October, 1841.] 97 



though not described, by Rafinesque, in the American Monthly Magazine, 

 under the name of Lemmus Noveboracensis. His descriptions, however, 

 in every department of natural history, are so short, vague and imperfect, 

 that it is impossible to identify his species with any degree of certainty. 

 They have created such confusion in the nomenclature, that nearly all 

 European and American naturalists have ceased to quote him as authority. 

 Dr. Richardson has, moreover, described an Arvicola from the Rocky 

 Mountains, which he has referred to the Noveboracensis of Rafinesque, 

 which differs widely from the above species. 



Habitat. The specimen which we have described was obtained by Dr. 

 Brewer, near Boston. We received another from Mr. John W. Audubon, 

 who procured it at the Falls of Niagara. We have also frequently found 

 it in the northern parts of New York, where the Arvicola Pennsylvanica 

 also exists. It appears, however, not to be found as far to the south as 

 the latter species, as we have sought for it in vain in Pennsylvania. 



Arvicola scalopsoides. Mole Arvicola. 



A. (Scalopsoides.) Capite crasso ; naso obtuso ; vellere curio, molli, 

 bombycino instar velleri Talpre ; supra albo-fusco ; subtus plumbeous. 



Head large, nose blunt, fur short, soft, silky and lustrous, like that of 

 the Mole. Colour, above, light brown ; beneath, plumbeous. 



This species, of which we have obtained many specimens from Long Is- 

 land, and which is not rare in the vicinity of New York, is very distinct 

 from Wilson's Meadow Mouse. His diminutive figure in the 6th vol of his 

 Ornithology, is not very unlike this animal ; but his descriptions, both of 

 form and habits, which apply very correctly to Arvicola Pennsylvanica, 

 have no reference to the present species. 



The head is thicker and much shorter than that of Wilson's Meadow 

 Mouse; the body cylindrical ; ears scarcely rising above the integument, 

 and completely concealed by the fur. The legs and tail are short ; the lat- 

 ter not as long as the head, and both are covered with very fine and short 

 hairs. The fur on the back, which is soft and fine, and not half the length 

 of Wilson's Meadow Mouse, has none of the coarse hairs which are found 

 in that species. On the under surface, the fur is very short, not more than 

 a line in length. 



Colour. The teeth are yellowish white; the fur on the back is, from the 

 roots, dark plumbeous, tipt with light ashy brown. This colour continues 

 uniform till it reaches the sides, where there is a distinct line of demarca- 

 tion, commencing at the chin and running along the neck and sides of the 

 thighs. The whole of this under-surface is of a light cinereous colour, the 

 hair being plumbeous at base, and so lightly tipt with white as to appear 

 in some parts spotted with dark blue and ashy white. 



This species bears a strong resemblance to the Pine Mouse of Le Conte 

 (Psavnpmys Pinetorum,) which is also an Arvicola, than to any other. It 

 is, however, larger, differs considerably in colour, and is destitute of the 

 chestnut brown on the cheeks, which are the characteristic marks of that 

 species. 



Length of the head and body, 4 inch. lines. 

 Do. tail, " 10 " 



Do. head, 1 " " 



From heel to point of nails, " 7 " 



Mus humulis, (Bachman.) Little Harvest Mouse. Read before the Aca- 

 demy of Natural Sciences, 1837. Vide Jour. Acad. vol. vii. 



Mus humulis. Corpore supra rutilo-cinereo et quoad baccas el Rneam 

 in utrisque lateribus ferrugineo : subtus flavo-albente. 



Little Harvest Mouse. 



