- iii, lH5:i, 134, pi. 129 (from RicbardBou).— Baihd, M. N. A. 1857, 549 (from the same). " Bypudcnts borealis, Wagneh, Siippl. Schreber, iii, 1843, 593" (the same), .lirrko/o (n';)rtiiu» var. f) !wrfa/i», C0UE8, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philu. 1874, 190. Diagnosis. — J. ripario .timi/limux, t.(;d minor, artubus brevioribus, hirmti- oribus, vel/ere lanuginosiore. • ■ ' ■". ' -• .» ■■\.-- :■> Averaging a little smaller than true npnriu,s (three or four inches hing), with smaller and hairier ears, tail, and feet. Habitat. — NortHiwestern America. " ' ' ■ ' '■' Table XLIX. — ileamremenU of lhirlg-o«e small Arnlic Arvicoije nf Iht RIPARIUS type, tupfoned to reprr- teiit a variety boreai.is, Kich. If, B. — They oouncct directly with spooimeus of the prcccdlDK enumeration. ;?. Locality. Collector. Kouto— Tail to end of- i 1 1 n c & KeninrkB. i i i > i 0181 •0139 8033 8047 9138 91204 9137 9140 6874 9107 0179 8165 933.T (117-; UIM 6865 0860 6868 6863 6863 6869 6854 O'Wa 68.VJ 6871 t6848 6879 6677 6B53 0854 8753 3.00 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.75 3.10 3.0O MO 0.73 0.80 I.OO 1.50 1.00 1.05 1.30 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.34 0.35 0.33 0.33 0.60 0.70 0.70 0.70 0.71 0.74 0.71 0.73 0.73 0.68 0.71 0.73 0.71 0.70 0.70 0.71 0.70 0.75 0.73 0.75 0.70 0.78 0.79 0.70 0.37 Dry. ...do. ...do. do do Arctic coast do do ...do ...do ...do ...do 0.43 0.93 1.05 0.33 ...do. ...do. do. ...do 1.00 0.70 O.M 1.30 1.00 1.15 do do do do 0.34 0.34 ...do. ..do. do do K McFarlano 3.00 3.50 3.00 3.75 0.EO 0.90 0.90 1.00 0.90 1.05 1.15 1.15 i.ao I. IS 0.30 0.33 0.34 0.33 do do do ...do ...do ...do ....do 0.30 0.33 0.33 .. do. ... do. ...do. ....do. do ...do. Yukon Kiver R. Keonicott ....do O.SO 0.85 1.08 3.00 0.80 1.10 O..TS 0.37 0.40 do. ...do. Freih. Dry. Freab. Dry. ... do. do do do ...do ...do 0.60 1.05 1.99 4.40 1.50 1.93 do do ...do ....do 1.18 4.30 3.50 3.50 3.80 3.75 4.33 4.05 3.83 3.75 1.40 l.!S8 0.33 do ....do 1.99 0.90 1.15 1.60 1.00 1.60 1.30 1.43 L95 1.33 0.43 0.33 do do do do 200 mllM S.W. of Yukon do ....do ....do ....do J.Lockbardt R. Kennicott ....do ....do 0.50 aso a54 0.45 0.75 1.05 1.03 1.05 1.13 MS 1.05 0.33 Freah. Dry. Freab. ....do. Young. Dry. 0.30 0.31 0.75 0.08 0.«« 0.33 0.40 0.33 do . do . 3.40 3.50 0.75 0.68 do 1.10 1.30 * Tiikun tn winter, and Apparently ndult. Ita leugtb CADOot now be nscertAlned with accunwy ; but It is » tluy nuiiiinl, ttppnroBtly falling tibort ot 3 iooben. f Gontaiaed 7 fcBton. Tbts and the othen tneosnred tnth do nctnppear tobe Boniacta Inrgftrtban tberest osthe flgiiret woald indicate. \\\ MURIUM— ABVICOLIN^—ARVIOOLA XANTHOGNATHUS. 197 The figures of this series aro believed to be approximately correct, though not quite accurate. They indicate an animal at or below the mini- mum of ordinary ripariu-i, with members, especially the tail, below the minimum; the feet, however, do not differ quite so much, being fully within the minimum of riparius, and, in fact, averaging over the dimensions of the average foot of the last table presented, and decidedly exceeding the dimen- sions assigned by Audubon (0.63). As to the form of the thumb-nail, we cannot make out anything at all peculiar. In furriness of pelage, some of these specimens quite come up to the mark of horeatu as described. Thus, No. 9235 has the fur on the back fully ten-twelfths of an inch long; and the hair about the lips is so long as to droop over the whole length jf the upper ncisors, completely hiding them. Then, again, the soles, however, are not nearly so hairy as some other specimens wc have seen ; the soles of this same 9235 being completely nc .ed from the posterior tubercle. These longest- haired specimens, it should be observed, are all in winter pelage ; spring and summer examples have the fur scarcely, if at all, longer than ordinary Penn- sylvania or Massachusetts skins. Different as many of these little creatures look from typical riparius, or from the big ones with which they are associated, it is impossible for us to regard them as specifically distinct. ' 11 ARVICOLA (MYONOMES) XANTHOGNATHUS, Leach. Cliestnnt-Clieeked Meadow Houbc. Arvicola xaiii1u>gi>atha, Lsacr, Zool. MIscel. i, 1814, 60, pi. 36.— Richardson, F. B.-A. i, 1889, lSi2.— Add. &. Bach. Q. N. A. iii, 1«)3, 67, pi. 125.-Baiiid, M. N. A. 1W>7, 5r.2.— Pali,, AlankB and its BesourceB, 1870,577. (IPAelAero/ Sabine f Not of any author trealingof Vniltd Stales epeciet.) Arvicola (Mgonomea) xanthognatkHt, Cmir.s, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1874. 100. DiAON. — Arvicola staturd inter maximos, buccis castaneis. One of the largeat meadoic mice, with chestnut cheeks; 5 to S inches long; tail I or 2 ; hind foot 0.85 to 1.05 ; ear J to ^. Habitat. — North America, north of the United States. Description (No. 4504, Fort Resolution, Great Slave Lake). — This is one of the largest American Arvicola we have ever handled; it measured 6 J inches long when fresh, and the skin indicates a stout, bulky animal. The tail is shorter in proportion than in average riparius ; it is said to have been 2.25 when fresh, but is now just about 2.00; its hairiness is of medium amount. w ?J: m mm Si J ; I'i' liif It .1 ' i'ii i . I ■If' i; si li'i', ' 198 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. The soles nre over an inch long, and thoroughly furry a? far as the posterior tubercle; naked in the rest of their length. There are six conspicuous tubercles, as usual in this section : a posterior one at base of hallux ; two at base of outer toe ; one at base of second toe ; and one at bases of third and fourth Iocs. The fore feet are comparatively small, being obviously less than iiaif the hind (measured from the posterior tubercle). There are five palmar tubercles: one representing the "ball" of the rudimentary thumb, which bears a minute abortive nail; another just beside and external to the first; one at the base of each lateral finger; and one at the bases of the two central fingers. The relative proportions of all the ten digits is as usual in this section. The ears are moderate for the size of the animal, measuring a little over half an inch high and wide; they overtop the fur a little, are well furred both sides, rounded in shape, and with a highly-developed antitragus fully occluding the meatus. The fur, much as in other Arctic Arvicola, is longer, tiiicker, and softer than that of United States species; and, although tiie reverse of harsh, has very little lustre, apparently owing to the less admixture of the long, glossy, bristle-like hairs that occur so abundantly in southern samples, especially of maritime or very wet places. The longest whiskers about equal the head; others are much shorter. In color, this animal represents one of the few species, that may usually be known at a glance, and the only one of ours that has bright tints in sharply restricted areas. The cheeks are bright chestnut * in marked contrast with surrounding shades. The extreme niuzale is blackish, and thence to over the eyes a dusky shade prevails. In some specimens, there is a small rusty or yellowish-brown orbital space, and there is generally a perceptible shade of the same on the auricular region, though we have never appreciated so much of this as Audubon's smaller figure shows. The upper parts are of an intimate mixture or "grizzle" of yellowish-brown, gray, and black, some- what darkest along the middle line of the back, and brightest on the haunches, but not noticeably fiir from uniform all over. The resulting shade is generally lighter or more yellowish-brownish-gray than in southern species, owing to smaller proportion of long dark hairs. The tail is bicolor, but not very sharply so — more so in some specimens than in others; the feet are fuscous. *Tliu name "xautboKuatba", " yellow "-vbecketl, aud the de8ori|itlou8 of authors, as "yellow", " orangti brown ", " fulvona", &o., do not correctly indicate the color aa it appears to oar eyee. We can Hce uotbiuf! but a bright bay or chestnut, and the shade scarcely varies appreciably in any ot the speci- mens ezamiued in which it is evident at all. MUKID^— ARVICOLTNJE— AUVICOLA XANTDOONATHUa. 199 The under parts are uniformly strong Iioarj-nsli, owing to whitish tips of (lie very deep plumbeous fur. The honriness varies much, sometimes being scarcely evident, and at other times lieing soiled with a brownish or i-lay- colored wash. The very edges of the lips are apt to be whitish; the whiskers are whitish and dark; the incisors yellow, the upper gcneruliy deepest-tinted, the under frequently nearly white. We will finish consideration of color before taking up the matter of the measurements. Our remarks are based upon an examination of several hundred specimens. The range of individual variation appears to us compnnitively slight. This is probably due to the rather homogeneous character of the localities whence our specimens came. Some are a little darker, or a little lighter, browner, grayer, more grizzly, &c., than others. But we see nothing that calls for special remark in this connection. One (No. o594) is un incomplete albino, having a broad zone of pure white around the head and neck, thence extending along the breast and belly, and flesh-colored ears. Certain seasonal conditions of pelage are strongly marked. In the spring, just after the animal has shed its old winter coat, it appears in a, fur very noticeably shorter, finer, smoother, and glossier than it is at other seasons; and the color is so different as to readily suggest specific distinction to one ignorant of the facts in the case. At a little distance, the animal looks almost black, so dark is the shade. The brown of the upper parts is almost a blackish muhogany-color, with little or no admixture of fidvous, tawny, or yellowish-brown, while the plumbeous b( low has corrcs|)oiiding intensity and is hut slightly houry. The tail is nearly unicolor. As the season advances, the depth of color insensibly lessens; the grayest and grizzli- est animals are those that wear the ohlest pelage in the fall and winter. But we do not notice, in these or other changes, any marked dilference in the cheeks, the distinctive brand of the species usually remaining much the same. On the other hand, individual variations in size are as great as we have succeeded in demonstrating for ripariua with our immense array of specimens from all localities; and this is the more remarkable, seeing that xanthognatlius is so restricted in its geographical distribution that climatologieal influences are hardly brought to bear u^ton it. We invite particular attention to the subjoined table that demonstrates the variability wc continually insist upon !f| ■i 1 1 i i. J 1 1 '• !' Ill Mr Pi'' 200 MONOORAPUS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. in this memoir. Some specimens are little more than half as long as oi/iers, and certiiinly have less tliun half the bulk. Our figures for apparently mature animals run from 4.50 to 8 inches for length of trunk. Now, to keep largely within bounds, we will strike off i)nlf an inch each way, and say a normal limit of variation it) between 5 and 7i inches: this 2J inches is 50 per cent, of the minimum and 40 per cent, of the mean length of the animal. This great discrepancy is the more instructive, because in the case of xanthognathus there is no possible question of specific identity of the largest and smalle.st specimens. In some other cases, where reputed nominal species, based in part on dimensions, were at issue, we may possibly be suspected of granting improbable and undue range of variation. But here the matter is brought to a fi)cus: we show, in the specimens of unquestion- ably a single species, as great variability in size as we have anywhere attempted to prove. And yet this difference is no greater than we believe is well known to occur in other species of the genus, notably the Arvicola amphibius of Europe. No one is surjjrised to kill two house-rats, one of which is twice as big as the other. We hold that a corresponding variability is as normal to some purely feral animals as to the semi-domesticated species just cited; and we believe that it argues a ])rogressive increase in size, with age, over the stature ordinarily reached at the period of puberty — that is to say, a Mus or an Arvicola may be "adult" or "mature" in the sense that it has lost the signs of youth, gained those of adult life, and become capable of repro- duction, and yet, after this, may increase in length by one-third at least, and double its bulk in the subsequent years of its life. Recurring again to our measurements, we next observe that the tail of this animal (taking it to the end of the vertebrae as a more consttmt and reliable measurement than to the tip of the hairs) ranges from 0.75 to 2.25, as the figures stand! and, making large allowance for erroneous elements, we may safely say that the tail is "an inch or two" long, i. e., it varies 100 per cent, of the minimum ! What could more forcibly illustrate the instability that attends the dimensions of organs produced in any sense as matters of vegetative repetition I The measurements of other parts need not detain us. For several reasons, among them ease of correct measurement, the limits of the figures for the feet and ears do not stand quite so far apart as those for the body and tail do ; they coincide with the results of our measurements MUKIDJS— ABVICOLlNiB— AllVlCOLA XANTnOONATHUS. 201 of other species. The soles run from 0.85 to 1.05 — say from 0.1: 0 to 1.00 — as an ordinary range; and it should be observed that the smallest specimens, as Nos. 4509, 4510, G558, &c., have feet quite up to average dimensions. Our table is drawn up to show the different localities represented in our immense scries of specimens; but otherwise the skins were picked out at random from the box containing several huudred till we had tabulated enough to answer our purpose. Taiilk L.~Mev» Lake. Oreat Slave Lake Vort Churchill Dnffalo BlTer, Oreat Slave Lake. . ... do a 05 ago 0.99 0.90 1.00 ago a 95 a 95 LOS a 93 1.09 1.05 a»9 a87 a93 a 85 a 86 a 85 a 95 a 95 a 98 1.04 a99 a 97 a98 a99 a 93 aB4 a 00 am ago an Aloobolio. Dry. ...do. D.OnDO J.Reld 7.00 3.35 5.75 5.30 5.30 mo 523 0.30 6.00 5.73 6.30 1.60 1.90 1.9U 1.75 1.30 1.00 1.30 9.95 5.00 8.10 8.00 1.00 1.00 1.95 0.75 0.73 1.85 8.00 1.00 I.CO 1.61) 1.80 1.90 1.00 1.75 I.CO 1.75 1.80 1.00 i.ts 1.35 1.40 8.10 1.53 3.13 1.75 8.30 9:33 8.33 8.S5 1.10 1.90 1.45 0.10 1.00 1.30 9.40 8.10 1.85 1.80 9190 1.30 1.10 9.05 1.80 9: CO 8.03 1.80 0.40 a34 0.43 a40 0.49 o.m 0.43 0.40 0.49 a 44 N.Taylor do. W.Hactavlah.. B.K.IIOM 0.89 1.30 1.00 a 70 Alcoholic. Dry. ....do. ....do 9 Fort Reaolntlon, Great Slave Lake. do do do do FortLlard do ....do ....do ....do ...do ...do W. L. HanllBly .. do 0.75 0.70 0.75 0.70 1.40 1.33 1.30 1.33 1.50 1.4li 1.37 1.70 ...do. a 35 a 59 a 55 a 73 Freah. ...do. ...da Alcoholic Dry. do. do ....do ....do. do ....do ....da da do ....do do ....do da do ....do ....do j.riott 8.10 6.50 173 5.73 7.00 5.30 5.30 6.00 5.73 5.30 500 S.0O ...do. ... da do Laplerre, Booky MooDt- aliia Fort MoPheraon ... do a 51 a 60 a 60 .. da ...da ...da ...da C. V. Gaiidet . . . ....do .. .do ....do ....do do ... .da .... do ....do ....da ... do Novrkakat ...do W.H.Dall ....da ....da do do ...do ....do. ...da ....da do ....do ...da do ....do ....da -Hi i • BUn 8.00 1 much ativMicd. B( \\i I ^^ 202 MoNoouArua of noutu American koukntia. Taklk h.—UeanHreniciilt of tixlg-nine •jwcii»fn« '. I ...do 0.90 I.IS 1.30 0.96 a9s a9s 0.63 0.79 aoe 0.50 0.60 0.67 0.09 0.60 0.65 0.68 U.68 0 79 0.96 Akohollo. ADderaon Uivcr J LatllndeOI" iiurlh... j Liard River i do do ..do Dry. 1 ...da 1 ...do R. Kcnnlcott. . . ...do .. do . do a60 a6a 1.10 1. 10 I.S9 1.30 ri«h. 1 ...da AlcuboU*. Dry. ... da ...do. ...da . da ...da ..da ....da ...da .. da ..da ...da .. da ...da .... TukonBWer do . do do do do do ....do ....do ...do ....do aoo 6574 ... do ..do 07(13 6«I00 do do ...do do 1 0721 1 6047 du do ....do ... do \ 0U4 do do ....do ' 0734 ....do 1 0641 .... do do ...do ...do ' 0088 0.97 0.01 0.68 0.70 ..da ... da ....da ...da da |0t9l 0S49 0037 6788 0S7a OUO 60119 07M 0573 6598 do ....do ...do ...do do do do do do ....do 0.53 a65 0.6S 0.50 ....da ...da ...da ...da ..da ..da do do do ...do ...do . do do . do do . do NoTR.— Mr. Kennlcott'a upeclmeDs w«re partly takeo at Fort Yukon (luouth of Porcnplua BWer) and partly 800 milea Duntliweat of thia lucalUy. Bcsldea those tabalated, wo bare euuulDvd uvtral hundrtd othera, all broaght from tho aanae region by Mr. Kennlcoti. Fortunately, the synonymy of this species is plain. It was first described and not very well figured by Leach, as above; Dr. Richardson next noticed it in a more satisfactory detail ; then Audubon and Bach man reproduced the sense of Richardson's article ; and, lastly, Baird published it upon substantially MUKIUiE-AKVIOOLlN^-ABVICOLA XANTOOONATUU8. 203 the Hanie ^roiiiiHo, tlinii^h he only admitted it among the hypothcticuil HpociL-s of his gifiii work, lint there m no eviiUincu that the species has occurred in tlic United States, and that it ever dues ho is highly improimhle ; and conse- quently all the citations of "xanthognathus" from this c(tiintry — those of Godman, Harlan, Say, DoKay, Linsley, and otliers -arc referable only to riparim. We have not seen Sai)ine's article, where the name appears ; but Richardson says (Hisitively that Sal)inc'8 "xanUiognatha" is not this animal at all, but is what he (Riciiardson) calls "pennsi/lvtinica Or^f- ■ttrt MTIRID^— AUVICOLIN^— ARVICOLA XANTHOGNATHHSf 205 Tablk LI. — jVfco»iir«m«iita of iweiity-nine (and IM of many more) tpecimevi of large Arctic Arvicol^ of the RIPAIIIOS ttpt, tuppoted to repreeenl xanthoonatiius without chettnut cheeks. i I rom tip of noae to— Tall to end of— Length of— i s Locality. Collector. 3 "S a BomorkH. i k i 1 iJ n 1 1 1 m 8048 K.McFarkinc... Dry. 8091 0000 do do .. do. Fort Auderaon ....do 0.59 1.93 1.40 6.00 1.15 1.60 0.33 0 78 ...do. 9173 91M do do 0.59 1.00 .1.30 1.00 1.30 0.35 0.71 0.43 Dry. do ....do 9I9S do ....do 1.93 6.00 1.10 1.45 0.34 0.70 0.40 ...do. 9IS4 do ....do 1.13 3.00 1.30 1.65 0.35 0.70 0.39 ...do. 9I1S do ....do 0.00 1.30 1.65 0.34 0 70 ....do. DI08 do ....do 0.50 3.30 1.90 1.40 0.33 0.78 0.40 ....do. 9144 do ....do ,'.0O l.OO 1.93 0.35 0.76 0.34 ....do. 0147 do ....do 5.73 1.00 1.93 ....do. 0229 do ....do 5.30 1.90 1.43 0.34 0.7.1 0.44 ....do. 6K)S Andenon Biver ... ...do &75 1.30 1.90 0.37 o.m 0.43 ....do. 69W do ...do 6637 9193 do do do ... do 6841 da ....do 5.01 1.00 1.90 la3l 0.74 0.49 Dry. 9903 do ....do ; 9990 do ...do 6878 900 mlln aontb weal of Yukon Blvor. B.Kcunlcotl.... 5.50 1.95 1.50 0.33 0.73 0.47 Dry. 6996 do ....do 5.75 1.30 1.70 0 79 ...do. 6359 6359 Yukon do ....do ....do .... 5.73 1.30 1.55 0.70 ....do. ...do. 7099 FortMoPheraon.... C.P.Gaudel... ....do. 7100 7101 7108 do ...,do ....do. ...do. ....do. do ...do 9243 Kodiak, Alaaka ... F. Blaohoff ....do. 6307 17799 110895 L.Clarke D.Onen ...do 0.43 1.00 1.15 aeo L90 1.75 0.40 0.80 0.45 6 yonng. 5 .vonog. RedRirerSettlonient ....do 10896 ....do ...do 0.50 1.10 1.93 4.50 1.70 9.00 0.30 0.73 10897 10806 ....do ....do ....do ...do 17033 Selkirk Settlomont.. ...do 3 yonng. 10809] to I ...do ...do....' 4.10 1.30 1.80 0.80 10904 7638 ....do B. Kenn!cott. . . 109031 to ....do ...do 109161 7710 Wlnnnpeg RItw ... ...do 7190 7716 to 7733. .. .do ....do Jamea Bay, Hndaon'a Bay. C. Drexler 6304 BigIaUuid,a.S.L .. J. Bed 0.44 1.00 1.14 3.00 1.35 1.30 0.38 0.74 0.48 10917 U> 10994 ...do ....Cm ■'1 . m' iim- 206 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Tablk lA.—iIetuuremeHl» of tice«ty-niHi (.and list of man!) more) tpeeimeni of large Anlie Anvicoi^ of the iiiiMiiil'8 liipc aupponed tu repn$e»t XANTHoaNATHl's wilhout chetlnHl cheeks— CoBtiuaei, 'JtVi Ciiireot uumlier Locollty. Collector. From tip of noae to— Tail to end of— >ngtb of— s I .a if « n 1 1 1 1 1 t t 1 i j 1 1 n Kemarka. | 7091 j 7091 j 7744 711831 to 7690 J 764) 7570 9904 109»7) to, I003aj 7743 10931 10933 109.13 10934 7703 8401 840) S403 8104 840S 0910 9461 j 10035 1 10936 \ 10937 1 10938 10339 90O7 10910 10941 1094} 10943 10U44 10043 1004O 10047 10948 10949 10030 10991 10:>51 10951 10954 Fort RusoluUoD ... clo . ... R. Eonnlcott .. do . . .... unthog 1 Fort Simpson ilo ...do do ... . .... ...do . ia . do 0.47 0.99 1.08 4.00 1.49 1.70 0.40 a 79 aso n.R.Rnu ....do ForiChnrohlll ....do ....do W.Maol«vl«h.. do 0.90 1.00 1. 83 4.40 1.40 1.70 0.30 a7« Fort Anderson ....do R. McFuUne... ....do ....do ...do .... .... . .... .. 4.60 3.90 4. CO i-'s 4. SO 4.30 4.90 4.00 3 73 1.39 1.39 1.39 1.49 l.«l 1.00 l.W 1.30 1.13 1.5.1 1.90 1.99 l.CO 1.90 1.80 1.90 1.39 1.4U .7. 0.74 0.60 0.79 0.76 0.79 0.74 0.80 0.77 0.7« ....do ....do ...do ...do ....do do ....do .. do ... do . do ....do ...do St Michaora,R. A.. ....do ....do C.W. Baiter... H. M. Banniater W.H. Dall .. do ....do ....do do ...do do ...do do Nulato, R A . do . ...do ...do ...do ....do ...do .. do . ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ....do . ..do .. do ...do ...do ...do ..do .. ...do ...do ...do .. do .... ...do ...do ...dr, ...do .... .. ilo . do .... ...do .. do .. 10935 ...do ...do ... 109.'i« ...do .. do 10334 ...do ..do MURID^— AUV^rCOLIN^— CHILOTUS. 207 Subgenus CHILOTUS, Baird. Jnieola ap., Auctorum. = Ckilolui, Baikd, M. N. A. 1857, 516 (type, A. oregmii Baob.).— CotiES, Proo. Acnd. Nat. Sci. Pbila. 1^74, 100. Chars. — Very small. Pelage and proportions of parts as in Myonomes, but the ears "small, orbicular, the marginal portion or helix incurved all round, bounding a distinct fossa innominata; the upper and lower roots so close together as to be confluent externally, and thus enclosing the meatus entirely in the anterior rim, however low. Surfaces of the ear almost naked"; plantar tubercles only ft (I). Dentition combining the anterior lower molar as in Myonomes, with the middle and back upper molars as in Pedomys or Pitymys (other teeth as in Arvicola generally, and therefore not diagnostic). Further details of this section are given under head of its type and only known species. ARVICOLA (CHILOTUS) OREGONUS, Bachman. •regOH Meadow Monne. Arvioola oregoiti, Bacrmax, Joarn. Acail. Nnt. Soi. Philn. viii, 1839, 60 ; Townaend's Narrative, 18.39, 315. — Auo. &. Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1853, 93i, pi. olsvii, f. 3. Arrioola (Chihtut) ortgoni, Baird, M. N. A. 1857, 537. A/ricolit {CkiMiu) ongonM, CotiKH, Pioc. Aoa,Wi» 0. 31 0.31 0.34 O.S.-) 0.3:1 0.30 0.20 IJ.3I 0. 1!) IJ. 17 0.30 0.35 0.21 O.lk) 0,5S 0.07 0,03 0.03 0.03 0,68 0.04 0,75 0,75 0,33 0.81 0.73 0,78 0,81 0,M 0,78 0,80 0,77 0,87 0.84 0,80 0.83 0,89 0,80 0,29 0,24 0,97 0,24 0,31 0,95 0,23 0.31 0,33 0,33 0.33 0,38 0,36 0.31 0,33 0,33 0,30 0,35 100 : 00 100:60 100:58 100 :S» 100:57 ilii do do do do do 1.03 1.09 1.03 0.0T 0.i)S' do do 0.58' 0,00 do du do 1.00 l.OS 0.40 0.61 O.IO 0.10 0. 21 0.95 0.91 0.18 0,73 0.80 0,70* 0,74 n,n 0.83 0,80 0.77 0.27 0,35 S.tlnt Loiitrt, Mo CiIcAsleii, L» Pembina, Dak Fort I'ii'rro, Uak 1.03 1.03 1.14 0.40 0.44 0.40 0.4.) 0.00 O.Oj 0.18 0.18 0.17 0. 18 OS.) 0.31 0.35 0.35 0.18 0. m 0.20 0. m 0,03 0,63 O.O.'S 0 i!0 0.81 0,8:1 0,87 0.23 0.33 0.33 (1.26 0.33 0.30 0.39 0,34 1.00 o.ei .... 1 __ ._ 100 : 58t 1 * l^l5!MKMl)-6e: Anlinnla not full jtrown ; niouturomenta ozolndeU f^m tfae AvornglriK- t Type of einnamomtwi. ', Typo of tiaydeni. ARVICOLA (PEDOJIYS) AUSTERUS, LeC. Prairie Meadow Moose. Arvicola autterue, LeContb, Proo. Acad. Nnt. 8ci. Phila. vl, 1853, 405 (Racine, Wis. ; type. No. 8849, Mns. Smiths.).— AuD. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1854, 289 (based on LeConte's description).— Kbnni- corr, Agric. Hep. U. 8. Patent Office for 1856 (1857), 97, pi. xii, upper flg. (Illinoia). i MUUID^— AltVICOLIN^— ARVICOLA AUSTEllUS. 211 AnUiola (Pedomyt) aMlerim, Baiko, M. N. A. 1857, 539, pi. liv (teetli of spcciineii, No. J/,^, from I.nniBi- ann, queried as au»tcru»), (WiticouBin, IlliooiB, Missouri, and Loiiisiaua).— Cot ES, Proc. Acad. Nnt. Sci. Philtt. 1874, IKO. Arvkola (Pedomyt) dnnamomea, Baiiid, op. cit. 541, pi. liv (teeth), (type, No. -Wf, Hus. Bniitba., Pembina, Dak.). ArvimU (Pedomyt) haydeni, Baikd, op. cit. 543 (type. No. VVWi ^I""- Smitbs., Fort Pierre, Dak.). ;-. Diagnosis. — A. ripario subsimilis, veilere austeriore, forma robustiore, Cauda breviore caput cequante aut paulo superante; griseo-murinm, sublus ex albido plumbeuH, brunneo dilute lavatus. Long. tot. 4, cauda 1.25, pedis 0.70. Habitat. — Western States and adjoining Territories, especially Illinois, Missouri, and Michigan. Kansas. Louisiana. Although this animal is subgenerically different from Myonomes riparius, the superficial resemblance is so close that it is difficult to convey in words an intelligible notion of the distinctions. In fact, it looks more like M. riparius than like Pedomys var. curtatus, from whicli it is not specifically different. The following description is based upon about twenty specimens, mostly from Illinois. The pelage, though not harsh, is rather coarse, thick, and short, and does not lie smooth enough to possess much gloss ; a condition suggesting the apt name "austeriis". The tail has an average hairiness, with a medium-sized pencil at tip. The ears are about flush with the fur on an average, but in scant-haired specimens may overtop a little. The soles are scant-hirsute for their posterior tliird, and .')-tuberculate, one of the tubercles of Myonomes being wanting. The usual relative proportions of fore and hind feet and of all the fingers and toes obtain. In general form, the animal is stouter and seemingly clumsier than riparius ; the tail is shorter, averaging little more than the length of the head, but sometimes i iching about one-third the whole length of trunk. The head loolcs broader than usual, with a very obtuse muzzle and rather short and sparse whiskers. The upper parts show an intimate "grizzle" of black, brown, yellowish- brown, and grayish-brown, impossible to describe in a single word. This is darkest along the middle line of the back, wiience it washes out lighter toward the sides. Some specimens, as No. 2444, are almost pure black along the dorsal area, and the other upper parts are correspondingly dark, showing merely a grizzle with grayish-brown, without any reddish. Others, again, as No. 2454, are as much lighter than the average, having no appreciably darker dorsal area, and the whole upper parts and sides of a light muddy-brown grizzled with brownish-gray. »i| f IS ■ , 212 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. These colors fade on the sides, without any tangible dividing line, into tlie peculiar shade of the whole under parts. In an average case, the belly shows a background of plumbeous, strongly washed over with a dirty cin- namon, or muddy rust color. In the darkest-colored individuals, the under parts are deep hoary-plumbeous, with the tips of most of the hairs barely touched with muddy ; this peculiar shade, so different from the clear hoary- plumbeous of ripariuii, &c., being a strong mark of the subgenus, and only very exceptionally wanting. In the lightest-cftlored specimens, on the other hand, the under parts are so strongly invaded with the muddy cinnamon that the plumbeous bases of the hairs are scarcely visible, the dirt-color being continuous, especially along the sides, and so bright as to approach a fawn- color or tawny-brown. The tail is almost always distinctly bicolor, and it shares the colors of the upper and under parts of the body respectively. The type of the species (No. 224f), Mus. Smiths.) is a rather unusually dark specimen, especially underneath, being, as Professor Baird has remarked, one of the few in which the cinnamon tips of the hairs are inappreciable. Other specimens, however, received from Major LeConte as typical of his species, have the muddy wash very distinct. The Louisiana specimen eimmerated by Professor Baird (No tWt, Cal- casieu Pass, G. WUrdemann) is typical austerus, and extends the known range of this form. A Kansas example (No. 4218, Neosho Falls, B. F. Goss) is likewise pure austerus. Another Kansas specimen (No. 3306, Doniphan County, E. Palmer) leans rather over against var. curtatus in the shortness of its tail, though it is typical austerus in other respects. A Platte River specimen (No. 30'J4) is identical with the type of " haydeni ". The exact state of the case regarding this last is given beyond ; here it only remains to examine the other nominal species that has been referred to austerus. The type and only known specimen of "cinnamomea" (No. ^^, Pembina, Minn.) is, as Professor Baird says, exactly like austerus in external ciiaracters The points of difference, if any, lie in the skull and teeth; and we have the data to show that the slight differences observable in these respects are quite within the limits of individual variation. On coming into our iiard.s, the skull lacked zygomata; but the zygomatic width is stated by Professor Baird to liave been 0.56, which, with a length of 1.12, gives a proportion of just 100 : 50, which is a little greater length for breadth than MUBID^— ARVICOLIN^— ARVICOLA AD8TERD8. 213 usual. The skull is perhaps " remurkable for its elongation " ; but it fulls sliort of the specimen of hai/deni, wliich measures 1.14, ami only exceeds average austerus by 0.06. The suppose*! difference in the lengths of the nasals and the nasal branches of intermaxillary, owing to the shortness and truncation of the former, is no distinction, as we find it precisely matched in examples of unquestionable austerus (No. %V-; No. l^). The alleged differences in dentition are simply a little less deep infolding of the enamel loops on the back upper and front lower molars ; so tliat the lateral triangles of the first-named tooth, instead of being closed up along the middle line of the tooth, intercommunicate; and the same is the case with the anterior exterior triangle of the last-named tooth. But this is merely a slight differ- ence in degree, not of kind. Among our specimens are some as closely approaching this pattern as others recede from it; and the differences in this respect among unquestionable austerus are quite as great as between austerus . \- The following table gives the measurements of our series. Tablk LIV.— ifauiimimf* offift^-lwo fjnciment 0/ Arvicola (Pedomys) austerus. -Si TT a PM ± Hi. m-^^' mn 214 MONOGRAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Table LIV.— lf«i»iireiiie»(» offifly-two i>;»'o 1 iiHtn loats MM 3m 4938 'TM4 7130 lOOW I0039 lOOM 10041 Owon Sprlnct, C*l . . . . Fort Crook, Cal OrMtPlalna. W.T.... Black B Ilia, Itek Platte lUvor W. M Oabb. 0.00 1.00 1.00 0.40 0.80 0 73 0.66 0.00 0.80 0.83 0.00 o-o 080 0 73 aoo 0.70 1.00 0 83 oeo 1.00 ooo 0 75 0.03 1.00 ooo 0 3J 034 0.33 0 3-.t O30 0.34 0.31 0.31 0.30 0.30 0.07 0.63 0.63 0.M 0 75 0 65 0 65 0.60 O08 0 63 0 63 058 0 37 0 37 O40 Dryi/ldfCope. Dry. Freali(Cooper). Dry. do J.Fellner J.O.Cooper.... W. A. Hamniona ..do . .. 0.48 0.90 I.Nobr F.V. Hayden .. C. S. McCartby. ...do C. Drailer ...do ■••"<• ...do ....do 0.4il a38 0.40 0.4S 0 30 n.« 0.38 0.83 0.70 0.80 O90 0.8.1 0.74 0.84 1.10 1.08 1.10 1.13 l.OS 1.00 1.03 036 0 35 0.37 0.40 0 34 0.35 0.38 ...do. Aloohollo. ...do. ...do. .. do. do. ...do. ...do. Canon Valley. Utali.. Fort Briilger, Utah ... do do do do * stretched to nearly 6 ve Incbea i waa probably about four. Among the alcoholics, we find several specimens of curtatus from Utah. They are not in very good condition, showing little respecting the pelage (though the colors appear very light, much as in the Fort Crook specimen), but are unquestionably typical representatives of this extreme variety of aus- terus, and enable us to supply some additional particulars, especially as regards dental characters. They range from 3.25 to 4.00 inches in length ; the tail- Sin. 218 MONOGRAPHS OF NOIITH AMERICAN RODENTIA. vertebrae from } to * ; the liind feet, ^ to § ; the ears are small {i or less), thin, and papery, and appear slightly hairy, but may have lost niucli of their fur in the alcohol. The soles have liat five perfect tubercles, with a minute or rudimentary sixth (me. Several skulls (as Nos Hish W^) which we have extracted from alcoholic specimens furnish occasion for no further comment than that they are strictly of the Pcdomys type of dentition, and smaller than those of ausferus, in correspondence with the inferior size of var. curtatus; No. 12169 measuring only 0.90 by 0.5(5, although it is perfectly adult. Subgenus PITYMYS, McMurt. Arvicola sp., AucTOnuM. ^Psammomjs, LeConte, 182!) (pinc(oi'iim), (not of Rueppi'll). , - = Pi/j/mi/«, McMuiiTHiE, 1831 (some (j/pe). = i'tiienijs, Lesson, 1842 (same (^yjc). -m Chars. — Below medium size: body cylindrical and otherwise shrew-like in closeness and glossiness of pelage ; tail very siiort — less than the head, little more than the hind foot; ears small, mostly concealed, sparsely ])ilou8, with flat edges, and border of meatus plane in front ; feet small, both five- tuberculate; fore-claws not shorter than hind-claws; palms more than half as long as soles; teats only four, inguinal: skull relatively broader tlu;n usual; muzzle short, very blunt; nasal i)ranch of intermaxillary reaching beyond ends of nasals ; distance from tips of lower incisors to apex of descending process no greater than distance from same point to back of condyle ; first under molar with only one external closed triangle and two internal ones ; no spur on last triangle of second ujiper molar; back upper molar with only one exterior triangle and a posterior trefoil. This section, perhaps the most strongly marked among American Arvicola, nevertheless agrees exactly with Pedomys in the dentition (the three diagnostic teeth, viz., front under and middle and back upper, being the same), and likewise shares with Pedomys the nunil)er and position of the mamma) and plantar tubercles. In general cranial and external characters, however, it is quite difierent; Pedomys being in these respects much like Myonomes. From Chilotus, which has the same characters of the upper molars, it differs in having a less number of lateral triangles on the front under molar, and particulurly in the construction of Ihe car, as detailed else- where; besides, in other exttirnal characters, Chilotus is more like Myonomes. The great size of the fore feet and their claws, the small hind feet, and very short tiiil are strong peculiarities. MDKlDiE-AEVrCOLlN^— AUVICOLA PINBTOKUM 219 Back under molar with three spherical-triangular dentine islands in single series reaching across the tooth. Middle under with posterior spher- ical triangle; then interior closed triangle; then exterior closed triangle; then two angles generally confluent, but sometimes separated by enamel ■wall into two (interior first, exterior afterward) lateral closed triangles. Front lower with posterior spherical triangle; then interior closed triangle; then exterior closed triangle; then another internal closed triangle; then the two next lateral angles (one on each side) not separated and closed by a median enamel zigzag, but their dentine areas confluent, and moreover running into the dentine island of the anterior trefoil — this trefoil of variable shape. Thus there are five internal and four external angles in all (counting the lobes of the anterior trefoil). Front upper molar with an anterior spherical triangle, two interior and two exterior lateral closed triangles, the last exterior one being postero-lateral. Second uppei- molar the same, but with one less interior triangle — an exterior one comes first, then the interior one, then the postero-external one : the latter does not develop the postero-internal snag usually seen in Myonomes. Back upper with an anterior spherical triangle ; then another like it reaching quite across the tooth, but with its posterior median angle long and acute, and running into the concavity of the posterior U, V, or Y that finishes the tooth. However this last may vary in details, it ne^er approaches the oblique crescent charac- teristic of Myonomes. We only know one North American species of this section ; a second, however, occurs in Mexico. ARVICOLA (PITYMYS) PINETORUM (LeConte). Pino Mouse. Anioola peitnt^haoica, Haiilan, Fu. Aiuer. 1835, 144 (id part; tb« description,* but not the synonym;. Sot of auikon). Pmmmomy$ pinelorum, LeCunte, Ann. Lyo. Nat. Hist. N. Y. iii, ISf'j, •."'., pi. ii. (Name inept.) PiUjmni pinetorum, McMdhtrir, Am. eil. Ciiv. R. A. i, 1H3I, 4:I4. Pincmy plnelonim, Lesson, Nouv. Tab. K. A. 1842, li. Arriivla pinetorum, A. & Bach., Q. N. A. ii, 1851, 216, pi. Ixxx (exol. eyn. "oun'o,. DiK.").— LkCoktk, Proc. Acnd. Not. 8ci. rblln. Ti, 185;t, 409. Arviaola (Pitymyt) pinelonm, Baikd, M. N. A. 1H57, 544.— Allen, Bnll. Mus. Conip. Zooi. ' No. 6 '^3* (Mnssacbusetts ; rare ; " probably its uortbem limit").— Au.EN, op. cil., ii, No. 3, 184 (Flor- idtt).- Coues, Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1874, 191. Anicola toaloptoiia, Avt>. A. Bach., Jonrn. Acud. Nat. Sci. Phila. viii, 1842, 899 (Long Island).— Waonbk, WiegMann's Archiv, 1843, .M.— LeConte, Proc. Acad. Nat. 8oi. Phila. vl, 1853, 409. Anicola aptlla, LeContk, i'roc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Fbila. vi, 1853, 405 (Pennsylvania).— AUD. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1854, 289. (Same as L«Cont«'H.) ■"Alwvo a brownish fuwn; beneath grayish-white; * * length 4 Inobia; tail 1 of an inok ; * * the teats of the female are situated very near the organs uf generation ; she curries her youug batweeo the bind legs."— Haulan, (. o. ' ? ^: r I'll .; M'fl iff 1 m ■ i. ! '.1- . ■ 1 iilii' m. 220 MONOGRAPHS OF NOUTH AilEBICAN RODENTIA. Diagnosis. — Arvicola staturd inter minimos, {long, trunci 3-i-poll.), formd quasi-talpoidea sed rodro obtuso, caudd brevissima (subpollkari), auriculis parvis rotundatis planis subpilosis vellere occuhis, pedibim exiguis, b-tubftculatis, mani- bus latis dimidium pedum excedentibus, unguibus majusculis; vellere curto, denso, sericco, supra castaneo aut brunneo, sublux canescetUe-plumbeo. Little Meadow Mouse, looking something like a mole, with close silky fur brown above and hoary gray below; tail shorter than the head; small hind feet, with only five tubercles; comparatively large fore feet, more than half as long as the hinder, and with longer claws; and small, flat, round, scant-haired ears concealed in the fur. Habitat. — United States, chiefly east of the Mississippi, and rather southerly ; north to Massachusetts and Missouri. Kansas {Goss). Fort Cobb (Palmer). Oregon {U. S. Expl. Exped., Peale). Some of the expressions in the foregoing diagnosis rather belong to the subgenus Pitymijs than to this particular species. The dentition will be found fully elucidated under head of Pitymys; here we will continue our account of P. pinetorum with a notice of the skull, append a table of meas- urements, and then recur to external features. Nos. ^rr, 9 , and Wi , i , both from Tarborough, N. C, are more selected for description as being the most perfect, but the other twelve specimens arc likewise taken into account. Skull. — It gives an impression of being broader and more massive than that of riparius; and figures do bear out the suggestion, although in truth the difference in v 'dth or height, as compared with length, is slight; the length relative to the width is as 92 : 57, or as 1.00 : 0.G2, on an average, whereas the same proportion in riparius is 1.00 : 0.59 only. The absolute size of the skull is as much less as was to have been expected from the animal's smaller stature, and the di""erence appears to be positively distinctive; for we have never seen an (adult) skull o^ riparius that fell below one inch, and never one of pinetorum (hat touched this figure. Still we suspect that some Mas- sacliusetts skulls, for example, might reach it. Our specimens range from 0.90 to 0.97 in length, and the zygomatic width is just about I us much. Tiie average width of pinetorum is just at par with the minimum width of riparius. There is a noticeable difference in the interorbital width, however; the constriction here being no greater absolutely than that oi. riparius, and consequently i)eing relatively less. The ante-zygomatic or rostral part of the skull is perhaps broader for its length, as well as absolutely shorter. In the MURIDiE— AEVICOLIN^— ABVICOLA PINETOBUM. 221 under jaw there is a very nice characteristic of pinetorum as compared with any other species we have examined. Owing to the shortness and upward bend of the descending process, or else to some difference in the curve of the whole jaw, the distance from the tips of the incisors to the tip of this process is no greater than the distance from the same point to the back of the con- dyle ; whereas, in the other species, the former measurement is appreciably longer than the latter. The upper molar series measures from } to i of an inch in length ; the under a trifle more, usually. The upper incisors project i of an inch, or a little less, from the alveoli ; the under ones from \ to -h. The coronoid process is very slender, falcate, and acute ; it rises fairly above the level of the top of the condyle; its apex is generally just about Jan inch from the tips of the incisors, and when the jaw is in situ is just visible over the upper edge of the zygoma. The greatest depth of the whole skull (closed jaw included) is opposite the anterior part of the orbits, and amounts to nearly J of an inch. The interparietal is (usually) subtruncate laterally; the bony palate has precisely the formation of Arvkola proper ; the nasal brunch of the intermaxillary extends a little beyond the end of the nasals, as in Pedomys; and we notice nothing peculiar in the individual cranial bones or their sutures or foramina. "' Table LVL— 3fta«HrCT^«i(» of fourteen tk»Ut of AiiyicoLA (Pitymys) pinetorum. No. J8SS mi un Wf suit illtiS mi Locality. Ohio PenuHjlvntiin Bludensliurg, Md . . . Clarke Conuty, Va. ......do do Tarl>oroti|i!i,N.C... do KnleiBh, N. C Society Hill, 8. C... Georgia do do do 0.'J7 0.92 0.93 0.95 Width at— 0.36 0.40 0.38 0.30 0.90 0.91 0.90 0.90 0.37 0.37 0.37 0.37 0.34 0.30 N 0.50 0.62 0.58 0.55 0.5H 0.60 0.6:1 .3 o 0.18 0.19 0.17 0.18 0. Id o.oe 0.18 0.19 0.20 0.18 0. 53 0. 17 0.20 0.25 O.Dfi 0.r,4 0.19 0.17 0.23 0.22 0.24 0.25 0.25 0.23 0.25 0.25 0.23 0. 22 0.23 o. 0.16 0.19 0.20 O.IH 0.17 0.19 0.20 0.22 0.17 0.15 0.17 0.12 0.17 0.18 Jaw:— tip of iuci- sors to — 0.50 0.58 0 47 0.51 0.55 0.58 0.60 0.50 0.52 0.50 0.51 0.5:1 0.60 0.60 I 0.76 , 0.75 0.65 ' 0.67 i 0.70 0.72 0.72 0.65 j 0.70 0.B6 ■ 0.63 0.65 . 0.65 0.60 0.74 0.75 0.65 0.67 0.70 0.72 0.72 0.65 0.70 0.66 0.0:1 0.65 0.05 0.20 0.24 0.2c 0.22 0.23 0.25 0.25 0.38 0.24 0.25 0.27 0.22 0.24 0.25 0.25 0.27 0.28 0.25 0.27 0.28 0.29 0.;)0 0.26 0.28 0 25 0.30 0.27 0.29 I ill Il^ r ;l ' '■■ •H t ;U: ^if! r:! •■ i l^f Jl 222 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. The subjoined tal)le illustrates Hilly the size and proportions, and the variation in these respects, of this species. It seldom reaches and very rarely if ever exceeds 4.00 in length of trunk; adults do not apparently fall below y.OO; the great majority range between 3.25 and 3.75, settling at barely over .'3.50 on an average. The law of increase of size with increase of latitude is well illustrated, specimens from New England and the Middle States ranging over those from the South Atlantic and Gulf States; the latter perhaps never quite reach 4.00. The short tail, a striking feature, is not so long as the head ; its vertebrsE run but little over the length of the hind i'ct't, usually, and sometimes are not appreciably longer. The pencil of hairs is about 0.10-0.15 in length; the general liairiness is mediocre. The fore feet are larger comparatively than in any species of other sections of the genus, being broader than the hinder ones, and decidedly more than half as long. Part of this is due to the length of the fore claws, which appre- ciably exceeds that of the hinder and confers a noticeably " fossorial " char- acter. The palm runs from 0.30 to 0.40 in length, resting at an average of just about three-eighths of an inch. The palms show five callosities ; the thumb and its nail is possibly a little larger than ordinary. The hind feet are rather small, ranging from 0.57 to 0.70, and striking just five-eighths of an inch average. Tiie soles are rather scant-haired, and only so to the posterior tubercle ; there are only^ve plantar callosities : a posterior internal one, one at base of first, second, and fifth toes respectively, and one at base of third and fourth toes together. It appears from measurements not herewith pre- sented that the ear is only a fourth of an inch (l).20-0.30) high ; it is fairly hidden in the fur, is orbicular, and in greatest part flat; the edge is scarcely or not inflected, and the anterior and posterior heels of the rim do not meet in front of the meatus, where, consequently, the surface is plane (not ridged as in 'JhUotm, which compare). The anlitragus stands out as an evident flange with a slightly convex free edge ; but it is not so large and valvular as in more aquatic species, nor does it seem capable of closiu ^ the meatus. There is a great dift'erence in the hairiness of the auricle, perhaps dependent on individual variability, but quite as likely owing to seasonal or other conditions that equally affect the general pelage. In some specimens, the flat part of the conch is nearly as naked interiorly as in Chilotun; in others, the same part is well haired ; the scoo])ed-out portion is always nuked, and the back of the ear always noticeably pilous. The whiskers are shorter than usual, 1^ MUBID^— AEVICOLIN^— AKVICOLA BIPAKIUS. 223 llic longest hardly equaling the head; the obtuse muzzle is entirely furry, except the small emarginate papilla on which the nares open. The fur of this species is remarkable for its shortness, closeness, and lustre, approaching that of the mole, and in fact betraying the species at first glance. The coloration, too, is singularly uniform ; not, indeed, in its shade, but in the evenness with which the shade, whatever this may be, is distrib- uted over all the upper parts, without the slightest variegation. The dense texture and even coloration of the pelage are both due to the same thing : to lack of the longer bristly hairs that in nearly all other species are distrib- uted through the fur of the upper parts. The precise shade of the upper parts is subject to variation parallel with and as great as that we have demonstrated for A. riparim. A part is due probably to individual and seasonal variability, but more is owing, we believe, to climatic influences, since diflTerent localities seem productive of local races that appear tolerably constant In what may be called the typical coloration, prevailing in the Southern Atlantic States, the animal is of a rich glossy chestnut or light bay, which shades into slightly more yellowish-brown on the sides before this glides into the color of the under parts. The latter is a deep pluml)eous, strongly silvered over with hoary ash. Some Pennsylvania skins are identical with this ; others (among them No. 4714, type of "apella") , are much darker, and more truly a dull brown than a bay. The same is the case with some typical " scalopsoides " from southern New England, and generally mountainous as well as northerly specimens are apt to be the darkest. The fine large Illinois series, gathered by the lamented Kennicott, are among tiie darkest of the whole lot; some of them, in fact, betraying little of the characteristic chestnut. This is the chief basis of the suggested name "kennirottii" in Baird, op. cit. 5il. One curious specimen. No. 2876, from South Carolina, also mentioned by Baird, /. c, is dark-rufous along the back, with the sides rich fulvous or orange, appearing in marked contrast, as two lateral longitudinal stripes. No. 978, from Ohio, a very young animal, shows something of the same peculiarity, which we have also seen in occa- sional samples of other species, as in No. 2056 of riparius, from Halifax, N. S., and No. 4172, from Fort Crook, Cal. Very young animals normally differ from the adults in being plain mouse-gray, with hardly a trace of bay (No. 744, for example). The western specimens we tabulate are interesting as greatly extending 'I; < im w 224 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. the know.i range of the species, which has not hitherto been reported west of the Mississippi, if we except one or two Missouri specimens, as No. 3130. From Mr. Goss' collection, we judge that the animal is not rare in Kansas. Two of his specimens are the largest we ever saw, exceeding four inches; but they seem to be somewhat overstuffed, as other skins of Mr. Goss' cer- tainly are.* As evidence of the distensibility of the fresh skin of this and other Arvicolce, we may instance No. 8139, from Kansas, whose length we do not include in the table, since it surpasses five inches as prepared, though, apparently, the animal was under four. Both Mr. Goss' large skins are females ; males of his from the same locality are, if anything, a little below the average size. Dr. Palmer's Fort Cobb examples, not noticeable in any other respect, carry the known range of the species still farther westward ; while, finally. No. 3732, from Oregon, takes it (o the Pacific. This one, secured by the United States Exploring Expedition, probably by Mr. T. R. Peale, has been long in the collection, but seems to have been overlooked, owing to the circumstance that it stands labeled by a curious blunder "Arvicola occidentalis", to which it bears a slight resemblance in color alone. Table LVII.— JfoHMrcmenM of sisty-righl tpecimmt 0/ Akvicola (Pitymys) piketordm. ^ M Mature of spwimen. Date. Locality. Collocter. 1 r ■3 II 1^ 0.38 0.40 0.38 0.3« 0.36 0.35 0.38 0.35 0.38 0.38 0.40 0.40 0.36 0.40 0.38 U.30 0.36 1 Ramarka. 10363 S836 vmt 7787 7788 47U 7588 10S8S 3330 3.VtS SM7 iIS48 !U4J S9I9 i:>e3 mi d Dry Alcoholic - Apr. 10, Soathcm Statea. . . 3.90 3.00 100 3.75 0.69 0.82 0.75 0.71 0.C3 0.65 063 0,63 a64 0.6a 0.73 0.64 0.58 0.60 0.69 0.03 0.09 0.60 0 68 0.60 0.58 0.60 0.69 Meii8nr«d dry. Mcaaured in alcohol Typo of " aoalopaol. doa'LeC. Typ«"ap«I!o" LeC. Ueaanred in alcohoL Meoannid dry. do. Meaaared in alcohol. do. do. do. do. Meaaared dry. Meuorsd In alcohol. Meaaared dry. do. do. Sac Harbor, L. I . . Long Island T . .. SnffolkCo.,K.T.. ...do E. N. Byram . . J. LeConte ... RA-Morrit .. ...do ...do ...do 34. No. 7096. 0.55 0.45 1.10 1.00 4.33 4.45 0.70 0.70 0.80 0.80 0.45 0.45 0.30 0.80 0.33 0.33 0.66 0.65 0.33 0.33 The type-specimen. No. 3624 (Mus. Smiths.), was taken at Xalapa, Mex- ico, by M. R M. De Oca. No. 7006, taken at Tuxpango, Mexico, by Prof. F. Sumichrast, does not differ in any appreciable degree. These are the only Mexican ArvicoUe we have seen. 228 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Genus SYNAPTOMYS, Baird. j ! ii; ■./^.'J i^i ;. \ hi; \>' I' M\v Sj/naplomya, Daikd, M. N. A. 1857, 558 (xub Atyode), aud p. xliv.— Coueh, Troc. Acoil. Nat. Sci. Philn. 1874, 192. Diagnosis. — Root of inferior incisor ending abruptly opposite last lower molar. Faces of superior incisors longitudinally grooved near outer edges. Construction of molars and general cranial characters as in Myodpo; palate ending as in typical Arvicola. External characters as in Arvicola; ears equal- ing or overtopping the fur; tail equal t^ or longer than hind foot. Pelage very soft and full. . ;• . . .. The preceding paragraph gives the essential characters of the most remarkable genus of the subfamily^-one singularly combining the peculiari- ties of two other widely separated Arvicoline genera. It may be defined in a word as the skull and teeth of Myodes in the body of Arvicola, with tiie additional sui generis feature of grooved upper incisors. This genus was happily characterized in 1857 by Professor Baird, but upon such imperfect and unsatisfactory material* that he did not for- mally introduce either the genus or the species in the body of his work, though he gives Synaptomys as a subgenus of Myodes and catalogues 8. cooperi in his introductory list (p. xliv). Doubtless in consequence of these circumstances attending its first publication, the remarkable form, although defined, as far as the materials went, with precision, has scarcely been recog- nized by other naturalists. We are able to confirm the validity of the genus and add all the details hitherto deficient. Since 1860, the skin of some small Arvicola collected in August, in SUaget Valley, by Dr. C B. R. Kennerly, has Iain unnoticed in the Museum of the Smithsonian on account of its inaccessible condition, having been skinned through a small abdominal aperture, the skin left turned wrong side out and stretched on a hooped twig, Indian-fashion ; nothing thus appeared from the outside, even the tail and hind feet being tucked in out of sight. A crushed skull, uncleaned, fortunately hung by the lips. In this condition, the speci- men was entered in the Smithsonian archives, some twelve years since, as "Arvicola oregona", a presumptive identification having been ventured upon the strength of the locality and apparent small size of the object. Duiing * ^0' mi' Mu8. Smiths., merely » rnt-eaten bunch of fnr, lockin); head, tail, and three of the feet, but ^ ,> : •• y .. ■ This is undoubtedly one of the most perfect connecting links yet discov- ered between different genera of ArvicolintB, if not of the whole family MurkUe. 'Vhe habitat, too, of this false lemming is highly interesting, being quit« out of the range of Myodes. Baird's types came from some unknown place, believed however to be somewhere in the United States, and now the animal turns up from Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas, Oregon, and Alaska. The Kansas locality, Neosho Fails, where Mr. Goss has collected with such valuable results, seems peculiar in its fauna. There occur such southern types as Oryzomys, Siginodon, and Oc/ielodon, in connection with the pecul- iar Onychomys and with the Synaptomys — which latter ought, according to its zoological characters, to be a highly boreal animal. SYNAPTOMYS COOPERI, Baird. Myodet (Synaplomyt) cooperi, Baird, Cat. in M. N. A. 1857, p. xliv. £yii cooperi, Baird, M. N. A. 1857, 558, iii text (Uoited States t).—CouE8, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philtt. 1874, 194. Anioola {Synaplomyt) gotrii, Baird, MSS. (on labels of the Kansas specimens, in antiolpatiou of their proving different from the oriftinal cooperi). Diagnosis. — S. facie ArvicoltB riparii, ted caudd breviore, ar tubus exili- oribus, rostro obtusiore, vellere ampliore; murino-brunneus, plus mitusve griseus, aubtus ex albido griseo-plumbeus. Long. tot. 4, cauda subpoll., pedis ^, auri- cula ^. Habitat. — Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Oregon, and Alaska. Our notice of the genus has proved so fully illustrative of its single species that there is little to add. The original specimens of cooperi, as far ■ » ■ a\ 23G MONOGRAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. as the fragments show, arc a little lighter brown than most of Mr. Goss' late v/inter and early spring skins, especially No. 1368, which has also the tail more distinctly bicolor than it is in these. But some of the Kansas ones are identical in color with the types ; and they vary as much among them- selves in color as some of tiieni do from Nos. 1367-8. The tails of all, except No. 1368, are not evidently bicolor. The under parts are hoary-ash, usually soiled, especially across the abdomen, with pale muddy-brown, somewhat as in ji. austcrus, but not approaching the cinnamon shade that the latter fre- quently exhibits. The tail and feet in dried skins are dark fuscous ; in alco- holic species light brown, with a flesh-colored shade. The incisors are yellow, as usual ; the claws brownisii-white. Besides the copious long fine pelage of this animal, there seems to be something peculiar in the tenderness of the skin itself; the feet are detached almost at a touch, so that the labels cannot be secured in the ordinary way. The following table shows to some extent the range of variation in size: — Table LIX. — ileamremeritt of eighteen specment of Synaptomys coorKiii. '^- ^ . ' ■ . \ -d -, vw 1381 1308 3708 8404 8S0;< 8509 8310 8.'! II 8313 esi3 8314 6JI5 8316 Bsn sg63i 1037.1 7044 10937 Aug. 0, 1830 Wintcr,'0,'>-fi Mnr. -, 1806 Fob. — , 1866 Mar. — , 1866 Feb. — , 1806 ''eb. -,1866 Jar. — , 1806 Spring, 1866 ....ilo ....do ....do Fob. — , ISO- Locality. Collector. Tall to end of— Unknown (U. S, ») ...do Skagit Valley.Oreg NeoHlio Falls, Kans .. do ...ilo ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do.. ...do ...do ....do Brookvillo, Ind . . Bonton Co., Minn S^Mitherii Illinoia. Nnlato, Alaska .. W. Cooper ...do C.B.K.Kennerl)' B.F.G08S ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do It Uayniond . . . . O. E. GarrlsoD . . It^Kennioott... W. n. D»ll 0.50 0.00 1.10 0.( 0.; 0.53 0.53 0.50 0.3c 0.53 0.50 0.47 O.f 0.46 0.44 0.40 n.4i 1.07 0.95 1.05 0.08 1.00 0.08 1.00 o.go 0.85 0.90 0.00 0.00 0.89 19C 3.60 l.!!.'>4. U 1.30:1.75 . 037 J. 80:0.000.33 0. 75 0. eJo. 34 0. 600. 70 0. 36 0 750.9011.40 4.3C 4. U 3.75 3.60 l.3.'>4.00 1.30 3.75 1.10 3.30 3.90 3.35 1.10 3.30 I. lo'3. 50 1.0i)150 0.80 0.80 0.85 0.85 0.83 a t 0.68 0.700.43 a 67 0. 33 0.78 0.40 1.000.4X0.760.30 0. 95 a 38 0. 78 0. 33 1.0o'a40 0.77lo.33 1.000.410.750.34 1.00 0.39 0.76 0 36 0.65,0.800.450 73,0.38 Jo. 7r'o 0.fi4 0.7l'^0.46 0.760.40 0. 50 0.8.-1 0.40 0.6910 39 0.310.60 0.18 0 67 0.33 0. 58'o. 800. 4o'o 70 0. 37 0.0o'o.7.-.'o.33'o.69 0.43 O.M'o.70p.33|0 70:0.39 0.7511.000.40 0.78 0.40 I Remarks. Typo of eooperi, ..do. Moasand dry. ...do. ...do.* ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. — da Meaaiired aloohollo ....do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. do. do * But the loDgtli olhead and iMMly and of tail areas taken in thollesliby Mr. Ooss for \os. 8308-13, Ho seems to hare taken tbe tall-meaf)nrcment further up tbo ooooygoal Torteiirto than is Rencraliy done, no that the tails as fit^'on eqnal that of No. I;«i8. wliereaA they are certainly shorter. Our luOAsuremenls of the dried tail, did we make any, woulil nin fully 0.10, if not 0 30, ioHN than Mr. Go:*8' ll((nres. Onr measurements of tho alcoholic speclmeus are the most reliable of the series. Nub. 8516, 8517, are not full grown. t In No. 990.'l, apparently a nurnihg female, we find two pairs of pectoral mammn) and one pair of inguinal mamm», vitltoot being nblo to make out any interventug ventr.il ones. It la probable, however, that tbo species posoosses a Tontral pair, making oi|;ht teats in all. MURID^— AUVICOLIN^— MYODES. 237 " '.^ ^ ' . Genus MYODES, Pallas. Mui Bp., L1NNJEU8, and other earlient writers. Jrvicola sp., of different writers. c'. of late writers. <^/^mntua, Linck (^0 Baird), in part; includes tlio Amcol(B. <_Gtorychui, Kichardson, F. B.-A. i, 1829; and AuD. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1B54, in port; inclndes Cunlcu- lu»; not of IlliKer, which beloDf;s to an entirely dilfereut family. < J/^ode*, Pallas, Zuog. R.-A. i, 1831, 172, in part ; includes Arvicola, and thns about eqnal to his "M»ra cunUsalarii" oi VnS. =:Af^anie authorities, ought to be restricted to the first species mentioned imtis); but, according to others, it is applicable to either one of the three species llliger put in it. But it has of late been so carefully cliaracterized by Kcyserling and Blasius, in its application to Mus rulilus, &c., that if it is to be retained at all (wliich we do not think should be done), doubtless it is best assigned to rutilus. The choice, then, narrows to Myodes and Letnmus; we have not the authorities at hand to decide the case, but the balance of opinion is in favor of Myodes. Both these genera, as originally based, had a much wider application than is now admitted. In strict technical interpretation, both Myodes and Lemmus are synonyms of Arvicola Lacdp^de, 1803. Georychus Rich. Aud. is, of course, out of the question ; lUiger's Georychus having been based upon an animal of an entirely different family. Recent investigations, particularly the admirable memoir of MiddendorfT, have resulted in reducing the number of nominal species oi Myodes (as above restricted) to three — M. lemmus, M. obensis, and M. schisticolor. There is no question of the i, U9, pi. ii, f. 7, 8, 0, and pla. viii, ix, x, f, 2.— Baihd, M. N. a. 1857, 55U.— CoUES, Proo. Acad. Nat. 8ci. Phila. 1874, 195. Jnicola (OmryokiM) heholiit, RicnAiiiMON, F. B.-A. i, le-iS, 128. OcoryoAiM heleolut, AuD. &, Bach. Q. N. A. iii, \Ka, 84, pi. cxx, f. I. iljioda ketvoliu, Dall, Alaska and its Renourous, 187U, 577, Articola (Oeorgchui) liimuoronalui, Richardson, App. Parry's Sd Voy. 1825, 309; F. B.'A. i, 1829, 130. Otorgehui tHmuoronaU$, \vd. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1853, 8C, pi. cxx, f. 2, 3. Ufodet ItimucroHatu, Daix, Alaska and iU Resources, 1870, 577. jifyode* alfto^HMH*, Waoner, Suppl. Sohraber, iii, 1843, 602. . " ' DiAONOiiis. — M. auriculatus, poUice ungue di'prcsso obtuso Itgulato instructor unguibus digitorum manus 3"'-4" elongalix xed simjiltcis, j>edibus modtc'c hir- sutis, vertebris caudte pedibus breviuribus; notao concolore,Jlavo-ferrugineo in capite obscuriore, gaslrao dilutiore, pedibus fusck. AT. lemtno staturd formdque par; long. tot. 4-6 poll.,, capitis li-1 J, manus cum un^ue longissimo |-i, pedis i-i, caudtB nudee i-i, caudtB comatte |~s. Had. — America Septentrionalis regionibus ocddentali-borealibus. Asia. Form strictly that of the Norway lemming; ears with a perfectly-devel- oped conch, though small (about \ high on the back, \ from the notch in front) and buried in the fur; fore feet hairy on top, the longest hairs reach- ing the ends of the claws, never much when any longer; palms mostly nuked, nearly as in ordinary Arvicola, and tuberculnte; pollex obsolete, but in its place a very large appressed strap-shaped claw, with obtuse or truncate end, sometimes showing two or three minute points ("Irimucronatus"); all the other claws simple (never showing the peculiar quasi-duplication of those of Cuniculus torquatus), arched, acute, longer than in Arvicola, never so decidedly fossorial as in Cuniculus; third finger longest, fourth nearly as long, second reaching to base of third claw, fiflh much shorter still; hands, including claws, only about f the feet; feet above, like the hands, hairy to the ends of the claws, or the longest hairs slightly surpassing the claws; soles incompletely furry, the bases of the toes naked; second, third, and fourth toes subequal and longest; fifth about reaching base of fourth; second shorter still. Tail- vertebra) shorter than foot, with the hairs equal to or rather longer than foot; copiously comous, the terminal pencil frequently longer than the vertebral portion. Pelage long, fine, sofl, and mollipilose, the longer hairs quite lus- trous; whiskers about equaling the head, very delicate, not numerous; muffle completely hairy except the nasal papillae. Entire upper parts uniform rich ruddy rust color, sometimes more 10 H Ii iii I. m I ;■ 242 MONOGRAPUS OP NOIITQ AMERICAN RODBNTIA. decidedly rusly-clicstiiut, sometimes more rusty-orange or tawny; on tlie lieaddarkcr, tending to an intimate mixture of blackish and yellowisli-brown; under parts a paler but still strong orange rust color or tawny, brightest across tiic belly, more dilute and wliity-brown on the chin, throat, and pubes; color of the back lightening insensibly into that of the belly; no stripes, spots, or areas of different colors anywhere; no evident mixture even of single black hairs anywhere; the coloration everywhere only on the ends of the hairs, the basal portions being uniformly dark plumbeous. Feet always fuscous-brown; tail dusky above, obscurely whitish below; incisors whitish or very pale yel- lowish, never deep yellow or red ; whiskers both light and dark. Our numerous specimens, though taken at various seasons, are remark- ably uniform in color; the variation is less than we should have anticipated. We observe no sign of the species becoming white in winter, or of its changing pelage in any way with age, sex, or season. All the ditlerences we note are in intensity of the coloration. In the most richly-colored skins, the back is an intense orange-chestnut, the belly a bright rusty-orange; in the palest, the upper parts are about of this latter color, the under of a lighter fidvous. There is no variegation or particoloration anywhere about the animal, but toward and on the head the bright color subsides into a grizzle of dusky and yellowish-brown. The uniformly fuscous feet with short hairs are a strong character, compared with the hoary-white feet of Cuniculm torquatus, where the longest hairs sometimes reach half an inch beyond the claws. The American animal, as represented in our scries, differs notably in color from two Siberian skins, the only ones we have before us. In these, the under parts are nearly white (soiled ochrey-white) below, instead of intense tawny; while the upper parts are far from uniform orange-rusty, in having a decided black median lengthwise stripe from the forehead over the crown and nape, while here and there on the back and rump quite black areas appear. The feet are broader, heavier, and more densely furry, nearly white. If these differences be constant, we may readily recognize the American animal as at least a variety, to be called Myodes helvolus. But with only two specimens before us that may not represent average Siberian skins, and certainly cannot show the variations there occurring, we are far from desiring to contest von Middendorff's mature decision. The following table gives the measurements of our fine suite of skins, MUBlDiE— ARV1C0LIN;E— CUNI0DLD8. 243 the first and only American specimens handled in this country since the time of Richardson. Tadlb LX.— Jf«Miireiii«it» of thirlji-tao tpeciment (dry, except 8398-9) of Myodes odensip. vm 146S sea SM4 71M 8093 aM9 esm (WW tB3i 8078 80T9 8080 8081 8088 8083 8084 8iei oiea 83M eo7f 80T7 (MS am eKn 6931 6938 6933 6934 D*««. JnneU,ie« Janell,186i Jane H, 1863 Jnn* 14, 18M Jan« 14, 186] ,1868 ,1868 June 24, Got —,1863 Jane 10, 1868 Jane 10, 1868 Hay — , 1868 Spring, 1861 June—, 1861 Juno — , 1861 Hay — , 1861 Juno — ,1861 May—, Jaoe — , April-, Locality. Boat Siberia Talmyrland, Siberia . Frobliher'aStralta... do Feel'aBlnr Aratio Coait Andereon Blver ....".do do , do Fort Anderson do , do , do do do do do do .do. do Tttkou Biver* . do do do do do do do do do Collector. From tip of noae to- Tall to end of— Hut. Btr>te>sburR MuMnm Bremen C.F.Hall ....do C. P.Gandet .... RMcFarlane... ....do ....do ....do , ....do ....do ....do ..do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do J. Lockhardt.. ...do ...do R.KennlooU.. ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do , ...do 0. 0.90 0.60 0.S0 0.68 4. 4. 4. 1.304. 4. 1.133 1.994. S. .85 9. & 0.00 90 75 W 90 70 75 SO 85 89 95 0. 40{0. 80 00 90 0.70 0.80 0.35{0.60{').33|o.e5 0. 60 00 60 00 79 00 SO SO 79 0. 0. 49 0. 80 0. 0.49 0.80 I). 70 0.6OO. 0.79 0. 0. 0.79 0.90 a.eo 0.80 0.70 0.80 390.800.490188 0.85 0.400.75 7. 5. 6.50 1. 35 9. 00 0. 35{0. 60|0. 39;o. 70 5.750. 1.40 6.000,45{0.89|0. 0 79 0.70 0. 0. 40'0. 73 ..0.79 36{0. 67 39:0. 60 0.4o'o.70 0. 0. 0. 0. 43'0. 78 0.400.74 400 78 35'o.6e 48'o. 78 'I 44 0. 80 ,..0.79 43 a 68 Bemarki. Stretched. Yoang. Tounir. Yonn^. Ale. I ear 0.33. , do. Stretched. Stretched. Much stretched. Stretched. Stretched. ...do. ...do. Tonngt frcsb. I). I. %k *At mouth of Porcupine Biver, Genus CUNICULUS, Wagler. Mtu Bp., AucT. antiq. Jnicola sp., Jfyodo «p., Ltmmui gp,, AucT. reoentior. Georychut, partim, Richardson; Aud. &. Bach, nee Iu.10. Ciifiiciiliw, Waouer (" Syst 1830 "), loU, 1833, 1380. (T;pe, C. y romteiuiiciM = C. torTNatM.)— Liujkboro, Syat Ofvera. Gosg. Diigg^., Glires, 1H66, 33 ( 250 MONOGltAPUS OF NORTH AMERICAN KODENTIA. appear to call for coininciit, as the diflcrences arc parallel with those demon- stnileil for several species in other parts of this memoir. Taiii.k L\l.—3feir.:linl,U.U . do do *> do do do do do do do do do Nuhto, Alaska WiKillyaatux, Alaska Fori Yukon Arctic America Vukoii, moulli of Por- ctipino River. do do IbOck.v MouDtains, near Poiil's Klvcr. MonntainH 300 miles ab3ve Yukon. do Mmitli of Maokenzie'H Kivor. do Arctic Coast do do do di> do rtoi. do! Apdursou .Ulvcr. do Tlatroii Grotmils. do CoUoctor, Museum 8t. Foters- liurg.t Alfrml Newton t... Vf. Mactavisli ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do W. H.Dall ...do W. W.Klrkby ...do J. Slbblston J. Lookbnrt — ...do .. do ...do.; It. Konnioott... ...do , ...do R. McFarlane.. ...do ...do ...do , ...do ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do . ...do . ...do. ...do. 0.00 0.50 O.SO 0.55 0.05 0.00 0.50 0.02 0..'i8 0.58 0.57 0.00 I. SO 9.00 00 1.25 1.10 1.08 1.05 1.05 0.90 1.03 1.10 0.53 0.5: .■>, 00 0. 35 4. 7,-] 0.35 1. 40 0. 30 4.230.45 4. 50,0. 40 .3.8.V0.30 1. 730. 45 Tail to end of— 0.50 0.41' .•1.85:0.40 4. 10 0. M 1.00 0.40 1.00 0.30 1. 75 a 23 1. 50 0. 40 '\0O0.40 4.00 3.25 J. 00 00 0.30 50O50 73!o.33 7.-,;o., 35 0. 40 23 a 30 730. 40 73 .5r0.40 500. 4:1 75 . 330. 2r Cll n. 40 0.63 0.73 95 O SO 00 0. SO 65 0.4' 00 0. 71 9010. 4: 7o|o. 65 00 0. 63 0. 0:1 0.03 0. OS OOi 0.6,: 0.40 0.50 0.50 0.00 00 0.91; 0.70 0.00 1.6: j.eo 0.7; .00 0.60 1.00 Btioiarks, Summer ; dry. 0.80 3.08 0.«e 0.07 0.65 0.75 0.7J 0.80 0.73 0.811 0.7S 0.78 0.77 3.73 u.se n.oj 0.63 so 0. 62 52 0. rui 4.' 0. CO rc 0. 70 0.68 1.68 0.75 0 58 0.68 0.65 do. Orayish.wblto. un) wbitu ; cluw 0. 15. Summor, do. .*.tcobolie ; summer. Ale. ; Fob. 3. 1859 1 nearly wblte. Alcobollc ; July, 18.30. Alcoholic ; winter ; wbito. do. do. do. Alcobollc ; winter 1 ; nearly white, Alcobolio ; winter I ; partly wblto. AlcolioUo ; summer. .Summer. Summer ; still wbitish. Wbit«, with gray stripes. White, Summor; perfect pelage, June I still rusty-white. June; yonn]{, July ; young. September; a littlo whitened. October; pare white. 1; whitening. Almost pure white. Summer ; normal pelage. T ; much whitened. Summer ; normal polago. Winter ; nearly whlto. Chnn;;lng pelage. Normal summer. pelage. Winter; perfectly whlto. Will.; exactly like Audubon's pi. Winter ; nearly pure white. Wiutor ; perfectly snow-wbito. (f ; Juno 30 ; perfect pelage. 9 : Juno 26 ; perfect pelage. * From wrist to end of longest claw. t Uccclved I'rom ; No. 4.384, cillpctud by If. 71. M. S. Enlorprlso. I LockbHrt says : " tJlu>ek'i»oucheM tilled with biwIs." i Found in the nest of an ^rcAiliulw (Ifri'arlansJ, MUBID^— ABVICOLIN^— CUNICULUS TOUQUATUS. 251 Table LXI.— 3ff7 I omo 0331 993-] 9333 9934 1030 i Locality. Barron Qrounds. do do AndorMD River.. do do do do do do Fort Andemon.. do , do ...do. ...do . ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do . ...do. ...do. ....do. ....do. ...do . ...do. ...do. ...do. ....do. ....do . ....do. ...do. Collector. R. McFarlsne. ...do ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ....do. ...do. ....do. ....do. ....do. ...do. ..do. .)>-.. ....do. ....do. ....do. ....do. ....do. ....do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ....do. ....do ....do. 0.50 1.05 1.95 4.35 4. 4.50 5.00 5.00 4 75 .195 35 Kuae to— 0.65 0. 4.25 4.00 5.00 :).50 60 1. a35 40 0.35 0.x 0.40 Tall to '0(1 of— 1.35 0.30 7. 900.40 00 0.30 95 75 50 75% 4 0.C9 0.64 0.C9 0.05 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. "■ . 95 0. .000. X60 0.68 0. 0.08 0.75 0. 0 05 55 0.70 94A.63 53 0. 60 59 0.60 58 0.68 ... 0.55 ... 0.57 0.48 850.65|o.6J 65 .. 350.350. aoo.99|o. 90 0. 30 0. 8a;a so 00 a 46 I. I.35{1.S5'6. 409. I.30 9L ... t 00.... . 50|a351, 950.401. ool ...I. a.meo ...0.65 000.58 100.58 '1 O.SJ 0.63 0.65 0.7; 0.66 0.6S 0.70 cf ; .Juno 9fi ; perfect pelage. 9 ; Judo SO ; perfect pebge, 9 ; June 36 ; lM>rfect pelage, ruro white, with dark spiiml itrlpo. CbfiUKinx pelago, do. do. do. July 4 [ perfect pelade. Julie ; perfect pelage. Eutlrely white, do. May 99 ; Bummer pelage nearly perfected. Summer ; perfect pelage. June 6 ; perfect pelage. 1i nearly perfect pelage. do. do. Summer; perfect pelage. do. June 7 { vary rich colors. Tonng. do. Young. Winter ; perfectly white. Summer pelage. do. Summer pelage ; greatly atrctch'd, Summer pelage ; much atrotchod. Summer pelage. do. Winter) almost white. ^ I • Contained 5 cmliryos (VeFar.'aiw). Genus FIBER, Cuvief. 0.f,;„ < Cflsfor, Linn., Syat. Nat. 1, 1706, 78. _ .y , < ifM«, Om,, 8yst. Nat. Ij 1788, 125. •,;■*' "J .v.' " ••> - X Ifyooiutor, Kerr, " L. S. N. 1792 (type Mfopotamw ooyput)." . , ; = Fiber, Cuv., "Lofons, i, 1800 (typo Ctulor tibethiciu)." < Lmmu; FiscilKli, 8yn. 1829, 289. ' " ' ' t = Ondatra, " LacAi'Sde."— Less., Man. 1827, 286 (type Cattor nbethiciu). Chars. — Largest of the family. Fortr arvicoliae, but tail nearly as long as body without head, compressed, nearly naked, reticulate. Hind feet set obliquely; soles naked, q'lP'M-tubercuk-e ; toes incompletely webbed. Fore arm bristle-fringed. Muhlc hairy, except the nasal pads. Ears small, with •rrafe ..» T / 252 M0N001{AI'liS OF NOUTII AMERICAN KODENTIA. SfW:;:;- proininnnt aiij^ular iintitrngus. Whiskers sliort. Pelnge laniiginous, beset with mimeroiis long, glossy hairs. Mainiiiit' six. Highly developed jierina'al glands. 13pntition strictly arvicoiiiie in every respect ;* skull thoroughly arvicoline; hut sijuuiiiosuls greatly expanded, with corresponding reduction of parietals and interparietal; interorbital constriction of frontal at a maximum; anterior border of outer wall of anteorbital foramen wholly underneath the rm)t of the zygoma. An angular ])roces8 of squamosal overhanging orbit behind; zygomatic spur of squamosal touching zygomatic process of maxillary; jugal a mere splint applied internally. Fiber is a true arvicoline, showing every essential character of the sub- family as distinguished from Marina, and presenting no features of more than generic grade. Its cranial and dental characteristics depart but little, and only in superficial respects of mere contour; while its more considerable external modifications relate entirely to the highly aquatic habits of the animal. In the upper jaw, the lirst molar has an anterior triangle, two interior and two exterior triangles, alternating, the first interior following the anterior one. The second molar has an anterior, an interior, and two exterior triangles, alternating, the first exterior following the anterior one. The back molar has an anterior, then an exterior, then an interior triangle, finishing with a simple posterior jj-, V-i or Y'shaped treffle. In the lower jaw, the first molar, which is wider than, and nearly as long as, the other two together, consists of an anterior treffle, three exterior and four interior triangles, and a posterior loop across the tooth ; but the anterior pair of these lateral triangles do not always close up, so that they frequently resemble mere lobes of the anterior treffle, leaving but two exterior and three interior perfectly closed triangles. The middle molar consists of two exterior and two interior alter- nating closed triangles and a posterior transverse loop. The back molar repeats the middle one, but is still smaller, and the first (antero-exterior) triangle may be a mere spur, or obsolete. The upper incisors describe an almost perfect semicircle in the jaw; their face is plnue, very oblique; they are deeply beveled behind by attrition with the under incisors; these traverse the lower jaw to the root of the condylar process. The jaw is massive ; the coronoid is on a level with, or overlaps, the condyle ; the descending process is hamular, as usual, and much twisted. * Aiulubon (i. 107) iioticps some siiigulur orront antbors bavo couiinitt^il in deBcribiug tbe duntltiou ; Illigcr, GriQltb, VViegmuuu, unil Kuthu aiwiguiug tbo uiulura 4.j 4-4" ' MURID^— AKVICOLlNiK— FIBEU. 253 The stout zygomata do not dip down nearly to Uic palatal plane; the maxillary plate su])porting thcin in front is large; beliiiul, they curve up to the squamosals with moderate angularity. The areli is expanded in the middle, much as in the Lemmings and the stouter Arvicolas, chiefly by the laminar character of the jugal at this point; but the jugal is a mere splint, not forming by itself any part of the continuity of the arch, for the squamosal and maxillary spurs are absolutely in contact. This is a strong point of Fiber, for in other Arvicolines these s|)urs, however closely approximated, do not suturally unite. The parietals and interparietal are at a muiimum size, coin- cident with the encroachment of the highly developed squamosals; behind, the squamosal vacuities are large ; in front, this bone protrudes as an angular process into the orbital space, but this is merely an exaggeration of the smaller protuberance of other ArvicolincB. The constriction of the frontal in the interorbital region is at a maximum, the skull being here obviously nar- rower than the rostrum. The nasals and internmxillaries are of about equal lengths; neither extend beyond the anterior root of the zygoma. In the adult, the occipital bone shows no trace of its elements ; the paroccipital processes are lengthened spurs ; the upper border of the bone forms, with the continuous squamosal border, a strong sinuate crest, separating the parietal from the occipital plane. The foramen magnum is usually eraarginate superiorly. The auditory bullse are not peculiar. The palate ends behind opposite the middle of the last molar as a doubly emarginate shelf, showing a median azygos protuberance with a fossa on either side ; it shows likewise other lateral fossse or canals along its surface. The incisive foramina are relatively short and constricted ; they rarely, if ever, reach to opposite the molars behind, nor more than two-thirds the distance thence to the incisors in front. The rostrum is tumid and obtuse, the nazals fulling fiir short of a perpendicular tangent to the incisors. In all this, it will be observed. Fiber shows slight specialization of ordinary arvicoline characters. Externally, however, the modifications are stronger, in face of special habitus. The under fur is even more woolly than in the Lemmings, and the pelage is further conspicuous for the many stiff and glistening hairs with which it is beset ; besides these, the antibrachium has a peculiar fringe of still stifTer bristles. The sides of the hands and feet are likewise fringed with hairs, but the soles and palms are perfectly naked ; above, these members are closely pilous with very short adpressed hairs. The palms have five tuber- if Ill I 254 MONOGRAPHS OF NOUTH AMERICAN UODENTIA. ; I iiii iiiii rlcs, ns usual; tlio solos, on tlio contrary, only four — onn long, lengthened, postero-intcrnai, and three others at tlic bases of the Ist, 2d, and 4th-5th toes. The skin of tlie soles is not granular nor obviously reticulate, though it is crossed with lines in tlic dried state. The Ist toe is but little shorter than the 5th, tlic claw of which falls short of that of the 4th ; this last is rather the longest, the 3d and 2d decreasing a little. The rudimentary thumb bears a claw ; the other fore digits are subequal in length, and all long. As in many other aquatic mammals, the whole foot is set obliquely on the leg, go that its edge and not its surface may be opposed to the water in the forward movement of the member, and vice versd. The modification of tlie tail into tiie 8oml)lance and for the purpose of a rudder is the most remarkable fea- ture of the animal. This member is strongly flattened sideways in nearly all its extent, permitting readiest lateral flexion and but little up-and-down move- ment. The vertical width of the tail is increased by a fringe of stiffish hairs above and below ; on the sides, the skin is almost naked, and cut into number- less scales, showing a disposition to form the rings so conspicuous in Mus ; but their annular allignment is not perfect, the general arrangement being nearer a quincunx. The ear does not show such development of the anti- tragus, or other mechanism for excluding water, as might have been antici- pated ; but it is so small, so furry, and so deeply buried in the general pelage, that no additional contrivance is required. The eye is very small ; the muffle, completely furry except on the small nasal pads, is very obtuse, with thick fleshy lips, not clefl at the median septum ; there are fleshy enlargements and hairy patches within, serving to diminish the oral aperture. The whiskers are short, sparse, and stiff; there are other bristles over the eyes and under the chin. FIBER ZIBETHICUS, (L.) Cuv. Huskrat. Castor ziheihicu), Linn., Sygt. Nat. '., 17G6, 79, no. 3 (qnoteo Brisson, Kalm, and Sarrazin). — Erxl,, Syst. Bug. Anim. i, 1777, 444, no. il.—hoDD., Elencli. Anim. i, 1784, 1(56. Mm zibethioua, Sciiukb., Siiug. iv, " 1792", 038, pi. 176.— Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 125, no. 2 (qnotes Sohro- bor).— Shaw, Gen. Zool. ii, 1801, 44, pi. 129 (lower figure). MyocaHlor iibethiais, "Kbrr'8 LiunfBUs, 1792". Ltmmui libethicus, "Fb. Cuv., Diet. 13c. Nat. vi, 310, fig. — ".— Fiscn., Synop. 1829, 289, no. 1. fiber tibelhicm, Cuv., R. A. i, 1817, 192.— Desm., Mamm. ii, 1822, 279; Encyc. M6th. pi. 67, f. 6; Nonv. Diet, xxiii, 506.— Sad., Frankl. Jonrn. 659.— Hahlan, Fn. Anier. 1825, 132.— Griffith, Auini. Kingfl. V, 1827, 208.-GODMAN, Am. Nat. Hist, ii, 2d ed. 1831, 58.— Rich., F. B. A. i, 1829, 115 (describes black, white, and pied varieties).— DeKay, N. Y. ZooI. i, 1842, 75, pi. 20, f. K, pi. 32, f. 3 (skull).— SciiiNZ, 8yn. ii, 1845, 257.— AuD. & Bach., Q. N. A. i, 1849, 108, pi. 13.— Kknnicott, Agric. Rep. U. 8. Potent Office for 1856, 18C>7, 105, pi. 14.-Baird, M. N. A. 1857, 561.-BuLaER, P. Z. 8. 1865, 682 (bobits).- Coueb, Proo. Acad. Nut. 8oi. Phila. 1874, 190.— CovKB & Yarrow, Zool. Expl. W. lOOtb Merid. 1870, — ; and of authors generally. II MUUIDiE— BIIJLIOOUAIMIICAL APPENDIX. 255 Onilalra eibelhtcut, Lesh., Mnn. IKW, 1W«, no. 703.— Watehii., Chorlc»w. Miig. iii, 1830, 504. Ondatra americana, "TlKUKM., Zik)1. i, 4ril". t MhfT Moyoofentit, LoiiD, P. Z. 8. 18(Kt, 00. ifiu«ucHir, "Bmith'h VirKiiiiu, Wia, 'J7". Jdukral, Lawson, Cor. 17i;i, 120.— HnicK., N. Car. 1737, ISO.— Bili.inqr, Canad. Nat. and Oeol. il, IRW, 106 (Imbitx).— Loiii), ibid, iii, I8(i8, 45(ljabita).— Fisii, Aiii«r. Nut.T, 1871, 314 (partial alliiiio). Bat mutqui, Saiiiiazin, MtStn. de I'Acad. 1725, 33:), pi. 11, f. 1, 2.— Ciiaulkv., Nuiiv. Fr. iii, 1744, 107.— Saoard-Thkoo., Canad. 771. Itat maiqui du Canada, liliiss., R^gne Anini. 1700, 136, no. 4. Ondatra, Buff., Hist. Nat. x, 1, pi. 1.— "Alkss., Quad, iii, pi. 114, f, 1. "— Dmmouuns, "Diet. Class. iii, 100". iluik Bearer, Foiibt., Pliilos. Trans. Ixii, 1772, 375.— Penn., Sjn. Quad. 1771, 250, uo. 101 ; Hist. Quod. 1781, no. 252; Arct. Zool. i, 1784, lOG, no. 41. Zibetliratze, " MOi.l., Nature, i, 1773, Xa ". ' itiuqiuuk, IlEAliNE, Journ. 370.— Uulokr, P. Z. S. 18C5, 052 (liobits). IIauitat. — North America. ' - Having already given, under head of the genus, a sufficient description of the only recognized species, we do not consider it necessary to enter into further detail respecting so well-known an animal, concerning which we have no new information to offer. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX. [Note.— Besides the nnnierons general treatises already cited as bearing in dne part npon North American Murida, the following special works and popere relating to the Murida at large nioy b« note-S2, niit Abbild. I7'13.— [D6derlein, J. A.] Clitornocbus, curioBes Gespriich vou Miiusen, dereu iio- tiliiiubuI)e8cbaffenbciteii,uuter8cbiedeueOattungen,mnncberleiEigcn8cbaften, [etc.] Schwalbnch uud Leipzig. 8vo. 1743. pp. 138. 1749.— Httgstrbm, P. Aunierkung tiber die Tbiere [Myodes], die in Norwegen HUM den Wolken komnien solleii. < Abbaudl. Scbwed. Akad. si. 1740, pp. 10-:j7. 1761. — Bergius, B. Bcscbreibuugeiuerweiatteu Maus. ^ 8 Cniii|>ngiiol8 dcs tMivirons de L:es« [etc.]. gr. 8\o. Liego. isao. (L'lnstitut, Iv. p. 382.) 1 830.— Waterton, C. Nutes on the liLstury niid habits of the lirowii or Gn-y Itat (Miis dccuiiisiiiUH). <; Lomloii'rt Mug. ix. IS-'JO, pp. 1-C. 1837'.~Harlan, R. Doscriptioii of n new species of qiiudnipcd of tlio order ]{odentiii, iiihnbitiiig Iho United StateH [Miis pnUi^tri^t]. < Am. Jouru. Qui. x.\i. 1837, pp. 385, ,180. 1 >»37.— Waterhouse, G. R. [(Jhiiracters of the genus and two s|>ceic8 of lieithro- don.] < I'roc. Zool. Soc. Ldnd, v. 18.37, p. L'9. 1 837.— Waterhouse, G. R. [Characters of new siwcies of the genus Mus.] < Proo. Zool. Soc. Lond. v. 18;J7, pp. 15-21, 27-29, 70, 77, 101, 1()5. 1 838.— Waterhouse, G, R. ClasMillciition du groupe Mus. < L'lnstitat, vi. 1838, no. 243, p. 27U. 1830. . Benierkungcn ilber Mus rattus. < Froriep's N. Nat. xi. no. 212, 183!>, pp. 337-341. 1 830.— Waterhouse, G. R. Jliiuse aus Siidanierikii. < Isis, 1830, . i.. 140-142. 1830. — Selys-Longchamps, E. de. Cimipagnuls inedits [Arvicola*. spp. nu.]. < IN'vue Zoologl(|ue, 183!), pp. 8, 9. 1830.— Selys-Longchamps, E. de. I^ludes do Microinaninialogie. Kevuu dvs Miistiraignes, des liats et des Onni|)agtiols, [etc.]. gr. 8vo. I'uris. 1839. 1 830.— Rctzius, A. ()m Slagens byggniid hos de i Svcrige lorekoniniaude Artor nf Sliigtet Leinnins Nilsson [ — llypuda-us, IlligerJ. < Kongl. Svensk. Vet. Akad. Hand!. 1830, pp. 120-138. (Miiller's Arch. 1841, pp. 403-420 (ilbers. von F, C. (Jreplin).— Coinptes lieudus Ac. Sc. Paris, xiii, 1841, pp. 980-988.— Isis, 1842, p. 340.) 1810.- Martins, C. Stir les migrations et les moeurs des lA>mmus norvogicus Hny. < Soc. Philom. Extr. Proems Verb. 1840, pp. 80-82. (L'Institut, viii. 1840, no. ;JiO, p. 272.— Kev. Zool. 1840, pp. 193-200.— Fror. N. Kat. xviii. no. 390, 1841, pp. 240-248.) 1 8'10.— Waterhouse, G. R. Diagnosen der neuen Miiuse, welcho anf Darwin's Itcise enfdeckt wurdeu. < Arch. f. Nattiig. vi. Jahrg. Dd. i. 1840, pt. 174-180, 281-284. 1 8 10.— Martins, C. Observation sur les migrations et les moeurs des I.iemniiug.<«. < Uevuc Zoi)logi(]ue, 1840. 1810. — Sundevall, C. J. Tvenno lor Sverige nya Gnagarcnrter saint Fandbyggna- den hos Arvicohi och Myodes. < Kongl. Sveusk. Vet. Akad. Uaudl. 1810, pp. l.'i-30, pi. (Isis, 184.'), pp. 108-115.) 1811.- Pictet, F. J. Description d'unc nouvclle espece do Itat [Miis Icucogaster] tronvce aux environs de ticueve. < Mem. de la Soc. do Phys. t-t d'lJist. Nat. ix. 1811, pp. 151-100, pi. X MUltlDiE— BIBLIOGRAPHICAL AI'I'ENDLX. 2;VJ 18|). Ml, L'(!'-'. 1 847.— Ray. J. Note sur I'Arvicola cuniciilnrius IJny. < Kcviio Zoologiqiie, 1847, ))|). ;ii;(-.tir.. 1848.— Gambel, W. DoBcription of two new Calirorniii qnndrniicds [Mus ctili- fornicus]. < Pioc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila. iv. 1848, pp. 77-8»'q. 1848.— Gould, A. A. [On a Singing Mou8P.] < I'loc. Lust. Hue. Nat. Hist. iii. 184S, p. 4. 1848.— Gray, J. E. OliFcrvutionH on M.vodes liud8onic>ns, and otiipr Bpi'cies of (ho giMiUH MyudcH. < rroc. 7.i.u\. Soc. Lend. xvi. 1848, pp. 4.'t, 44. 1849.— Struve, — von. UtliT weisso MiiiiEe. Frorii'p's Nat. 3fe lU'ihe, ix. 1849, pp. l<.»y-l!)7. 1 840.— Erslev, E. Oni nnglo Attrr af nnrdl»kc Muns. < Ftirli. Skand. Natiir- forsk. V. Mode, (lt-47) 1849, pp. 944, 94r.. 18{I1.— Belke, G. Notice Mir Tapparition en Podolie d'une mnltitiido do Cam- pagnoJH et quelqncs rcmaiqnes siir l'identi(6 du I'Arvicola arvalis et dii A. sub- terranens Sclys. < Unll. Sop. Imp. Natnr. Mosc. xxiv. 1851, pp. 549-5.j7. I8S3.— Malm, A. W. Ziir Naturgpficbidite dps Lemmings (Myodes lemiuus). < Fror. Tugsber. no. 479 (Zool. Bd. '2), 1852, pp. U8G-288. 1 8jS9. — Gerbe, Z. [Aivieola Icucurns, A. selysii, spp. un.] < Comptes Kendns Ac. 8c. Paris, xxxiv. 1852, pp. 09, 092. 1853. — Blasius, J. H. Iteitiiigc ziir Kenntniss der Gattuug Arvicola [u. s. w.J. < Hull Akad. Miinehpn, 1853, pp. 257-259. , - 18S3. — Le Conte, J. Description of three new species of American Arvicola*, with remarks on some otiier North American Itodents. < Proc. Acad. Nat. 8ci. Phila. vi. 185,5, pp. 404-41.5. 1833. — Woodhouse, S. W. Description of a new species of Monse of the genns lIcHperomys, Waterhouse fU. texauaj. < Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. vi. 185;i, p. 242. 1 8«S4.— Blasius, J. H. Iteitiiige zur Kenntniss der Gattang Arvicola nnd der deutscben Fledermiiiise. < Lotos, Jahrg. iv. 1854, pp. 83-87, 98-100. 18tl4.— Burtneister, H. Uelier ^iidnmerikauische Murinen. < Abhand. Nat. Gesellsch. Halle, ii. (Silz. Ber.) 1854, pp. 3-9. 1 8«J4. — Gerbe, Z. Desci iption d'une nonvelle espdcc dn genre Arvicola [A. ibericaj. < llvv. et iMiig. de Zool. 2e fi'r. vi. 1854, pp. 008-013, pi. — , 18ff4.— Gerbe, Z. Observations pour sprvir t\ I'bistoire do I'Arvicola incertus de BpIjs. < liev. pt Mag. de Zool. 2e ser. vi. 1854, pp. 359-372, 695-008, pll. 1 8ffS. — Dehne, A. Mns miiSf'ulns L., die Uausniaus und ihro Varietaien. < Allg. dents, ntrb. Zi-it. n. F. Bd. i. 1855, p. 174. 1 8tS«I.— Dehne, A. Mus sylvaticus L., die Waldmaus uud ihre Vurietiiten. < Allg. deuts. ntrh. Zeit. n. F. i. 1855, p. 181. MURID/E-BIDLIOOKArniCAL APPENDIX. 2G1 tSSS. — Dehne, A. Mus deniimaniiR Pull., dio Wnixlerratto uiid ibro Vnrictiilcn. < AUg. doiits. iitrli. Zcit. ii. F. lid. i. ISTm, pp. HJ9-174. I StlS.— Hensel, P. [Uubur Mittollu'riuiia, ii. g., ii. h. w.j < Zoitnclir. Doutacb. (ieol. Oi'sell. vii. IrtSS, pp. 458-.srq. I§«KI. — Dawson, J. H. Ou tbo Mpecics of Merioncs and Arvicolos found in Nova Hcotiu. < Cdnud. Journ. iii. 1803, p. ;t88. (Hup. Urit. Aiwoc. 1805, pt. 2, p. IIU. — New Pliil. Journ. KJinburgb, iii. 1800, pp. 1-4.) I tiSiS, — Le Conte, J. Detioription of two new fi()euios of UeRperoinys [Q. cognutuH, II. gracilis]. < P^^oc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila. vii. 1803, p. 441.'. 1 8S0. — Krauss, F. Die Dnufiratte in Stuttgart. < Wilrtembcrg utrw. Jabrcsb. Jubrg. xii. 1800, pp. 117, 118. 18A0.— Gaskoin, J. S. [On Mus musculna var. nudoplicatus.] < Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. sxiv. 1800, pp. 38-40. 1 8p. Brit. Assoc. 1807, p. 114. 1857. — Gould, J. On four new siiecies of Mus [etc.] from Australia. < Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. XXV. 1807, pp. 241-243. (Ann. & Mag. Nut. Hist. 3d ser. i. 1808, pp. 220-232.) I8«I7.— Anon. [Billings, E.] Tbe Muskrat (Fiber zibetbicns). mninf. 082. 180p. 310-319, woodcc. 1807. — Beger, H. Zur vergleichenden Anatomic der Wasserratte nnd Feldmans, Arvicola nniphibius uud arvalis. < Zeilscbr. ges. Ntrwiss. xxx. 1807, pp. 145-184. 1 808.— Murie, J. [Mus rattus var. (an up. n. T) from Sydney or Hongkong.] — Lord, J. K. Tbu Muskrats as builders and niiiii'ra. . 4a-48. Arvlroln ripnrlaii (1B49|. eign. 46-4». A. '•j"'''"; (•J2«l' „„,,=, riSa. 50-38. A. loi>ui(eiHri (BSIIil). Ktg». 04-97, A. snnlhOKDiilliiiii II3II8). p' •n'wmn'Nsiimi'iiwmir'^nmif^T^'r^^'^ A r MW ■■!ik H -i't ' ' 'M RipiiinpiPiqiinipiiiiipiliB mmummm V. 8. GKOLOOICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. MlJRIDyE, PLATE V. Vlga. SS-ltl, Arvleola aniitcraB (1869). FIcs. aa-SS, A. nasleras («4N). ViK*. a»-«0, A. cnrtalna (IsllMt). Vlt». 70-73, A. ptaetorum (tItSO). Flea. 7«-77, •jTBBittooijrB cmtiMrl (WIS). I M mmmtmimmmmmmtK^mmimimimmim iili " ,J !»)« MONOGllAPHS or NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. No. II-LEPORIDil. By J. A.. ^LLEN". 866 TABLE OF CONTENTS. r» Pag*. Family LEPORID^ 2(i5 GkNKRAI. CON81DKRATI0NS 967 OROoiurniCAi. variation S68 Individual VARIATION 273 OKOORArillCAL DISTRIBUTION 274 DiBMooRAPiiiCAL r£sum£ 277 ClUnACTRVIISTICS OK THE FAMILY 881 Genua Lipm 282 Leput limidiu • 288 campettrit 297 amtrioanuti 304 americtttiuf 304 riri/iiiiaNii* 307 wmhingtoni 309 bairdi 310 ighallCHi 327 lyhaticiu 328 nuilalli 330 arhonee 332 auduboni 333 trowbridgei 344 graymni * 347 bra»Uie>ui» 348 bramlientu 348 gabbi 349 callotli 350 caUotit 351 iexianua 351 californicut 357 paluttrit 3fl0 aquaticut 364 cunicutua 367 Species wrongly attridutkd to America '. 369 Note ON THE NAMES "Rabbit" ani Hark" 309 Epidemics amono North American Hares 371 Extinct species 373 Gcnns Palaolagu* 373 I'alaolaguH haydeni 373 agapetillttt 375 lurgidua 375 triplex 375 Genns Panolax 370 J'aiolax tanclceftdei 376 Genas Praotherium 3r0 Praotherium palaiinum 377 260 It'j i LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Cahbriooe, Mass., April S, J 876. Sib: I transmit herewith fitr publication my report on the North Amer- ican Leporida. As but two species of this family occur south of the United States that are not also found north of the United States and Mexican boundary, these have also been included, thereby rendering the present memoir a mono- graph of the Leporida of the New World. The material on which this reiM)rt is based is primarily that of the National Museum, to which, through the kindness of the officers of the Smith- sonian Institution, I have had the fullest access. This has been supplemented by that of the other principal collections of this country, by far the most important of which is that of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cam- bridge, Mass., of which also I have been permitted the freest use. It gives me pleasure to mention in this connection that a large part of the material from the Trans-Mississippian portions of the United States has been gathered either personally by yourself or under your immediate direction and auspices. I am, sir, very respectfully, yours, J. A. ALLEN. Dr F. V. Hayden, United States Geologist, etc., etc., Washing/on, D. C. 'm>hiM. p r i 1 h • I .! • Family LEPORIDJE. T The present revision of the American LqmulcB is based upon the material contained in the National Museum at Washington, supplemented by that of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge. Tlie speci- mens in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and in the Museum of t!ie Boston Society of Natural History have also been examined. The author has thus had access not only to the types of the species described by Prof. S. F. Baird, in his great work on the Mam- mals of North America, published in 1857, but also to nearly all the material used by him in his excellent elaboration of this family in the above-named work, together with the vast amount of material that has since accumulated at tlie Smithsonian Institution! This includes not only the collections made by tlie different Government expeditions since 1857, but also the large col- lections made since tiiat date, under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institu- tion, in Alaska, the British Possessions, Mexico, and Central America. By far the larger portion of the specimens examined from localities within the United States received from any one source have been the collections made either by Dr. F. V. Hayden personally or under his immediate direction, and especially during the prosecution of the geographical and geological survey of tlie Territories, now in progress, under the auspices of the Department of the Interior. Large collections liave also been received from the other Government surveys of the Territories made under the direction of the Topographical Bureau. The most important collections from the region north of the United States were made by the late Mr. Robert Kennicott and by Mr. William H. Dall, though very large additions have been received from 2fi7 -7 ^ 268 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODE.NTIA. iiiiii ' I ?. Mr. B. R. Ross, Mr. R. McFnrlane, niid otlicr officers of tlie Hudson's Buy Company. The most important collections from localities south of the United States arc those made hy Prof. F. Sumichrast in Soulheastcrn Mexico, by Mr. C. A. Scliott in Yucatan, and by Prof W. M. Gabb in Costa Rica. As an indication of tiic amount of material that lias been usetl in the preparation of the present memoir, it may be stated that of Lepus americnnun (including its several varieties), the series of skulls alone numbers about one hundred and fifteen, which is supplemented by about the same number of skins ; of Lepus sylcaticus and its varieties, the skulls number seventy, and the skins about one hundred and fitly, representing in each case, of course, a wide range of localities. Among the results reached by the elaboration of this large amount of material is a better understanding of the character and amount of the varia- tion dependent upon locality. These results, together with the data on which they are based, are presented with considerable detail in the following pages. I. — OEOOBAPBICAL VARIATION. Since most of the American Lcporidte arc not only mainly nocturnal in their habits — living concealed in shaded places, as under fallen trees, thick bushes, or even in burrows during the day — but also live mostly in swamps, thickets, or forests, they are in a measure shielded, it would seem, from tiie climatic influences that produce so marked an effect upon anitnals having different habits and affecting more exposed situations. Whether or not these conditions have a tendency to reduce the variation with locality due to climatic conditions to a minimum, or whether the species of this group are constitu- tionally less susceptible to climatic influences, we certainly find a less degree of geographical variation among the species of the Leporidce than among many other families of mammals. A considerable amount of variation, resulting from conditions of environment, how ever, exists among them, and conforms to the general laws of geographical variation previously announced as obtaining among both the mammals and birds of this continent. Among the Leporida, cases of melanism are of rare occurrence, less than half a dozen instances being as yet known to me among our native species. Albinism, in its true sense, seems almost equally rare, since the regular assump- tion of a white winter pelage by the northern species can hardly be regarded as true albinism. Generally speaking, too, the variation in intensity of color LEl'OHlD.E-GEOailAPllICAL VARIATION. 2G9 with localil}' is often less strongly marked than in mnny other groups, even nniung tlic Rodents. I'aUing as an illustration of this point one of our widest-ranging species, the little Wood-IIarc {Lfpus sijlmtkm and its several varieties), we find tliat specimens from the Carolinns, Georgia, and Florida are, in the average, not much darker than those from Southern New England, the difference being generally too small to give in itself a positive clue to ♦he locality, as is so generally tiic case in birds, and often in other groups of mammals. Indeed, specimens from the ]\Iexican provinces of Vera Cruz and Yucatan are in no way positively distinguishable from those obtained about Washington or in Slassachusetts. On comparing, however, specimens from the Atlantic coast with others from the arid interior of the continent, we find the differences in color resulting from the different climatic conditions of the two regions are strongly marked, through the greater pallor of those inhabiting the dry plains and semi-desert portions of the Great Central Plateau. The bleaching effect of an arid climate is quite marked in specimens living as far east as Eastern Nebraska, while the greatest degree of pallor is seen in those inhabiting tho Great Colorado Desert. Again, specimens from that portion of the Pacific elope north of California — a region of heavy rain-fiiU and dense forests — present as dark or even a darker phase of coloration than those from the Atlantic States, just as proves to be the case in the wide-ranging species of the Sciurida and MuridcB. The same regional phases of color-variation are also illustrated by the Northern Hare {Lepus americanus ax\A 'vs varietien), which ranges in a similar way across the whole breadth of the continent. The increase in intensity of color from the north southward is rather moro decidedly marked than in L. xj/lvaficus, in both its summer and winter cond.Vions of pelage. Summer specimens from New England and the Middle States are of a much stronger ferruginous tint than those obtained during the same season from the arctic regions. Winter specimens differ in the more nortiiern having the white color of the surface so deeply invading the pelage as to wholly conceftl the brown under-fur, while in those from the extreme southern limit of its range the white is a mere slight superficial wash, by which the brown under-fur — of a stronger tint also than in the northern specimens — is only partly con- cealed, the white winter livery being often but imperfectly acquired at southern localities where it is always assumed for a much shorter period. 270 MONOGllAl'IlS OF NOItTH AMKUICAN RODENTIA. ■I. I I m 'h' .1 * The sninc tiling is also well seen in the Arctic Ilnrc {Lepus (i?iii({u.pet-ini«Di I.MI.!* 0.75 I.4.' 0.70 0.0^ l.OS 1.39 0.40 0.34 0.59 0.47 9.90 1.43 Ciipo Saint Liioaf, uf Lepu« califurnicna. Lower Callfurula. Arrniice ftise u( 14 ipcclroeua I.011.5."i C.KI i.au o.s:. a.u 0.00 1.93 0.34 0.97 0.38 0.47 9.14 1.43 Oifora Count)', of Lepiis ftmerlcMiiis. Uaing. Averaee •lie of 0 npcclmcDB 183 I.W 0.«I) 1.31 O.IIC 0.0:1 0.90 1.30 0.35 aso 0.03 a 40 il.9« 1.33 Now York and ronii- of I^puR ameiicjuiiia. •.vlvana. Areragp «Ue of M npeclmena ao( 1.52 O.ffI 1.91 O-BC 0.M 0.03 1.94 0.3:1 0.90 ase 0.43 11 1.58 Alaaka and Brlllrili of LepQ.1 amerloamis. rouuaioiia. L«pus syWatlous var. syl- 'X8I 1..4J 0.7< 1.91 0.01 0.50 0.00 1.93 0.3, 0.95 0.S4 0.44 1.0: 1.31 WaaliliigioD, D.C. vatlctii. Do iei I.3-; n.u I.W 0.57 0.40 0.01 •l.M 0.34 0.S6 0.59 0.43 1.0. 1.3« Salot.1lnion'aIaIiui(l, Oiorsla. Arerngealaeof 4 apMimena %v> i.<() l).(» ).lr 0.5i 0.50 0.00 1.10 0.34 O.SJ 0.30 0.37 1.8 1.35 Deer Creek, Ntbr. of Lfpna aylTationa var. NutuUl. 1 ATorage a'xo of 7 api^clmona iM 1.9 9.K 1.01 0.99 0.45 0.81 1.10 0.9f 0.99 >. 1 0.30 1.7 1.94 Vicinity of Browni ■ of Lepna aylvatiooa rar. vimTex. Nnttalll. Average aiie of 4 apeolmeDa 150 l.» \57 1.11 0.47 a 49 0.70 1.04 'o.9r 0.91 0.47 .33 1.71 1.19 Vlolultj'ofS»nrran. of Lepoa Trowbridgei. 1 olaoo, Cal. Do 490 i.n l).5!)0.M 0 43 0.3« 0.70 0.89 0.24 0.18 0.4i 0.3A 1.4) 1.04 Cape Saint Lucaf, Lowei Gitllfoinin. While in the Lepus sijlvaticus group, variety xylmlicus shades imper- ceptibly into variety Nuttalli in passing from the wooded region westward to the treeless plains, nnd while Iowa specimens of sylvalicus arc the largest 1.- -i Pllf 272 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. iH received from any locality, we find that variety Nuttalll finally not only difl'ers markedly in its paler color from variety sylcatkus, but also differs in being smaller; just as, in most cases among the mammals, the pallid forms of the arid plains and deserts prove to be also depauperate varieties of their brighter-colored and more favored cr better-fed conspecific allies. Geographical variations in the relative size of the feet and ears as com- pared with the general size is not so easily determined from skins as is the difference in general size based on the size of the skull ; and the only point in this connection that will be specially noticed is the lengthening of the ears to the southward, manifested by nearly all the species, the ears, in many cases, actually increasing in length while the general size diminishes. There is also a marked tendency to an enlargement of the ears in proportion to the aridity of the habitat. Thus, in the L. sylvalicus group, variety NuttalU has the ear generally quite appreciably larger than in variety sylvalicus, the maximum size of the ear being reached in the Great Colorado Desert in variety arizonte, which is chiefly distinguishable from its nearest allies, varie- ties NultaUi and Auduboni, by the enlargement -f this member. L. callotis, L. californicus, and L. Trowbridgei also show a very perceptible increase in the size and length of the ear to the southward. In this connection, also, attention may be called to the fact that all of the long-cared species of American Hares are found exclusively over the most arid portions of the continent; just as, in the Old World, all of the longest-eared species are found in the arid portions of Asia and Africa. The subject of geographical variation in size being quite fully discussed in connection with the detailed descriptions of the species and varieties given beyond, it is not necessary to devote further space to the subject here. II. — INDIVIDUAL VARIATION. The difference in size between specimens of the same age and sex from the same localities is often quite marked. The amount of this difference is sufficiently indicated by the subjoined measurements of skulls given in Table II. Care has been taken to select only fully adult specimens, and ia the table only the maximum and minimum measurements are given. LErOKIDiE— INDIVIDUAL VAUIATION. 273 '■(q3[oq 'j&nr JOJio^ 'ql9uO[ 'MVf J3AI* »«*l»ain •q»8uoi unox ■so 1^ s-aod £ I I I .- I S I a I 5 -a « I i i -^ ^- I ^ ^ I ^ i o I I I s I I g t ^1 ? ^i i I " I I ^1 2 " =■ I ll I ^M I I ^ ^ iM I ^ s s! s s s s s 3Ta~s~!rFsYs~sT¥^ e>c»oe{e>ooc>doc>d^c>oc>e»eSoe9C>cide»c>e» dddddddddddddddddddddddddd ^^.JUv^ddddddddddddddd^C)-^'^'^^ dddddddddddddddddddddddddd P«ai!i9So3SSS3SSSS::3SSJiSg!:it;S dddddddddddddddddddddddddd PSlaR3$S!S3^3!?9F;a£;!iS)SSK$i£?SS ririririeiatrisieiateiclalus(iis) are found in the lower portions of the South Atlantic States, and three (L. sylvaticus, L. palustris, and L. aquaticus) over most of the lowlands of the Gulf States. The great interior arid plateau is the most prolific in species, four being here found. Three of these {L. sylvaticus var. Nuttalli,L.ca??ipeslris,and L.cal- lolis) range over most of the region between the eastern edge of the Great Plains and the Pacific slope, and the fourth {L. americanus var. Bairdii) is met with throughout the wooded portions of the Rocky Mountains, southward, at least, to New Mexico. Three species {L. sylvaticus var. Auduboni, L. californicus, and L. Trowbridgei) are also found on the Pacific slope from Southern Ore- gon to the southern point of Lower California. Two species (Z.. callotis var. texianus and L. sylvaticus var. Nuttalli) range over the dry interior of Mexico, and three species (X. sylvaticus var. sylvaticus, L. palustris, and L. aquaticus) are found in Eastern and Southeastern Mexico. These species also probably extend to the northern portions of the Central American States, where they reach the habitat of L. brasiliensis, which becomes the sole representative of the family thence southward. IV. — Bini.IOORAPIIICAL KfiSUJlfe. The mr.e important notices of the American Lej)orida are thosc-enu- mcrated l^elow. The synonymy of the species and varieties will be found more fully discussed later. 1966.— Linnaeus, Syst Nat., 19th ed., i, pp. 77, 78. Tiro species are given, Ltpv* l(m snd L bratili- etirit, tbe latter only as American. 1TT9>— Barring^on, Phil. Trans., Ixii, 11. "Hudson's Bay Quadruped ", ^^ £. americontH var. ammoaavt. ■ TT9>— Forater, Phil. Trans., Ixii, 376. American Hare, = £, aniu« kudtonius (=£. amerioaMM) and L. lapeli ( = bnuiUenrit) ; also t, txtriabUit, = L. timidiu. 1780.- Fabricius, Faun. Oroonl,, p. 26. Lepat timidiu, = L. timidtu var. artliau. 1781 and 1784.— Pennant, Hist. Quad., no.243,and Arct.Zool.,i,05. American Hare = JE^. amerioaaM, with vague allusions to L. tylvatictit. (These editions I have not seen.) 178'!.— SchUpf, Dor Naturfurschcr, 2U. Stuck, Hallo, 1764. Der notd-amerlkanisclie Haase. An cz- •olleut deaoription of L. tylniMow. (See Baird, Uam. N. Auer., pp. 500, COO.) 278 SIONOGKAPIIS OF NORTH AMERICAN R01>ENTIA. ', pni 4 178§.— GmcIin,8y»t.Nivt., IfiO-lM. L. yariabiliii,:^ L. fmidut ; £.Rmeric(inus, = £. a/ncHcanus.Teforrtng partlj- nlso to /,. Hijlrnlinin; L. brasilienHla. I'J'Oa.— Schrebei, .SaiiKi't., ii, H81-'J02. Lepim miiui, = L. lylvallcua pins L.ammcanuii; L. variabiUa,= L. limiihia; L. variubiliii,^= L. timidut; L. iapeti,=:L. bratilieniih, 1T99.— Pennant, Arct. Zool., 2<1 eaeiaUa,=L. timidua var. arclicua ; Varying llaru F composed apparently of Z. americanua and Z. campeatria. 1839.- Fischer, Syu. Mam., '373. L.gtacialia, = L. IJmidiovar. arclicua ; L. americanus,=^ L. ayhaticua; L. virginianua, = Z. americanua var. virginianua. 1839.- Richardson, Faun. Bor.-Ani., 217-226. Z. americanua; L. glacialia, = L. (imtd«« vor. arclicua i L. virginianua, = Z. campestria. 1830.— Doughty, Cab. Nat. Hist., i, 217, pi. xix, Z. americanua. 1830.— Wagler, Nat. Syst. Aniphib., 25. Z. caltotia is here first described. Ibid., Isis, 1831, 511. 1831.— Wagler, Isis, 1831, 511. Z. callotia. 1833.— Bennett, Proc. Zoi'H. Soc. Lond., 1833, 41. Z. nigriaiudalua, =z L, callotia. 1833.— Ross (J. C), Ross's 3d Voy., app.,xv. Z. glacialia, = L. timidua var. aroticua. 1836.— Richardson, Uack's Arctic Laud Exped., 496-407. Z. americanua and Z. glavialia, the latter =i L. limidua var. arclieua. 1836a— Richardson, Sixth Rep. British Assoc., 150. "L. mexioanua, Liobt." (a MS. name) adopted for Z. callotia. 1 836.— Gray, London's Mag. Nat. Hist., 1836, 586. A Lfpua longicaudatua is based on a specimen supposed to Lave come from tbo Straits of Magellan, but which proved to be referable to Z. aaxatilia, an African species, the locality being erroneous. 1839.— Gray, Cliarlcswortb's Mag. Nat. Hist., i, 586. Z. Douglaaai var, 1, = Z. aguaticua; L. Douglaaai var. 2, = Z. palualria ; Z. cali/orniai, = Z. cali/ornioua, which is hero first described. 183Y.— Bachman, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila., vii, 104, pis. xv, xvi. Liima palualria, desoilbed bore for the first time. 1837.- Bachman, Ibid , pp. 282-301, and pis. xxi-xsii. Z. glacialia, = L. timidua vor. arclicua; L. vir- ginianua, = Z. anuricanua, primarily, but the syoouymy includes references to Z. oampeatria; . L.aqualicwi, here first described; Z. amtrieanua, = L. aglvaticut; Z. palualria; L. Nuttalli,= ,.. • , , . Z.8j«(t'a(iai8var.iVu(((iI/i,— based on au immature specimen of what has been currently known ' ' • as Z. artemisia ; Z. oampeatria, here first distinctively named, and recognized as tbo Z. I'ir- ginianua of Richardson. ■ 83T.— Bachman, Ibid., p. 403. His Z. vArginianua obangod to Z. americanua, and the name Z. aylraHcHt bestowed npou the 6. amerioaniM of his former paiier. Here the Z. •jitratiou* receives ita I first distinctive name, it having previously borne the name Z. amtricoHiu (the oamo given It by Desmarest), whenever distinguished from the true L. americanua, with which it was for u loug time cuufouuded. 1838.- Waterbouse, Proc. Zuul. Soc. Loud., vi, 103. I. UachmoHi, — L, agkaticuu var. Nullnlli, I LBPOltlD^E— imiLIOGRAPillCAL KfiSUMfi. 279 1839.— Bachman, Joiirii. Acad. Nat. Sci. Fliila., viii, 75-101. L. glacialif, — L. timiim ym.aniicui; L. amtricanug; L.njhaliciit; L.nqualUiii; L.palutlrii; L.Nutlalli, = L.ii!ilraliou\aT.yultalti; L. n\gric3udalu», = h. vallotia; L. californicm ; L. Ilichard»oni, = L. californicuii, ami iifterwanl HO rocitgnizcil by Bitcbinan ; L. Toirtiiendi, = L. lampniris, and later bo recognized by llaoliiiiaii ; X. arteiniaia, ■=: L. sijltativHi var. Xultalli ; — thirteen iioniinal species, tlireo of wliicb ( fj. Aicfi- aidmni, L. TotoHtendi, aud L. arlemina) are hero first described. Baoliinan's altove-noticed papers arc classic, and mark au important era of progress in the history of the American Leporidce. In these papers, L. paluttrit, L. aqyaticuf, L. ".Vii((a//i", and L. " arleminia " are for the first time described ; L, campetlria and L. eylvaticiu receive tboir first distinctive Dnnios; and the confusion previously existiug between these species and L. americaniu is flrst cleared up. Two uomiual species (L. Tuicniendi and L. Sichardiioni) arc added, but are afterward rescinded. 1840< — Emmons, Rep. Quad. Mass., 56-59. L. amerioanu», = L. sylmliciu; L. rirginiaHus, ::= L. ameri- oanHt, IS'lSi— DeKay, N. York Fnnna, Mam., 93-97. L. nanu», ^ L. nyhaticiit ; L, americaniu. Also, as oxtrn- limital species, L. (/Fa«iuFi<, = X. timidiit var. arclicu» ; L. aqualicus; L. i>alu»iri»; L. cam- palris; L. longicaudatui,=: L. aaxaliUs, not American ; X. nii/ricaudatus, = X. callolis; X. cafi- fornicm; X. Richardto«{,=i L. caU/ornicus; X. Totnaendi, = L. campegtrit ; L. artemisia m\d X. Hachmani, = X, «ylmltcua var. NuUalli. Fourteen nominal species, which iucludo seven valid species and one or two valid varieties. Thompson, Hist, of Vermont, 42-48. X. vlrgiHlanut,=zL. americaniu ; X. americanua, = L. tyl- vaticut. — Gray, Zoul. Voy. Sulphur, 33, pi. xiv. X. Bennetli, = X. califonicut. — Warner, Sohrelier'B Siiugot., suppl., iv, 101-117. X. glacialit, = X. timidiii var. arc«CB»; X. cam- patrit ; L. amerioaniu ; X. calloti», with vars. ni^rrt'oaiidaftM aud ftavigularia, the latter here first descrilied ; X. longioaudatut, = X. laxalilii (not American, tbongh at this time so supposed) ; L. califomieiu; X. Hichardtoni, =: X. californicui ; X. JotpnwRdi, = X. campettrii ; L. paliutri» ; X. o^ixXica*; X. .ATattoKi, ^^X. aylFaliciM var. NuUalli; L, bratUieiuit ; L,natiiii,=:L.fglvalicua; X. ariemi»iaoui, = L, tylvalicut var. yutlalli. Fourteen nominal species and two varieties. Schintz, Syn. Ham., ii, 285-294. X. i^Iarialia, = X. limidut var. arcticui ; X. £acAffl MV '-i 4 • ' I 280 MONOORAniS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA, 1897>— Eai^'d, Mnni. N. Amcr., 572-C17. I, glacialit, = L. (Imidua vnr. arcllcm ; L. amnicanut ; L. IVaHhinftloiii, -^ L. amrricnnus var. tVaahingtoni ; t. vamjHHtris ; L, taJtotis ,' L. valifomicm ; t. Hi/lvalwiia, i-^ L. ni/lraticui var. tylralioui ; L. arleniria and L. ISaihrnatil, =^ L. sylcalicut vnr. liuUaUi; L. Judubooi (here flrst deBcribod), = L, fylealicHa var. Jiidntoni; L, Trowhridgei ; L, aqualicttt; L, imlutlria. Tbirtcon opecies nre bore recognized, which in this mnnogrnph are regarded as representing eight valid species and four valid varieties, one name only (£. Jlachmani) being here reduced to n synonym. L. ftaviguturii Wnguor and L. texianm WaterliouBO are doubtfully referred to L. callolii ; L. teiianiu Audubon und Baobmau is regarded as a species probably distinct from the L. texinnm Waterbouso, but is mentioned as a species which his materials did not allow him " to discuss or describe ". L. NHtlalU is diiubtfuUy referred to L. artnuiiia. He states that he strongly suspects the siieoimen on which L. SMalli was based to bo an immature example of L. artemhla, and points out thn fact that, in case it proves to be so, the name Xutlalli must take precedence over nrlemMa. The L. cunIcn/oii'ms of Lichtenstein (Waterhoaso), based on Mexican specimens, he properly suggests way prove to be L, aquatlout, as is undoubtedly the cose. No mention is made of the L. longicaiidat¥ii of former anthers, which Watcrbonse bad previously shown was African, and not referable to any American species. The synonymy of the suliject is Judiciously and exhaustively treated, and in no case do any of the collocations seem to require changing. Kurtbermore,. in this monographic essay, the species are for the first time subgenerically divided ; no names are, huwover, afllxed to his very natural subdivisions, which are very prop- erly treated as merely sections rather than as groups of a technically subgenerio value, Baird'a tn-atmcnt of the subject forms as great an advance over onr previous knowledge of the group as did Itachuian's articles twenty years before, and murks a second grand e|H>ch in the literature of the North American Lrporidce. Finally, Gaird's work thus far greatly surpasses in accuracy and thoronghness any treatment of the Leporidw of any part of the world. 1837.— Newberry and Baird, Zool. of Lieut. Williamson's Rep. upon Expl. for a U. E. Route from the SnoranioMto Valley to the Columbia River (Paoilio K. R. Expl. ond Surveys, etc., vi, pt. iv, no. 'i, pp. ()3-(J6). Field-notes by Dr. Newberry ; identifications by Professor liaird ; synonymy and diagnoses from Daird's Oen. Rep. Mam. N. Amer. The species mentioned aru L. campetlrit, L. cali/onicus, L, "artemiria", L. "Anduboni", and L. Troicbridgei. 18S9.— Baird, Zoiil. U. S. and Mex. Hound. Survey, 45-48. L. eatlolii (described in detail), and L. californiciit, L. njhaiicut, L. artemiiia, and L. liachmani (the two latter ^=: L, lylcaticua var. yiittalli) mentioned by nnmo merely, with field-notes by the collectors. 1 830.— Kennerly, Zoiil. of Lieut. Whipi)le's Route, near the 3r>th Parallel (Pacific E. R. Expl. and Surveys, etc., x, pt. vi, no. 2, 16, 17). Field-notes by Dr. Kennerly, with diagnoses extracted from Professor Uaird's Oen. Rep. Mam. N. Anier. The following species are meutiouud : — L, callolit, L. "artemisia", L. " Atiduboni", and L, Trowbridgfi, 1860.— Cooper, Zoiil. of Gov. Stevens's Route near the 47tb and 4'Jlb Parallels (Pacific R. R. Ro|)8. xii, pt. iii, no. 2, 87). Field-notes and measurements by Dr. Cooper, with diagnoses of the B|)ecics from Baird's Oen. Rep. Mam. N. Amer. The species mentioned nre L. " n'oahingtoni ", and L. Troicbridgei. I860.— Suckley, Ibid., pp. I0;i-105. Fieldnotes by Dr. Suckley and diagnoses from Baird's Gen. Rep. Mam. N. Amer. The species enumerated are L, " IfMhingloni", L. campetlri», L. Qalifnrniem, "t L. callolii" (= L. callolii), and //. "artemitia". I860.— Suckley and Oibbs, Ibid., pp. 130-133. Chiefly Hold-notes on L. " Waihinglmi", L. campcttrii, "t L. callolit " (= L. calloiit), L. californicui, and L. artemisia. 1861.— Maximilian, Wiegni. Arch., IBUl, i, 143-145. Habits and distribution of L. ttmericaniu, L. ij/l- raliciit, and //. eampettriii. 1861.— Ross, Cauad. Nat. and Oeul., vi, 436. Notice of L. americanvt. 1869.— Hayden, Tranit. Amer. Fbilos. 8oc. Pbila., xii,14d. Notes ou £. campatrw, X. tylvaticm, and L. " arlemiiia ". 186T.— Coues, Am<;r. Nat., i, 531-535; Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 36. Habits and distribution of L. callolie and L. "arleminia" in Arizona. 186T.— Oray, Ann. aud Mag. Nat. Hist., 3d ser., xx, 331-285. Divides the genns Leptiit into seven so- called genera, raising several of Uaird's sections (sec Mam. N. Amer., &74, 575) to generin rank. His seven genera nre (1) Ilgdrolagiis (= Uaird's section F), (2) SylvilagHf (= Baird's section D), (3) Eulagot, (4) Lepun {— Baird's sections A and E), (5) Tapeli, (6) t'unioulKS > (= Uaird's section C), ond(7) CajjroIoi/iM. The American species recognized arc as follows : — (1) Uydrulagnt a^ualiem (= L. aiiuiUioun), to wbicb he properly refers his L. Duuglaui vur. I ; LEPOBID^-BIBLIOGItAPniCAL KfiSUME. 281 (2) Ilyirolagm palustrit (= T,. pal>uM»), to which he proporly refers hix L. Douglaul vnr. 2 J (^\) Sjihilagut nanu» (=L. tyhaticut); (4) SyMlagut Artemisia ami (fl) Syleilaijiit nachmanni [»te] (4 and 5= /,. iglvalicvt vnr. Nultalti) ; (6) iepiM Brc«c«« (= £. timidua var. orcdcin) ; (7) r^put americanui; (8) Z«pii» frtuAingitoiii (=i. amcHoanua var. n'oc/ifniyfoiiO ; (9) Lepwt cam- palrii; (10) Upu> calMii [»ic!], includiDj; the synoDyms nsnnlly rerorreocies from the Falkland Islands. 1 808.— Abbott, Cook's Geol. of New Jersey, 759. L. lylvaticui in New Jersey. ' 1868.— Cooper, Amor. Nat., ii, Kje. Notes on the hahiU and distribution of L. Towniendi (=£. cam- petlrit) and L. •• arlemitia". I868.-Brown, Proo. Zool. 8oo. Lond., 1868, 351. Notes on L. amtricanut. 1869.— Allen, Proo. Host. Soc. Nat. Hist., xiii, 194. L. tylvaticm in Iowa. 1869.— Allen, Ball. Mas. Comp Zool,, i, 839. Sylmlagiu nanut (=i. tglvaticiu) in Massochnsetts. 1869.— Cooper, Amer. Nat., iii, 470. Distribution of L. callotit and L. calt/vrnicua in the Colorado Valley. 1869.— Coues, Proc. Boat. Soo. Nat. Hist., xiii, 86. Biographical account of £. j)aIua(H«. 1869.— Frantzius, Wiegm. Arch., 1869, i, 236. L. hroMilieniiit in Costa Rica. 1869.— Hayden, Amer. Nat., iii, 115. Lepuii Bairdii (=L. amtricanut var. Bairdii) described. 1869.— Welch, Proc. Zuol. Soo. Lond., 1869, 228. Seasonal changes of color in L. americanut. 1871.— Allen, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., ii, 184. L. fyltaticiu and L. palutlrit in Florida. 18T3.— Oilpin, Proc. and Trans. Nov. Sco. Inst. Nat. 8ci., iii, 46, Notice of L, amerivanua. 18Til.— Kensel, Abbandl. d. phys. Klasse d. kouigl. Akad. d. Wissensoh. zu Berlin, 1872, 62. L. bra- ai/ienaia in Southern Brazil. 18T3.— Lincecum, Amer. Nat., 771. Distribution and habits of L. aquatio*$. 18*8.— Merriam, Hayden's U. 8. Geol. Survey, 6th Ann. Rop., 666-668. "L. callutiit" (=£. campetlria), collected at Ogden, Utah, and a biographical notice of L. " Bairdii ". 1874.— Allen, Bull. Essex Inst., vi, 52, 58, 61, 66. Notes on the distribution of L. callotit, L. campeilrit, L. tylvatioui var. "artemtaia", and L. americaniti var. fiairdii. 187S.— Allen, Proc. Bost. Soo. Nat. Hist., xvii, 430-436. A general synopsis of the American Lrporida, with an analysis of the species and varieties, based on tho collections of the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum of Comparative Zuology, Three primary divisions of the genus Lepiu are recognized, with two subordinate divisions under each. The speoiflo and sub- specifio characters are briefly indicated, together with the principal synonyms and the geo- graphical distribution of each variety, Tho species and varieties recognized are as follows : — (1) L. timidut var. arclicHa; (2) L. campetlris; (3) L. americanut, with varieties (a) amerjoanua, (b) v ci ^ « 3 3 $ 3 S ej o o* 3 s 3 S K S S3 ef e» d e>c>eidc>dddc>e)e>ddc>c>ocidddciode>v:9C>e»c>dde»e>cf oc>c£cade>d^e>e>dc>c>dd e»c»de>dddddc!=>c>dc>ddc»de)dc»c>c!ci<.^dd?>'^cjdde> ;!&si;ss)S!;E!a:s s s g s s 3 8 S !^ S 9 $ S i** S S r- S (K s s s d d d pes d d ^ ei ti d S o Q O O T- — 3 s d d S S !$ S S d d d 3 S S d ci d d ddddddddddddd S t^ w ^ ti <:i e> d d d S S n S tfl d d d $ « » $ S S 3 ddddddddddddd to A S d d d „-M.J.J^^^.J,^Ud>J~d~ e d ^.JdU-'^^ddd.J>J~ S ! r- t- d d d 3 $ AA,iA.iAAAAriAA^AATiA.4A e 9 s au S S 00 S ':s If, 292 MONOGKAPUS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. Arctic America (No. 4583, S. I.) is intermediate in color between two others (Nos. 1779, M. C. Z., and 410, S. I.), from Sweden, except that in the former tlie feet are white, and in the latter of the same color as the body. The subjoined tables of measurements, taken partly from specimens and partly compiled from authors, indicate a considerable range of both individual and geographical variation. The three skulls of L. timidus are from the extreme southern limit of the habitat of the species in Europe (excepting the mountains of Central Europe), and correspond both in size and projwr- tions with the skull of L. arcticus from Newfoundland, the southern limit of the habitat of the latter. The Fort Anderson specimen is also but slightly larger than the one from Newfoundland. On the other hand, the Greenland, Melville Island, and Plover Bay specimens are very much larger, while the Yukon River specimens are intermediate, as are the geographical positions of the localities, tiic whole together forming an intergrading series. Between the largest (from Melville Island), with a length of 4.30 and a width of 2.08, and the smallest (from Newfoundland and Fort Rae), with a length of 3.55 and a width of 1.75, the difference is very considerable, and, without the intermediate specimens, might be regarded as indicating specific distinction. The table of measurements of the animal are not wholly satisfactory, probably having all been made from skins; but doubtless furnish trustworthy data for the comparison of the two forms, the character of the material being the same for each. The variation in size in var. timidus ranges from 17 to 25.50 inches for the length of the body, and in var. arcticus from 22 to 26 inches. The single Lapland specimen of var. timidus corresponds very nearly in size with the Greenland, Baffin's Bay, Labrador, and Bering's Straits specimens of var. arcticus, while the Swedish and Scottish specimens are very near the size of the Newfoundland specimens. The ear appears to average rather larger in the var. arcticus series, but in no other respect are there any essential differences in proportions. The L timidus var. arcticus differs but little in its general proportions from L. americanus, but it is at once readily distinguishable by its much larger size. It also differs in the color of its winter pelage, that of L. ame- ricanus being plumbeous at liasc, then yellowish-brown, with only the surface white, while in glacialis tlie pelage is white to the base. It further differs from L. americanus in the proportions of the skull and in the form of the LBPORID^— LEPUS TIMIDUS. 293 nasal bones, which are about as wide anteriorly as posteriorly, while in L. americanus they are considerably narrowed anteriorly. Wliile it is about the size of L. cmnpestrus, it is distinguished from that species by its much shorter ears and tail and shorter limbs, its very different color in summer, and in the much greater whiteness of its winter coat, the winter pelage of L. cam- pestris being brown beneath the surface, with usually a broad grayish-brown area on the middle of the back. From all the other American species it is 'too distinct to require comparison with them. Geogbaphical distribution. — The L. timidus (var. timidus) presents the rather unusual phenomenon among mammals of being found at isolated localities distant from its main range, in accordance with the law of the occur- rence of arctic species in alpine regions far to the southward of the soutliern limit of the habitat of the same species in the lowlands ; a law, however, ofVen illustrated in the distribution of plants, birds, and insects. The var. timidus hence occurs in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland, extending as far south as Cumberland ; in the Swiss, Bavarian, and Tyrolese Alps ; and in the Pyrenean and Caucasian Mountains ; in the lower lands in Sweden and Norway; throughout Middle and Northern European Russia, Siberia, and thence northward to the shores of the Arctic Sea. The var. arcticus occurs as far southward as Newfoundland, where it reaches its southern limit of dis- tribution on the Atlantic coast It is found in Labrador, and occurs in the interior as far south as Fort Churchill on the western shore of Hudson's Bay, the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, and the Upper Yukon Valley, and inhabi s the Barren Grounds northward to the Arctic coast. Although supposed by Dr. Bach man to occur in Nova Scotia and Northern Maine, I can find no evidence that such is the case. Its absence from Nova Scotia, on the contrary, is well authenticated. It hence meets, and to some extent overlaps, the habitat of L. americanus. According to Dr. Richardson and other northern explorers, it does not frequent the thick woods, but is often seen near the thin clumps of spruce-fir that border the Barren Grounds, the L. americanus being, on the contrary, a woodland species. 4 ^1 294 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. Table VI.— J/ea»urCTBeii(» of skuUa of Lepus timidus rar. timidus. ' I ■ !■ ill I I -^ ')■ ''i ' i* ;■ '»'.' r't w 1 1 s a 1 i| 1 i ^1 .a M o ::::: Lockliv. 1 1 s 1 t s 1 •a 1.35 1.33 1.3'i ■3 3 i i 1 0.71 0.73 0.73 1 iS li 1.13 1.06 1.10 1 = If il O. J! 1 1 a Is |1 1 It b 1 1 fit ,3 ■ft I i Bemarka. LoDdoD market ...do Sveden rf 3.M 3.43 3.43 1.80 1.15 0.«3 0.<3 0.«7 .. do. 1.90 0.41 0.33 0.57 3: .10 1.80 Table VU.—Meaturementa of tkullt of Lepus timiduh car. arcticus. Jiii! a i i i ■s ■^ £ •2 2 a 1^ .J i a li 1 t i i ft 7 LoMlity. 1 1 i 1 1 8 ,1 } 1 * i 1 1 3 i il 1 II 1 a ^ 1 1 ■s i Reinarki. H a 0 tn !5 >^ u p p p «= p 7130 3.06 1.03 L87 3:08 105 Le3 1.48 1.33 L66 L63 L67 1.36 1.75 1.68 0.90 0.86 0.79 0.04 O.S' LOO 1.37 1.37 1.13 1.43 L35 1.79 1.71 L4e 1.78 i.es 0.75 0.73 a 67 0.75 0.60 :i n 1. 71 3 03 1.80 3.601.70 3.31 L83 3 93 3L13 From Wati>rboDBe. ...do. ...do. ...do, do do MclTlUe IsUi.'l 3.87 3.33 4.30 4.30 0.55 0.83 Plover B«y, Norlheaat- em Siberia. 7S18 Nulalo, Tukon Biver. . . . 4.05 100 1.70 0.86 0.80 1.33 i.eo 0.58 0.35 0.73 0.63 A 95 3.00 8643 gi30 4.00 185 3.03 3.00 L57 0.83 0.88 1.35 L84 i.et 1.60 3.83305 do 0.4« 0.33 0.75 0.03 6123 do 3.90 .... ... I0.73 1.36 1.67 0.3O 0.35 O.TJ 0.60 7303 FortRae 3.85 L83 ....0.75 L60 0.eO 0.80 1.30 L67 0.50 0.33 0.70 0.63 O.Oi' 6315 Fort Ande'^rn 1.60 L75 0.84 LI8 L55 0.47 a37 0.70 a33 3.6(^ LOS 8!in 3.55 L80 .... 1. 43'o. DO 0.. LIS L40 0.45 0.35 a7a 0.57 i SOL 70 1 1 LEPORID.a!— LEPU8 TIMIDU8. 295 Table WllL—Utamrtmrntt of Lepuh timidus var. timidus. 4oe 1131 in« im 409 410 Locality. LapUnd.. Inland... Bootlaid . ....do.... ... do.... ....do.,.. ...do ...do...., Sweden .. ...do.... ....do. (I). ...do. (t). ... do.... ...do...., ... do.... ...do.... From tip of noae to— a. 03 9.10 0.83 a. 00 mo 2.03 a. 13 S.8S lis 3.IN 4.80 4.00 4.11 4.33 4.0O 4.10 4.00 4. CO 4.93 9&S0 83.00 93.30 91.13 9a 00 98.00 19.00 11.00 31.00 81.30 90 00 9a 00 94.00 l&OO 83.00 30.00 Tail to end of- aoo 9.00 1.13 1.15 i.eo 4.93 LOO 4.33 3.30 3.30 3.80 4. SO aso 3.30 aso aso a 13 LeUKth of— aoo 3l73 a 15 lis aoo aoo aoo 3.13 8.13 :<.io 8.60 n aoo 6.00 6.33 a33 aoo 3.83 5.50 3.50 6.30 aso a63 560 aoo 3.60 &40 as5 m a 40 aao 3.50 aso a 61 4.00 a4o a 40 4.83 4.50 aso a IS 4.00 aso 4.00 4.10 Remarka. From Waterhoaae. do. do. do. do. From Rlcbardaou. From .Waterbonae. !■. " TarUbiUa Tar. boivalla." L. "variabllia var. eaneaoeoa.* Table lX,—Mt qf Lepus timidus var. arcticus. ^■m 1 Locality. From tip of noM to— Tall to end of- LeoKtb of— 1 ;i Remarka. s 1 1 g k 1 1 1 Hind hot. Haigbt of < 1030 3984 3.30 ...... aoo 35.00 3a 00 3a 00 3a 00 aaoo saoo 99.50 8a ?3 94.33 39.50 MOO 9a 00 8a oo 3a 00 9.00 3.30 3.15 &60 a63 ai3 4.93 ass 4.93 aso 413 aoo 4.33 aoo 4.00 aso !4.so al3 4.95 S.50 4.30 MS 4.00 &00 4.00 aoo 4.15 a40 aos aso :4.90 1 FromBatrd. From Wateibonae. From And. and Bach. From Watwhonaa. do. do. From Watetbonae. From Boird. do. Ankamjhlohi laljuid, Be- rtog'aStrtlta. I^brador k.40 4.30 4.50 135 4.11 aso 4. so 1.80 MS 3.00 a6o aso aoo 3.50 aso 4.00 a35 a 13 aoo 3.80 3.15 9.90 do do Bmt I^ke. British Americft «gBON, Faun. Bor.-Am., I, 1H29, 2!24.— PniNCK Maximilian, Reifw in doa innere Nord-Amer., i, 1H39, 508. Z^pM campmtrit Baciiman, Jonrn. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila., vli, 1837, 349 ; viii, 1R39, 80.— WATKRnousE, Nat. Hist. Mani., ii, 1848, 137.— Oiedkl, SUnRet., 1865, 449.— Baird, Mam. N. Am., 1867, 585, pi. Ivi, fig. 2 (sknll).— Nbwberry, Paoifio H. R. Ex. and Sarv., vi, iv, 1867, 63.- Coofkr, Pucifio R. R. Ex. and 8urr., xii, iii, 1800, 104.— Sucki.ey, Puciflo R. R. Ex. and Rnrv., xii, iii, 1800, 131.— Maximiuan, Wiegm. Arch., 1861, Bd. i, 145.— Hayden, Trans. Am. Pbil. Hoc. Pbila., xii, 1802, 148.— Oray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hiat., 3d series, xx, 1867, 284.— Allen, Bull. Essex Insti- tute, vi, 1874, 52, 58, 61, 66. Leptu TbWHtendi Baobman, Jonrn. Acad. Nat. Sol. Pbila., viii, 1839, 90, pi. ii ; Towoaond's Narrative, 1839, 335.— AUD. & Bach., Quad. N. Am., i, 1849, 25, pi. iii.-CooPER, Am. Nat., ii, 1668,516. In winter, white, more or less tinged with yellowish-brown on the middle of the back ; top of the head and anterior surface of the ears pale yellowish- brown, varying to whitish; ears tipped with black. Under fur white at the base, passing through pale yellowish-brown to deep reddish-brown. The hairs of the back white at the tip, with a subterminal band of brown, varying in different specimens from yellowish-brown to dark reddish-fuscous. In summer, entire upper parts, breast, anterior surface of the ears, and the legs pale yellowish-gray, this color gradually passing into white on the sides. Fur of the under parts, excepting the breast, pure white to the roots. Nape and lower two-thirds of the ears white ; upper third of the ears brown- ish-black. Fringes of the ears creamy-brown, bordered with white. Sides and ends of the muzzle yellowish-brown. Tail white on both surfaces, with occasionally a faint, median, ashy line above. Occasionally, a small oval spot of white on the middle of the forehead. The under fur of the upper surface in summer varies in different specimens from whitish-gray to grayish-plumbe- ous at base, then pale fulvous, passing into black. The hairs are generally black at the extreme tip, with a broad subterminal bar of pale yellowish-gray ; below, the black bar passes gradually into whitish at the base. A few hairs entirely black are generally intermixed. The tail is very long, equaling the length of the head. Ears very long, about one-fourth longer than the head. Hind feet rather longer than the ears. Length of the body, 19 tu 23 inches ; of the tarsus, 5.50 to 6 inches; of the ear, 4.'75 to nearly 6 inches. Of some fifteen specimens before me in winter pelage, not more than one in five has the whole dorsal surface pure white. The reddish-brown subter- minal zone shows through the white tips of the hairs more or less in nearly all !t) f . ni 298 MONOGRAPHS OP NOUTII AMEUIUAN RODEDTIA. tlic spccimciiH, wliile tlicro is generully a vvell-mnrked brownish nren on tlic mid- dle of tlin Imcit, wiiicli varies in tint from pale yellowish-brown to dark reddish- brown and even reddish-fuscous. Generally, the upper surface of the head and the anterior surface of the ears are but little lighter-colored than in summer; but tiicrc is in some a broad band running from the base of the ears to the nose, on each side of the head, more or less nearly pure white, and occasion- ally the whole upper surface of the head is yellowish-white. From the dates on the labels, this species appears to assume its winter dress in November, as I have observed it to do in Southwestern Wyoming; but in Northwestern Kansas I found that a considerable proportion of the individuals observed retained nearly their summer colors in midwinter; they then have a much fuller, softer coat than in summer, and the general color of the upper surface, the sides of the body, and the limbs is much more strongly suffused with fulvous than in summer specimens. 'J'he under fur is also very thick and silky, and pure white, instead of being more or less plumbeous, as in summer. In the specimens from more northern localities, every degree of whiteness is presented, from those that arc scarcely lighter than in summer to those which have a uniforndy nearly pure white surlace. In summer, tiic color of the dorsal surface varies considerably in respect to the intensity of the yellowish suffusion ; in some, it is so faint as to be scarcely appreciable, while in others it presents a pale golden hue. In several specimens from Ogden, Utah, and in one from Fort Crook, California, this suffusion partakes of a faint reddish tint, and there is a more decided grayish line on the upper surface of the tail than in those from the plains east of the Rocky Mountains. Several very young specimens from the valley of the Yellowstone do not differ essentially in color from the adult. This species was first described by Lewis and Clarke, in 1814, in the history of their expedition across the continent (vol. ii, p. 178), but they omitted to give it a distinctive name. Harlan, in 1825, copied their descrip- tion, indicating the species, however, merely as " Lepus virginianus, van?"; thus partially confounding it with his Lepus virginianus (=: L. americanus auct), or the White Hare of the Eastern States. Dr. Richardson, while recognizing it as distinct from the L. americanus, identified it with Harlan's Lepus virginianus, he not only redescribing it from a "mutilated winter skin", but also quoting Lewis and Clarke's description. In 1837, Dr. Bachman LBPORIDiE— LEPU8 CAMPESTRI8. 299 gave it the name of Lfpm rampestm, quoting the descriptions both of Ri(;ii- nnUon and Lewis luid Clarke, after having previously partially confounded it with Harlan's L. virginianus. Two years later, Dr. Baehman redeserihod it under the name of Lepus Townsendi, from a specimen brought by Townscnd fnmi the Walla-Walla, one of the sources of the Columbia River, supposing it to be a species that never became white. Later, however (in Audubon and Bachman's Quadrupeds t»f North America, vol. i, p. 30), he doubted its distinctness from the L. catnpestris, having subseque-itly been assured tliat it did assume a white dress in winter. Professor Baird, in 1857, with speci- mens tiefore him from the vicinity of Fort Union, in both states of pelage, whence some of Audubon and Bachman's specimens were obtained, unhesi- tatingly regarded L. Townsendi as a synonym of L. campesirus. From the labels on the specimens in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, how- ever, he seems to have later changed his opinion, retaining the name of L. Totensendi for the long-legged, long-eared Prairie Hare of Richardson, and restricting the name campcstrli to the representatives of L. americanus received from the fur countries, as will be further noticed under the head of that species. Professor Baird now, however, agrees with the writer that this later identification of L. campestris is erroneous. The history of L. cumpestris was more or less confounded by Harlan with that of L. americanus, and later l)y Baehman, who first described it under the name of L. virginianus, while God man confounded both this species and the L. americanus with the L. "variabilis" of the Old World. To Dr. Richardson belongs the credit of first recognizing the subject of the present article as a species distinct from L. americanus, and to which later Baehman gave the name of L. campestris. Lepus campestris is at once distinguishable from the other species of varying Hares by the great length of its ears and tail, and by the latter being always white on both surfaces. It is of about the size of L. timidus, and is hence much larger than L. americanus, and rarely assumes so white a tint in winter as these two more northern species. From the other American long-tailed, long-eared, and long-limbed Hares {L, callotis and L. califomicus), it differs in general color, in the white upper surface of the tail, and in changing to white in winter. It also differs notably in the proportions of the skull, as already noticed. Geoorapiiical distribution. — The most eastern locality whence this uf.i I 'it II ■A H 300 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. species has been received is J'oit Riley, Kansas. Further north, it extends eastward to the Missouri River and westward nearly to the Pacific coast. Lewis and Clarke observed it on the plains of the Columbia, where, according to Nuttall (as quoted by Bachman), it is abundant. Tovvnsend obtained specimens on the Walla-Walla, and Dr. George Suckley on the eastern slope of the Blue Mountains of Oregon* and on the plains of the Columbia east of the Cascades. Dr. Suckley also speaks of it as occurring on the sage- plains north of Fort Boist'.f Dr. J. G. Cooper speaks of it as 'common south of the Columbia and Snake Rivers, but rare of late years to tije northward of these rivers % A single specimen in the collection of thj !:■ .nithsonian Institution, from Fort Crook, California, indicates its occurrence i;* Northern California. 1 found it abundant in Salt Lake Valley, Utah, and throughout Southern Wyoming and Northern Kansas eastward to within two hundred miles of the Missouri River. To the northward, it extends to tht plains of the Saskatchewan, where, according to Richardson, it is abundant. Dr. Coues brought in specimens collected along the forty-ninth parallel, where he found it common.§ Its limit to the southward is not so well known, but no specimens have been received from south of Middle Kansas and the .Great Salt Lake Basin ; south of these points, it is wholly replaced by the L. callolis var. iexianus, whose range somewhat overlaps that of L. campestris. It is emi- nently a species of the great sage-plains, and its main range seems to be from Middle Kansas northward to the plains of the Saskatchewan, and from the eastern edge of the great plains westward to the Sierra Nevada Mount- ains. * PftOiflo H. R. Rep. & Kxpl., xii, pt. ii, p. IA\. t Faciflo R. R. Rep. &. Expl., xii, pt. ii, pp. 104, 131. t Am. Nat., ii, 036. $ Dr. Cones has published a mooograpbio sketch of tliirt speciep. ioadvertently overlooked in pro- pariDg the bibliographical r^umd of the subject which has been gi /en on a preceding page. See Boll. Essex Inst., vii, 1875, p. 73 tt itq. LEPOBID.T!— LEPUS 0AMPESTRI8. 301 Tadlk XII. —Ueasuremenlt of skulh of Lei'US campestkis. i 1 t •a 3 II "a i|s a u ■^ ll II t 4i B a 3 11 Locollty. i t 1 1 1 * 1 II • i h 'A If .28 0.71 i i 971 68 Fort UnloD 1.83 0.90 1.00 0.87 0.94 1.18 1.69 0.45 0.30 0.55 9.60 1.89 vn . ..do I.BO 0.75 1.55 0.75 0.84 1.90 1.50 0 46 0.36 0.63 0.55 9.50 1.65 IMS Fort Kearney 3.05 1.76 0.80 1.58 0.89 1.18 \,M 0.4R 0.35 0 68 0.S4 1995 SS98 933 1900 Fort Pierre, Nebr Fort Riley, Kaoa 3 37 395 1.79 1.65 0.75 0.80 1.37 1.30 0.78 0.79 0.80 0.06 1.18 1.00 1.38 1.39 0.45 0.40 0.33 0.36 0.63 0.66 0.48 0.55 9.95 1.60 aso8 Upper ML'ioarl... 3.05 1. 60 0.75 0.77 1.14 l.M 0.40 0.35 0.67 0.50 9.49 1.60 3349 3938 Fort Lttrnmie 3 73 1.85 0.77 I.CO 0.87 0.00 1.95 1.57 0.47 0.40 0.68 0.57 3.59 1.06 4130 3133 Pl»tte Klver 3I>0 I.S4 0.75 1.65 0.85 0.89 1.93 1.50 0.45 0.37 0.70 0.00 4944 Deer Creek, Nobr. 3 47 1.79 :68 1.33 a 70 0. 80 1. 10 1.45 0.45 0.33 0.00 0.56 3.40 l.S« 4345 4935 ....do 335 1.75 0. 6 1.37 0.76 0.70 1.05 1.49 0.43 0.34 0.63 0.03 9.« I.CO 4947 ...do 91 5S 1.76 0 83 1.50 aeo 0.84 1.15 1.50 0.43 0.37 0.65 0.53 3.40 1. 00 4948 4944 ...do 3 40 1.70 0.65 1.45 a 70 a 78 1.19 1.45 0.45 a33 0.58 0..15 3.95 1.58 4949 4946 ...do 338 1.75 0.75 1.33 0.75 0.74 1.05 1.39 0.44 0.35 0.67 0.55 9.30 1.00 4951 4950 ...do 3 43 1,73 0.63 1.46 a 67 1.10 1.45 0.47 0..14 0.65 0.50 9.40 1.60 4959 •-<•'• 365 1.78 0.63 1.69 0.80 0.88 1.18 1.53 0.45 0.49 0.70 0.50 137 1.75 Table XIII . — iIfc 1 1 •0 .9 n 85 3850 98r>6 9855. 9853 9854 9858 9857 9763 8765 9764 1798 1799 1730 1748 1681 1680 1683 1079 1585 1415 1385 Calombla River, Oregon Territory. Poroy, Ciirbon Connty, Wyoming Territory. do aoo 350 3 40 395 399 3.60 330 350 340 4.30 380 4.00 385 380 355 390 3 80 4.03 3 75 3 90 91.00 99.00 99.50 91.00 90.93 10.75 90.00 10.75 90.00 10.90 91.00 30.00 91.00 33.95 «3 00 93.00 90.30 11.00 91.90 91.00 39.50 89.50 31.50 31.90 89.00 laoo 395 5.50 100 880 860 885 880 890 100 880 867 3.35 110 850 100 3.43 aoo 5.50 5.60 5.75 5.00 5.65 5.70 5.65 .1.00 5.35 6.00 5.75 6.0O 5.35 3.55 5.55 5.50 5.45 3.00 5.50 365 3.93 4.80 5.00 5.00 5.40 5.93 5.93 From Baird. Meuureil freeli. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. d d 9 d 9.95 3.35 9.35 9.70 9.35 9. SO 9.50 9.50 9.10 393 9.50 310 8.V) 800 8 75 830 395 300 300 8.V) 395 830 175 3 00 195 119 100 ISO 130 4.00 100 173 3.00 0.0C 3. 00 3.50 4.73 4.50 5.00 4.93 4.90 100 4.30 4.96 4.30 4.93 5.50 5.30 5.30 4.75 4.30 do ilo do do do do Fort Fred Steele, Wyom. lug Territory. do 5.85 .\95 5.0O 4.00 4.33 do. From Dalrd. do. Skiu. do. do. 9.00 9L9S . 9.00 4.17 4.50 158 5.00 4.50 4.ii« 4.49 1794 69 1899 456 do Fort Union, Uppef Mlawmri CRche l> Pondre Creek .. . Brtdger'aPnu WalU-Wnllu 9 d 4.75 330 3.93 From Bacbman. From And. and Bach. do. Ueaaured fmb, do. d 9 9 d '•9 do 4939 4940 4949 494S M98 19016 64 Tlecr Creek, Nebrukn do 9:50 9.75 9LS0 9. .10 3.00 ^9S 4.50 4.M ^oo 4.50 883 100 57 50 91 4369 do .do do. do. 3.75 7.00 875 9.75 100 do. do. Three Buttee 9 1.93 4.00 302 MONOGRArHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODEDTIA. ■s i I P S _ _ 3 "5 "S a s a a I n I "3 J h3 •Mt paB xag 'joqoina IV^|8^o ■a 1 eoeoooQol "§ "O "O 3 •« 3 •^1 o o o o a ■t) "O "O "CI "C 00 t)5 (in part only).— Waonkh, Suppl. Scbrcber's Siingot., iv, 1844, 104 (in part only). — Wateuiiouse, Nat. Hist. Mam., ii, 1848, 108 (iu part only).— AUD. & Bach., Qnad. N. Am., i, 1849, 93 (in part only).— Oiebel, Situget., 1855, 449.— Baikd, Mam. N. Am., 1857, 579 (in part only).— Orav, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Uist., 3d series, xx, 1867, 224 (in part).— Maximiuan, Wiegm. Arch., 1861, i, 142.— Russ, Can. Nat. and Geo!., vi, 1807, 436.— Welch, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1869, 288 (seasonal changee of color).- OiLPi.v, Proc. and Trans. Nov. 8co. lust. Nat. Sci., iii, 1878, 40. Leput hudBonim Pallas, Nov. Sp. Glires, 1778, 30,— Bodd.£KT, Flench. Anim., i, 1784, 99. — Zihmermanm, Pennant's Arktiscbe Zool., i, 1787, 96. Lrpiis iiaiiuii Schkf.dki), Siiuget., ii, 1792, 881, pi. ccxxxiv, B (mixed with L. eyhaticus), Lepun campeslris Baiiid, MSS. in part (labels and record-books. Smiths. Inst.).— Uayden, Am. Nat., ill, 1860, 115.— Dall, Alaska and its Resources, 577. LepuB tariabitia var. Godman, Am. Nat. Hist., ii, 1826, 169 (in part only). Lepua borealU Sciiintz, Synop., ii, 1845, 886. American Hare, Foustkh, Pbil. Trans., Ixii, 1772, 376.— Pennant, Hist. Quad., 1781, no. S4;5 ; Arct. Zool., i, 1784, 95. Var. viROiNiANUs. Southern Varying Hare. lepuB americaniia Baciiman, Jonrn. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila., vii, 1837,403; viii, 1839, 76 (iu part only).— ■ , DeKay, New York Zool., i, 1842, 95, pi. xxvi, fig. 8 (in part only).— Waoneu, Suppl. Scbrc- ber's Siiuget., 1844, iv, 104 (in part only).— AuD. & Bach., Quad. N. Am., i, 1849, 73, i>l. xi, xii (in part only).— Baird, Mam. N. Am., 1857, 579 (iu part only).— Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nut. Hist., 3d ser., xx, 1867, 284 (in part only).— Allen, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoul., i, 1869, 837.— Hall, Con. Nnt. and Gcol., vi, 1861, 300. Leput virginianuB Harlan, Faun. Am., \»2!i, 196.— Fischer, Synapsis, 370, 1829.- Douoiity, Doughty's Cab. Nat. Hist., i, 1830, 217, pi. xix.— Baciiman, Journ. Acad. Nut. Sci. Phila., vii, 1837, 301 (mainly ; somewhat mixed with L, campeBlriB). — Emmons, Quad. Mass., 1840, 58.— Trompson, Nat. Hist. Vermont, 1842, 48. * Var. WA8HIK0T0NI. Weitem Varying Hare, Lqfut vsathinfitoni Baird, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila., vii, 1655, 333, pi. xv (animal); Mara. N. Am., 1857, 583.— Cooper, Pucifio R. R. Ex. and Sarv., xii, iii, 1860,87.— Suckley, Pacilio R. R. Ex. and Surv., xii, iii, 1860, 103.— Suckley & Gibds, PaciBc R. R. Ex. and Snrv., xii, iii, 1860, 130.— Gray, Aun. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 3d ser., xx, 1867, 284. Leput americaKut var. uHtthitigtoni Au.en, Proc. Bust. Soc. Nat, Hist., xvii, 1875, 434. , Var. bairdi. Rooky Mountain Varying Hare, Leput bairii Hayoen, Amer, Nat., iii, 1869, 115.— Merriam, U. S. Geol. Snrv., Sixth Ann. Rep,, 1873, 667. Leput americanut var. (airdi Aixen, Bull. Essex. Inst,, vi, 1874, 61, 66; Proc, Boat. Soc. Nat. Hist., xvii, 1875, 434. Var. AMERICANUS. Northern Varying Hare. In winter, white, except the extreme tips of the ears, which are nar- rowly bordered with black. Under-fur plumbeous at base, passing into rather LEPORIDiE— LEPUS AMERICANUS. 305 strong brownish-red iipically. Hairs white for about liie terminal third, then brownisli-red, with the basal third i)lunibeous. In specimens from rather southern localities, the brown ollen shows through the white outer surface, particularly on the sides of the body. In summer, above and outer surface of the limbs pale yellowish-brown, varied with black, resulting in a general tint of dark utnber-brown. Tail sooty above, grayish-white below. Lower surface of the body, from the breast posteriorly, white; breast, and neck in front, yellowish-brown ; chin and throat white. Anterior surface of ears yellowish-brown, mixed with black ; apical fourth of the anterior border black ; posterior border white or yellowish-white. Under-fur of the dorsal region plumbeous for the basal half, shading gradually into pale yellowish-brown. Hairs generally broadly tipped with l)lack, the black tip succeeded by a broad l)ar of pale brown ; below this to the roots black, shading more or less into plumbeous. Length of body, 15 to 20 inches; length of ear about 3 inches; of tarsus about 6.25. Ear about three-fourths the length uf the head; head about four-fifths the length of the tarsus. Average weight about 5J pounds. In winter specimens, the whiteness of tfie surface invades the pelage much more deeply than in var. virginianus, wholly concealing the subjacent brownish zone, the ears and the upper surface of the head being also pure white. The pelage is also much thicker and longer, and the ears are far more heavily clothed. The brown zone of the under-fur varies in different speci- mens from light fulvous-brown to deep reddish-brown. Summer specimens vary chiefly in respect to the intensity of the yellow- ish-brown tint intermi.xed witii the black, which ranges from yellowish-gray to pale rufous. The relative length of the black tips to the hairs of the dorsal surface also varies the general tint, which is often of a very dark umber- brown, quite different from the bright-cinnamon tint of summer specimens of var. virginianus. Among the specimens of var. americanus is a single example of melanism, a mutilated skin (No. 6268) labeled as follows: "Lepus americanus, Rainy Lake, H. B. T." It is apparently a winter skin, the pelage being very long and full. The color is dull plumbeous-black throughout, there being a slight grayish cast to the surface of the pelage, particularly on the head, breast, and back. Although instances of melanism appear to be comparatively frequent in Lepus europeeus, they are very rare among the American Lejwridee. 20 M \m w 306 MOXOGRAPUS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. The general mcasuretneiits of the different varieties of Lepus americanus have been necessarily taken almost wholly from skins, and in part by differ- ent observers. They are hence less satisfactory than they would have beeo could they have been made from fresh specimens and by a single person.* They arc in the main, however, borne out by the measurements of the skulls. The material, bein^ similar in all cases, affords doubtless a tolerably fair means of determining the individual range of variation and the amount of variation with locality. Contrary to what usually happens, there is in this species apparently no increase in size to the northward, some of the largest specimens being from New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, and belong to var. vtrginianus. The specimens from Maine (see measurements of the skulls) scarcely differ from those from the Fur Countries, and the speci- mens from the Wind River Mountains (var. bairdi) fully equal those from the most northern points. In Table XV, the specimens are chiefly from very northern localities, and all in winter jjelage. The average length of the body is IG inches, vary- ing from 15.25 to 17.10; length of hind foot 5.10, varying from 4.70 to 5.25; length of ear 2.70, varying froln 2.25 to d.OO. Hence the average length of the body is about an inch and a quarter less than in the Massacimsetts series (bce below), while the difference in the hind foot and ear is less than one and a half tenths of an inch. The difference in length Is more apparent than real, as the skins from Arctic America had never been filled, and are hence more contracted by drying than the others. The trifling difference in the size of other parts corresponds very nearly with that indicated by the skulls. According to Dr. Gilpin, Nova Scotia specimens range in length from 17.00 to 20.70 inches, and a specimen from the Fur Countries, of which Dr. Eichardson gives measurements, had a length of 19.00 inches. In Table XVI are given measurements of twenty-six skulls, mainly from the Mackenzie River district. Of these, the average length is 3.04 inches, the extremes being 2.30 and 2.87 ; the average breadth is 1.52 inches, the extremes being 1.G7 and 1.45. The difference between the average of tliis series and that of another series of fourteen specimens from Oxford County, * lu aU tbu oriKiuul uieaHurementii given in thin paper, the dimeDsioui) uro tbo diataoces in a straigbt line between tbc exireialties of tbo parts nieaHured, and are bence less tban if measured over tbe convexities of tbe xarfoce, a» ia often done. Tbe belgbt of tbe ear is taken b; measuring from tbe inner boae of tbe ear to the tip, instead of either from tbe anterior or poiterior base, and is benco ratber less than it would be by eitber of tbe otiiei methods. I LEPOBID^— LEPU8 AMERICANUS VAB. VIRGINIANUS. 307 Maine, belonging to var. virginianus (see Tabic XIX), is practically nothing, being less than five one-liundredths of an inch ! A more detailed comparison ot var. nmericanus with var. virginianus, and also with vars. Imirdi and washing/oni, will be given later, with also gen- eral remarks on the synonymy of the several forms. . « Var. VIRGINIANUS. Southern Varying Hare Similar in size and proportions to var. americanus. Winter pelage with the white color of the surface extending less deeply, and the ears, head, and feet more or less varied with brown. In summer, more rufous, the color being rich reddish-brown or cinnamon-brown, instead of dark umber or sepia-brown. Winter pelage worn for a shorter time, and the seasonal change of color less complete. Winter specimens vary greatly in respect to the depth of the whiteness of the upper surface. Some are pure white throughout, except the black edging of the tips of the ears, the whiteness extending so deeply as to wholly conceal the subjacent zone of brown. In others, the brown is visible through the surface, or is exposed by the slightest disarrangement of the pelage, and the ears remain more or less brownish, sometimes having but little more white than in summer. The upper surface of the head and the feet are also often reddish-brown. Occasionally, midwinter specimens are sometimes met with in which the colors of the summer pelage still predominate throughout. The assumption of the white pelage is not only less complete in var. virgini- anus than in var. americanus, but, as previously stated, the change begins later, and the winter livery is retained for a much shorter time. In Massa- chusetts, New York, and Northern Pennsylvania, the change rarely begins before the middle or last of November, and, occupying several weeks, is i.ot completed till after the middle of December. In Nova Scotia, according to Dr. Gilpin,* specimens in the earliest stages of change are generally not met with before the end of November ; while, in New Brunswick, according to Dr. Welch,t the first stages of the change may be detected early in October, and by the first week of December the ciuingc is there fully completed. In the northern districts of the Fur Countries, according to Dr. Richardson,J the white winter pelage is assumed in October. At the southward, the winter * Proo. aud Trans. Nova Sootia Inst. Nat. Sol., vol. iii, i, p. 63. t Proc. Zoiil. Soc. Lond., 1859. t Faun. Bor.-Am., i, SIS. p. 2S8. ( , ( i 1 i. i i '- ' pi Il,'' -,i. Ht.'ii 1 i' [: i! 308 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. dress is worn for only about four months, the vernal change beginning in March ; in the middle districts, about five months, and in the higher latitudes about six, wiiere the winter dress, according to Dr. Richardson, is worn till the end of April. Summer specimens of var. virginianiis from Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania vary considerably in color through the varying intensity of the brown tints of the upper surface and tiie relative length of the l)lack tips of the hairs. In some, the black tips are short and inconspicuous; in others, so long as to strongly vary the general color with black. The brown varies from pale yelloWisli-brown to dark reddish-brown, the brown tint of the under fur also similarly varying in intensity. The base of th-. under-fur varies from grayish to dark plumbeous. The exact ranges of varieties americanus and virginianus cannot now be well determined, and, as in the case of other intergruding geographical forms, can probably never be absolutely defined. According to Dr. Gilpin, tlie Nova Scotia type seems clearly referable to the northern form (var. ameri- canus). He describes the dorsal surface as being "sepia-brown, with a yellow wash", and observes that they present none of the bright reddish or cinna- mon-brown mentioned by Professor Baird as characterizing more southern specimens. Dr. Gilpin's description hence corresponds very nearly with specimens from the Red River district, and from Fort Kae, Great Slave Lake, and hence with Dr. Richardson's description. In Table XVII, the first fourteen specimens, all from Massachusetts (Coll. M. C. Z.), and all in winter pelage, vary in length of Tandy from 14 to 20 inches; in length of hind foot, frr)m 4.65 to 5.50: in lengtii of ear, from 2.40 to 3.60: tlie average being, length, 17.37; bind foot, 5.24; ear, 2.83. Fifteen other specimens (Coll. S. I.),* seven of which are also from Massa- chusetts, and the others from New York and Pennsylvania, range in length from 16 to 21 inches; hind foot, 4.57 to 5.68 ; ear, 3.00 to 3.60: averaging, length, 18.82; hind foot, 5.24; ear, 3.32. In length, the latter series exceeds the former by about one and a half inches, while the hind feet are equal ; the difference in the length of the ear is nearly half an inch, one-half of which, at least, is due to the different way in which the measurements of the ear in the two series were taken, as shown by a rcmeasurement of some of the specimens of tlie latter series. In Table XVIII are presented the measurements of twenty-three * Mpmuirements copied from Ilnird'N Mninni. N. Am. LEPORIDJi;— LEPU8 AMEKICANU8 VAR. WASHINGTON!. 301) skulls, from numerous localities. Fourteen are from Oxford County, Maine, and average 3.07 in length (the extremes 3.30 and 2.80) and 1.55 in breadth (extremes 1.62 and 1.40). Six other specimens, from difleront localities in Massachusetts, New York, and Pcnn.sylvania, are the largest of tiie series, but they are all very old skulls, and are doubtless larger than the average for the localities which they represent, being collected by different individuals, and more likely than otherwise were saved from being regarded as "extra fine" specimens. They average 3.23 inches in length (extremes 3.35 and 3.10), and 1.60 in breadth (extremes 1.62 and 1.52). As previously remarked under the head of var. amer'icanus, there is practically no difference in size or proportions between tlie series of skulls from Maine and the fur countries. Var. WASHINGTONI. Western Varying Hare. Rather smaller than var. virginianuti (of which it is the exact western geographical representative), with the summer pelage of a somewhat stronger reddish tint; probably white in winter, except in the very mild region al)out Puget's Sound, where they have been observed to retain their summer pelage the whole year.* The differ ices between this form and var. mrginianus are by no means well marked. i color, the tints of the summer pelage are perhaj)s rather stronger in the western form; but even the original specimens described by Professor Baird can be matched by specimens from Massachusetts. Both the skins and the skulls indicate a slightly smaller size for var. washingtoni; but unfortunately one only of the skulls is full grown (this is the largest of the series), the sutures of the others being still open, and their general appearance is that of specimens but a few months old. The range of var. washingtoni to the northward and eastward is by no means well known; neither are its relations with L. bairdi Hayden. A series of specimens, in winter pelage, collected by Dr. Kennerly (Nos. 5881-6, Coll. S. I.) during the Northwestern Bounetiiuiou. k a. t 1 1 1 1 0905 0908 8098 4444 4453 4430 4434 4435 4430 4437 3!ns 3001 4439 Yukon Kiver, niuiith uf Forciipln« do 1. 00 3.00 3.35 3.50 3.30 10.85 17.10 llOOi 3.00 4.001 3.ilO 3.00 5.35 3.U0 i'reiih. ...do. 3.35 3.18 3.35 8.85 3.30 3.35 2.50 2.45 2.35 2.45 5.35 5.10 4.70 5.15 .5.10 .\30 5.35 5.30 .'•. 15 4.75 3.75 2.55 3.75 2.70 3.55 3.05 Skin. ....do. Freah. Skin. ....do. ...do. ilo 3.40 15.44 15.50 16. CO 16.85 1.40 3. SO 9 1.55 1.50 3.SKI 2.75 do do 9 do do d 19.35 3.81) 2.80 3.35 ...do. ... do. ...do. Freab. Bf Kivor Sottltiincut do 9 1.75 3.00 3.50 15.75 1.35 3. as * Several otbor skulls ciiiuo to band later, but I flud tbnt, tbiungb inadvertouce, no luviisurenieuts of tbeni were tiikuu bufure (boy DKnin piiased out. of my bands. LEPORlDiR— LKI'US AMERICANU8 VAR. AMKRICANU8. ;uy 1 >4 >4 It I I 44444 i4444-i^4444444444 '^q8|iii| 'A«f j3.Hoq 9«S^!9i;!;i«SS9SQ3Q@Si!9ftSSS 'qtSnoi 'AUrJ-IMCKX ua9Ai»q oouuiiip 'u«i o* a » d d rt 51 (J d d d ■01 uoifV) i||]frio( 'HJD|nin jaj«|«l JO oiajimi J.ipniq a( |no|| ino^f 1uiM|aa| aadila •luvioiu 01 iDOj; niojj uiMiani jsdila dddddddddddddddddddddddddd 'oaojoq qipi-tt 'sdaoq iiraSN S ?', 3 d d d s s d d S 3! H 3 d d 8 S d d 3 8 3 3 o d ^ ^ -pQ|qt»q qtp} A 'flauoq imix C 3 3 d d d sessssss cidddeddd d d 3 P d d 3 10 S 3 d d d d Si a d d R 3 d d :x a d d R 3 d d :^ s S a a a 3 3 8 d d d *q)8aa[ 'aaiioq {ViUX s s m ^ U ^ Si i; » a 3 n s s a a ^ ^ J -i a g) s m' ^ ^ ttlQ-it^ uaiii&iaq oaDinsia p a P d d d d d t- ts 3 3 e d d d d d S 3 d d lb to S3 (3 Ifs u^ d d d d d d R 3 d d 8 S P ^ d ^ 'qip|iil)Ki)U( of apecimrat of Lepus americanus car, ahericanus.* Ji-I' 1 a o li o 6006 8998 8999 6965 6966 6967 C968 1490 8108 9001 75S7 -556 7559 7560 7561 7562 4430 4431 4432 4433 4434 4435 4436 4437 4423 ,'i076 696) a d n ■J 1 a a a 1 ■Q i g H Locality. When col- lected. From whom re. celved. Colledtedby- Nature of ape- cimen. Remarks. 7579 7580 6109 0110 0113 6112 6529 6111 6240 6341 6242 6943 584 587 580 1012 1047 1048 1025 a NnUto, Alaska... do Jan. 27, 1667 Jan. 27,1867 Jan. 27, 1867 Nov. 18, 1860 Mar, 15, 1861 Mar. 16, 1861 Jon. —,1661 Intern. Tel. Ex- pod. ....do W.U.Dall.... ...do Skin and ekull. do . ! iny Lake, H. 11. T. J. McKen^ie... Wm. MaotRTieh B. Konnioott. . . ....do ....do ....do ... .do J. McKonzie.. Wd .Mnctavisli R Eounloott . . ...do ...do Skin ....do •• 00 9 ? 0 9 0 Summer — .Tuly 37, July 97, July 37, July 27, July 87, ....do Morthy Portagu. . . ....do . . ....do ....do 4333 4333 90 03 95 ....do . ....do ...do Sklnandakull Skin Skin and aknll Skin ....do . ... do ....do .. do .. do Selkirk Settlement . do ...do <{ .. do ....do ...do .. do .. do ....do ... do do .. do ...do .. do do do ....do . ..do Rod Illvcr Bottle- mont. do ....do ... do w m (I 1 816 MONOGRArnS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Tablb XVIII.— lfeiuur«mcn(ao/LEPUs americanus rar. viiioinianus. 1 Locality. M From tip of noeo to — Toll to cud of- Length of— i "3 1 Nature of apeclmen. 6 1 d .J ^ W 1 s, 1 a a SCO? 1507 1M3 J i.eo 1.75 1.75 1.80 1.75 1.85 1.75 1.75 1.70 5 1.75 1.50 l.no r.50 3.40 3.35 3.30 aso J. 10 3.45 3.85 3.80 3.80 3.15 3.85 3.00 3.30 3.00 4.80 4.15 4.85 4,l!0 4.10 4.00 4.80 4.80 4.15 3.H .185 3.75 3.fO 4.00 3.75 3.15 3.22 4.00 80.00 17.50 17.75 17.50 17.50 17.50 17.00 17.00 10.73 10.75 16.00 13.25 14.75 14.00 21.00 SO. 00 18. .50 18. M 17.50 17.50 17.00 21.00 10.50 moo 18.00 8100 19.00 16.00 19.50 80.00 1.40 1.40 8.50 2.30 2.35 855 8 85 855 8 45 8 40 833 833 8 00 820 8 43 815 835 8 5U 885 8 41 8 38 841 5 35 5.45 5,10 5.50 5.30 515 5.35 3.50 5.50 5.15 5.10 4.65 5.00 5.20 5.15 5.10 4.85 5.20 4.57 4.98 5.46 5.30 5.38 5.63 5.68 5.50 4.84 5.50 6.50 883 8 80 3.00 300 890 890 Skin. ....do. ....do. ...do. ....do. ...do. .. do. do do 1514 do 1.53 0.85 0.85 830 800 1.60 1516 ISIT ISIB 1511 1515 1510 ISM 1519 1500 1508 1073 1430 1074 959 1075 1076 060 5SS 551 849 481 67 66 317 316 850 do do do do do do 880 8 95 8 75 8 40 8 40 300 860 3.35 ... do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. Skin. From Bolrd. do 1.40 2.30 do 1.00 0.85 0.90 815 1.00 815 do do do Hlddloborongh, Mqbh do . do do do do l.ai 883 3.13 3.15 316 3 05 330 360 3.40 300 3.38 3 40 3 40 3 43 358 300 ..do. ...do, ...do. ...do. ...do. ...da ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. .. do. Freali. From Baird. ...do. Skin. From Baird. do 9 ? 2.00 3.50 do do 1.33 1.15 1.00 1.33 1.58 1.50 892 885 1.75 1.75 8 42 885 855 8.18 850 do •'CO 4.37 4.18 3.85 3. .10 4.00 4.00 3.00 3.17 3.33 do do New York Stnte 1.58 l.CO ip \* r fr ,1: LEPOBIDiE— LEPUS AMERICANOS VAK. VIRGINIANUS. 317 Table XlX.—MeaturemmU of skuUt of Lepus amkkicanus tar. vinoiNiAKUs. s s i 1 a ^ ? s » ^ 3 a I £ 2 al .a 2 a JS 1 1 1 s 0 a 1 a s a Locality. i 0 1 1 f 1 .It i i s s . «H C 11 1 3 a "3 a 1 * M 1 ■a It Remarks. g, ■a s tc s 2 J 2 •- i ■" fe JB a fe 1 ■ ft A a Si u 0.34 0.35 0.58 0. 47 8. 33 L 60 1C05 "k\ ....do 3.8.') 1.67 0.70 \.3i 0.06 0.6'J D,5l I.OJ 1, 38 0.35 0.89 0.60 0..-W8.35'l60 308 Upton, Oxford 3. o:'i. I>3 O.5.- 1. St; 0.00 0. 95 1.27 0.35 0.S5 0.55 0. 45 3. 17 L 45 County, Mo. 308 ...do d 3.051.50 0. (i'. i.a:. 0.07 0.50 0.93 L83 0.38 0.33 0.53 0,43 8.101.37 30.1 ...do 1070 059 060 8143 8144 259 11067 551 316 481 B63 849 1569 157« 317 66 1175 Winter ...do LAsaaali Skin. do do ... do . .do . . ... ....do ....do ....do. do ....do ....do ....do ;;;.:d° ::.;:: ....do ....do ...do do ....do ....do ....do do ....do ....do ...do. do ....do ....do ....do. do ...do ....do ....do. do ....do .... ....do ...do do Fall ....do ... do. do . .. do . ....do .. do do Winter ...do ...da do Fall ....do ...da do ...da do Fall ...do ...da 175 9 do ....do ....do ....da do Summer ...do L. Agaaaii ...do. o ...da Skin and aknIL Skin. ...da 1202 Quebec, Canada Middleborongb, Moss do AuR. — , 1853 Mar. 7,1856 Nov. 30, 1655 Nov. 83, 1855 Oct 33,1655 Oct 17,1855 Summer ...do 8.F.Baird J.W. P. Jenka.... ...do 8.F.Baird J.W.P.Jonka.... ....do 2003 2004 •• i 1 1 1 •s 4SI3 4363 4304 11303 11008 30».1 3903 4no Wind Btver MotintilDa .... do d 1.43 1.15 3.81 3. so 17.50 18.00 3.50 3. CO 3.70 3.35 5.35 5.40 3.50 3.53 3.75 5.75 4.90 4.00 3.20 3.60 2.05 3. CO 3.33 2.93 3.00 3.33 Frcab. ....do. Skin. do. ....do. ...do ...do. ...do. . ..do 1.60 3.00 3.60 IT. 35 1.45 3.25 Fort Cridger 17.15 16.00 15.50 a. 00 3.83 3.40 .. ..do Weat of Fort Bontou Table XXV. — iteaaurementa o/ ttmlla of harxsa amkricaniis tar. bairdi. Looality. Uodloine Dow Mount- atns. Dlttor Root Valley... I00.e4«.50 0.86 n If a u II |i il W H ■" a U a33 0.!I8 LIS a 33 0.'.I4 a Q Sri itemarks. Immature; lost tem- porary molar atill in place. Skull mark- ed L, amtricanut. ... do. 21 H I M: < ''I ' t t 1 M [^ 1 • ^l ^ :| 1^ 1 I 1 322 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTU AMERICAN RODENTIA. i .8 3 I s a % » I i ■2 I ■M o ^g.l ^ "O ^ ^ ?3 I. u 1 ^ ia ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ "aiiifi^liiiiiitiiiii*^''' f^3 ^ Q — jojoq -oma SoTpaoaBoxioo II a *? o o o o o !•§>§. I •d s " S a S s i a 3 3 XSxZdS%aj&SGSDSoaoS} ef of V V rt" n" -•' w o o « « e fi r r r r ■nqnmu-snSoiitVQ ; ;$§iiiililiii!ii|i ill LEPORID^— LEPUS AMEBICANU8 ET VARS. 323 General remarhs on Lepus americanus and Us varieties. Lepus americanus dift'ers from the otlier Varying Ilnres in its mucli eninller size and reliitively shorter ears, as well as in the size and proportions of the skull. Aside from its wliite winter pelage, it also differs much from all the other Hares of this continent in color, proportions, and in cranial char- acters, and from most of them, moreover, in size. Of its four geographical varieties (americanus, virginianus, washing/otii, and bairdi), var. bairdi seems to be the most strongly marked. Var. ame- ricanus is the northern form, with a softer and longer winter pelage, more heavily-clothed ears and feet, with the white of the surface invading the pelage to a considerable depth, and with a duskier, duller-tinted summer pelage. By gradual stages, however, it shades into var. virginianus, its south- ern representative on the Atlantic coast, which has the whiteness of the winter pelage restricted to the surface, only partially concealing the color of the under fur, and in which the summer pelage is of a brigiiter or redder tint.. Var. toashingtoni is the southern Pacific coast form, known at pres- ent only from the region about Puget's Sound. In summer pelage, it is rather more rufous even than var. virginianus, but by no differences as yet discov- ered is it always distinguishable from the latter form. Like mrginianus, it is a southern representative of americanus, with which it insensibly inter- grades. Var. bairdi occupies an intermediate geographical position, and may be regarded as an alpine form. Its distinguishing features are in the summer pelage the prevalence of black, the white under-fur, and white feet, and in winter the tendency to an entire whiteness of the under-fur. It shows, however, decided intergradations with the northern form, as well as with the two southern forms, with which it essentially agrees in size and proportions. So far as at present known, there is no very marked variation in size with locality throughout the wide region inhabited by the varieties of L. ame- ricanus. Geographical Distribution. — Lepus americanus, in some of its forms, occupies the wooded portion of the whole northern half of the continent, extending southward in the Rocky Mountains as far, at least, as New Mexico ; its southern limit of distribution coinciding very nearly, apparently, with the isotherm of 50°. On the Pacific coast, the species is represented in var. toashingtoni as far south as the head of the Willamette River ; in the interior, n 324 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. I'll li-tf^i'i Uirougli vnr. hairdi, it extends througliout the higlier parts of the Rocky Mountains soutli, at least to Cantonment Burgwyn, New Mexico; to the eastward of tiic Missouri River, as var. virginianus, it occurs in Minnesota, and thence eastward tliroughout tlie northern parts at least of nearly all the northern tier of States, and in the Alleghanies southward, at least to Vir- ginia, and on the Atlantic coast to Connecticut. Its limit in the Eastern States hence nearly coincides with that of the Alleghanian fauna. To the northward, it ranges to the limit of trees, extending even to the very borders of tlie Arctic Barren Grounds. The range of the several varieties is not so easily indicated. Var. ame- ricanus seems to remain well-defined as that type southward to New Bruns- wick and Nova Scotia on the Atlantic coast, and as far as the Red River Settlements in the interior. Var. Jrtzjv/i, occupying the higher parts of the Rocky' Mountains, separates tlie two southern forms, virginianus and .washingtoni, and doubtless extends a long way northward into the habitat of var. ameri- canus. Var. americanus is the form received from Southern Alaska, but its southern limit on the Pacific coast is not as yet known. Var. washingtoni, however, has been received from as high as about latitude 55°. So far as our present knowledge goes, we may define the habitat of var. virginianus as occupying the Atlantic coast-region from Nova Scotia to Connecticut; the whole of the higher parts of the Apalachian Highlands as far south as Virginia, and probably to North Carolina; in the interior, the northern half of the northern tier of States, and the southern half of the Canadas, west- ward to the highlands bordering the northern shore of Lake Superior, where here and in Northern Minnesota it doubtless gradually merges into variety americanus. Synonymy. — ^We find allusions to the Lepus americanus auct. in the writings of several of the early authors, among whom is Kalm, who refers to it briefly in his Travels (vol. iii, p. 59, English ed.), and supposed it to be identical with the Varying Hare of Europe. The first specimens reached England in 1771, and were described in the Philosophical Transactions (vol. Ixii, p. 4) by Daines Barrington in 1772 under the name of the "Hudson's Bay Quadruped". In the same volume, it is again more fully described by J. R. Forster, who gives also some account of its habits, but, in so doing, quotes Kalm's reference to quite a different species (the L. sylvaticus Bach.) inhabiting New Jersey. Pennant, in his History of Quadrupeds (in 1784), LEPORID^— LEPUS AMERICANUS. 325 while qiiile ncciirntcly describing tlic aiiimnl, confounds it with other spocicfi; for, in spcniting of its distribution and hal)its, lie quotes not only Kalm's refer- ence to the L. sylvnticus, but also Liivvson's account of the Habbit of Carolina. Erxleben, in 1777, based his L. americanus on Kalm (his reference to the Hare of Hudson's Hay, not the southern Gray Rabbit), Harrington, and Forster, and his diagnosis is in every respect applicable to this species, and to this alone. Gmelin's account is abridged from tluit of Erxleben, he citing the same authors. Shaw, and some other later writers, continued to confound it with other species, giving as its habitat the whole of North America. Pallas, in 1778, described it under the name of Lepus hudsonius, and Schreber, in 1792, as Lepus nanus. While Schreber' s diagnosis refers exclusively to L. ameri- canus, he blended its general history with that of L. sylvalicus. Desmarest, in 1822, rather increased the confusion already existing by giving u descrip- tion referring mainly to L. sylvaticus under the name of L. americanus. In his references, he cites not only Erxleben and Pallas, whose descriptions refer exclusively to L. americanus, but also Schoepf, whose description of "Der Nord-Amerikanische Haase" as exclusively refers to L. sylvaticus, while he gives its habitat as including not only the region west of Hudson's Bay, but also the Carolinas, Florida, Louisiana, California, and Mexico. From this time, however, till 1842, the name americanus was often applied, even by American writers, to the L. sylvalicus, it being thus used by Harlan in 1825, and later by Fischer, Audubon, Emmons, Thompson, and others. Harlan still further increased the confusion by redescribing the L. americanus under the name of L. virginianus, supposing it to be a new species ; while Dr. Godman, in 1826, considered it as identical with the L. variabilis of Europe. The mistakes of Desmarest and Harlan were repeated even by Dr. Bachman in his first paper on the American Hares, published in 1837. In the mean time, however, Dr. Richardson (in 1829) had re-instated Erxleben's name of L. americanus, and Dr. Bachman, in a supplemental note to his paper, recti- fied his former error. In 1839, in a second paper on the American Hares, Dr. Bachman refers to this species under its proper name; and, in 1849, in the first volume of the Quadrupeds of North America, fully elucidates its synonymy, giving Erxleben's description in full. Since the date of Dr. Bach- man's second paper, the species has been generally recognized by its proper designation. I find, however, that all the skulls of this species, in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, from the Hudsoa's Bay Territories, are marked ■i M 4 i IM li i wl 1 pi f ■)■:, 326 MONOGUAl'US OF NOUTU AMERICA UODENTIA. L. " ciniijiestris". Some of thom, however, henr the pnitiully-crased nnme L. ^'amoiannis" of a ])iior (lotcrniiiintion. The skins, however, of those same KpL'ciiiicns, are still labeled L. ^'ameriranuii" or L. ^'americanun!" whenever ii specific name is added, some l)eing lulxilcd simply ^^Lepus". The L. '*cam- jtestris" of Ilajdcn, referred to in his dc8crij>tion of L. haiidi, belongs to this northern form, as docs also the L. "campestris Bachman" of Dnll, given in his nominal list of the Mammals of Alaska, as shown by his specimens still in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution. Respecting this application of the name camjtentri^, Professor Bnird writes nie (under date of March 31, 1874) that he was "still not convinced that the Lepits virginianus of Richardson refers to the Townsend's Hares of the Upp(;r Missouri. The specimens described by Richardson", he continues, "arc of course too imperfect to permit any satisfactory description ; and the dimensions given are probably too large. It is entirely out of the question for Richardson to have overlooked the occurrence of the northern variety of Lepus americanus, as it is found everywhere, from Fort Garry northward, is very common on the Saskatchewan, and constitutes a large portion of the food of the Indians in the regions traversed by him. It is particularly abundant about latitude 55°. In the many collections that we have had from the Hud- son's Bay Territory, you will note the entire absence of any Hares resembling the fownsendi. If my supposition be correct, then, if you give a name to the grayish northern form of the American Hare, that should be cainpestris, and Townsend's name be retained for the big Missouri River species." As already noticed under the head of Lepus campestris, I consider Rich- ardson's L. virginianus (subsequently named campestris by Bachman) to refer beyond question to the long-limbed, long-eared, and long-tailed Townsend Hares of the Upper Missouri, and can see no reason for presuming the meas- urements given as "probably too large". Bachman certainly understood his name to apply to a long-eared, long-tailed Hare so like what he later named L. fotonsendi that he repeatedly states his conviction that they would prove to be the same, he having been at first erroneously informed that the L. townsendi never became white. As to Richardson overlooking "the north- ern form of Lepus americanus", he certainly did not do so, as he has described it in detail under that name, and especially refers to its importance to the Indians as an article of food, and their method of capturing this animal. Furthermore, he distinguishes the L. virginianus as a prairie species, while LBPORIDiE— LEPU8 8YLVATICUS. 327 his L. americanus is not found in such jtlaccs, but inhabits thick woods. Ho Bays particularly that "on the barren grounds to the eastward of tiie Copper- mine, and on the extensive plains or prairies through which tlie Missouri and Saskatchewan flow, it is replaced by other and larger species" — respectively his L. glacutlis and L. virginianus. Furthermore, his description of the summer pelage of his L. americanus corresponds perfectly with the specimens in the Smithsonian Institution from the Red River district northward to the Yukon. Several points in his description of L. virginianus, aside from its size, as the color of the under fur of the back, are wholly inapplicable to the L. americanus, but strictly accord with the characters of the Townsend's Hares.* The differences, as already noticed, between the northern and southern forms of L. americanus are quite appreciable, and, in giving them varietal designations, it becomes necessary to restrict the name at^ericanus to the northern form, the earlier descriptions of americanus being based solely on specimens from Hudson's Bay, while Harlan's name of virginianus is alone applicable to the southern form, his description being based on Virginian specimens. As already noticed, the Nova Scotia and Red River specimens belong to the northern type, the southern form being mainly if not wholly restricted to the northern parts of the United States east of the Missouri River. Lepus waahingtoni was first described by Professor Baird in 1855, and Lfpvs hairdi by Dr. Hayden in 1869, and neither of them have been con- founded with either of the other varieties of Lepus americanus or with any other species. LEPUS SYLVATICUS Buchmau. Var. 8vi,VATicus. Wood Hare; "Or»r Babbit"; "Wood Rabbit." Lepiu ncMUi Schrkber, SSnget., iv, 1793, 881 (In part only).— DeKay, New York Zool., i, 1848, 93, pi. xxvii, fig. 1.— Waqner, Sappl. SobrebeT'd Siiuget., iv, 1843, 114. SuMlagut naniu Orat, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 3d ser., xx, 1867, 221.— Allen, Ball. Hns. Comp. Zodl., 1, 1869, 239. Leput amerioaniu Desmarest, Mammalogie, ii, 1822, 351.— Harlan, Faun. Amer., 1825, 193. — Avdubon, Birds of Amer., pi. 51.— Fischer, S;nop. Ham., 1839, 376 (in port only).— Bacuhan, Joarn. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., vii, 1837, 320, pi. xvi, figs. 3, 4 (ear and foot).— Emmoks, Qnad. Maaa., 1840, 56.— Tuuhpsun, Nat. Hist. Vermont, 1842, 48. * Since the above was written. Professor Baird has conceded tbe inapplicability of the name L. oampaMt to the smaller short-eared Varying Haro of British North America. m 328 MONOGRAPHS OF KOBTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. if i. !;■:; /.(■jiun gytealicuii Dacmman, Joiirn. Acnd. Nat. Sci. Pbilu., vii, 18:17, 40;); Tiii, 1839, 78.— Watkruouse, Nat. Hint. Mam., ii, IHlf, 110. — Aid. & Uacii., Qiiuil. N. Am., i. 1849, 17:1, pi. xxii.— Woodhoi'kk, Sit(;rcftvi»'» Col. alio Ziilii Uivdr Exp., IBTia, 55 (Eastern Tcxhb ami luilian Territory).— Max- imilian, Wii'gm. Arch., IhOl, i, 144.— Baiiid, Mam. N. Am., 1H57, 597, pi. viii, flg. 1 (Bkuli); V. H. anil Mex. HouihI. Siirv., ii, 1859, ii, 47 (liidiauola, Texas).— Hayden, Trans. Am. I'liil. Soe. riiila., xii, 180;), 148.— Aiibott, Cook's Geol. of New Jersey, 1808, 759.— Allkn, Proc. IJobI. g.)c. Nat. Illst., xiii, lWi9,194; Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoiil., ii, 1871, 184. Lepus hachmcni WATKltllousK, Proc. Zoiil. 8oc. Lond., vi, 18;t8, 103 ; Nat. Hist. Mam., ii, 1846, 124.- Bach- mam, J«n3meii(« 0/ Lktuh bylvatioub var. Nuri ai.i.i. i B a a 3 5 M 009 Ota two ■•TOO as7 3HB 373 314 17S3 IVU use 315 1 E B C3 "3 a i ICOS 1C78 17M CSS C07 000 I. , ■Wyoming Tor- ritiiry. do i.eo I.M 1. 7.-1 1.60 1.00 1.85 1.70 1.85 1.49 :i.oo s.e.'i 9.50 9.80 8.43 9.49 ;ilo 3.85 9.8.-I 3.10 3.10 3.17 a. 85 5.90 9.75 9.e:i 9.e8 3.00 9.00 3.t;o 9.35 9.05 FruHh ..do ... ..do .. ..do... ..do . do... ..do ... Skin.. ..do... ..do... ..do... ..do... ..do ... From Bairtl. do. ) .. do. ... do. .. do. ...do. .lo do Park County, Colorado do do Yt-llowatono Rlrer . . . do Llano Eetueado . . . .^ . 1.00 1.30 1.83 1.70 9.01 8.08 do dn 1.95 9.75 ..do... ..do... ..do... ...do. ...do. ....do. j SanAnlonlotoElPaH) '-* '0 m: Tablk XXWl.—Meaauremeiitt of akiiUa of hEVva sylvaticus var. .vuitalli. i f. 1 |l i 1 i A £ 1 s ^ j: ^ a h 1 • 1 1 .0 .2 s 1 .0 if % 1 t a 3 .d ^ i' Locality. i 5 1 A i C n f n ^, ■5 1 i * i 5 ^ M 9 s ■^ ~ li -1 ^ B •2. •S. 1 •a 1 1 1 1 S.a s 3! 1.^ % 1 P^ I 1.36 0 H 0 R ^ >5 •A 0.50 1.17 0.33 b 1= u 4950 Doer Creok, Wyoming . .T. 9.75 1.37 0.70 1.29 0.53 0.90 0.85 0.47 0.37 1.63 4850 do 3.80 1.45 0.68 1.88 t'.53 0.50 0.01 1.15 0.37 0.85 o.,-* 0.38 1.98 1.40 4900 do 3.80 1.37 0.70 1.23 0.50 0.50 0.93 l.lil 0.37 0.90 0.50 0.37 1.84 1.49 4901 do 8.67 1.40 0.67 1.10 0.53 0.50 0.85 M.15 0.30 0,85 0.55 0.37 1.8.^ 1.23 68r2 Wyoming Territory 3.58 1.31 0.55 1.08 0.5:1 0.46 0.88 1.10 0.30 0.25 0..'i9 0.88 1.77 1.17 1833 1938 Western TexnB 9.50 9.55 1.90 1.35 0.66 0.60 1.05 1.12 0.49 0. 7 0.40 0.44 0.80 0.88 1.18 1.10 0.98 o.:i2 0.21 0.94 0.44 0.47 0 31 0.40 1.75 1.60 1.28 1.30 do 1987 do 3,50 1.30 0,70 1,06 0.j9 0.50 0.77 1.05 0.87 0 39 0.45 0.35 1.80 1.96 ■*! T 22 M 338 MONOOKAPIIS OF NOUTII AMEUICAN KODBNTIA. Tahi.k XXXVII.— i(«( of »pmmin/i «/ Lbi-us hyi.vatici's rar. nuttau.i, "■im r ^ -i; 1 a i a It i a 4139 1 ■a 3 Locality. When collected. Prom whom received. •3 1 13011 333 H94 1008 17!I8 1800 Frcni'JiiiiHli'H 11., Mont. MlnMiuri It, lOliujIlos rtliovc Fort Uiiliiu. July 4, 1874 Aug. 17, lc5:i A.CamplH^ll Gov. I. I.Steviiw.... LleutO.K.Worren. ...do Dr. E. Cimca Dr. Gwi.Suokley... Dr. F.V. llayden.. ...do Skin. ...do. ...do. ...do. • ... Orf Koi-t IJuloii, Mout do July 14,1850 July 19,1b50 Aug. 8,1830 ...do ....do ...do. ...do . . do ...do. 91 o ...do do ...do. 9(154 9009 •9751 9753 97.VI 9734 9755 9708 97.".0 9769 9757 9758 97.'i9 9700 9770 97111 9763 9763 9764 9703 0700 9707 SIflOl 0M5 9000 90O:i !27.'m I37.V.I (3757 t3750 1 37.55 t3753 13848 43849 t3850 13831 t2S,53 13760 I4.V> 113:17 4356 43.59 4300 4301 ...do do Skull. ...do. ilo ...do do do do ... do. 48 387 490 500 030 679 083 707 714 710 731 738 770 830 808 834 838 838 865 806 867 881 0 do ...do do . . do. CaiupCftrlln, Wyo... Big Sniidy, Wyo Groen Kiver, Wyo . . . Fort Ilrldgir, Wyo .. IIcnry'H Fork, Wj-o.. Oreou Jilver, Wyo lio Aug. 3, 1870 Sept 7,1870 Sept 11, 1870 Sept. 37, 1870 Oct. 3, 1870 Oct. 7, 1870 Oct. 7, 1870 Oct. 0, 1870 Oct. 10, 1870 Oct 10.1870 Oct. 10,1870 Oct 11,1970 Oct 15,1870 Oct 13, 1870 Oct 90,1870 Oct. 93,1870 Oct 83,1870 Oct 33,1870 Oct 35,1870 Oct. 85, 1870 Oct. 3.5,1870 Aug. 84, 1870 Aug. — , 1869 Aug. 18, 1969 Aug. 18, 1869 July 10, 1809 July 39, 1871 July 90, 1871 July 10, 1871 July 10,1871 July 39, 1871 Aug. 9,1871 Nov. 10, 1871 Dee. 10, 1871 Nov. 10. 1871 Nov. 15. 1871 Nov. 1,1871 Sept 33, 1871 Apr. 15, 18,55 Sept 30. 1873 Dr. F. V. n«ydon.... ...do ... do n.U.Bchtnldt do Sklu. ...do. do ...do. ...do do ...do. ..do ..do ...do do ...do. .. do. ...do do ...do. do ...do do . .do. do ..do ... do ...do. do .. do ...do .do ....do , ...do do .. do. ...do. ...do. do do ... Bitter Creek, Wyo... Nortli Platte, Wyo... Pine Oroye, Wyo .... do do . do do ...do. do do ...do. ...do ...do . do ...do do ...do. ...do. do ...do. Pops Creek, Wyo Kiick Creek, Wyo do .. .do ..do do ...do '... ...do do ...do. ...do. ...do. do do do ...do. North Platte, Wyo. . . Colorado Territory — Don Carlos, Colo do . do do ...do. do ...do. do do ...do. do d« ...do. 1009 1010 658 697 60O 551 1665 1746 1666 1078 1016 1533 0 Idaho City, Colo South Park, Colo do -. do do ...do. Kooky MtEiped.... do ...do. do ...do. o 9 do do .... do ...do. do Bear Creek, Colo Cheyenue, Wyo Perry, Wyo . . -. do do ...do. .. do do ...do. do . .. do ...do. ....do Allen &. Bennett.... .do ...do. ...do. do do .. do ...do. J do do ....do ...do. do do ...do ...do. .... Ogden.Dtah Fort Bridger, triah .. Beaver, Utlh . do ...do ...do. W. M. McGraw Lieut 0. M. Wheelel ..do. 308 H.W.IIeUBhaw ...do. •L. "nuttuUl." t SpcoimuD fruui Uiueum uf Cumporntiva Zoology, Cambridgo, M.iis9. LICromDiE— LEPUH 8YLVATICU8 VAIJ. NUTTALLl. Taiilk XXXVII,— X^al 0^ tpeeimftiii of LKPtm Rri.VATictTH rar. MinTAi.u— Cnntlniiol. 339 1 I'd 1^ Kin iiTin 1 I7ii8 IITSO 11730 11731 i h 1 c s 1 £ .303 94SI ai 9,V) 803 9114 918 101 331 803 008 1 M A 45U4 32114 17-JO 373 33SS ;3I4 313 3IS 1436 14M 8378 8571) 8817 8818 887 888 8fl 4010 Rio QraDdi\ Culo Southern Artunna do Ft. WiniiRto, N. Mei. do ....do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do. do. ... do ...do do. 87 435 ...do ... do . do. do ... do Lieut J.C.Ivea... Di. W. W. Audoiaou Cnptniu Brown CapLJ. Pope ...do . . do .. do. Molwve Vnlley .r. 11. Miilhauson Dr. W. W. Audoraon ...do, ...do. ...do. Cnntonmuut Ilurgwyn, N. Mex. Ft.UuM p u p p 8895 Camp Qrant, Arizona 8.58 1.38 0.07 1.00 0.50 0.40 0.81 1.07 0.30 0.93 0.40 0.30 1.78 1.84 m ! 'Si IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ut l&i 12.2 2.0 lU lU us. M [25 ,|U |,.6 < 6" ► " ^ '/ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STREiT WiBSTIR.N.Y. MStO (716) •73-4503 «^ ^\ ^r\\ 4^ r ;V ^ H "■ .! : U:,A •i- 340 MONOGUArUB OF KOBTU AMERICAN KODENTIA. Taiiu; XXXIX.— Ail/ of min-imenii of I.i:ris «Yi.v.»TitiH r«r. aiii/,o.\,i:. fr!l.-i H-Ofi Limllly. Fmui ffltfim rooi'h'pd. I>fnlr» S|irlni;«. Arl« SefU 8, l*'i Dr. K. (.'oiii'H t'uiliptiriilit, Arlx Fvb. 10, 1HJ7 i Dr. K. I'uliuul- do ' Fi'li. ao, IMJi du do Mir. 10, IH07 j do do ' M«r. 10, 1P07 ! do KvmviUe, C«l Oet. — , IBT.'l | I.t. O. U. Wbcelsr. , Cidlpeto to the present tinic, no adult Hare of this small size has yet been Tuund anywiiero, notwithi'tanding tlie testimony of Townsend that it " was doubt- less an adult animal". He says the hunters, who knew it well, assured him it never grew any larger, but it seems probable that ^hese hunter.« may have had in mind the Little Ciiief Hare {Lagomys princeps). A Hare so abundant us tills is represented to be is not likely to have escaped the observation of the numerous naturalists and collectors who h ive since passed over the same region. The Lepus bachmani was described by Waterhouse in 1838 from an immature specimen procured somewhere in the "southwestern portions of North America, supposed to be between California and Texas ",* or ' perhaps Oaliforniu",+ and redescribed from the same specimen in 1839 by Dr. Bach- man. In the Quadrupeds of North America, it is mentioncf^ as " describe«l from a specimen sent by Douglass from the western shores of America "4 • It is here sjioken of as abundant in Texas, its habitat being regarded as embrac- ing " a great portion of Texas, New Mexico, and California ", and as " probably extending south through great part of Mexico'' and northeast to "about the headwaters of the Red River or Arkansas ".| Professor Baird beliQ,vcs that the real locality of Waterhouse's and Bachman's first specimen (the (me sent by Douglass) was Texas, although he was at first, on the ground of locality, inclined to identify it with what he afterward described as Lepus audulnmi. The two specimens referred by Professor Baird to L. " bachmani" are from Brownsville, Texas, and are still in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution. * The Lepus artemisia was . From a aklD. From a ipeclmou iu aloulwl. ...do. From a akiu. ...do. ...da . do .. do. .. du. ..do. ...do. Uii MONOOKAPIIS OF NORTH AMKKICAN RODENTIA. Taulk \LUl.—ili»iiinaumU of AM* of L«Pti8 tkuwbiiiimiki. I ■ 1 I iiai IHI9 Lonllty. Xttf xw timta 3(01 4tBI 4i40 VM 4144 Kurt Cniok, Cal .. a. 55 Hod Krauclico, CnI j 2. 45 -""' ....do I Flirt Ti-J(iD,Cal... US! ...ito Capti 8t. Luc«0, L. (.•«I. I ....ilo j 8.30 ....do , 8.37 ... iio aan i.ie o.iii o.m i 0.4.% MS , 0.57 O.SW I 0.43 1. 90 i 0. es 0. in 0. <'j 0.44 0 30 0.44 0.44 0.44 I I L 0.'.S 0.1.< 0.»3 am aTT .... I 0.11 0. 38 a M 0. 40 0. 10 a 36 I 0. 14 0. 40 : 0. Ill 1 i 1 \ % (f 1 1 1 a j: 1 . II \\ 1.01 0.30 1.0.1 I a 39 1.01 I a94 i.on ' o.'» I.C3 j 0.81 I 0.83 0.»1 ' ... I ... 0.MI 0.33 j o.ie 0.41 0.81 0.4(1 0.9'J 0.41 0.91 O.II-) a03 0.45 0.4.% 0.40 O.X\ I 0.3S j I 0.34 ^ I 0. 3.% ' .0.30 0.3.-. I 0.31 0 93 0.90 0 90 0.94 0. Ill 0. £0 ' 0. 49 ' 0. 34 0. IH 0. 45 , 0. 31 0. 49 0. 35 1 ^ i J 1.70 1.15 1.73 1.19 1.70 I.OtI 1.07 l.OU 1.5J 1.04 1.48 1.03 l.5» 1.04 1.39 1.05 Taiiuc XLIV.— £u( u/qiedM«iia (/I.iCPUg TROWBailKiiei. .'S e '1^ 1 r 1811 1*19 1 A 1 I/icallt.v. I From whom reoelTed. Collected bj*— i 1 hi. W. P. Trowbridge do LtW. P.Trowbridiic. do Sknll. ... do. 1 do 1 'iei do Mua.Coap.Zo(il dp A. Agaaaia Alcohol ic. ....do. \ do • do • 105 do Lt W. P. Trowbridga do Lt W. P. Trowbridge do Skin. ....do. 100 do 101 do do do ...do. ...do. , 1171 do Liautanautwmianiaou Lt. W.P.Trowbridge do 1 im 1835 do Lt W. P. Trowbridge do BkiiU. Skin and aknll. Skin. ....do. 1 310 Sao Franolaooor Hon- teny. Cal. do 311 do do 319 do do COB do T.A.Subo Or. J. O. Cooper B.Samnelii ...do. ...do. do 111)3 Santa Clara, Cal Dr. J. 0. Cooper 9014 3599 3508 4991 4840 4941 4844 9 ? 8915 do do ... do ....do. 1900 ! 1509 San Diego, Cal do Mar. -, 1890 Feb. 19, 18M Fub. 81, 1850 Or.J. F. Hammnod.. do . .. Dr.J. F. Uaumoad.. do ...do. do. 1503 do do do ....do. 311:11 Fort Tpjon, Cal J Xantua J Xantna 8Un and aknll. . do. 3030 do do' . .. do ' • Capv Saint Lucaa. Cal do do do BkoU. ...da 1 do do «o do ... do do ....do. do . do do ....do 5018 I--"" SanJi»i.CHl Santa Baibani.Ciil .. May -, 1850 Apr. — , 1899 Jani) 90, 1819 do do Skin. ...do. .. do. SHU [ do j Lt.O. M.Wberler.... do 11. W. Hnnthnw • Spw tiiii'Dit I'liMu tbe Muw-utu of Ciunpiir.ittvf Zlackigh-brown; below whitish. Upper surface of the head fcrruglncous, finely mixed with black, fading anteriorly to paler rufous; sides of muzzle yellowish-brown; sides of the head pale fulvous-brown, below and beiiind the eye sparsely varied with black, a narrow pale ring around the eye, not more conspicuous than in L. sylvaticus ; nape rufous. Ears covered wit}i very short hair, looking nearly naked, yellowish-brown mixed with black anteri- orly, at the base passing into blackish-brown, varied with yellowish-brown toward the tip; anterior margin whitish-edged till near the tip, where it is margined with blackish; posterior surface of the ears lighter and nearly naked. Dorsal region nearly uniformly pale reddish or cinnamon-brown, varied with blackish-brown, becoming paler and with fewer blackish hairs on the sides of the body and over the rump. Tail above blackish-brown, shading into the color of the rump; while below. Chin and sides of the lower jaw nearly white, passing into brown on the throat, f^ore ueck uniform reddish-brown. Middle of the lower surface of the body from between the fore legs to the tail whitish. Outer surface of limbs reddish-brown; inner surihce whitish; upper surface of hind feet varied with pale rufous and whitish. Size and proportions same as in average specimens of Z. sylvaticus. Feet small; nails naked. This species is based mainly on a specimen collected at the Tres Marias Islands by the late Col. A. J. Grayson. It is of about the size of Lepus sylvaticus, but differs in many important features from any of the varieties of the L. sylvaticus group. The form of the postorbital processes shows that in this respect its affinities are with this group rather than with the Aquatic Hares (Z. palustris and L. aquaticus), although its feet are small and as sparsely haired as in L. palustris. In general color and in some other features, it somewhat resembles L. brasiliensis, but is in other respects quite different. It has a tail as short as L. trowbridgei. A second specimen, from Talamanca, Costa Rica, collected by J. Carmiol, is also referred to this species. It agrees with the Trefi Marias specimen in size, proportions, and ail essential particulars, but it is somewhat paler-colored. The pelage is rather harsher, and is evidently much vfotn, so that the paler color may be in part due to fading, or to seasonal difference. 348 MONOGRAPHS OF NOUTH AMRKIOAN RODENTIA. • Tablr XLV.— J/tnnMrrmni/fi/ Lrpitr nnAVMiNi. II 1 LociUily. 1 FnimtlpofpoMto— Tall lo rail of- Leiitftb of— i 1 a. 40 ftM CullMlot by— 1 J ^ 1 1 t 1 1 1.00 1 1.90 1.19 1 3.40 ' (OIH 133 TrM Marlu laUuiU . Tuliuiiitiic*, CmIii Rln ; i.«3 1 1«5 ■J. 00 S.M 3.U 3.99 14. SO I.W A. .T. Urnjwia. J. Carniliil. LEPUS BRAS1L1EN8IS Linn. BrailllH Hare; Tspell. Leptu brtuUintU Bribsor, Reg. Aiiim., 17r>C, 141.— LiMNiSUs, Syiit. Not., 12th e. Mam., 1821), 375.— TsCHUDi, Fanoa Poriiann, i, 1844, 198.— Waonkh, Sclirelwr'H SaiiK«t.| Buppl., iv, 1844, no.— Watkkiiouhk, Nut. Hist. Mara., ii, 1848, 141.-0ir.nKL, HiiiiKet., 1855, 4.'jO.— Frantzuis, Wicgni. Arch., 1R>9, I, 270 (C; var. oabbu). 8IW II9TI Locality. BoIItU P»»» Vsnneto, Pkngniy Cbtriqal, Central Amerlw . Ttluunm, Cott* Klo* Frodj tip or uose to— 1.30 LW ftSO AM *.30 *.ea 13.00 1&00 Leugtb iif~ 1.30 l.3J a. 00 3.00 «.-7J 9.00 a. 89 1.00 a. 00 3.03 1.03 1.43 Kuniarkt. From Wfttorhouso. do. 350 MONOOUA1M18 OF NOltXn AMERICAN IIODENTIA. Taiilk XLVU.—McamremeHli nf akulh q/'LKPUi* iiiiahilikmbih. Locality. IMlTla. . Vura — S.U a. 60 I. S3 o.(n i.oa I o.ao 0.68 aii7 I a.so Ml- 111 i 1*1 o.n> 0.90 I.M I.M Prom WntfrhuuM. do. Tablk XLVIII.— £(<( o/tjwcimm* i^Lkpus dkahilirnhih (IncfwdiKf rar. OAnuil). I O I MS) ei40 11371 1137!) LlllI4Ut;. '* Venneto ", Puragtuy Chlrlqnl, Contnl Amoiioa., Taltnunca, Cotta Rica do , FitMu wbum received. Capt. T. J. Page . FraLBIeki W.M.Oabb do m LEPUS CALLOTIS Wngler. Var. CALL0TI8. Mexican Hare « Southern Jackass Hare. Lrput calhlit Waolkr, Nnt. 8;gt. Amphib., 1830, 35 ; Inia, 1631, Gil.— Waonkr, Schrebflr'R SHnget,, Iv, pi. ccxxxiii K ; Suppl., iv, 1844, 106.— Watkriiousk, Mat. Iliat. Uani., ii, 1848, 138.— AUD. & Bach., Quod. N. Amer., ii, 1851, §5, pi. Ixiii.— Woodiiouhe, Sitgreavea'a Col. and Zuni River Exped., 1853, 55.— Oikbkl, Siioget., 1855, 44U.— Baird, Mam. M. Amur., 1857, 590, pi. Ivii, fig. 1, hIiuII (in part only) ; U. 8. and Mex. Bound. Survey, ii, ii, 1859, 45, pt, xxv, fig. 1 (Hkull).— SAC88URK, Rev. et. Hog. Zool., 1660, 56 (Province of Miohoaoan).— Oray, Ann. and Mag. Mat. Hist., 3d aer., xx, 1667,li84 (iu part only).— Allen, Proc. Boat. Boo. Nat. Iilat,, xvii, 1875, 435 (in port only). Lepui nigricaudalut Bknnett, Proc. Zool. Boc. Lend., i, 1833, 41.— Bachmam, Jonm. Aoad. Nat. Boi. Pljlla., viii, 1839] 84. "TA^ua t»exica»m LiCllT.," Riciiardhon, Sixth Rep. Britiah Aaa. (1836), 1637, 150, 168. Lepui callolia var. »igricaudalu§ Waonkii, Suppl. Scbrebur'a Hiinget., iv, 1644, 107 LrpuH calhtu \aT. flangularu Waonek, Suppl. ScbreboHg SSuget., iv, 1844, 107. Lepiu Itxianut AuD. Sc Bach., Qnad. N. Amer., iii, 1853, 156, p). czzxiii. Var. TEXiANus. Northern Jackau Hare. Lepiu lexianiu Watbrhouse, Nat. Hiat. Mam., ii, 136, 1848 (not of And. and Baob.). Lqftu callotit Baird, Mam. N. Amer., 590, 1857 (in part only).— Kbnneklt, Pacific R. R. Expl. and Sar- veya, x, vi, 16, 1859 (Fort Conrad, N. K.).— SucKLET, Pacific R. R. Expl. and Surreya, xii, iii, 104, 1860 (Bois< River, Oregon ).—Sucklky & Oibbs, ibid., 131.~CouE8, Am. Nak, i, 631, 1667 (Arizona); Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1667, 136.— Cooper, Am. Nat., 111,470, 1660 (Colorado Valley).— Hkrriam, Haydon'a U. 8. Oeol. Survey, Sixth Ann. Rep., 666, 1873 (OgdoD, Utah),— AuJC.'f, Bull. Eaaez loatitute, vi, 62, 66, 1874 (Wyoming wad Salt Lalw Valley). ■ LEPORID^— LBPU8 CALLOTIB EX VAB. 861 Var. TEXIANU8. Northern Jackwm Hare. Ahovo pale ashy-gray, somctimcH tinged with brownisli mid mixed willi block. Bcluw wbito, or nearly white on the middle of tlic holly, pasHing into grayish-whito or very pale brownish-white on the sides, Die inside ol the limbs, and on the breast, where it is more strongly brownish. Throat lighter, nearly white Orbital ring white, varying to yellowish-white. Ears more or less broadly tipped with black, yellowish-brown (externally), mixed with black on the anterior half, whitish on the posterior half, passing into white at the base; fringe of the bordcrK yollowish-white. IVil black above, the black extending forword upon the rump, very much as in i . call- fornicux ; sides and below gray. This species presents considerable variations in color, and in the fullnoss and soilness of the fur, with the season. The above description applies more e6i)ecially to fall and winter specimens, in which the pelage is very full, long, 8" ' soft, and in which the feet arc well clothed. In summer specimens, the fur of the body is shorter, and the feet and legs are more sparsely clothed. The brownish tint of the bock is perhaps rather stronger, and the limbs are of a more decided gray ; the lower surface, except the breast, is generally pure white. One of the most marked seasonal differences in color, however, consists in the color of the nape-patch, which in winter specimens differs but little in tint from the general color of the upper surface, and over which the fur is long and soft, gray externally, and black at the base. In summer specimens, the fur of the nape-patch is short and generally intense black, owing, in part at least, to the shedding or wearing-off of the longer gray outer covering of winter. Specimens collected at the same season vary in respect to the amount of black in the dorsal surface and in the strength of the pale fulvous shade. Var. cALLOTis. Mexican Hare ; Southern Jackass Hare. Slightly smaller than van texianus, with the black on the tips of the ears nearly o/r quite obsolete, being replaced with pale yellowish or pure white. Above more or less strongly yellowish-brown, mixed with black; lower surface, including the limbs and sides of the rump, white, usually finely IP ii ilii 352 MONOGKAPII8 OF NOKTU AMEKIOAN KODE^fTlA. mixed with black, especially on tlie limbs ; breast pale yellowish, varying to bright fulvous. A specimen from Tehuantepec (No. 1)430), collected December 3, is the most highly-colored of any in the collection, and agrees perfectly with Wag- ner's description of his \i\ncty Jlavigularis. In this, the color above is briglit yellowisli-brown, strongly variegated with black. The neck in front and tlie breast arc strongly yellowish-brown, which color extends forward on either side of the throat and along the sides of the body. Tlie rest of the lower parts are pure white ; the legs are of a pure, rather dark, gray, which color, rather more mixed with black, extends over the thighs and the sides of the rump. The fur is everywhere very short and rather harsh, as compared with winter specimens of var. texianus; the pelage of the legs is especially short, so that these parts look very small and slender. Summer specimens from Southern Texas (Nos. 252, 241, 134, etc.) present the same general features of short, rather harsh, pelage, very scantily- clothed legs and feet, and brighter and purer colors ; but the fulvous tint, especially over the fore neck and breast, is of a much more brownish cast A specimen from Orizaba, Mexico, quite closely resembles, in the color of the dorsal surface, the specimens from Texas, but the brownish tint of the breast and sides of the body is nearly obsolete, the whole lower surface of the body being almost uniformly pure white. A striking feature in this specimen, remarkable for the general lightness of its colors, is the terminal white patch on the ears. Considering the varidties in their co-specific relationship, we find that the Texan and Mexican specimens are much more strongly colored, especially i'; respect to the fulvous tint, than specimens of the more northern type, vhile the palest specimens come from Arizona and Utah. A specimen from Boisd River, Oregon, is varied with black and grey above, with only a very faint tinge of brownish on the limbs, sides, and breast. The black at the tip of the ear varies from a patch nn inch or more in length to a narrow terminal bordering, and is so/netimes wholly obsolete. It is narrower in Texas specimens than in those from Arizona and Utah, existing in some of the former only as a very narrow border, while in the specimens from Mexico it is wholly absent, being replaced in one by white and in the other by fulvous. The extremes in respect to variation in color, as indicated in the varietal diagnoses, present very wide difierciices, but there are so many interveninj LEPORID^— LEPUS CALLOUS ET. VAR. 353 stages that the passage from the one to the other is by very gradual steps. Thus the general aspect above of specimens from Utah is grav'sh-white, with the faintest tinge of brownish, strongly mixed with black, with a black spot at the tip of the car an inch or more in length. The specimens from Texas and Orizaba, on the other hand, are strongly washed above with fulvous, with the black ear-spot greatly reduced or wholly obsolete. In the Tehuantepec specimen, the fulvous culminates in a quite intense yellowish-brown. The general size varies, as usual, very considerably in different individ- uals. Taking the size of the skull as the most convenient standard of com- parison, we find the extremes of variation in a series of eight adult specimens to be, length, 3.37 to 4.08 ; width, 1.63 to 1.82. The ears vary in length in different specimens from 4.50 to 6.00, the largest-eared examples coming generally from the most southern localities. General remarks. Synonymy. — The variations in color already described have given rise to several synonyms. The species was first described by Wagler in 1830, from specimens collected in Mexico, under the name Lepus callotis. In 1833, Mr. Bennett redescribed it from specimens said to have come from "Cali- fornia", but which doubtless came from Western Mexico, under the name Lepus nigricaudatus. In 1836, Richardson referred undoubtedly to this species, under what seems to have been a MS. name of Lichtenstein's in the Berlin Museum, as "Lepus mexicanus Licht.''* Wagner, in 1844, redescribed the species from Mexican specimens, recognizing three varieties from Mexico, viz, var. I. L. callotis ; var. II. L. nigricaudatus ; var. III. L. Jlavigularis, all based on specimens from Mexico. The differences consist in variations of color, the variety named Jlavigularis apparently closely resembling the above-described example from Tehuantepec. In 1848, Waterhouse described a specimen, from an unknown locality, with black tips to the ears, as presuma- bly the Lepus texianus of Audubon and Bachman, on the i lentification of the specimen by Mr. J.W.Audubon. In 1863, Audubon and Bachman described a Lepus texianus as tlie common "Jackass Rabbit'' of Texas, but without any allusion to Waterhouse's provisional description of a species under the same name. Audubon and Bachman do not mention the ears as having black tips, * Respecting thia uame, Waterhoase obaerves : " The brief note relating to the L. mexicanvii of the Berlin MuBenm, ftimiahed me by Dr. Bnohmnn, deaoribee that animal m having the back of the neck black; the white of the nnder parts of the body extending high upon the flanks, and, indeed, in all other respects agreeing with the characters of L. calloUi." Xat. H'ut. Mam., il, 141. 23 H ill: 354 MONOGKAPnS OF NOHTil AMERICAN RODENTIA. litii!' but refer to one specimen as having the margin of the ear brown. These and other slight discrepancies are noted by Baird, who, in 1857, doubtfully referred the Lcpus (exianus of Waterhouse to L. cal/otis, but lert the L. tcxi- anus of Audubon and Bachinan in his list of those his material did not allow him to satisfactorily discuss. It will be noticed that in the descriptions accompanying the above-cited names the black spot at the tip of the ear, which is so constant in specimens from the United States, is not mentioned except in Waterhouse's description of his "Lcpus texianuti?'\ and that the other features of coloration apply strictly to the Mexican specimens, and in less degree to those from Texas, but not at all to specimens from (he Territories of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, and Wyoming. Professor Baird very distinctly referred to the differ- ei!ces presented by specimens from the northward as compared with those from Texas and Mexico, and thought it possible the form from the more northern localities in the United States might prove to be a distinct species, at the same time calling attention to the complete gradation by easy stages from the one extreme to the other. Although this gradation is unquestionable the constancy of the very considerable differences between the northern and southern forms seems to warrant their ditlercntiation as geographical races. Waterhouse's description clearly refers to the northern type, which he describes as having the fur "long and sof^, the general hue of the animal pale, inclining to ashy-gray, but strongly mottled with black and brownish- white", "the ears with a large black patch at the apex externally", etc., and hence his name, notwitlistanding its unfortunate geographical allusion, is unquestionably applicable to the northern type, while Texas specimens, espe- cially those from near the Mexican border, present an intermediate phase more strongly resembling the southern than the northern type. Lepus callolis finds its nearest ally in L. californicus, but diifers from it 80 considerably in color and in other respects (as will be pointed out imder the head of L. californicus) as to be readily distinguishable from it. From L. campestris, which agrees with it quite nearly in size, and also resembles it consideral)ly in color, it is easily separable, as already shown in the discus- sion of that species ; L. campestris differing from L. callolis in its shorter cars, in wanting the black on the tail, and in becoming white in winter. Geogbapiiical distribution. — The habitat of Lejms calloliis var. texianus may be given as exiending from Southeastern Oregon southward to Mexico, and from the Sierra Nevada Mountains eastward to near the eastern border Vw^v LEPOKlDiE— LEPU8 CALLOTI8 ET VAB. 355 of the plains oust of tlie Rocky Mountains. Dr. Cooper gives its western limit in latitude 35° as the Colorado River. I liiivc observed it on the plains of Western Nebraska and Middle Kansas; and there are specimens in the collection from as far east as Austin, Texas. It does not appear to overlap the range of Lepus californicus, but extends over the southern half of the range oi Lepus campestris. Toward the Mexican border, especially in Texas, it begins to very generally take on the distinctive features of variety callotis. The habitat oi Lepus callotis \a.r. callotis extends from about the southern boundary of the United States far southward into Mexico, there being speci- mens in the collection from Orizaba and Tehuantepec; and De Saussure mentions it as being common in the province of "Mechoacan'', in about lati- tude 19.°. Tadlb XHTL—MeaittremeMa of Lkpus callotis. 1 i From lip of nose to— Tail to eod of- Irf>Dgth of— 1 1 i Locality. >4 1 A S 1 £ 1 1 i s 1 Remarka. 4M Bott6 River, Oregoo Ter.. J 93.50 1 70 140 4 90 From Italid. 999 4.08 19.75 J. 35 3.S5 9. 17 4 58 5.07 do 134 IXi Eagle I do >aiifl, T«t L .183 4.89 4.00 4.80 10.50 84.50 9.17 9.93 4. .18 4.58 4.30 .1.07 ...do. .. do. ... 1.75 3.83 9S3 4.00 SI. 73 4. no ...do. 901 West or San Anlonio, Tex 4.17 4.5.1 SO. .10 1.08 4.08 9.05 4..'«t ilOO ...do. wee tTSl im 340 LUnoI Pocoal do FortCt {atttcadOiTex a30 S.00 4.60 4.4S 10.00 24.00 aaoo 17. so 2.05 9.38 9 90 4.05 .1.05 4.88 5.99 5.03 5.93 3.03 ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. liver 9 Tablk L.— il/wuNreweiite of ek»Ut of Li ru8 CALLOTIS (.inclndiiig vara, trxianus and calix)ti8). i i 1 1 a 1. «i i 3l 1 i fi 1 i i Locality. j 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 i"5 C a •S B 1 a •si if ll II i 1 i I o o H O ^ m ^ « l.3i 1 ,17 ts' u 0.63 0.55 7(30 3.03 l.M noo L77 0.80 0.80 9.05 1.30 MIS ...do 3.70 1.73 aeo L90 0.83 0.70 1.19 1.43 0.37 0.33 0.63 0.09 9.00 1.69 T«30Ml ...do 408 1.7S 0.87 LOO 0.88 0.86 1.37 1.77 0..34 0.34 0.75 034 9.98 L99 74M ...do 3.tn i.ea 0.87 L75 0.87 1.98 1.00 0.49 0.3S 0.70 0.57 >11I8 XaglePaaa,Tei.. 3.37 1.S3 am I.SO a 67 1.10 1,37 0.60 0.47 9.90 11774 WS3 4.05 3.M L70 Leo 0.90 Loa 1.70 0.80 0.8S 0.74 0.80 1.30 1.15 L88 1.07 0.50 0.40 0.35 0.34 ao5 0.07 0.37 0.99 9.83 9.70 L99 1.90 TelinaDtepee,Hei MM »430 -■>o 3.07 LS) 0.94 L75 0.87 a84 1.93 L7U 0.38 a35 0.07 0.55 9.85 L88 IMO FL Conrad, N.H. 3.80 L75 0.73 L65 0.80 0.74 L94 LOO 0.40 0.35 0.60 0.50 9.50 1.60 • I tat her yo »"« • uipiriiPin'iimt 356 MONOGlfAPnS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Table LI. — LM of fpeciment of Lupus callotih {iucludipg ran. texianus and callotis). •s 1 1 a a a r- i h 1 B a 1 a M Locality. Wlien collected. From whom reoeiTDd. Collected by— Nature of apec- imen. 4S4 as 3M4 0316 97 38 hoM Rlrar, Oregon T. do Sept. 97, 1854 Sept -.1654 Gov. I. L Stoveaa. . . . ... do Dr. George Snckley ....do Skin. ...do. C.S. McCarthy ...do. 36 1376 389 1068 14e8 748 701 893 9 J 9 d V Camp 96 Clarence King Mna Comp. ZoJik)gy Lient. O.M.Wheeler Dr. E. Couea ..do ....do Robert Rldgway... Allen Jt Bennett... Henahaw 6l Yarrow ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. OKdeQ,i;tah Sept. 36, 1871 Nov. 10, isrj Nov. 15, 1864 Mar. 7,1865 Sept 17, 1664 Sept 3,1864 11340 847< M77 7816 -813 346 11878 8804 134 133 9068 S969 [;;;.■; 4M) 301 303 300 8577 17J0 1733 1791 17S» 959 5840 5839 118 279 8561 9430 1-ifiO Beaver, Utah Fort Whipple, Aril... do ...do ...do ...do. ...do. do do ....do ....do ...do. Fort Conrad N. Max Dr.C.RR.KenDCrly H.W. Henahaw.... Skin and aknll. Skin. ...do. San Pedro, Aril Camp Grant, Ariz Facie Paaa, Tex Bio liravo del Nnrte . . SepL 3,1873 Feb. 30, 1867 Apr. — , 1853 Summor,I859 Lieut O.M. Wheeler Dr. E. Palmer MaJ.W.U. Emory .. ... ilo 1118 1119 A.Schott ....do Skin and akull. ...do. ...do Skin. .. do. io ....do ....do 7630 76.106i« 1191 Skull. ...do. do Antamu,ie53 O. Wiirdemann Cap.G.B.McClellan Lieut D. N. Conch . . ..do O.Wttrdemaun .... Skin and aknU. Skin. Skin and aknll. .. do. Skin. ...do. ...do. Red River, Tox 12IS 1916 Weatem Tex J.n. Clark Uo . do do ....do . do 341 Lar«do, Texaa Devii'a River, Tex .... Weatem Texas Jnne 0,1866 May 3,1655 Dr. H. B. Butcher . . . Capt J. Pope Dr. H. a Batcher . . ....do ...do. do ....do ...do. 87 Rio Pecoa, Tex ... do ...do. Anatin, Tex S.K. Jennluga L.Sitgr«avea . do. Bio Grande, Tex Dr.S.W.Woodhouie ...do. . do. Red Fork of Arkanaaa Red River (Ark.f)... ...do. CliarcoEacondida.IIei Oriaaba, Mexico Llent D. N. Conch . do. Prof. F.Sumichraat. . do Prof. F. Sumiobnut do ...do. Skin and aknlL Skull. ...do. 8983 8653 iin4 Tefauant«peo, Mexico. do Deo. 3, 1666 ....do . do (t) (t) (1) LEPOKIDiE— LEPCS CALIFOENICUS. 357 LEPUS CALIFORNICUS Gray. Calirornlan Hare. Ltjpu$ californiau OlUY, CharlcHWortb's Mag. Nat. Hist., i, 1837, r>8r>; Proc. Zoiil. 800. Loiul., iv, 183G, 88 (name only, without a description). — Baciiman, Journ. Acat). Nat. Sci. I'bila., viii, 183!), 86 (description of Oram's original specimen).— Waonek, Siippl. Sclireber's Siiiigot., iv, 1844, 110 (from Unolimnn). — WATElillovgK, Nat. Hist. Mam., ii, 1848, 131 (rcdescrlption of Gray's and Bachman's specimens). — Aui>. & Bach., QuadrN. Am., iii, 18r>3, r>3, pi. cxii.— Gikhki., Siiugnt., 18.'iS, 450.— Baiiid, Mam. N. Am., 1857, 594, pi. Ivii, tig. 'Z (sl H o 'A ifi 'A p u u b u> U) «71 Felalimm, Cal 3.73 1.70 0.83 1.50 0.83 0.70 1.10 1.50 0.38 0.33 0.63 0.54 a. 47 asna ...do 3.B5 1.70 o.to 1.57 0.75 0.80 1.37 1.63 0.37 0.33 0.07 0.50 3.65 1.55 sun 141G ....do 3. lie 1.75 0.8(1 0.80 1.30 l.liO 0.30 0.35 0.63 a 51 3.62 1.53 '•iSM ...do .... 3.5S 1.70 0.7S 1.45 0.75 1.10 1.45 0.30 0.30 0.56 0.50 3.43 1.44 ■3^6 9S18 Sta FraodKO, age 1.7S 0.85 1.73 0.80 a 84 1.39 1.68 0.64 0.50 3.77 1.60 3511 3«98 Ft. TitJon, Csl 3. CO 1.04 a86 1.50 0.70 0.70 1. 15 1.50 0.38 0.33 0.58 0.55 3.45 1.45 4137 4}ie C»i» St Lu- Gu,L.Cal. rf 3.69 1.55 0.74 1.45 a 75 0.70 1.13 1.44 0,40 0.37 0.110 0.45 3.45 1.48 4139 4930 3175 4116 ....do .... aeo ass 1.53 0.78 0.70 1.47 •.40 0.78 0.70 0.70 0.66 1.10 1.08 1.45 1.40 a40 0.40 0.33 0.3S 0.00 0.58 a 45 0.50 ...do a. 40 1.37 4lKS ...do .... a4s 1.55 0.67 1.35 0.67 0.60 1.05 1.40 0.38 0.35 0.55 a 45 3.37 1.40 49a6 ...do rf 155 1.63 O.TJ 1.53 0.68 0.64 1.07 1.45 0.40 0.35 0.57 0.46 3.30 1..V3 4asn ....do rf a 45 1.5S 0.77 1..T5 0.7S 0.68 1.05 1.35 0.43 0.3« 0.60 0.46 3.17 1.40 H3tH ...do aso 1.67 0.75 1.46 0.73 0.68 1.13 1.40 0.40 aso 0.57 0.50 3.35 1.45 49» ...do a 57 1.54 0.76 1.40 0.67 0.68 1.15 1.45 0.38 0.33 0.63 0.45 3.30 1.45 4«I0 ....do a 50 1.60 0.75 1.37 0.70 0.6< 1.13 1.43 0.45 0.35 0.60 0.50 4331 ...do a 47 1.57 0.63 1.45 0.67 a68 1.08 1.3C 0.40 0.33 a 57 0.42 8.35 1.42 74fl3 1 e8S4 Arizona .. ass 1.60 0.75 1.45 0.75 a 74 1.12 1.48 0.40 0.35 0.63 0.50 3.57 i.es * Bather yooDi^ t Holan, ^^ ; laai left upper moUr oodeveloped. *.=- ■ 'I I 360 MONOOKAriia OF NOUTII AMERICAN llODENTIA. Taulk LIV.— £(<( oj qMcimnM of Lkpus CALiFoiuiicrs. 1! I i a i ll <3 \ a bC-i l-s 1 = % i a q i a I Locality. When collected. From whom receirod. CoUeeted by- Nature of spec. Ineu. 14IU 30711 •m* ■itm KM CCS 1047 ICOO 39C5 5008 5905 5007 5910 5841 MIS 4878 917S 41IC 8894 1307 as7i »S79 3373 2874 PoUlum*, Cil ilo E. Samuels E. Samuels SknIL . do. do do do do do Bkin and sknil. Bknil. Skin. Bklu and skull. Skin, do. ilo do do do do do 32Sa 334 U.aEipLIzped do Dr.W.BtlmpsoD.... do do ... ValleciU, Cal Dr. J. 8. Newberry . . Lt W. P. Trowbridge . do Dr. J. 8. Newberry. . ... Bodegi, C*l do T. A.Saabo .. do. do ... do. 70 Fort Jones, Cal .... Dr. 0. Buckley ....do. LtR a Williamson.. Lt. W.P.Trowbridge. Dr. J. 8. Newberry . A. Cssaidy ...do. ... do. San Dirgo, Cal 383 394 3074 1133 0? CapoSt Lncaa, L.Oal do J.Xantns do ....do. ...do. do do Feb. — , 1860 June — , 1850 Apr. -, le«0 do do ....do. do do do do. do .... do do ....da 4137 4139 4K0 4335 4330 4337 4338 4339 4230 4331 74C8 4577 630 'm Wi %%\ m 337 do do do ...do. do do do Skin and skull. ....do. do do do do do do ...do. do do Bkull. ... do. do do do do do do .. da do do do ....da do do do ....da do do do ... .da do do do ....da Dr. E. Palmer Dr. E. Palmer A.Scholt Skull and skin. Bkin. MiO-W. II. Emory... li 1 % 1 liP 1 *' h w i /«i . ■ LEPUS PALUSTRIS Bachman. * Marsh Hare. Lepui paUttrU Bachman, Jonrn. Acad. Nut. Sci. Pbila., vil, 1837, 194, 330, pl». xv, x\l ; viii, 1839, 79.— AvDUBUN, Birds of America, iv, 510, pi. ocolzxii.— Wateriiou8B, Nat. Hiat. Ham., ii, 1848, 119.— Aui>. & Bach., Qnad. N. Am., i, 1649, 151, pi. xviii.— Baihd, Mam. N. Am., 1857, 615, pi. lix, fig. 3 (8kiin).-CouK8, Proo. Boat. Boo. Nnt. Hiat, ziii, 1808, 80.- Allen, Ball. Mui. Comp. Zotil., ii, 1871, 184; Proc. Boat. Soo. Nat. Hist., xvii, 1875, 436. nyirolagut paluttrit Gray, Aun. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 3.. do do.. do., do., do.. Oeorf{la., 3.M ».10 3.0O 3.90 3.38 3.48 3.43 3.03 14.30 15.00 13.90 IT.OO 10.00 laoo 10.90 17.00 17.00 10..% 0.98 0.75 0.03 1.7S l.SO 1.43 333 3.77 3.00 3.110 3.90 ;i.33 3.40 3.90 3.40 3.40 9.90 9.33 3.30 9.60 9.43 9.38 9.97 9.3.1 Pn)ni IlAlrd. ...du. ...do, ...da ...do. — do. ...da ...da ...da ...da Table LVI.— Jfcanif«iMii(< of tkulli of Lepds palustris. • •s M i a 1 i fl 1 •fl 2 It 1 i II 1 t i *l Loci llty. 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 i 1 V M a 4^ ll 1 ° ■o i t 1 1 1 1 1 II S2 1 It II I 1 o H 0 M ki yi iq p e t) p P t) 9057 Saint Simon ■ IlUnd.Oft 3.10 1.47 0;68 1.95 0.53 0.54 1.00 i.:i3 0.60 0.49 9.11 1.53 9453 do.... 3.13 1.48 0.79 1.97 0.53 a54 0.94 1.30 0.35 0.98 0.65 0.53 9.35 l.SS 9494 do.... 3.00 1.49 0.68 1.93 0.93 0.54 0.94 1.93 0.30 0.84 0.57 a 48 9.97 1..19 9455 do.... 106 1.48 0.73 1.90 0.56 0.58 0.95 1.38 0.34 a87 0.60 0.46 a40 1.53 a49« do.... 3.00 1.43 0.67 1.15 0.59 0.50 0.93 1.30 a33 0.98 0.58 0.45 9.39 1.53 94ST do... 3.90 L99 0.73 1.80 0.58 0.59 1.00 1.35 0.35 0.30 0.69 0.47 9.90 1.50 94S8 do.... 100 1.43 0.68 1.15 0.93 0.90 0.93 1.35 0.35 0.87 ft 57 0.49 9.97 1.54 (490 do.... 105 1.45 0.07 l.SO 0.93 0.93 1.00 1.33 0.39 0.99 0..16 0.45 9.38 l.SO 8463 do.... 103 1.40 ao9 1.93 0.57 0.99 0.93 1.97 0.39 0.90 0.58 0.43 9.90 l.SO 9461 .. ..do.... 100 1.47 o.«g 1.17 0.55 0.99 0.93 1.96 0.39 0.97 0.69 0.45 9.39 l.i3 9469 do.... 110 1.45 0.67 1.33 0.48 0.54 0.97 1.98 0.33 0.98 0.69 0.47 9.37 J. 58 4369 Gsii'.gl*.... 110 1.57 0.73 1.91 0.98 0.54 0.93 1.30 0.31 a96 0.60 0.48 9.36 1.65 8065 For. Mucon Hulmn ,N.C 110 1.45 0.70 1.93 0.53 0.60 0.97 1.35 0.90 0.96 a 57 0.44 9.49 1.53 m 190 1.57 0.75 1.33 0.58 aoo 1.00 1.35 0.35 0.30 0.65 a93 9.49 1.65 Mililmn m 100 1.40 0.69 1.15 0.48 0.50 ao3 1.93 0.96 0.94 0.57 0.49 8.90 l.SO ATcrag) 107 1.51 a 71 1.94 0.54 0.09 0.97 1.90 a38 0.98 0.60 0.49 8.98 1.54 364 MONOGRArnS OF NOUTU AMERICAN RODENTIA. Table LVII.— U<( of iptcitiutu of Lkpub palustkh. : M •8 1 0 II i i 1 Locmlltjr. When collMtwL Frum vbom noolTod. CoUcoled by- Natnroafipec' iBMn. 0417 0418 0410 I8U I8M 1311 1015 1691 4011) lau •I4M •8143 6357. HOAS aoM aoM aoM 1693 I6M I09S FurtHuwD.N.O do Uty -, I860 ....do Dr.ECoiiw ..do l>r.B.Couii« ....do Bkio. ...do. do ....do ....Jo ...do ...do. do ....do ....do ...do Hknll. Skin ud Ikall. Bknll. ...do. Baolatynill.&C do WInlor H.A.CorUa&Bou ...do M.A.Curtii&8ont ... do do ....do ...do do ....do ....do ...do. MS7 9461 aw3 9M4 aaos JMM S46I S4« IMS3 IMM «49S «4M 9457 9458 Saint Slmon't bl., 0*. do J.PotItU J.Piwtull Bkin ud iknil. ...do. BkulL ...do. Dr. a 0. Wilton.... ...do Dr. a O. Wilwn ....do do do ....do ...do do ....do ....do ...do. do ....do do .. do. do ...do ...do ...do. ..do ....do do .. do. do ...do ... ....do ...da do ....do ...do ...da .... do ....do .. do ...da . ... do .... do .. do ...do. . ... do ....do ....do ...do. do ....do ....do .. do. ... do ....do ....do Bkin. ..do. Bkin ud iknil. SknlL ...do. . .. do ... do ....do 9459 94«0 43(9 do ....do ....do do ....do ....do do ...do ...do Blb«nii«,FU l(na.Comp. ZoSlofy. ... do J. A. Allon Skin. ...do. L. AgHoii MIrador, Meiloo Or. U. 8artori» Ur.O.itertorini ...da * BpecimeDi ftom the Ifaieum of Coroparatlve Zoology, Oambridgc, Hat*. LEPUS AQUATICUS Bachman. Wster Hare, i ■ , i ' ■ « ■ ,. ZepiM agMlieiM BACnMAN, Joarn. Acad. Nnt. Soi. Fhila., vii, 1837,310,pl.xzii,eg.9; viii,1839,78.— Watbr- IIOU8K, Nat. Hist. Ham., il, 1848, 113.— AvD. & Bacu., Qaad. N. Am., i, 1841), 387, pi. xxxvii.— Baikd, Mam. N. Am., 1857, 613, pi. lix, fig. 1 (sknll).— Allkn, Proo. Boat Soo. Nbt. Hist, xtU, 1875, 435.— LiNCKcuM, Am. Mat. vi, 1872, 771 (diatribation and babita). .Hydrolfu^t a^naNciu Orat, Ann. & Hag. Mat. Hiat., 3d ser., XX, 1H67, 331. Ltigv* dougUuri var. 1, Oray, Cbarlwwortb's Hag. Nat. Hist., i, 1637, 580. '" t " L^tu caniciiIiM Licut.," Wateruousb, Nat. Hist. Ham., li, 1848, 133. As large as Lepm americanus ; in coloration, much like L. sylvalicus. Above, yellowish-brown, finely but conspicuously mixed with black ; paler and with less bluck on the sides. Below, pure white, with the fore neck and breast dusky yellowish-brown. 'J'aii conspicuously pure white below, daik LEPOUID^B— LEPUa AQDATICU8. 305 reddish-brown above, mixed with dusky. Ears exteriorly dork brown, pen- ciled with black, white-edged on the anterior border, fulvous-edgcd on the posterior border. Nape-patch reddish-brown ; orbital ring well marked, whitish, varying to yellowish-white. Anterior and external surfaces of the legs and feet chestnut-brown, of varying intensity in different inclividuals ; inside of the same whitish, varying to pure white. The color varies in different individuals, ns is usual in all the species of the family, in respect to the amount of black on the dorsal surface, in respect to the intensity of the brownish ground-color, and in the strength of the reddish tint on the legs and feet. There is also about the usual range of individual variation in size. Large specimens range in length, exclusive of the tail, fron. 19.00 to 20.50 inches, thus nearly equaling the same meas- urement of the largest specimens of Lepus americanus, but it is said to rather exceed the latter spe ics in weight. The feet are rather sparsely fi■ 1 1 5 1 n s t 1 } 1 1 11 s * II 1 ■2, o H o p >! >5 »<; p P t> p u u KX 201 Calcaaien, La 3.4S 1.57 0.83 1.46 0.65 0.66 1.10 1.53 0.38 0.30 0.60 0.50 2.45 1.05 3133 2310 Prairie Her Koage, La. 3.30 1.4S CIS 1.30 O.S0 0.54 1.06 1.43 0.33 0.29 0.C2 0.52 2.35 1.52 jne MiulMippi 140 0.70 1.45 0.66 0. to 1.06 1.45 0.40 0.30 0,63 0.52 3.50 I.B7 3TJ9 ....do a46 1.63 0.82 1.43 0.67 0.04 1.07 I.SO 0.37 0.35 0.07 0.54 3.50 1.73 UTI5 ...do 3.40 1.57 0.83 1.50 0.67 0.63 1.12 1.50 0.36 a 20 0.63 0.50 1.63 Table LX. — tt«to/ warcbcH, p. lUll; Zoology uf tbo Voyagn of llie IkIiire family, except L, cuviculut, wliich be calU ' the Knbbit or Cuuy ", the latter uaiue being tbo one nucieutly in general use for this apecioB. LEl'ORlDiE— EPIDEMIC DISEASES. 371 or from tlio severity of the weather, if they do not actually excavate tlicm thenjselves. This is a well-known habit, in many localities, of our common so-called Gray Rabbit (L. sylvaticus), and also of the Lejms campeslris, or so-called Prairie Hare. At localities where L. americanus and L. mjlvatkus occur together, the former is often designated as the Hare and the latter as the Rabbit. Perhaps, however, the one is oftcner called White Rabbit and the other Gray Rabbit. Gray Riibbit, iicrhaps from long familiarity with the same, seems to sound more euphonious than Gray Ilare; Marsh Hare than Marsh l^ibbit ; and Jack Rabbit or Jackass Rabbit than Jack Hare or Jackass Hare ; and, however philologically or technically wrong it may be to apply the term Rabbit to any of our wild species, the custom of so doing among the generality of our people is doubtless as incradicably fixed as is that of calling the American Bison a BufTalo. EPIDEMICS AMONG THE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF HARES. Nothing is better known to attentive observers of our Mammals than the fact that certain species, especially of the Rodentia, are for a period of years often exceedingly abundant, these periods being followed by succeeding years of scarcity. This is especially observable among the Field Mice (partic- ularly in the case of Arvicola riparius), the Squirrels, and the Hares. Their decrease results usually from some not very obvious cause, though sometimes supposed to be connected with a scries of unusually severe winters. That this is not the sole cause of their decrease I have been for a long time con- vinced, but that it is due more to some prevalent epidemic. The evidence of this is not generally easily obtainable, but proof of it in other cases is quite abundant. In the case of our little Wood Hare {Lepus sylvaticus), I have reneatedly met with their dead bodies in the woods and thickets, bear- ing no mark of a violent death, and noted the scarcity of these animals during the years immediately following. I have also observed the same thing in respect to our common Meadow Mouse (Arvicola ripariui). I find also recorded in my notes a remarkable decrease, some years since, of the large Long-eared Hares (Z.. callotis var. texianus and L. campestris) in the Great Salt Lake Valley. This decrease was also accompanied by the finding of great numbers of the animals dead on the Sage-brush jjlains about the lake, showing no signs of a violent death (of which fact I was abundantly assured by the residents of the region in question), leading to the conclusion that their death If ."■ill ;i !< 1 i 1 Mi I: il I '!>■:. jji;|^'.||| ^^■i 1 H 372 MOUOGRArUS OF NORTH AMERICAN EODENTIA. was due lo an epidemic. So abundant had tliesc species been for several years prior to 18C9 and 1870 that some of tlie Mormon residents were accus- tomed to shoot them merely to feed tlieir swine; while so scarce had they become in 1871 tliat comparatively few of either species were to be found, and it was with difficulty that I could obtain any specimens. Richardson, in speaking of the Northern Hare (Lepus americanux), states that "at some periods a sort of epidemic has destroyed vast numbers of Hares in particular districts, and they have not recruited again until after a lapse of several years, during which time the Lynxes were also scarce."* Dr. J. G. Cooper has also recorded a similar fact res lecting the Hares of Columbia IMains. He says: "During our journey east of the Cascade Mountains we saw scarcely any Hares, and the Intlians told us that some fatal disease had '.illcd nearly all of them.''t Mr. G. Gibbs, in speaking of the same region, says, under the head of Lepus campestris: "In 1853, we were informed by the Yakima Indians living north of the Columbia, that a very fatal disease liad recently ])rcvailed among these animals, which had cut them almost nil otf."J Dr. Cooper, some years later, again refers to the same subject as follows: "Their numbers [referring to L. " town. sen di " :=:L. cnmpestrial seem never to have increased much north of the Columbia and Snake Rivers since the epidemic (small-pox?) destroyed thorn several years since, but south of those rivers they became common." He adds, however: "It is a question whether an epidemic really made them scarce northward, or whether the prevalence of uncommonly deep snow did not enable the Indians to kill more of them, as with Deer and Ant.yiopes.''^ According to the testimony of the Indians them- selves, however, they were destroyed by an epidemic. Similar epidemics are also well known to afl'ect the Deer and Pronghorns. As I have stated elsewherc,|| a fatal epidemic raged among the Pronghorns {Antilocnpra americana) during the summer of 1873 over nearly the whole area between the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers, destroying apparently tiiree-fourths to nine-tenths of them, over which extensive region their decaying carcasses were abundant during September of that year. At tliis time, very few were seen living, where a few months before numbers were almost constantly within view. * Fauna Bor.-Aiiier., vol. i, p. 218. t P. I{. K. Reports, vol. xii, pt. li, p. W. t P- R. R. Reports, vol. xil, pt. ii, p. J31. ( Auicricnn Nntnraliat, vol. W, p. &ilO. ' II Proc. Boat. Sw. Nat. Hist., vol. xvil, p. 40. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE TO THE MONOGRAPH OF THE LEPORIDiE. EXTINCT AMERICAN HARES.* Some half dozen species of extinct Ilarcs liave been described, mainly from (lie Miocene deposits of Dakota and Colorado. As they arc at present known merely frotn a few jaw-fragmciits and detached teeth, little more can be said of them than that they were animals oF rather small size, and belonged to the family of the Hares. Tlieir true character and relationships can, of course, be understood only by the study of much additional materiaL Genus PAL^OLAGUS Lcidy. ra;«»;ojM» Leujv, Proc Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila., 185C, 89.— Co^E, Aun. Hep. U. S. Oeol. Sun-. Terr, for 1873(1874), 477. rricium Cope, PaUeontol. Bull. No. 16, 1873, 4. Dr. Leidy has described a single species from the Miocene deposits of Dakota, and Professor Cope has made known allied forms from deposits of tlic same age in Colorado. Our knowledge of tliese forms rests on fragments of the jaws, and is hence very imperfect The dental formula is the same as in Lepus, but the molar teeth differ somewhat iu constitution. A single species of this genus has been described by Dr. Leidy, and three others by Professor Co[x;. PAL^OLAGUS HAYDENI Leidy. raleeotajui hagdeni Lridv, Proc. Aca<1. Nm 'out. Bull., No. IC, 1873, 4 ; Ann. Rep. U. S. Oeol. Surv. Terr, for 1873 (1874), 479. Similar in size to P. haydeni, from which, however, Professor Cope regards it as distinct. From the same Miocene deposits of Colorado. Known only from an imperfect mandibular ramus. 376 JIONOG RAPES OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Genus PANOLAX Cope. ruKolax Coi'K, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Fliila., 1874, 151. " Molars prismatic, transverse, except tlic first and last, each divided l»y n jdatc of enamel exteiuling transversely from the inner side. Anterior niular longitudinal; posterior molar composed of two columns. "This genus is represented by numerous teeth and portions of tho cranium. It evidently belonged to the LeporidtB, and is allied both to Lfjtus and Palaolagus. As the teeth are mostly separate, it is not easy to determine which is the posterior and whicii the anterior molar. JuJ^. 370 H |;\, W^'- iM LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Museum op Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass., October 6, 1876. SiK : I herewith transmit for publication my report on the Nortli American Hystricidie. This family is represented in that portion of North America north of Mexico by the single genus Erethizon. For the use of the material on which this report is based, I am about equally indebted to the kindness of the officers of the Museum of Comparative Zoology and of the National Museum. I am, sir, very respectfully, yours, J. A. ALLEN. Dr. F. V. HAYDEhf, United States Geologist, etc., etc., Waxhington, D. C. 381 •W; Lm i siS TABLE OF CONTENTS. CnARACTBns or riix yjLir,L,v BytUUAtia Gknl's Entklioo Synonymy ok EreiMton donatut Canada Porcupinb {K. donatut vm. doriaiii») WK8TKRN PuncL'PiNE {E. donalut vat.epixanthiia) Oknkiial RKMAitKg ON ErelhUon dor»alu» and its vaiiikties. MRA8UREMKNT8 OF SKULLS OK E. donatutynr. domalHii Measuremrnts of skulls of E. dorialuH var. epixanlhut List of specimens of E. donatut var. nortaivt List of spruimrns of A', donatut var. rpixanttut KxTLNCT SPECIES op North American PoH-upiNiii £nlhiso» cloaciniu Pace*. 380-388 3«fi-;)89 3rt)-:('Jl 391-39-i 382-;fi)4 394-3!)4 395-395 390-391! 397-;KI7 397-398 398-398 383 kJ^ih^ .■ ^,TJ^'»^f ^T^!.!R"«PflV»«!flfJW!l<'w^jp^;". wjfc^Kl^ ■ ■ V\ 1. Kit im . 'i 1 h ,M*I.-K !t I^H wu.iisa!. "■ ' 1 (1 1 B'' 5s ,i£ilk U t i r i:i m tm 1 Family HYSTRICID^. By several recent systematic writers, the New World Porcupines have been widely separated from tlieir Old World relatives ; these authors placing them in diiFerent families. The two forms that differ most widely in cranial cliaracters are Erelhizon and HyMrix, especially in respect to the degree of intlation of the skull ; but the other forms, in a measure, bridge over the wide gap existing between these two tyi)es in respect to this feature. The Ameri- can Porcupines form a group collectively separable as .a subfamily, l)y quite tangible cliaracters, from the Porcupines of the Old World. While (he former are arboreal, the latter are terrestrial, and the two types present modi- fications of structure adapting them to these widely different modes of life. There is, however, running through the whole, a strong degree of resemblance. The Synethcrintz,* or the American Porcupines, differ from the Old World Porcupines in the form of the skull; in having the clavicles perfect; in the tail being generally (not, however, in Erethizon) more or less prehensile; in the molar teeth being fully rooted, and placed in more or less converging series ; in not having five toes to all the feet (generally only four both l)efore and behind) ; in the soles being tuberculated instead of smooth ; in the upper . lip being undivided by a vertical groove ; in the form of the lachrymal bone ; and in various other more or less important osteological characters. The subfamily Synetherince is most numerously represented in South America, where occur three of its four genera, namely, Chmiomys, Synetheres, and Sphingurus;\ the fourth, Erethizon, being its only representative in North America north of Mexico. While these genera have many features in common, and constitute a very natural and well circumscribed group, Erethizon differs from the others in having five instead of four toes on the • iSyMdfAcrina OervaiB, Ziiol. et TnliSout. franj., 1848-oa, p. 18 ; SpAitii/MriiKBAlston.Proc. Zool. 800. Lond., 187G, l);i ; = Cercolablnce of tho family Spalacopoiidas of Lilljeburg (Sjstematisk (Efvcraigt of do Ouugaiido Diiggttjuren, OlireH, 18(36, p. 01) aud of Uill (Arrnng. FamillcH uf Maminaln, p. 23). iSynttherct and Sphingurm V. Cuvior, ISXi, = Caroolabet Brandt, 1SG5. asM »65 il£u'.. ill '■■:::. t :U n.r, 38G MOXOGKAPUS OF NORTH AMERICAN UODENTIA. hiiul feet, and in liaving a short, spiny, non-prehensile tail. The South Ameri- can genus ClicEtoinijs dillers from all of the others in the conformation of the skull ; the malar hone is developed to a remarkable degree, more than in any other Rodent, excepting Calogenyn, the postorbital process of which nearly joins that of tlie frontal, so as to almost wholly separate the orbital and temporal fossae. The portion of the palate between the molar teeth is also longer and narrower, and the temporal ridges arc more highly developed, wiiilc the molars themselves present important difiercnccs. The tail is lengthened and rat-like, scantily clothed with hair, and scaly, though to some degree prehensile. The genera Synethercs and Spkiiigurus differ somewhat from Erethizon in their cranial and dental characters, and have the tail strongly prehensile, while the feet (as also iti C/icctoiiii/.s) arc all four-toed. Syncthercs dilfers i'wm Sj>hingi/rus in the broad, highly arched form of the frontal region of the skull, and in the greater development of the spines. Chcetomys has l)ut a single species (f. subupinosus), which is confined to the nortliern and central portions of Brazil. Spliingurus and Syiwtheres have each several com- monly recognized species, which are distributed throughout the greater part of South and Central America, from Paraguay to Southeastern Mexico and the West Indies ; none, however, occur west of the Andes. All the species arc of rather small size in comparison with tho representatives of Erethizon; the body rarely exceeding eighteen inches in length. Considerable variation in the form of the frontal region of the skull occurs among both the Hystricin(S and the Synethcrince. In this respect, Synetheres approaches Hystrix, while the Old AVorld genus Atherura, with its tlattened skull, more resembles Erethizon. Even diiferent species of Hystrix vary considerably in respect to the inflation and convexity of tiiis portion of the cranium, showing that this is a feature of no very great taxo- nomic importance, though giving rise to striking differences in respect to the dorsal contour of the skull. ; Genus ERETHIZON E. Cuv. North American Forcoplnes. JSi/jfrir, in part, of earlier writers. ICrelhison F. CuviBH, M6m. du Mus., ix, 1822, 426, 433. - -, EMnoprocia Gray, Proc. Zoul. Soo. Lond., 1665, 321. Toes four in front and five behind, all armed with strong, curved claws. Tail short, thick, depressed, non-prehensile, covered above at the base with nYSTRICIDyE— ERETllJZON. 387 stiff hairs and spines, and on the sides, at the apex, and beneath with thick rigid bristles. Size hirge. Limbs short and strong. As already stated, £rt'^/<8zo« differs from the other American Porcupines in possessing five toes to the hind feet, all armed with strong claws, and in its short, tiiick, non-prehensile tail It also differs in its more ai)proximated nostrils and in its large size. From tiie Old World Porcui)ines, with vviiieh it was formerly ■ur a long time generically associated, in common with all the New World species, it presents many important points of difference. A comparison of the skull of Ercthizon with that of Hijntrix shows tluit tlie differences arc fur greater than the resemblances. When seen from above, tiie wkull of Ercthizon bears, in its general form, a striking similarity to that of Arc- tomys, the dorsal outline being nearly straight and the frontal region depressed and flat ; the nasals are of about the same relative size and shape, and the zygo- matic arch is similarly widely expanded laterally. Erethizon, however, lacks the greatly developed postorbital process of the frontal bones seen in Arcio?nys, and of course ditfers greatly in general details of structure. Hystrix, on the other hand, is exceptional among Rodents for the great development of the nasal and frontal elements of the skull, consequent upon the enormous size of the nasal and frontal sinuses. The frontals are hence twice the size of the parietals instead of being much smalU- s in Erethizon, while the nasals are still more remarkably developed, tli rapidly widening posteriorly and extending as far back as the middle of the zygomatic arch. This results in an interorbital breadth almost unparalleled among ordinary odents, equaling Qne-half of the total length of the skull instead of less than one-third, as in Erethizon, and gives to the skull a high, greatly swollen, convex, dorsal outline instead of the straight, flat one seen in Erethizon.* The zygomatic process of the maxillary is greatly expanded and thickened, forming an immense oblique pier, about one-half as broad as long, for the attachment of the zygo- matic arch, instead of being u rather slender, thin process, as in Erethizon, while the slender horizontal process of the same bone, which bounds the lower part of the anteorbital fossa, appears like a second small zygomatic arch. There hence results a structure as different from that of Erethizon, as can well be imagined.- The orbital fossa is small, and the temporal many times smaller than in Erethizon, in which both are very large. The 'Inrospcct to the iuflatiou of tbe skull, Syaelhera is about iiitermediato botweeu Hytlrix aud Hrethleon, the muzzle being wide, oud the froutul regiou abruptly aud greatly swulleu. The molar series are also less coDvergout than in Erethizon. m^M "} i 1 m i m f !l:t i 1 '' -^J '- ' i ■ 1 1 'hi ,i I '1 j H , 1 1 t' ! ! i j ■^ ii ^- 388 MONOGKAl'IIS OF NOKTR AMERICAN RODENTIA. jjalate in Iljjstrix is broad and flat, and of uniform breadtii ; in Erethizon it is narrowed anteriorly, and rises abruptly in front of the molr.rs, and between the mohir series presents u prominent, central, ragged keel. Without going into a further comparison, it may suffice to stato that the structure of the sUull in the two forms differs markedly in nearly every detail. To the old Linnean genus Hystrix were for many years referred all the known Porcupines from both tlie Old and the New World. The group was iirst dismembered by M. F. Cuvier in 1822, who divided the Old World species into two groups, Hysfrix and Acanlh'wn,* and the New World species into three, Erethizon, Synetheres, and Sphinguius (" Sp/itggurus"). Brandt, in 1835, called special attention to the cranial differences characterizing the 01(1 World and New World species, and adopted Cuvier's genus Erethizon for the North American species, but united the two South American genera of Cuvier into the single genus Cercolabes, which groups have since been com- monly retained, with the limitations and names given by Brandt. Cercolabex, however, seems divisible into two generic groups, for which Cuvier's prior names should be retained.! Cho'tomys was established by Gray in 1843 for the Hystrix suhspi}wsa of earlier authors. • The genus Erethizon is confined to the middle and northerly portions of the North American continent, and is represented by a single species, divisi- ble into two easily distinguished geographical varieties or subspecies. ERETHIZON DORSATUS (Linn.) F. Cuvier. Var. DORSATUS. Canada Porcupine. Hyatrix dortala Linn., Syst. Nat., e«I. x, i, 175tf, 07 | e, pi. clxix.—Sluw, Gon. Zool. Miini., ii, 1801, 13, pi. cxxv.— Kuiii., BL'itriigi' ziir Zoologip, 1820, 70.— Dksmaisest, Mnni., 1822, :i4.'>.— J. Saiiink, Franliliii'n .Journey to the Polar Sen, 1823, 0(54.— CozzENS, Ann. N. Y. Lye. Nat. Hist., i, 1823, 191.— IIaiilan, F.inna Aiucr., 182.'5,1U0.— Godman, Anier. Nat. Hist., ii, 1820, 50. — GiiiniTn'sCinii-r iii, 1827,200; v, IS'27, 2C:i.— FtsciiEn, Synop. Mam., 1829, 3f)8.— Emmonb, Qnnil. JIn8.t., 1840, • 71.— TiioMi'.soN, Hist. Vermont, 1842, 47.— AuDunoN and Bachman, i, 1843, 277, pi. xxvi. Krelhlzon dorsatimV. Ctn'iEn, Mdm. dn Mus., ix, 433, pl.xx, flgs. l,2,S(8knllamlmolar). — nRANUT, M<5m. Acad. St. P2, used the name Symtherina as a subfamily name for the New World Porcupines, which name hence has many ycare' priority over SpUngurino!. 11YSTKICI1).E— liltETlllZON— EUETUIZON DOKSATUH. 389 llyairix piloiiu americamui Catesdy, Nat. Iliat. Carcilina, i, 17:11, xxx. IlyHlrir pilomiH UicilAiiDHON, rnun. lior.-Ami'i-., i, Ittilt, 211. J/j/nlrix liiidHoiiia Umsaos, l{c(,'ii. Auiiii. Qiiiiil., IT.'ili, VJS. HijkMx hiidiomm UkK,vy, Now York Zoiil., i, Vii'i, liT, pi. xxv, fljj. 1 (iinimiil), jil. viii, flgg. 3, a, b, o (skull) Le Porc-epiii de la llaiji) tie. Hudson, BnissoN, lii'Hii. Aiiiui. Qiiud., 1700, las. L'Craon Ulffo.v, llmt. Nat., xii, 17(i4, 4'Jll, pi. Iv. Co»a(ircHj)iiio I'K.NNA.VT, " Syii., 1771, Siliti; Hist. Quad., 1781, No. 257"; Arctic ZoOl., i, 17B4, 109.— OiLl'IN, I'roc. & Trans. Nuva .Scotia lust. Nut. Sci., ii, 1870, tt9. Bear Porcupine, Haklan, I'auu. Amor., 1825, 100. Var. EPIXANTHUS. Western Porcupine. Erelhison epixanlliun Riiaxdt, il6m. Acad. St. Pdtorsb., 1«).'>, pi. i (animal), ix, fijjs. 1-4 CHkiill) SciiiN!!, Sjnop. Main., ii, 1845, 20C.— WATEitlioL'SK, Nat. Iliat. Mam., ii, 1848, 442.— Nkwiikkky, I'aoif. U. R. Kxpl. & Surv., vi, iv, 1857, 02 (California and Oregon).— Baiiii>, Mam. N. Am., 185H, .ICO.- KK.VNKni.Y, Pacif. K. R. Expl. & Surv., x, vi, 18,J9, 10 (Little Colorado Uivor).— Hayukn, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, xii, 1802, 140 (Upper Missouri).— CouKS, Amer. Nat., i, 1807, ;!02j Proc. Acad. Nut. Sci. Phila., 1809, 135 (Arizona).- BiiowN, Rep. ISrit. Ass., 1869 (1870), 220.- Stevknson, 2d Ann. Rep. U. 8. Gool. Surv. Terr., 1871, 402.— Merrusi, Sixth Ann. Eep. U. 8. Gool.Surv. Terr., 1873, OtiC.- CouKs 4. YAniiow, Whetjlor's Expl. & Surv. -west of the lOOtli Merid., v, Zool., 1875, 174. BrethUon domalus var. epixanthut AixKM, Bull. Essex Inst., yi, 1874, 52, 57, Gl, 00 ; Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat.. Hist., xvii, 1874, 43. Bijatrix pi7o«u» Pkalk, Mamm. U. 8. Ex. Ex., 1848, 40 (Pacific coast).- WooDHOUSE, Sitgreaves's Exi)ed. down the Zuni and Colorado Rivers, 1853, 54 (New Mexico). JSrethison [apt] Maxi.miuan, Wiegm. Arch., 1862, i, 132. Jirethuon {JichtHoprocta) ri^fetoent Ubay, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1865, 321. m Var. DORSATUS. Canada Porcupine. General color brownish-black, varied above with yellowish-white. Body above densely clothed with long, soft, rather woolly hair, intermixed with straight, coarse hairs and bristles. The latter are four to six inches long, and are usually tipped with yellowish-white, the light tip varying in extent from one-fourth to seven-eighths of the length of the hair; sometimes it is obsolete, and again extends to the base, but involves usually only the exposed portion. Beneath this, and generally wholly concealed by the pelage proper, the dorsal surface is thickly set with erectable, barbed quills, or spines, varying in length from one to four inches. They are usually white basally and tipped with black, the black portion varying in extent from one- tenth to one-third tiic length of the quill ; a few, however, are entirely white, and others occur entirely black. They vary greatly in size on different parts of the body; beginning on the nose as short, stiffened, pointed hairs, they pass into siiort spines between the eyes, and increase in length and thickness on tiie back of the head; tiience continuing to increase in size posteriorly, they are longest over the hips, on the lower part of the back, and on the upper side of 390 MONOQBAJPnS OP NOllTn AMKRICAN KODBNTIA. I ill im\ the base of the tail ; toward the end and on the sides of the tail, they pass again into long, thick bristles and stiff hairs. The lower surface of the body is clothed merely with brownish-black hair, scantily mixed with fur. The long, wliite-tippcd hairs are generally most abundant on the head and the sides of the neck and shoulders and hips, disappearing entirely over the mid- dle of tiie belly. Dilferent individuals vary greatly in respect to the abundance of the long light-tipped hairs, they being most abundant in the younger animals, in which they often give a decidedly whitish cast to the general color. In one specimen (No. 1309, M. C. Z. Coll.), the long bristly hair.s are black, tipped occasionally wilii whitish. The pelage is very long and full, Ihrough which very few of the quills are visible. In another spt^-iinen (No. 50.'<8, M. C. Z. Coll.), the exposed portion of the long bristly hairs is generally yellowish-white. In other speci- mens, there is a mixture oi' the wholly black, bristly hairs with those that are whitish-tipped. In young and full-pelaged specimens, the quills are generally entirely concealed ; in the majority of the examples before me, they are visible on the head, sides of the neck, hinder part of the back, and the basal portion of the tail. In old specimens, in worn pelage, the spines are visible over most of the dorsal surface. The under-fur varies in different specimens from brownish-black to grayish. The young are born without quills, and of a uniform black color. Full-grown specimens average about 35 to 40 inches in total length; the head about 6 ; tail (to end of vertebra?) about the same. Seventeen skulls, all of which have attained mature dentition, average 3.82 in length and 2.69 in breadth; nasals, 1.21; muzzle (from anterior border of intermaxillaries to the first molar), 1.29. As usual, there is a considerable range of variation in size, in color, and in the proportion of parts in specimens of corresponding ages. The few specimens in which the sex is known seem to indicate little, if any, strictly sexual variation in either size or color. Seven very old skulls vary in size as follows: length, 3.90 to 4.25; breadth, 2.60 to 3 00; nasals, 1.20 to 1.50; muzzle, 1.25 to 1.60. Three middle-aged skulls vary in length from 3.55 to 3.90; in breadth from 2.50 to 2.80; nasals from 1.12 to 1.33; muzzle from 1.12 to 1.30. Five younger skulls range in length from 3.40 to 3.65 ; in breadth from 2.35 to 2.60 ; nasals from 1.06 to 1.15; muzzle from 1.00 to 1.22. The largest skull measures 4.25 by 3.00 ; the smallest, 3.40 by 2.35. The nasals vary from 1.06 to 1.50 (in the very old skulls from 1.20 to 1.50) ; the muzzle from 1.00 to 1.62 0" the very old skulls from 1.25 to 1.62). HYSTRIOIDiE— ERETHIZON— B. D0RSATD8 VAU. KPIXANTIIUS. 391 As usual, skulls of the same general size vary greatly in the relative size of (liilerent parts, and consequently in general (brni. Tims Nos 821 anil 815 (M. C. Z. Coll.), inea.suriiig rcsiicctivcjly 3.40 and 'd.'JO in length, have each a breadth of 2.60, while another siiccinien (No. 823, M. C. Z. Coll.), with the same length as No. 821, has a brcadtli of only 2.35. Specimens Nos. 815 and 81G (M. C. Z. Coll,), of essentially the same general size as respects length and breadth, vary remarkably in the form of the body of the skull, as shown by the following measurements: U 1 i A a ^ Length of nasals. 1 .* It lit S a 815 tie ;i.i)o 2.00 3.9S a.10 0.85* 1.33 1.08 , 1.23 U.50 0.7a O.10 o.e» No. 816 is a rather short, broad, stout skull, while No. 815 is remark- ably narrow and attenuated, with an unusually great expansion of the zygo- matic arches. While the total breadth dilTcrs but little, the liody of the skull in 815 is fully one-eighth narrower than in 816, with a correspondingly less capacify. This is indicated by the lesser interorbital breadth and narrower nasals in 815, as is shown by the above given comparative measurements. Tiie measurements, however, inadequately express the great contrast inform between these two examples — a difTercncc that might ordinarily be regarded as sufficient to indicate well-marked specific diversity. Both arc from the same locality, Oxford County, Maine. Var. EPJXANTHUS. Western Porcupine. Similar in external appearance to var. dorsatus,hiit with the light tips of the long hairs pale grpenish-yellow rather than yellowish-white. Nasals broader and longer. The Porcupines from the region west of the Missouri River differ ex- ternally from those of the eastern half of the continent almost wholly through a slight difference in the color of the lighter portions of the long hairs of the dorsal surface, which have a greenish-yellow tint instead of yellowish-white. The few examples before me of this variety have also a greater profusion of ^Mi\k 392 MONOOKAPnS OF NOUTII AiMBllIUAN ItODENTIA. tlic long, liglit-li|»|)C(l luiirs than is commonly seen in eustcrn specinK-ns. The more tangihle (lillcrenec consists in the relative!)' larger size of the nasals, which uot only are rather longer, as pointed out by Professor Baird, but arc also broader, and conseiiitently larger. While the general size of the skull is the same in the two fernis, the nasals in var. cpixanthux averagii 1.50 in length, against l."Jl in var. r/or«(/tf,v, and U.8S in width at the anterior end against 0.75 for the .xame measurement in var. ilorsutus. In var. ejn.atnthus, the average length of the nasals in tburtecn skulls exceeds the interorbital breadth of the skull, being a little over one-third (0.3G) of the length of the skull; in var. duitiulus their average length in seventetui skulls is only eciiud to the interorbital breadth of tliQ skull, or rather less than one-third (032) the length of the skull. Ditlerent individuals, however, vary greatly in respect to the length ofilie nasals, in var. t, the largest example measuring 4.40 in length by 3.08 in breadth, and the smallest 3.30 by 2.47. In ten very old skulls, the variation ranges from 3.85 to 4. -10 in length, and from 2.80 to 3.08 in width ; nasals, 1.38 to 1.75. In eight middle-aged skulls, the variation ranges from 3.30 to3.'i0in length, and from 2.47 to 2.87 in brea m nnd westward to Northern Oliio. It also extended southward along tlin Alloj^huniea through Penns^'Ivania, and possibly into Virginia and the mount- ainous portions of Eastern Kentucky.* It seems not to have occurred in tlie immediate vicinity of the sea-coast soutii of Maine, but existed in Western and Central New England southward to Connecticut. It seems also to iiave been absent from Southeastern New York, and southward from nearly all of the region east of the Alleghanies. It was found soutii of the Great Lakes over most of the region north of the Ohio,t in Northern Pennsylvania and Western New York, and in the mountainous districts farther south. As late as 1813, it was still to be found in the western part of Saratoga County.Ncw York.| Being an animal of tiie forest, it has shared the fate of other forest animals, and has already disappeared over considerable portions of its former habitat, particularly along its southern l)order. In New England, it is rarely found south of Central Maine and Northern New Hampshire, but ranges, west of the Con- necticut River, still nearly or quite to the Massachusetts line. In 1840, Dr. Emmons gave it as common in the vicinity of Williamstown, Massachusetts.^ An isolated colony still survives on the slopes of Mount Monadnock in South- ern New Hampshire, and it is also still found in portions of Pennsylvania. Probably its former southern range extended generally nearly or quite to the southern boundary of the Alleghanian fauna. To the northward, its range extended nearly or quite to the limit of trees, and to the westward probably to the eastern border of the Great Saskatchewan Plains, where it passes gradually into the western variety. Hearne, however, eighty years since, spoke of it as being scarce north of Churchill River, where he met with only six individuals during a residence of six years. The western form {\ar. epixanthus) still extends southward, in the mount- ains, to New Mexico and Arizona, and may probably be found in suitable 'DoKny, probably oii the authority of Catesby, gives its rauge as cxtcuding to the uortliern parts of Virginia and KLOtiicky (Nat. Hist, of New Yoric, pt. i, p. 70); but Audn1>on aod Bacbmau state that thoy hod "sought for it without success iu the moontaiuB of Virginia, and couid never hear of it in Kentucky ". Prof. N. S. Shaler also informs me that he has also failed to bear of it here, although this region one would naturally eipect would come within its earlier range. tOodman, on the authority of Dr. Beet, siiys the "porcupine is seldom found in Ohio south of Dayton"; but that they wore then still (in HiiJfi) numerous on the Saint Mary's River (Godman.Jj/KT.Aofc Hilt., vol. ii, p. 152). Dr. J. H. Whcaton informs me that a fi w still survive in Clark, Chanipaigue, and lioss Counties, and that it was common ten years since in Putnam County. Mr. E. W. Nelson writes mo that the Porcupine was formerly rather common, though never abundant, in all of the wooded region north of the Ohio River, but that it is not now found (west of Ohio) south of the forests of Northern Wisconsin and Northern Michigan. t Audubon und Bachmau, Quad. N. Amer., vol. i, p. i!65. i Quad. Mass., p. 72. 394 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. ilp?',: localities south of the Mexican boundary. To the westward it ranges to the Pacific, from California northward to Alaska, and doubtless extends northward to the limit of trees. It is extremely abundant in the wooded mountainous portions of Colorado, where, as I am informed by Dr. Coucs, wlio speaks from reports given iiim on the spot, it sometimes becomes a con- siderable article of diet. The same naturalist also found it no less numer- ous in the Sweetgrass Hills, or "Three Buttes" of Northen; Montana, where numerous individuals were secured. Though chiefly a woodland animal, it is not seldom seen ranging the prairie many miles from the nearest timber — perhaps traveling from one feeding ground to anotiier. Tabi.k l.—\fca»urcmenln of eevcnieen tkulh of Ehkthizon doiisatus rar. doksatus. tp! i ►J 9330 EauoiCoimty.N.T. 3.05 9.05 1.03 1.30 0.52 0.77 1.85 \.m 1.00 9.70 1.40 Very old. 3000 ....do 4.15 9.80 1.80 1.80 0.03 0.77 1.45 9.30 1.10 a 05 1.40 ...do. 670 PoDDsylrania 3.55 9..'i0 1.00 1.80 0 52 0.07 1.12 \.fi 0. 97 2. 01 1.20 M'ddlp.nged. *819 4 S.*i 8.90 1 85 1 ;i8 0.70 0.85 1 50 2 37 1 0 1 3 05 1 .30 Very old. Miildle-agcd. •e-x UmbagogLakOiMu 3.00 9.80 1.40 1.33 o.-.a 0.73 1.85 8.00 1.00 8 75 1.20 •821 ...ilo 3.40 9.00 1.17 1. 15 ooo 0.70 1.00 1.73 1.08 8 47 1.30 Kiithor young. •S-M ... 1 10 1 OH 0 60 0 74 1 18 1 67 0 93 2 4'i 1 2:1 do •sa4 .... , 407-413 Synonymy '. .' \ 407-407 Description 407-409 Geogropliical distributiou 40^-410 Tables of measuremenU 411-412 Lut of Bpecimeni 413-413 403 wmmmm ( » 1. i i * s 1 1 ! '■1 lli H 1 ; 11; ill ! 1 '' 1 'i 1 : ■ m Family LAGOMYID^. ■i f The dentition of the Pikas {Lagomyidm) closely resembles tlmt of the Hares {Leporida), with which family they were for a long time associated. In other respects, however, the two groups differ widely. In the Pikas, Ihc dorsal outline of the skull is gently arched, the occipital portion being but slightly below the plane of the interorbital region, instead of being greatly depressed, as in the Hares. The cbits are much smaller and open more upwardly, and the zygomatic processes arise at n much higher level ; the axis of the malar bone is rather above the middle of the skull instead of much below it. The pustorbital processes, so largely developed in the Hares, are wanting, and the malar bone is prolonged far beyond the posterior zygomatic process, reaching nearly to the auditory opening. In general form, the skull is depressed or flattened, greatly ex])anded posteriorly, and narrowed anteriorly. There is a well-developed sagittal crest posteriorly, and the interparietal does not form a raised tabular platform as in Lepus. The facial portion of the maxillaries is pierced by a single large opening instead of by numerous small ones. The auditory bullae are greatly expanded, and open laterally by a large orifice, instead of upwardly and posteriorly. The foramen magnum is relatively much larger, and the paroccipital processes, so prominent in the Hares, are undeveloped. The pterygoid processes are much as in Lnpus, but their wings are more divergent and inclose broader fossos. The basi-sphenoid is not perforate, and is not separated by a fissure from the vomer. The anterior incisive foramina are small, oval, and open near the base of the incisor teeth. The palatal portions of the inter- maxillaries nearly meet along the mesial line, and have not the deep lateral sinuses seen in Lepus. The palate, as in Lepus, forms only a narrow bridge, but it is situated more posteriorly, and is wholly devoid of the pointed anterior 405 ! , u. |.1 ill 406 MONOGRArnS OF NORTD AMERICAN RODENTIA. extension seen in tlie latter. Tlie ixtsterior pnlntine foramiiin form a lurgo circular opening, which is not extended forward beyond the intermaxillo- inaxillary suture. The palate, owing to the more depressed form of the skull, is mucii nearer the vomer than in Lepus. The angular process of the lower jaw is narrower, longer, and more recurved than in the Ilares. The condylar process is broad and quadrate, and the condyles^ have a very grei. antero- jjosterior development, relatively four times greater than in Lepus ; tiie coronoid process is placed lower, and forms a mere tubercle, with a second smaller tubercle near the last molar. The foramen mentum is remarkable for its posterior position, being about opposite the middle true molar, instead of considerably in advance of the first premolar, as is usually the case. The small posterior upper molar seen in Lepus is wanting; the remaining upper molars do not differ materially from those of Lepus, except that they are much more deeply grooved on the inner side. The lower molars, how- ever, are very different from those of Lepus, they being so deeply divided by the lateral grooves that the triturating surface presents a series of acute triangles with open intervals, somewhat as in Arvlcola. The cutting-edge of the front upper incisor is gouge-shaped instead of chisel-shaped, as in Lepus and most other Rodents, the cutting-edge being hollowed on the inner side. The anterior face is divided by a deep longitudinal groove into two unequal moieties, the outer of wiiich is nearly three times as wide as the inner, and considerably longer, generally exceeding the inner, in Lagomijs princeps, by about 0.05 of an inch. The cutting-edge is consequently deeply notched ; tho bottom of the notch, formed by the groove, being sometimes 0.12 of an inch below the outer edge. The lower incisors are rounded anteriorly, and lack the groove seen in the upper incisors. The Pi kas are nearly tailless, and the general form of the body and limbs is much as in the Arvicolce. They hence lack the greatly disproportionate development of the hind limbs seen in the Hares. The clavicles are also well developed. " The toes are five in front and four behind, armed with short, arched, compressed nails, and at the base of each toe is a prominent, naked pad. The pelage is much firmer than in the Hares, with less of the soft, downy under-fur, and more resembles the pelage of Anrkola. They are weak, sedentary animals, living among loose rocks in alpine localities, generally on or near the summits of high mountains, and are apparently strictly diurnal in their habits. They are social in their dispositions, living generally in com- iii i LAGOMYID^— LAGOMYS— LAG0MY8 PL. .PS. 407 munities, and lay up a Btorc of food for winter use. They sit erect liiie a Marmot, and utter frequently n siiarp, slirili, barking cry. They arc thus in their habits totally unlike the Hares. A single species only is found in North America, which is confined (o the higher parts of the mo'jntains of the western half of the continent. Tlic group is more numerously represented in Nortliern Asia, and is not now found elsewhere. Three species inhabit the elevated parts of Northern India, and three others occur farther northward. None occur west of the Black Sea, but they range thence eastward to Kamtschatka. Their habitat hence embraces only Western North America and Northern Asia. Formerly they extended much farther westward and southward ; their fossil remains having been found in the Pliocene strata of England, France, and on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia. The species are apparently all referable to the single genus Lagomtjs. The Pikas are a less specialized form than the Hares. -Genus LAGOMYS G. Cuvior. m :;■'< £a0Oiiiy«CcviRR, KigDe Auitn., i, 1H17, 310. Ogotoma Oriy, Add. St Mag. Nat. Hist., 3d Mr., xx, 1807, 320 (type, tAipM ogoloma, Pullos). LAGOMYS PRINCEPS Richardson. Xortb American PIka. SYNONYMY. Leput (Lagomgi) prinotpt RicnARnsoN, ZnSl. Jonrn., 188H, r>30 ; Fiinnn Bor.-Amer., I, 1839, 887, pi. xix.— FiscilEll, 8yu. Mum. (wid. 18:10), 403 [603] (from RichBrdaon). Lagom]i$ prinerpi Vi AanKS, Supp. Sobrebet's SUiiget., iv, 1844, 183, pi. ccxxxix a (Troni Ricbardson). — Wateiiiiouse, Nat. Hist. Ham.,!!, 1844, 88.— Aududon& Bachwan, Nortb Aiuer. Quad., ii, 1651, 814, pi. Ixxxiii (mainly from RlchunlBon). — Qikbel, SUuget., IS&.'i, 455.— Baiiid, Mum. N. Amer., 1857, 610 (from WaterhoiiBe).— CooFER, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci., iii, 18&3, G!); ib., 1868, 6 (Sierra Nevada, Cal.).— Okay, Aun. & Mag. Nut. HUt., 3<1 aer., xx, 1867, 280.— CnpB, Proo. Acad. Nat. Bel. Pbil., 1866,8 (Lower California).— AiXEK, Dull. Ktuex Iimtitiitc, vi, 1874, 57, 66.— CouES & Yarrow, Whoeler's Expl. and Surv. west of Ibo lUOlb Mcrld., v, Zodl., 1875, 185. lagomyi tn<*<■ '" ¥m^\ LAGOMYID^—LAGOMYS— GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 409 Length about 7.00, ranging in adult specimens from 6.50 to nearly 8.00. Ears broad, large, and rounded. Hind foot generally about 1.15 to 1.25 in adults; fore foot about 0 80. The black naked pads at the base of the toes are very prominent. The skull ranges in length from about 1.70 to 1.88 ; breadth, 0.82 to 0.92; interorbital breadth, 0.21 to 0.25; average length of the nasals about 0 62, narrowing posteriorly from about 0.25 to 0.18. Lower jaw, length, 1.07 to 1.25 ; height 0.57 to 0.70. The series of skulls show a considerable range of variation in 'Aze in adult specimens. The bones of the skull are thin and papery, and often the parietal suture remains unclosed in fully adult skulls, and the cranial elements of the skull are never to any great extent ankylosed. The nasal bonef , however, finally become firmly united. The specimens on which the present article is based were all taken on the Snowy range, in Park County, Colorado, and all but two at one locality. Tiie measurements of the animal were all taken in the field by myself, from fresh specimens. OEOGRAPUICAL DISTRIBUTION. The North American Pika inhabits the summits of the Rocky Mount- ains from Colorado far northward into British Americx. It is also found near the summit of the Wahsatch range in Utah, tho Sierra Nevada in California, and the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. I found it very abundant near the limit of trees in the vicinity of Montgomery, Park County, Colorado,* and Lieut. W. L. Carpenter has collected it at other neighboring points of the Snowy Range. Dr. J. G. Cooper found it near the limit of perpetuol snow in tlie Sierra Nevada,t where he reports it as quite common over a limited district; while Professor Gabb met with it as far south as the northern boundary of Lower California (lat. 32°), at an altitude of about 10,000 feet.J Mr. J. K. Lord met with it (his " Lagomys niinimuii"^) near the summits of tiie Cascade Mountains at an altitude of about 7,000 feet above sea-level, and also at Chilokweyuk Lake, on tiie western slope of the Cascades || Dr. * Bull. Emex Inatitute, vol. vi, pp. 66, 66. tProc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Soi. vol. ill, p. 69 ; ib., IMS, p. 6. t rroc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1H68,3. t Tbe cliaraat«ra Mr. Lord gives for bis " Lagomy minimut" do not lodlcate any specific differrnre whilii tbe habits he attribate* to it are exactly those of tbe L. princtpn as recorded by n niiiiiber of iiidupeiident observers. He recognized £. prinorp* as occurring near tbe same locality; lint, IxMiaumi be saw no evidence of ^.prJHoqM carrying leaves and grass into its warreus, be reganled tbe anitnaU seen ut the two neighboring localities as distinct species. His " Fiber oniyoowiMin ", described in tbe same paper, rusts on siiuilar mistaken assumptioiis. I I'roc. Zoiil. Soc. Loud., 1SU3, pp. 06, 97, 410 MONOGRAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. llichardson traced it along the Rocky Mountains from latitude 52° to 60°, and Mr. Nuttall m<3t with it as far south in the Rocky Mountains as latitude 42°.* Dr. Coues met with it in the Rocky Mountains, at latitude 49° N., at an elevation of only about 4,500 feet, at the level of Watorton or Chief Mountain Lake, where the animals were very numerous in the dobris at the foot of cliffs. Their habits seem everywhere much the same. The animals are every- where found in communities, living among the loose rocks from a little below timber-line nearly np to the snow-line. They appear to rarely wander many yards from their homes ; are timid, yet easily become familiar. Though retreating to their holes when first alarmed, they soon come cautiously out, one after another, till one may hear their sharp little cries in every direction. Their color so nearly resembles that of the rocks they live among that they are not easily seen, and their cry is of such a character as to easily mislead one in respect to tiie point from which it proceeds, seeming to be far away when really only a few feet distant.. They sit erect like little Marmots, and in no way resemble the Hares in habits. They carry into fissures of the rocks large quantities of grass, which they lay up for winter consumption. Dr. Coucs informs me that they " may be readily taken in any simple trap", and odds, that tliey " do not hibernate, at least southerly ". 'Audubon and Bacbman's Quad. North Amer., vol, ii, p. 847. ii ' ' hf LAGOMYID^— LAGOMYS— MEASTTEEMENTS. ' Tadlb I. — AfeatHrcnu»tt of thirty-nine tpecimaii of hAOOMYB pnixCF.PS. 411 II 2013 vm sun XTi 36» !t«81 S88S 3664 assA XTH sen 3W8 OflOO spia SX105 3694 ai73 3663 £687 JMUl 8697 8698 cfigg Locality. Montgomery, Colo . do .do. .do. .do. .do. .do. .do. ..do. ..do. .do. .do. .do. ..do. ..do. .do. .do. .do. .do. ..do. .do. .do. .do. .do .do. .do. ..do. .do. .do. .do . .do. .do. .do. .do ..do . .do. .do. .do. From tip uf noae to- ld 0.10 1.00 0.9S 0.9S O.SS 0.90 0.93 0.83 0.T7 o.n 0.68 O.TO 0.80 0.97 0.00 0.85 aos 0.90 0.90 0.97 0.93 9.95 9.90 o.ea 1.03 0.8S 0.90 0.93 O.SS 0.99 0.90 0.93 0.83 0.W 0.93 0.90 aoo 0.99 a73 1.15 8.03 1. 80 1.13 3.13 3.03 1.81 1.93 3.00 1.95 1.77 1.85 1.47 1.73 3.03 3.13 3.00 3.15 3.05 3.00 3.05 1.90 1.95 1.83 3.08 1.90 1.90 1.90 1.80 1.93 1.98 3.03 1.84 1.08 3.03 1.90 1.90 9.04 l.<3 5.73 7.35 7.50 7.35 6.90 7.00 7. Si 7.60 6.90 7.30 5.35 5.73 7.50 7.90 7.15 7.00 7.73 7.60 7.60 6.83 7.40 7.-0 7.70 7.40 6.90 7.00 7. SO 6.45 0.00 aco 6.75 7.30 6.50 .5.80 1.10 7.90 7.30 7.15 5.75 Length of— 0.13 0.80 0.15 aso 0.83 0.80 0.83 0.77 o.n 0.83 0.13 a 73 0.80 0.87 0.67 0.83 a81 0.83 0.8J o.es 0.E0 0.83 0.85 0.83 0.85 0.83 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.90 0.88 0.85 0.83 a 75 0.83 aso 0.80 0.85 0.78 1.07 1.30 1.39 1.10 1.90 1.90 1.90 1.17 1.13 1.00 1.08 L07 1.15 1.13 1.33 1.30 1.30 1.35 1.90 1.37 1.06 1.15 I. SO 1.30 1.33 1.35 1.18 1.13 l.S» 1.13 1.C3 1.30 1.3U 1.08 1.17 1.17 1.34 1.18 1.10 Xature of epecimen'. UiMunred in the flesh. do. do. do. do. do. .'do. do. do. ....'....do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. m ■m 'h4 i rni 412 MONOGEAPHS OF SORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Tablf, II. — ifxaiurimenUi of fourtmnkuUt of Laoomvs princeps. I - if! , \ \ i a 9 a •3 Locality. i 1 i t 1 1 f 1 1 Ji 1 i 1 3 1 1 it 1 * a. iJ ^1 1 11 i II E ! S I .5 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 II 1 H u 1 £ i 4 1 o & H a Q ?i ^ tr. b tJ 0 t> 0.88 0.30 0.35 0.37 0.38 SSI 340 atio .rto 1.80 1.85 0.88 0.87 0.89 0.83 0.34 0.31 0.53 0.30 0.67 0.91 0.3:1 0.37 o.:h 0.37 0.30 aS8 o.:io do 0.01 0.18 0.S7 S4-. 354 ...do dS 1.88 1. 01 0.03 0.35 0.34 0.63 0. ID 0.35 a53 0.48 0.30 0.35 0.30 0.33 0.30 0.38 34:1 do 1.13 0.1V 0.33 0.50 0l33 0.30 3X1 du 1.T7 0.0! 0.34 0.53 0.35 0.35 34t) 357 34!< 355 |:I331 .... do do do do 1.10 1.78 I.TJ 1.75 I.7J 0.83 0.83 0.83 ('.83 0.81 0.31 0.33 0.31 0.33 0.31 0.48 0.50 0.48 0.48 0.43 0.36 0.37 0.35 0.35 0.31 0.30 0.36 0.30 0.34 0.34 0.35 0.33 0.33 0.36 0.38 0.28 a 31 Daff.lo MoonUin, Colo 9 OCO 0.16 0.30 1.08 0.57 13-iaii llornenhoe Mt., Colo . . •3 1.75 0.87 0.33 0.61 0.15 a33 0.50 0.33 0.30 0.30 0.30 1. IB 1.15 0.G7 O.'O do 1.07 1.13 1.S9 1. 13 1.35 1.07 1.30 1.17 0.61 0.67 0.70 0.67 0.G6 0.50 0.68 0.65 do do do .. do do do do LAGOMYIDiE— LAGOMYS—LIST OF SPECIMENS. Taiii.b III. — Lift oftptcimetii of Laoomyr princeps." 413 ■3 1 a o a s. a if 1 a a n •a a 1 Uxauj. When odlected. From whom re. ceived. Collected by - •3 1 'A 1673 acM 86» Sai-H StlW aoto awi !K8.i !»M sues IWM now ami s«ro 9W3 9696 imn acw KOO r.o-j 8675 3683 »6d1 9601 9nM 9698 9702 9701 949 913 914 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 959 953 954 9S5 9M 957 9M 9SR 9M 961 13996 13997 789 859 861 863 864 863 866 867 870 868 871 874 87U 878 870 881 809 888 890 801 043 8U) 869 868 873 875 877 880 880 844 841 <{ ]dea . .do Lieut. W.L. Carpenter do Skeletou. ...da * All of the apoeimem recorded In Ikle table, except Noa. 13999 ud 13H7, wliick »• in the National Mnnum, belonf to tke Mueam of Companttire Zaflowr, Oaabridge, Maaa. I !i l!' IFl I , i ■ n 11 (11 i J ) 1 , _;, ''Is' m m ■ ■; 1 j llf' i ■ ^ ,) m MONOGRAPHS 1'^ ill NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. No. V.-CASTOROIDIDi;. By J. A.. ^LLEN. [ For letter of ttMumittal, see p. 401.] 415 ' i iti^' 1 ^ ^ TABLE OF CONTENTS. FaiMi Family CASTOROIDID^ 419-436 QeouBCASTOROiDKS , 419-496 (kutoroUn ohioeiui$ 423-426 Synonymy and bibliognpby 433-423 I>eMriptlon and hiatory 433>436 417 27 w T Family CASTOROIDID^. Genus CASTOROIDES Foster. Caitoroidet Fohtri), H«ooud Kop. Oeol. of Ohio, 1838, 81.— Wyman, Boston Jonrn. Nat. Hist., t, 1846, 401. The skull, in general outline, considerably resembles that of Castor, but the cranial portion is relatively very much smaller and more flattened, and the facial portion much longer than in that genus. The zygomatic processes arise at a much higher point, and the zygomatic arch is much less curved downward. The malar bone is narrower, relatively fur less massive, and is less prolonged anteriorly, not reaching the front wall of the orbit. In Castor, on the contrary, it reaches the small lachrymal, by which only it is separated from the anteorbital process of the fronted. The niirrowes*; portion of the skull is behind the middle instead of anterior to it, as in Castor. The basilar cavity seen in Castor is entirely wanting, and the auditory bullse are smaller. "The tympanic portions of the temporal bones present very nearly the same conformation as in the Capybaras; at the inner extremity, however, there exists a broad plate or process having a concavity forward, which enters into the formation of the posterior limit of the pterygoid fossa. .... In the development and conformation of the pterygoid processes, the Castoroides differs from all existing Rodentia. Both processes articulate with the tympanic bone, but the development of the external plate is by far the greatest ; the internal, however, has the remarkable peculiarity of being curved inwards towards the median line, so that the most prominent part of its convex surface is brought in contact with that of the correspond- ing process of the opposite side. In consequence of this, the entrance to the posterior nares, or the meso-pterygoid fossa, is completely obstructed in its middle portion, and instead of one large quadrangular orifice, as in other Rodentia, we have two distinct orifices ; one of these, superior, of a pyriform shape, the circumference of which is formed in part by the posterior extrem- ities of the pterygoid processes, and in part by the anterior basilar portion of 419 i I Ill 420 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN KODENTIA. the occipital bone ; the secotul, inferior, is i'urnied by the origins of the same processes and the posterior edges uf the ossa pnlnti. "The pterygoid fossa has a depth of obout two incites, which, udded to the great breadth of the outer process and the curvature of the inner, gives an extraordinary surface for the origin of the internal pterygoid muscle. Tlic fossa serving for the origin of the external pterygoid muscle, involves the whole of the greater wing of the os sphenoides, and is more remarkably developed than in any of the allied genera."* The molars diifer strikingly in structure not only from those of Castor, but from those of all other Rodents except the ChinchilUda, a near resem- blance being met with elsewhere only in the last molar of Hijdrochcerus. They consist of a series of laminae of dentine completely inclosed by enamel, held together by a thin coating of cement. The circumference of the triturating surface of the tooth is thus devoid of the continuous plate of enamel that forms an uninterrupted border in the molar teeth of ordinary Rodents, and is deeply serrated. The dentinal laminae, with their inclosing plate of enamel, are three in number in all the molars except the last upper and first lower, which have each four. When the teeth are exposed to disintegrating influ- ences, the laminae of dentine and enamel readily fall apart, as is the case in the molars of the Chinchillida, in tlie last molar of Uydrockcerus, and in tlie molars of the Elephant. In structure, the molar teeth of Castoroides are strictly comparable with those of the Chinchillidte, and with the posterior portion of the last molar of Hydrocharvs, and thereby differ not only radi- cally from that seen in Castor, but from that of all other Rodents. The structure is precisely that seen in Lagostomus, even to the oblicpie position of the laminae, except that the number of the laminae in Castoroides is one more to each tooth (^two more in the first lower molar) than in Lagostomus. The dentinal laminae arc very similar also to the dentinal laminae of the lost molar of Hydrochcerus, but they are relatively nmch thicker. The molar teeth of Castoroides are thus compound, and have no resemblance to those of Castor, with which genus Castoroides is usually compared. In other features of the skull, strong resemblances can be traced between Castoroides and Lagostomus, especially in respect to the form of the pterygoid processes and the size and form of the pterygoid fossse.t The general form * Wjriuuii, BoHt. Jouru. Mat. Hist., vol. v, pp. 3!M, :t!>5. t Id 'Jietie fealores, however, Fiber much more nearly approaches CtutoroMea than doea Lagostomut, \1 CASTOROIUIDiB-CASTOHOIDBa— (J. OIIIOHNSIH. 421 of the skull also Homewlmt resembles tiiat of Lagostomus, but difreis in important details. Canlorouies, for instance, lacks the large antorbital vacuity seen in Lagostomus and its allies; this portion of the skull more rc8em))Iing that of Castor. The lower jaw also much more resembles that of Castor, but differs from that of the latter in having the coronoid process much less strongly developed ; in the much greater elongation of the condylar process ; in the great depth of the fossa on the outer surface below the notch formed by the coronoid and condylar processes (which is shallow in Castor); in the lateral flattening of the condyles ; in the bending inward of the angular process and its much greater development, an well as in the much greater depth of the fossa on the inner border of the lower surlace of the angle. The inward curvature of the angular process is also an exceptional feature among Rodents. Castoroides further differs from Castor in the form of the occipital condyles, which are more terminal and less oblique than in Castor, and, while permitting a great range of vertical motion of the head, allow only a slight lateral motion. From the foregoing remarks, it will be seen that Castoroides presents a singular combination of characters, allying it, on the one hand, to the Beaver, and, on the other, to the Chinchillas and Viscachas, and also to the Muskrat, but which, at the same time, separate it widely from either group. In size, f\isteroides exceeded any living Rodents, and is itself exceeded in this order by only a single extinct form of Hydrocharus, described by Dr. Lund from the bone-caverns of Brazil. The resemblance of Castoroides to Castor is mainly in the general outline of the skull, in its having an imperforate ante- orbital wall, and in its presenting a similar curvature of the descending ramus of the lower jaw, the latter a character shared also by Fiber. The differences consist in the remarkable structure of the pterygoid processes, the double orifice of the posterior nares being entirely exceptional ; in the flattened and relatively small cranium ; and in the compound nature of the molar teeth. These differences ally it, on the other hand, to the Chinchillas, from which it differs mainly through those points in which it resembles Castor. In view of these wide differences from its nearest well-known allies, it seems to consti- tute the type of a distinct and hitherto unrecognized family. To the same group are, however, probably referable the genera Amblyrhiza and Loxomy- ius, described by Professor Cope,* from the bone-caverns of Anguilla Island, *Proo. Acad. Nat Sol. Phil»., 1866, 313; Ftoo. Am«r. Phi). Soi:., vol. zi (1869-70), pp. Ifr), 608, pb. iv, V. V I I \? 'I ! i I lii I liil^'l! fc: 422 MONOGKAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. West Indies. Tliese forms are thus far known only from the detached teeth and fragments of the hones of the limbs. The molars, as described and fig- uied by Professor Cope, greatly resemble those of Castoroides, having, in fact, the same structure, differing mainly in being somewhat smaller, and in pos- sessing a greater number of laminsB. The incisors are also much smaller and narrower, and much loss strongly grooved. Professor Cope states that some of the molars of Amblyrhiza have four dentinal columns and otiiers five, while those of Loxomylus, including both upper and lower, have only three each. The characters of Amblyrhiza, as Professor Cope recognizes, ally it to the Chinchillas, while he says of Loxomylus that the obliquity of "the hori- zontal grinding surface . . . alone seems to distinguish it from Lagidium and Chinchilla". As the lower jaw and skull are thus far unknown in these genera, it is impossible to say whether their affinities are strictly with the Chinchillidee, or whether they are not more closely allied to Castoroides. The same may be said of Archeeomys, a European form commonly referred to the Chinchillidee.* Hence the question naturally arises whether the ChinchillidcB ha\ it been found outside of South Amerca. The discovery of a single manu.uular ramus, or the facial portion of the skull f" each of these genera, would at once decide the question cf their affinities, which cannot well be settled without the evidence such parts would affisrd. In either case, these genera furnish a type of dentition unknown in the present fauna, except in Soutii America. Although Castoroides ha.s generally been supposed to have the relation- ship to Castor its name implies, and in systematic works has been always associated with the Beavers, Dr. Wyman, in his monographic account of the Clyde skull, points out the great differences that exist between the two types. He says the cranium "presents analogies to the genera Castor, Fiber, and Hydrochcerus. Osteologically considered, the cranium bears a stronger resem- blance in its shape to that of the Castors than to that of either of the other genera; Jut in iu dentition the type is toholly different, as is also the confor- mation of the jitor >id processes and fossiB In -thT Hydrochcerus, the principal analogies are found in the compound nature of tlie molar tceth.f • Mr. Alston (Proc. Zool. Soc.Lond , lh7C, p. 88) refers .irchaomyf to the fnmily Thtiiiiomyidai, with the otbor fo" ■ if wliicli, liowevr. it does iiot setm to me to bo very cloi.ely related. t l''roni -lie ubiieiice of nil reference by 'i''. Wyman to the much closer reBewulance of the teeth of tailoroUis to those of the Chiuchillas, he was cMdently not at that time acquainted with the osteology of that group. CASTOROIDIDiE— CA8TOKOIDE8— C. OIIIOENSIS 428 .... Ill the Fibers, the pterygoid fossce are largely dcvolopcil, but the entrance to the posterior nares has the same conformation as in tlin other Rodents."* It is almost surprising, in view of Dr. Wyman's adniiral)le memoir and excellent figures, that zoologists have so long overlooked the important characters that distinguish Castoroides from all other Rodents.f CASTOROIDES OHIOENSIS Foster. SYNONYMY.J lExtitKt animal of tlu order Rodenlia FosTERt], Amer. Journ, Sci. and Arts, xxxi, 1837, 80, figs. 15-17 (first desoiiptioD of the Nasbport spocimeus). Pabliahed anonymously. CotloroidM oAioeiui< Foster, beoond Rep. Oeol. of Ohio, lS3d, 81, and fig. (Nashpoit specimens),— Wyman, Proo. Boat. 8oc.,ll, 1846, 138 (Clyde specimens).— H*ll, Proc. Bost. Boo. Nat. Hist., il, 184C, 107 (Clyde apeoimens ; geological position). — Haix and Wyman, Boston Jonrn. Nai. Hist., v, 1847, 385, pis. xxxvii-zsxis (Clyde specimens; geological position and description of a sknll). — WuirrLESBY, Am. Journ. Sci. & Arts, 2d aer., v, 1848, 215 (geological position uf tlie NaahpoTt speoioiens). — Wyman, ibid., x, 1850, (13, fig. 5 (lower jaw ; Hompbis specimen). — Wyman, Proc. Beat. Soc, ill, 1850, 281 (same).- Agassiz, Proo. .\mer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., v, 1851 , 179 (Nashport specimens).— LeContk, Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila., vi, 1852, 362 (Sbawneetown apeoimens).— Bronn, Leth. Geog., Ib67, 1046, pi. lix, fig. 8. — Pictet, Traits de Paldout., i, 1853, 253,— Baikd, Mam. N. Amer., 1857, 362.- Lbidy, Holmes's Post-pliocene Fossils S. Car., i860, 114 ; Proo, Acad. Nr.t, Sci. Phila., 1867, 97 ; Jonrn. Acad. Nat, Sci, Pbila., 2d aer., v, 1SC9, 405 (akall &om Coles County, Illinois). — Winohell, Amer. Nat., iv, 1870, 504 (Michigan), Catior {I^gonikeriHmt) ohtomeis DbKay, Nat. Hiat. N. Yark, ZoSI., i, 1842, 89. DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY. The so-called " Fossil Beaver " of North AmeriCsi was of about the size of a full-grown common Black Bear ^ Z^rsus americanus), hence some- what exceeding in size the Capybara, the largest of existing Rodents. •Boston Jonrn. Nat, Hist,, vol. v, p, 399, t Even Mr, E, R, Alston, in his recent paper on " The Classifioation of the Order Glirea " (Proo, ZoSl, Boo, Lond., 1876, p. 79), plaoea Cattoroidet in the family Cattoridai. t The following are the titles of, or references to, aome of the apecial papers treating ot CaaloroideB : 1837— [Foster (J, W.). Extinct Animal of the Order Rodentia.] < Amer. Journ, Sci and Arts, xxxi, 1837, 80, figs. 15-17, ia38— Foster (J. W.). [Description of Castoroides Ohioensis.] < Second Rep. Qeol. of Ohio, 1838, 80-83, fig, 140. 1846— Wyman (J.). [Oi "'astoroidea Ohioensis,] Proc, Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., ii, pp. 138, 1S9, 1846 — Hall (J,;. [Ou Geological Relations of the Fossil Castoroides Ohioensis,] < Proc, Boat, Soc, Nat, Hist., .1.167,168. 1847 — Hall (J.) and Wihak (J Notice of the Geological Position of the Cranium of the Caotoroides Ohioensis, By Jan..jd Hall, esq, . , . Also an Anatomical Description of the same. By Jeffries Wyman, < Boat. Jonrn. Nat, Hiat., vol, v, art. xxix, pp. 385-401, pll. 37-39, 1850— Wyman (J.), [On b Lower Jaw of Castoroides Ohioensis,] < Proc, Bost. Soc. Nat, Hist., iii, p. 281, 1852 — LeContb(J.). [Remarks on a New Locality — Shawner'own — forCaatoroidi i)''.';ioenai8,] < ''roc. Phila. Acad, Nat, Sci., vi, p. 53, 1807— Lbidy (J,). [On a Skull of Caatoroidea fonnd near Charleston, III.] < Proo. Phila. Aoad, Nat, 8oi,, 1887, pp. 97, 98, mkmr r'f liff ■/• .,f ■' 424 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. A cast of a skull (from an unknown locality) now before me has a length of over twelve inches, considerably exceeding in size the Clyde skull described and figured by Dr. Wyman. The species being known only from a few cranial and dental remains, it is impossible to say much respect- ing its general form or probable habits. It may have been aquatic, like the Beaver; but of this there is no evidence. The form of the occipital condyles and the surfaces for the attachment of the cranial muscles show that it probably differed greatly in habits from the Beaver. Mr. J. W. Foster described (anonymously) u radius lound with the two mandibular rami discovered at Nashporf, Ohio, which he presumed to belong to the same animal. This bone he describes as being ten inches in length, and as measuring two inches across tlu ead and one and a half across the distal extremity.* In a later notice af the same specimens, Mr. Foster makes no mention of this bone, and no other naturalist appears to have given any further account of it. Mr. Foster regarded it as "an animal closely allied to the Beaver, but far surpassing him in magnitude". Dr, Wyman not only does not refer to it as a Beaver, '>ut dwells especially upon the important differ- ences that separate it from that animal. The remains of Castoroid&f ohioensis thus far reported consist of the two right rami of the lower jaw and an upper incisor from Nashport, Licking County, Ohio (from which the animal was originally made known), first described by Foster ; the skull and a right ramus of the lower jaw from Clyde, Wayne County, New York, described (and the skull figured) by Wyman ; the ramus of a lower jaw from Memphis, Tennessee, also described and figured by Wyman ; " two molars, an upper incisor, and two petrous bones ", from near Shawneetown, Illinois, and fragments of teeth from the Ashley River, Sou'' Carolina, described by Leidy. A skull from near Charleston, Coles County, Illinois, is also mentioned by Leidy. Hal! and Wyman both refer to the discovery of its remains near Natchez, Mississippi, and in Louisiana; but I have met with no description of specimens from these localities. Winchell mentions the discovery of its remains in Michigan, of which nodcscription has yet appeared. In the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, are portions of several lower incisors and parts of several molar teeth, from Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, collected by Mr. J. Boll, fnmi "alluvial" deposits on the Trinity River, associated with remains of an * Amer. Jo..i'u. Sci, and Arte, Ut ser., vol. xxxi, 1837, p. SO. — T=-i CASTOROIDID^— CA8TOROIDES— C. 01TI0ENSI8. 425 extinct Horse and the Mastodon. There is also in tlie Muscinn of Compara- tive Zoology an excellent cast of a very large skull, from an unknown locality, but probably from either Illinois or Michigan.* Its known habitat hence extended from Texas to Michigan, and thence eastward to Western New York and South Carolina. Its remains appear to have been found only in the Quaternary depcsits, and in several instances have been found associated with those of the Mastodon, and also with those of the extinct Horse and Megatherium, with which animals it was doubtless a contemporary. Of the Clyde specimen (of which I have before me a cast), Dr. Wyman has published the following measurements: Length, 10.50 inches; greatest width, 7.20; transverse diameter of the occiput, 5.50; vertical diameter of the occiput, 2.60; distance between the orbits, 1.90; distance between the anterior (first) molars, 0.30 ; between the last molars, 1.80. The length of the molar series in the cast is 2.50 ; length of the nasal bones, 3.63 ; greatest width of the nasals, 2.07. The cast of a much larger and evidently older specimen, but unfortunately imperfect, lacking the incisors and the zygomatic arches, gives the following measurements: Length, 11.75 (with the incisors restored, 12.50) ; distance between orbits, 2 83 ; transverse diameter of the occiput, 6.70 ; vertical diameter of the same, 3.25 ; nasals, length, 4.12 ; greatest width, 2.55 ; upper molars, length of the series, 2.87. Though so much larger (one-fifth) than the Clyd : specimen, the difference is readily accounted for by the difference in age. According to Foster, the lower jaw found at Nashport measured 9 inches 2 lines (9.16) from the front border to the condylar process, and 3 inches 8 lines (3.67) from the base to the coronoid process. The Clyde example, according to Wyman, had a length of 7 00, and a vertical depth, measured from the top of the cor-^noid process, of 3.75. The Memphis specimen, according to Wynian, was still larger ; the length of the molar series being 3.10, against 2.75 in the Clyde specimen and 2.80 in the Nashport specimen. Foster gives the length of the lower incisor in the Nashport specimen, measured along its outer curve, as 11.50. One of the fragments of a lower incisor from Dallas, Texas, has a transverse diameter of nearly an inch (0.95), while the antero-posterior diameter is still greater (1.05). * Tlim citHt n'os takea Trum n aknll luaaed by MewrB. FoBt<>r anil HtinipHou to I'rot'csHur A);asaiz xome jean niiee, and returned recently to tbe Chicago Ai leiuy of Sciences. 7io record nccouipuniuH tliu cant, and nil tbe above-nauied gentlcmeu being now dead, it is dilScnlt to leiirn tbe liiptorj- of tlio original speoimen. t'1 ■\:y m^^ f if 420 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. The anterior face of the incisor teeth is marked with broad, shallow, longitudinal grooves, about twice as wide as the rather abrupt, narrow, inter- vening ridges. The lower incisor, seen in section, is triangular, with the anterior face rounded. The first upper molar has a widtli of 0.7.6 (in the larger specimen), the succeeding ones becoming successively slightly narrower and shortt^', except the last, which is the longest. In the lower Tnolars, the first is the longest and the fourth the shortest ; the second is the widest. The first three are somewhat narrowed near the middle, giving the tritur.tcijig surface an hour-glass form. MiMi MONOGRAPHS ot NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. No. VI -CASTORIDi:. By J. A.. ^LLKN. [ Foi letter of trauBDiittul, aee p. 401.] m 1 1 1 1 Wm 1 H: -M TABLE OF CONTENTS. Kamily CASTORID^ 487-456 Oemis Caator 4:l Caitor fiter 433-451 Synonymy 433-434 Description 434-436 BelatioD of the American and Old W orld Beavera 437-445 BemorkBon synonymy and nomenclataro 444-445 Geograpbical distribntion 445-446 Fossil remains 44C-446 Measurements of skalls 447-447 List of specimens examlncl. clivi (nkiill), pl.clxxv (oniiuiil).— Shaw, Gen. Zoiil.,!!, li-:01,S0.— Tieukmann, Zool., I, 1808, 481.— Pallan, ZiHi^Tapbiu Rnggo-Aaiatlca, Ibll, 412.— Okkn, NaturRcgoh., Hi, 'i, IHIO, 870.— C\'ViKli, UcKiio Aiiiiu., 1, 1817, 180.— DK8.MAHKNT, Maniin., 18i«, 877. —Knox, Mimii. Weru. Nat. Hiat. Sac., iv, 18'.23, r>48 (anatomy ).— J. Sabink, Franklin's Jonrn. to tho I'olar Sea, 18*23, GTiO.- Say, Long*!) Expoil. R. Mts., 1, 1823, 4G4.— Haiilan, Fauna Amcr., lf?2G, 122.— Oouman, Am. Nat. Hist., il, 182(1, 21.— Griffith's Cuvier'a An. King., v, 1827, 207.— Brandt &, Ratzebuiio, Mwliz. Zoo!., i, 1829, 13, pi. iii, iv, tv o.— Owen, Proo. Zofil. Sue. bond., 1830, 19 (anatomy).— Uen.nktt, Gardens and Monag. Zool. Soo., Quad., i, 183r>, 153.— DouOHTY, Cab. Nat. Hist., iii, 18:10, !>98, pi. i.— WaterhoU8E, Cbarleswortli's Mag. Nat. Mist., iii, 1839, COS (tlguro of skull).— ScHiNii, Enrop. Faun., 1840, 157.— Kryskruno & Blahius, Wirbelt. Enrop., 1840, 31.— Emmons, Quad. Mass., 1840, 51.— Thompson, Hisl. Vermont, 1842, 38.— DeKay, Nat. Hist. N. York, i, 1842, 72, pi. zx, tig. 1, pi. viii, Ugs. a, t.-NlLssoN, Skand. Fano., 1847, 400.— WoODHOUBE, Sitgreaves's Exped. down the ZuDi and Col. Riv., ISK), 47 (New Mexico).— GlEBEL, Riiuget., 1855, 619.— Blasius, Nuturgeacb. SUnget. Deutscbl., 1857, 405.— Wilson, Ediob. New Pbil. Jonru., 2d sen, viii, 1858, 1 (fossil; Scotland; and goog. distr.).— TllEUOT, Verbandl. Ver. f. Naturk. v. Presbnrg, ie60-jOO, 300 (habitH).— Buckley, Anicr. Jonm. Sol. and Arta, 3d nvr.. Hi, 1846, 434 (North Carolina).— Bhumlky, Ibid., iv, 1847,385 (Ala- bama).—A. Ar.ASSiz, Pror. Boat. Soo. Nat. Hiat., xlil, 1860, 100 (Beaver dania).—BRUNOT, Add. Rep. Smith. Inst, for 1873, 1874, 433 (habita). Le Catlor in Canada, V. CuviEit &, Qkokfroy. Hist. Nat. dea Mam., i, liv. 6, 1810 (ilgnre). Catlor a Europe, F.Cuviek St (iKOKFiiov, ibid., 111,117.51,001. 1835 (Hguro). DESCRIPTION. Body thick, heavy, depressed, enlarging posteriorly, broadest near the hips; head large und broad; muffle naked; nostrils lateral, divided; ears short, rounded, furred, and nearly hidden in the pelage ; tail broad and Rat, covered with horny blackish scales; fore feet short and weak, unwebbed ; hind feet larga, fully palmate ; soles of all the feet naked, upper surface hairy ; second toe of hind feet usually furnished with a double claw, the supple- mental one being placed transversely beneath the true one; under-fur sot>, dense, and grayish ; overlying hairs coarse, shining-chestnut Length of body, about bO inches; of tail, about 10; weight of adult, about 45 to 50 pounds, ranging to upward of 60. Tlie general color of the Beaver above is reddish-brown, varying to lighter or darker in different individuals and probably with the season ; lighter, approaching grayish, below. The Beaver appears to be generally darker to the northward, where it is occasionally nearly black. Albinistic individuals are also more or less frequent, either wholly white, creamy white, or with patches of white. To such specimens have been given the various varietal names of nigra, albm, variegatus,Jtavui, ct«. The Beaver is apparently several years in attaining its growth, increas- ing in size long after it has acquired its mature tientition. Two-year-old Beuvers generally weigh about thirty-five to forty pounds, while very old ones occasionally attain a weight of upward of sixty. Morgan records the capture of one which weighed sixty-three pounds. The increase in the size of the skull seems to continue nearly through life; in old age the skull not only acquires larger dimensions, but the weight is relatively greater in conse- ii-«ftiiigia;i'' I ■'"--■ CA8TORID.E—CA8TOK— CASTOR FIBER. 435 quence of the increased thickness and density of the bones. The ridges liir the attachment of muscles also become more strongly developed in old age All of the forty-five sknlls, of which measurements arc given below, had attained mature dentition, but the variation in size they present with age is very considerable. In the series of sixteen from Arctic America, the varia- tion in length ranges from 4 45 to 5.2H, and in breadth from 'i.lb to S.H^. In a series of twelve skulls from the Platte and Upper Missouri Rivers, the variation is still greater, ranging in length from 4.40 to 5.65, and from 3.10 to 4 15 in breadth. The apparent wide range of individual variation in size ill the large series of skulls examined is largely due to differences of age, as will be seen from an examination of the subjoined tai)le of measurements, in which the relative age of the specimens is indicated, as judged by the condi- tion of the sutures, the teeth, the relative development of the ridges for mus- cular attachment, and the density of the bony structure. In four very old skulls from nearly the same locality, the greatest variation is from 5.10 to 5.25 in length, and 3.50 to 3.85 in breadth. In the three marked in the table as "old", but evidently younger than those marked "very old", the variation ranges from 4.50 to 4.90 in length, and from 3.30 to 3.60 in breadth. Those evidently much younger, and marked in the table as "middle-aged", eight in number, all fall within these extremes, so that the range of purely individual variation may amount to fully 20 per cent, of the average. In re8|>ect to particular elements of the skull, the variation is greater than in general size. Nos. 9477 snd 7201, with a length of 5.25 each, vary in breadth from 3.50 to 3.85. Yet the narrower of these two skulls has much the wider nasals, which have a breadth of 0.95 against 0.87 in the other ; they are, however, at the same time shorter, having a length of only 1.72 against 1.90 in the other, and hence vary enormously in general form, in the one being short and greatly expanded, in the other long, narrow, (.ad of nearly uniform width throughout. In the one, the zygomatic arch is short, broad, and heavy ; in the other, narrower, longer, and more slender. The interparietal bone in these two skulls is as different in shape as can well be imagined. In No. 7201, the anterior half is triangular, the posterior abruptly expanding, and baoally greatly widetiing. In No. 8676, it is more than one-half smaller, and is regularly triangular to its base. In other skulls, it is even still narrower ; this element of the skull presenting, in different specimens, almost endless variations in respect to both size and form The frontals are perhaps still mor? ' ariable, especially in respect to the interparietal portion. This portion I :i- . ;: H t i '' ' mm '1 ^BJ m 1 pilii m BBBS: ■ 436 MONOGRAPHS OF NOltTU AMEBICAN KODENTIA. is tnore than twice ns wide in some specimens us in others of the snme size; the puriettil borders ure sometimes straight and paruUei, but sometimes straiglit and iit the same time rnpidly convergent; but generally their parietal border is mora or less concave. Their interorbital breadth is also very variable. The lachrymal varies greatly in size, and, while generally triangular, is occasionally quadrate. The anterior nasal aperture, while narrower below than above, is generally distinctly quadrate, but sometimes decidedly triangular, and oilen more or less approaches a triangular form. It also varies exceedingly in rela- tive size. The nasals vary greatly, as already shown, in size and lorn., inde- pendently of the general size of the skull, ranging in length from 1.72 to l.yO, and in breadth from 0.87 to 1.00. Posteriorly, they may be truncate, pointed, or bifurcate. Generally, the greatest width is anterior to the middle, the anterior half bciiig abruptly expanded at the middle, or the lateral outline may be regularly and moderately swollen. Marked variations are also notice- able in respect to the size and form of the zygomatic processes; in the rela- tive size of the malar bone; and in the general details of the lower surface of the skull. In regard to geographical variation in size, the largest specimens are from the Upper Missouri. Of the twenty-six skulls marked in the table us "old" or "very old", six Alaskan ones average 4.91 by 3.61; nine Upper Missouri and Platte River skulls average 5.30 by 3.89; three Lake Superior and Maine skulls average 4.95 by 3.47 ; four Rio Grande and Mississippi skulls average 5.23 by 3.88. Of the "middle-aged" series, nine from Arctic America average 4.84 by 3.39 ; five from the Upper Missouri, 4.54 by 3.32 ; a middle aged Mississippi skull measures 4.70 by 3.35. While the specimens are too few to yield positive results, it seems safe to assume that the Upper Missouri animal is larger than either the Alaskan or Texan one, and that even the Texan one is rather larger than the Arctic American. The southern skulls, however, are evidently much more aged than those from the far north, so that more specimens, all equally aged, would probably show little, if any, difference in size between those from the extreme north and the extreme south. While the series of "old" skulls from the Up|)er Missouri country averages much larger than the series from the far north, the average for the middle-aged series is reversed, the northern being the larger. This difference, however, is more apparent than real; the Upper Missouri series of five marked " middle-aged" averaging considerablyyonnger than the more northern series of nine similarly marked. 71 CASTOBID^— CASTOR— CASTOR FIBER. RELATION OK THE AMERICAN AND OLD WORLD BEAVERS. 437 Tlie earlier, and by far the greater part of iiaturuliatH have reganleil the Beavers of the Old World and the New as specifically identical. According to Brandt,* Oken.t in 1816, first suggested that they were different ; he regarding the American animal as being more reddish and much the larger. G. Cuvier,t in 1817, affirmed, that, after the most scrupulous comparison <>f the Old World Beaver, from different localities, with the New World Beaver, he was unable to satisfy himself whether or not they were specifically distinct. In 1820, Kuhl§ described a young specimen of the American Benver from Hud- son's Bay, under the name Castor canadenmx, without, however, giving any special reasons therefor. In 1825, F. Cuvier, || in describing specimens of the European Beaver, claimed that there were very decided differences in the structure of the skull as well as in size, he stating the European Beaver to be "d'un sixifeme plus grand (|u'un Castor du Canada". His detailed account of ihe cranial differences, however, show that his American skull was that of a quite immature animal, and that the differences mentioned were mainly such as would result from differences of age. He calls attention, however, to one |M)int of some importance, and one which all subsequent comparisons liavc confirmed, namely, the greater posterior extension of the nasal bones in the European animal. G. Cuvier,1 the same year, also dwells upon the impor- tance of the same character as distinctive of the two forms, as well as also upon the general form of the nasal bones. In 1827, Brandt and Ratzcburg** pointed out numerous minor (differences in the shape of the head, tail, feet, incisors, etc., as existing between the single individuals compared. Richard- 8on,ft i" 1829, called the American Beaver Castor Jiber, americanus, but cited no differences characterizing the two forms. Keyscrling and Blasius || treatetl the European Beaver as specifically distinct from the American, and Wagner, §§ in 1844, as varietally distinct. Audubon and Bachman,|| || in 1846, also formally adopted the same view, but stated that the only difference per- 'M^ni. AcmI. St. P^terab., 6th Kr., vol. vii. p. 44. t L«brb. il. Zuologie, 9te Abtb., p. SSO. t K^Kne Aiiiiii., Ut ed., tonm i, p. lUl. $ Bnitriigu ziir Zoologir, p. 04. I Hilt. Nat. dM Mam., liv. 61. f Ossein. KuH., M «!., tome v, p. 57. ■* Mwlixinlnbe Zoologie, vol. I, pp. 13-30. tt t'nnii. Bor.-Anier., vol. i, p, 105. X\ Wirbttltbivre del Earopu, p. 7. %i Abbsndl. d. HUocbenor Akad., matb.-pbjn. CUfk, lt)44, p. 36 ; Sappl. Sohraber'a Sftaget., It, '. II Qnad. N. Am«r., vol. i, p. 347. m ■ .1 I . >l\ IP.«! |:M"^« 438 MONOOUArUS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. CRptibln to them was the rather larger size of the Americnn animal. In 1855, Hrantlt* made un (thilmrateMtudy of the xultject, arriving at the coiielii- sion that the New and Old World Beavers were specificMilly distinct, from his finding a few slight but tolerably constant cranial differences, coupled witli certain differences in the structure of the castoreum-sacs, and in the prop- erties of the castoreum itself. Buird.t in 1858, 8upprtancc Dr. Ely shows are not so constant as Brandt, from the study of his small number of specimens, 8up|M>8ed them to be. There are few, if any, dif- ferences mentioned by Brandt as distinctively chamcterizing the £uro|>ean Beaver that cannot be found occasionally in the American. On this point, Dr. Ely remarks, that, through his large series of American skulls, he finds "that many more resemblances may be traced between the European and the American 'Beaver than he [Brandt] has observed, thus reducing the amount of constant differences between the two varieties".* In respect to the superior aspect of the skull, Brandt says: "If we examine the skull of the Eumpean and of the American Beaver [from above], we notice the following special differences : "(1) The portion of the frontal bone lying between the arches of the eyebrows, in all the European skulls is shorter und broader, much broader than long; but in the American narrower and somewhat longer (quite as broad as long) ; so that the middle transverse diameter of the anterior portion of the frontal bone — that part lying between the eyes — is in the American skulls nearly or quite as long as the arch of the eyebrows ; but in the Euro- pean it appears longer than this." Dr. Ely says this is generally true of the American skulls, but he finds exceptions, in which the interorbital portion of the frontals is broader than long, a statement my own series of American skulls confirms. In six speci- mens, Dr. Ely found the average breadth to be 0.27 of an inch greater than the length. "(2) In the European skulls," says Brandt, "the arches of the eyebrows are shorter, and their posterior tubercles, opposite the highest |Miint of the malar bone, are strongly developed. In the AinericiM), on the contmry, the posterior eyebrow processes (only indicated, sometimes scarcely indicated at all, or at least but slightly devehiped) can be seen back of the highest |ioint of the malar. The anterior eyebrow process is in all the European skulls likewise stronger than in the American." * Morgu'i " Beaver and bia Work*", p. WO. m ,., n 440 MONOOUAPIIS OF NORTH AMEltlOAN UODENTIA. Dr. Ely states that in the older niul larger American skulls, both orbital processes are strongly developed, in many skulls the posterior one being us strongly marked as in the European, a statement I find confirmed by my own series. In the American skulls, he finds the position of the postorbital proc- ess, in respect to the highest point of the malar bone, to l>e as stated by Brandt, but records one exception to even this diflcrencc. "(3) The snout," says Brandt, "measured from the inferior orbital open- ing to the inferior corner of the nostril in two European skulls of equal size (Nos. TjC and liJG of the Kicw Coll.) is broader and somewhat longer than in an American skull in the Academic Museum." "(4) The nasal bones," Brandt continues, "show the greatest variations. Their lengtli in nil the European is much above one-third the' length of the skull, measured from the incisor teeth to the crista occipitalis; while, on the contrary, in the three larger of the American skulls the length of the nasal bones is only a little if any over one-third, and the smallest not even one-third the length of the skull. The nasal bones of the six older skulls lying before me of the European Beaver arc therefore longer, and extend more or less far pos- teriorly, i. e. more or less beyond the anterior prominence of the arch of the eyebrows, so that they (the nasol bones) lie with their posterior borders nearly or qnite opposite the middle of the margin of the orbits. In a young Polish Beaver (No. 57 of the Kiew Coll.) they reach, however, only to the anterior third of the orbital ring, and in our young Lapland Beaver they lie nearly as in our California Beaver skull, opposite only the circumference of the anterior border of the orbital ring. In none of five American skulls, lying before me, on the contrary, do the nasal bones extend beyond the ante- rior prominence of the eyebrows. In nearly all the skulls of the European Beaver, compared with the five American ones lying before me, the nasal bones are in form longer in the middle and posterior, however, in general nar- rower, so that their breadth in their middle varies between one-fourth and one-fiflh of their length, while in onr five American skulls the breadth of their middle portion attains to between one-third and one-fourth of their length. Although the nasal bones of the American beaver are thus on the whole broader, still they vary less in this respect than in their lesser length. The external border of the nasal bones of the European Beaver is not so strongly curved as in the American. Two of the European skulls, however, approach quite to the American in this respect. The superior surface of the 0ASTOltlD/K-C!A8TOlt— CA8TOU FlUBU. 441 nntcriur halt' of the nnsnl bones is in six of the Europenii skulls pretty plane; in two of the others, on the contrnry (Nos. 51 and 1965 of tlie Kiev; Coll ), ns in all the five Ainoricun, it ia strongly convex. In regard to the character (or relation) of the nasul bones, there remains, therefore, in consequence of the preceding remarks, only their more considerable length in comparison with the skull OS a mark of the European Beaver; since the greater lengthening poste- riorly of the nasal bones cannot be so rigorously proven in nil European Beavers, especially not in our Lapland specimens. It is possible, however, that the nasal bones are less prolonged posteriorly in younger aiiiinnls than in full- grown, so that in this wuy the full-grown European might be recognized by its |H)8tcriorly prolonged nasal bones. Confirmatory of this view are the fol- lowing facts : 1. That in all ol the six old skulls lying before me of European Beavers, the posterior extremities of the nasal bones reach more or less far posteriorly, and that this happens in a young skull of the Kiew Collection (No. 57), the length of which is four lines greater than that of the one from Lapland; and, 2, that in one very young American skull, the nasal bones extend backward somewhat less relatively thon in the full-grown." As Dr. Ely remarks, it is in respect to the nasal bones that the greatest difference has been observed between the European and American Beavers. This difference was long since pointed out by both the Cuviers, and later con- firmed by Owen as well as Brandt. The greater {wsterior prolongation is not, however, constant, as shown by Brandt himself, and in one uf the Euro- pean skulls now before me, a veri/ old instead of a young specimen (No. 3672, "Skogit River"), they do not extend beyond the point reached by one-fifth of the American skulls now before me. In none of the American skulls, however, do they attain the posterior extension ordinarily seen in the Euro- pean. In sixty American skulls, the nasals terminate posteriorly, in one-fifth of them, about opposite the middle of the anterior orbital process; in nearly one-half, they terminate opposite the hinder margin of the anterior orbital process ; in eight others, they advance a little more posteriorly ; and, in twelve others, pass slightly beyond this point, exactly corresponding in this respect with frequent specimens of the European Beaver. In one American speci- men, the niuials do not quite reach the |)oint opposite this process. In respect to their relutive length, as compared with the whole length of the skull, the American average rather shorter than the European, ranging, in the American skulls, from 0.34 Ui U.36 of the length of the skull against 0.38 in two Euro- 442 MUNOURAPH8 OP NORTD AMBRICAN HODENTIA. I)can 8kullH. Dr. Ely Htiites thnt, in six American Rkulls, tlie average length is r>.3*J, and tlio avcrngu litngtii of the nasait* l.Kl, or nearly 0.34 uf the length. In three others, with an average length uf 4.42, the nasaU average 1.69 or 0.36 of the length. In seven others, he finds, however, the relative length of the nasals still greater. "(5) The frontal portion of the lachrymal bone in the American Beaver," Brandt finds, "is more triangular, — posteriorly twice as broad as anteriorly, — and smaller than in the European ; it is also nearly limited to the space between the malar and fronttd bones; since it impinges only with its anterior border-like narrow en\.lly considerably narrowed and rounded, or more or less angular, below. Dr. Brandt also finds the inter- and inferior maxillariea broader in the European skulls than in the American, and the incisors also correspondingly broader. As shown by Dr. Ely, however, the difference is evidently somewhat less than the amount claimed by Dr. Brandt. In respect to the lateral aspect of the skull, Dr. Brandt finds no difler- ence in the dorsal outline in the two forms, but [joints out a number of alleged differences in other features. The zygomatic process of the maxillary he claims is relatively narrower, as compared with the malar bone, in the ;5- wV«*4^^'«<4 fsmf.. CASTOBII)^— 0A8TOK— osterior aspect of the skull, the main difference insisted upon by Brandt is in respect to the shape of the occipital foramen. Respecting this point, Dr. Ely well observes: " If we examine a large number of skulls of the American Beaver, the great variety of forms presented by the occipital foramen appears remarkable It is sometimes low and broad, again a rounded arch, and in other instances shows the high triangular shape peculiar to the European variety. This form is found frequently in young, and occasionally in old [American] skulls." In respect to the posterior aspect of the skull. Dr. Brandt notices the larger size and greater depth of the basilar cavity in the European, with the more rounded margins, and the more anterior position of the auditory bullie, differences both Dr. Ely's specimens and my own show to be quite constant. In the American skulls, these are quite variable features, so that occasionally there is a close approximation to the European form. Afler noticing in detail all of the alleged differences pointed out by Dr. Brandt, Dr. Ely concludes his examination in the following words : " I have thus endeavored to show, from an examination of a large number of skulls of the American Beaver, that a greater tendency to variation in these structures exists than was observed by Dr. Brandt, in the smaller number (five American and eight European), on which he based his differential characteristics. It will be remembered that Brandt does not insist upon the most obvious feature which distinguishes the Old World Beaver from that of the New World, viz. the greater lengthening posteriorly of the nasal bones, since it 'cannot be rigorously proven in all cases '. Following out, then, the principle which guided his researches, many additional exceptional instances have been found I ?^5^"'^I*f*1 'fffi :i' ^^! ^-; ■■ii 444 MONUUUAi'UH OF NORTH AMEUIOAN KODKNTIA. to invalidate! the roncliisions I lint tlio Kuropenn and the American Urnvor constitute dirtcrent s|ie(!ii'ti. The extremes of diU'ercnee, in their iiggrcf^ute, on the one side mid on the other, nrc sutticiently striking to juotify uh in regarding them nti varieties of one and the same species; while the want uf constancy in these peculiarities suggests the inference, th:it these variations are due to long separation uf the races, and to accidental causes, rather than to original diversity of the stock. It is conceded by the advocates of a diversity of species that the Beavers of the Old and the New World cnnnut be dis- tinguished by any external characteristic. The same is true of their habits and instincts, except so far us they have l)een evidently controlled by external influences. The castoreum secretion is variable, even in the European Ueavers, and there are tiicts to show that the elements of the food of tiie nnimul arc found in it.* The differences observed in il, being more ot degree than of kind, are not of such a character as to render it improbable that they are due to tlie intluence of climate, food, and accidental cau8es.''f A careful analysis of the above-noted cranial differences between the European and American Beavers shows that they consist mninly in (1) the greater general breadth of the anterior portion uf the skull, resulting in n greater interorbital breadth, wider nasal bones, wider muzzle, and consequently wider incisors; (2) the relatively greater posterior extension of the nasals; {'A) the greater size and dcptii of the basilar cavity ; and (4) in less marked and rather more inconstant teatnresof diflerence inafew other points. Con- ceding with Dr. Ely their varietal or subspecitic distinctness, the two forms may be thus conveniently diagnosed : Castor Jib'' r var. _/?A^;.— Dorsal surface of the interorbital region gener- ally as bruad as, or broader than, long ; nasals extending backward beyond the posterior border ofthe anterior orbital process; basilar cavity deep and large ; bulliE placed more anteriorly, etc. Castor Jiber var. canadensis. — Dorsal surface of the interorbital region generally lunger than broad; nasals generally not reaching beyond the middle of the anterior orbital process ; basilar cavity comparatively shallow, etc. Synonymy and Nomenclature. — In respect to the distinctive name ofthe American form, that oi canadensis of Kuhl evidently has priority; the amrri- ' Tku casturvuni of I be Anieriuaii Beaver is weU knowu lo diffiT very iiiBti-riully from thai n( llie Old Wurld Beaver, and ban a very tnncb Hmaller comoierclal value. Chemical analyaes abow that tbe coatureuin of tbo KiiMiau Ucaver cuiitaiaa mora volatile oil, caatorio, aod reain, and much leaj carbonate of lime, than tbat of the American Beaver. t Morgaii'H " Tbe Ilcaver und bis Work*", p. StW. OABTOUIUiB— 0A8T011— OAHTOU FIUEU. 445 canuii "of Olivier"* being proposed some five years siibsoquently. Yet l)y Ricimnition, Audubon and Uurhninii, Drnndt, Morgan and Ely, and otlicrn, the later name hns been adopted in prff('r(!nce to the earlier one of Kuhl. For the Old World Beaver, the original Linnu'Mn nanio^Arr hon been by some rejected for the later one, furopaun, used by Owen. aEOORAPIIICAL DISrUIBI'TION. The Beaver family existed in North Ameriea as far south along the Atlantic scttitoord as Georgia and Northern Klorida.f It also occurred throughout the Gidf Slates nearly as far south os the Gulf coast,' and in Texas to the Rio Ornnde. Its exact limit south of the Bio Graiulc; I have not i)een able t«> determine ; but that ils range extended for some distance into Mexico is well ascertained. The collccticm of tiic National Mus(;um contains s|)eci- mens from Franklin County, Missi8si|)pi, the Lower Rio Grande, an otherwiKo doomed animals. tn m 446 MONOGltAPll. OF NORTH AMERICAN RGDBNTIA. m ■'V '■^■ existence in great abundance throughout the Atlantic States, and thence west- ward to the Pacific, is thoroughly attested. They having been less persistently hunted during recent years than formerly, they are reported to be slowly on the increase at most localities where they still remain. Dr. Couc informs me that he has seldom failed to find Beaver on the ..irious streams of the west he has explored, from the British to the ]\Iexican boundary. In some of the more secluded waters, where the animals have been little hunted, he has watched them disporting in broad daylight with little sense of danger. He has nowhere found them more abundant than on the various mountain-streams which unite to form the heads of the Nortii Platte River, in North Park, Colorado, where some of the rivulets are choked for miles with successive dams. The Berlandier MSS. attest the presence of the animal in various por- tions of Mexico. FOSSIL REMAINS. Fossil remains of the American Beaver have been discovered in New York and New Jersey, at Memphis, Tennessee, associated with the remains of Castoroides* in the Post-pliocene deposits of the Ashley River, South Carolina, and in the bone-caverns of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The bones of the European Beaver have been found also in deposits of Post-pliocene age, and even in those ot the Tertiary. Ovvenf reports the occurrence of the remains of the European Beaver with those of the TrogontheriurA , Megnceroa, and Mnstodon, under circumstances indicative of their conteriporaneous existence, carrying the antiquity of the European Beaver "far back into the Tertiary period ". In the Val d'Arno, according to the same authority, they have been found associated with the remains of the Mammoth, Hippopotamus, and Hyaeiia. They have also been found in Europe in bone-caves, but most commonly occr in peat bogs and other superficial deposits. Some of these remai".s indicate an animal rather larger than the largest specimens of the existing Beaver. The Castor issiodoremis from Issoire is closely related to, if not identical with, Castor fiber. * W;maD, Amer. Journ. Soi. and Arts, 8d ser., vol. z, 1850, p. 64. t Brit. Fo«8. Ham. and Birds, p. 193. CASTOEID^-OASTOB-OASTOB FIBER CANADENSIS. 447 Table I. — Meaiuremmit of forly-lhreetkuUt of Castor fibkk rar, canadensis. g.!<4 t*n arts 8873 8676 8680 trm 8081 7I'J4 1X1 7M4 7IK9 an 4»l nao 7399 7390 708 «1M 7S84 9077 eoM MS 10006 8V) 3480 ;i47fl 9380 3477 9143 9144 3371 4 IS 8011 l!»)7 Wll 3779 19037 1003 HM UI4 3679 «9M Locality. AlMka ilo do do do do... do do do Ft Oood Hope, H. B. T do do do Fort SlmiMoll, H. a T do NelMD River, H. B. T L«ke Snperior do do Oxford Coolity, Me. . . Upper Mlasoari ■ . do do do do do do Platte River do , L'pperMlnoari.. Platte River Cheyenne River — While River, Dek . KaiHu Fort Heye, Kuu... Venconver lelend Orrgnu SuU CUra. Cal .. . Franklin Coonty, Hlw Ulaeiwippl Rio Orude,Tex... Uatamoraa, Mexico do Bkagit River River BIbe, Oennany 4. DO 4.70 5.9} S.SO S.10 4.00 4.110 4.43 4.90 4.73 3.93 4.73 4.83 4.07 4. 63 4.60 3.03 4.85 4.50 4.93 5.63 5.60 S..V 5.40 5.10 4.90 SlIO 3.45 a. 13 4.60 4.40 4.30 4.57 4.75 3.30 &S0 4.80 500 .130 4.70 5.93 3.15 3.93 5.50 3 SO 3.43 .1.70 3.85 3 75 3.00 3.:l3 3.13 .1.00 3.35 3.30 3.35 ara 3.33 a 18 a 45 3.50 3.45 195 3 47 4.15 4.00 4.03 3.07 3.90 3.65 3.75 175 3.8:1 a4s 110 193 3 37 3.49 3S5 a 75 !•« 338 395 135 180 180 1»S i s 0 no 0.00 0.87 0.90 0.90 0.88 0.87 0.83 0.9-1 0.85 0.95 aoo 0.85 0.87 0.90 0.99 o.r4 0.06 0.88 0.00 1.19 1.00 1.00 0.93 0.93 0.95 0.04 1.00 1.00 0.87 0.95 0.85 0.00 0.03 l.Oi a9« a98 0.95 l.CO 0.M 0.85 LOO L19 1.07 i a s L75 LOO L87 L73 1.80 1.30 l.TO 1.63 L79 L73 L70 1.65 L«9 1. 60 L78 L-0 L40 9.05 «. 10 9.00 L97 L8S 1.83 L73 L90 L85 LOO L47 L5I LOO Leo L85 1. 90 L75 L83 1.97 L75 L90 L75 1.75 fton 0.80 a87 0.87 LOO 0.80 0.89 0.80 0.87 0.89 0.95 0.» 0.85 0.80 0.78 0.00 0.83 0.90 0.78 LIO LOS LOO 1.03 0.90 LOO 0.89 0.93 0.08 0.85 0.80 a87 aes 0,96 1.03 0.89 0 89 a85 0 95 0 83 0.97 0.07 o.g« LOO 0.90 i b .5 R ^ 3 11 1.85 a.;o 9. '.5 9:18 9.15 1.07 103 1.77 9.05 9.03 9.15 9.00 9.15 9.13 1.90 1.03 9.90 9.18 L89 9.17 aeo a53 a 40 a33 a 40 a9o a37 a 15 ao3 L90 1.83 aoo aoo a4i a 10 a 10 aw aso a 15 a35 a93 a9? a50 4.63 a75 4.65 a.u Remark*. LIO ■ From the oeoipitai condylee to front korder of the intamazilUrira. 448 MONOGRAPHS OF NOUTH AMERICAN HODENTIA. m^y'M Table II,— Cfa(o/riiii>nl 7195 6.t33 3146 90T7 3360 7iS4 l«t 7385 F. Biaohoff . do. Yukon Nelson River, H. B. T ... June % R,KenDicatt D.Ounn ...do ....do Skull and akin. ..do. SknIL ...do. ... do. do ..do do ...do B.R.R0W B. R. Boas do .. do ....do ....da do ...do ....do ... .do. do ...do ...do Bkln. ... do. do ... do ....do Abbitlbbe Lake May 16, 1860 May 31, 1860 C. Drezler ....do ....do. ... .do. MooeoRlvOT, H.B.T Fort Good Hope ..do O.P.naudi't ..do O.P. Oaadet ... do . .. Skull. ....do. do. do do . do ... do do ...do ....do ... do. R. HoFarlane Dr. F. V. Hayden ..do R. Mor^rlano ... Dr. F. V. Hayden ... do ....do. ....do. ....do. 9 do .. do ....do ....do. do ...do ....do ..do. ..do. ..do. Hkin. .. do. Hkailnndnkln. .. do. Skull. .. do. .. do. .. do. ..do.* ..do. ...do. ...do. do do .. do .. do ..do ...do ...do ...do Jo do ... do ... do 11539 3590 3478 3460 34T7 3463 8144 3143 11633 I8»7 4908 3914 3934 3915 6011 90.11 0 o Fort Bridger .. do H. D. Srhirldt... W.8.Wood Dr. F. V. Hayden. do Hedfclue Bow Creek PlatleRlTer AnK.10, Lieut F. J. Bryan Dr. F. T. Hayden .do 0 "ear«oM ' ■^S?-ili|. mmBammmmmm 'I CASTOltlDiB— BUCASTOB-BUCASTOU TOUTUS. 4m Taulr II.— £(<(o/*p«»iiiciiv, Jonrn. Acad. Nnt. Sei. Pbil., 2d ser., v, 1360, 341, 405, pi. zxvi, tiga. 21, 33 ; U. 8. Oeol. Siirv. of Wyouiing, 1871, 36.3. Tliis species was fir"t described by Dr. Leidy in 1858, from remains tliscovered by Dr. Hayden in the loose sands of the Niobrara River. These remains consist of the greater portion of an upper jaw, containing portions of the incisors and the three anterior molars on each side, and were redescribed and figured by him in 1869. This fragment indicates an animal smaller even than the common Marmot (Arctomys mofiax), and hence of mvich less than luilf the bulk of the existing Beaver. The porticm of the jaw described by Dr. Leidy " consists ofthe under parts of both maxillary and intermaxillary bones, wliich together are the diminished counterpart in form of the oorrc- siKinding iwrts of the recent Beaver. The incisor teeth likewise have tlie 20 M 450 MONOOUAPnS OI-' NORTU AMERICAN RODBNTIA. same relafivo proportions and form as in the latter animal." The molar teeth, howcvci (IKTcr very much in structure from those of Castor, more resembling in some respects those of Trogontherium. In Castor, the loops of enamel are uU open externally ; while, in Eucastor, they are closed loops, such as are seen in a transverse section of the tooth of Castor.* In Castor, the molars decrease very gradually in size posteriorly ; the first being but little wider, though con- si(leral)ly longer tlian the second, tlic third slightly smaller in both diameters than the second, and the fourth still smaller. In Trogontherium, the first three molars, in form and relative size, greatly resemble those of Eucastor, and, in the pattern of the grinding surface, there is a closer resemblance than there is to the same teeth in Castor ; but, in Trogontherium, the third molar, according to Owen, is smaller than the fourth. In Eucastor, the first molar is equal in length to the length of both the second and third, and propor- tionately wider. It has three closed loops of enamel ; the anterior and pos- terior loops being each rather less than one-half the size of the middle one, which, instead of being transverse, is placod somewhat obliquely. The sec- ond and third teeth have each but two, (he anterior of which is, in each tooth, about twice the size of the posterior one. The teeth are also set more obliquely in the jaw, and the first molar has a deep infolding of enamel near the middle of the inner margin of the tooth, directed obliquely forward. In all these features, there is a closer resemblance to Trogontherium than to Castor. The specimen described by Dr. Leidy belonged to a " quite aged individual", and to this fact lie deemed were possibly due the differences in the structure of the molars seen in this form as compared with Castor, as he had not at the time an opportunity of comparing his specimen with equally aged examples of the common Beaver. A large scries of the skulls of the American Beaver now before me, embracing those of all ages, show that the permanent molars differ very little in form, or in the pattern of the triturating surfaces, with age. A transverse section of the tooth of Castor, however, displays much the same structure as is seen in Eucastor. As shown by the above-cited references. Dr. Leidy at first referred this form to a new subgenus of Castor, but later cites it simply as Castor tortus. The differences in dentition between Castor and Eucastor are, iiowever, as great as between Castor and Trogontherium. Doubtless, other correspond- * Seo Owen's Odoutograpby, plitte ovi, llg. 2. CASTOKIDiE— STEXEOFIBEB-S. NEBIiASCENSia. 451 ingly well-marked differences will be found in other features of the skull when we are able to study this interesting form from more nearly perfect specimens. The following table, showing the comparative measurements of ^Mcoa/or tortus with the corresponding portion of the skull of Castor fiber, is from Dr. Leidy's memoir on the " Extinct Mammalia of Dakota and Nebraska " (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Puila., 2d ser., vol. v, p. 342). C. tortiu. C. fiber. Linos. Liups. LeD|;th of space oooopied by four molars 6^ lit LeDRth of hiatDB from first molar to iacisors 13} SI Breadth of face opposite first molars 7 14 Breadth of face Id advance of inft-a-orbltal foramen 54 11 Width of palate between first molars 1 3^ Widthof palate between last molar alveoli 4 7 Antero-posterior diameter of first molar 2 3 Transveiso diameter of first molar 3} 3) An ro-posterior diameter of second molar IJ 3 Transverse diameter of second molar 2 Wl Antero-poeterior diameter of third molar I^ $ Transverse diameter of third molar '. 2 3| Diameter of incisors ;.... 3 H Genus STENEOFIBER E. Gooflfr. " Slentojitar E. Gboffhoy, Bevne Eiicyclop., 1833, — ." Paldooaifor Leidy, Jonm. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila., ad ser., v, 1B69, 338. STE> EOFIBER NEBRASCENSIS Leidy. Stcneofiber nOiratcentii Lvidy, :. mo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 18S6, 60; 1857, 89. Vhalicomsi nebnuceiuU Leidy, Proo. Acad. Nat Sci. Pbila., 1857, 176. PalaooMtor nebnuoeiuia Leioy, Jonrn. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila.,8d Ber.,T, 1669, 338, 403, pi. zxtI, flgs. 7-11 ; . U. 8. Geol. Survey of Wyoming, 1H71, 363. The present species was first described by Dr. Leidy, in 1856, from specimens collected by Dr. Hayden from the Mauvaises Torres of the White River, Dakota. These specimens indicate an animal of about the size of Eucaslor tortus. The species is thus far known from "a much mutilated skull, with the fragments retained nearly in their original position by a mass of included calcareous matrix. The greater part of the cranium is destroyed, as is also the nose and parts of the jaws, though all the teeth are preserved. A second specimen consists of portions of both jaws of an aged individual, badly mutilated and imbedded in a mass of matrix. The remaining speci- mens, from a tliird individual, consist of portions of both sides of the lower jaw and one side of the upper jaw, containing all the molar teeth, and freed from investing matrix." 452 MONOORAPna OP NOUTU AMBBICAN UODENTIA. (^ ur m This species, so fur ns these specimens iiulicntc its character, appears to reseml)K! the genus Steneqfiber, from the lower Pliocene formr.*ion of Saint- derand-lePuy, France, both in the general form of the skull and in its den- tition. So great is this resemblance that Dr. Leidy at tirst referred it to that genus, which Kaup has regarded as identical witii Chalicomys. The lower jaw in Steneojiher, says Leidy, is unknown, and adds that that of Pa/teocaslor is quite unlike the lower jaw in Chalicomys. The structure of the molars in Clia/icoinys dilfers greatly, as shown by Gervuis's tigures,* from that of Steneo- Jilier, and G'-ofTroy, Gervais, and others regard the two forms as generically distinct. In Valaocastor, the structure of the molars is very similar to what is seen in the figures of the molars of Steneojiber. In respect to the skull, Leidy also observes that the "forehead presents the same triangular form and l)ropoi-tionate size" as in Steneqfilyer. "The temporal fossae", he continues, "appear to have had the same form and proportional capacity. They were Separated in the same manner by a long sagittal crest, extending forward upon the frontal bone. The cranium, just back of the forehead, was equally con- stricted. The external auditory passage formed a short, oblique canal, with its orifice directed outward and backward in the same manner. The palatal region, likewise, had the same form and construction, and the infra-orbital for- amen held the same relative j)osition as in Steneq/ilwr viciacensis. The inci- sors in both jaws arc proportionately as long and strong as in the Beaver, and they have the same fi)rm." Dr. Leidy adds that they also strongly approach in form those of the Beaver. The molar teeth in " PalcEocnstor" differ very greatly in ntructure from those of cither Cantor, Eucastor, or Trogontherium, more resembling, appar- ently, as do also those of Steneof,ber viciacenuvs, those of some members of th(! DtUiyproctidcE. The skull also differs greatly in form from that seen in liiese genera in consequence of the much greater constriction above of the int(!rorbital region. Ilencc ^'Palaocastor", if really belonging to the tiunily Castoridtr, probably differed very much in general structure from the existing Beavers, and has its nearest ally in the geims Steneq/iberf of the Miocene epoch of Europe. *Zool. et pali^ont. fraiif., plates i, viii, and xlviil. i Qorvais Riiyn, "Lew genres Ckalicomyii, Kaiip, et Sleaeoftber, K. Ocnfr..8ont<»«*or of lioldy among tbo " more doubtful fossil geni'ra " of the funilly Catlorida; as fvolt as the genera Palmmjt and CktMui of Kaup, and tbc genus DvgoHlkeriiim of Fiscber (nut TrogoHthiriim of Oweu, -^ Uiobrolicm, Pomel). if' CASTOKII)^— STENBOFIBKIf-S. PANSU8. 453 Tlic iiioa«Hrcinrnls given Itj- Dr. Le'uly of Pulaocmlor ncbinscfnsi.t show it fc) hnvo Ihjcii of about the size of Eucaxtor tortus, or nitlier smaller, Itiit Komcwhnt «liflprrnt from it in the relative size of the tcclh, in tiie width of the jmlntc, and in the general form of the skull. STENEOFIBER PANSUS Cope. Slauojthtr ptn>n$ Cope, Proc. AcwI. Nat. Hci. Pliiln., 1874, HH; Ann. Rap. Wlicoler's E\J>\. wait of lOOtb Ucrid., l-fTu, 73. Of tins species, recently described l)y Professor Cope, from the Santn F6 marls, little is known. It is apparently closely allied to the S. nehrascensin of Leidy. Professor Cope's description is as follows: "The molor tcclh exhibit a regular gnid.ition in width from the large anterior to the small pos- terior. In the mandibular series, the second and third are broader than long, the first anllowing, of puhlicntiuns relatinj^ specially to the Ameri- cnn Beaver, were furnished by Drs. Cones and Gill, from the MSS. of their contemplated Bibliography of North American Mammals. 184ii— PnAHits (D. D.). Boaver Lin Int. 31° N.]. < Am. Jonrn. Sci. (8.1 ser.), v\, 1848, p. 207. 1851— Thompson (Z.). [Od HpocimeDs of wood ont by Beavon' teetb, taken from a bod in cloae proximity to tbo I'oMll Elephant teeth disoorerod in 1849.] < Proo. Boat. Soo. Nat. Hist iv, 18IJ1, p. 34. 1HS7— IIauris (E.). [Remarks on specimons of oottouwood and chips out by Beavers.] < Proo, Acad. Nat. Soi. Phila., ix, 1K>7, pp. 107-109. 1857— ANONTHOII8 [E. Billings]. On the Beaver.— (Cotfor /ii-r.) < Cnnnd. Nat. and Ocol., ii, 18>7, att. XV, pp. iaO-127. 1863— BARTurrr (A. D.). Notes on the [American] Beaver in tbo Zwlogical Ounlens. < Proo. Zoul. Soo. Lond., 1863, pp. S«I, 368. 1S63 — Clemenii (V.). [On the Capture of a Beaver in Canada.] < Canad. Joura. Ind. Soi. and Art (now ser.), viii, 1863, pp. 8.% 66. 1866— Habdy (— ). On the Beavor in Nova Scotia. < Proo. and Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. Nat. Soi., it, 1860, art. ii, pp. 17-2!>. 1868— Hills (L). [On a Beaver Dam io Maine.] < Proc. Boat. Soc. Nat. Hist., xii, 1868, p. 137. 1869— OitBKN (A. H.). On the Natural History and Hunting of the Beaver (Coftor oanadmtif, Knhl) on the Paciflo Slope of the Rocky Mountains. With sapplementary notes by Robert Brown, esq. < Jonrn. Linn. Soo. Zo6l., z, 18C0, pp. '361-373. (Reprinted, Cincinnati Quart. Joum. Sci., I, 1874, pp. 64-63.) 16C8— MonOAN (L. H.). The American Beaver and bis Works. . . . Philadelphia, J. B. Lippinoott & Co., 1868. 8vo, pp. a'lO, pll. 33, map. [Obs.— Bt Hir the moat importaDt pnbllcation vblch bas hftb^rto appeared. Ree FancDKL (Kraal), *' Uober den nord- amerikaolaataao Biber". < Zool. Oart., Ix, 1M8, pp. 9I8-39U. (Bevlaw of tbe work.)] 1874 — Anonvmocs. Tbe Beaver. [From Chamber's Magazine.] < American Sportsman (newspaper) of November 39, 1874. 1874 — Dall (W. H.). The Beaver. [From Alaska and its Resources.] < American Sportsman of Feb- ruary 7, 1874. 1874— Batty (J. H.). On Beaver. < American Sportsman of October 17, 1674. 1874— Brunot (F. R.). [On the Habits of Castor canadensis.] < Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst, for 1873, 1874, pp. 433, 433. MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA No. VII -ZAPODIDil. By ELLIOTT COUE9. 4CG . ';,"*; !' mmm IPPP ■■■ipp LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Office op U. S. Geological and GEoaBAPiiicAL Survey of the Territories, Washington, D. C, Novemlter 1, 1876. Sib: I transmit liercwith a monogrnpli of the family Zajmd'uiie for pub- lication 08 one of tiie series of articles on the Rodcntia of North America, now in course of preparation by Mr. J. A. Allen and myself The present article, like others of the series, is based upon the material contained in the National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, including s])cci- mcns collected by yourself or under your direction. It is republished-, with much modification, from the Bulletin of the Survey, second- series, No. 5, pp. 253-262. I am, Sir, &c., ELLIOTT COUES, Asut. Surg. U. 8. A.y Secretary of the Survry. Pr.f. F. V. Hayden, United States Geologist-in-charge. 467 '!!l TABLE OF CONTENTS. r*RM. Family ZAFODIDiB 4Cl-47!t GeuM ZiPDS 405-4':!) Zapu hiidtonliu 407-470 Hynonymy 407-408 Deioriptioa 408-470 a. Cranial obanuiten 408-472 b. DenUl obaraoten 47a-47!j e. External ohoraoton 473-470 lleasnreraento 470-470 Oeograpbiool diitribntion 470-477 Blitoty of tbespeoiea 477-479 459 Family ZAPODIDiE. m m < Siilifainily Dipodina, U.tlliu, Mutiiiii, N. Aiiier. 1857, i'Di^ (Uuridce). =- Umii|i Jocnlfiui, CakI'H, Ilaiidb. Znol. i, IHGH, 101. = Kiiinily JacuVutm, Gli.i,, ArraiiR. Fani. Muiiiin. lH7a, 80. — Kaniily Zap tdUfr., CoiiKS, Bull. U. 8. Ge«I. ami G -ogr. Snrv. Terr. 1875, aj Bor. No. 5, 25.3. = Siibfaiiiily Jaeulina;, AutTON, Proc. Zniil. 8oc. Loud. 1870, ^9(Oipadidw). The single known species which represents this funiily has been variously chissified by diflferent authors. Since the period when it was commonly assigned to the genus Mus of the older writers, it has usually, under various generic designations, be^n considered to be allied to the Jerboas (Dipus), doubtless on account of a superficial resemblance it bears to those animals. It has frequently been referred to the genus Dipus itself; while, even among the modern authors who have appreciated a generic distinction between Dipus proper and Zapus, there have been those who regard these two genera as components of one subfamily, Dipodinee, of the family MuridcB liut the t\ .> genera have little in common aside from the ordinal characters tiiey share with other Rodents — ^little of consequence in common beyond the features by which they are both to be recognized as members of the Murine series* of Rodents ; for it seems that, whatever may be the value of the characters by which the species of Zapus may be difTcrentiated from typical Murines, — even from Mus itself, — equally strong at least, if not stronger, points of differ- ence from Dipus or Pedetes may be found. I should jutlge that a classifica- tion which distinguishes a family Dipodida from Murid'e should, in apprecia- tion of ta.xonomic equivalency, eliminati^ Zapus as the type of a separate family, — one which, as I still contend, is scarcely more closely related to the groups which Pedeles ami Dipus respectively typify than it is to the MuridfP projMjr. I find it quite as easy to draw the line between Zapus and either Dipus or Pedetes as it is to separate the same form from Mus proper ; and accordingly, in indorsing a classification which admits numerous families of the Murine series, I recognize in the type i T Zapus a group of full family * Ujiomorpktt, AlstuD, 1U7G— Bp|iruxiuiaUly eeing absent, or present above only, in Dipodida, and present above and below in Pedetida. Hence the condition of the premolars fails to be decisive. The state of the molars is likewise not diagnostic. Excepting the genus Hijdro- mys, the molars are \^\ in all of the families in question ; and they are indif- ferently rooted or rootless in Muridre, rooted in Zapodid1-9H, pi. iv), too late for snch use on I nbonld hnvo wiiibed to m.iko of it iu tlie preparation of my nionu|rrapb of tho Murida; wliicb, though Btill (Dec. 1870) nDpnblisked, bos been for Boine months in tbe metnl. Ill tbiH memoir, tho author arrnngeH Zapus (niulcr tho name of Jaculug) an one of three Hnbfamilieg of Dipodida, which constitnto tho seventli and lust of liis oerieH of MyomorphH, Muridw being rnoged third. Ill order to fully exhibit the grounda upon which he diffors with lue re8|iecting the position of Zapus, — though our difference is chiefly in onr rceiicctive estimates of comparative degrees of inter-rela- tionsbip and the taxonomio value of mntually conceded characters,— his diagnoses of Muridai, and of Vipodidw, and its three assigned snbfamilies, are subjoined. "Family 111. MURin.G. Lower incisors compressed ; no premolars (except in Smintkinoi); molars rooted or rootless, tuberoulate or with angular enamel-folds. Frontals contracted. Infraorbital opening in typical forms high, per[>eudicular, wide above and narrowed below, with the lower root of the maxillary zygomatic process more or less llattened into a perpendicular plate ; very rarely tho opening is either large and oval or small and subtriaugulnr. Malar short and slender, generally reduced to a splint between the maxillary and squamosal processes. External characters very variable. PoUex rudimentary, but often with a small nail. Tail generally subiiaked and scaly, rarely densely haired. Cosmopolitan, Ten subfamilies. * * *." " Famili/ Vll. DiPomD,E. Incisors compressed. Premolars present or abicnt. Qrinding-tcoth rooted or rootless, not tuberculate, with more or fewer transverse euamel-folds. BkuU with the braiu- case short and broad ; infraorbital opening rounded, very large (often as largo as the orbit) ; zygomntio arch slender, curved downward ; the malar ascending in front to tho lachrymal in a lliittiMied periwii- diuulur pinto; facial surface of tho uiaxillaries miuutely perforated ; mastoid portion of auditory bullie usually greatly doreloped. Metatarsal bones greatly elongated, often fused into a cannon-bone. Form gracilo ; front imrtion of body and fore limbs very small ; bind limbs long and strong, with from tbroo to flvo digits; tail long, hairy. Three snbfamjiies :— "A. JacuHnw. One premolar above. Grinding-toeth looted. Cervical vertebra) free, mutatarsals separate. Hind feet with five developed digits. Tail sparsely haired. Nearctio. [One genus,— ■/ochIiu.] " B, Dipodinai. Premolars present or abeent. Orinding-teeth rooted. Cervical vcrlobrie more or less ankylosed. Metatarsals unitoil in a cannon-bone. Hind feet with only three digits functionally developed. Tail thickly hairul, often tnftod. Palotarctic and Ethiopian. [Three geucra, — Dlpui, Atactaga, rialycercomi/t. ] " 0. Pedclino!, One premolar above and lielow, Oriudiiig-toetb rootless. Cervical vertebra) free. Metatarsals Heparalc. Hind feet with four well-doveluped digits, with short brood houf-like nulls. Tall bushy throughout, not (ofted. Ethiopian." [One genus,— i'ldelei. I ZAPODIDiE—ZAPUS— SYNONYMY AND CHARACTERS. 4(55 Trunk enlarged posteriorly, in correlation with tlie shortness of the fore limbs and great elongation of the hind ones, especially of thfc pes (cf. Murida except Gerbillince) ; nevertheless, the pes with five perfect and separate meta- tarsals, and five functionally developed digits (cf Dipodlda, Pedetida). Claws not peculiar (cf. Pedetidai). Tail greatly exceeding the trunk in length (cf most Murida), very slender, scant-hairevon by A. Milne- Edwnrds, after Brandt, are : — " Zoologia Cayli Zwiertopismo ugoliio. Warazwie, 1821. pi. i, p. 3(1." Hilue- Edwards observes : " Jarocki rdserva lo noiu g^ndrlqiin de Diput anx OerbolseB dont lea pattes post^rieiires sont tridaotylos, et constitua sous lo iioin de Jaoulua iiu Kouveau genre pour lea esp^oea jl pattea poat^ri- eares pentadactyles".— ("titudes pour servir I'histoire de lit Fauno Mnniiualogique de la Cbioe," aj>M(i H. Milne-Edwards's " Kecberches," etc., tome i, pp. 146, 147. 4to, Paris, ia68-74). t Saya Professor Wagner (torn. cit. 120) : " Hinsiclitlicb der Beuennnng der amerikaoiacben Spring- DiUnse erinnere icb, duaa ibnen der Name ilerionei, den Kr. Cuvlor auf sie illiertrUgt, nicbt beigelegt werden sollte, indem ihn Illiger an Nager der alten Welt Torgeben bat ; icb bedieue micb daber dea Ton Wagler vorgescblagenen Namens Jaculus." That is to say, Profesaor Wagner objects to M. Cuvier'a transferring lUiger'a Merionet to the American type, without seeming to be nwat« that he is doing the same thing himself, — transferring Jacului tn this type. ZArODID^.— ZAPUS— Z. HUDSONIUS— 8YJJONYMY. 4G7 tamaricinus, :neiiduinus LinGmol."; the aiitlior qtn)tes " C'erhUlus Desm." aa a synonym; the diagnosis of tlie genus is not applicable ioZapus; nnd, ns if to clinch the matter, Illiger expressly enumerates " Dij^us canadensis Shaw" under a preceding genus, Dipus. Hence it is clear that Meriones, as proposed by Illiger, had no reference, even by implication, to the American type Zapus. But, a few years afterward, in 1826, Fred. Cuvier (Dents des Mamniif. etc. p. 187) committed the Gallicism of Miriones, and said : "Le type de ce genre est le dipu* americanu», de Barton." without the slightest allusion to Illiger, — just as if he were proirosing a new genus. All that he did, however, was (o transfer lUiger's name to a totally different generic type, to which Illiger never intended it to apply. The case is parallel with that of Wagler's nnd Wag' jr's transferriftg of Jaculun from certain Old World types to the Ameri- can one. It is immaterial whether or not Meriones is tenable for the group upon which Illiger based it ; it certainly cannot stand for any other group. Hence it is clear that the American animal never had a name based upon itself, nor any teiukble name, until Zapus was proposed. In establishing the genu.s I thought it unnecessary to more than briefly allude to the facts in the case ; but, as I observe some indisposition to coincide in this instance with my views, I have thought proper to set forth my reasons at length. ZAPUS HUDSONIUS, Coues. SYNONYMY. IHpmt htid$omuu, Zi>»iBBi(.kNN, Gfoj;. Gescli. ii, 1780, 358, Nu. 36H (based on' tbo Long-legged Honseof Hndnon's Bay, of Pennant).— B<)DD.£KT, Elencb. Anini. i, 1784, 110 (based on Zimniermaun). — SciiRKBEK, "Siiug. . . . 8Gl,No.G".— Fischer, Syn.Mamin. 1829, 340(bns«d on Zimmormnnn), Gerbiliat iadtoiiim; BAriNEsqUK, Am. Moutb. Mng. 1818, 446.— LESSON, Man. i, 1827, !i&7. Umaan kuito»iem», AcDi'BON &. B.vchmax, Q. N. A. ii, 1801, 2.'>1, pi. 80. JatmUu kudttmiiu, Baibq, M. N. A. 1807, 430, pi. '21, f 5 p. x, IH^VJ, Oininison'H &^ Bi>.cla, ZmMEBM AUK, Penn. Arkt. Zool. i, 1787, 131 (erroneous identification with ilui Umgipet aueU). Mu» camadtatu, •' PKSNAirr " ( merely Lotin rendering of " Canada rat " f ). 7>ip 1 i i !r » { iiiii W 'its ^! Pj. ii m^ 1 1 'I ill .(i ■■■''' 81 ... * M ^ Wlilh WIS 4 472 MONOORAPnS OP NORTH AMKRIOAN RODKNTIA. palate extends l)iick of the niolnr stirioa, md the contracted intcrpterygoid spnco is narrowly angular. The inaxillo-i ilatino suture of Zaptis, liUewiwc, is differently located, l)eiiig opposite the interspace between tlu; penultimatn and preceding molar, instead of much farther i)ack. Timre is a pair of con- spicuous palatal foramina o[)posite tlie penultimate molar. The contour of the palate differs from that of Mus, and perhaps a majority of allied Rodents, in being broader in front than behind. The incisive foramina are of great length, as well as quite broad, reaching from 'iltlo behind the incisors to oppo- site the molars; the perforation is half in t.ic intermaxillary, half in the max- illary ; the bony sejttum is swollen exeei)t at its posterior j)art. The form of tiie descending jjrocess of the mandible is a strong charac- ter of Znpus in comparison witii Mus, &c., in which this plate of bono is more or less squarish, and vertical or nearly so. In ZopuK, the same plalc is strongly twisted out of the axis of the jaw, standing diagonally outward and upward, — very much, in fact, as in SaccoviyidtP. The coronoid is rather weak, falcate, acute, with a strong slope ; it slightly overtops the condyle. The latter sets strongly backward, though it is rather more erect than in Mus. Tiie incisor causes a moderate protuberance outside, at the root of the condylar process. Inside, nearly opposite, is the conspicuous ibramen of the inferior maxillary nerve. B. Dental characters. — The superior incisors are short and stout, with a strong curve ; their anterior faces strongly suleate, with the outer half of the tooth rabbeted down so thai the groove is plainly visible from the side. Tlie inferior incisors are not specially noteworthy. The molar series differs from that in Murid(f proper (except Sminthus) in the presence of a small premolar in the upper jaw, with no tooth to correspond in the lower series. This minute premolar is single-rooted; the three following teeth have three roots apiece, — a lengtiiwise pair of slender fangs outside, and a single stout fang, apparently formed of two coalesced roots, inside. The lower molars have each a pair of roots, in single lengthwise series. The upper premolar is the smallest of the whole, and simply circular; the next two are about equal in size; the last is much smaller. A similar proportion is seen in the under series. The pattern of the molar crowns is much complicated. C. External characters. — A general Murine form is modified by the great development of the hin>^ limbs (much as in Dipodida or some forms of Sac- comyidte), and especially of the pes itself; an unusual lengtli of tail, which ZAPODlDiH— ZAPD8 1IUDSONIU8— KXTEUNAL CUAUACTKllS. 473 grcntly oxceods that of llin iMxIy ; n pociiliiir (•ondition Of tlio oxtcrnni cnr; nnd a pli^sid^fiiomy (|iiite Wko. tlmt iif the Sacromt/ida. There are also well- (levclciped iiitertinl cli('ck-|i()iiches, shared, in a less degree however, by vnriuus Aiiierican Muridce* These pouches, as well as eaii he judged from alcoholic specimens, are leliitively nhout as large as those of Tamiax I'or iustnnce. The l)ody of Xnjiu.t is large l)ehiii«br Stellacooni, W. T Atituku From tip 0 f noae to — Tail- Length of— 1 1 ..i t 1 Fore foot. i •O.K O.M 1.00 9:75 5.00 0.40 1.30 0.4j 0.7.1 I.OO 8.00 5.39 o.;)5 1.18 0. V, 0.90 1.00 3.00 0.00 0.37 1.30 0.43 0.80 0.95 3.75 4.50 0.45 1.18 0.40 0.1^ 0.95 3. CO 5.30 0.43 O.US 1.00 3.75 4.75 0.35 MS 0.4S 0.00 1.00 3.30 5.35 0.40 1.18 0.45 0.90 1.00 3.75 4.80 a 40 1.10 0.45 o.eo 1.00 3.75 4.35 0 35 I.IS 0.45 0.1)0 1.10 3.10 4.05 0.45 1.15 0.50 0.95 1.00 3.8.1 5.00 0.4.1 0.85 l.ro 885 4.90 0.40 1.13 n.4S 0.110 1.00 3.00 .\00 a 40 1.15 0.45 0.85 1.00 390 4.05 0.43 1.13 0.45 o.e> i.to 3.85 4..'!U 0.45 1.15 0.45 0.85 I.OO 8.85 4.75 0.45 1.15 0.40 O.eo 0.95 8.0O 4.40 ■ 0.40 1.05 0.40 o.so 0.90 880 4.-0 0.40 1.10 0.50 1. 00 1.15 3.00 MO 0.48 1.15 0.40 O.M 0.05 3.75 4.50 a 43 1.13 0.45 1.00 6.10 0.50 1.35 0.44 0.86 0.00 3.89 4.00 0.43 1.15 *A11 meaanromenta ore In KaKliah Inuhes and deoimala. OEOORAPHICAl. DI8TBIBUTI0N. The dispersion of Znpus hudsonivs in North America can at present be given only in somewhat general terms, pending precise information respect- i-L p i :■ \ 1 w 11 .1 m^ 'l-iy 'itS m-M 7j\vot>idm—z\vus hudsonius— general history. 477 ing both nortlicrn and southern limits uf its distribution. It inhabits the greater part of British America and tlie United States, from Atlantic to Pacific. The northernmost recorded locality I have noted is Great Slave Lake, latitude 62° ; and the southernmost is Virginia, where I have myself observed it. It was originally described from Hudson's Bay, Labrador, and Canada, and appears to be particularly numerous in the last-named region and northern half of the United States. Audubon surmises, with mucii reason, that it exists south of Virginia, at least in mountainous regions; while there is no doubt of its presence in elevated portions of Arizona and New Mexico, which harbor such a truly boreal animal as Gulo luscus. We have found it in Dakota, and it is known to occur on the Pacific coast, in Washington Ter- ritory ; while the moist and comparatively warm climate of tiie wooded region, thence northward, we may properly surmise, will carry its habitat far into Alaska. Its dispersion will probably ultimately prove to be little, if any, less extensive than that of Hesperomys leucopus ; although, as it is more strictly a woodland animal, there are large treeless areas within its general range where probably it does not exist. HISTORY OF THE SPECIES Tiie latter part of the last century gave us our earliest accounts of this species, under various names, from three apparently separate and independent sources, — Pennant, Davies, and Barton. Thomas Pennant is said to have first described the animal under the name of the "Long-legged Mouse of Hud- son's Bay", or some equivalent expression;* and' this became the basis o*" the first technical appellation quoted. Dipus hudwriius, conferred by Pro- fessor Zimmermann in 1780. Pennant erred in dy for 1798, the * The rnforence is not at band as I wrltu. t An Aooonnt of the Jnniping Mouse of Caniula. Uy T. Uavitss. < Trana. Linn. Soc. !v, ITUti, pp. 166-167, pi. S, tffo lower flga. Named rHp»ii oanadimiii on p. 157. i In™ t 1 y II ' i p HH 1 Bj_ i w , :| n i:' i'i' '11 4V8 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. species being called Dipus canadensis. The article Was immediately copied into Tillocii's Pliiiotioj'liical Magazine,* with reproduction of the colored plates by wliich it was illustrated. These same figures, representing the ani- mal in activity and in repose, were also copied by Dr. G. Shaw in his General Zoology in 1801 (plate 161), and the species became established upon this name '^canadensis", already tbe tliird one bestowed upon it. Tlie fourth designation of the species, "Dipus americanus", is derived from Barton ; it really anticipated Davies's '^canadensis", though not in date of publication. In the year 1796, Prof B. S. Barton communicated an account of the species to the American Philosopliical Society, which body published it in the fourth volume of their Transactions, t bearing date 1799. In this article, the learned and ingenious author named a species, Dipus americanus, on page 115; he discussed at length its probable relationships with Dipus hudsonius of Zimmermann, and with "Mus longipes", coming to the conclu- sion it was distinct; and finished with an interesting account of its habits. Some years later, the same writer presented to tlie society a second paperj on the species, devoted to further consideration of the creature's habits, with special reference to its torpidity or hibernation. These excellent accounts of Professor Barton's have probably not been excelled in accuracy of detail. We thus see how the species came to be generally known by three dif- ferent names, — hudsonius, canadensis, and labradorius, — to say nothing of the ''Mus longipes". Later authors are nearly equally divided in their use of those terms, but hudsonius clearly has priority. Coming to later synonyms, I find a quotation of a Gerbillus sylvaticus, a name said to liave been proposed by S. L. Mitchill, without accompanying description ; and also of a Meriones nemoralis, attributed to Is. Geoffroy St. Hilaire. These references I have not been able to verify. Afler treating of "Gerbillus" canadensis, in his Fauna Americana, in 182.'), apparently from fair acquaintance with the animal, Dr. R. Harlan, in 1839,§ described specimens from Philadelphia as a new species under the * An Account of t'lo.ImnpinK MoiiBe of Conacio, />i/>iM oaiia(ieiia<«. ByT. Davles. < Tilloch'n Pbtl. MsK. i, Aut,'. 17!W, pp. aav,>H7, pi. viii, «g8. (colored) 1, 2. (From Tr. Linn. Soo. iv, 1798, pp. 155-157.) l8on)n nccnnnt of iiii Ainoricun 8|h>cI«h of UipiiH or .Jerboa. < Trans. Anier. PbiloB. 8oc. iv, No. xii, pp. 114-124, with pi. not nunibcroil opp. p. ia4. " Komi " 1795 ; vol. diitetl 1799. tSnpplcnicnt to tliu u:xonut of tliii UipuB americaiim, in tli« IV. Vol. of tlie Transact iooH of tiio Society. Siio No. XII. < Tnms. Aincr. Pliilos. Soc. vi, 1S04, pp. 143, 144. Roa-504 penioillatni 504-509 montioola 5011-512 hispldns 513-B16 bioolor 515-515 Omut Crioelodiptu 015-521 Crlcetodipns dnvDs 516-518 parvus 519-621 Rnbfaniily DiPODOHTiNA 521-542 Oeuiis iXpodomyf 521-542 Dipodomys pbUlipsi 540-541 ordl 541-642 486 Uu' h.> Family SACCOMYID^. PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS. The family Saccomyida, as understood and defined in this article, con- sists of the genera Dipodomys, Cricetodipia, Perognalhm, Heteromys, and " Saccomys".* The animals composing the family are confined, as fur as now known, to North and Middle America and the West Indies. They may be immediately recognized by the possession of ample external cheeU-pouches, lined with furry integument, and opening outside the mouth, taken in connec- tion with a generol Murine aspect; for the Geomyida, \\'\\\c\\ arc the only other Rodents known to possess such cheek-pouches, are entirely different in external appearance. * The genus Saoeomyt of Fr. Cnvter was probably based npou n speoicH of Hetavmyt, and is there- fore likely to prove to be a synonym of the latter, as Dr. Peters has endeavored to show. (See Monatsb. Akad. Berlin, 1874, pp. 354-359.) The genua Abromyt of Gray (Proo. Zool. Soc. 1668, 30!2) is not included in the above enumeration, as it is not recognizable. It is doubtless equivalent to Perognalhut. (See this memoir, beyond.) In the valuable paper to which allusion has Just been made (" Ubor die Tascbenmiiuse, Nnger mit iiussereu taschenlormigen Backentaschen, nnl eine nene Art derselbed, Heteromys adspersus, ans Pana- ma ". < Monatob. kangl. preuss. Akad. Wisa. Berlin, Hal 1874, 88. 354-359, mit Taf.), Hr. W. Peters remarks (p. 350) respecting Saccomya as follows : — " Von diesen beiden letztereu [Gattungen Heteromyf, Saccomyt'i ist die Gattnng 8accomy» nach einem einzlgen ganz Jnngen Exemplar aufgestellt, welches sioh von den blsher bokanuten Arten dor Gattnng Heleromya duroh den Mangel platter Stachelborsten undeine etwas verscbicdene Schniclzfaltnng der Backziihne auszeiohnet. Naoli eincr genauen Vergleiohung der 9i>^><'>°'^'>^i Abbandlung ttber Soccomy* bin ich indess zu der (Tberzeugung gekomnien, dass diese beiden Merkmale in dieseui Kalle nicht fainreichend 8ind,um dieAnfBtellungeinerliesonderonOattung an recbtfertigen. Denn 1. bemerkt man aoch bel anderen Ni;gem,die im reiferen Alter mit Stachelborsten versehen sind, dass diese bei ganz jnngen Tbieren noob nicht znm Vorschein kommen, nnd 2. ist die Verscbicdenheit der Scbmelz- bildnng der Backziihne zwischon Sacoomyi nnd Hettromyt nicht grosser als bei Individnen vericbiedenen Alters derselben Artanderer Nager, z. B. von Afynnu ^Im und Spalax typkltu. Icb bin daberd r .Moiiiung, dass Sacoomyi mit Heleromyi zn vercinigen sei." And, respecting the qnestionabie habitat of the species S. anthopkUut, the writer adds, in a foot-note : — " Bekanntlich grttndcte Fr. Cnvier seine Annabmo, dass Saccoiftyt anthophUtu n ord amerlkanlsch sei, daranf, dass Knnth in den Backentaschen seines Exemplars Bliithenreste von iSeoKridaoa L. fand. Hr. Prof. Braun hat mir indessen gUtigst mitgetheilt, dass die meisten Arten der Polygaleen-Gattnng iSecHridaoa L. Brasilieu und Columbien, einige Wostindien ango. hdren, eine Art ans Mexico angefllhrt sei. Dieses spricht daber dafUr, dass das Vaterland von Saccomy anlhopkUiu von dem der bisher bekanntea Arten von Hettromyi nioht versohiedcD sei." 487 :iis> !■: iiiHil Hill 488 MONOGliAPUS OF NOltTU AMERICAN KODKNTIA. A group Saccomyina* unnys, Peiognatlius and Heteromys. Di. "'••ay, and, following him, Hr. Peters,** divided the Pocket Mice into two gro. p of no assigned value, namely, * Uulletiu U. 8. Oeol. aud Geogr. Surv. Terr. 3d Ber. No. % J^b, pf 83 ttq. ; and Proo. Acad. PhiU. 1875, p|). 873 ttq. t Synopsis of the Species of RaccoiuyiniD, or Pouched Mice, in the Collection of the British Museum. < Proc. ZoOI. Soo. Lond. 16(>8, pp. 199-306. t ArrauKeuient of the Families of Mammals. With Analytical Tublos. Prepared for the Smithsonian Institution. < Smiths. Misc. Cull. No. 330. (Svo, Washington, 1873.) i Ueniaiks on the Meuns Dipoihiiiiys and Perognathus. < Pmc. Pliilti. Acad, vi, 1853, pp. 334, 335 y Mammals of North America, p|i. 4(F>-43DUMVlNJS (Dipodomys alone.) 2d, 3<1, and 4th cervical vertebrie anchylosed. Molars rootless. Ant«rior molar a simple prism. SknU two-thirds as wide as long, and half as high as wide. Mastoids extraordinarily developed (even for this family). Tympanic completely bullous. Occipital plane deeply emarginate. Petrosals in mutual contact at their apices, and Assured away from basi-occipital. Zygomatic plate of maxillary roofing much of tho orbit. Farietals triangular. Interparietal longer than wide. A deep pit on inner side of lower Jaw near tho molars. Hind limbs elongated, Jerboa-like, highly salta- torial. Inner hind digit rudimentary and elevated. Soles densely hairy, like a rabbit's. Pelage comparatively soft (for this family).— Having never seen a specimen of Heteromys, I am unable to say how nearly this genus may coincide with the characters of Perognathidina as here established ; Mr. Alston* seems to consider it closely related to Perognathus ; 80 does Hr. Peters ;t but it is my impression that it will prove to constitute * See his characters of these genera, as quoted in foot-note on a foregoing (page 490.) t Hr. W. Peters (loc. supra cit. p. 355), endorsing Waterhonse's and Baird's views of tho constitution of the group, proposes to divide it as follows : — a. Dlpodomyina, with rootless molars, grooved upper iDoisots, aud no spines in the pelage. Dipodomys Gray = Maorocoliu Wagner. b. Heteromyina, with rooted molars. t Upper incisors grooved. Perognalhut Maxim, and the subgenera Abromyt Gray and Cricelodipm Peale. 1 1 Upper incisors broad and smooth in front. Jletcromya Desmarest and Saccomya Vr. Cuv. In characterizing his new species of Hcleromyt, H. adipernu, Hr. Peters gives (loc. snpro oit, pp. SACCOMYIDJE-BUDFA-MILY PEKOGNATUIDIN^. 495 a third sublamily. In such case, sonu: few of the characters of the three would be as follows : — DiPODOMYiN^. — Molars rootless ; upper incisors compressed, sulcate Temporal region enormously inflated. Pelage comparatively soft. PERCKiSATHiDiNA;. — Molars rooted ; upper incisors compressed, sulcate. Temporal region moderately inflated. Pelage comparatively hispid. Het£ROmyin.£. — Mohxrs rooted ; upper incisors broad, smooth. Tem- poral region "not inflated". Pelage "mixed with flattened spines". Subfamily PEllOGNATHIDTN^. ■= PerognaUat (g«tiDi>), of AL'TIIOItti. s= PengMatkidima, Coce^, Proc. Pliilii. Acud. lt)7'>, S78. The characters of the group having been already sufficiently elucidated, it remains to note the two genera by which it is represented in North Amer- 357-359) a mote satisfactory accoDnt of the cburoctvr^of tho genus tbau I have seen elsewhere. As this aoeoani fomisbe* importaot infurmation iiertinont to tho general sabjcct, I transcribe his diagnosis of the geous, and give a version of those portions of the description of the species which tend to further elucidate the generic characters. " Deatfs iodiiiTi pagina antica laevigali exserti, molares ^ complicati radicati ; labrnm integmui; rictus pefparros ; n»tmm prominens, rhinario undo ; sacculi buvcules externl piloai ; auriculae mediocres ; Tellug aetcMam, setis lanceolatis, caualiculatis; pedes pentae a good species, bat has been onriously badly drscribed. It is daric lirown above, not blacic, and tho' the thr is sparse and somewhat bamh.itis not iu the least bristly I Qray aeeins to have had both this specimen and bis Heltromni mtla»olt»eu» in his bands when be wrote and to have confused one with the other. H. ie»mare»iianH$ Or. and B. adipenu* Ptn. will prove, I fancy, to be identical Dr. GUnther bas lately got a perfect spirit specimen of B. anoma- itu Tbomps., so we may expect a full aoconnt. of its anatomy. As yon surmised, Oray's fonr other species, B, melaiiol«Heit$, longicaudatiu, imratui, and alboUmhalM, seem to belong to one rather variable species. . . , ." * (n a specimen of CrioffodijiKt, I clearly see Ibat a long slender spur is sent ont from the squamosal, like a clasp or hasp, lying above and reaching back of the meatus. Cf. what is said of an appar- ently similar, but not well made out, appearance in Dipodamf, beyond. It is, in this case, a slender remnant of sqnamosal bone, left in an ordinarj- place, after most of the bone has been shoved into the orbit by the uncruachmont of the mastoid. 32 M mmmmmmtm \lWt "1 498 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN Rt)DENTlA. Ifir:: " !i m<.i t ; articulation with tlie rostral bones, and with straight sides co'ivergent posteri- orly.* There is a large lachrymal of very irregular shape, extensively scroll- like, very delicate in texture, and loosely attached ; it closes a large aperture lending into the nasal chamber. The orbit is also perforated behind by a single very large foramen of exit of cranial nerves. It is bounded in front, but not roofed over, by the zygomatic plate of the maxillary, not noticeable in character. The extremely delicate malar sutures in front for a long dis- tance, clasp-like, against the zygomatic process; behind, it simply abuts against a slight heel of the squamosal, almost in relation with the tympanic. The singularly displaced "anteorbital" foramen is a large rounded aperture in the side of the snout, communicating directly with the nasal cavity. The nasal bones are parallel-edged for most of their length, but widen a little and become semitubular anteriorly where they project; they are truncate behind, reaching opposite the middle of the jagged fronto-maxillary suture. The sides of the rostrum are contracted below, leaving a very narrow bridge of bone between molars and incisors ; the contracted incisive foramina are bounded behind l)y the maxillaries, though they are chielly pierced in the intermaxillaries. The intermolar portion of the palate is longer than wjde, and a little convergent anteriorly ; the maxillo-palatine suture is opposite the second molar; there is a pair of deep palatal pits opposite the last molars; behind there is a pair of much larger vacuities bounded by palatals in front, sphenoid behind, and pterygoids internally. The latter are simple, straight, nearly parallel processes, bounding the contracted posterior nares, and abut- ting against the petrosals. The orbital plate of the sphenoid is of moderate extent, owing to the size and site of the squamosal. The molars in this genus, as in others of the family excepting Dipodomys, are all rooted. They have been said to have four roots, but such is not the case in the specimens I have examined. In P. penicillatus, all the upper molars have three roots apiece, and all the under molars have two roots apiece, excepting the back upper one, which has but one. The front upper molar has one root in advance, corresponding to the anterior lobe of this tooth, and a pair of roots obliquely side by side behind. The next two upper molars have each an exterior pair of roots, lengthwise, and a larger single root 'Neither this nor any other North American genus shows the ridge of the frontal, which in Htttromft, asflgtired by Peters, makes a boss, or bead, along the margin nf the orbit, and thence extends into the parietal region. This would seem to be a good character of Heteromjiina ; and the akuU of the latter is peculiar iu other respecte — to Judge ih)iu Petera'a flgnre. SACCOMYID^— PEltOGNATHIDINiE— PBROGNATHD8. 499 oil the interior side; the bnck upper molar is simply single-rooted. Tlie under molars linve each n pair of roots, aligned lengthwise in a single series, but the two roots of the back lower molar are imperfectly distinguished. With these last exceptions, each root of ad the teetli has its own distinct socket in the alveolus. In the perfectly unworn state, the crowns of the molars are studded with tubercles in regular transverse series. In the upper jaw, the anterior molar has four,— an anterior, a posterior, an exterior, and an interior, with perhaps another one part way up the anterior lobe. The second and third upper molars have each six tubercles, in two straight transverse rows of three each, these rows separated by a deep sulcus. The smaller cir- cular back upper molar tends indistinctly to a similar state. In the lower jaw, the tuberculation is very similar; but the four tubercles of the first molar are in an anterior and posterior pair, and on the last one the tubercles become indistinct. The teeth present a very different aspect when the tubercles are ground offwith wear. Each transverse row of tubercles becomes converted into an island of dentine, there being thus, on the intermediate molars at any rate, a pair of such transverse dentine islands separated by a double ridge of enamel partition, between which is the bottom of the sulcus already mentioned. This enamel fold makes in from the out«r side of the tooth nearly to the inner side. The front molar shows a little isolated island of dentine anteriorly, nearly circular, and a broad transverse one posteriorly. The state of the under teeth is substantially the same. ExpianaHon of fig,.- The upper incisors are small, compressed, with a ^'* «""■• '■> »"«•' «»»«> twice the natural size: strong backward set. Their face is deeply channelled upper flg. r. moii\, 225 (iiiuro iiieiitioii).— Add. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1(^4, a08 (copiiMl from Wixidh.).— lll>., M. N. A. 1657, 41H, pi. EC, f. 5.— Giiav, P. Z. 8. IWW, aoi (wrong locality assigned) t— ColiEs, Am. Nut. i, 1SC7, ;iU7 (Arizona) —CoUKS, Proc. Pbilu. Acnd. ia75, 8M7 (nu.u(>;;rapbii;).— ColKs & Yaurow, Zuol. Expl. W. 100 Merid. 1876, 110. Peroynalhtti parvus, LeContk, Pioc. Acul. Nat. 8i-i. Pbila vi, 1853, 826 (in part. Not Crieelodipua pairtu, Peale.) (The npucinieu noticed from the Colorado Desert is now before me ; it ih apparently » very youug azumple of i*. peniciUatun.) DiAONOSis. — About the size of Hespfiomys leucopus. Tail vertehrse obvi- ously longer than head and i)ody. Hind foot more 'han one-fourth the length of head and body. Tail crested above toward the end, .mri with long term- inui pencil of hairs. Soles ' thumb is no more conspicuous than one of the palmar pads. The other dibits bear ordinary claws ; the 3d is longest ; the 2d and 4th are subequal to each other and but little shorter than the 3d ; the 5th is more abbreviated, but its claw- tip etill falls beyond the base of the 4th claw. As a consequence perhaps of the desert habitat of this species, the nakedness of the soles, which is one of the secondary characters distinguish- ing all the species of Perognathus from those of Crieetodipus, is here carried to an extreme. The sole may be called naked without qualification ; for the fringe of hairs which droops over its sides does not encroach in the least upon the under surface except just at the side of the contracted posterior part of the heel itself The whole sole is uniformly paved with minute gran- ulations. Among these, one constantly larger than the rest is always observed on the inner side about half-way down the metatarsus; and a similar one is found at Ihe base of each of the digits. The digits are marked beneath with transverse lines of impression, and end in smooth, slightly clubbed tips. The first digit, though small, is perfectly formed, and iiears an ordinary claw, tiie tip of which falls opposite the base of the second digit ; the longer 3d digit but slightly exceeds the 2d and 4th, which are about equal to each other; the end of the claw of the 5th digit falls opposite the middle of the 4th one. In the development of the hind limbs of this and the next closely allied species of Perognathus, there is more indication of a saltatorial tendency thun appears in the case of /'. fasciatus, but the difference is not very striking; it is no more than that which may be inferred on comparison of Crieetodipus parvus with C. JUwus, and it falls far short of the state of the case exhibited by Dipodomys. Still, the supposed saltatorial character is further borne out, m SACCOMYID^— PEUOGNATniDIN^— p. PENICILLATUS. 507 upon nnalojiy, by the peculiar character of the long penicillate (ail, already fully described. I fin«l it difficult to describe the color of the upper parts satisfactorily. It was called by Baird "a light dull yellowish-brown or tawney, lined with dark-brown". The prevailing tone is decidedly "gray'' in comparison with the strong mixed yellowish and blackish of P. fascialus — somewhat the shade of dilute coffee and milk. The lighter hairs are dull yellowish-gray, with darker lining of hair brown. There is a general tinge of the palest possible cinnamon. All the bases of the hairs are of the color of fresh-cut lend. There is no appreciable lateral stripe of different color from the upper parts, although, just along the line of junction with the white, the color lightens a little for lack of the darker brown lining. The extreme tip of the snout, the cheeks, the whole fore leg, the inner aspect of the hind leg, the feet, under side of tail, and under parts generally, are white ; the line of demarca'ion runs straight from nose to hind leg, where it drops down to the heel. The upper surface of the tail and the brush at the end are hair-brown. Some of the whiskers are black; others, like the claws, are colorless. The external sexual characters of this and other species of the family are readily recognizable. In consequence of the development of the os penis, the prseputial sheath is a resisting prominence immediately in advance of the anus. The same part in the female shows a conical flap depending from the front of the vulva. Having only about a dozen adult specimens of this species to examine, the full range of variation can only be given with approximate accuracy. Still the series is a very good one as far as it goes, and the number of alco- holics afford reliable measurements. Dr. Woodhouse's type is much fiided by twenty years' exposure to the light. The others agree perfectly in colora- tion, and the differences in size are slight. I may here remark that, in Pro- fessor Bnird's table of measurements the dimension (nose to tail) given from the dried 8j)ecimen8 there enumerated is certainly over the mark. Thus, Woodhouse's type is given as 4.12 long, whereas the original description of the same specimen says 3.50. ■ilit 508 IMOSOOUAPnS OP NORTH AMKIIIO.AN UODBNTrA. Tablk l.—Meaturemeiils of eleven apecimeiit o/PKnoGXATiius pknicillaivs. •36;ri 1333 i.m lin 8010 433 'a tymb 4a34e 493«e oppo- site side of the river. Specimens are rare ; there may be none whatever in Eura|>e. Woodhoiise, LeConte, Bnird, and myself are possibly the only nat- uralists who siieak of the species from autoptical examination. The relationships of some allied species being considered under other heads, the only \wuit here arising for discussion relates to the ^' Cricelodipus pa/vus" of LeConte, /. c. The specimen upon which that writer based his remarks is now before me It is not adult, as supposed, but very young and ungrowD, as shown by the unworn state of the teeth ; although Ihe tail is not crested, there arc indications tiiat it would have become so ; the relative pro- portions and colomtion are exactly as in P. penicillatus, to which I have little hesitation in referring it. In any event, it is a true Perognathus, and not Cricelodipuf at all, as shown beyond question by the obviously naked soles' and distinctly recognizable lobe of the antitragus. PEROGNATHUS MONTICOLA, Baird. Konntain Fooket-monse. PcrayMfln utmllcoU, Baird, M. N. A. 1857, 423, pi. 51, figs. 3a-A (St. Mary's, Rocky Sloantains).— Seen., P. R. R. Rep. xii, pt. ii, 1S60, 101 (notice of the same specimeD).— CouKfi, Proc. Pbila. Acad. 1(475, 293 (described from another specimen from Fort Crook, Cal.). — TCoUES & Tarrow, ZuuI. Exp], W. 100 Merid. 1H75, 110 (two si>ecimen8 donbtfnlly referred here). PmfMiku wUipilfM*, CoCES, Proc. Acad. N.kt. Sci. Phila. 1875, 29monie. PengnaihM Mtpidiu, BAinn.Hi N. A. 1857, M\, pi, 51, fl|;. 4a-j)i.— Baird, U. S. and Mex. B. giirv. ii, |it. ii, IRSO, Hamni. 4J.— Quay, P. Z. 8. 1868, auj (compiled).— Coukh, Proe. Pbilii. Acad. 1H75, 806 (rt-diaciused, but wItbuDt msteriul addiliuual to (but in Baird'a buuds In 1857). DiAQNOSis. — Ear smull, not projecting 'beyond the fur; its structure as in P. fasciatus and penicillatus (tragus and antitragus both lobed). Soles naked. Tail not penicillate, rather longer than head and body. Fur exceed- ingly stiff and coarse. Above, yellowish-cinnamon, closely lined vvitii blackish, the color not descending on the fore leg at all. Sides with a conspicuous fulvous stripe. Tail bicolor.. Under parts, with hind feet and whole of fore leg, white. Length between 3.00 and 3.50 ; tail rather more. Sole of hind foot 0.90. Habitat. — 'J'he only two specimens known of this species were procure*! by Lieut. D. N. Couch at Charco Escondido and Matamoras, Tamaulipas. Since the introduction of this species, as above, no additional specimens have come to hand ; and as we have no further material for amplification or verification of the original description, there is little more to be said about it at present. The animal appears to be perfectly distinct from any other described in this paper. With much the same size and proportions as those of P. monticola, it is immediately distinguished by the radical difference in the conformation of the ear, the stouter as well as rather longer feet, and the whiteness of the whole fore leg. From penicillatus it differs in the much shorter and not penicillate tail, less extensively denuded soles, and presence of a strong lateral fulvous stripe. It is decidedly smaller than P. fasciatus, with which it shbres the fulvous stripe, with a tail longer instead of shorter than the body ; ears scarcely half as large, &c. From all these species, finally, it differs in the extraordinarily harsh, stiff, coarse hair ; this is of great length and devoid of under fur, as in other species, but represents, in an exagger- ated degree, the pelage which is characteristic of the genus in distinction both from Dipodomys and CricetoHpus. The coloration of the species cannot be given with sufficient accuracy. Both the specimens have been skinned out of alcohol, and the tints are prob- ably Romew4mt modified. One of them has been so discolored by long immer- sion in a dirty fluid as to be of a uniform dingy greenish-brown, in which the 33 H il; M4 MONOGUAPna OF SOUTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. i } V.i- origiiml colore cniiiiot be in llio least discovered. The oilier, in lictlcr state, kIiows the characters pretty well. There is n strong fulvous or salmon- colored stripe along the whole body, just as in P. fascidtun. The light color of the iijiper parts is rntiier n pale cinnamon than the sandy yellowish of P. fmcialiis. The hairs are light plumbeous at base, and many of them arc lipped with Idack, giving the tiark surface-lining. The tail is sharply bicolor, lo corrcsj)ond with the body. The under parts, including the whole fore leg and the foot and inside of the hind leg, are white. As in the case of /'. monticoln, further information rcs|>ecling tiiis species is much to be de.i(Di. B. H. " Fnr soft, abnndnnt, gray-woHbrd, with blackish tips ; chin and nndcr side of body whitish ; tail tnporing, grny, with ft blackish-brown upper snrface and tip ; hair of tbe back dark lead-color, with a short gray Irand and niinnte black tip. " Perognathus inoiiticolor [sio], Lord, in B. H. " f Perognathus monticola, S. Baird, Hamm. N. A, 48S, t. 51, f. 3 (skull). "Hab. British Columbia (£ord). "The l«eth destroyed. Length of body and bead 3 inches, of tail 3 inches. It differs from Dipodoniys phillipsii and other species of that genua in having no white spot over tbe eye at tbe base uf tbo ear, or white band ooroas the thigh." >Mi SACCOMYIDiB— rEUOGNATniDINVB-CltlCBTODIl'UB. 51 r> by Mr. E. R. Alston, from exnminntion of thn originnl sppcimon, Uindly inntlc nt my request, Mr. Alston writes : — " The typeof 'Abromys lordi' is in bad condition, the ears being hopelessly distorted ; but it seems to me to be undoubtedly P. monticolu." PEROONATHUS HICOLOR, Gray. Hondnrai Focket-monse. rirognathiu Mcalor, Gray, P. Z, 8. 1866,803. (Hoiiiluriia. Dmcriptlon oonfiinml with that of a upeoios of Iltitromf — fttto AUTtiN, epkt.) Though not an inhabitant of North America as zoologically understood, this species is introduced to complete an account of the genus, and to furnish the occasion for correction of an important error into which the describer was led. The original notice is subjoined.* Mr. Alston writes me, afler examination of the type : — " P.bicolorOrny, (from Honduras,) appears to be a good species, but has been curiously badly described. It is dark brown above, not black, and tho' the fur is sparse and somewhat harsh, it is not in the least bristly! Gray seems to have hod both this specimen and his Heteromys melanoleucus in his hantls when he wrote, and to have confused one with thq other." Gekus CRICETODIPUS. Baird. = T Crictiodipin, Tralk, U. 8. Expl. Expod. 1848, SB. (Type T) = Crlc'eHptii, Baihd, H. N. A, 1858, 4 18. (Type Ptrugaalhu* fiaviu.)—Otixr, P. Z. 8. ISCS, 303.— CoDBS, Proo. Phila. Acad. 1875, 300. = OlognoiU, CouKS, Proo. Pbila. Aoail. 1875, 305. (ProvisloDal unme. Type Perognathm flaviu.) In treating of this form as a subgenus of Perognalhus, Professor Baird clearly showed its external peculiarities, namely, absence of lobation f)f the antitragus, hairy soles, and diminutive size. To these points are to be added the cranial peculiarities coincident with decidedly greater development of the mastoid than that seen in Ptirognathus. The characters having already been given (p. 496), it is needless to repeat them. * " PbroonatIius bicolor, B. H. " Ptroffnatkiu monUeola, OerMrd, Cat. Ronea B. H. (not Baird). Black; npper lip, lower edge of the oboek-poocb, head, and ander side of body and ioner aide of limba white. Fur uniform bristly ; bristles olungatu, slender, wiih a slender point, and intermixed with very slendrr elongated hairs. Tail as long aa the body, with rings, sqnare scales, and short bristly hairs. " Hob. Honduras (SalU). " There is a 8piny Rat from Hoodnras * with a longer tail and smooth frontteeth, agreeing in color with the above." Tho confusion of ideas intimated by Mr. Alston is here obvious. * CbsruterlSMl on p. 904 of the P. Z. 8. for IMS m Btltntimt mtlanaUittiu, with " Ferofiuithiu muotieolor [slol, Qemird, B. M not 8 B«ltd ", quoted m ■ Bynonym. ;:•;■: niC) MONOc.RAPna OP north American rodentia. iiiui: iilliiliii As noticed i'liitlRT dii, tlio Cricetodipus parvus ^A' Pealo iti nn uiicertnin animal. In erecting Cricetodipus into a genug, I take C. Jlavus of Bainl ns the type, and follow tiiis author in distinguishing a second species, whicii latter is prol)al)ly, hut not certainly, the C. parvus of Peale. The two appear to (.onstantly differ in the* following characters: — Tuil Dcarcely or not longer tlian tbe hcwl and body ; bind f(.ot Bcstoely or iiot one-third as long as head nnd UHly. flavus. Tail ducidcxlly longer than hood and body ; bind foot more than one-third oa long ns Ueati ond body, PAUV'is (of Oaird). CRICETODIPUS FLAVUS. Baird. •' •■ Tellow Fooket-monse. Ptrognathtit flavui, Biikd, Proc. Aoad. Nat. 8ri. Phila. 1855, ."m.— Baihd, M. M. A. 1857, ii3, pi. 8, f. 3, pi. 2\ t.Sa-f (assigned to Ci'ioefo({i>«ii).— Baiiid,P. K. R. Rup. x, 1859, 'iunnison's and Beckwith'a Rout«, Maniiu.p.8.— BAriiD,U.8. Mex. B. 8urv. ii, pt. ii, 1859, Mamm. 42.— SuCKL., P. U. B. Rep. xii, pt. ii, 1860, 101 (Montana).— Hayd., Trans. Am. Phil. 8oc. zii, 1863, 147 (Lonp Fork of Platte).— Allkn, Pioc. Bast. 8oc. N. H. xxii, 1874, 42 (Yellowstone River). Crieeodiput flavut, Giiay, P. Z. 8. 1868, 203 (compiled ).—CouE8, Proo. Phila. Aoad. 1875, 300 (mouo- gniphic).— CouES & Yar;iow, ZoOI. Expl. W. 100 Merid. 1875, 109. Oloijiiotit JIaea, CoiiRs, Proc. Fill's. Acad. 1875, 305 (provisional name). Diagnosis. — Much snialler than Mus musculm; head and body two inches ; taU the same ; hind foot 0.65 ; ear small, not overti '^g the fur, simple, without lobe of antitnigus or tragus. Soles entirely hairy on the pos- terior half. Tail not decidedly longer than the head and body. Hind foot scarcely or not one-third as long as head and. body. Above, pale buff, inti- mately blended with blackish ; below, including whole fore leg, snowy white; sides with a clear buff stripe; tail obscurely bicolor; white touches often found about the ears. ' Habitat. — Rocky Mountain region of the United Staves and eastward in the Middle Faunal Province, from the British Possessions (lat. 49°, Coues) to Chihuahua, Mexico. (In the Pacific region replaced by C. parvus.) (Dcscripiion from numerous alcoholic nnd dry specimens, including Baird's types) — In general points of exterior conformation, this animal is so similar to species of Perognathus already fully treated that the account of theF-<; fentures may be abridged, ^he generic character of structuie of the oar and hairiness of the sole, with the diminutive size, are the chief iwinls. The ear is very small and simple, not overtopping the fur of the parts. It is evenly rounded; there is no lobation whatever of either ant'tragus or tragus, the slight notch w hich exists being formed in '"ront by the fol»L -over edge of the ear itself, and behind by the antitrngal ridge. The head is full, SACCOMYID^— PEltOGNATUIDINiB— C. FLAVUS. 517 especially in the frontiil regii)n, tapering to a l>]imtly conical snout, which is densely hairy excepting n minute nasal pad; the upper lip is heavily pilous with a fringe of hairs which droop over and hide the incisors. The eye is rather small, and nearer to the ear than to the nose. The whiskers are verv numerous and fine, the longest exceeding the head. On the i)alms are observed posteriorly two great tubercles, of which the inner is much tlie largest; there are others at the base of the 2d and 5th, and of the conjoined 3d and 4th digits, respectively ; otherwise the palm is studded with minute granulations. The thumb is rudimentary, bearing a small Hat nail; the other claws are of ordinary character ; 3d longest ; 4th little less; 2d shorter; 5th still shorter. The hairiness of the soles posteriorly is a generic character in comparison with Perognathus ; anteriorly they are granular, with a tubercle at the base of each digit, and another on the outer side of the metatarsus u little way up. The small size of the hind feet, however, is one of the most obvi- ous distinctions from C. parvus. The longest hind foot measured in upward of twenty cases is only 0.70 long, or barely one-third of the length of head and body, while the average is much below this, and the minimum is otdy about one-fourth of the length of the head and body. We may say simply that the foot iii usually nearer one-fourth than one-third of this dimension. Similarly, the shortness of the tail is a second character. In a large series, the vertebrsB of the tail average exactly as long as the head and body ; in no case does the tail exceed the body and head by more than 0.2.'j of an inch, and this length is only exceptionally reached. In most cases, any difference which may be oitserved is the other way, the tail being, if anything, a little shorter than the head and body. The tail, as in other species of this genus and of Perognathus (except /'. penicillatus), is closely, but not very thickly, haired uniformly throughout ; the terminal pencil is about 0.10 of an inch long. The pelage is extremely fine, soft, and glossy. The pattern of coloration is the same as in other species of this genus and Perognathus, namely, c ored above with blended lig'nt and dark tints, white below, with a clef.., single-color stripe along the sides. The upper parts are an intimate mixture of pale yellowish-buff with dark brown or blackish ; the hairs are clear lead- color basally, then buff-ringed, then (most of them) dark-tipped. The result- ing tone is nearly uniform over all the upper parts; but there are liable to appear whitish or tawny touches about the ears and eyes, and an appearance of a dark streak along tl.j side of the head. 'I'he fawn-coli id lateral stripe h uninterrupted from nose to hee! ; the tint is rather brighter than the buff 618 MONOORArnS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. m' of tlie upprr parts, and piiif, being not mi.xed with any dusky, and the color extending to tiie roots of" the linirs. The entire nn i 1 1 1 0.40 0.15 0.85 3.39 9.19 0.90 0.70 0.70 0.70 0.60 0.65 0.60 0.63 0.99 0.68 o.a> a55 0.60 Alcobolio Dry. ...do. ...do. Alcobolio. ...do. Dry. AlooboUo. Dry. Alcobolio. ... do. nrv. Black Hills 0.99 0.89 3.00 3.40 1.89 3.30 S.S0 1.90 KeoFork, "Nub." 0.43 0.40 0.80 0.70 0.30 0.93 lU'publicau River, "Neb." ■■ do ? 9 0.49 0.40 0. 4.'i 0.40 0.4o 0.711 0. 7.-. 0. ■ 0.80 0.85 0.8.1 0.05 O.ft". 0.»3 3. SO 2.39 3.10 3.19 1.63 1.90 3.00 3 30 I. 85 3.19 3.30 3.30 3.00 3.00 3.00 1.90 1.80 4 20 i.OO 3.40 Fort Bliss. N.Mcx 9 0.60|Alo. & IIacii., Q. N. A. iil, 1854, 328 (copied from Peule). Perognathiu parmu, Baiiid, M. N. A. 18^7, iH (bnsod on a Bpeoimon from Kln<;'H Kiver, Cal.. duubtfnlly re- ferred to C. parvut. of Peale).— BAllin, P. R. R. Rep. x, 1659,Willlam8uu'8 liouto, 82 (Hnuio specimen). Cricelodipua parvus, CoUKS, Proc. Pliiln. Acad. 1875, 303 (monographic). , Otognoait longimembrii, CouES, Proc. PLilu. Acad. 1875, 305 (proviaioual name). DiAONOSis. — Quite like C. Jtavus ; tail and feet longer. Hind foot 0.70 or more, one-third or more as long as head and body. Tail decidedly longer than head and body; the vertebra; about 2.60 inches to a body of 2.00. Habitat. — United States, west of the Rocky Mountains. California, Utah (and ? Oregon, Peak). Of this supposed species, I have two specimens additional to the material in Professor Baird's hands in 1857. One of them, alcoholic, in good preservation, enables me to give the dimensions with accuracy. (No. 9856, Mus. Smiths. Inst. 9; Fort Tejon, Cal, J. Xantus.) Nose to eye 0.45, to ear 0.70, to occiput 0.90, to tail 2.00; tail vertebrro 2.50, with hairs 2.75; fore foot 0.25; hind foot 0.70; ear above notch 0.25. Another specimen, from Utah (No. 439, Mus. Smiths. Inst., formerly referred by Baird to CJlavus), seems to belong to C. parvus; \he hind feet ar6 still longer — nearer 0.80 than 0.70 — and the tail at least as long as in No. 9856. A third specimen, recently collected by Mr. H. W. Henshaw in Califor- nia, seems to be unquestionably referable to this species. These three are all I have seen. As well as can be judged from the insufficient material before me, this species does not differ materially in color from CJlavus ; and in fact the only diagnostic characters at present appreciable are the greater Icngtli of the hind feet and tail. There is, however, a decided difference in these respects. Further material will be required to confirm the specific distinctness here accorded, or to show that the two supposed species inlergrade. Leaving this matter, we may turn to the history of the species, some points of which call for remark. In the first place, it is not certain that the animal called pareus by Baird 520 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. in 1857, and l)y myself in the prescnl instance, is really the C. parvus of Poiilc. Professor Baird spoke guardedly in the matter, although he did not formally query his citations, as I have done, and I find myself equally in donI)t. Nor do I see how the point is to be determined. For Peale's type, iiaving been lost or mislaid, is not at hand to testify; and Peale's description, tliongli elaborately detailed, will be found to consist entirely of supergeneric characters, shared by all the species of Perognathus and Cricetodipus, except- ing the jdirasc "color above sepia-brown", which is applicable to none of the species known to me. The dimensions assigned agree exactly with those of the animal defined in this article; but they are equally applicable to a very young Perognathus. In fine, there is no proof that Peale's genus and species were not based up(m a young Perognathus — possibly monticola. Therefore, while glad to concede that the probabilities are the other way, I think it safest to query the citation of Peale's animal and tlie compiled references that go with it ; and I rest upon the Perognathus parvus of Baird, about which there is no uncertainty. LeConte's P. parvus, as I have already shown, is doubt- less based upon a very young example of P. penicillatus. Baird's animal, from King's River, Cal., is very immature, as shown by the state of the teeth, though nearly or quite full grown. It curiously resem- bles a very young P. penicillatus (like LeConte's specimen for instance) ; and, indeed. Professor Baird was led, by its immaturity and defective state of preservation, to suggest that it n)ight not impossibly belong to P. penicillatus, though he proceeded to m!,'e it the basis of his P. parvus. It is, however, unquestionably a Cricetodipus, as I can affirm without qualitication from inspection of the skull, which clearly shows the bulge of the mastoid back of an occipital emargination and other cranial characters diagnostic of Cricetodi- pus, to say nothing of the hairy soles and unlobed antitragus. I therefore accept the species as first clearly defined by Baird, without necessarily involv- ing the question by including the doubtful animal of Peale. As already suggested, the chances are that Baird was right in identifying his species with that of Peale, so that the name Cricetodipus parvus will prob- ably stand. But should the contrary prove to bo the case, and Cricetodipus, Peale, 1848, be conclusively shown to be a synonym of Perognathus, Maxim., 1839, a new name, geno-ic and specific, will be required for the subject of the present article. The name OrooNosis would be ai)propriatc, in allusion to the facility vith which the species may be distinguished from those of SACCOMYID^— DIPODOMYIN^— DIPOUOMYS. 521 Perognathus by the structure of the ear. Tlie present species may be called O. longiinfrnhris, as the length of the hind limbs and tail is its specific char- acter ill comparison with O.JUiva. Subfamily D IPODOMYIN^. , = Dipodomyi (KcmiH), of AuTitoiiH. = DipodomijiKW, Codes, Proc. Pbila. Acad. 1875, 877. =iIacroa)lini, Brandt, Bvit. KcDut. Siiuf;. UubsI., viette Abb., Fortsoh. Qrapp. Nugor, 18&5, p. 831 aud p. 311. The characters upon which this group is based having been given on a preceding page (p. 434), we may at once proceed to consider the single genus by which it is represented. Genus DIPODOMYS, Gray. = I>0M(7omva, tORW, Ann. Mag, Nat Hist. Tii, 1811, 521. (Type D. phitlipii.) '' ' = Macrocolui, * Wao.nbii, Archiv fUr Vatnrg. 1846, Jld. i, 172. (Type M. haWcH$.) Chars. — (a. Cranial.) — Skull light, thin, papery, depressed, broad behind with swollen curves, tapering in front ; rostrum acuminate, produced beyond i j'oors; no interorbital constriction; palate plane; occipital surface deeply emarginate. Zygomata straight, thread-like, depressed to palatal plane ; abut- ting against tympanies. Anteorbital foramina represented by a circular per- foration of the front of the maxillaries. Large excavated lachrymals. Parietals triangular; an elongate interparietal embraced between forks of occipital. Squamosals reduced to small plates bounding the orbits posteriorly ; other elements of the temporal bone extraordinarily developed, thin, and bladdery, their sinuses of nearly as great capacity as the cerebral cavity ; the mastoids especially enormous, conf?tituting nearly all the occipital and the greater part of the superior (behind the parietals) surfaces of the skull ; the tympanies proportionally inflated, with large non-tubular orifice of meatus ; the petrosals bullous, their apices in contact across the median line be.ow the basisphenoid. Tympanies, mastoids, and parietals entering orbits. Occipital singularly reduced and narrowed, bent into three planes nt right angles; supra-occipital bifurcate to inclose an interparietal ; paroccipitals narrow, flange-like ; basi- * Tbree special pa^rars, substantially the same, differing in some particnlars, vi?..: — "On a new Oenns of Mexican Olirine Haminalia." < Ann. Mag. N. H. vii, 1841, pp. 521, 522. (The oriKiual notice ; genus 'lamed on p. 521 ; species D. phillipii, same page.) " On a New Glirine Animal from Mexico.'' < Rep. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Soi. foi 1841, 1842, Trans, of the Scc- ons, p. 70. (8ii.;ie orthography of name.) " On a ne>. Jlirine Animal from Mexico." < Araer. Jnuin, Sci. and Arts, xlil, 1^.2, pp. 334, 335. (Editorial reprodnotion of the last ; name D. phillipsii on p. 335.) I Special paper : — "Macrocolns, cine ncuo Nagcruottiing ans dor Farnll'i der Springer." < Arcb. illr Natnrg., zwolfler Jahrp;, Bd. i, 1846, pp. 1*2-17'^. (Speciee M. b..llicuB named, p. 176.) (* Y < \' ' ! I? 1 Jl wnMm. M I 5; 522 MONOGllAPDS OF NOKTO AMERICAN KODENTIA. (iceipitiil seimrnted l)y a continuous fissure from petrosals. Mnndible small, stout, witli u very slight coroiu)i(l. (Z> Dental.) — Superior incisors sulcate, con- riivent, ])()iuting strongly backward ; deeper than wide. Molars (pm. and m., f4) simple, rootless, (c. External.) — General form Jerboa-like; hind legs very long, sallatorial. Tail rather longer tluin head and body, penicillate. Soles densely furry. Feet with 1st digit rudimentary, l)ut bearing a claw. Eyes large and full. Ears large, orbicular. Snout produced, acute, pilous, except the small nasal [md. Wiiiskers half as long as the wliole body. Ujjper lip not cleft. Cheek-pouches ample. Pelage long and very soft. Pictura of body and tail bicolor. Size of a half-grown rut {Mus decumanus). The skull of Dipodomijs, whether taken as a whole or considered in several of its details, is of extraordinary characters not nearly matched out- side the family to which it belongs. Many of its features are shared, to a greater or less extent, by Perognathus ; but the unusual characters are pushed to an extreme in Dipodomys. The foregoing paragraph merely indicates the more salient peculiarities ; the skull is described in full beyond. The enor- mous developrhent of certain elements of the temporal bone, and the results of this inflation upon the connections of the bone, and general configuration of the skull, arc the leading characteristics. With this is co-ordinated the reduction of the squamosal and occipital, and the curious shape of the latter, as well as the anomalous abutment of the thread-like zygoma against the tympanic, and the contact of i\\z petrosals with each other. In Geomyidce, the temporals are of great size, but there is much less distortion of the topog- raphy of the parts, both squamosal and occipital maintaining ordinary charac- ters. The temporal sinuses together are scarcely less capacious than the brain-cavity itself; the sense of liearing must be exquisitely acute, if co-ordi- nated with the osseous state of the parts. Notwithstanding the singular condition of the skull of Dijtodomys, result- ing from the hypertrophy of certain parts and the reduction of others, the relations with that of Geomyidce are both close and clear; while Perognathus constitutes, in many respects, an excellent connecting link. Numerous coin- cidences could be pointed out showing hov/ the hint afforded by the presence in these two families of ample external cheek-pouches is borne out in more essential features, notwithstanding the all but complete difference in general outward appearance. m msm SACCOMYID^— DIPODOMYlNiE— D1P0D0MY8. 523 Description of the xkull of Dipoihnnys. — As in other cases, it will lie ftMiiKJ most convenient to consider tiie skull ns n whole First, and afterward to exam- ine its individual hones. An imiriature specimen is preferable for the latter purpose, though many or most of the sutures persist to extreme olpears under its usual condition of a bulla ossea. I regard as "tympanic" the inflated vesi- cle in wiiich the meatus auditorius is pierced, which appears as a tui)ular pro- longation of the bulla in the nearest allied family, Geomyidce. The rest of the inflation, forming the greater part of the occipital surface and much of the roof of the cerebral cavity, I shall simply designate as "mastoid". The two temporal bones together are little less bulky than all the rest of Hie skull. Excepting the reduced squamosal, all the elements arc sub- jected to extraordinary inflation, as well as peripheral enlargement; they appear as papery vesicles, light, thin, and siuooth, without ridges or angles, inclosing extensive antra, the collective capacity of which is scarcely less than that of the whole brain-case. These vaulted walls are supported by delicate bony arches or trabecule within, and imperfectly partitioned into several cavities by thin septa. The mastoid constitutes the greater part of tiicsc bulging masses. Its backward protuberance occupies nearly oil the occipital surface of the skull on each side, the occipital bone being reduced to a nar- row margin of the foramen magnum, sunk in an emargination between the mastoid and its fellow. On the top of the skull, the mastoid similarly expands, tilling the whole of the area usually occupied by the squamosal, and forming the greater part of the roof of the brain-case. Thus we have the curious circumstances of extensive mastoideo-occipital suture on top of the skull, and still more prolonged mastoideo-parietal suture — for the whole of the longest side of tlie right-angled parietal articulates with the mos'toid; while so great is the anterior prolongation of this same bone, that a small part of it fairly enters the orbit at the back outer corner of the latter. This extensive line of sutures with squamosol, parietal, and occipital bones, respectively, is dis- tinct throughout ; but the boundaries of the mastoid with other otic elements can only be inferred by certain lines of impression which appear to mark it off from petrosal and tympanic. Another point is to be considered here : the flattened and entirely superior jwrtion of the mastoid (that which lies in the ordinary site of a squamosal) is incompletely distinguished from the occipital portion of the same bone by a line of impression running straight across from the margin of the meatus auditorius to the median line of the skull ; and this SACCOMYIDiE— DIl'OUOMYINiE— DIl'ODOMYS. r,*i ■)27 mnrk corresponds to n ncmrl)' complete bony wall williin tlu! hone, whicli piii- titions off one sinus (Voin nnother. This tm\y he hc^realter lounii (o imlieate the respective parts wiiicli certain primitive otic elements tiiiie in the rorinu- tion of the "mastoid". .'.'•-•, The petrosal, i. c, the bulla ossca, is less peculiar than the mastoid ; it is not more inflated than in very many mammals, and is chiefly remarkable for its contact with its fellow, and for the extensive uninterrupted fissures which separate it itoth from basioccipital and alisphcnoid. In general shape it is conoidal, moderately swollen, with the npex of the cone produced, and curiously curved toward tlie median line of the skull, where it meets its fel- low, forming a bony bridge beneath the basisphcnoid. The claw of tlie hamular pterygoid rests against the end of the petrosal ; and close to this there is an abutment of a piece of the sphenoid ; otherwise, there is a great Assure betwixt it and the sphenoid. It is only in contact with occipital ele- ments by means of the flange-like exoccipitals; the whole extent of the basi- occipital being separated, as just said, by a large fissure. Posteriorly it is confluent with the mastoid, with imperfect indication of the precise line of union; exteriorly it is continuous, without appreciable indication of original distinction with the special inflation in which the meatus is situated. This papery vestibule I presume to be analogous with the tubular meatus cxt IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) K^ c ^^<^ Z '^ 4^ « 1.0 I.I I 1.25 bi|2l2 |25 £f lio 12.0 p ^ /i > 3^ ^^ .** *;; y Hiotographic Sciences Corpora[?on 33 WIST MAIN STtKT WIBSTIR.N.Y. 14SM (716)S72-4S03 f 52S MONOORAPnS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. ■m process of the squamosal is of peculiar character; instead of a slender curved epuv reaching around to grasp the malar, there is a short abrupt heel appresscd against the tympanic, and to the roughened face of this heel the clubbed end of the necdic-likc nminr is affixed. The relation of the part« is such that the zygoma appears to articulate l)ehind with the tympanic — it actually has an abutment ogninst that bone, though no real articulation with it From tile lower back edge of the squamosa!, a curious thread of bone starts off* and occupies the deep groove already mentioned as se|)arating the tympanic from the mastoid. No break from the squamosal can be seen in this thread, which curls around the orifice of the meatus, still in the groove mentioned, and ends by a slightly enlarged extremity below and behind tlio meatus, exactly in the position of an ordinary "mastoid process". I am uncertain of the meaning of this. The end of this ligule or girdle of bone thus encircling the tympanic is in the site of the iiostero-lateral angle of the skull in Ofomtfida, in which such angle is formed by a corner of the squamo- sal; and the inference is self-suggestive that this delicate bony strap may rcully be squamosal — an edge of the squamosal persisting in situ after the rest of that bone has been crowded down into the orbit by the encroachment of the mastoid. Such a view, however, will bear further scrutiny. Even if a slender spur of actual squamosal does run out into the tympano-mastoid groove, it does not follow that the whole of the fold in this groove is squamo- sal ; and certainly the enlarged extremity of this ridge, behind the meatus, has every appearance of an ordinary mastoid process. Next after the squamosal, the occipital bone suffers most from the enlargement of the otic elements ; it is singularly restricted in extent, and presents itself in unique shape, compressed between the swollen mastoids. All the lateral occipital saturation is with the mastoid, excepting the basi- occipitul. The occipital lies in three planes, nearly at right angles With each other. The basioccipital is horizontal, as usual, upon the floor of the skull; the exoccipitals, wi(h probably part of the supraoccipital, are per|)endicular behind^ the rest of the bupraoccipital is horizontal again, on top of the skull. The basioccipital is wedge-shaped, and offers nothing very peculiar, except- ing its entire disconnection from the {letrosals, between which it lies; its sphenoidal articulation is just behind the joined opices of the petrosals. ■ £xt)ccipit«l8 appear as a pair of flaring flange-like processes, just outside the condyles, apprcdsed against the otic capsules. The foramen is very large, mSU, SACCOMYID^-DIPODOMTIN^— D1PODOMY8. 529 Buhcirculnr, an«l mostly in ilic perpendicular plane of tiio bone. ARer in- closing this urifice, the bone rapidly contracts as it rises to tlie top of the skull ; this jMirt is marked with a sharp perpendicular median ridge, and the edges of tlio bone being affected in coming into apposition with the swelling mastoids, there results a pair of deep narrow fossa: upon the fuccof the bono. The portion of the supraoccipital which mounts the top of the skull to there lie horizontal, almost immediately forks to embrace a small shield-shaped interparietal bone between its prongs. The ends of these prongs touch jtosterior comers of the parietals. The sphenoid bone is of rather small extent, owing to the situation of tlic squamosals in the orbit. It is wideiy fissured from the petrosids. The alisphenoid is very short ; its termination may be seen in the jagged suture with the squamosal; but short as it is, it only misses taking part in the mandibular articulation, since it extends to the margin of the glenoid. The orbi to-sphenoid is comparatively smaller still, the place it occupies in Geo- myidtt for instance being here largely occupied by the squamosal. Tiie spheno-palatal suture may be traced in young specimens with a zigzag but still in general transverse course, from the side a little behind the maxillary alveolus across the middle line of the skull. There is no vertical orbital plate of the palatal bone ; it all lies flat, and extends forward on the palate, wedge-shaped, but with square termination to a point opposite the first true molar. A backward spur of this bone forms with its fellow a sharp median process. There are various foramina already noted. The pterygoids are small claw-hammers abutting at their extremity against the petrosals. The parietals are nearly right-angled triangles, with one side of mutual apposition along the median line of the skull, another transversely articulating with the frontal, and the hypothenuse postero-exterior, for the mastoid suture. The back curners meet the prongs of the occipital nnd slightly embrace the interparietal. The outer corner is prolonged into a spur which attains the brim of the orbit And here, the remarkable construction of the orbit by an unusual number of bones, may be noted. Following the brim- of the orbit around we find — zygomatic process of maxillary ; lachrymal ; frontal ; spur of parietal ; back upper corner of squamosal ; front end of mastoid ; fore bulge of tym|)anic ; zygomatic heel of squamosal ; whole of malar, and sc back to maxillary. The portion of the frontal which appears on the surface of the skull is 080 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMBRIGAN RODBNTIA. Mi (Ml :ii! i ko}-8tone-8hn|)ecl nnil strniglit, broad behind to articulate with both parietuls, narrowing anteriorly with nearly straight edge, and in front irregularly trans- verse to accoinmoduto its several rostral sutures. It sends a sharp spur on either hand into a recess between the maxillary and intermaxillary, and each intermaxillary causes a shorter, more 'obtuse re-cntrance; the middle part articulating with the nasals is transverse. The orbital portion of the frontal is a simple plate suturing behind with the orbito-sphenoid and squamosal, and in front with maxillary and lachrymal. The latter is of considerable extent, and much excavated ; its edge appears upon the surface of the skull, margin- ing the back of the zygomatic process of the maxillary. The mnlar is very peculiar. In allied Rodents, this bone is a stout arch, ond very Hhort, in consequence of the close approximation of the ends of the zygomatic processes of both maxillary and squamosal. But here there is, to all intentt), no such squamosal process, and that of the maxillary ends abruptly ; so the malar is a long bone, to complete the arch ; it is a straight rod, of thread-like tenuity, with the fore end slightly elbowed and sharpened to lie by oblique suture against the maxillary, on the inner side, and the hind end slightly clubbed to suture by a roughened flat surface with the heel of the squamosal ; and such are the relations of the parts that the malar seems to run against the otic capsule. The depressed position of this bone, which lies down on the level of the |)alate, has bcetualready noticed. The maxillary bone, with a general shape and connections which scarcely require notice, has two peculiarities ; one of these is the singular position of the " ante-orbital" foramen — here a large circular perforation at the anterior border of the side of the bone, altogether remote from the orbit. It lies above and even in advance of the incisive foramina. Its fellow is onlysefNir'- atcd by the width of the compressed muzzle ; there is a thin partition, proba- bly ethmoidal, between them. The other peculiarity of the maxillary is the unusually extended and vaulted zygomatic plate, which thus roofs over a con- siderable part of the orbit. This inflated lamina suddenly comes to a point where the malnr joins it. Its suture with the frontal, or the surface of the skull, is a straight line. The incisive foramina, in Qeomyida, are wholly in the intcrmaxillaries ; in Dipodomys they are formed by both bones, the ii 'xxillaries Iwunding about a third of their periphery. The nasal spur of the intermaxillary extends upon the forehead a little way beyond the ends of the nasals ; while a sharp pro- SACCOMYID^— DIPODOMYlNiE-DirODOMYS. 531 CC68 oftlic frontal separates it from the nmxillury. Tlie alvcolur imrtiun is remarkably curved backward, to suit the trend of the incisors, and a strong alveolar plute separates the teeth for about iiulf tlicir length. The nasals are chiefly notable for their length and tenuity; they reach fur beyond the incisors ; the buck half is linear and superficiul ; anterior to this, wiiere the intermaxillaries bond down, the nasals become sonicwiuit volute, prolonging a semi-tubular snout. Within, delicate turbinal scrolls arc seen extending Ut the orifice. The nasals are supported, nearly to their ends, by small intermaxillary spurs. The mandible remains for consideration. This bone is remarkably smoll, considering the size of the rest of the skull, and is further notable for its slight elevation posteriorly, its short incomplete symphysis, and the thickness of the body of the bone. The coronoid process is remarkably small, not nearly attaining the level of the condyle, at the root of which it appears os a minute, backward sloping, prickle-like spur. Tiic condyloid ramus itself is small, compressed, and oblique. The principal feature of the bone is an im- mense flaring lamina, which arises upon the back part of the lower border of the body of the bone, and expands obliquely outward and upward, with a peculiar twist. This plate-like process is longer than the condyloid ramus itself, ond ends in an acute point, so that the back of the jaw appears two- pronged. There is a deep pit between the alveolus and the root of the coro- noid plate. The mental foramen is conspicuous upon the outside of the jaw close to the incisors. The small size and lowness of the jaw is seen in the peculiarly retreating chin of the species ; and it is probable, to judge especially from the condition of the coronoid, that the biting power is comparatively slight. The vertebral formula of Dipodomys ordii is given by Baird as 7 cervical (with anchyloses of ?d, ?a, and 4th), 12 dorsal, 9 lumbar, 4 sacral, and 28 caudal, = 60 ; tk'^re is doubtless an individual variability of several of the caudal segments. There are five metacarpals and metatarsals, though the inner one of each is reduced. There are perfect clavicles. The tibia and fibula are united below. Dentition of Dipodomyt. — The dentition of D^ndomya is simple. Of the four grinding-teeth above and below, the anterior one is a premolar, being preceded by a deciduous tooth, which, however, is long persistent. This one is rooted and with a more complicated crown thnn the rest ; the molurs .liiiiii it'U'l 532 MONOORAPnS OF KORtH AMERICAN RODENTIA. proper are rootless and pcrcnniul. In both jaws, tlic set of the inulnrs id ver/ oblique; in the upper, the anterior tooth bends strongly backward, andihe ])ustcrior one somewhat forward, thus bringing their crowns in close apposi- tion, though their roots are divergent It is the same in the lower jaw, though the greatest obliquity there is in the strong forward set of the ])osterior tooth. The teeth are all simple, compressed prisms, broader in the trarisversn than in the fore and aft direction. In the worn state, the crowns of the two intermediate molars are simply elliptical; that of the anterior molar is rather n spherical triangle, with convex posterior and two concave anterior sides ; tlic back molar is small and subcircular. It is much the same in the lower jaw. The crowns show simply the brim of enamel, with a depressed island 'uf dentine. In the unworn state, however — such as may be observed in spec- imens with the milk-tooth still in position — there are some decided differ- ences. The outer border of the two anterior teeth shows a deep nick, where there is a re-entrant fold of the enamel; and the back molar has a similar indentation of the inner side. This diminishes regularly with the continuous growth of the incisors, until the crowns are ground down beyond the extent of the infolding, when it ceases to appear and the plain elliptical form of the crown is assumed. The incisors are small and delicate in both jaws, contrasting with the stout scalpels of Geomyidtt, The superior pair are much compressed, being narrower than deep, and strongly curved. Their face is marked by a deep median groove, and the outer portion is rabbeted away, so that the groove is visible in a profile view. The teeth emerge from the sockets some distance apart, separated by an intervening alveolar plate, but they are convergent, and their tips are in close contact Ths under incisors, no larger than the upper ones, are of much the same general character, but are not grooved, the smooth faces being simply rounded off. Their roots make a slight protuberance at the outside of the base of the condyloid ramus. External characters of Dipodomyt. — ^The general configuration of this animal is lithe and graceful, indicating agility and incessant activity. The body is slender, the neck distinct ; the head large, with tapering muzzle ; the eyes and ears are prominent; the fore limbs small and neat indicating pre- dominance of prehensile over merely gressorial faculties; the hinder limbs are of great size, as perfectly saltatorial as those of a Kangaroo or Jerboa ; and the tail is longer than the body. Notwithstanding the saltatorial nature of SAGGOMTID^— DIPOD0MYlMiE-DIPODOUY& 533 the nniiiml, there is none of that preponderance of organization of (he hinder parts witnessed in the Kangaroo, with its massive baunclics and enormous tail ; the whole body is equally slender, the leaping (mwer beinf( tnanifcstcd in tite enlargement of the hind limbs alone ; the tail, too, is slender throughout. The head is distinguished Tivm the body by a well-defined cervical con* striction. The broad high occipital region dips suddenly down to the nape. The upper corners of the head, upon which the ears rest, are elevated and wide apart; the top of the head has in general a triangular shape, tapering from each ear to the snout with but slight swelling in the orbital region, and is quite flat across, with the most gentle longitudinal curve in the frontal region, and nearly straight nasal profile. The muzzle is acuminate and much produced, appearing longer still in consequence of tlic remarkably small retreating chin. The muzzle is entirely hairy, excepting a small nasal pad ; this shows a median depression, but there is no cleft of the upper lip, the whole of which is thickly clothed with stout hairs, that form a dense fringe drooping over and concealing the superior incisors. The lower lip is thick- ened and densely hairy; and there is also a hairy commissure of the upper lip behind the superior incisors, so that these teeth are shut out of the true (mucous-lined) buccal cavity. For the rest, the lips seem to come together vertically instead of horizontally, closing the oral aperture sideways, though of course the buccal cavity or mouth proper shuts as in ordinary mammals. All this is essentially the same as in the Oeomyidte; and further, as in these last, there is a great pouch on each side of the bead, entirely disconnected with the mouth, formed of a duplication of ordinary integument, hairy through- out. These sacs will admit the first joint of one's little finger; they run the whole length of the head, but not beyond to the shoulder. In relative capacity, they about equal the least developed pouches of OeomyiAt — those of Geomjft hupidua for instance. The opening is crescentic ; the inner limb of the semiluno being the skin of the jaws, while the outer limb is a free fold or border arising on the side of the snout half-way between nostrils and incisors and a little back of both, and curving I'Msely around to the side ot the under jaw near its middle. The whiskers are extremely numerous, and some of them are very long. A bunch of short fine ones springs from the extremity of the snout, on each side, by insensible lengthening of the fringe of liairs that clothe the upper li^k Others grow ia the usual site, and the longest of these usually exceed 534 MONtKJRAPUS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. !-;;ii l''ii:l;i ,i!i liiilf (he totnl length of tlic body. There are other long, sicntlcr, bristly liairn ill wcnk clumps iibout the ryes and ears, and a bunch of short antrorsc bris- tles springs rn)in the chin. The eyes arc large and prominent, in life remark- nlily sod and exiircssive, in striking contrast to the small and inconspicuous ryes of the Geomi/ida; in consequence of the production of the muzzle, they are situate much nearer to the ears than to the nose, and rathi'ir above a lino connecting the tvo. The ears, similarly, arc large and "leafy", appearing the more prominent because they rest upon the most protuberant part of the skull. When pressed out flat, the auricle is nearly orbicular. In the natunil state, the fore border is lurgely folded over, the duplication extending from (he extreme root to the highest point of the ear, and representing about one- third of the width of the ear. This fold causes a slight pointing of the ear. The posterior border is more rounded than the anterior; and within its base is developed a large, conspicuous, obtusely-angular antitragus, so broad that its inner edge is extensively overlapped l)y the fold of the onterior border of the auricle ; a fringe of long hairs springing from the base of the anterior fold is directed backward over the antitragus; otherwise the auricle is closely and completely pilous on both sides, the hairy clothing of the open part of the concavity being heavier than that on the buck of the ear. The fore limbs are shortened, in sacrifice of locomotive ability to increase of prehensile faculty. The arm and fore arm are stout ; the latter tapers very abruptly and contracts to A delicate wrist and very small bond. There are four perfect digits, and a rudimentory thumb ; the longer digits rather exceed, even excluding their claws, the length of the hand pro|)er (meta- carpus); the 3d and 4th ore approximately equal in length and longest; the 2d and 5th are successively reduced a little in length ; the 1st is a mere stump; its claw is a knob; the other claws are well formed, slender, com- pressed, acute, little curved, nearly as long as their respective digits. The back of the whole hand is pilous, and longer hairs fringe the sides of the digits; but the palm is naked, minutely tubercular throughout, these number- less little elevations showing no recognizable special distribution. The hand ends behind with an enormous smooth bulb, a little to the inner side, and with a smaller external bulb, likewise smooth, separated from the main one by a narrow hairy interval. The hinder limbs offer the opposite degree of development. While the fore, from the elbow outward, is only a fourth of the total length, the corre* SACCOMYIDiE— DIPODOMYIN^— DIPODOMY8. 535 sponding measurement of the hind limb, that i8, from the knee ontwani, is (hrcR-fiilhs or more of the whole length, and the hind foot ulone iH nhout one- thinl of such dimension. There is no noticeable biilkincss of llic huunclios, but the hams are massive, fluttencd-conoidai, suddenly contracting at the lower third, where the crus is of much less calibre than the foot. Tlierc is a prominent heel, and an obvious tendo Achillis. The metatarsus is subcylin- drical, widening to a broad foot with strong digits. The whole foot reminds one of a rabbit's ; a resemblance heightened by the dense furring of the whole sole, excepting a small calcaneal tuberosity. There are four perfect digitH, of which the 3d is the longest, the 4th and 2d are successively a little shorter, and the 5th is much shorter still; while the 1st is a mere rudiment, entirely removed from the z*^^, nearly lialf way up the foot. This bears a stumpy claw; tlie other claws, though small, are well formed, stout at base, com- pressed, little curved, and acute. The tail exceeds the head and body in length, even without the peniciU late tuft of hairer at the end. It is closely and uniformly clothed with rather stiffish hairs iur most of its length, the hairs gradually lengthening on the further half into the well-formed terminal brush. The pelage diflfers from that of the allied genus PerogneUhua in its soft- ness, length, and fineness, and has a silky gloss in life. It also lies with extreme smoothness on the colored areas of the body; the hairs are plumbe- ous basally, as usual ; on the white parts they are unicolor to the roots. In the male, during the rutting season, there is an immense perino^nl enlargement, strictly circumscribed from neighboring parts, due to the turgid- ity of the virile organs within. The anus presents in the centre of this enlargement with the sheath of the penis just in front> quite prominent. There is a comparatively large os penis. In the female, the anal and genital orifices are in still closer relation ; the ostium vaginse is prolonged in front into a dependent lobe, occupying the site of the peuial sheath of the male. The pattern of coloration of Dipodomys is peculiar and diagnostic of the genus — the striped tail and white band across the hips are not found eUc- where. All the upper parts are fulvous or tawny-brown, closely lined with I'! i; 53G MONOORAFHS OF NORTH AHEBICAN BODBNTIA. i-'i' fuscous to a greater or less extent and intensity. Some specimens, yvitli the least dusky, are very light colored — a pale ycHowish-cinnamon ; others approach mouse-color, hut even in the darkest specimens the decided fulvous Nhadc apiMsars at least upon the sides. All this colored (Mrtion is plumbeous beneath, excepting a little space along the middle of the sides, where baolly white hairs have the tawny tips. All the under surface of the animal is snow- white to the roots of the hairs. The line of white begins on the side of the muzzle and runs along the side of the head, including the pouch ; the entire furc limb is white ; the stripe rises a little on the side of the belly, and tlience runs along the middle of the outside of the hind limb from the knee to the heel, sending a sharp white stripe from the knee across the haunches to the root of the tail. The hind foot is white, with a dusky stripe along the sole. The whiskers are partly black, partly colorless; their conjoined bases make a conspicous black spot on each side of the muzzle. There is some wbitish- ncss in most cases — sometimes altogether wanting — about the eye, and a white patch just back of the ear. The front of tlie car is sometimes light The tail is dusky-slaty, or sooty-brown, or even blackish, with a broad, firm, white stripe on each side from base to near the tip. At the extreme base, the white usually encircles the tail ; at the other end, the color of the tufl is altogether indeterminate; sometimes the white lateral stripes give out before reaching the end, leaving the tip entirely dark; sometimes the white extends to the very end of the brush, cutting off the dark altogether; and, moreover, the white may encroach upon the under side, cutting off the dark frbm more than half tlietail; oftcner, the brush is mixed dusky and white. Thus the tail may end either white or dark, or a mixture of both. It is as variable in this respect as the tail of a skunk. The eyes are lustrous black ; the nose-pad and palms flesh-colored ; the claws pale. In old museum spccitnens, long exposed to the light, the above descrip- tioii may not be verifiol'ie as regards any of the darker markings and shades mentioned; for all the colored portions of the fur finally fade to a dull, pale brownish-yellow, or even dingy yellowish-white. Under soch circumstances, even the rich purplish-chestnut of a mink, for example, ends in dingy whitish. Ditcusidon of the xpecies of Dipodomyt. — Having thus fully exposed the characters of the animals of this genus, it remains to consider the mode in which, and extent to which, tlm genus has become differentiated into recog- nizable forms, if there bo more than one. Various species have been pro- 8A0GOHYIDJB— OIFODOMTIN^-DIPODOUYS. r)37 posed and recognized. As they reat mnitdy upon site and pruirartiuns, thcao pointa will bo Brat discussed. The following tables of measurements of a series of Dijfodomi/s, frvnh and alcoholic, will serve to show whether or not two species, commonly sup- posed to bo distinguished by size and pmportioni), intcrgrado in these resiiects. The specimens are arranged without reference to locality, according to tho chief point in question, namely, leng(h of tail. Tabls v.— JlMfi>r«n«ii>( cfmtnltm tptdwuni <\f DiroDOMTil. nm MM 4»T1 MM TMO rM4 mm ions rm LoMUIy. Caps Rl. Locu , Fort Wlli|>pl^ Aril., ClmamM, N.Mvs.... C«|MM.I.m*i Fort Whipplo, Aril.. (Duknowii) CapaSt. Looai do (Uakiuwn) I>lau« Vallr; rbrtnanllBg, .Cal.. "Uallliiiiib"..., Mmtcray Kict T^loii, Cal . "IfawkyHta.".. Artnp. Frai Up of BOM l»— CM 1.00 kOO OiN tlM 0.M aie LM i.w AW 0.M I.4S LH I.H l.« 1.40 i.ae 1.43 k40 I. as i.e 1. 00 LiO I.4S I.SS I.M I.7S I.4S I.SS t.90 I.M LSS 1.10 I.B 1.40 I.7S 1.80 1.70 l.«l aso 4.n 4.W aiao cso 4. IS xn xn xn 4.90 X» &«s &00 its 4.90 Tall to sad €lf- Laaglk of MO S.00 S.00 9. IS xta SiSO 9lTS 9.U xn S.7S ^1s 0.00 xw xn roo 7.00 fciO 9.7S 9i«S XK xn xn 0.90 7.1V 7.10 7.7S 7.79 iLtO 9i70 t.H I.SS I.9S I.SS 1.40 I.ae 1.10 1.40 1.40 L4S LIO I.SS I.W 1. 10 1.10 1.10 1.70 1.70 Alaokoll*. Pnab. Alookolle. ...it. rrrl*. Alcobolle. ...ao. ...do. ...do. ...dc ...da. The foregoing table of mensureroents of only 17 speAimens, all adult, suffices to prove an uninterrupted gradation in size of every part of the body and its members. There is no break whatever in any of the absolute dimen- sions. The specimens range, by minute fractions of the inch, from 3.2.5 to 5.00 inches in length of head and body, averaging about 4.00. The tail vertebree range from 5.00 to 7.00 inches, averaging about 5.75 ; with the hairs, the tail is from 5.75 to 8.00 inches, averaging a little less than 7.00. The hind foot runs from 1.95 to 1.70, settling at an average of 1.58. It will be observed that the lengths of tail and feet bear no constant ratio to each other, some sjiecimcns with relatively smallest feet having relatinftly the longest tails. It will further be evident that absolute lengths of tail and feet arc not indicative h ! 538 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AUBBIOAN BODENTIA. ui Kc^ogmpliicnl limitations; Cor the specimens which nrc nrrnnged in the t;il)le with referoncc tu ul*Holuto Icnf^th of tuil vortebra; (with wliich iibHolutu length of feet is uppnixiniotcly corrci)|M>ndcnt) sliuw complete intcrmixtiiro of localities. Measurements of a hundred or a thousand specimens would, of course, only tend to place these facts in stronger light. It may be safely stated as a fact, then, that differences in absolute size, either of the body or of any of its members, are not avalluldc for distinction of two s|)ecie8 ; and, furthermore, that no set of absolute dimensions is correlated with geographi- cal distribution. Nevertheless, one cannot fail to be struck, in examining the table, with the extraordinary discreimncy in relative length of the btnly and tail. In No. 4871, for example, the tail (vertebrst) is only half an inch longer thon the lintid and body (4.50-5.00); that is to say, it is but one-ninth of the head and bmly length longer. In No. 2626, the tuil is two and three-quarter inches longer than the head and b, from unknown localities, together with the two respectively marked "California" and "Rocky Mts.", as I have reason to believe that these indications of locality are not reliable. Tablb VI.— jrMMrmnita ^ iUrtttn iftelment 1/ Dipodomyr. NOCKT MUUnAW UOtOII. ArlioDa no New Mexico... l-l*U«Vall«7.. ATenigc* 12 4.1s 4.M 9.M S.9S i.as I.M LH I.U »aric com uoioii. OHMSkLlKM.. do 4o Fort Reidliii, 0*1.. do Moatarey Fort TrjoD.Cal.... HM 3.79 *,» *.» 4.» ».» II «.« &7S t.1» xm ■.w «.7S TOO I r a t.ia I.M I.M I.M l.tf 1.60 I.M 1. 10 1.10 „..,......._ MM. ijjpgjg BACCOMYIDiK— DIPODOMYIN.H— DirOD()MY8. This second tublc^aii far as it goes, leads to some tangible nnd itrnctical results. Mure specimens would undoubtedly modify the exact figiircH, but would, I think, only confirm the general statement, that there is r dccidi-d diflcrenco in relative length of head and liwly and of toil between specimens fmni the interior and those from the coast region— just as there is in the genus CricetodipuB. This substantiates, in effect, the broad distinction estab- lished by Baird in 1857, though the details given by that author rctiuire qualification.* In the animals from the interior, with an average length of nearly 4.50 inches, the tail is scarcely or not an inch longer than the body; that is to say, it is about one-fi)urth as long again as the head and body. In the coast region specimens, with an average length of less than 4 inches, the tail is about 2 inches longer than the iiead and body; that is to say, it is, if anything, i.iore than half as long again as the body. The feet do not r resent any very tangible characters. We find them of all sizes, coupled with different extremes of tail length. Nevertheless, '. will be observed that the Cape SL Lucas specimens alone of the coast scries |irc- sent small feet, under 1.50; and that, without these, the coast scries would show a length of foot of l.GO-l.TO, thus correlated with the greater length of tail. To these data may be added some others, tending to substantiate a dif- ference between the two forms of the genus. The western animal averages smaller and of more slender build, with larger ears and longer limbs, and especially longer tail. It is darker in color, the prevailing tone being a mouse- brown, overcast with tawny or fulvous. The animal from the interior is larger, and noticeably more stoutly built, with smaller eare and shorter limbs, and particularly shorter tail. It is lighter in color, ))revailing tone being the • llanm. N. Am. 1857, p. 409.—" Whirtavar the nunber of qwcks, aU bilberto detoctad Id North Amerin baloog to the two fullowinn aaotioM :— ** Saolfcm I. Hind foot not eioeadiog IJiO inohaa, nraally appreciably lew ; abont one-tbird tba length of bead and body. Tall vartabna abont 1} tlnaa tba laogth of bead and body iu nature ; rarely exoaedlng 6 Inohaa, never 6^. D. artUI. " Seotkm II. Hind foot, IM inohaa, aoaetimea more ; a) waya eooaiderably ezoaading l/>0 ; almoat half aa long aa bead and body In the Siat apeoimaoa. Tail Tertebna l| tlmea the length of bead and body, alwaya exoeadtng 5} Inebaa ; oanally ftom 0 to 7 inebaa. D. pUtlippi, D. mfilU." fbe propottlona of body and tall here laid down I Terlfy exactly, thongb the limits of extrami • giveii rtqnira to be enlarged. On the oontrary, the atatementt made reapeetlng the feet do not buM, npon examination of more material. In flwt, the Cape St Loeaa are the iborteat-footed animals of tba whole eerier ; and In one very large Texaa apecimen (dry), not given in the table, tbo foot is almoat > tncbea long. A tUAI>i->I.^ .-iv-i^ r- In'l 1 H 1 iS« ■jiii'l t \ U Ml II! ir 540 MONOQBAPHS Oi NOBTH AMERICAN EODBSTIA. peciiliar'tawny or fulvous of the genus, deepened somewhat on a dorsiil area witli mouse-brown. These ore simply observed matters of fact, not open to question. Cer- tain differences which actually exist, as well as the insensible blending of these differences, may '>»'*.h be fairly signalized by the following formulee of nomen- #.l"*"re and descripticn, in which the various names wliich have been proposed are relegated to their proper place, covering diagnosis of typical (». c. extreme) characters, and indication of the region in wliich such form more especially prevails : — DIPODOMYS PHILLIPSI,* Gray. Fhillipi'i Pooket-rat; "Kangaroo Bat". Dipodomp pUnipii, Gray, Add. Mag. N. H. vii, 1841, Ml ; Rep. Brif . A««>r. Adv. Sci. for 1841, 1843, Trans, of the SeotioDs, 70. Real del Monte, Mex. (Type of goon*.)— Waon., " Suppl. Scbnib. iii, 1H43,8U5."— LeC, Pruo. Acad. Nat, Sci. Philu. vi, 1853, i234. (Sacrameiito Vulloy, Cul.)— GlKU., Sung. 1855, 600. (Compiled.)— BAino, H. N. A. 1857, 41^2. (Califarnia, &c.)— Coor. & gucKi., P. B. R. Bep. zii, 18,'>0, Muiti.u. 100, 137. VipodoMgtpliUUpirii, OnAY, Am. Joarn. Sci. xl)i, 1843, 335 ; List. Momm. Dr. Mns. 1843, liW.— GuiR., Cut. Bones Ur. Mas. 1803, 173.— Gray, Proe. Zoul. Soc. 1868, 300. Dipodomi)! pUlippi, ScniMZ, Syn. Maniiu. ii, 1845, 03. (Compiled from Gray.) Dipadomsi pkilHppM, AuD. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1853, 137, pi. 130. (From Gray's type.) ViiKidumgii pkitlippii, Baiiid, P. R. R. Rep. x, 1850, Williamson's Route, Mauini. 83. (I'oea Creek, Cain.) Dipoiomyi pkiUipii, CouES, Proo. Phila. Acad. 1875, :<85. UaencotM kalUeu$, Waonkr, Ait:h. f. Natnrg. 1840, 176 ; "Abb. K. Baier. > Vad. xxii, 1848, 310, pi. vii " OiKBKL, Sung. 1855, 599. (Compiled.) Dipoiomjft agilit, Gahd., Proo. Acad. Nnt. Sci. Pbila. iv, 1848, 77.t (Los Angeles, Cal.)— Gamo., Ann. klag. Nut. Hist, iii, 1849, 318 (Bame).-LKC., Proc. Acail. Nut. Sci. Pbila. vi, itSOS, 334.— AuD. & Bach., Quad. N. A. iii, 1854, 3:19. (Compiled.)— Gikb., Sung. 1856, COO. (Compiled.)— Bl>., Proo. Acaipodomt> kermamnii, Gray, P. Z. 8. 1868, 801. (Compiled.) l>iliodomgtwagi>eri,t LkC, Proo. Acnd. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1853, 334.— Bd., M. N. A. 1857, itf:. (Compileil.)— Gray, P. Z. 8. 1868, 301. (Compiled.) Habitat. — PaciGc region at large, from Washington Territory to Capo St. Lucas ; Nevad*' ; and portions of Mexico (Real del Monte, Phillipn). Specimens examined from Fort Walla- Walla, Cupe St. Lucas, and numerous localities nearly throughout Upper and Lower California. * Tbis name is found rarinosly spelled by authors, as well as by Gray himself ; bat if, as stated by Gray, the species was named nttor Juhu Phillips, the rendition here adopted appvnm to ho oorreot. t Special paper : Description of Two New Califurnian Quadrnpeds [D. agilis and Mas califonil- ons]. < lorn. cit. pp. 77, 78. (Also, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (am. df. pp. 318, 319, with aome literal modiHca- tion of title.) t The ascribed locality is nnqnestinnably erroueons. The label " Jimes Beed, South Carolina", like that on some other spc mens of varioni: animals I have aeon, indicates the dooor and Ait rmUeooe, '"'i''""-^'^'^^"" BACCOMTID^— DIPODOMTINJ?!— D. PHILLIPSI OBDI. 541 CiiABS. — Small: rather under than over 4 inches in length of head and body, with slender 8hai)e, large ears, long limba, and especially long tail. Tuil vertebrae 2 inches (more or less) longer than the head and body, bearing a proportion of about (rather more than less) 1.50 to 1.00. Coloration heavy : upper parts rather dark mouse-brown or even dusky in general tone, light- ened, especially on the sides, with the peculiar tawny shade of the genus. This animal served as the type of the gcnns described by Gray in 1840. It figures in various treatises, mainly under compilation. Audubon guve an excellent illustration, taken from the type-specimen. Miicrocolus halfkus of Wagner,* described soon afterward, is undoubtedly, as suggested by both Gray and Baird, the same animal, though no mention is made of the pouches. Some other unquestionable synonyms are cited above. DIPODOMYS PHILLIPSI ORDI. Woodh. Ord'i Tookei-nt; "Kangtroo Bat". Dipoiomf oniti, " Woodh.", L«C., Proe. Acad. Mat. Rci. PhUa.. vi, 1853, 9SU. (Notice of Woodhonae's typa.)— Woodh., Proo.Aead. Nat Svi. Pbi)«. vi, ISSt, 835.— WooOB., Sitgr. Bep. Eipi. Znlli aud Col. a lKi3, 60, pi. 4. (El Paao, Texaa.)— Auo. tt Bach., Q. M. A. iil, 1854, 317. (Compiled.)— Bairo, H. M. a. 1867, 410, pi. 5, f . 1 ; pi. ill, f. 1 ; pi. 51, f. 1, 8.— Baird, P. R. R Rep. x, \«Ji, OanniaoD'a and Bockwith's Ronte, Uamni. 8.— Bawd, P. R. R. Rep. x, 1850, Wbipple'a BoDte, Ifamm. 14.— Hayd., Traoa. Amer. Phil. Boo. xii, 1808, 147. (Niobrara R.)— Gkiir., Cat. Bonea Br. Hoa. 1802, 176.-CouB8, Am. Nat. i, 1867, 396. (Uabita.)-aRAy , P Z. B. 1868, Ml.— Allkn, Proo. Boat Boo. xvii, 1874, 43. (Txllowatone.) Dipoitmt* Moatemu, Baird, Pioo. Aoad. Nat. Sci. Phila. vii, 1855, 334. il^MiMiytjykKHjMionK, CouES, Proo. Pbila. Acad. 1876, 386.— CouM 4k Tariiow, ZoSI. EzpL W. 100 Uerid. 1875, 109. Habitat. — Rocky Mountain region at large, and somewhat eastward, from the region of the Yellowstone into Mexico. Limit of southern extension not precisely determined. Specimens examined from the Yellowstone, Powder, Niobrara, Platte, and Arkansas Rivers ; from various localities in Texas, and nearly throughout New Mexico and Arizona; from Sonora, Durango, and Coahuila, Mexico. Chars. — Larger : rather over than under 4 inches in length of head and body, with (comparatively) stout sli«pe, small ears, short limbd, and short tail. Tail vertebrse 1 inch (more or less') longer than the head and body, bearing a proportion of about (rather less than mure) 1.25 to 1.00. Coloration light : upper parts nearly uniform tawny-brown, of the shade peculiar to the genus, darkened u little with mouse-brown on a dorsal area. * Beitrt|(e lar Kenntotia dar SSagetbiere Amerikaa. < Abhandl. d. math. phy*. Claaae d. kSnigl. bayiir. Akod. Mttocben, v, 1847-49, 319, p]. Tit (forming vol. zzil of tbe terlea of DeukKbriftan). [(Quoted bom BaU:d.] M 0 i:':|Pl I T;ik.:.i«:''.^i:„^i«".;^*^A im. 3SSSS3ES8S8S warn ,.k<*^ MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. No. IX -HAPLODONTIDJ;. By ELLIOTT OOUEB. mm LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Office op United States Geological amd Geoobapbical Subvey of the Tebbitories, Washington, D. C, December 1, 1876. Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith, fur publication as one of the series of "Monographs of North American Rodentia", a memoir on tho family T'aplodontida;. To the single species which constitutes this family, unusual interest attaches, in the facts that its structure has remained very imperfectly known up to the present time, and that its systematic position consequently has been a matter of dispute. The anatomy of the species is herewith presented at considerable length, from original dissections ; and a notice of its history and habits follows the description of its structure. Like my other menxirs of this series, the present is based upon the material contained in the ^ 'ional Museum, for the opportunity of examining which I am indebted to the liberal policy of the Smithsonian Institution. I am. Sir, &c., ELLIOTT COUES, Assistant S'urgeon United States Army, Secretary and Naturalist of the Survey, Vroi F. V. Haydem, United States Geologist-in-charge. 35 u ik:^ilJiiii^>^iK TABLE OF CONTENTS. Family HAPLODONTIDA 643-555 deoni HjkPLODON ., 555-557 BapMUmnrfiu 557-599 » a. External oharaeten '. 657-56-^ h. Dental obaraoten 568-564 0. Skeletal Btrnotare 664-583 d. Tieceral (truotare 683-500 •. Hiatoiy and habita 590-598 /. Tablei of moaaanmeott, &e 596-509 M7 Family HAPLODONTID^. = Gonns JploihmUa, Richardhon and Authors (we beyond). < Soltirida or CtutorUa, of some Authoiw. < Cailorina, Baird, Hamm. N. Am. 1H&7, 350 (nnitod with Cattor in a subfamily Cr the Sciurino «cri(;s. lliiefl}', tlicn, I at present ncccpt n superiainily grouii Sciuromorpfia in I lie sense lately attached to it by Mr. Alston,- as including the genus Sciuruis and its unquestioned allies, as well as Haplodon, Castor, and Anoma/uru*, with which latter I am acquainted only by descriptions. Since Waterhouse, many years ago, foreshadowed n more refined classification of the Rodents by his four families of Sciurida, Murida, Hystridda, and Lejioridce, there has been a close general agreement among leading writers that these groups, whatever their absolute rank, represent as many natural major divisions of existing Kodcnts. The Lcporidtt, by nearly common consent, are now considered as one of two primary divisions of recent Glires, as such comparable in value to all the families of "sim])iicidentate'' Rodents com- bined. The Sciurida, Murida, and Hystricida of Waterhouse, with whatever modification in details, yet stand as indices of groups of Rodents, of whatever value we may assign, the members of each of which are much more nearly interrelated than any one of them is to any member of either of the other groups. In the paper already several times cited, Mr. Alston seems to me to have defined the three groups, which he calls simply "sections", in a very satisfactory manner; and he certainly has given us an easy means of distin- guishing them. "Even if it were not possible to separate the first three of Watcrhouse's great families by |>erfectly constant characters," says Mr. Alston, "they ought, as it appears to me, to be recognized as indicating three distinct )ine8 of development. But by the help of the characters of the leg-bones, pr'iited out by Professor Lilljeborp, the difficulty is overcome. In the few cases in which the cranial diiferences fail us in separating the Sciurine rodents from the Murine, and the latter from the Hystricine, the complete anchylosis of the lower part of the tibia and fibula in the second group comes to our ai8ition in the Rodent series, nnd relative mnk in the scale, of the Ilaplodont type rest upon an examination of the wiiole structure of the animal. I do not find that any one has hitherto examined — at any rate, given an account of — the viscera, or even the skeleton, excepting the skull and leg-bones ; our knowledge having thus far rested \\\m\\ these |)ortions of the bony frame-work, the teeth, and the external characters. I nin, consequently, enabled to add many new particulars to substantiate the position here taken. Detailed descriptions are ofTcicd beyond under head of the species ; here I shall simply advert to some of the leading ])oints involved. The skull of HaplodoHtid(t is strongly and unmistakably Sciuromorphic, not only in its general structure, but in many ultimate details. In fact, it resembles in superficial ospect the skull of certain typical Sciurines more closely than some of these resemble each other. For example, no one who compares the skull of Haplodon with that of Arctomya can fail to be struck, as Dr. Peters was, with their close general resemblance. In comparison with Sciurua, or even with such a Marmot-like form as Cynomys, the skull of Arc- tomya is seen to be much more massive, much more depressed, broader behind, and with a straightness and mutual perpendicularity of various planes, all of which features wonld require little exaggeration to match those of Haplodon, Even the shape of the angle of the mandible, peculiar to Haplodon, is really approached in Arctomya, where further twisting of the already oblique plate of the descending ramus would bring it into the nearly horizontal plane which it occupies in Haplodon. The most prominent diiference is the totiil absence of postorbital processes in Haplodon, and their full development in Arctomya as in other Sciurvla. It may be fairly questioned, however, whether the presence of these processes is more than a character of th" family Sciu- ridce itself; for they are lacking* in the three other families referable i Sciuromorpha. The preponderance of recent genera and species of Sciuridt may have unconsciously led us to attach too great importance to this feature. Obviously, the fact that the family Sciurida at present contains many genera, while the other three Sciuromorph families have but one genus apiece, is no argument for the making of postorbital processes a requisite for any scries of Sciurines of higher value than a family. The argument is the other way, in * Mr. Alston calls tbom " obsolote " iu Ammalurida. 554 MONOGBAPnS OF NORTH AMERICAN EODENTIA. view of the fact that out of four Sciurine families only one, Sciurida, possesses these processes. , , ,, I Tiight extend tliis comparison of Haplodon with Sciuromorpha into many other points of structure, and enlarge upon various Marmot-like char- ncterc ; but the indications afforded by the skull seem to me so unmistaka- ble, that such course becomes unnecessary. I will only refer, further, to the general mode of life, in which, as is well known, the Sewellel agrees with the Marmot-squirrel section of Sciurida. It lives in communities in subterra- nean burrows, exactly like the species of Cynomys and of Spernwphilus. Various resemblances, in fact, have caused some authors to refer the species to the genus Arctomys, and Rafinesque made it congeneric with Cynomys. The condition of the molar teeth, whether rootless and prismatic, or rooted and tubercular, usually gives good indications among Rodents. In this im- portant respect, Haplodon agrees with Castor ; and although the dental for- mulae are not identical, yet the only discrepancy is in the presence of a very small upper anterior premolar in Haplodon, — a tooth functionally insigniGcant, and, in fact, appearing as if it were far on the way toward suppression, lo comparing Haplodon with Castor, we indeed find many discrepancies, even to the presence in the latter of an additional rib and dorsal vertebra, common outlet of genito-urinary and digestive systems, peculiarly developed perinaeal glands, &c ; but we should not lose sight of the fact that the secondary or adaptive modificativ..is of Castor, in fitting it for an aquatic life, are impressed with unusual strength, and are consequently liable to obscure those points of structure more valuable in indicating affinities. Even in some of its soft parts, however, Haplodon shows special relationships with Castor, mch as the pres- ence of a glandular collar formed by the enormous salivary organs. I am inclined to consider the Haplodont type as probably the oldest among existing Sciuromorphs, and as nearer the ancestral type from which also diverged Castor, Anomalurus, and Sciurus with its numerous allies, — the latter being the most specialized and diversified forms which have been evolved from a primitive stock, and having become its largely predominant representatives in the present epoch. This view is strengthened by the remarkably restricted geographical distribution of the single known species, and the numerical proportion of its individuals, — altogether inconsiderable in comparison with the abundance of the typical Sciuridte. Tiie simple molars of Haplodon, as the very djimc indicates, may be regarded as further evi- HAPLODCNTID^— GENUS HAPLODON. 555 denceof an "early" or "generalized" type, in comparison with the highly com- plicated teeth of many recent Rodents ; no simpler tooth than the anterior upper premolar — a mere cylinder — can well be, while the other molars are simply cylinders pinched into a fold on one side; being thus remotely removed from such remarkably intricate and "specialized" aggregations of numerous prisms as are shown by many recent Rodnnts. Genus HAPLODON, (Rich.). X Anisongx, gp., Rafinesqce, Amer. Month. Mog. )!, 1H17, 45 (genua based on a Bpocies of Cgnomyi, with a epeoies of HaplodoH incladed). ■.=Apl3donUa, Bichabdsok,* Zool. Journ, iv, 18S9, 334 (original cbaraoterization).— Rich., Fn, Uur.- Am. i, 1839, 210 |,anbRtantialIy tbo same).— Audubon Sc Bachman, Quad. N. Am. iii, 1853, 98 (copied from Rtcbardson).— Baird, Mamm. N. Amer. 1857, 350 (elaborately recharacter- ized). = ApUdontia, Fisciibr, &;q. Hamm. 1829, 598 (" 398 " by err. of pagination). z=Haplodon, Waglkb, Syat. Amphib. 1831, 23.— WAOysB, "Sappl. Sohreb. iii, 1843,395".— Fitters, Monatab. Akad. Berlin, 16S4, 177 (discuaBion of afflnitiea).- AuiTON, Proo, ZoSl. Boo. 1876, 78 (claaaificatory). • ApUiodontia, Siohabi>80H, Sixth Ann. K..p. Brit. Aaaoc. Adv. Sci. for 1836, 1837, 150, 157. ~ Baplooion, or Bapludm, Brandt, " Beit. Kennt. Siing. Bne^l. 1655, 160". = Saploodm, Lilusboro, Syat. Ofvera. Onag. Diigg^j. 1866, 48. (Other forma of the word are donbtleaa to be fonnd.) Chabs. — Form stout, heavy, low ; body cylindrical ; limbs short, of pro- portionate lengths before and behind ; no appreciable neck ; head broad, flat, somewhat triangular, with blunt muzzle, hairy, except the margin of tlie nostrils and cleft of the upper lip. Tail very short, terete, hirsute. Whisk- ers very long, bristly. No cheek-pouches. Eyes diminutive. Ears of moderate size, rounded above, lobate below, with antitragal fold. Fore and hind feet pentadactyle, hairy on top ; palms and soles naked ; former 5-tuber- culate, latter 6-tuberculate ; digits of hind feet not webbed; fore claws much longer and stouter than the hinder, fitted for digging. Pelage of two kinds, — long bristly bairs and woolly under fur. Progression apparehtly plantigrade. Habits terrestrial, fossorial, gregarious. Regimen exclusively vcgctariun. Voice shrill. To the structural characters already given, being those upon which a family Haplodontida is established, may be added the foregoing, derived from * Special paper : On Aplodontia, a new genns of the order Rodentia, constituted for the reception or tbo Sewellel, a burrowing animal which inliabita the north-westeru coast of America. < Op. torn. cil. pp. 333-337. On a second described species of Haplodm, c(, Peters, Ueber nene Arteu e structure of the animal is given in detail, without reference to the sys- tematic significance of any of the features described. The genus "Aplodoniia" was established by Richardson in 1829, and, with varying orthography, has since been universally employed. Nor is it necessary to supersede it by Anisonyx of Rafinesque, 1817. This generic term, besides arising in a misunderstanding, was based upon the "Burrowing Squirrel " of Lewis and Clarke, and is equivalent to Cynomys, of same author and date. It therefore becomes a synonym of Cynomys, as the type species, "Anijsonyx brachiura^', also is of Cynomys columbianus (Ord). Rafinesque, however, added to his genus Anisonyx a second species, A. ru/us, based ex- clusively upon the Sewellel of Lewis and Clarke, which causes Anisonyx to be partly synonymous with the subsequent "Aphdontia^' of Ricbardson. The construction of the generic word has apparently given trouble, though there need have been none, had the rules for the formation of com- pounds from the Greek been duly considered. While some latitude is allow- able in such cases, unwarrantable liberties have been taken with this word The etymology is an-Aoof (contr. dnXovi), simplex, simple, and oSovi, dens, tooth The original form, Aplodontia, is clearly wrong in ignoring the aspi- ration of the initial Alpha, and is further modified arbitrarily by the suffixed syllables. As to the mode of joining the two words, in which three Omicrons come together, it may be observed : that the latter o in d/rXooi would, of course, suffer elision before the initial vowel of (dovi; and then the former o, still coming before a vowel, would either be separated by a diaeresis over the second o, or else be contracted with it into ov; so that the word might be written, with propriety, Haplciidon or Haphudon, the latter perhaps being preferable, especially in view of the contracted form dnXovi, in which the original is also found. But euphony lias rightly so much to do with these formations that the former o in drrXooi, as well as the latter, may be struck out before the d of oSovi (just as the latter o may be omitted before a consonant, contrary to general rule, as in dirXort]?, compounded of d7TX6o<; and the abstract termination rt}?, or in djrXoatp^- /(coy), and tlu; word be properly written Haplodon, the form I have adopted. In any event, Apludontia and Apluodontia are inadmissible, and liapludon is objectionable from excessive contraction. In strictness, '■*mm ■wmf* gggg nAPLODONTID^— SYNONYMY OP HAPLODON RUFUS. 557 we should rather write HaploiJdus, Haplodus, or Haploudus ; but the form of iSov?, in which the stein odovr- is preserved, is so firmly established by precedent and custom, that it would be finical to insist upon the purer orthography. HAPI-ODON RUFUS, (Raf.) Coues The Sewellel. Stmllel,' Lewis & Clares, Trav. lat Am. od. in 2 vols. 8vo, ti, 1814, 176 (Isl EngliBh ed. in 1 vol. 4to, 1814, 470; 2d EngliBb ed. in 3 vols. 8vo, 181.5, iii, 39). (Original description.)— CouES, Bull. U. S. Geol. & Oeogr. Snrv. Terr. 8d ser. no. 6, 1876, 437. ^HiMtiyx n^fa, Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Hag. ii, 1817, 45 (aotnally baaed entirely npon the Sewellol ot Lewis and Clarke).— Dbsh., Mamm. ii, 1822, 330.— Less. Man. 1827, 240, no. 647. Aretomyt nfa, Haiu.aii, Fn. Amer. 1825, 308.-18. Obofpr., " Diet Claaeiqae, z, p. 186 ".— GRiFFint, An. Kingd. V, 1827, 245, no. 636 (compiled). Aplodontia Uporina, BicnAKOSON, Zo51. Jonrn. iv, 1829, 335, no. 15.— Richardson, Fn. Bor.-Amer. i, 1829, 211, pi. zviii C, figs. 7-14 (sknll).— SciiiNZ, Syn. Mamm. .i, 1.340, 138 (description, &o.).— Pealr, Ham. & Birds U. 8. Expl. Exped. 1848, 66, 'pi. av", fig. on p. 57 (sknll).- Auuubon &. Bacbman, Qnad. N. Amer. ill, 1853, 99, pi. cxxiii (animal). (Description and acconnt of habits, mostly fVom Lewis and Clarke, and from Richardson.)— Newberry, Poc. R. R. Rep. vi, 1857, Zoology, 58 (habits, &o.).— Baird, Mamm. N. Amer. 1857, 353, pi. xx, flgs. 4 a-d (details of external form), and pi. xlix, figs. 2a-« (sknll and teeth). — Cooper, Pacific R. R. Rap. xii, pt. ii, 1860, 82 (bobits).-8ucKLRY, Poc. R. R. Rep. xii, pt. ii, 1860, lOO (habits, &c.).— 8CCKLBY &. OiBBS, Pac. R. R. Rep. xii, pt ii, 1860, 124 (description, habits, &c.). AplnSontia hpoHna, Fischer, Syn. Mamm. 1829, 598 (" 398 " by error of pagination). JptuodoKiia leporiim, Rich., Sixth Ann. Rop. Brit. Assoc, for 18.16, 1837, 157. Haplodon Iqforinum, Waonbr, " Zool. Jonrn. 1829, — ". IlapMon /«i)ori»iM, Waoleh, " Syst. Amphib. 1830, — ".—Wagner, "Sappl. Schr&b. iii, 1843,396".— OlEDEL, SSag. 1855, 527. (f) Haplodon liKioriniM var. caUfbrniout, Peters, Monatsb. Akad. Berlin, 17. MSrz 1864, 179 ("Qoblrgen Califomiens "). Chaes. — About as large as a Muskrat. Length, a foot (more or less) ; head, 3.00 inches; tail-vertebrae, 1.00; tail with hairs about half as much again; fore foot, 1.7fi; hind foot, 2.10; longest fore claw, 0.50-0.60, Color brownish, mixed with more or less black, lighter and more grayish below ; basal portions of the pelage mostly plumbeous. Whiskers, claws, and upper surface of foot colorless, or nearly so ; incisors yellow. Habitat. — Washington and Oregon Territories from the Rocky Mount- ains to the Pacific ; upper portions of California, and probably also southern portions of British Columbia. A. — DESCRIPTION OF EXTERNAL CHABACTEB8. The Sewellel approaches the Maskrnt in size; and in some superficial aspects is not very dissimilar to that well known animal. The general form is stout and clumsy ; the body is of large calibre in comparison with its length ; the trunk is nearly cylindrical, broadly rounded ofi!* behind, in front * See beyond in this memoir for other forms o( this Indian word, and its moaning. 558 MONOGRAPI WRTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. ii'! ' t without appreciable constricnon of tlie neck, upon which the shoulders seem to encroach ; the head is especially broad, the width across the occiput being, if anything, greater than the breadth across the shoulders ; the limbs are short, of approximately equal lengths, massive above the wrist and ankle ; the tail is very short; the muzzle is thick and blunt; the whiskers are long and stiff; the ears are of moderate size; the pelage is soft. The whole organ- ization, viewed externally, indicates terrestrial and highly fossorial habits. In moving, the animal carries the body low, almost sweeping the ground ; at rest, the back is arched. The head is broad and massive, much compressed in the horizontal plane (being wider than deep), and especially noticeable for the flat expanse of its upper surface, which is continuous with that of the shoulders without depression of the nape, and with scarcely any constriction of the sides of the neck behind the ears. Viewed from above, the sides of the head taper gradually, in nearly straight lines, from the broadest point (at the ears) to the snout, which is extremely obtuse. The profile of the forehead is likewise nearly straight. The chin is retreating ; its under surface is nearly flat ; the end is broadly convex, like the rest of the obtuse muzzle. The opening of the mouth appears contracted from the thickness of the swollen fleshy lips. The .upper incisors are probably always exposed. The peculiar shape of the head as a whole is correlated with the remarkable preponderance of planes and right lines which the skull shows.' The thick lips are entirely hairy, the upper lip especially being clothed with short, stiffish, antrorse, adpressed hairs for some distance within the apparent buccal orifice, and there being a special brush of similar hairs directed inward, near the commissure of the lips. There is a narrow naked muffle, cleft with a well-marked vertical line of impression ; a naked pad projects from this to the interspace between the upper incisors ; a narrow margin around each nostril is also naked ; othe'rwise the snout is entirely hairy. The whiskers are numerous, very long, and extremely stiff — more like hog's bristles than the whiskers of most Rodents. The longest ones, when laid backward, reach entirely beyond the shoulders. These bristles are mostly colorless; some of the shorter upper ones, however, are brownish. Besides the labial set proper, there are other long bristles, also mostly color- less, in tufts over the eyes, and scattered about the ears ; both lips are thickly fringed with similarly colorless, short, but still stiff, bristly hairs, in addition '■<«i1iW nAPLODONTIDiE— EXTERNAL CHARACTERS OF n. RUFDS. 559 to the pelage proper of the parts; while there is a scattering patch of the same on the chin. The countenance of the animal literally " bristles"; anil, as we shall see, similar long colorless bristles occur on other parts of the body. The eyes are situated in a line between the extremity of the snout and the middle of the ear, about half-way, but rather nearer the ear. They are remarkably small, the diameter between the canthi being only about a quarter of an inch, and appear somewhat sunken and inexpressive, from the tumidity of the lids. The ear, it has been said, " strongly resembles the human one in form", and may be conceded to be not strongly dissimilar in some respects, the auricle being rounded above, with a folded-over anterior edge, having a thickened projection near the base in front to represent the human antitragus, and a fleshy dependent part opposite, in the place of the human lobe. The ear is situated upon the most prominent postero-superior aspect of the head, and rises about as high as the fur of the surrounding parts ; an anterior fourth of the auricle is folded over ; when pressed out flat, the contour of the auricle is nearly semicircular. The antitragal prominence continues far into the cavity, forming a fold which bounds the meatus above; the lower bound- ary of the external meatus is the large thick fleshy lobe already alluded to ; it seems to be mobile, and is probably capable of closing the orifice by its apposition with the antitragal ridge. The ear is clothed uniformly with short soft hairs ; there are some longer ones cm the concavity which overtop the auricle, thus forming a decided frinfr , and other long ones in tufls on the borders ot the ear near its base. '''. nese longer hairs are colored ; the very short ones on the back of the ear, and others on the fleshy lobe, are colorless. The fore limbs are close to the head ; the outline from the head down the front leg is a continuous curve, and the point of the shoulder seems scarcely half an inch from the back lower corner of the skull. The massive- ness and muscularity of the upper portions of the limb, no less than the structure of the hand, indicate great fossorial powers, reminding one of the condition of the parts in Geomyida.* From the stout shoulder and prominent elbow, the fore limb becomes conoidal, tapering rapidly to the contracted wrist, where the ordinary long pelage of the body ceases. The back of the * If A opIoiiM pimcMed external ponohes, ito inperfleial Appenranoe— the atout, eqnst, lampy flgare, the large heitd, apparent abeenoe of neck, short legs, highly fossorial fore feet, with enorinous fore olaws and great tnberclea at the wrist— wonld more strongly resemble Otvmy than any other animals of this oonntry. w *l''f.V i: \m ^■'5: pi S|:;l i,t ;i3 . u-i;: , l!!;?!b.i li I'l M'j 1 1 1 'rati^ ' 1 ' 'rShII ^T 1 B l 500 MONOGRAPnS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. hand is rather thinly but uniformly clothed to the ends of the fingers with i»hort adpressed hairs like those on the concavity of the ear. The palms and under surfaces of the fingers are perfectly naked. The hand is large, measur- ing in length from the wrist to end of the claws but little less than the dis- tance from wrist to elbow. There are five perfect digits. Of these, the Ist, or thumb, is very short, its tip falling far short of the base of the 2d digit ; its axis is very oblique to the line of the other digits, from which it stands apart quite as much as the human thumb does from the fingers ; nor can it be readily pressed into line with the other digits, on account of its intimate connection with the inner one of two great palmar tuberosities, to be presently noticed. The thumb bears a small, stumpy, obtuse claw, com- pressed nevertheless, and a true claw, not a flat nail, as is so frequently witnessed in Rodents when the thumb is very short or rudimentary. The thumb in this case, though relatively very short, is functionally developed beyond doubt, and its curious opposition to the other digits almost indicates true prehensile or grasping powers of the hand. The remaining digits are long and well formed ; the 3d is longest ; the 4th and ■2d successively shorten in nearly constant ratio ; the 5th is relatively shorter, the tip of its claw falling but little in advance of the base of the 4th claw. The clav/s are all nearly or quite as long as their respective digits, reaching about the develop- ment witnessed in Geomyidce. They are little curved, and much compressed ; for most of tiieir length underneath their sides come together in a single ridge, leaving but a slight scooped-out portion toward the ends. The tuber- culation of the naked palms is conspicuous. Near the wrist, opposite the thumb, are two immense prominences, side by side (inner and outer) ; the ulnar, or outer one, about in the site of the human pisiform bone, is smaller, and more compressed than the radial tubercle, at the base of the thumb, which attains the size of a pea, and is irregularly nodular, with a tendency to lateral compression and the formation of a decided lengthwise keel. These wrist-tubercles have almost the development seen in Geomys. At the bases of the digits are three large, smooth, flattened tubercles, one common to the 3d and 4th digits, the others respectively proper to the 2d and 5th. The ends of the digits are somewhat callous. For the rest, the palm is smooth, with an irregular network of lines of impression, and the under surfaces of tlic digits arc strongly annulate with similar transverse lines. The hind limbs correspond in length with the fore. The massive thigh BBI HAPLODONTIDiB— EXTERNAL CHARACTERS OF H. RUFUS. 561 is entirely enclosed in the comnaon integument of the body, which even de- scends a little below the knee. The bulging, compressed crus tnpers rapidly to the ankle, where the ordinary pelage of the body is arrested, the instep and tops of the toes being clothed with very short, adprcssed, colorless hnirs, and hence appearing almost naked, as, indeed, they have sometimes been described. But the clothing is uniform and complete, and nearly as heavy as that on the back of the hands. Tlie foot is rather longer than the hand, even including the claws, which are so highly developed on the fore limb. The axis of the foot appears to be nearly at right angles with that of the leg in ordinary postures of the animal ; the heel is prominent, and the whole sole is evidently applied to the ground in walking. Such plantigrade char- acter of the bind feet is indicated by the strong flattening of the sole to the very heel, and ts complete nakedness The sole is perfectly smooth, with a moderate number of irregular lines of impression, more numerous anteriorly than toward the heel. There are six prominent tubercles on the sole ; four at the bases of the digits, and two, side by side, about half-way to the heel. Of the anterior tubercles, one is common to the .Sd and 4th digits, and three others are respectively proper to the 1st, 2d, and 5th digits. Of the posterior pair of tubercles, a larger one, conical and very prominent, is situated on the inner side of the sole ; the other, much less conspicuous, is also further re- moved from the edge of the foot There are five perfect digits, with nearly parallel axes, though the lateral opes, and especially the inner one, stand a little away from the line of the other three. These lost are much the longest, and of approximately equal lengths. The end of the claw of the 5th only attains the base of the 4th claw ; that of the Ist does not quite reach the base of the 2d. The claws of all the digits are much alike, and peculiar in no respect. The tail is a mere stump, shorter than the foot ; it is cylindrical, thickly clothed with pelage like that of the body, and the terminal pencil of hairs equals in length that portion of the vertebrse which projects beyond the but- tocks. Short as this member is, it is not "concealed" in any of the specimens betbre me. It is much more conspicuous than that of Lagomys princtps. The general pelage has been likened to that of a rabbit when out of season ; it seems, however, to be coarser, owing to the number of long, stiff, almost bristly hairs which are mixed with the dense, soft, woolly under fur. These staring hairs are specially noticeable on the limbs and under parts gen- 36 M ,;;■« f^ 66d MONOGRAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. erally. Some of them are colorless, like the hairs upon the face ; and, indeed, there is upon the bacU of the fore arm n special tuft of long colorless bristles, quite like the shorter whiskers. The long scattered hairs of the upper parts are black, giving a darker tone to the reddish-brown or chestnut of these parts ; on the under parts, the cast is more grayish. The basal portion of the pelage is dark plumbeous above, paler or grayiaii below. I have not sufficient mute- rial to indicate the range of individual color-variation. Some specimens are said to be quite blackish. None of those examined show a pure white thront- patch, spoken of by some writers ; but it is indicated in some cases by a few white hairs. The hands, feet, and ears appear whitish, at least in contrast with the general dark body colors ; and the short pelage of the lips, anus, and priEputial sheath is usually more or less whitened. The claws are nearly colorless; the incisors are yellow. The anus is situate a considerable distance from the root of the tail. In the male, owing to the size of the os penis, the sheath of the penis forms a large conical projection immediately in front of the anus, and is directed more or less backward i it is hairy, with a long, slender, terminal pencil. The penis may be readily protruded in alcoholic specimens. There is no appearance of a glans. The bone extends to the end of the member; it is elsewhere described. I have seen no female specimens. There are said by Richardson to be six mammBC, tiie position of which is indicated by brown circular marks, the anterior pair being situated between the tore legs. B. — DE8CBIPTI0N OP TIIE TEETH. The incisors offer nothing specially noteworthy. They are very stout for the size of the animal, their anterior faces perfectly smooth, convex in both directions, the sides much bevelled. The under, as usual, protrude farther than the upper, and also incline farther forward as they ascend, the upper being perpendicular. The upper are separated from each other at base by a considerable alveolar interval, but incline toward each other, their points being in contact ; the under are more nearly parallel. The molar series occupies a more posterior position than may be usual in Rodents, the anterior true molar being opposite the middle of the skull. The whole series is about one-fourth as long as the skull. The inner alveolar border is parallel with its fellow; the outer is slightly divergent, owing to increase in size of the teeth from behind forward, — from u,ii4i HAPLODONTID^— TEETH OP HAPLODON RUFUS. 563 the last to the next to the first in the upper jow, from last to first in the lower. In the upper jaw, the crenate border of the teeth is interior, the straight spurred border exterior ; in the lower jaw the reverse. All the molars are rootless and prismatic, as in Cattor, but not in other Sciuromorphs. The dental formula is as usual in Sciurula {\^\), but not as in Castor. The pattern of the molar crowns is simple, not complicated, as in (all?) other Sciuromorphs. In the upper jaw, the anterior premolar is very small, and otherwise different from the rest of the teeth ; the other premolar resembles the true molars. In the lower jaw, all the teeth are similar to each other. The anterior upper premolar is a small simple cylinder, lying very obliquely against the antero-interior corner of the succeeding tooth ; an oblique bevelling of its face remedies the obliquity of the shall, causing the plane of the crown to coincide nearly with that of the other teeth. The other pre- molar and the three molars proper may be most conveniently described together, afterward noting a slight peculiarity of the former. These teeth are set witli strong obliquity outward ; they regularly decrease in size from before backward ; the shape of the crowns is substantially the same, and presents a pattern probably unique. The horizontal section of each tooth gives a half-elliptical or semicircular figure, with a prominent spur pro- jecting from the straight side. The spur is exterior, the convexity of the half-ellipse interior; so that the molar series, taken together, presents a crenate inner margin, and a straight outer margin with four equidistant projections. The hindmost tooth is semicircular; the increasing width of preceding teeth changes this into the semi-elliptical shape, the anterior tooth being further modified by a slight emargination where the small anterior pre- molar abuts against it, and further by a slight concavity of the straight outer border on each side of the spur. In some specimens, the regularity of the semicircular or elliptical curves is interfered with ; and the back premolar may show, in addition to the emarginations just noted, an emargination of the antero-exterior corner. The lower series of molars substantially repeats the figures of the upper in the reverse direction, the spurs and straight edges being interior, the con- vexities exterior. For the rest, the four teeth (1 Pm., 3 M.) differ less in size among themselves than those of the upi>er series do ; the spurs are much less prominent, and the sides of the teeth from which they spring are not so straight ; the regularity of the convexity of each tooth suffers from an emar- i' ii::' ;! >\ If: \% l! .iii. ,,>!i 564 MONOGRAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. gination anterior to the middle of the tooth, which is so strongly pronounced on the anterior one as to produce a decided lobation. For the rest, the under teeth are smaller than the upper, and especially narrower ; though the lengths of the two series (excluding the small upper premolar) are the same. There is no involution of the enamel sheet, nor any other complication of the molar crowns, the island of dentine being surrounded with a wall of enamel with the contour just described. C. — DESCRIPTION OF TIIK SKELETON. Skull. — The skull of Haplodon is remarkable for its flatness or great depression, its average depth (jaw and molars excluded) or dimension per- pendicular to the horizontal longitudinal plane being little over one-fourth of its length ; for its great width, especially behind the interzygomatic dimension, being between three-fourths and four-fiflhs of its length ; and for the prepon- derance, as Baird has remarked, "of horizontal planes and straight lines per- pendicular to the three coordinate planes. Thus the plane of the occiput is vertical and perpendicular to that of the base of the skull, which itself, as nearly as may be, is horizontal. The general outline of the top of the head is parallel with that of the bottom ; the lower edge of the occiput is horizontal, and perpendicular to the horizontal [longitudinal] axis of the skull. The lower edge of the zygoma is nearly rectilinear and parallel with the plane of the palate. In the lower jaw, a vertical plane would be tangent to the con- dyles and the nearly horizontal posterior edgo of the inferior ramus. The planes of the broad coronoid processes are vertical, though inclined to each other." Great as is the zygomatic width relatively to the length of the skull, such width but little surpasses that of the occiput, owing to the great lateral production of the mastoid and auditory bullae, the latter in some cases extending beyond the mastoids. The skull is further remarkable among Sci- uromorpha forms for the total lack* of iwstorbital processes, the interorbilal constriction being much narrower than the rostrum, ns in Arvicola, Geomys, and many other Myomorpha. Aside from tiie absence of these processes, so strongly characteristic of the Sciuromorph skull, the skull of Haplodon bears a decided general resemblance to that of some Sciurines, as Arctomys, for example ; a resemblance so close, that much the same descriptive terras of contour, &c., would apply to both, and the comparison might be pushed to 'Shared, however, by Cottar ; in AfkonMlwnt$, these proceaaes are said to be "obsolete". DAPLODONTIDiE— SKULL OP HAPLODON ItUFUS. 565 include many details, deinonstratiog the really cluso relationships of the ani- mal to the Sciurida. The interorbital foramen (u8iially a considerable index of affinity in Rod^ntia), however, is little like thotof Sciuromorphs generally, v\ nile it is not at all like that typical of Myomorphs. Viewed from above, without taking the rostrum into consideration, tiie general contour of the skull represents a nearly equilateral triangle with rounded-ofT |K>8tero-lateral angles, somewhat convex sides, and sinuous base. There is a very deep notch or cmargination just behind the zygomata, some- times almost converted into a foramen by apposition of the posterior angle of the zygoma against the wall of the produced auditory bulla. Within this triangular contour are a pair of triangular vacuities — the conjoined orbital and temporal fossa;. The posterior extremities of the zygomata arc much further apart than a distance equal to their extreme length. The rostral portion of the skull forms rather more than a fourth of the total length ; the rostrum is stout, its width being contained only about 4^ times in the total length ; it is approximately cyliDdrica), with nearly parallel sides converging anteriorly, and tumid nasal portion. The nasal bones are truncate anteriorly, and do not project beyond the plane of the incisive alveoli. From the base of the ros- trum on each side^ the zygomata suddenly stand oiT, overshadowing the ante- orbital foramina, which are therefore not visible in this view. Thence the zygomata curve gently outward and backward, then rather suddenly contract, the point at which they are farthest apart being but little in advance of their posterior ends. Behind their ends is the deep emargination, as seen also in Arctomys, Castor, and other Sciuromorphs, but in this case narrower for its depth, appearing almost like a fissure. This separates the zygomatic arch from the prominent angular postero-lateral corner of the skull, formed by the mastoid and auditory bullae. The posterior outline, on the whole exactly transverse, is sinuous, like the human lip or "Cupid's bow''; for the promi- nent sharp occipital ridge which defines the occipital plane from that on top the skull, curves backward at first from the corner of the skull and then more strongly forward to the median line, this latter anterior convexity sufficing to throw some of the occipital surface into view from above. The roof of the brain-case is strongly convex and sloping ou the sides, though little arched longitudinally ; it then spreads more horizontally to form the occipital flanges. This surface is marked lengthwise with a pair of raised lines, indicating the boundaries of the temporal foesse ; at the back border of the orbit, just within ^|!|'- ! : ) I ■■(I: ; i. 566 MONO0RAPH8 OF NOUTH AMERICAN ItODKNTIA. tlin posterior root of tlin zy^ornn, tlieru in n (l(!ciHcil tlnproxsioii. Another superiiciiil depression of considoraltle size is silu( led hctwcen the orhits, just in ailvanearietal8, and an equally slight depression over the orbits, whepce (he profile of the rostrum slopes slightly downward to the end of the nasals. The occiput is perpen- dicular, and appears nearly straight, though the condyles and paroccipital pro- cesses project a little backward, and the end of the occipital crest curves a little forward. The outline of the palate is nearly a continuous straight hori- zontal line from incisors to ends of pterygoids; behind these, the buUse ouditoriER project a little downward from the general plane. The antcorbital foramen is not visible from the side, being hidden witliin the anterior projec- tion of the zygomotic process of the maxillary. Both anterior and posterior roots of the zygoma dip nearly or quite down to the level of the palate; in its continuity, the malar rises with a gentle arch. Seen from below, the skull presents, of course, substantially the same contour as from above; so we may at once proceed to notice the details. It is only in this one of the three views here described that the anteorbitol foramina appear. These are small, simple, oval apertures not prolonged into canals, circumscribed by the two roots of the zygomatic process of the max- illary ; they are oblique to all three coordinate planes of the skull, their long axes being directed upward, forward, and outward. Notwithstanding their small size and seemingly inconvenient position, they transmit, as usual, along wilh the nerve, a little fascicle of the masseter muscle. The incisive fora- mina, of moderate length, but narrow, reach nearly or quite to the maxilla' ries, but their sides are entirely bounded by the intermaxillaries. The septum •■liU HAPLODONTlDiB— SKULL OF IIAPLODON UUFU8. r)67 dividing them seems to be constantly formed l)y a piiir of plates not com- pletely fuHcd; nnd, just in advance of the main fommina, there is it Hiiigle medinn nzygos foramen lending into the nnsnl cavity. This singular opening appears to be conntnnt, and it is of notable size. The palate anterior to the intermolar iN)rtion has its sides rapidly sloping upward from the middle line, the actually flat and horizontal portion being extremely narrow, and bounproximately plane as well as perpendicular, though appearing depressed at the sides, owing to the projecting of the flange-like occipital ridge. A considerable portion of the back walls of the bullae auditorise appears upon this plane of the skull, as irregularly quadrilateral plates bounded exteriorly by the mastoids, interiorly by the paroccipitals, and them^lves forming a part of the superior border of the occipital plane on each side. The foramen magnum appears mostly in the plane of the occiput, its lower margin merely making a shallow emargination of the base of the skull (more con- spicuous in youngish than in old skulls). Tiic perpendicular portion of the orifice is subcirrnlar, but somewhat broader than high ; its upper semicir- cumference is thin-edged, the rest being occupied by the condyles, the articular surfaces of which arc remarkably narrow for their length, and closely approximate to each other inferiorly. As well as can be judged without actual measurement, the capacity of the cranium is decidedly smaller, in com|>arison with the rest of the skull, than ii Sciurus proper, or even such a form as Cynomys; nevertheless, there does not appear to be much difference in this respect between the cranium of Haplodon and that of Arctomys. Viewed from the inside, the walls of the brain-cavity show a decided impression for the cerebellum, distinguished by un arched ridge from the cerebral impressions, while the petrosals oiTer a larg'j 8ul>circular prominence with two conspicuous perforations. ■jjj,;- HAPLODONTID^— SKULL OP HAPLODOK RUFDS. 569 The lower jaw, as Richardsoa originally observed, is altogether heavier Uian usual among Roden s ; and it is peculiar in the condition of the descend- ing process, which in this case is a b'oad, flat plate, so far twisted around that it is horizontal, and its back edge is a straight transverse line. When the two halves of the jaw are separated, each will stand alone upright ujXin the table, supported by this broad plate, which has twice the width of any other part of the jaw. When the two halves of the jaw are in situ, the distance across from tip to tip of these plates equals the distance from each of them to the ends of the incisors; so that the three extreme points of the whole jaw represent the angles of an equilateral triangle ; while the imier corners of these plates arc only separated by a distance equal to the molar interspace. From the back outer corner of this plate, which is knobbed, and represents the angle of the jaw proper, there sweeps up to the condyle with gentle concavity the edge of a thin plate, which trends strongly obliquely inward and forward as well as upward, so far is the angle of the jaw carried out from the general axis of the bone. The inner end of this plate rounds off to the body of the bone ; it projects so far inward that it is separated from its fellow by a distance only equal to the intermolar space. The condylar process is rather low, rising upward vertically in one plane, but with strong backward ol)liquity (about 45° from the plane of the molar crowns). The articular head is nodular, with some posterior prolongation, excepting which latter it is rather broader across than in the longitudinal direction. The coronoid process is very conspicuous, reaching far abore the condyle ; it is a thin vertical lamina, broadly falciform, with the ape:(, which is not as high as the convex edge anterior to it, twisted somewhat outward. The anterior border of this plate forms a letter S, very convex above where it curves almost semi- circularly over to the apex, less strongly concave below where it sinks into the body of the bone. Similarly, the emargination between the condyle and apex of the coronoid is nearly semicircular. The body of the jaw, on the outer side, opposite the middleof the molar series, shows a strong oblique ridge, indicating the limit of the muscular impression. There is a large foramen at the base of the condylar process on the inner sidei the mental foramen is situated on the outer side, midway betweeti the molars and the incisors. It is to be regretted that the maturity of all the specimens (5 in number) examined prevents recognition of most of the individual bones of the skull, most of the sutures being already obliterated. The part taken by the malar 570 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. >■'"'■■' ■: ill tire formation of the zygoma, vvhicli often affords, especially by its anterior connections with maxillary or lachrymal, or both, valuable indications of affinity among Rodents, remains unknown. I can discern no trace of the sutures. I conjecture, however, from the line of fracture of an accrdentully broken specimen, that the malar is anteriorly wedged ))etween two (anterior and posterior) zygomatic processes of the maxillary, and extends nearly or quite up to the lachrymal, — a supposition strengthened by the observed state of the parts in Cynomys and Arctomys, tor example. Similarly, I am of opinion that posteriorly the end of the malar will be found to represent the prominent angle or corner of the zygomatic arch, being splinted underneath a horizontal forward spur of the squamosal. The malar helps to define the brim of the bony orbit by a small projection from its upper edge near the fore end ; this is better marked in younger skulls, being obsolete or nearly so in very old ones. With only aged skulls before him, Baird recognized a lachrymal in a tubercle at the fore upper corner of the orbit ; in a younger specimen, I sec nearly the whole contour of a large lachrymal, lying mostly within the orbit, as a thin scale, thickening only at the ed^je to form the nodule just mentioned ; it has a conspicuous canal. The suture of the palatal plates of the maxillnries and palatines will probably be found opposite the interspace between the last and penultimate molars. Anteriorly, the maxillo-premaxiliary and fronto-maxillary sutures are preserved in one speci- men ; the former encircling the rostrum below and laterally, then trending obliquely backward as it mounts toward the forehead ; the latter being a short backward-outward suture opposite the site of the lachrymal. Owing to the narrowness of the nasals posteriorly, the premaxillaries gain the top of the skull in a considerable area ; their suture with the frontal is a straight trans- verse line continuous with the similar naso-frontal suture. Thus the frontal bone ends squarely in a straight line across the forehead, with prominent lateral angles for!i.ul)ic rnmi ciicIubc a very lnrg(M>l)tiirnt()r foraiiu-ii, of iect a prominent "glula-al" ridge runs nearly half way down the shaft of the bone, like the corresponding "deltoid" ridge of the humerus. There is a strongly marked lesser trochanter — a tubercle on the postero-interna! aspect of the shaft, just below the neck of the bone, prolonged downward as a sharp ridge. No third trochanter is recognizable. The condyles are well formed ; the inner is larger than the outer, reaching farther down, especially farther back, and being decidedly thicker across; its articular surface is, however, narrower. Behind, the con- dyles are separated by a deep notch; in front, a trochlear surface (l)road groove) for the play of the patella reaches far above the portion of tlie joint which entera-into the tibial articulation proper. There is a large sesamoid bone in the knee-joint, i\\G patella being one- third of an inch long, of conico-triangular shape, with smooth concavo-con- vex posterior face for articulation with the femond trochlear groove which surmounts the condyles in front. Of the two bones of tlie crus, the tibia alone enters into, the construction of the knee-joint, the head of the fibula being much below the articulation. The tibia, as long as the femur or slightly exceeding it in length, is straight when viewed from the front, but from the side shows a decided /-shape, having an anterior convexity above and corresponding posterior bend below. The lower half of the shaft is smooth and cylindrical, but the upper develops two large crests, one anterior, like the '.'spine" of the human shin-bone, the r I- iiiiii :|.{|. -•■ Ill i ; '\ ■ .' ' ■ ■■!• ■ m.m^ I m 582 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. other directly posterior ; the latter shorter than the former, but tliinner and sharper-edged. The inner expanded surface of the bone between these two crests is smooth and convex ; tiie opposite side presents two hollowed surfaces (the posterior one especially excavated) divided by a ridge which runs out to the point of tibio-tibular articulation. The head of the bone on top is trian- gular, the anterior angle represented by the tuberosity for attachment of the extensor tendon. The great part of this space is occupied by the articular facets, of oval shape, the cuter one rather larger than the inner, the two being separated almost entirely by an intervening non-articular groove. The most ])roiuberant outer corner of the head of the bone bears a small cupped oval facet, entirely separate from the knee-joint, for the articulation of the fibula. The enlarged lower extremity has its articular face divided antero-posteriorly by a ridge into two principal facets ; similarly, the inner malleolus is emargin- ate, presenting two (an anterior and posterior) bony prominences instead of a single directly lateral nodule of bone. The Jlbula, so important a bone for purposes of classification among Rodents, is here perfect and entirely free from bony connection with the tibia. Nevertheless, in its lower fourth or third it is closely apposed to the tibia (that portien of the tibia which bends outward and backward) and firmly bound in such position, apparently capable of little, if any, independent move- ment. I have not taken occasion to examine for myself the state of the parts in Castor; but in that animal, in which the fibula is apparently described with l>ropriety as "perfect" and "free", bony union is said to sometimes occur in old individuals; and I should not be surprised if such were the case with Haplodon also. But, in any event, such superimposed, or, so to speak, fortui- tous and progressive consolidation, is not to be confounded with the complete true anchylosis which is characteristic of the Myomorpha. The fibula is a perfectly straight bone (excepting a slight inclination toward ihe tibia below), with very slender shaft, less than two inches long, with an enlarged narrowly ovai liead, only a small part of which is articular, and with a well-formed, irregularly triangular malleolus, the inner aspect of which forms part of the ankle-joint. A small extent of the shaft is roughened for ligamentous connec- ti(m with the tibia opposite a similar and more extensive roughened space on the latter bone. Pes. — There are eight true tarsal bones, besides a supplementary ossicle which I do not recognize. The larg^ calcaneum reaches far back; the HAPLODONTID^—VISCERA OF HAPLODON BUFUS. 583 anterior extremity is somewhat three-pronged ; the inner anterior corner forms a broad shelf, upon which the inner half of the astragalus is imposed. The astragalus has a well-marked trochlear surface for the tibia, and a large forward projection, or plate-like process, upon the convex oval extremity of which the lenticular naviculare is articulated by a cupped facet. A large os intermedium or centrale is wedged in between the naviculare and the row of cuneiform bones. The latter are three in number, side by side, bearing upon their proximal faces the centrale, and supporting at their distal ends the 1st, 2d, and 3d metatarsals. An irregularly nodular cuboid supports the 4tli and 5th metatarsals. On the inner side of the inner cuneif<»-me, and at the base of the 1st metatarsal, may be observed a small flattened p.nd somewliat semi- lunar ossicle close-pressed to the side of the foot There are five metatarsals ; the three intermediate ones are of approxi- mately equal lengths ; the 5th is a little shorter, the 1st shorter still, but not so much reduced as the 1st metacarpal. The head of the 2d metatarsal is lucked in a recess between the two lateral cuneiform bones. There are fourteen phalangeal bones, disposed as in the band ; two to the hallux, three apiece to the other digits. The "s hyoides and os penis are described in speaking of the soft parts of the organs to which they respectively pertain. D. — DESCRIPTION OF THE VISCERA. Heart. — The heart is an inch long, not peculiar in shape. Both auricles arc very distinct, standing flap-like away from the ventricles, or only con- nected by a constricted pedicellate base, especially the left one. In the state observed, they were engorged with blood-clot ; the ventricles were empty. The right ventricle is much thinner-walled than the left ; the aorta arches to the left over the pulmonary artery, wh'ch •; *irst is directed to the left., and then backward beneath the arch of the aorta, a^., ' which it divides to right and left, proceeding to the lungs. Respiratory organs. — There is a well-developed larynx, u, which the principal parts are completely cartilaginous. The thyroid is the largest of thece, somewhat semilunar in general outline, but with a median superior projection, median inferior emargination, and rather long, slender postero- inferior corners, which are firmly attached to the lower border of tiie cricoid at each side of the latter. The cricoid is large, stout, and completely i • 584 MONOGRAPHS OF NOUTU AMUBICAN UODEHTIA. cartilaginous, — tlie only cartilage that entirely surrounds the wind-pipe. It is infundibuliform, the diameter of the ring being considerably greater above than below ; and it is not so high in front as behind, where it bears the ary- tenoids. These are well developed, entirely cartilaginous, and of an irregular shape, impossible to describe concisely; when in mutual apposition, they reach nearly half way ncioss the top of the cricoid ring. The ttachea is flattened, especially behind, and diminishes somewhat in calibre as it passes down, ending in the bronchia with a simple bifurcation. None of the tracheal rings are cartilaginous posteriorly, the membranous por- tion being nearly the semi-circumference. These half-rings are about thirty in number; of tlie similar bronchial half-rings, there are five or six to the first bifurcation. The tracheal cartilages are not regular, either in position, size, or shape ; some are not directly transverse to the axis of the tube ; some are thicker than other::; and some are partially divided into two on this or that side. The tube is about two inches long. The left bronchus is rather longer than the right. The lungx appear to be very small in comparison with the size of the ani- mal. In the collapsed state observed, and with the lobes placed as nearly as possible in the natural position, the lefl lung was less than one and a half inches long ; the right was a little more. The two differ remarkably in their lobation (at least ii. the specimen examined). The lefl lung consists of only two lobes, the lower much larger than the upper ; they are almost completely sepcrated, only connected l)y a thin band of parenchymatous tissue ; each receives a fork of the bronchus. The right lung is n:uch more complicoted, being divided into four very di Mnct lobes, each of which receives its own branch of the I)ronchu8 ; as in the case of the lort lung, the parenchymatous connection of the lobes is slight. The third lobe counting from above is the principal one, representing more than a moiety of the lung. Above and to the front of this main lobe, overlying it much as the auricles of a heart rest upon the ventricles, are two small narrow and thin lobes, side by side, of about equal size and similar shape. The fourth lobe lies on the inner back side of the main one, and eqtmls it in length ; but it is very thin and " straggling ", having about the same capacity as one of the small upper lobes. This lobe has but the slightest parenchymatous connection with the main lobe, and is furthermore itself lol)ulateancreas is a small organ, and very slender ; it lies in the usual site, and its duct empties near that of the liver. The liver, of moderate size, is quadrilobate ; the four lobes being as distinctly marked as those of the lungs, already described. The principal or cystic lobe is superior, and much the largest one ; it is about 2^ inches across (side to side of the animal) by \\ in the opposite direction, and irregu- larly oval, or rather trapezoidal, in shape, with a decided cmargination of the front border near (to the left of) the gall-bladder. It is rather flat and thin for its length ; the superior surface is smoothly convex, apposed to the dia- phragm; the under is irregularly llattened, being moulded upon the sub- ciimbcnt lobes. About the middle of the right half of this lobe lies the gall- bladder, of large size (about that of a small almond) ; its fundus reaches the fore border of tiie lobe. Beneath this main lobe, on cither side, and partly covered by it, lie the two next largest lateral lobes, right and left, having very little ccmnection by hepatic substance with each other or with the main lobe. The right one is the smaller of the two, very flat, and irregularly circular; the other is likewise subcircular in most of its outline, but it sends off a long tapering process, which reaches over into the left hypochondrium. The remaining. Spigelian division of the liver might in fact be described as two, since it consists of two "tails", or processes, of hepatic substance, nn inch or more in length ; one, much larger than the other, and is itself bilobate; the smaller one, an extremely delicate process, about an inch long, lies, when in situ, in relation with (behind) the pyloric portion of the stomach. The cystic and hepatic ducts unite in a short (about half an inch) ductus communis clioledochus, which empties in the duodenum an inch from the pylorus. Genito-urinary organs. — The kidneys are rather oval than of the shape most familiar to the human anatomist, and which the name "kidney" is used to suggest in other connections; they are about an inch long by two-thirds ' as broiid. The right kidney lies rather higher up than the left, its apex being nAPLODONTTI)^— VISCKRA OP TIAPLODON RITFUS. rm noarly opposite Iho Inst. rib. The ureters pursue tlic usual-coursc, to open nt the side, near the base, of the urinary bladder, which is of large size. Tlic kidneys are capped by well -developed adrenals, which arc slender bodies, about half an inch long. In the condition observed, the (estes are abdominal, lying in tile large inguinal canal, not bulging beyond the general plone of the obliquus externus muscle, and consequently causing no visible swelling of external parts. There is no proper scrotal dilatation of the integument; though in the periodical increase in size, which the organs doubtless undergo, and their presumed descent some way through the inguinal ring, it is supposed the organs may cause some turgidity of the exterior contour. The testes are enveloped in a conspicuous muscular funic, an incompleted cremaster, given off from the tronsversalis abdominis. The body proper, in the state observed, is less than an inch' in length, of narrowly oval shape, invested with a firm whitish tunica albuginea; but the organ has a long tapering prolongation upward, while at the lower extremity is the small mass of the epididymis. The vas deferens ascends the border of the testes part way before leaving the organ to pursue a nearly straight course to the urethra, where it empties close to its fellow, at the middle line of the large transverse gland, which embraces the base of the urethra posteriorly. The muscular crura of the penis are plainly traceable to the tuberosity of the ischium, fibres arising most of the way along the pubic as well as ischiatic ramus. The preputial sheath of the penis is freely movable along the whole length of the os penis. This is of large size, and in the inactive state of the member is directed backward, causing the tegumentary invest- ment of the organ to project conspicuously, as already noted in describing the external parts of the animal. The bone is about an inch long (0.80 in the specimen examined), straight and flattened, widening regularly and gradu- ally from base to tip, where it is enlarged, with a clubbed and deeply bifid extremity ; this end of the bone suggesting the condyles of a femur, though its cleft is much deeper. The dorsum is smoothly convex from side to side ; the urethral surface of the bone is sulcate; the basal extremity is emargin- ate. The bone appears to continue to the very end of the organ, no glans penis being evident. Muscles. — I add notes on a few of the muscles, as incidentally observed during the examination of the viscera. ' Sffliew^fta^ ' I I'i.' li lii noo MONOGRAPHS OF NOBTO AMERICAN RODENTIA. The temporal muscle is of moilernte bulk, the fossa being comparalively shallow. The masseteric and pterygoid masses are of great size. The mas- seter forms a bulging mass on the outside of the jaw, completely filling the great fossa formed by the outward twist of the angle of the juw, and defined in front by an oblique ridge already described in speaking of the bone. A special stout tendon arises from the zygomatic process of the maxillary, just below the anteorbital foramen, which latter opening, notwithstanding its small size and apparently inconvenient relations, transmits a small fascicle of the niasseter along with the superior maxillary nerve. The muscles acting upon the hyoid bone, both from the thorax and from the jaw, are well developed. A pair of stout fusiform muscles connect tiie liyoid with the back of the skull. I find no trace of direct muscular connec- tion between the hyoid and the scapula (omo-hyoid). Sterno-mastuid and cleido-mastoid are well developed, and distinct from each other for nearly, if not quite, all of their extent, though their thoracic insertions are very near together. The diaphragm is very thin, even its most muscular portions, and a large port of it is simply membranous. There is a large, well-defined, central "tendon", as broad as the muscular portion on either hand. This is of oval shape ill most of its extent, but with two posterior prolongations, one on each side, separated by the fleshy "pillars" which arise from the vert«brjB, and pro- ceed to embrace the oesophageal orifice. Muscular fibres are scarcely or not developed laterally behind, where simple membrane may be traced to the insertion of the organ along the floating rib. The radiating muscular portion of the diaphragm, then, is a single set of fibres arranged in fan-shape around the anterior oval portion of the central tendon ; these fibres are continuous on the median line in front. The aortic opening, as usual, is close to the ver- tebrae ; the oesophageal aperture is removed from the spinal column by the whole length of the muscular pillars. From the middle line of the diaphragm depends a broad peritoneal fold, suspending the liver, to which, more posteri- orly, it is closely adapted. E. — HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE SPECIES. To render the account of this remarkably interesting animal more com- plete, I shall, in tracing its history, include some notices of its habits. I have already presented those considerations which bear upon the history of the genus and family. nAPLODONTII)^— niSTOHY AND HABITS OF U. RUFUS. 591 The Sewellel was discovered* in 1805 or 1806 by the I'amous travellei-8 Lewis and Claike, whose account first appeared iii 1814, in the Biddle-Alien narrative of their expedition (2 vols., 8vo, Philadelphia, Bradford and Ins- keep), and nearly simultaneously in the Rees English edition of the same date (1 vol., 4to, Londonf). The notice by these authors runs as follows : — " Sewellel is a name given by the natives to a small animal found in the timbered country on this [«'. e. Pacific] coast. It is more abundant in the neighbourhood of the great Falls and rapids of the Columbia, than on the coast, which we inhabit. "The natives make great use of the skins of this animal in forming their robes, which they dress with the fur on, and attach them together with sinews of the elk or deer: the skin, when dressed, is from fourteen to eighteen inches long and from seven to nine in width; the tail is always separated from the skin by the natives in making their robes.^ This animal mounts a tree,§ and burrows in the ground, precisely like a squirrel :|| [Description here follows.] .... Captain Lewis offered considerable rewards to the Indians, but was never able to procure one of these animals alive." (Quoted from text of the London 4(o ed.) Upon the Sewellel of Lewis and Clarke was actually and entirely based the Anisonyx rvfa of Rafinesque, who alsr fave names to others of the species first described under vernacular names these travellers. I have already discussed the bearing of the term Anisonyx, and need not repeat that it is a synonym of Cynomys, Raf , whose ^^ Anisonyx brachiura " was based upon the "Burrowing Squirrel" of Lewis and Clarke, as "Anisonyx rufa " was upon their Sewellel. Notwithstanding that the term was invented ujwn an errone- ous interpretation of the meaning of Lewis and Clarke, and was applied to two animals of widely different genera (Cynomys and Haplodon), it seems that Rafinesque's si)eciGc term rufa, being based exclusively upon the Sew- *Sir John Ricbardsou is inclined to think that a poasiifte in a inucii earlier work (Mackenzie's Voy. to the Paoillo, &.C., p. 314) refers to the Sewellel. " Sir Alexander Mackenzie saw ninny animals, wbioh he terms 'moles', on the banks of a small stream near the sources of the Colombia; but as we are led to infer, from the way in which he speaks of them, that they were in numbers above giouud, I oin inclined to think that they were sewellels, belonging to (he gennsnplodontia . . . "—(Ph. Bor.-Am. i, iwa,p. It.) t For "An acconnt of the varions publications relating to tlio Travels of Lewis and Clarke, with a commentary on the Zoolofjicnl Results of their Expedition ", prepared by the present writer, see Bull. U. S. Geological and Ouographlcal Survey of the Territories, No. 6, M ser., pp. 417-444 (tivo, Washing- ton, Oovernment Printing Office, Febmaiy 8, 187G). t But iung one, with more white hairu interspersed through its fur, and some differences in the form of its scull, which seem to point it out as a second species. The breadth of its frontal bone, between the orbits, where least, is six lines, being twice the breadth of the same bone in A. leporina. Its nasal bones are as broad as in the latter, but are three *!8 shorter. Tiie dentition is perfectly the sam-* in both, but in the young specimen there is a new set of grinders in the lower jaw, which have destroyed the bodies of tiie old grinders, leaving merely a long process before, another bebind, in each socket, resembling fangs. The specimen is not sufficiently perfect to enable me to give its characters as a distinct species, but I have little doubt of its being so." It is scarcely necessary to state that the supposed existence of a second species has never been verified. While there is something in this account t of the inferior molars not readily intelligible, the cranial differences noted may be ascribed to the immaturity of the specimen or its individual variabil- ity. The author continued with an account of some color-variation observed in the skins of a robe, leading him again to the inference that there were two species of Sewellel: — "Since the account of this, species was published in the Zoological Journal, Mr. Douglas has placed in my hands an Indian blanket or robe, formed by sewing the skins of the sewellel together. The robe contains twenty-seven skins, which have been selected when the fur was in prime order. In all of them the long hairs are so numerous as to hide the wool or down at their roots, and their points have a very high lustre. The general colourof the surface of the fur is between chestnut and umber browns, lighter, ond with raoi-e lustre on the sides. Some of the skins, which are in the best order, have the longer hairs on the back of the head, and between the shoul- ders almost block. It is probable, however, that these arc the skins of two species of sewellels, in the robe, and that one of them wants the white mark on the throat. The down of all the skins of the robe has a shining blackish- gray colour." The color-variation noted by Richardson may be com|>ared witli that 38 H * Sv« alao bvyond : Or. P,.ten'ii ebunicterizatioD of n now vuiety. 594 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMBRIOAN RODENTIA. { 1; )• r ■i', indicated by some of the Inter authors, as quoted beyond. From the time of Richardson's account, I am not aware that other notices of the species, based upon original observation or any new mnterinl, appeared until 1848, when Mr. T. R. Peale, a naturalist of the United States Exploring Expedition, gave another contribution to the history of the animal, based on his ov/n experi- ences and collections. We may therefore pass over various compiled accounts as not material to the present history, and take up Mr. Peale's article, above cited in the synonymalic list. This consists of a ilescription and measure- ments, with remarks on the abuntlance of the species at Pugel's Sound, and on the peculiar form of the skull, which is figured on page 57. This figure, tliough only a slight woodcut showing little detail, well represents the general contour of the skull, and is notable as being the tirst representation of the whole cranium, Richardson's specimen figured having been very defective. Shortly afterward, in 1853, appeared the general account of the genus and species, by Audubon and Bachman, as above cited. Their figure of the species was the first colored illustration of the animal, and it may be the only one extant, though the skull and teeth have been figured by Rich- ardson, Peale, and Baird. The drawing was made by his son, J. W. Audubon, "from a fine specimen in London", presumedly one of Richard- son's types. These authors' notice consisted of a copy direct of Richardson's characterization of the genus, an elaborate description of the species, a quotation of Lewis and Clarke's account, a summary notice of the robe described by Richardson, and a few general remarks, chiefly historical. They alluded to two specimens then or lately extant in the Patent Office at Wash- ington, being those collected by Peale, and which, they say, they were "po- litely refused" permission to examine.* The collection to which the authors referred was shortly aflerward (1858) removed to the Smithsonian Institu- tion, where it now (1877) forms part of the National Museum. One of Peale's specimens (that catalogued by Baird in 1857) remains at this dale, and has been examined in the preparation of the present article; the otherf I have never seen, nor was more than one of them noticed by Baird. * Hence Pruressor Bair»pri) apeaka of hia "apecimeot", leaving the impreiaion that he procured more than one. Two of hia sknlla ore in the BniitiMoniao. On apeaking to tbia venerable natnraliat aboal it, the other day, Mr. Peale told me he did not remember that he aeeored more than two gpecimena; Iheae, howuver, bu recojiecled perfectly, and he gave me aonie delightful gonip alK>nt the grievance which ao rtfflleil Auduhon'a temper. .'I m SSSK -,>^.; ^^ '^$ffi':^^40^pl!fi It: nAPLODONTIDiE— F1I8TORY AND nABITS OF U. UUFUS. 595 The last period in tlie histor)' of llio animal l)C(^ins in ISA?, witii llie elaboration hy ProfeBsor Uairil of the material galncrcd l)y the natiiriiliNts of the Pacific Railroad Explorations and Surveys, and the field-notes of the nat- nralists themselves, published in the vi., viii., ahd xii. volumes of the reports pertaining thereto. Besides Bainl's elabt)rate article and figures, we were given copi is notes on tlie distribution, habits, &c., by Newberry, Cooper, Suckley, and Gibbs. In 1857, the genus and species were fully treated by Professor Baird, as far as the technical aspects of the cose were concerned ; his characterization, especially of the cranial and dental characters, being even more elaborate than that given by Richardson. The skull, teeth, and some points of external structure, were refigured in several views. Professor Baird's material con- sisted of an Exploring Expedition specimen collected by Peale, then as now mounted, and from which his account of the species was mainly derived ; of three skins secured by Dr. G. Suckley at Steilacoom, Wash. Ter.; and an addi- tional skin taken by Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge at Astoria, Oreg., together with two skulls from Puget's Sound, appertaining to Mr. Peole's specimens. Dr. J. S. Newberry's note, published in the zoological jM)rtion of the vi. volume of the Reports in 1857, ran as follows: — "This singular animal, called by Richardson [after Lewis and Clarke] the Sewellet, seems limited to a narrow district when compared with most of those which, with it, inhabit the region it occupies. In Washington Terri- tory it is found from the coast to the Rocky Mountains. It is doubtful whether it will be found south of the Columbia,* either on the coast range, in the Willamette Valley, or on the Cascades. Eastward, however, toward the base of the Rocky Mountains, it may occur. I have seen two specimens, one taken near Shoal water Bay, Washington Territory, by Dr. J. G. Cooper, t and the other obtained near the base of the Rocky mountains, which were abso- lutely black, presenting a striking difference in color from those obtained by Lewis and Clark, Douglas, and others, which were brown, and of nearly the shade of the muskrat." *ADdDboD and Bochuian fay, witbont qnaliflcatioD, tbot it bu "been procared in CBlifornla"; and Baird remarks, " I bave beard of an Aplodouiia from tbe monotoioe of California, probably the rame gpeolee, bat have not Men a (peoiniea " — poaaibly allodtDg to the statement of Andnbon and Bachman, Just quoted, or to lome earlier ooconnt, which may have occasioned tbo remarks of both Iheau anthont. t There is some misapprehension here ; for (see beyond) we find Dr. Cooper saying, in ISfiO, tbnt be never procured n specimen. The actual reference la probably to Dr. Suckley, who collected extensively, and was a oolUborator of Dr. Cooper's. '■1 ; v 51)6 MONOGRAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. Dr. J. G. Cooper's notice, in the second part of the xii. volume of the Pacific Ilnilroad Reports,* was as follows: — "The 'Seweliel' of Lewis & Clark, appears to be an abundant animal in some districts west of the Cascade mountains, but from various causes I never conld obtain a specimen. At the time, of their visit to the country the ' Indians used the skins as clothing, and as it required a large number of skins to make nn ordinary sized blanket, the numbers of the animals caught must have been great. It was caught by stone fall-traps, but with what bait I do not know, probably some root. The Indians assured me that none were found nearer to the coast than the Cowlitz valley, but as they have been obtained at Astoria, the statement was not altogether correct. They seem to prefer the soft alluvial river bottoms, where they are said to burrow, and probably thus follow down the Columbia. Now they are rarely caught by the Indians, as their skins are not bought by the Hudson's Bay Company, except when passed off on a 'green' clerk as muskrat skins. Of their habits I could learn little. An old Indian hunter, who is row a shepherd in the employ of Dr. Tolmie at Puget's Sound, told iiim that he had frequently seen them rumiing over the snow in the Nisqually Valley, so that they probably do not hyber- nate. A young man who had kept scliool at Astoria told me that the children sometimes caught them about the schoolhouse, where they burrowed, and that they could be caught by running after Ihem, as they did not lun fast. When taken they did not offer to bite, and ale vegetable food readily. The specimen sent from there was found drowned in a tanner's vat." The same volume from which Dr. Cooper's above-quoted observation*) were extracted contained a variety of further information, contributed by T)r. George Suckley, well known for his natural-iiistory studies of Oregon and Washington, and b]^ George Gibbs, Esq., the distinguished ethnographer and philologist. Among other items of their respective accounts may be specially noted Mr. Gibbs's determination of the inapplicability of the name "Sewellel" to this animal, and his observation of its curious habit of laying out its pro- visions to dry. Mr. Gibbs, as quoted by Dr. Suckley (p. 100 of the volume referred to), said : — "The specimen I send you was obtained at Seattle, where it was killed in a garden. Its name, in the Nisqually language, is Showt'l. (Showfiurll,\ ' RepubUsbiKl as the " Nntaral History uf WasbiDdtim Territory ". \" 8hDWk»rll" — ths, Id tbe original, wbicb I suppooe to be » typograpbioal error for an intended SiotckurU. • HAPLODONTlD-aj— HISTORY AND HABITS OF H. RUFU8. 597 Suckley.) .... This animal burrows extensively in the ground. It chiefly frequents spring heads in rich moist places, and is found as far up as the dividing ridge of the Cascade mountains, and on both sides of the divide. I • noticed tlieir burrows in 1853 at the top of the main Yakima pass. Near their abodes were small bundles of some herb or plant cut with nicety and laid out on logs to dry or wilt* The Indians trap them, and value their meat very much as food." On subsequent {Miges of the same volume (pp. 124-126), Mr. Gibbs continued : — "I noticed burrows of the show'tl in 1853, at the top of the main Yakima Pass, in the Cascade mountains, at an elevation of 3,500 feet, and again in 1854, at the Nahchess Pass in the same mountains. . . . • The Yakima Indians call it Sqtmllah. Its range in the Territory is quite extensive, from high mountain elevations to near the salt water. Colonel Simmons, one of the earliest settlers in Washington Territory, confirms the statement of the Indians that the show'tl, like the prairie dog, lives in companies. He has frequently seen them sitting at the entrances of their burrows early in the morning, and whistling something in the manner of the prairie dog. Lewis and Clark say that this animal ' mounts a tree and burrows like a squirrel.' The statement that it ' mounts a tree' is probably an error I find the [sic — lege that] Lewis and Clark's name of Sewellel for A. leporina is an error. The Chinook name for the animal itself is o-gwool-lal. She-wal-lal {Sewellel, corrupt) is their name for the robe made of its skins." Said Dr. Suckley, at the last-quoted pages of the same volume : — " .... It is probable that the Aplodontia, like many other rcdents, has several litters of young during the seasotr. The Nisqually Indians, in their mythological traditions and obscure stories concerning the creation, say that the show'tl was the first animal created with life. I cannot find out whether they undergo a regular torpid hybernation.f The natives say that they move about a little during the winter, but do not become decidedly active until late in the spring. They live in burrows, in small companies of a dozen or more, and subsist on roots, berries, &c. The Indians say that the show'tl of the Cowlitz river has a white breast and belly. Those at Nisqually, having the under parts dark, are said to retain the same coloration throughout the year. 'The imnage I likve ilBlicized— it wm iu Roman in tho oriKinal — in, I think, the 6rat inilioatioo of tbo ourinu* hsbit iu qurstion. I The probitbilit; secins to brnia as constituting a new variety, to which he applied the name of Haplodon leporimis var. californicus. I havfi seen no specimens from that region, nor is the material available at present sufficient to enable us to come to final conclusions respecting the normal rate of susceptibility to individual variation. The few s])eciinens, however, indicate tliat the nito is at least as high as Ihat which lias been established for various mammals more or less closely allied ; and, should such provu really the case, there would be no impro- priety in considering var. cal{fornicus as strictly synonymous. F. — TABLKS OF MEASCBEMENT8. Tablk 1 . — tleiumremt»1$ of Ihrm alcoholic aped tun* }f IUP' t BUrUB. 1 D a o Locality. 1 From tip of nose to- •■■ail to end of- Uogthof- 8 1 2 1 1 a i •s 1 n j 1 1 "S l.CO 8.40 i aoo 1 11.00 i 1.00 1.75 i i t79 1 a 113.10 Olynipla,W. T. 1180 8.89 3 90 0 79 4.90 0.55 Alcoholic. IVOA ...do rf 1.(10 3.70 3.30 I'lOO l.OP 1. 15 3.10 8.00 8.90 0.80 4.79 U.50 ....do. 1I.T57 ..do tf 1.90 8.50 3.00 11.00 1.10 8.00 1.00 3.10 8.10 3.40 0.75 4.00 ato ....do. HAPLODONTID^— HAPLODON RUFUS— TABLES. 599 Tablk II. — Mem anteorbltal foramen to most posterior point . . Distance across enter mai^n of glenoid fossn Length of auditory balls length of upper molar serios Width of intennolar portion of palate, about Length of inciaiTO foramina Horlaontal diameter of foramen macnnm (the vertical aboat 0.05 less) . Length of exposed poriiwi of superior inolsora Jaw, total length, ends of incisors to back of condyles Jaw, total length, ends of Incisorfi to apex of oornnold Jaw, totallength, ends of Incisors to end of deaoending prooeas Length of inferior molar series Lengthof exposed portion of inferior inolsora Width of the flattened pUto at angle of Jaw 1 a ■z& o » Sib d S.00 ass a. 10 0.40 1.S0 0.68 0.75 1.6S 0.53 1.43 1.46 0.90 0.T0 0.x aas 0.4S 1.15 1.P5 O.TO 0.70 -Oj 3.80 3.18 a33 1.40 0.08 0.70 1.65 0.45 1.40 1.43 0.70 0.35 0.5.-) 3.18 1.85 3.30 0.65 0.80 0.90 0.0) 0.70 1.65 1.08 0.48 1.40 0.S0 308 1.85 310 0.05 0.65 ago fonrth. Length of ■knll to ita grwtMt width, 3.00 : 3.05 : : 1 : 0,77, or width between t'iiree.fanrtlu >nd fonr-flftha of length. Length of eknll to lu depth (withont Jaw), 9.U0 i 0.7S til: 0.80, or depth not two-flftha of length—little over one. Tablr III.— £<«< ii. >0-3o0, pi. i-xi (AuH don Mdui. Mutli. ttc. du I'Acnd. Imp. d.'B BiionccR, ton.j v I, bcHoiidorH nliged'iH'kt.) [SciuTotpa^ soidiis, p. 'MO. Kuliitoil fcrou[i8 cwlnVlialinl In ttilH paper are Hicrocallul {=:DipodotnyB), p Q.I1 unit {i. ail, an4, t. xiii, no. 7; Mdlang. Biol, ii, i;i8; Bcitr. Kennt. SUug. Russlands, 1855, 18d. (Group composed of the geueru Ucomyi aud Thamomyn.) = SciurotpaUuiHi, Giebel, AUg. Ziml. i. ~ Ucomyinw, Baird, Mamm. N. A. 1857, 3C6. (Subfamily of Saccomyida ; the group of this name with this author being equivalent to Saocomyina, Waterhouse.) =:G(!0»ii/ii!a!, Gnx, Arrang. Fam, Mamm. 1S72, 71. (Family.) = Geamyida, Coues, Proe. Acad. Phila. 1875, 130. (Family.) :— Genera Geomye {= Diploatoma, Sactophorui, Paeudmtomn, Aioonyi) nnd Tliomomyi of AuTUORS. — Codes, Powell's Kep. Expl. Colorado River, 1875, 217. !■■ '!! ^ff SPECIAL BIBLIOGRAPUT. 1800— SflAW (G.). Description of the Mus borsarins [etc.]. < Trans. Linn. Soo. v, 1800, pp. 227 . 1802— MiTCHilx (S. L.). Undeseribed Little Qnadrupe\i. ril-DU, May U, IWrj. [Koiirintcil, with hohio modilicutioii, ua Addeuiluni A of llio memoir bt'low cited.] 1«75— CoiJi'.s (E.). Sjuopsis of tbo Gconijidu). < Troo. I'hilo. Acad. 1875^ pp. 130-13a. [A brief abHtraci of tbo u>onioir next below cited.] 1^75— Ci>ui:k (E.). Exploration of the Colorado River of tlie Wost and its tributaries. Explored iu lH(i<.), 1H70, 1871, and 1872, under tlie direction of tbo Secretary of the Smitbsonian Inxtitn- ti . Oeomyi, Raf., Am. Mouth. Mag. ii, 1817, 45.— Baird, Hnmm. N. A. 1857, 30d.— CouES, Proc. Phlln. Acul. Iri75, 130 (moiioKraiihio Bketcb) ; Powell's Rep. Colorado R, 187r>, !»0 (monograpli) ; Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. 3d oer. no. ii, 1876, pp. 81 seqq. (craniiU ohiirnotorB}. Diplmtoma, Rap., op. et locoit. Saccophorui, Kvni., Ovitr. l»JO, Gb. ■>■• ' PKudottomo., Sat, Long's Exp. R. Mta. i, 1823, AOr,. Atcomyt, Licnr., Ablinnd. Berl. Acnd. 1822-2:1, 1825, 20. Generic characters.* — Superior incisors deeply channeled along the middle, with or without a fine marginal groove. Crowns of intermediate molars truly elliptical. Root of inferior incisor but little protuberant on outside of base of condylar ramus ; end of mandible thus only two-pronged, with a knob between. Zygomata widest across anteriorly, thence contracting; the width behind little, if any, greater than the intermastoid diameter of the skull. Parietals ridged along their line of union with each other. Interparietal tri- angular. Nasals approximately parallel-edged part way, then suddenly widen- ing. Superficies of mastoid bone occupying nearly half the occipital surface of the skull on each side. BuUje osseae less inflated, quite acute anteriorly. Basi-occipital, in the middle, about as broad as the width of the bulla at the same point. A pair of broad dee;.' pits on the palate behind, extending for- ward to opposite the penultimate molars. External ears usually a mere rim of integument around the auditory orifice. Fore claws enormously developed. Containing the largest species of the genus. Geographical distribution from portions of British America to Central America, east of the Rocky Mountains, but not the Eastern and Middle States. cnle texture. It is clothed with fine fnr. On the side next the bead, the ordinary fur of the parts nmkes directly into the pouch ; on the outside, the floe tar continues to the brim, where it is met by tlie ortliuury external {wlage. Between the two layers of skin rests a ihin bed of muscular flores (pcrliaps a uiodifled pliityHma myoides), serving for such contractile mnvemeuts as the receptacle may be snscep- tibia of. But the connection between the folds of skiu is so slight and louse tbit tlie pouch may, witli liltio force, be tamed completely inside out, though it does not appear that this ever occurs in life. A rull-si7.cd pouch will admit thiee Angers as far as the first Joint." — (Quoted from the original metHOir.) 'The characters are drawn up with special reference to antithesis with those of Thomomyi, beyond. ' H 1: ( ' ; 'J' iii ft ! Bi^ 012 MONOOllAPUS OP NOUTH AMERICAN RODEKTIA. ANALYSIS OP species; ' ,"' 'v" A. Superior inciHors liisiilfute ; furo nliiws and pouclieH at a iiiaxiiiiiim. a. IiiciHura almost exactly bi»cctr(l by the main groove, tlio flue marginal groovo tlintinet; tail and feet Imiry BunSARlUB. (. IiiclsorB iineqnally divided by the main groovo into larger inner ami Huiallur outer jmrtion, IliO line marginal groove fuiut or obsolete; tail uud feet nearly naked (South Atlantic and Gulf StateH) tuza, I). Superior inuiaorH uuiHulcato ; fore clawB and pouches moderate. a. Incixors exactly bixccted by the grnovo; fur soft; tail and feet hairy. a'. Smaller; yellowiHh-browu, below whitish (Unito. & lUciI., Q. N. A. i, 184U, 332, pi. 44. Gcomxpt biirmrUia, liicil., F. B. A. i, 1829, 203. Cwmya buranriuH, Kicii., Sixth Ann. Kop. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci. for 1830, 1837, 150. — WooDli., Sitgr. Rep. Zufii and Col. K. IHTiS, HO (Indiau Territory).— Pahvin, Ann. Eep. Smiths. Inst, for 18,'>4, lWi5, 293 (habits).- Kenn., Trans, llliuois Agric. Soc. for ia')3-r)4, 18.'u, 580.— Bd., M. N. A. 1K>7, 372, pi. 22, f. 1 a-h, and pi. 50, f. 2 a-ff— Maxim., Arch. Noturg. 18G1, ; Verz. Reiso N.-Anj. Siing. 1802, 147.— Gkhh., Cat. Bones Br. Mus. 1862, 223.— Leidv, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1807, 97 (skull from loess of Missouri). — Ames, Bull. Acad. Minnesota, i, 1874, 70. — Coues, Proc. Phiia. Acad. 1875, ul ; Powell's Ki^p. Colorado Ii. 1875, 221 (monographic). Aacomyt iursarius, Evn. & Gehv., Voj . Favorite, v, 18.J9, 23.-Sci!is!Z, 3yn. ii, 1845, 132.— Gii:ii.,.Odou- tog. 53, pi. 23, f. 8. Geomyg (Saccoi)horii») bursariua, GiEn., Siiug. 1855, ,'i29. f Miia ludovicicnun, OiiD, " Gutlirie's Gcog. 2d Am. cd. ii, 1815, 292. (Not determinable.) " r DiploHloma fu8ca, Raf., Am. Month. Mag. ii, 1817,44.— Desm., Momm. ii, 1822, 315.— Less., Man 1827,801. t Viplosloma alba, Rai'., Am. Month. Mug. ii, 1817, 44 (albino).— Desm., Mamm. 11, 18i2, 315. — Less., Mud. 1827, 201. Kaccophonia t ulbus, Fiscii., Synnj!. 1827, 30r,. f llii>m\j» ciiierciia, Rai'., Ant. Month. Mag. ii, 1817, 45. Mua saccatuD, Mncii., N. Y. Med. Repos. xxi (new ser. vol. vi), 1821, 249 (from Lake Superior. "Tho Go- jilicr, or Pouched Rat of North America, {itus hnraariua.) ") Afcomyt canaihnsia, LiciiT., Abh. Acad. Wiss. Berl. 1823, 13, (Ig — Uisants, Mnizen, 1827, 24. — Waon. " Sui>pl. .Schreb. iii, 1843, :\!':) ; Abh. K. Ho:; r. Al;ad. MUuoh. xxii, 1846, 327, fig. (skeleton) ". fltomyH rannrfrnoid, LeC, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliiia. vi, 18.')2, 158. (Ivomys (Inimmondii, Rich., Sixth Ann. Rep. Brit. Assoc, for 1836, 1H37, 157 (Texas. A npecles with donblo- griiovcd inelsorn, apparently exactly eipial to what was afterward called brcvicepa by Bainl). ..lamnij/s (frHiiiHionrfii, Wagneh, "Suppl. Scbrebcr". (Icomya oregonfimn, Li:C., Proc. Acad. Nat. t-ci. Phila. vi, 1852, 100 (no probability that the assigned locality is correct). Gcomya brevU-eps, l!i>., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila, 18.')5, 334 ; M. N. A. 1857, ;)78, pi. 52, f. 2 a-,j (Texas).— (iEllli., Cat. Itmie;, Br. Mus. 1802, 2'J3. Canada Unt, Xnwv, II. cc. Canada I'ouclud Hat, Riciiardbom, I. c— Aui). &. Bach., f. c. ttb 1 GEOMYID45-GEOMY3 BUKSAllIUS. 0J3 Ilamster du Canada, Desm., I. c PneudoHtome a bonne, Lkh8., I, c. DiploKtome hrmi, 1). blanche, Dehm., Lkss., (/. co. Canadian flamtter, GliIKK., 1. c. Qoffer, TuHchenmans, ScilINZ, I. c. •' PoHclied Hat, Sand Rat, Camat Hat, Pnckut Gopher, Snhnandrr, Viil^o. Uon/noT Gauffrt, French (wUorice EngliHh " ({"plier ", and Ot>riiiiiii "gnffer")- Diagnosis. — Superior incisors bisulcatc, with a fine siiiu|) groove along t lie inner margin, and another, much larger, i)isccting the remiiining plane sur- iiifc. Check-pouches ample, extending to the sliou!d(!rs. Hands, including claws, longer than feet. Tail and feet hairy. Pelage soft, sleek, mole-like. Color dull reddish-brown, muddy -gray or hoary beneath, the basal portion of the fur plumbeous throughout (general color sometimes blackish-gray) ; feet and tail, for the most part, white or colorless. Average dimensions of adult, 7 to 8 inches, but ranging from &.hQ to 9.00 at least ; tail, 2 or 3 inches ; fore foo', including longest fore claw, about IJ inches; iiiiid foot, including claw, about \\ inches; longest fore claw, about 0.75 inch, but very variable — from little over 0.50 to 1.25. Habitat -•'^alley of the Mississippi and its tributaries in a broad sense, and somewhiit beyond to the northward. "Canada." Not known to occur in the United States west of the Kocky Mountains. Specimens examined from the whole immediate valley of the Mississippi, from the State of that name to Min- nesota and Dakota ; also from Texas ; from the Platte, Washita, and Niobrara Rivers, &c.; and from the eastern foot-hills of the Kocky Mountains of Colorado. In the female, there are three pairs of teats — two inguinal, near together along the inside of the thighs; and another pair, pectoral, at a considerable distance. I have not been able to discover any more ; and as the same num- ber and position have been found to hold in G. tuza, mexicanus, and hh-pulus, such is probably the normal case in this genus; though in species of T/wmo- mys I have distinctly recognized six pairs. The character of the infclsors demands special notice, as it is diagnostic of the species. Two grooves upon each upper incisor always persist distinctly. One of these is a sharp, fine line of impression, running along the inner margin of the tooth, about the distance of its own width from the edge. Tiie other is a much larger, more profound, and wider sulcu.':, which fairly bisects the remaining surface, leaving an equal plane area on either side, exclusive of the small portion v.ut ofT by the fine marginal groove. This main groove viries a good deal in depth and width in different specimens, and, moreover, is itself sometimes sulcate ; that is to say, this excavati.,n iomrtimes presents. e i. 614 MONOOllArUS OF NORTH AMERICAN ItODENTIA. MM (111 the outer side, a fine ridge, which marks ofT a secondary groove within the first. The same thing occurs in the einglc-groovcd species — castanops, mexi- canus, and hbpidus. But this carination of the main groove is not always perceptible, and is generally so fine as to be liable to be overlooked. When most strongly marked, this supplementary groove is just like the inner marginal groove itself; and each tooth then seems to consist of two similar halves. Tablk I. — McMwrementH of forty tpeclMvi»,fre»h and atoohoUc, of Geomys DunSARlcg. I 1.127 1:1^4 a:)3n 351 SKU 'nat ■M33 1175 •J03O' II S 3 i 5 0 1 8 II 10 II li 13 H IS 16 11 18 19 31 33 34 33 3< 31 33 33 38 40 43 Looality. Niobrara River .. KAusas Iowa do SAlnt LoulA, Mo. . do do , Illinois VernillloD River ... LoulslaDa Fort Slasetna, Dak . do , .do. .do. .do . .do. .do. .do . ..do . .do. .do. .do. .do. .do. .do. .do. .do . .do . .do. , do. ..do. ..do. ..do. ..do. do. .do. .do. ..do. .do . .do. From tip of aoBO to — o.es 0.9S 1.13 I.3S 1.03 1.90 1.00 0.15 0.S0 1.11 1.30 1.13 0.98 1.00 1.10 am 1.09 1.35 0.94 0.91 a 93 0.90 1.10 1.33 0.80 0.81 1.05 0.95 0.M a83 1.13 1.03 0.93 0.6] 0.71 0.91 0.96 0.17 1.09 1.40 1.63 1.10 3.10 1.13 1.85 1.43 1.73 1.45 2.08 9.04 1.94 1.51 1.61 1.>S 1.60 1.73 1.84 1.46 1.46 1.47 1.35 1.71 3.13 1.57 1.33 1.81 1.56 1.71 1.50 1.99 1.63 1.34 1.13 1.33 1.47 1.33 1.19 1.54 1.90 3.00 3.90 360 1.90 3.35 3.49 3.45 3.03 305 300 336 3.06 3. If. 3.45 305 1.97 L97 1.07 3.90 3 47 300 303 330 306 303 1.90 350 330 313 1.63 1.63 3 00 1.93 3 10 9.90 6.15 6.30 8.00 a 00 7.00 7.."i0 5.75 8.00 n.oo 8.00 9.00 1.90 7.90 8.50 6.30 aso 9.33 1.50 1.00 7.30 7.45 9.00 9.33 a 00 aoo 9.95 aoo a 95 1.50 g.oo 7.85 1.13 6.00 6.60 a 35 1.00 o.ne a50 Length of— 9.30 .3.00 3.13 3.30 aoo a 15 3.35 363 1.15 3.08 3.01 360 9.60 3.96 3 37 363 a 13 348 3 43 330 319 365 a 03 316 3 61 3 77 3 67 aoo 383 an 1.30 1.50 1.35 1.60 1.30 1.35 1.50 1.75 1.90 377 3 67 395 9.68 3 66 393 3. '.5 a 03 1.80 1.60 1.47 1.66 1.50 1.64 1.70 1.60 1.4u 1.55 1.60 1.89 1. .-8 1.63 1.60 1.83 1.6tj 1.69 1.57 1.16 1.68 1.55 1.37 1.35 1.65 1.04 1.55 1.89 1.35 1.35 1.30 1.45 1.33 1.33 1.35 1.13 1.23 1.03 1.37 1.97 1.03 1.35 1.90 1.91 1.30 1.18 1.14 1.39 1.21 1.35 1.40 1.33 1.91 1.45 1.21 1.38 1.18 1.43 1.33 1.28 1.14 1.93 1.33 1.35 1.96 1.31 0.70 0.10 0.68 0.80 0.55 0.63 0.10 0.65 0.15 0.55 1.35 1.03 0.93 0.11 0.69 0.81 0.10 0.80 0.84 0.80 0.15 0.67 0.09 0.83 o.ei 0. 15 0.14 0.89 0.13 0. 75 0.60 n.M 0.81 0.06 0.47 0. f)7 0.\0 0.10 0.64 o.r. Alcoholic. ..do. ...do. Fresb. :..do. Alcoholic. ...do. ...do. Fi««h. Alooholio. Freah. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ....do. ...do. ....do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ....do. ....do. ..do. ..do. ...do. ..do. ...do. .. do. ..do. ...do. do. ... do. ...do. ...do. ... do. ...do. * A typo of 6r«n'oepf. I Xos. 1-49 (orig noft.) wen* mpaanred In the fle«h by t'le coMt ctor, Pr. C T. McChegney, U. 3. A., whose cure In this matter Rroatly increawd (lie value of au important col'ectioa of Uanimala raade by bini In the locality nanicd. " Fort Bis* set4in" waa formerly Fort Wadawortb, Dakota. ■« i 1^ n GEOM YI 1M5— ( J KOM YS TUZA. 615 \, GEOMYS TUZA, (Ord) Coues. The Salamander, ur Florida Pocket Gopher. Grovnd-ral, Bahtram, Trav. Fin., Dublin r.il. 17i):i, 7. Uvdencrihed tillle qiuidnipcd of Cliorgia, Mitciiii.l, N. Y. Mm). Kcpos. v, IHOi!, 80 (not tochnically named ; artiolo wlitorial, ooverinK a description of the animal by J. Mlllwlgp, Con|{ri-iwiuuii from Ueorgiu). Hamtler of Georgia (MiTCUlt.i,!)," Duwick's Hist. Quod. Ist Am. od. ISftl, Wr."; 2d Amor. '(from Hth Lond.) ud. [n. d.], adduuda, p. '.fiii, Avonil-ciit (nrticlc probably propiired b" H. li. Mituliill). ifnt liiza, Old), Outbrio's Onoj;. 8d Am. ed. ii, I81.'i, aihj. (Hiiii«d on Milrbill'H iininntl.) Gwmtjs tiiza, CoiiKH, Proc. Pbilik. Acad. 187.'>, VS'i. — Cuukh, I'owoH'h K«p. C'olonido K. 1HT5, 3!t0 (mono- grapb).— C!|>K, ibid, '.iiii (babitn). llfnmgi pineliH, Rak., Am. Month. Mag. ii, 1H17, 4r>(GBorKia).— IIhant.s, Mui»)n, IH."?, ITM.— Di'.nm., Maniin. ii, 18!K, ;!M (note).— Litm., Man. 1827, 2(W.— Kicii., Sixth Ann. linp. Brit. Amkoo. lor IKIti, 18;i7, l.')0.— Haiiii), M. N. a. 1S)7, 380, pi. 22, f. 11 a- e.— Gksnkii, Ann. Uup. Smiths. Inst, for t8(i0, 18H1, 4:tl (hnbiu). Succopkonu t pineti, ri»ciiKH, Syn. 1820, 305. Oeomyi pineli, LeC, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. vi, 1852, l.'')0.— Ai.i.kn, Bnll. Muu. Comp. Zool. ii, 1871, 17H. PnudqilovM floridana, Aud. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1853, 242, pi. 150, f. I. , ^ Hanuterdv Arginie, Dehm., Jonrn. do Phys. Ixxxix, 1810, 1.50. Southern Pouched Hat, Ann. & Bach., I. o. Oeomya de» pint, Desm., Less., II. oc. Gopher ; Salamander, VtJLO. Diagnosis. — Superior incisors with n main groove dividing tlic tootli in(ecie8 are decidedly with G. mexicanus rather than with G. bursarius. GEOMYS MEXICANUS, (Licht.) Rich. The Tucan, or Uextcan Pocket Gopher. A»comyii mexicantu, LicnT., Ablioud. K. Acau. Wiaa. Borl. 1827, 113. — Bhants, Miiizen, 1S27, 27. — Waon., Siippl. Schrob. ill, 1S43, 3»1 ; W, pi. aOO A.— Chaklebw., P. Z. 8. ix, IS41, 60 (habits).— SCHINZ, Synop. ii, 1845, 13:1. Saccophorus mrakoHiM, Fison., Synop. 1829, 305 Eyd. & Gkrv., " Gn(!rin'9 Mng. vi, ISHfi, 23, pi. 21, f. .I, 0; Voy. Favorite, v, 1839, 23, pi. 8, f. 5, 6".— Ghay, List Mnuim. Br. Mue. 1843, 150.— Geuh. Cat. Bones Br. Mns. I8fia, 223. Geamys mcxictinua, KiCH., Sixth Aun. Kcp. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Soi. for 1836, 1837, ICC— LkC, Proc. Acad, Nat. Spi. Phila. 1852, 160.— Baibd, M. N. A. 1857, 387.— CoUES, Proo. Phila. Acad. IWh, 133; Powell's Bop. Colorado B. 1H75, 2M (monograph). Pseudoalmna {Geomyt) mexicatia, At:D. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1854, 309. (icomya (Saccophoriu)) mexicanua, Gieb., Sting. ISiV), 529. Tucan of IIkrnandez. — Tufa or Tnjsa, Mexican.- Tiijaii opud GuRR., I e. Mexlcatiwche Taichenmaus, German. Diagnosis. — Superior incisors bisected by a single median furrow (as in •m 1 h'' W "^ Ml ■■5 li 1 j.:,:. 1 1 1 ■4 ()18 MONO(JI{Al'll8 OF NOUTII AMERICAN ROOEXTIA. G. rtintdnoj.H, wliidi is very difrcrciit in siz(! niid color). Colorntion aiul gcncrnl appcaninco of (1. hurmriun (wiiitli lias two distinfit grooves on (Ik; iipjuT incisors). Fur so(t, slcok (ms in other species of the genus, excepting G. his- pldiis, in which it is extremely coarse and harsh). Averaging much larger than any United States species (nearly equaling G. hixpidiis), with propor- tionally smaller pouches and hands, and weaker claws (these jmrts being as in (J. hi,s])iiiu.s). Tail and feet clothed (as usual in the genus), not naked as in G. hisjiitliM ivn\ (J. tuzd. Length, 10-11 inches; tail, about 3; sole, |K!r- haps 1.50; hand, rather less. Mamma;, three pairs, as in other species. Habitat. — Mexico. (Limits of distribution unknown. Not known to occur north of Mexico.) Shares wilh G, castanops the single median* furrow of the upjier inci- sors, but is much larger and different in color. The well-prepared speciniiinf here described is only equalled in a large series of G. hursarius by a single much over-stuffed example. The pouches, as well as can be judged from the skin, are smaller proportionally than those of the United Slates species; in this respect being like those of G. hinpiduis. These two Mexican species further agree in the relative smallness of the hands and less enormous devel- opment of the claws ; the fore member being shorter or, at most, not longer than the hinder one. The orifice of the external ear presents, in the dried stale, a mere rim, around which no flap can be fairly recognized. In color, the specimen is not decidedly different from bursarius, though there is a purity of the chestnut-brown which contrasts with the muddy-brown (in some cases almost a glaucous shade or "bloom") commonly seen in bursarius. The fur is deep plumbeous basally, pointed with the warm brown on the u|)per parts, and only partia'ly hidden below by muddy-gray and hoary ends of the hairs. Auricular region darkened. Hind feet and tail mostly whitish. There is some whitishness about the lower jaw, and a small white abdominal and anal patch ; these last being of indeterminate character. The plumbago or "anthracite" variation of pelage occurs in this as in other species of this family. * Q. hinpiduB hON been described oh having a Riiigle niiMliao fnrrow ; tho ompbnsis bere, howevnr, is ii)ion "siiiKlo", in uutitboHis to tbe double furrow of G. hurmriuu, witbont reference to exact poxition. 0. i,iza is said to have n "single" furrow; but the proper implication is merely obsoleteness of tbe fine inner second fnrrow naunlly seen. In R. macicanus, as in O. eatlanopa, tbe farrow is truly «injle nnd midiitn ; in G. HnpUlm, single nn, M. N. A. IWIT, ;tflfi, pi. •^■i, {. 4 fl-d.— CoiiKH, Troo. I'blla.Acnd. 1H7&, l:U.— C'()i!i':i*, t'owull'a Hep, Coloruilu It, 1H75, '£n) (iiionnKnipli). riiiidoittoma ((leomy») hinpMum, AuD. & Pach., Q. N. A. Hi, 1R54, .KXi. Oeomiif hiieroilut, rKTKim,* Moiialab. Akal. Wiw. Il«rlin, IHn4, 177 (Cmtn KIcn). Gomiya " hinului", Col'Eh, Proc. Pbi1». Acad. 1H75, 131 (by slip of imjii for hitpidiu). Diagnosis. — Superior incisors witii a sini^U? strong deep furrow, lying wholly in the inner hull" of the tooth.f Tail and hind feet naked, or iicurly so ; fore feet sparsely hirsute. Fore feet, including claws, decidedly shorter than the hind feet. Pouches moderate, scarcely or not reaching beyond the head. Pelage stiflT, hispid, and almost lustreless. Color uiii(()rm dull chocolate- brown, merely paler, grayer, or smoky-brown below ; all the hairs one-colored from base to tip. Of largest size; nearly or about a foot long; girth some 9 inches; tail s'.iort, about 3 inches or rather less from extreme base, its naked part only about 2 inches; sole, 1§-1^; palm, including longest claw, less than this. 9 with only 3 pairs of mammae determined, 2 pairs inguinal, 1 pair pectoral. Habitat. — Mexico and Central America. (Xalapa, Mexico (Dc Oca) ; Nccostla, Mexico (iSi!/«jicAras<); Costa Rica (.Zeferfon and Canniol); Guatemala Q\iy {Van Patten)) The most notable external feature is the nakedness of the tail and feet. The tail, in extreme cases, is absolutely bare ; the hind feet, from the tarso- metatarsal joint outward, are nearly bare, though a few bristly hairs may be observed, especially on the toes. The hands share the same nakedness, but in less degree. Specimens vary in these respects ; in some, delicate bristles 'Special pnpor: „Ueber nene Arten dor Siingethiergattunf^en Qoomys, Haplodon und Uoaypng." < Loc. at. pp. 177-181. t lu the earlier uoticen by LcConto and Baird, the character of the upper incisors wns not fully indicated, owing to dofeet of the specimens. These teeth ore nnisulcate, as in nuxfranua, but the poaition of the groove constitutes n {lerfect specific character. In Meztca*u», a single profunud groove bwectii the tooth ; in Aitjridus, a similar single groove lies on the i»ner half of the tooth. In some specimens, indeed, where the groove is widest, it may encroach slightly upon the median line ; but it asnnlly lies altogether to one side, the outer plane surface of the tooth being alone as wide as the groove plu» the inner plane surface. This character is unique among the species described in this paper ; and it is the basis of O. heterodui, us I find upon examining Prof. Peters's paper, which I was not able to consult in tlu. proparatiuD of my previous articles upon this family, Prof Puteni alludes to the original 5. i;uac/«i{ of Gray, but seems to buvu overlooked Dr. LeCunte's description of G. hitpidus. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ■tt Itt 122 u Hi lU lU u 140 IL25 IH 1.4 IHII^^E ^ '/. w "V >' ^^^ ■^ HiotDgraphic Sciences Corporaiion ^ \ rO^ <> .'•* \ ^.\ ;\ 23 WfST MAIN STMH WItSTIR.N.Y. USM (716) 872-4S03 ■^ , if W'l :■!. fl § 620 MONOOUAPU8 OF NOllTn AMERICAN KODENTIA. arc scattered over the tail, and more evident ones clothe the instep ; but the parts always present a peculiar skinny appearance. Tail less than one-fburtii as long as the head and l)ody; han0.) Greatest depthof skull.without jaw, 1.18(op|)osite premolars; the eorres|H)nding dimen- sion of G. hurmrim is only 0.70). Width across occiput, 1.65. Length of lower jaw .(condyle to incisive alveolus), 1.80 (in G. bursarius, 1.45) ; great- est divergence of rami of the jaw (at the exflected angles), 1.80. The enor- mous under incisors protrude more than an inch — 1.25 ; the upper incisors arc cxserted for 0.G5. Tlie zygomalic width is increased by a well-marked U i:()M YI 1)^-TI10M0M Y8 02 1 flitnge-like expansion of (he mnlur anteriorly, where, at the point of grcaU'st width, the bone is 0.35 in breadth; the process extends obliquely downward and ontward, with rounded contour. Nothing equalling this special expansion of the malar is seen in any of the United States species, skulls of which have been exatnined, though the bone is usually thicker in (he corresponding portion of its course than elsewhere ; and, in G. castanops particularly, is some- what laminar at the corresiwnding point. The skull as a whole is " rugged "with the several ridges and angles highly developed ; the jaw is specially massive. There seems to be a peculiarity in the "set" of the lower incisors, apparently determined by their great protrusion. In O. buraariun, holding the jaw hori- zontal, i. e. with the crowns of the molars on a level, the incisor-tips still incline strongly obliquely forward. In the present species, when the jaw is similarly viewed, the ends of the incisors are vertical, so great is their curva- ture. Various peculiarities of the skull might be noted, but they may be considered covered by the statement of its great massiveness, roughness, and angularity. The ]Hittern of the molar crowns seems to be much the same. Genus THOMOMYS, Maxim. JMptoiioma, Richards, Fu. Bor.-Am. i, 18S9, 300 («uc Raf.). Ortclomf, pt. Eyd. dc Okhv , Msg. Zool. vi, ItKW, 83. Tliomomg; Haxim., M. Act. Aoad. Com. Leop. xix, 1839, 383.— BikiRD, H. N. A. 1857, 388.— Codes, Proc. Pbita. Ac«d. 1H75, 134 (iiioDographio sketcb). — CouES, Powell'a Sep. Colorado R. lH7r>, ii43 (mono- graph).— CoUKS, Bull. U. S. OeoL Snrv. 'Ml aer. no. ii, ltf7&, pp. 81 leqq. (crauial characters). Ibmomg; Bramdt, BoiL Kennt. SUug. Ruasl. 185.5, 187. (In addition to the foregoing, all the syDonyms of Oemiyi, g. v., haio been applied to this genos.) Generic charb. — Superior incisors without median sulcus, but with a fine marginal groove (sometimes obsolete). Crowns of intermediate molars acute-edged exteriorly. Root of inferior incisors causing a protuberance on outside of base of condylar ramus nearly as high as c^idylo itself; end of mandible thus sijgularly three-pronged. Zygomata regularly convex out- ward, with a sweeping curve ; their breadth across jwsterioi'ly decidedly greater than the intermastoid diameter of the skull. Parietals ridged exter- nally near the squaino-parietal suture. Interparietal rather pentagonal. Nasals widening uniformly from behind forward. Superficies of mastoid bono restricted to less than a fourth of the occipital surface on each side. Buliue. osscaj more inflated, quite obtuse ar.voriorly. Basi-occipital, in the mid- dle, much narrower than the bulla at the same point. A pair of slight pits on the pulutti behind, not extending beyond the ultimate molars. £xtcrr.ul G22 MONOGUArUS OF NOKTU AMBItlCAN UODKNTIA. MM ears, though very smnll, provided with a distinct auricle. Fore claws mod- erately developed. Containing the smaller species of the family. Distributed from British America to Mexico, from the valley of the Mississippi to the Pacific. Readily distinguished from Geotnys by the characters given in the fore- going paragraph, the expressions used being antithetical to those of the diag- nosis of Geotnyx on p. 611. The numerous species of this genus described by Richardson, LeContc, Baird, and others are reducible to one, with three geographical races. The following schedule cxliibits the relations of the several forms us treated by the two latest systematic writers on this genus : — Baibd, 1SS7. CouKS, 1876, 1. Tyomomf Mbivont .. °\ ( 3. Tlumomyt latictpi I i'aaifia oowt ragloD < bdlbivorus 3. TkomomfdtmgUuM...} \ 4. TkoMonyt IhmtaUi...^ ( 5. TtoMomyant/ivanf ... VNortbern Interior ^ talpoidks.. 0. nomimy$ " lalpoldei". j I 7. Thomomyi timtriiiiM . . . "k S. Tkomomf fulvut . ' > Sootbem Interior and Lower Calif orni«. . < UMBRINUB . mi . 3 .5 g For a full discussion of the subject, reference may be made to the orig- inal memoir. The following is an epitome of the results attained in the dis- crimination of the three forms; — Size. — The Northern Interior form and the Pacific Coast form are of the same size ; the Southern Interior form averages an inch or two less in total length than the other; but large specimens of the latter, and small examples of the two former, overlap each other in stature. Form — ^The Northern Interior race and the Northern styles of the Pacific Coast race have larger fore claws than the Southern style of the Pac'^^c Coast race or than the Southern Interior race. The difference is sufficient to make the whole hand of the former about equal to the foot, while, in the latter, the hand is usually shorter than the foot. But this is only true as a rule ; there are many exceptions. In all three of the forms, the tail, measured from its true base, ranges from one-third to one-half the t^tal length of head and-bo«ly, though only rarely reaching either of these extremes. Nothing can be pred- icated on this score. Color. — ^The Northern Interior race is a rat-colored animal, Jioary-gray underncatli, with white tail and feet, much white about the mouth, and no GEOMYIOvE— TIIOMOMYH TALl'OIDES. f.ooty-l)Inckis!i llierc. The Pacific Coast race \s a rich ilnrk-l)rowri uniinal, mu(l(ly-i)cllie<1, with dusky tail and foot, wholly or in part, nnd souty nliuiit the mouth. The Southern Interior race is usually a rich tawny or fulvous animal, with partly dark tail or feet, or both, sooty mouth-parts, and white pouches. This race is particularly variable in color; ond, in every respect of color, all the races show much variation, and, moreover, intcrgmdc completely. The various forms under which the genus Thomomys is exhibited may bo discriminated by the following characters: — ANALYSIS OF SPECIES AND VASIETIE8. A. I^rgo. Hiud foot an Inch nr mora long. Tall st least one-tbird m long tm liewl and body. Above brown, reddinb, &o. Btdow gray, brown, reddlab, lie. (nut wbitv)' Earn In a blockUh area well developed 1. talpoipks. «. Six to rifjbt incbea long; fore clawn highly developed (0.45 to 0.S3 long), making the liand about as long as the foot. Color of the house-rat, with white tail and feet, and nsunlly white abont the month and throat; no oontrasts of dark color about the montb. (Kortbem Interior) a. (a/jwidra. h. Seven to nine inches long; fore claws less developed, usually under 0.50, leaving the hand shorter than the foot. Reddish-brown, the belly muddy-brownish, feet and tail usually not entirely white ; mouth-parts dark, oontraating with white of the ponob-liniog. (PociAo Coast) b. t«/6hx>nu. e. Snisller on an average i usually six to seven inches long. Fore claws abont 0.40 or less, leaving the hand decidedly shorter than the foot. Rich fulvons, or even fawn-color, the same lieiow bnt paler, variously obscured on the Iwck with dusky; tail and feet usually dark; face and month-parts aooty-blaokish.sbarply contrasting with white pouch-lining. (Soathem Interior and Lower Cali- fornia) e. asitriaas. B. Small ; decidedly less tbac six inches loug. Hind foot about 0.75 ; fore foot still less. Tail scarcely one-fonrth as long as the bead and body. Above, pallid yellowish-gray, with a shade of light brown ; below, entirely white ; feet and tail white. Ears minute, not in a blockish area. Nose blackish. (Bridger's Paaa, Rooky Mountains) it. CLuaivit. THOMOMYS TALPOIDES, (Rich.) Baird.* Mortbern Pocket Gopher Orieetiu latpoUe$, Bicn., Zool. Joum. ill. No. 19, Jan.-Apr. 1828, 518. (Plambago-oolored.) atomfi lalpoidn, Rich., V. B.A. i, 18it9, 804 ; Rep. Brit. Assoc, for 183A, vi, 1S»7, ISO, 156. (Same astbe pre- ceding, bnt " Florida " assigned wrongly as a locality.)— DrKav, N. Y. Fn. 184it, Vi. (Com- piled (Voni Richardson.)— SciliNZ, Synop. Hamm. ti, 1645, 137. (Compiled from Rich- ardson.)—LkContk, Proc. Acad. Nat Sci. Pbila. vi, 185S, 163. (Compiled from Richardson.) Saenglianii lalpoUm, Fihcii., Synop. Homm. 1830, 588 (marked •' 388 "). (Compiled from Richardson.) .4«»i»y< lalpoida, Waon., Suppl. Schreb. iii, 1843, 390. (Compiled from Richardson.) i>M«dM(0iia lalpoida, AuD. &. Dacr., Q. N. A. iii, 1853, 43, pi. 110. (Compiled from Richardson ; Bgnro from t^e type-specimen,) Cnmys (Tkoaiosiyt) lalpM<<»,OnBKL, Siing. 1855, 630. (Compiled fknm Richardson.) Tliomomf$ lalpoUf, Daiiid, U. N. A. 1857, 403. (Compiled from Richardson.)— CouK8, Proo. Pbl!a. Acad. 1875, 135.— CoDU, Powell's Rep. Colorado It. 1875, iffiO (monographic ; Dicbardson's species identified, de«eril>ed, and disonssed). *8peoi*l paper: "Short cbaracten of a few Qnadrnpeds pr^urod.on Capt. Franklin's lata Expe- dition." < The Zoological Jonmal, iii, Mo. 18, jBn.-Apr. 1838, pp. 516-500. G24 MONOGltAPIIS OF NOUTFI AMEllIOAN UODRNTIA. I . t !■: :.■ ■ Gcomgi horraU; Ricil., Rrp. Ilrit. Ansae, for IS30, vl, IBHT, US, donorllMxl on p. 1&7. (■■ Baakatchewan.'')— IIaciim., J4>iiiii. Aciiil. Nat. 8cl. I'liilu. IKtl), 1U3. (OrlKiiinlly ilcMrlbod fmm RichnnliHiii'ii type, " Coliiiiilila It.," inarkeil " PtudoHoma bonali; Kioli.")— UkKay, N. Y. Fii. HH'i, Vi. (ConipilcU fn)in Uuclimaii.)— BciiiNZ, Hynuii, Uaniiu. U, lti4ri, 1%. (Cunipilod from Uncliniaii.) Aiamyt torrafto, Waon., Suppl. 8ubrob. iii, 1843, 391, (CoDipilei].) Saccophortitborcalia, Okay, Lint Ilr. Mim. I«i43, 149 (" Canudn ;" incro mrntion, with aomo wranfi ayno- nyiiiH).— MuiiiE, P. Z. 8. ItffO, HO (as boatof (Ettru$). ritudotloma boreall; " Rich. M^8."— Ai:d. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, l«a, lOH, pi. 143. (Doacription and Hg- nro apparently from tliu ortKioal apocimons.) Thomomyi bortalit, HaiiiIi, Maniui. N. A. 1807, 3110, pi. 23, Og*. ia-r. (Account from (ypcaof "borealia" and " towntendii ", in Muii. Philo. Acad., with T7liieb n Calirornian R|iooimen ia conniderrd )irobably Identical.) — Nkwb., P. R. It. Rep. vl, 1807, &U (reata on the Califoruian apecinieu Just mentioned), Geomgi ioitmiendil, " nwii. U88."— Bachm., Jonm, Acad. Nat, Sci, Philo. 1839, 105. ("CnlnmliiaR." Oeacribed as distinct from " borvalis", with much bositation, entirely in deference to Rich- ardson.)—Rich., Zfiul. Voy. Blosaom, 1839, p. IU'.-DkKay, N. Y. Fn. 1842, 93. (Compiled from Bacbnian.) — 8CIIIKZ, Synop. Uanim. 11, 184&, 137. (Compiled.) Mcomyt lomieium, Waq.n., Suppl. Hchreli. ill, 1843, 391. Oeornut u>iifulcalti$, Gray, " Br. Uns."— Oeay, {. e. Tkomomf n^fttcm; Maxim., Nov. Act. Acad. Ciu.-Lcop. xlx, pt. 1, 1839, 383 ; Arch. f. Natnrg. 1841, pt. 11, At ; Hid. 1801, — ; Verz. «iag. N.-Am. Roiae, 1802, 140, pi. 4, f. 5 (penis-bone). (In the lost qnotation, thn generic name is apelled "Tomomys".) (Hisaouri region. )—SciliNZ, By nop. Hamm. 11, l^ft, 134 (oxclusivo of the synonym Orgclomy botia, Eyd. A. Oerv.). (Compiled from Haxiinillan ; California erroneously asslguel as the locality.) — Baikd, Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila. vii, 18u5, 335 ; M. N. A. 1857, 397. (Itetloscription of specimens from •• Nebraska", i. «., Dakota ; ForU Pierre, Randall, and Uuion.)— Baikd, P. R. R. Rep. x, 18:i0, Ounniron's ond Beckwith's Routes, Mamm. p. 8, pi. 10, f. 1 (the same). — Strvkmson, U. 8. Oeol. Surv. Terr, for 1870, 1871, 402 (Wyoming).— Amiw, Bull. Hinn. Acad, i, 1874, 70 (cato- logned upon presumption of its occurrence in Miunesota). — Allen, Proo. Host. Boa xvli, 1874, 43 (Yellowstone River); Bull. Ess. lust, vi, 1874,00, 01, 00 (rather suppoaed than known to be this species). Onmf rufactnt, LkConte, Proo. Acad. Nat. Bel. Pbila. vi, 1852, 101. (Reileacrlbed from typesof " bore- alls" and " townscndii ", in Philadelphia Academy, marktd "Columbia River".) Aicomy rtifacent, Waon., Suppl. Schreb. Iii, 1843, 387. nnmya (Thomomy) m/eacnis, Gikbel, Siiug. 1855, 530. rAononyt "fulvui ", Meiiii., Ann. Rep. U. B. Oeol. Surv. Terr, for 1873, 187:1, 065. {Seo Woodb.) Diagnosis. — Coloration almost exactly that of the house-rat (Mus decu- manus) — sometimes assuming a more reddish phase, occasionally blackish- plumbeous ; tail and feet white, and much of the chin, throat, and breast white in irregular patches, where the fur is white to the base. No sooty- lihickish about the mouth-parts; no obvious distinction in color between the pouch and its surroundings ; no strongly-pronounced reddish-brown on the under parts ; general tone of coloration never decidedly tawny. Ears set in a small blackish area. Length, 6 to 8 inches ; tail, 3 inches or less, decidedly less tlian half the length of head and body ; fore and liind feet (claws included) airproximately equal to each o\her, 1.10 to 1.25 ; longest fore claw little less tli'in the length of the rest of the hand, about 0.50. Mamma;, 6 pairs — 2 pairs inguinal, pectoral, and axillary, respectively. In some specimens, however, one or two pairs a])parcntly fail to develop, generally the axillary ones. GEOMTID^— TnOMOHTS TALP0IDE8. 625 Habitat. — Supposed to occur in the Interior of North Americn, from "Hudson's Boy" to the "Columbia River", and to occupy about the northern half of the United States west of the Mississippi, exclusive of the Pacific Coast region ; being replaced, to the west, by T. bulbivorut, and, to the south, by T. umbrinus. (Undoubted specimens seen from Selkirk Settlement, British America; from Minnesota westward through Dakota and Montana to the Rocky Mountains; and from Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada.) Tail* II.— JfeatwmMal* i/«r.K.CoaMtD.aA.. 4s X » i 7Mlt Otliir ttnkmna, tnm Ik* mm» ngloa.aot ■uMrad la tin Sook, wiry tka llnHi of lat(| |g!gtfc ftwa akoat 0 to «k— t » lukoa, wllk » »iitrM|i«a*lai raafo o( nilatloa la olkor fart*. Tk* UU U IskoafroBll* tnwkoao— H*fP**nakoalk*iriclxk>kott*rlatkoditado«ala. TkowalfMof tkoMtfaalMaaiaagoalVaaiO taTouBOMi, Tkoflrtkof tkookMrtUakNtJIaskooief tk* koUj.OJM. XallMT, 9,kMi II loali-* pain aiUUr;, • pain pM«onl,t pain laiaUul. WkM taUjr dlalradod, la Ik* ft«k ilaia, Ik* wUtk acn** tk* •k**k-poaek** t* tk* (natoot dUawtor of Ik* kodj. Moa.L«M«ric.a*a.l,alladall,w*n nnaand la tk*a**kkrlk««*a«ilar,Ilr. Cl.lloCkMa*j,U.&A. Tk* ■Miiiwiti «f UU «»«■ to kan k*«a takaa ky kha tnm It* appanat hwa The most northern specimen I have seen is from the Assiniboine River; the species is supposed to range from Hudson's Bay to the Rocky Mountains in British America (northern limit unknown). In the United States, I have specimens from Minnesota, Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Nebraska, Wyoming, Nevada, and Utah. The southern limit is inferred to be somewhere along the middle of the United States. Its range may not inosculate with that of T. umbrinus ; at any rate, I have seen no intermediate specimens from any- where in the Interior, the approach io umbrinui seeming to be made in the Pacific province, through bulbivorut. True taipoidei exists fuirly westward of the main chains of the Rocky Mountains ; but no Thomomyi of this style is known from immediate Pacific slopes. It meets and inosculates with the Northern style of bulbtoonu ("douglasi") in the Columbia River region. This animal is elaborately described, and it« synonymy fully discussed in the original memoir. 40 M \''\' m H. 626 MONOOKAPnS of KORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. THOMOMYS TALPOIDES BULBIVORUS, (Rich.) Coues. ricllc Pocket flopher. DiplMlm Richardson.) J»oomf ioaglatii, Waon., Bappl. Hcbreb. iii, 1843, 309. (Compiled.) P$euiMl)ma ioufUuU, AuD. & Bach., Q. N. A. iii, 1853, 94, pi. 106(aItogeUMr toobrigbUy eolond). (Moinl/ compiled from Richanlaon.) OeoMjrs ( Itomomf) dougl—i, OixBRi., SSng. 1835, 531. (Compiled.) TkoMastji* ieyglauii, Baimd, M. N. A. 1857, 394. (Minute description of specimens from Washington and Oregon Territories.)— BvcKl., P. R. R. Rep. xii, 1860, pt. li, pp. 100, 196. VABIF4TAL CHARS. — Coloration heavier than in the foregoing ; general cast reddish-brown, lined with dusky on the back ; the head usually darker than the rest of the upper parts; on the sides, the color giving way to a clearer tawny-brown, ^vhich occupies the belly also, there overlying the plumbeous roots of the fur as a strong wash. Face and mouth-parts dusky, or even sooty -blackish, contrasting with the white lining of the pouches. No pure white on the under parts. Tail and feet usually incompletely whitish, or quite dusky. If anything, averaging rather larger than true ta/paidet. Hand rather shorter than the foot, owing to less development of the claws, which are only about 0.40 long. '^^ GROUTIDiS-THOHOMTS TALPOIDES DULBIVORUS. C27 Habitat. — Pacific coast and 8lo{M!8 of the United StatcB, from Wa»liing- ton Territory to Southern California. There is no decided dificrcnce in sisse or shape between this form and the last^ except on average less development of (lie fore claws. Tiie extreme of the bulbivorua branch of this species is readily recognized by a warmtli and intensity of coloration not known to occur in specimens from the North- ern Interior; the color varies a great deal, but is never the clear mouse-gray of tfifpoidet, being an intimate mixture of yellowish-brown and dark brown or blackish. Above, the pointing of the fur conceals the plumbeous bases of the hairs ; below, this plumbeous shows, overlaid with a strong wash of tawny or muddy-brown, unlike the hoary-)|piiy of the same parts of laljwukt. The under surface is not known to be varied with patches of white,* nor is there any white about the mouth, excepting the immediate border of the lips ; the niouth-|)art8 being sooty or dusky, contrasting with the white which lines the cheek-pouches. This is very much as in umbriitut, and quite different from tafpoidct. The furc claws avei'age about 0.40 — ratlier less than more. Such typical manifestation of this form I have only seen from California; it changes insensibly into both talpoidea and vmhrinui. Proceeding irp the Pacific coast, we find an animal still like bulbivonu in general tone of coiorotion, but in which the mouth-parts have nearly or entirely lost their sootiness; the fore claws also enlarge somewhat, and from this state it is but a step to true tal- poidet, which meets "douglnsi^ in the interior of Oregon ami Washington. In the interior of California, the opposite modification begins, tending to vmbrinut, which becomes established in Arizona and New Mexico. Here the dark mouth-parts are intensified, but the color grows richer till a decidedly tawny or fulvous cost results. Specimens from Fort Crook and Fort Tejon, Cal, and from Provo, Utah, are ambiguous, exhibiting much variation. Some of the browner ones are inseparable from bulhivoru*, while the ruddiness of others matches that of typical umbrinut. The intergradation of the two forms in this region is complete. Some other specimens from Fort Crook are iden- tical with Steilacoom ones in color; the only difference being the weaker claws. To the southward, on the coast, the same intergradation occurs, becomiiig established about San Diego. In Lower California, pure umbrintu prevails. * A Ban FniDeiwui ■peeiman to • paifeot albliio— ■oow-wbile all over. IH 638 MONOOBAPHS OF KORTn AMEBIOAN BODENTIA. TIIOMOMYS TALPOIDES UMBRINUS, (Rich.) Coue* Boathera Fockel fi«M«r> Ocomf umMnut, Ricn., F. B. A. i, 1830, 909; Bap. BriL Aaoe. for 1836, vi. 1KI7, IM). (<• CMUdaRaliw, Bouthweatern LaninisuB"— mora likeljr Tezu or New Mexloo.)— WikTKHii., Charleaw. Hug. N. II. ill, IKIO, I^, r. 71 (tkull).— DbKat, N. T. Fu. 1849, 09. (VomplM (Vam KioliMtUon.)— BciiiKZ, Byn. Hamm. il, IfUti, 137. (Compiled from Rlobardaon.)— LbC., !*«». Aoiid. Nat. Sol. Pbila. laat. Ifri. (Compiled from Rlobudaoo.) Jieomf MiMaM, Waon., Suppl. Hcbrob. iii, 1843, 380. (Compiled.) i'tuiiHloma umMnu, AuD. A. Bach., iii, 18M, 307. (Compiled from BlobiurdaoD.) OroMft ( nomamt*) tmtrtmmt, OiKB., Sling. ISOK, 530. (Complied from Biohardaoo.) T/koMOMyt miMaiM, Baird, U. N. A. 18Ei7, 309 (redeaoribed fknm Dnmeroua New MexioMi apeoimena). — Bairu, U. B. Hex. B. Survey, ii, pt. il, ISTiO, Uamm. 41.— Oihr., Cat. Boaea Br. Mna. 1809,998. Tkoaioaiy* latpoUt$ umtriuat, Cocu, Proo. Ptaiia. Aead. 1875, 137.— CouRa, Powoll'a Rep. Colomdo R. 1875, 961 (monognpb).-CouRa A. Yarrow, Wbeeler'a B«p. Ezpl.W.lOO Uerid. "187I>" (=. 1876), 111 (New Hexioo, Arizona, &o.). Onmya /Wlvtu, Wiiodii., Pruc. Acad. Nat. Ho). Pbila. 1859, 901 (Ban Franoiaco UoantaiDa, Ariiooa) ; Bep. Expi. ZiiOi and Colorado R. 18S3, Al, pi. G (tbe same). rtudotloma (Omrngt) fnhtu, AuD. &, Dach., Q. N. A. Iii, 18S4, 300. (Copied ttom Woodboaaa.) nomamf /Wfr«>, Baird, M. N. A. 18S7, 409. (Deacribea Woodbonae'a type, and olber apeclmeii*, from Calir»rDia.)-BAiRO, U. 8. Hex. Bonnd. Snrv. 11, pt. 11, 1H&9, Momm. 41.— Krnm., P. R. K. Rep. X, 18r.O, Whipple'* Ronte, Hamm. 14, pi. 19, f. 9.— CouES, Am. Nat. 1, 18li7, 3!M (bablU).— COUKS, Proo. Acad. Nat. Boi. PblU. 18G7, 135 (Fort Whipple, Arizona). Varietal chabb.-'— Averaging decidedly emaller than either of the fore- going. Length of head and bo<1y about six inches, rarely seven. Fore feet averaging decidedly less than the hind feet ; longest cluw oilencr under than over 0.40. Color variable, from a nearly uniform rich fawn-color, all over, or even intense reddish-chestnut, to various tawny-brown shades, with or with- out a blackish dorsal area ; belly merely a paler shade of the color of the upper parts, or much as described under bulbivorus. (Occasionally quite gray, much as in typical talpoidet; sometimes lustrous coal-black all over.) Mouth-parts, and often whole face, blackish, except sometimes immediately around the lips, strongly contrasting with the white lining of the pouch. Tail usually more or less like the body. Habitat. — Southern Colorado, Southern Utah and Southern Nevada, Western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Lower California to Cape Saint Lucas. Southward extension into Mexico undetermined. No other form of the genus varies so much in color as this one. Tlie known variations are all given in the original memoir, and Drs. Coues and Yarrow have carefully described the normal or usual style of coloration in the Keport above cited. \ GEO&lYlD^-TnOMOMYB CLUSIUS. G20 THOMOMYS CLU8IUS, Coucs. lockr HaMtala Focket doiker. nomomft ehiiiw, Coiim, Proa. Pbits. Acad. 1875, 138 (ilMcr. orig. Brldger** Pun, Rnoliy MnnntniiM).— Cooks, Powall'i Rep. Colorado R. 187&, SM>3, f.SO (nma ■peoimun rodeMribe!i iM^ I* t^^r^iveS: •TSW^PF^ MONOGRAPHS or NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. No. XI -SCIURIDi!. Bv J. JL. ALLEN 631 Ili'^ LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Museum of Cohparatite Zoology, Cambridge, Mass., March 15, 1K77. Sir: I transmit herewith for publication my memoir on the North Ameri- can Sciurida, As only two genera of the Sciurida of the New World are represented south of the southern boundary of the United States, and one of these by only a single species not found north of that sine, I have thought it best to include all of the New World forms in t}ie present memoir, thereby making it a "Monograph of the American Sciuridee". The extralimital species belong, with a single exception, to the genus Sciurus, which has its centre of development in Mexico and Central America. It hac, however, represent- atives throughout the greater part of both Americas. As ill the case of previous monographs of this series which I have had the pleasure of transmitting to you for publication, the present memoir is based mainly on the material contained in the National Museum at Wash- ington, including all tliat has been collected either by yourself personally or under your immediate direction and auspices. In addition to this, I have been able to use a large amount of material contained in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, Mass., without access to which my me- moir would have been ikr more incomplete than it is at present In this con- nection, I beg leave to express my gratitude to the officers of both these institutions for their kindness in allowing me the freest access to these nlag- nificcnt collections, embracing upward of two thousand specimens of the American Sciurida. I am, Sir, very respectfully, yours, J. A. ALLEN. Dr. F. V. Hayden, United States Geologist, etc., etc, Washington, D. C. n. mm if i: TABLE OF CONTENTS. Family 8CIURIDA G31-940 Obnbril considbratiohs G37-4MO 8VNOP8I80r THKOemtRA 640-043 OEOORAPniCAL DISTRIBDTIOIf AMD VARIATION „ 643-633 Ounua Seiunpttnu 6&.'Mi.'i4 adarofUnu rofnoella 0!i5-«li0 vofiMelto 666-Gm AadiraiM 6&!i-0'j6 OenatSeiiinu 665-678 iManu JhuboniiM 673-700 kmdtoHiml 674-677 riekardtoni 677-678 imiiluui 67eMJ79 firtmmti 670-6IU CaraliiMiui* 700-717 kiiaXi* 701-704 eunlinimtlt 704-705 ywwteiMMi* 705-706 lri5«r 717-731 einemu 718-719 nigtr 7I9-7!.'0 (iid»cMa»M 780-721 fouur 731-734 mt$rH 73.'i-7:«7 collioi 738-740 lM-«40 todiaomn* . 640-640 erythroiUkn* e41-«41 HcAaniMiii (M8-(IG0 rickardxmi H9-ea0 Unmtndi 860-851 MoHii 860-86* <«r«/ioaiHliu 8tt3-«64 tpilonma 864-86G obuMut 866-868 mtxioanui 868-871 tridtcemliiualiii 871-881 tHdeotmlinrattu 87S-87:( pallidM 873-874 frmkUnl 881-886 annulatut 88ft-88I> 0«DnB Cgnomy 880-801 Cj/Homyt ludovicianu$ 808-U0!2 SdHratmi nitidtt OSA-OSK widaiM 93!>-93r> jHirmifeita 936-936 ! .^ 936-036 IteUtcomxi vel -^ 936-036 Mjitopf fratennu 037-037 miimdu 037-037 ColoKgmfi oeler , 038-038 Taxymyt lucarit 038-OM Hllomyne»ex 988-9:19 parrui 93O-930 ■ \ Wi Family SCIURID^. The family Sciurida, as now commonly restricted, may be chnracterized as follows: Dental formula; I. }^; Pm. f^l or JE^; M. |^J = iJ or R Grinding-teeth rooted, with, during youth, tuberculated crowns ; the tubercles soon becoming much modified or obliterated by attrition, generally giving rise for a time to transverse ridges. The first upper premolar, when two are present, is often minute, and is generally much smaller than the second. In strictly congeneric species, in Sciurus and Tamiat, the premolars may be either two or one. Occasionally two are present in species that have usually only one. In species having a single premolar, a second deciduous premolar is generally assumed to have been present during early life, but to this there are frequent exceptions. The first upper premolar, when two are present, is always single-rooted, with a simple pointed crown, and is often so minute as to be apparently functionless. The other upper grinding-teeth are triple- rooted. The lower premolar is double-rooted, the last lower molar generally triple-rooted, and the others quadruple-roc':,ed. The skull varies considerably in form, from the short, broad skull of the arboreal Squirrels to the narrow, very much nlongr.ted skull of some of the Spermophiles. There is a well developed postorbitul process, which may be either short, pointed, and triangular, or long, slender, and much decurved. The infraorbital foramen is small, and placed considerably in advance of the zygomatic process of the maxillary (usually about midway between the ante- rior premolar and the maxillo-intermaxillary suture), and varies from a nar- row Tertioal slit to an oval or triangular opening. The palate is very broad and flat, and extends posteriorly considerably beyond the last molar (except in some exotic species), and forms a continuous uniform plane. Molar series parallel. Feet scansorial or fossorial. Tail long or short, terete and slender or bushy and distichous, always well haired. Body generally elongate, 637 I ■ ; G38 MONOGRAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. it i! ' I of>cti slcntlcr and dclicntc, but sometimes thick, squnt, and clumsy. Hind limbs never disproportionately developed. In one group, there is a broad densely furred intertnembrul membrane. The SciuridcB i^hare, in common with the other Sciuromorphs (Sciuromor- j)ha Alston = Sciuromorpha Brandt, emend.), the possession of perfect clavi- cles ; a nearly perfectly free fibula ; small incisive foramina, not extending into the maxillary ; the obsolescence of the outer wall of the pterygoid fossie, nnd the absence of an interpterygoid fissure ; a small, naked muffle and a cleft upper lip. The zygomatic arch is formed mainly by the malar, and the angular portion of the mandible springs "from the lower edge of the bony covering of the lower incisor" {Ahton). The Sciurida arc distinguished from the other families of the Sciuro- morphs by the following characters : — The Anomalurida differ from the Set' urula by the absence of postorbital processes, and in possessing a large ante- orbital foramen, a narrower palate, which is contracted anteriorly and deeply emarginate behind, and in having the molars non-tuberculate, flat-crowned, nnd with loops of enamel. The Ischyromyida differ from the Sciurida in having large anteorbital foramina, a sagittal crest, and no postorbital process. The HnplodontidcB have the grinding-teeth "rootless, simple, and prismatic", nnd postorbital ])rocesses are absent, etc. The Castorida (taking CaMor as the type) differ from the Sciurida in lacking the postorbital processes; in the molars being semi-rooted, with involutions of the enamel border; in the form of the descending ramus of the lower jaw, the disproportionately large hind limbs, fully webbed hind feet, flat, naked tail, etc. While in Caxtor the anteorbital portion of the skull is Sciurine, all close resemblance to the Sci- vrida here ceases. The Castoroidida differ from the Sciurida through the rootless, compound nature of the grinding-teeth, in the possession of several Cnstorine features, and the structure of the pterygoid process, etc. The family Sciurida embraces a considerable variety of forms, but they so insensibly intergrade that it is almost impossible to separate them into characterizable subfamilies, the differences being wholly adaptative, and of no great importance. The passage from the one extreme of Sciuropterus to the other of Arctomys is by very gradual steps. The lithe, graceful, arboreal iSfci- uri differ but little from Xerus and Tamias, forms still partially arboreal, while Tamicu and Spennophilua so intergrade that some species arc doubt- fully referable to the one rather than the othor. The passage from Spfr- \n ml B0inRID.S^-OENERAL CONSIDBBATIONS. 639 mophilui to Cynomys is almost ogain without hiatus. Arctomys is again not greatly diiTercnt from Cynomys and some of the larger species of Spermophi- lus. Wiiatever character is taken, whether the general form, the dentition, the size of the ear, the character of the tail, the presence or absence of cheek- pouches, or even habits, and especially if all are taken collectively, no strong lines of demarcation can anywhere he drawn, and even the question of the number of properly recognizable genera is one of not easy solution. The division of the group into subfamilies, or "tribes", is generally mode between Tamias and Spermophilut, the former being associated with Xerus, Sciurus, Pteromys, and Sciuropterus to form a group Sciurina, or "True Squirrels", .and the latter (with its subdivisions) with Cynomys and Arctomys to form the subfamily, or ^^iT\hel'\ ArcUmyina, or "Burrowing Squirrels". I find, liowever, that here no line of separation can be drawn, Tamias and Spermo- vhilus so thoroughly intergrading that no feature serves to trenchantly separate them. A much better hiatus occurs between Cynomys and Spermophilus, or even between Cynomys and Arctomys, or again between Sciuropterus and Sciurus. Between Pteromys, Sciuropterus, and Sciurus, the chief difference con- sists in the presence, in the two former, of a narrow, flying membrane con- necting the fore and hind limbs, supported by fascia articulating with the carpus. Neither the dentition, the skull, nor the general osteology exhibits any important differences. Xerus differs from Sciurus in certain modifica- tions of the pelage, which is sparser and harsher, and in having shorter ears and tail, and in being more terrestrial in its habits. Tamias still greatly resembles Sciurus, but has shorter ears, internal cheek-pouches, with more fossorial feet, and also differs in being more terrestrial. On the other hand, Tamias and Spermophilus arc scarcely generically separable. In Spcrmophi' lua, two premolars are constantly present, the first variable in size, but usually functionally developed ; the dentition is stronger and the grinding-teeth are more firmly implanted. The species vary in having the ear large or rudimentary ; the tail long or short, terete or distichous ; the skull long and narrow, espe- cially the facial portion, and the zygomatic arches moderately expanded, or broader and relatively shorter, with heavier and more widely expanded zygo- mata, etc. ; the general size varies from those of the size of Tamias to those nearly equaling Cynomys, and in form from extreme slenderness to species nearly or quite as thick-set as either Cynomys or Arctomys ; yet no single set C40 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA, h 'M of characters, or even any combination of characters, will serve for the subdi- vision of Spermophilua into distinct generic groups, or even satisfactorily de- finable subgenera. In the large, slender-bodied, bushy-tnilcd forms, there is an approach even to Sciurus, not only in general form but in the proportions of the skull and in the small size of the first premolar ; on the other hand, the large, thick-bodied, short-tailed forms differ little either in general form or in cranial details from Cynomys. Arctomys, again, is little more than an exaggerated SpermopMlus, Genetically, Arctomys may be considered as the point of departure in the development of the family, as it is geologically one of the earliest forms of tiie group. Arctomys leads readily into SpermophUus, and SpermopMlus into Cynomys. On the one hand, the larger, slender-bodied, bushy-tailed species of SpermophUus show a tendency toward Sciurus proper, os some of the other large forms lead toward Arctomys and Cynomys; some of the smaller species, with large ears, long, flat, bushy tails, small first premolar, and general Sciurine form, grade insensibly into Tamias, while Xerus may liave come off from Ihe short-eared, terete-tailed phase of the same rather heterogeneous group. The hiatus between some of the forms of Tamias and the more arboreal Sciuri is by no means striking, while Pteromys and Sciuropterus seem to be only more specialized types of the strictly Sciurine form, in which the already highly specialized arboreal adaptation is carried still further through the addition of a supporting membrane, enabling Ihem to assume an imperfect mode of aerial locomotion. It hence follows tliat in Arctomys we find the most generalized type of the family ; in Pte- romys and Sciuropterus, the most specialized. Through Arctomys, also, we get a distant affiliation with other types of the Sciuromorphs, especially with Casloridte and Haplodontuke, while Anomalurus may be a still further special- ized offshoot in the direction of Pteromys, BYN0FHI8 OF TUK QENEBA. I. Sknil and deDtition eaiientlMUy as in 5ciiirii< ; nppxr premolara two, the Ant minate ; llmba notlcd by a furred membrane, gnpported anteriorly by a alender bone artionlating with the carpna ; eara large, gpaiaely forred ; no oheek-ponchea ; nail of poUex nidinientary ; pelage rery toft and furry; tail very broad ; size imall Sotunplent. II. Similar in external obaraoter to the preceding, but with important differeucea in dentition, in Tespeottothe relative sixe of the griuding-teeth and their atrootnre; the poeterior pivn.olar and the lost molar lieing much amaller than the first and aeooud true molan, iuetead of nearly equulliDgthem in size, and the triturating anrfaceof the molara having a moieoomplex ayatem of tubercle* and ridgea; sixe large Ptennni. SCIDKID^— SYNOPSIS OF GENEUA. 041 III. Skoll kborl, broad, and ronndail ; pootorbltal prnrcKWii well dovclnpcd, Hicnder, dirpoted dowmrnrd and backward ; lygoinatio arobM niually slendiud Miiri Gray) from Aiin, tea tra.n Africa, BDd /or(^ from Amerioa, nearly half of Um Uttar beiiiK daaeribed by him (to a aingle p>p«r) M nr" (be«idM many " yarietiea"), all ftom ths WMBMr parU of the two America*, while a large proportion of the name* previoosly given by other antbori to tba Mart of Ueiico and Central and Bonth America were left anidentifled. A single species {SoUmu rul§ari$), qnito variable in color, he properly allowed to represent tbegennsin Enropv; while, in raa|.«e( to tlM> rpeeies of North America, he wisely accepted the reduetions made by Professor Baird. Wit J • lai§a aOicant of material before me, I am nnabie to recognize more than foorteen species, with a few additional varieties, and believe that this nnmber will have to be >tUl farther rednced as additional maUtitl bae— «a aroiaslble. t Two of ihcae were doobtfolly admitted. G44 MONOGEAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. V'K possible intermediate shades ; these varieties are sometimes more or less con- stant in particular localities, sometimes changing with every litter. I am not aware that there is any material difference of color at different seasons or ages in the same animal. "Another source of perplexity to the naturalist is the alteration in over- age size with the latitude. Many of our animals become smaller as we pro- ccc'l southward, until, on the seacoast of Georgia, Florida, and the G ulf they reach their minimum. This is very strikingly seen in the common Deer [^Cariacus virgiriMnus], wiiich on the sea islands of Georgia is so sn)all as to lie readily lifted and thrown across a horse with perfect ease by a man of ordinary strength. It is in the Sciurida that, next to the Deer, we find tliis law to prevail most' decidedly. Nearly all the species of extensive north and south range will be found, on careful examination, to substantiate this position. "A similar variation in color to that of the Squirrels is seen in the Foxes and Wolves, [*] most strikingly in the former. It is now well known that the lied, Cross, and Black Foxes are identical in species, the same litter fre- quently embracing all the colors, and t'.iat some of these varieties again are more or less permanent, while the more boreal the locality the greater the tendency to black. This is tiie case also with the Squirrels, where the smaller species assume the black pelage to the greatest extent in the more northern portions of the Unite.^. States. "As a general rule it may be stated that when a Squirrel exhibits any annulations of the fur on the throat or belly it is a variety of some species, typical specimens of which have the under parts either uniformly white »tr reddish to the roots, which, however, are sometimes plumbeous. In every such instance that has come under my examination! have had no difficulty in tracing it to its proper type. Such annulation is usually accompanied by a duskier color of the pelage. The tendency to annulation below is strongest in the Squirrels of the Mississippi Valley, and applies both to gray and fox- colored species. No such instances of annulation have yet come under my notice among the Squirrels west of the Rooky Mountains. As a general rule the bones of the entire skeleton of the lox Squirrels, or those with rusty bellies, are red, while the white-bellied varieties have them white. "After carefully examining a large number of American Squirrels I * See also on this poiat Ball. U. 8. Oeol. >nd Qeogr. BnrTeys of the Territories, vol. ti, pp. 313-%il, Jaly, 1676. Mf4 SCIURID^-GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION ASD VARIATION. 645 have reluctantly come to the conclusion that very man}' of tlie species borne oi> the scientific records must be dropped, or reduced to the position of teni- l)()rary or local varieties. I hope to be relieved from the imputation of wanton and unnecessary reduction in the number of species when I state that the spe- cies already published as new by myself have in nearly every case shared the fate of others of older date. The nominal species have usually been based on varying size or different colors of different specimens. The dusky varieties and those with the hairs of the under parts annulated have in nearly every instance been raised to the rank of a distinct species. "In the following pages it will be seen that I recognize only twelve species of Squirrels [Sciurt] as satisfactorily proved to belong to the United States, and should S. limilis and caslanonolus prove to be nominal ones, as it is not at all unlikely [and as has been found to be the case], the number will be reduced to ten from the twenty-four given by Audubon and Bachman."* As already stated, a great increase of material has shown that not only was the reduction in the number of species of North American Sciuri, made by Professor Baird in 1S57, made with good reason, but that a still further reduction was necessary. In 1874, in a preliminary paper on the North American Sciitridce,\ I felt authorized in reducing the number of Sciuri from the twelve recognized by Professor Baird to five distinct and definable species and about seven additional subspecies or intergrading geograpiiical varieties. Owing to the large amount of variation with locality, obviously resulting from climatic and geographical causes', the number of properly recognizable or namable varieties is in a measure a matter of opinion or individual prefer- ence ; and, though aware that others might deem a larger number of nam- able varieties admissible, I do not judge it necessary to depart much from the number adopted in my synopsis of the group published three years ago. From that paper, in which I referred somewhat at length to the general sub- ject of geogtaphical variation among the North American Sciuridte, I quote the following, with wme slight verbal alteration : — "Among the Squirrels, this increase [in intensity of color from the north southward] i^ finely illustrated in Sciurux hudsonius and in Tamias striatus, representatives of which from the southern parts of New York and Pennsyl- vania are much more highly colored than are those from Northern New Eng- ■ HuuMl* of Mor^h Ami rios, pp. 844, 845. ( Proo. Boat Soo. Nat, Hiat. vol. xvi, pp. 876-894, Feb. W*. By iDadT«rtenc«, tbe li«t of apecies iru Mid t« inolode lU tb« apeoiet fbaud " Borth of the lathnoa of Panama ", tnataad of ntrtk «f ItKAat. ' ' :■ 3. ' Li), 'I < I Lisi 64G MONOOEAPflS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. land and the British Provinces. Sciurus caroUnensU is perhaps a still more marked example, in which the color varies from the light pure gray of the upper parts in New England specimens, with a restricted pale yellowish- brown dorsal area, to the rusty-gray dorsal surface of the Florida type, in which the whole upper surface is usually strongly yellowish-rusty. This increase of color southward is, however, still more strongly marked in the Fox Squirrels of the Mississippi Basin — the so-called Sciurus 'ludovicianus'. ' In specimens from Ohio, Northern lUinois, Southern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa, the lower parts are pale fulvous, varying in some specimens to nearly white. In Southern Illinois, and at St. Louis, Mo., the color increases to a strong bright fulvous, while in specimens fron Lower Louisiana the color is reddish-fulvous or deep orange. At the same time, the color of the dorsal surface becomes proportionally darker at the southward, through the greater breadth of the black annulations at the tips of the hairs, the dorsal surface in Louisiana specimens being mony shades darker than in those from the Upper Mississippi. This variety olso finely illustrates the variotion in color seen in specimens from comparotively dry and moist regions, its habitat extending up the Missouri and its western tributaries to a point considerably above Sioux City. Beginning with Ohio specimen." and passing westward, we find an increase of color in those from Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, west of which point the color rapidly decreases in intensity, Nebraska [and Dakota] specimens being much paler than those taken on the same parallel near the Mississippi River. Specimens from the Indian Territory are also very much paler than those from St. Louis, as are Texas ones than those from Louisiona. Even between specimens from the prairies of North- western Louisiana and others from the lowlands of the same State, near the Mississippi River, the difference in color is very strikingly marked.'' In addition to the variation in color with latitude referred to above, there is, OS is now well known, an equally well marked, if not even still greater, variation in color between representatives of the same species in respect to longitude, in not only the Squirrels, but among both Mammals and Birds that range across the continent. In respect to this variation in tiie Squirrels, I have alreody spoken, in the above-cited pai)er, substantially as follows: — " But few specific forms, however, have a suflRciently wide range to illustrate the variations that obtain along a given parallel across the whole breadth of the continent, the Sciurus hudaoniua group being the only instance SCIDUID^— GEOGEAPHIOAL DISTRIBUTION AND VABIATION. 647 among the Squirrels. Others, however, show the transition that obtains in passing from the moist, fertile prairies of the Mississippi Valley to the dry plains, or from the deserts and mo;'qtainoii8 districts of the interior to the moist region bordering (he Pacific coast north of the piirallel of 40° Spermophilm tridecem-lineatus furnishes a good illustration of the dilTerenccs in color that occur between representatives of the same species living on the moist, fertile prairies and those inhabiting the dry, barren plains, those from Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa being much darker than those from Western Nebraska, Western Kansas, and Colorado. Even specimens from Eastern Kansas are much darker than those from the middle and western ]H)rtion8 of the same State. In this species, the color is varied, in passing from the prairief^ to thti plains, not only by the lighter shade of the dark grquud-color, but by this considerably greater breadth of the light spots and stripes in the specimens from the plains. The Spermophilus grammurus group (composed of the S. grammurus, S. Iteecheyi, 8. douglassi, etc., of authors) illustrates not only a similar variation in intensity of color between tlie inhabitants of dry and moist regions, but also a somewhat changed style of coloration. Beginning with the nearly uniformly gray or grizzled type of Texas and Southeastern New Mexico, we pass to the more rufous or reddish phase of the central portions of the Rocky Mountains (in Colorado), which also has an increased amount of hoariness on the sides of the neck and shoulders, to the form west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, typically repre- senting the Spermophilus beecheyi, in which the hoariness forms broad lateral bands separated by a narrow brown medial stripe. This form in Northern California passes into the so-called Spermophilus dougltissi, which diflfers chiefly from S. beecheyi in having the medial stripe darker, or nearly black. " Two of the most instructive and interesting groups of the Sciurida, in this connection, are those of the common Sciurus hudsonius and Tamias guadrivitlatus, [•] the former n>.nging over the northern half of * ^ continent, and the latter extending over the western half of North Amei ■ Eastern Asia. In the Sciurus hutlsonius group, we have at the east ^. all-known Chickaree (S. hudsonius), extending westward to the Plains and northwest- ward to Alaska, with Its brighter and smaller southern form in the Eastern Atlantic States. On the arid plains of the Platte and Upper Missouri Rivers, it presents a markedly paler or more fulvous phase, well illustrated by speci- ' Timiai tiUMau of the preieut nwuuoir. See potlti, tbo acooarf the Upper Missouri, it passes into the blanched, pallid form of T. quadrivittatus ( T. quadrivittatus var. pallidas nobis, — see beyond), and further westward into the true T. quadrivittatus of the Rocky Mountains, and still further westward into the so-called T. townsendi of tiie Pacific coast. In this group, the greatest pallor is reached on the plains of the Yellowstone, and in the deserts of Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. In the central portions of the Rocky Mountains (Colorado and portions of New Mexico), a form is devel- oped, distinguished by its generally bright, strong colors, but especially for the rich fulvous tints of the sides of the body, to which there is but a sliglit tendency either in the northern form or the pallid form of the plains. Both, however, very gradually pass into the rufous-sided type, the pallid form wherever the plains approach the mountains (as along the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, the Uintah, Sierra Nevada, and others of the more southern ranges), gradually becoming fulvous, while the darker northern form grades into the larger fulvous race of the more northern portions of the Rocky Mountains in Montana and Idaho. This larger fulvous race west of the main divide soon begins to assume a duller, more fuscous shade, deepening finally into t^ i very fuscous form {T. toionsendi) of the region between the Cascade Rr .ge and the Pacific coast. In this form, the general color increases so much in depth ns to become dusky yellowish-brown, and both the light and the dark stripes become obscure, and occasionally almost entirely obsolete, through tlie gradual accession of color. Between the extreme phase of this fuscous type and the extreme phase of the pallid type of the Ploins, in which the stripes are sometimes again partially obsolete, through the extreme light- ness of the general color, the differences are very great indeed. Yet in placing the scores of specimens I have had the opportunity of examining in a geographical series, or arranging them simply according to their localities, a most 'thorough and minute intergradation becomes at once apparent. The difference in size, too, between northern and southern specimens, is also unusually great; the pale, southern form of the Plains, and Iho extremely bright, fulvous form of Colorado and New Mexico, being very much smaller I I il :ils ■if! V 660 MONOGEAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODBNTIA. IU:\ -^^«: than the northern, darker form, or than the fuscous type of the northwest coust. " As corroborative evidence that these varied types of coloration are but geographical races, it becomes interesting to observe that the light and dark and the fulvous and rufous forms, respectively, of the different species, occur over the same areas. With the fuscous type of Tamias quadrivittatiu occur tlie dark types of Sciurus hudsonius, and the dark-backed form of Spermo- philus grammurus, and also a peculiar dusky form of Arctomys and of Lepus, and a dark form of Spermophiius rkhardsoni. On the Plains occur pallid forms of Sciurus ^udovicianus\ Sciurus hudsonius, Tamias quadrivittatus, and Spermophiius richardsoni. With the fulvous type of Tamias quadrivittatus occurs a rufous form of Spermophiius grammurus; but the form of Sciurus hudsonius, occurring over the same area, presents the exceptional condition of a minimum amount of rufous." "In addition to the tendency to change of color with locality, there is another phase of color variation that requires, in this connection, a passing notice, — namely, melanism. It is now well known that almost every species of Mammal may be expected to present melanistic individuals, instances of its occurrence in the majority of the North American species being now well established. Indeed, the very fact of a melanistic phase of coloration may be looked upon as almost a priori evidence that the individuals presenting it belong to a melanistic race of some species whose normal color is some other lint than black, as Professor Buird long since remarked in respect to the American Squirrels. It has been supposed that the tendency to melanism is more prevalent at the northward ; but such does not appear to be necessarily the case. Among the Sciurida, for instance, a group rather remarkable for a tendency to melanistic varieties, the black and dusky forms are as oflen southern as northern. In some species, melanistic individuals are as rare as are the cases of albinism, as in Sciurus hudsonius, the species of Tamias, and in many,of the SpermophUi, while in others they are sometimes the common, if not the prevalent, form over a considerable area, as occurs in Sciurus caro- linensis and Sciurus cinereus. Melanism is also of frequent occurrence in Sciurus aberti [*] and in Spermophiius grammurus ; the latter presents a melan- istic form both in Texas and Lower California. Spermophiius parryi has also a black race along the Yukon River, and frequent instances of melanism are ['Melanism of III is speciea largely predominate* ovor (he normal coluratiou in Colorado.] BCIURID^— GEOGRAPHICAL DISTUIBUTIOIJ A!JD VARIATIOTiT. 051 well known in all the species of Arctomys. In numerous instanccR, these inelunistic individuals nnd meianistic forms have been described as distinct species, while in reality they are generally so sporadic in their occurrence us to render them hardly worthy of recognition, even as varieties. "The gradual increase of our knowledge in respect to the character of these meianistic forms, and especially in regard to the extent and character of geographical variation, necessarily leads to the modification of our views in respect to the status of many forms that have formerly passed current as more or less well-established species, and also to consequent changes in nomenclature. The representatives of few groups are more variable in respect to color, even among individuals of the same species inhabiting the same locality, than the arboreal Squvrrels. Add to this the considerable amount of geographical variation that obtains among them, and the very con- siderable changes attendant upon season in respect to the character of the pelpge, and we shall no longer feel surprised at the profusion of synonyms tiiat attach to many of the species." • In several species of North American Sciuri, a tendency to fulvous- or rufous-bellied forms is noticeable. This is commonly developed at the south- ward, but in one instance occurs in the moist region of the Pacific coast, north of the fortieth parallel, namely, in Sciurus hudsonius var. douglam. It also prevails to a marked degree in all three of the varieties of Sciurus niger (including the S. "cinerem'\ S. "vulpinus", and 8. "Iwlovicianus"), but especially in that (var. ludovicianus) inhabiting the Mississippi Valley, where, as already noted, there is a marked increase in the intensity of the rufous of the ventral surface in passing southward from the Great Lakes to the Gulf. S. colliai, which ranges northward to Arizona, also runs into a rufous-bellied phase in Mexico, while all of the other species found south of the United States are either always orange or dark rufous below, or present this colora- tion OS the prevalent or normol one; white- or grayish-bellied specimens of any species from the warmer parts of the two Americas being exceptional. Not only, also, is there a greater tendency to redness on the ventral surface, but this color oilen involves the outer (as well as the inner) surface of the limbs, and frequently extends high up on the sides of the body, especially anteriorly. The dorsal surface is also quite generally suflTused with either bright fulvous or rufous, while the middle of the lower surface of the tail is, " Proo. Boat. Boo. N>(. Uisk vol. zvi, 1S74, pp. UTt-'Ha, 384, 285. 'I ^'l ill • ■ ( i III Is li \ iH !! Ill :l I Ji 652 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. as a rule, deep fulvous or rufous, unless displaced by melanism. In Southern Mexico and the States of Central America and Northern South America, the whole pclffge often becomes wholly red,* or red varied with block. The S. eesluans of Brazil also runs into ferruginous phases in the Central American States. In Mexico and Central America, the Sciuri exhibit a strong tendency to melanism, dusky or wholly black phases of coloration occurring with greater or less frequency in all of the species from this region known to me. The difficulty of distinguishing the species, especially merely by the study of museum specimens, is hence very great. While the Sciuri of North America have presented perplexing phases of coloration, thoseof the warmer parts of the continent do so to a far greater degree, several of the species presenting variations of color at one and the same locality greater even than does tlie highly variable Fox Squirrel of our Southern Atlantic and Gulf States. Of some of the species, no two specimens in series of large extent, from nearly the same locality, can be found that do not more or less widely differ in color. The widely distributed Sciurus astuans of South America is, however, remarkably constant in its coloration over a very extensive area, differing much less even than does the eastern form of Sciun^ hutbonius, or any of the North American Sciuri, excepting perhaps S./ossor. Under these circumstances, it is surprising that more synonyms have not arisen. In addition to the purely geographical va^'iation in color that the Squirrels, in common with other Mammals, present, tiiere are other variations dependent upon season and age. Among the first are the presence or absence of ear- tufts in some of the Sciuri^ the length and softness of the pelage, the variable degree of hairiness of the soles of the feet, and, in some species, differences of coloration. With differences of age occur differences in dentition, in the size, and even in respect to the presence of cranial crests and ridges for the attachment of muscles, and in other features. These points, as well ns geographical variation in size and color, are treated at length in the descrip- tions of the several species and varieties. With these preliminary remarks, we pass now to a consideration of the genera, species, and varieties of the American Sciuridte ; no division of the family into subfamilies or higher groups, as previously stated, being requisite. * Dr. Cones's stodiea of the rariatioo of Putoriuifrtnaiiu (how a very instrnotive and parallel InteDsiflcation of color to the eoatbward, where the head becomes qaite blackiab, with obliieratioo of white stripe*, and the salmoa-color of the bell; deepein to bright rosty or even orange rrd. SCIDRIDJ!— SCIDROPTEEDS, G53 Genus SCIUROPTERUS F. Cuvier SeiurH$ LiKNjEUH (iu part), and of early aulbon generally. Pteromyt O. Cuvier (in part), aod of moat receat authon. iiciuropttnu F. Cuvier, Add. du Mas. z, 182S, 180, p). x (type, Sduriu volant Lino.); Dents des Mam- mU%rea, 1S35, 162, 955. GicNEBic CHAB8. — Skull short, broad, highly arched, in general form almost a miniature of that of Sciurus hudsonius; tlie supraorbital notch, however, is rather deeper, and the interorbital region is rather more constricted ; the orbital fossiB are relatively larger, as are also the auditory bullee and the ears, in conformity with the more nocturnal habits of the members of this group; the pterygoid processes are more slender, and posteriorly touch the auditory bullae. In other particulars, the skulls of Sciuropterus and Sciurus present no important differences. Premolars two, the first minute, but reaches the plane of the trituration. Limbs united by a furred membrane formed by the expansion of the skin of the sides of the body, and supported anteriorly by a slender bone articulating with the carpus and directed backward. Tail two-thirds as long as the head and body together, broad and flat, the longer hairs being chiefly directed laterally, thus forming an important aid in govern- ing the direction of their flight-like leaps, as well as serving as a further means of support in their short flights from tree to tree. Sciuropterus is thus merely a modified form of Sciurus, posse.<>sing rudimentary powers of flight, through the support afforded by a parachute-like expansion of the skin of the sides of the body and the broad, flat tail. The pelage is dense, soft, and furry; the ears large and sparsely clothed ; the colors some soft, dull shade of brown above and whitish beneath. Animals of small size, and of crepuscular or nocturnal habits. The genus is represented in North America by a single species of wide distribution, and presenting a very wide range of geographical variation in size. A single species also represents the genus in Europe, but several other commonly recognized species occur in Asia. The Sciuropterus volans of Europe differs from the American S. volucella in its much smaller size and relatively much shorter and smaller tail, as well as slightly also in color. The Flying Squirrels were first separated from ordinary Squirrels by G. Cuvier* in 1800, he then giving to the group of Flying Squirrels the generic name Pteromyt. In 1825, his brother, F. Cuvier.t separated the small Flying' * " Ije$ona d'aoatomie compartfe, i, 1600." The original edition of this vrork I have been nuable to oonaolt. t Ann. dn Una., z, 18i5, p. 196. See alao Denta dea Hammiftrea, I8S6, lOit, 8j6. 054 MOXOGRAPnS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. i 4m :i Squirrels of Europe and North America from the others under the name Sciuropferus, and pointed out the important differences in the form of the sivuU and in the structure of tiic teeth that mark the two groups By subse- quent writers, the two groups, Pleromys and Sciurop/ervx, so well charac- terized by M. F. Cuvier, have not been generally adopted, and Sciuroptfrus, when recognized at all, has usually been accorded only the rank of a sub- genus of Pteromya. The two groups, however, differ widely, not only in size and other external features, but in cranial and dental characters. The species of Pleromys are generally exceeded in size among i\^e Sciuridte only by those of Arctomys; they also differ from the Sciuropferi in having the tail long, round, and bushy, instead of distichous and laterally expanded. In Pleromys, the frontal region of the skull is depressed; the nasal bones are broad and swollen, and the postorbital processes are greatly developed, being relatively almost as large as in Arctomys. The large size of the postorbital processes and the depression of the interorbital region give to the dorsal aspect of the skull some resemblance to the skull of Arctomys. In respect to the dentition, tiie four posterior upper grinding teeth, instead of being subequal in size, as in Sciuropterus, are very unequally developed, the last being less than half the size of the three preceding.* The structure of the grinding teeth is also wholly different from that met with in any other genus of this family, the triturating surface not distantly resembling that presented by Castor, in con- sequence of the deep infolding of the enamel border of the tooth. There are, however, small isolated rings of enamel in the spaces between the deep infoldings of the enamel of the border of the crown, somewhat as in worn teeth of Erethizon. The species of Pteromys are restricted in their distribution to Southern Asia and the Indian Archipelago; those of Sciuropterus range over the colder portions of the northern hemisphere, extending southward to intertropical latitudes. ■ * In F. Cnvier's flgnrn of the dentition of Pieromyt (Denta dc* Hammlf^raa, pi. Wti), drawn fitim " Sciunit ptiaHrUla Pall.", the iiecond premolar (Brat large grinding tooth) ia aliw mnoh amaller than cither of the two immediately snoceeding. In Brandt's figures of the aknll of " Pleromji$ niUdui" (M(Sni. de I'Acod. Imp. dea Scl. de Saint P^terab. 6e aer., 8oi, Nat. t. vii, p|. i, flga. 1-7), however, the aeoond premolar ia the largest of the grinding aeries, and I find this to be so in skalls of this apecies in the Museom oi Comparative Zodlogy. BCIURID^— SCIUROPTEnUS VOLUOELLA. 6r)S , SCIUR0PTERU8 VOLUCELLA, (Pall.) Geoff. - American FIjrIaf Sqalrrcl. Var. VOLUCELLA. Boathera riflBK Sqalrrel. MiiriM tolatu Catmbt, Carvllnt, II, 1743, m, 77, pi. Uxrl, Ixxvii.— BnigsoN, Qniid. 157.— Limn,, 8]:*(, Mat. i, 1766, H8 (In put). MHnit (wliMseUa Pallai, Nov. 8peo. QlirM, 17S9, 351, 35.1.— Omelin, Syat. Nat. i, 1788, 153.— SoimiriiBii, Hiiiiget. iv, 1798, 808, pi. ooxxli.— Shaw, Qen. ZoOI. il, 1801, 155, pi. olr. Pimmyt tolaeeUa DeaMAKBar, Nout. Diet. d'Hist. N*t. zxvii, 1618, 406; Mamm. li, 1833, 343.— Harlan, Faun. Amor. 1886, 187.— Gripkith's Cuvler, v, 1887, 2f>9.— Fischer, 8yn. Mam. 1H2U, 3«r>.— OoDMAN, Aroer. Nat. Hist, ii, 146.—" Urmnktt, Card, and Henag. Zi>ni. Soc. I, lUX,, 185."— Yarrrix, Froo. ZoOI. Soc. Land. 1830-31, 38 (anatomy).— "D. W. C", Loudon's Mng. Nat Hilt, ix, 1836, 5G9 (habita).— Emmons, Quod. Mass. 1840, 69.— Thompson, Hint. Vermont, 1648, 47.— DeKay, ZoSI. N. York, i, 1843, 65, pi. zvi, Br. 3.— Waoner. Snppl. Schrebor's SUnget. Hi, 1843, 931.— ScHUiZ, Bynop. Mam. ii, 1845, 64.— Addubon & Bachmam, Quad. N. Amer. i, 1649, 816, pi. xzviii.— QlRBKL, Sliagst. 1855, 643.— Kknnicott, Fat. Offlce Rep. Agrio. for 1866, 1857, 69, pi. vli.— Baird, Mam. N. Amer. 1857, 386.-Thoma8, Trans. III. Agrio. Boo, iv, 1860, 657.— Hall, Canad. Nat. and Geol. 1661, 898.-Coopkr, Pros. Ca). Aood. ii, 1861.— Tomes, Proo. Zo61. Soo. Lood. 1861, 881 (Onatemala).— Maximilian, Wiegmann's Arch. f. Maturgoceb. 1861, 77.— Au.kn, Ball. Mas. Comp. Zo51., i, 1869, 884.— Oilpin, Proc. ani Trans. Nov. Soo. Inst Nat. Sci. ii, pt. ill, 1870, 18.— Adahh, Field and Forvst Rambles, 1873, 99, 896 (New Bmnswlok).— Perkins, Amer. Nat. vii, 1874, 13J (babita in conflnenieut). Sdanplariu totucella OiorpHor, Diet. Class. d'Uist. Nut. ziv, 1828, 138. Bcitinptenu roUmlla var. twlitoelia Allen, Proo. Boat. Soo. Nat. Hist, zvi, 1874, 189; Ball. Essex Inst, vi, 1874, 66. Sdwiu ttonAata ScnRSBtR, Siinget. iv, 1708, pi. coxxii B (no text). Auapanick, Smith, Hist of Virginia, 1606, — ; Purchos's Pilgrims, iv, 1685, 1695. QoimUkpaHan, Fernandez, Nov. Hisp. 1651, 8. «jrf«ff Squirrtl, Pennant, Hist Qaad. 1771, 893 ; "Arctic Zool. i, 1784, 180"; Sd od. I, 1798, 139. VAmp€m, F. Cuviek, Hist, des Mam. livr. vlii, 1619. Le I'olalo»die Jejnt^riqut, Madiot, " M«m. SocLinu. Parts, ii, 1888, 148 (babita in conflnement)". Var. HCD80NIU8. Korthern Firing Sqalrrel. Sciurut kadaoaiut Oukun, Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 153. Pleromyt kud»o»i»» Fischer, Syn. Hamm. 1885, 365.— Baird, Ham. N. Amtir. 1857, 88a Beiurapttrut volmxUa var, kudmUui AlXBH, Proo. Boat. Soo. Nat. Hist, xvi, 1874, 889, Sdunu aatriaiM Shaw, Oen, ZoSI. i, 1801, 167. Pteromf tabrituu Bicuakdson, ZoOI. Joam. iii, 1828, 519; Fann. Bor.-Anier. i, 18i9, 193.— Waonkr, Suppl. Sohreber'a Siinget. iii, 1843, 88&— Schinz, Rynop, Mam. ii, 1845, 54 — AuDUDON &, Bachman, Qnad. N. Amer. iii, 1853, 803, pi. czliii, Bg. 1.— Oibbrl, SSaget. 1655, 648.— Gilpin, Proo. and Truns. Nova Sco. Inst. Nat. Sci. ii, pt. iii, 1870, 13.— Adams, Field and Forest Ram- bles, 1873, 99, 896 (New Brunswick). Pitnmf* (oiriirM var. alptniu Richardson, ZoOI. Jonm. ill, 1888, 519; Fann. Dor.- Amer. i, 1839, 196, pi. xviii. Pftnmft alfimat Waoner, Suppl. Schreber's Siinget. iii, 1843, 830.- Schinz, Synop. Ham. il, 184'i, 55,— Audubon &, Bachman, Quad. N, Amer. iii, 18.'>3, 306, pi. czliii, flg. 8.— Baird, Mam. N. Amer. 1857, 889.— Rosa, Nut Hist. Rev. ISflS, 874 (Liord River).— Steve-NiiON, Haydeu'sRep. U. 8. Oeol. Surv. Wyom. 1871, 461. Ptenmt* trrgoiiaiili Bachman, Joum. Aead. Nat Sol. Pbila, Ist ser. viii, 1839, 101 Schinz, Synop. Mam. ii, 184r>, 57 ("Tezas"!).— AuocBON St. Bachman, Qnad. N. Amer. i, 1849, 13.1, pi. zv.- Baied, Msm. N. Amer. 1867, 890.— Cooper, Proo. Cal. Acad. Sci. iv, 1868, 4 (Mendocino CooBty, Cal.). OraUtrFlgbit 8t»im1, Fobster, Phil. Trans. Izii, 1778, 379. Sectrn IttJer aqmtrra, Pennant, Hist Qnad. 1771 ; "Arolio ZoSk i, 1784, — " ; 8d ed. i, 1792, 141. Smirn Bfxtr Flj/ht Sgnirret, Giu>in, Proc. and Trans. Nova Sco. Inst Nat. Sci. ii, pt iii, 1870, 13. I ' ■It: m li '■'■■ liil!! ! "!i mi J one MONOGRAPna OP NORTD AMERICAN RODENTIA. Spkcific chars. — Size varying greatly with locality. Ucad and boil^ ranging, in ndu ts, from 7 50 to 4.76 inches; tnii-vcrtebraj from 5.00 (or a little more) to 3.50; tail, with hairs, from about 6.50 to 4.25 (occasionally less). Above yellowisli-brown, varying to pale reddish-brown; below white, varying to creamy-white, with sometimes a faint tinge of pale rufous; tail abov(! generally darker than the back, especially at northern localities, where it is sometimes decidedly blackish ; tail below lighter than above, varying with locality from dusky-brown to yellowish-brown, always more strongly colored than th ventral surface of the body. Var. HUDBONllTS. Northern Flying Squirrel. Varietal coars. — Length, exclusive of the tail, 6.00 inches or more; tail, with the hairs about 5.00. Above dull yellowish- or reddish-brown; below white, faintly washed with yellowish; tail above dusky, of>cn decidedly binckish on the edges ond terminal half; also frequently dusky toward the end below. Habitat mostly north of the parallel of 49°, extending further southward along the Rocky Mountains and on the Pacific slope. Grades insensibly into — Var. VOLUCELLA. Southern Flying Squirrel. Varietal chars. — Similar to the preceding, but much smaller. Length, exclusive of the tail, less than 6.00 inches; generally less than 5..'30. Tail Irss dusky, often with no blackish whatever, and the general color of the body above rather more yellowish. Habitat, United States, — exclusive of the Pacific slope north of California, and the Rocky Mountains north of C(d- orado ; and thence southward to Guatemala. The American Flying Squirrels present a range of geographical varia- tion in size quite unparalleled in other members of the Sciurida, and only equalled in some species of the Canida, and possibly in Cervus virginianus. On the other hand, the coloration is remarkably constant, almost exception- ally so, no other North American Mammal witli which I am acquainted, which has so wide a geographical range, varying so little in this respect with locality. The species ranges from Arctic America into the tropical portions of the continent. I have specimens before me from points us distant as pciuuin^— sciuRorxEuus volucella. m Alaska oiul LduiMiniia, Novu Scutiu uikI Culilorniu, uiul frum iimiiy iuternic- (liute localUies. As Hhowii by the subjoined table uf nicnsurcinents, there is a gradual decrease in size from the north suuthward. The avcrnge length of specimens (exclusive of the tail) from Arctic America is about 7.50; of specimens from nenr tlic 40th parnllel, about 0 85, or a little less, ranging from 7. 10 to 6.50; of specimens from Northern New England, about 5.75, ranging from 6.00 to f 35; of specimens from Southern New England, about 5.25,* ranging from 5.50 (o. even 6.00) to 4.50; of specimens from the Gulf States, alxiut 4.75, ranging from 5 20 to 4.30, or about one-third less than the most northern specimens. In respect to color, specimens from the same locality sometimes differ in the color of the dorsal surface as much as do the most diverse examples from widely separated localities. There are, however, easily recognized '"cal differences of coloration, especially in respect to the tail; but even here there is a considerable individual (or seasonal?) variation. As a rule, the speci- mens from north of the United States have darker tails than those from south of the parallel of 44°, while the average difference in color between northern and southern specimens is quite marked. A series of five specimens from the Red River r>'' the North nearly covers the whole range of variation in color exhibited by the whole series No. 3257 (Red River Settlement) is dark fuscous-brown above, with the tail, especially the distal half, decidedly blackish, and the under parts faintly washed with rasty-fulvous. No. 3717 (same locality, December 10) is soil yellowish-brown above, with the tail mucii less duxky, and the under parts white, with merely the faintest tinge of yellow. No. 3718 (same locality and date) is quite similar, but shows a variation toward No. 3257. No. 11539 (Pembina, June 14) is much redder than 3717; the tail is especially brighter, with much less dusky. No. 9083 (Selkirk Settlement) is very light-colored (as light as any from any locality), being pale yellowish-brown above, with only the terminal third of the tail blackish. 'Maiij of llw New England specimens (rooctly measnted from aleubolic speoimens) are evidently iromatiira. In the ease of the males, the testes are generally abdominal, and the females show no rlgn ofbsTiDg saeklrd yoang. All the males with the tesiea scrotal and all the females with the (rats bearing eridaoce of materoity are of mnoh larger size than the others. All the measurements of northern speci- meoa bare oeeesaarily been taken from s'jins, some of which are evidently overstulTed. Taking, how- •Tsr, only soeb Beasorements as are least nflfeoted by faulty taxidermy, as the length of the feet and the meMarenMita of the head, in oases where the skull is left in the skin (and only from snch specimens are the ammnnsmmta of (he bead given), there Is evidently a very striking, as well as very gradual, deoreaso in size aontfawanl. *2 U Ill ■■(!. (558 MONOORAl'IIS OF NORTH AMEUH^AN UODENTIA. !!|i^^^^il!l:Wi V I It I SI, fii'll! !«.; a Two specimens collected on the Nortliwcsteni Bounilnry Survey by Dr, Keiincrly (doubtless in Washington Territory) can be exactly matched, both in si?c and color, by specimens from l^Ialamagaminque, Onada, except that ((uc is more yellow l)elow than the Canada s|)ecinR'iis. Another, from Fort Crook, Cal., is much darker than tiie specimens from Washington Ter- ritory, with a strong yellowish wash below, which extends over the whole lower surface of .he tail. No. !)625, from Idaho, and No. 9704, from the Uintah Mountains, a-e two of the darkest specimens in the collection; but in the series from Big Island, Great Slave Lake, there is one fully as dark, while one from the Rv?rt River district is scarcely lighter. Specimens from tl:e United Slates, and especially from the more south- ern portions, are more yellowish-brown above, with much less black on the tail, and more yellowish below, than specimens from Northern New England, Canada, and the more boreal parts of the continent. In some of the southern specimens, there is no dusky or black on the tail, which inclines to a rufous shade of brown above and yellowish-brown below. Average southern specimens differ from average northern specimens most strikingly in size and in the length and fullness of the pelage, but also in tbe tail being relatively narrower, and the soles of the feet nakeder, and also quite appreciably in color, especially in the ujjper side of the tail being nearer of the color of the back. There is, however, no break in the sequence from north southward, either in size, color, or other characters, by which the group can be subdivided specifically, or even vnrietally. The recognition, as above, of a northern and southern subspecies, is, in great measure, arbitrary. Apparently, those inhabiting the Rocky Mountains of Montana and the Uintah Mountains are darker in color than those from other regions, and rather more ferruginous above, running into a phase corresponding somewhat with van rir.hiirdgoni of the Sciurus hudsonius group, inhabiting the same regioi;. Ncnthcr this form {Ptcromt/s alpinus auct.) nor the so-called ^'Pteromi/s nregontnuis" seems to me to be varietally distinguishable, especially the latter, specimens of which ai'e, sometimes at least, absolutely indistinguishable from Canadian specimens. The supposed differences in the length and direction of the carpal fascia sup|H>rting the flying-membrane, I am unable to appreciate. In respect to differences of a strictly individual character, we meet oeciisionaily with specimens from both the Atlantic and Pacific slope, as well as from the interior, in which the color of the lower surface of the tail ia Pii SCIUUID^-SCIUROPTERCS VOLUCELLA. G59 scarcely darker or more fulvous than the ventral surface of the body; again, and more frequently, the lower surface of the tail is nearly as dark as the dorsal surface of the body, from which it differs only slightly in lint. As already noticed, tlie edges and terminal portion of tlu", lower surface of the tail are occasionally strongly dusky. Commonly, the eye is encircled by a narrow dusky ring, and there is a dusky spot in front of the eye; but some- times these markings (in light-colored specimens) are wholly obsolete Occasionally, there is a whitish spot at the posterior base of the ear, sometimes conspicuously noticeable, while in the majority of instances no such marking is clearly distinguishable. Also, in southern specimens, the pelage of the lower surface is wholly white to the base; in others, the basal portion is dusky, as is generally the case in northern specimens, in some of which only merely the surface is whitish. Doubtless, the small amount of variation in color with locality, apparent in this grou^, as in the Hares (see antea, p. 268), is in part owing to mode of life, these animals being not only nocturnal, but habitually passing the day-light concealed in hollow trees. They are hence apparently less exposed to the influences most active in modifying coloration. As already intimated, the habitat of this species embraces nearly the whole of the North American continent. Its range to the northward extends apparently to the forest limit, there being specimens in the collection from Labrador, the vicinity of Great Slave Lake, Fort Liard, and Alaska. There are also specimens from Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana. It is well known as an inhabitant of Mexico, and Mr. Salvin collected it at Dueflas, Guatemala. Mr. Tomes refers to his specimens as having the fur a little coarser, and the color every w hdr'» more rufous, than in gpecimens from the United States.* Examples have been received from so 'nany parts oC the interior, as well as from the Pacific coast, that it may be considered as presumably dispersed throughout the wooded portions of the continent. Even where it is common, it is a species not often observed, owing to its nocturnal habits. Audubon and Bachman, in their very interesting biography of this species, speak of it as being to some extent gregarious. The great amount of geographical variation in size presented by this species has led to the recognition of several supposed species. As early as < Pme. ZoSI. Soc. Lond. 1801, |>. SSI. ^^hm I 060 MosoGiJAPHS OP xoirrn American rodentia. M 1772,* P\)rsterf desciibed tho Flying Squirrel of Hudson's Bay as the "Greater Flying Squiirel", which, lie says, is "vastly different .... in sizeiud color" from the Flying Squirrel of New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. This is Pennant's "Severn River Squirrel", and the ^^Sciuitis vol « major'^ of Pallas, t to which Gmelin, in 1788, gave the name Sciurus hudsonius. Shaw, in 1801, changed Gmelin's name to Sciurus sahinm in consequence of the name hudsonius having been also applied tu the Chickaree, or Red Squirrel {Sciurus hudntmiun). As, however, the Flying Squirrels and the Chickarees proved to belong to different genera, this double use of the name hwhoiiius becomes tenable. The smaller Southern Flying Squirrel was described by I'ernandez, from Mexican specimens, umler the native name Quimichpntlan, in 1651, and as early as 1743 it was figured and described by Catesby from Carolina specimens. To this species (in the mean time also described by Brixson, Edwards, Pennant, Buffon, and others), Pallas gave the name Sciurus volu- ' AiniinK tbo many earlier refereDciB to this animal, which have, however, no direct bearing upon Its teclinical history, are many that are ii'teresting from their qiiaiot character. Tims, the celebrated Captain John Sniitlli, in his Account of Virf^liia, published originally as early as IC06, in alluding to this animal, snys : — "A small beast tbey have, they call dmapankk, but wee call tlirm flying Squirrrls, because spreading tbeir legs, and so stretching the largenesse of their tkinnes, that they seeme to fly thtrtie or fortie yards."— (P«.'0*«»'« Piigrimt. vol. iv, p. IG95.) Somewhat later, the gind Thomas Morton, in his " New English Canaan " (r. 82), speaks of "a little flying Squirrill, with bat like winges, which bee spreads when bee Jnmpea flrom tree to tree and docs no harme ". In 1636, the Nortboro Flying Squirrel was also noticed by Sagard-Thcodat, whose curious descrip- tion is among the most detailerrnanB de la patte de derriere it celle de deuant, qu'ils repllent fort proprement coutre leur ventre quand >la war- ohent, puis I'esteudent qnand ils volent, couime ils font aysement d'arbre en arbre, Sl de terre insques au dcssus." Another writer, in an account of Virginia, originally published in 1649, speaks of " two sorts of Sqnirrels ", nne of which is " called a flying one, for that she spreads like a Ratt a certaine loose skin she hath and so flyes a good way ".—( force'* Traolt, vol. ii, Mo. 8, p. 16.) Clayton, writing in 1688, In ennnierating the Squirrels of Virginia, rays :— " The second is the flj ing Squirrel of a lighter dun Colour, and mnch less than the English Squirrel ; the skin on either side tho body extended is very large betwixt the Fore-Leg and Hind-Leg which helps them much in their skipp- ing from one Bough to another that they will leap farther than the Fox Squirrel, tbongh much lesB, yrt this is still rather skipping than flying, though the Distinct ion bo well moiifk." — (Foraft Tract; vol. Iii, No. 18, p. 36.) LawBon, in ITUO, also thus refers to the Southern Flying Squirrel in term* no les* strained:— " .... Ho has not wings as Birds or Bats have, they Iwing a fine thin skin coveHd with Hair, an tbo rest of the parts are. This from the Fore-Foot to the Hinder-Feet, which is extended, and holds so mnob Air as buoys him up from one Tree to another, that are greater distances asunder, than any other Squirrels can roach by Jumping or springing . . . . " tPhil.TrauB. vol.lxii, 1778, p. 379. t Nov. 8pe«. Qlires, I77H, p. ItM. SCIURlO/E— S0IUR0PTERU8 VOLUCKLLA. 601 cella, it having been previously referred by Linnseus to the Flying Squirrel of Europe {Sciurus volans U\m\.z=.Scivropterm volans F. Cuv.). Richardson, in 1828, described a variety of the Northern Flying Sq'iirrel, from the northern portion of the Rocky Mountains, under the name Pteromys sabrinus var. alpinus. Later, however, he was in doubt as to whether the differences observed merited recognition. Wagner, however, in 1843, raised Richard- son's variety alpinus to specific rank, since which time it has passed generally current ns a species, being so recognized by Audubon and Bachman, and Inter by Professor Baird. Bachman, in 1839, described specimens from near tlie mouth of the Columbia River under the name Pteromys oregonensis, and fliis name has since passed generally current as that of a valid species. The differences supposed to characterize it were, however, slight, consisting, in reality, only in its rather smaller size as compared with P. "sabrinua^'. From /'. "volucel/a'^ it differed in being larger, and in not having the liairs of the ventral surfacie white to the roots, as Dr. Bachman erroneously supposed to be always the case in the Southern Flying Squirrel. This originated the four supposed species of North American Flying Squirrels. Ten years later, however, we find the following suggestive remarks in Audubon and Bach- man's "Quadrupeds of North America" (vol i, p. 205), under the head of P. "sabrinus'': — "As long as only two species of Flying Squirrels were known in North America — the present species (P. sabrinus) and the little /'. volu4xllti — there was no difficulty in deciding on the species but since others have been discovered in the far West, the task of separating and defin- ing them has become very perplexing." Professor Baird, in 1358, .laving few specimfitt: oi" the group at hand for comparison, admittc ] r.r of the fo \r species, bu^ evidently with some hv'sitation. P. '• volucella" seemed i.) him to be only a miniature of P. "hud- sofi'uti", the only differences perceivable to him being the larger size of the latter, with the hairs of the belly lead-colored at base instead of white throughout. Respecting the distinctness of P. '^alpinus" from P. "hudsonius", he felt unable to decide, while the validity of P. "oregonensii" was apparently not questioned. . 062 MOXOGRAPITS OF NORTH AMEEICAJT RODENTFA. I Tadlk I. — Mcaauremente of enen skvUs of Sciuroptehus volucrixa rar. voliicklla. s 2 , 8 s 1 1 s V. M ^ a ^ , 1 Locality. i 1 1 1 1 fc> 1 ! I 1 Is" f 1 1 1 1 |a P 3 a, 10 •973 Norway, Mfl 1.4.1 0.9d 0.49 0.40 a73 a.n a73 •Ml Eaatport, Me 1.33 a83 C.35 0.3« 0.U 0.SS 0.63 n.j5 •9« Norway, Me O 1.30 0.77 0.37 0.34 o.«e an 0.63 0.4:1 •974 1.3S 1.4,1 0.86 0.M 0.43 0.38 0.40 0.70 0.78 0.68 0 47 Norway, Me 4846 PennaylTasU 1.49 0.(17 0.40 0.40 0.70 0.68 0..1J 4a4» do L37 0.8S 0.37 a40 0.08 0.69 a4.-> * SpeoimeD* from Mnwum of ComptumUTe Zofilogy, Cftmbrldgo, UaM. Tablb II. — MeaaurtmentB of «etwH(«eii fjiedmens 0/ Sciuroptekus volucella rar, nuDSONius. I :m 1 1 ■a LocaUty. From Up of noao to— TaUtoend of- Length of— d •s e a I 1 1 1 1 -t ^ 1 > 1 1 1 1 9935 7.90 7.40 7.50 7.50 7.30 7.00 7.50 7 .10 9.00 9.00 6.40 4.83 4.10 6.00 4.60 4.90 4.M 4.75 4.50 5.90 5.33 5.50 3.75 6.85 6.00 6.40 5.85 5.10 7.» 5.50 5.90 5.85 5.75 .1.90 6.50 6.50 6.60 4.50 0.80 0.E0 0.C0 0.R5 0.75 0.M 0.85 0.80 0.00 0.00 0.80 o.n 0.89 0.85 0.00 0.90 0.90 1.55 1.90 1.60 1.50 1.45 l.SO 1.45 1.90 1.55 1.55 1.45 1.51 1.33 1.45 l.CO 1.60 1.90 Skin. ...do. ...dp. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...do. ..do. .. d... ...do. ...do. ..do. ..do. ...de. ...do. ...do. OAU Fort Liard, B. B. T 7060 Big lalaud. Great Slave Lake 0.70 0.70 0.6S I.4S 1.30 Lao L3S 1.30 1.55 1.63 L47 1.60 1.60 •304 S718 do RedlUvn 3957 do 3717 do 3313 418 S3S Fort Belltnufaein. Waah. Ter aoo 7.00 G.40 6.75 no 6.75 7 00 7.10 0.50 9704 nintAhUoonUiDa 0636 I<]abo a»7 0.67 7189 1.83 1.60 7104 do 7191 do 7l!)0 do 7193 .. do 801UKIDJ5— SOlUliOPTMUUS VOLUCELLA. 663 Tadlb III.— jV«uiireM«N(< of lhlrlj)-»U tjiedmenB of SciUiiOPTKKLS VULUCKIXA tar. voLl'dtLLA. 311.1 588 ini 3078 3707 3tat » MO 1001 ON 4inl 4MI an 37S6 3SM 900 sun 3M» va 3490 ISU 1964 1»7I) «we «9M KUO 1304 aS05 it!M 780 Tin 11130 aeta 4019 7381 Looalilj. Ciljils,Ue.... Norway, He.. UptoD, Uo ... Norway, Ho . , do ..«o. .do. .do. .do. Amhent,N.H.. HUaii.N.H Dammar, N.H .. WatorTUlo,M«.. Lynii,Hiiaa do HMaaohuaotta., Uaaaaohuaetta do BarlingtoD, Iowa... Cook Connty,IU ... HaaoaohuaetU do Undion, Haaa Htddlelnn', Haaa. , do ,., do Columbna, Ga. . do WeatNortbSald, ill.... Colainboi, Hlu do Bladanabarg, Md Pialrio Hsr Kouga, ta . New Orteaai, I« Grand Cotaan, La From tip of noao to- ld 0.87 0.07 0.70 aoe ac3 0.00 U.liO 0.70 a 70 O.T0 0.71 O.OJ o.os 0.57 0.57 U.0O 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.55 0.58 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.60 ass 0.60 0.55 0.SO aso a ST I. so 1.33 1.90 I. so 1.83 1.13 1.S5 l.SO i.au I. as 1.S4 1.15 1.S7 1.07 1.00 1.10 1.08 t.oe 1.00 1.10 1.15 1.10 as.i 1.19 1.18 1.18 1.00 t.ao 1.14 l.M i.o; 0.05 1.15 1.10 1.75 1.63 1.85 1.55 I.IVj l.2.'i 1. 55 i.v; 1.05 1.55 1.05 1.50 1.60 1.37 1.45 1.90 1.60 1.48 1.50 1.4a 1. «1 1.45 1.35 1.45 l.liU 1.50 1.39 1.90 1.46 l.SO 1. 45 1.49 1. 90 l.SO 1 5.00 S3S s.:o S.10 5.90 5.19 6.10 5.70 5.03 5.85 sao S50 4.3S 4.50 M5 5.10 9.30 5.00 5.10 4.00 SSO 4.75 0.95 4.70 4.70 3.40 4.76 4.55 4.76 &00 4.f0 MO sa) 4 00 4.85 TaHtoeod Length of- 4.50 4.85 4.75 4.35 4.85 4..'« 4.15 4.40 4.00 4.70 4.75 4.10 4.79 3.90 3.65 4.00 aoo .1.90 3.F0 4.00 3.95 3..'i0 4.50 3.40 3.70 9.60 3.00 3.50 a«o 3.60 3.40 XM 3.39 ao7 a 30 i L S90 9.79 9.39 S40 9.00 9.99 9.10 .■■1.35 0.00 5.75 0.00 4.65 5.07 4.95 4.30 SOO 4.60 4.70 4.15 4.95 .%50 4.M 4.40 aoo 4.10 4.18 4.30 4.10 3.90 4.10 3.00 4.10 3.05 I 0.83 a 75 0.78 0.85 O.TJ 0.80 0.67 0.87 0.80 0.85 0.81 0.67 0.75 0.65 0.07 0.68 0.79 0.71 a 79 0.79 0.70 a 75 0.75 ag7 aeo 0.70 a 73 a70 aT3 0.75 a 79 0.75 0.64 m 1.40 1.30 1.40 1.40 1.40 1.49 1.30 1.38 1.45 1.45 1.37 1.99 1.45 I.IS 1.17 1.93 1.99 1.99 1.90 1.16 1.17 1.39 1.15 1.35 1.90 1.90 1.14 1 10 1.10 1.93 1.10 1.09 1.90 1.10 1.90 1.19 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.03 0.75 a 76 0.60 0.79 0.71 0.07 0.75 O.-,!' 0.67 a 9:1 0.94 0.59 0.94 0.99 0.57 aa> a98 a9s 0.90 B I I AlcoboUo. ...do. ...do. ...do. ...da .. da ...da ...da ...da .. da .. da ..da ..da ...da ...da ...da ..da ...da ...da ...da ...da Rkln. ....da ...da Akiobolla' ...do.' .. do.« ....do.* ...do.* ...da* ...da* ...do.* ...da ...da ...da ...da * MeaanrenMata from Baird's Hamm. of North America, p. 983. r' 664 MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. Table IV. — LUt of ipec'uHent examinrd of SciunoPTiinug VOLUCIUJ.* xm. huimonius. ^lii H. 11 ti i.f > , 1 a d o a |i a i 1 1 Loealitr- When collected. From whom f«. celred. Colleeted by- 1 II9S4 Mas 96SS S09S IVS04 (U03 TOM 8107 710) 7190 7191 7193 7103 7194 W39 3857 3717 37IS 9083 90M 1M39 193 KM 3333 3053 3370 3893 9704 0035 3313 3990 5678 1090 1089 1085 Lieut F.W. King ....do Ueat F.W.King.. ...do Bkln. ....do. do R.KennloaU W.L.Hardl*tj... ....do ....do. FortLUrd H.B.T W.L.Hapdlaty .. do ...da ....do. do Big labuid, Great Slave Laka. do B.aBnM ....do J.Beid ....do ....d* do ....do ....do ...do. 831 Apr. 4,liJM J.Lookbardt ....do J. Loeklardt ...do. MafauiMnaminqiw, Canada. do Thomaa Rlohaida. . . ...in ....do ... do. ..do. ...do. do ...do do ...do ...do ...do. do do ... . ...do da do ... do ...do ...da Dr.J.B.01Ipln... Dr.J.aOllplB D. Gann ...da . da Red River Settlement .. 9 do ... do ...do da ....do .. .do .. do ... da Selkirk Settlement . do .. do .. da ....do ....do ...do .. (Iq. SOTO Fort Pembinaf Hinn A. Campbell C. Cavalier Dr.J.B.011pin.... ... do Dr. IL Cooea ..... .. do. Pembina, Hlnn CCavoUer ... da Uootreal, Canada Thomaa Broome Dr. J. a Gilpin ....do ...do. ...da ... do Hallhi,lf.B do do ... do ...do ...do. Stoben,lIe J.D. Parker Dr.F.V.Hajden.. Dr. Whitehead. . A.CampbeU ....do J.D.Parker ....da 5.15 Uintab Monntaina Idaho Sept at, 1873 H.D. Schmidt ....da Dr. Whitehead ....da Fort BelUngbam.Wadi. T Skagit Tallejr Dr.C.aaKennerly ...do ...da Skin and aknll. Skin. ....da 36M 007 417 418 ....do ... do do ...do ....ilo 3M9 Fort Cittok. Col J. Feilner J. Fellaer ....da SCIURlDiE— SCIUKOPTEIiUS VOLUOELLA. 665 Tablb v.— Lift of $pecimen» examined of Bciukuftkbus volitcella uir, volvcxlla. 1 Id i i i 1 1 1 Locality. When oolleou^. From whom re. ceWed, Colleoted by— ■5 Bemarka. 1903 lasT 1171 3036 SOS! 3038 30M 3707 sea 900 lias 1033 3733 3113 W41 4271 am 4173 •n 1001 137i 1S7» 808 37M mi 1534 1903 1448 3307 3388 «41« «4<0 97(3 HO* 783 .... Lake Superior .... Upton, Mc ....do Sammer, 1848. Summer. . . L.Agaaala J.O.BIch ...do . L.Agaaal> J.O.BIch ...do Skin ...do AloohoUo. ...do In U.O.Z., Cam- bridge, Uaaa. ...da ...da ...do. 043 »4S 873 - Norway, Ue Irving Kroat... ...do ...do ...do ...do ...da ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do do ...da ...da ...da . ..da .. da ...do ...do ...do ...do ..do Skull .. do . . do .. do do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do .. da ...do B.D.VonrUl.... ...do aD.Verrm.... ...do Skin. ... ...da 841 J ...do ...do. .. ...da ...da ...da ...da ....da ...do A.E.TorriU... O. A. Boardman ..do ....do A.K.Verrill .... ...do MUllowcUe.... ...do Ralala, He 0. A. Boardman. ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do Eaatport,I(e ...do ...do Skull Skin ...do ...da ...da ...da ...da ■• Wa(erTille,Me.... CS.BwaUn.... JobnTecey do ex. Hamlin.... John Teiey . do . do do ... ...do ....do ...do ...do ....do. lUlaii,ir.H J.B.Fn]«>ne... W.H.MeUendy ajlOaeo .do .... J.KFulaome... W.H.MeUendy. S.JIUaon ...do do ...da ...do Amhent,N.H.... Hndann VaM .do ... ...da ...da ...da ...fa ...da ...da ...da ...da ...da ...da ...da ...da ...da ...da ...da ...da ...da In Nat. Mus., Waah.,D.C. ..da ...da(Alblna) ...da(Alblna) ..da ...da ...da ...da ....da .... ...do ..do . do LyniiiMaaa .. do ..do AlcohoUo . .. do ...do ].... ...do ...do 874 ... ...do L.AgaaaU ...do UAgaaali ...do Skin ...do ...do .. do ...do .. do ...do .. do ...do SkoU Skin Alooholis ...do ...daT ..do ...do ...daf . (Jo ...do ...do ..do ...do 1481 1488 .... Kranatnn, Til ..•>. aMMnr ....do aMarcy ...do ...do ...do ...do Uwn RldgOklU... ....do H-BoUer ....do H.BaUer ...do ...do ...do Bnrllngton, Iowa. . ...do DoepKlTor,N.C.. CbaatarCoonty.Pa ...do Waabln|[ton,D.C. ...do W.C.Kerr I>r.]t.)ilohner.. ...do W.C.Kerr Dr.K.MIcbaer.. ...do ...do Sknil ...do 1010 4008 400') 4010 III38 88 3IS3 4848 4847 ? Skin ...do ...do do U. M. Langdoo . J.W.Wllllaiua.. ARBalnl DrKOenea .... P.R.Hoy Dr. J. O.Cooper C.H.Langdon.. J.W.Wimama.. S.F Balrd ...do Aug. 83. '58 9 ...ih> 1Uolne,'Wl8 Dr.ILConee... P.RHoy Dr. 3. a. (^per ...do ..-to ..do m G6G MONOGUAPDS OF NOUTU AMEUICAN RODENTIA. Tadlk V. — Lilt of ipccimcKt aamimd of SciunurTEiti's volccella Mr. volucella — CoDliniicd. ■s 1 1 |i 7iM 707 263il 4915 7361 a 9 B 1 i a 1 1 LtMwlit}-. When colloctcd. From vh»m re- ceived. (Jollrated b)'- ■s 1 lU'inarka. Dr. BpllliQan . . . . do DrSpillnuui — ... do Skin Uo In Nat. MoMum. ...do. ....-_ fin PrairiellerKoiiiie, Li. New OrlMoa, La J.Falrio J.Varden St. Charlea Col- lege. J.Falrie J.Varden .. do ....da Alcobolio . ...do ....do. ....do. Qrnnd Cotean, La Gekus SCIURUS Linnaeus. jSciHrua LiNNiGL-8, Syst. Nat. 10th ed. 1758 (in part), and of most sabseqiieot aothon. itaaroxut F. CoviKR, " Diet, dea Sci. Nat. x, 181B" ' ; il6m. da Mas. x, ie2.'i, ItS ; Deuts des Mam. 1825, 161 ; Diet, des Sci. Nat. lix, 1839, 474. (Type &ji«r«< a$tiiant Linn.) UaeroxHt Okay, Add. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3d 8er. zx, lUu7, 275. (Not Maeroiiu F. Cnvier.) HkiHotciurtu Obat, Cat. Ham. Brit. Hna. 1813, 195 ; Ann. &. Mag. Nat. Hiat. 3d aer. xz, 1867, 886. (Type Soiiiru$ UpaobUs Bljih.) Bkeinro»ei»rtu Gray, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3d aer. zx, 18(n', 272. (Type Sciitm macroHt Gray.) Generic Ciiabs. — Skull short, very broad, especially interorbitally,and the cranial portion greatly expanded ; postorbital processes terminating in a long, slender point, directed posteriorly (and more or less outwardly) and decurved; malar bone slender, the plane of its expansion nearly vertical ; anteorbital foramen a narrow vertical slit, opening far in advance of the first premolar ; upper grinding-teeth four or five, the first premolar (when two are present) very small; muzzle short, nasals greatly narrowed posteriorly; ears well devel- oped, well clothed, sometimes tufted, especially in winter; tail long, generally as long as or longer than tlie body, broad, the long hairs spreading laterally ; nail of pollex rudimentary; pelage generally full and soft, but sometimes more or less rigid ; coloration variable, but never with well-defined black stripes on the dorsum ; size generally large; no cheek-pouches, and uo lateral membrane connecting the fore and hind limbs. The true arboreal Squirrels are at once easily distinguishable from the Flying Squirrels by the absence of the membranous expansion along the sides of the body as well as by numerous other very obvious differences. They differ from Tamias in the form and position of the anteorbital foramina, the broader and less tapering muzzle; in the greater verticality of the plane of the malar bone; in the greater convexity of the dorsal outline of the skull; * See Agoaaiz, Nomeuclator Zuolugieua, Mamui. p. 19. ^;^am^A BCIUItlD^— SCIUIIUS. 667 and in pattern of coloration ; IVoin (lie larger, large-cared, long-, l)road- tailed Spermophiles in the siiorter, broader, more expanded form of the skull, its more convex dorsal outline, slenderer and less diverging zygomatic arches, the strict parallelism of the inner edges of the molar series, and the narrower and more anteriorly situated anteorbital foramina, etc. A division of the American Sciuri into other than arbitrary or artificial groups seems almost impossible. Althougli some of the species have two premolars and others one, some tufled and others tufllcss ears; although some are of large size and others small; and although the skull varies in respect to convexity, interorbital breadth, and somewhat in other features, these differences are so variously combined that no sharply dividing lines can be drawn if more than a single character be taken. In respect to the pres- ence sad size of the first upper premolar, the species fall into three sections, with which, to some extent, other characters correspond. In some of the species, sti far as I can determine, there is but a single premolar at any period of life ; in one (S. hudionius and its varieties), a second is generally present, though often disappearing late in life ; it is, however, so minute as to easily escape observation, never rising to the level of the other teeth, it being gen- erally merely a slender, minute point situated close to the inner edge of the anterior root of the second premolar, beneath the front edge of the base of its crown. Sometimes it is a mere point, and at other times is about one-half the height of the second premolar. In the greater number of the species, two premolars are permanently developed, but the first is often minute, scarcely reaching the height of the second, and is occasionally absent in those species in which, as a rule, it is present. The pelage varies greatly in character in the different species, being sometimes full, fine, and sofl, even among the tropical forms; again, it is short and sparse, and at other times long, coarse, and stiff. Perhaps the most obviously variable feature is the character of the tail. Generally, its length, measured from the base to the end of the vertebrae, is rather less than the length of the head and body; sometimes these two measurements are equal, while occasionally the tail is a third less than the length of the head and body. The tail, to the end of the hairs, is very generally equal to or longer than the head and body; sometimes much longer, occasionally about equal, and more rarely somewhat less. The tail also varies greatly in fulne&« and breadth. In Sciurus fossor and S. colliai, the tail, when fully spread, has a breadth of five or six inches, the hairs of the sides M I;i1i 668 MONOGUAPOS OF NORTH AMERICAN llODENTIA. being two ami a half to three inches iii length. On the other hand, in S. hypopt/rrhus, in which llie length of tiie tail is fully as great as in S.foxsor anil S. co/liai, its breadth is about one-third less. The tail is narrowest (in tlic long-tailed species) in S. astunm, but even in this species it is still dis- tinctly flattened or distichous, except iwssibly in badly prepared specimens, * though not unfrequently cylindrical at the end. M- F. Cuvier, in 1818, separated the Guerlinguets from the true Squirrels under the name Macroxux, referring to this group the Sciurus astuans of Brazil and the Sciurus vittatus of India. The characters given for this group, as distinguishing it from Sciurus, are the greater cerebral-capacity of the skull, the tail not distichous at the point, the nasal portion of the skull separated from the cranial by a strong depression, and by the large size of the testes.* Although Afacroxus was adopted by Lesson in 1827, it has been by most writers properly ignored, the characters given having little value. The Macroxus of Gray (1867), although including the species referred to Macroxus by Cuvier, is based on a wholly different feature, namely, on the absence of ear-tufts, and hence embraces all the Sciuri with untufted ears. Sciurus, as left by Gray, thus includes only a few species with conspicuously tufted ears, like iS. vulgaris and S. aherti. This distinction, it is almost needless to say, is not of the slightest importance as a generic character, the long car- tuils being merely a seasonal feature, if not in part, in some species at least, simply individual. In the North American 8. aherti, individuals are found both with and without them at the same localities pnd seasons, while in other individuals they may be found of different degrees of development. Many other species have the ears slightly tufted in winter, which are wholly without ear-tufts in summer. The American Sciuri reach their greatest numerical development in Middle America; Southern Mexico and Central America being far richer in species than any other region in either North or South America of similar area. The species are here remarkable also for their extreme variability in color. Melanistic phases of coloration are frequent, while all the species are normally fulvous, orange, or red below, white-bellied specimens from this region being exceptional; with perhaps a single exception, none of the specific * The diagnosJB given by Cavier of " lea GaeTliDgneta " ( JfacroxM) Is as follows : — " Ce aont dea 6onieuila dont la qaene n'est point dislingntf «t dont la capacity c^ribrale auipaase de beaacoup celle tics dcarenils propremeut dila et celle dcs tamiaa. Une depression trts-marqa^ Rundance of the material accessible for the study of the species occurring north of Mexico renders this part of the work comparatively easy, and demonstrates clearly the large amount of both individual and geographical variation one must be prepared to recognize, frequently at least, in the different specific representatives of this perplexing group. Some of the Mexican species seem to be fully as variable in colora- tion aa any that are met with in the United States, so that color alone becomes a wholly unsafe guide for the determination of the species. On the other hand, Sciurus fossor, of the west coast of the United States, is as constant in its coloration as any Mammal with which I am acquainted, and the Brazilian form of Sciurus astuans, although widely distributed, presents only a small range of variation in either color or size. The large Squirrel of Western Brazil and the neighboring region to the westward (S. variabilis), though subject to considerable variation in color, is far less variable than some of the Mexican and North American ones. Three, at least, of the Central American forms also vary less than many of the others: these are Sciurus gerrardi, 8. tephrogaster, and S. astuans var. rujoniger, which range southward into the northern States of South America. The material at my command, though large in amount (probably con- siderably exceeding that ever before collectively examined by any previous investigator), is quite insufficient for a satisfactory study of the tropical forms, and the results arrived at are considered as open to future revision. Among the numerous (some thirty or more) nominal species of authors, I have been able to recognize only nine or ten that seem to me valid, with two additional subspecies. These latter may [Hissibly be entitled to specific rank, but I think that, on the whole, the number of species will, by future investigation, be sUll further reduced, rather than increased, and that I have erred in recog- nizing too many species rather than too few. In the majority of instances, I have ioeen able to make the collocation of the nominal species with a good degree of confidence ; in other cases, of course, only with much doubt ; while two or three names I have been wholly unable to identify. One is doubtfully American, and one or two I have provisionally adopted as possibly valid species are yet unknown to mc from specimens. In regard to the . geographical distribution of the species, it is worthy ('.70 MONOOIlAPna OP north AMEIIHIAN RODHNTfA. \i :'i ! l-j:t r) Si [■ of note tlint the smullest species {Sciurus hudsoniua) is the most northern, nnd thnt the next Bmullest (Sciurus aaluans) is tlic most Bouthem, both occurring on the extreme lioundnries of the hnhitat of the group. These ((gain, ill respect to the development of the tail, arc the least Sciurine; the long, full, bushy, distichous tail, so characteristic a feature of the Sciuri as distinguishing them from their allies, being in these two species very much sliorter and narrower than in any of the others. In passing southward, wu meet, next after S. hucfsanius, with S, carolinensis, a species again below the average in size, with the tail only moderately developed, although there are .xonie Mexican an. b. Above varied with black and yellowisb-rasty ; upper surface of the tail with (he hairs gray at the base and gray-tipped, with a brood subterminal bar of black. Bab. — Central portion of the Rocky Mountains, and thence westward to the Sierra Nevadas vsr. fremmll. e. Almve dnsky, strongly varied with reddish ; npper surface of the tail with the hairs dark reddish-brown at the base, tipped with reddish, and with a very brood subterminal bar of black, sometimes occupying the whole of tlie terminal third. Bat.— Rocky Mountains between latitude 43° and 68", and thence westward to the Cascade Range vir. rtebardimi. d. Above as in the prrceding (vor. HcAariiiHwi); tail wiCi Ivm black; beneath moreorlena strongly tinged with fulvonsor rnfons. tftft.— Paciflc-cnast region from Northrro Ciili- foruia to Sitkn ywc. toutlmti. 8CIUKIDi13— S(MUIllIS— SYNOPaiH OF HPKCIE3. »',71 II. Tail-Tertobraahont roar-Hfth<(flv»-iilxlljs to tlirec-fourtbii) the length of Ibo lienil nml linl.v ; (nil, wllb the bairf, ralber loiiRer than Ibe body (in miwl of tbe ipecles onr-twririb lunger), Kcnrrilly dill and bnoby. Frmmlutii iiKuiilly *[ ; In ■ (evr 8|H'clei) \. Size lar({u oi tuudttiui : A. PrcDiolara ) : 3. Above wliiliHb-Kray variud (oxoe|it in one •iilM|iecioii) with fiiivoiiH; bunvnili white; midillo of back more ur leu browuiab ; an indistinct (tilvnnii Internl line; ean never connpicu- ooaly ttiftiMl. //ati.— Sootbern porta of Canada, tbe Uuitem light yellowish- red to dark cherry-red; general iiolor above rather more rnfons than in var, atluaxt; also riither redder below. Hab. — Northern South America and Central America var. rufimiger. III. Tall -vertebra) alone equal to tbe length of the head and boi. Phila. viii, 1842, 316; Qnad, N. Am. i, 1849, 157. pi. xiz. Adanu teTokM-t v, Aon. & Mag. Nat. Hist, x, 1849, S63 ; ZouL of tbe Solphnr, 1644, 33, pi. xii, tg. 9 (montu 'he Colnmbia). SdMrtu nuiUH Baird, Pi, -. .Voad. Nat. Sol. Phila. vii, 1865, 333; Mam. N. Amer. 1857, 976 (toot-note). Smatl BnwH Sqiurnl, Lbwm