1853.] 



413 



on this mouse, and proves that it cannot be the same as the Mus sylvaticus of 

 Europe ; he calls it Mus noveboracensis. I cannot find whence he got this name, 

 but should rejoice much to find that it had been proposed by some naturalist 

 before Rafinesque, that we might get rid of the Greek name which is now indis- 

 solubly attached to it. 



4. Hesp. campestris. Supra fuscus, subtus cinereo-fuscus. Capite magno, 

 auribus magnis, ovalibus, obtusis, pilis brevibus sparse vestitis. 



Hab. In Nova Caesarea. 



Hair plumbeous black, above tipt with brown, beneath with cinereous brown, 

 darker about the mouth. Head large.; ears large, oval, blunt, thinly covered 

 both within and without, with very short, closely appressed hair. Legs and feet 

 brown. Tail well clothed with tolerably long hair. 



Length in. 3-4; head 1-2 ; ears 55'; width -4; fore leg -45 ; hind leg 1-6; 

 tail 2-7. 



This species was found in the collection of the Academy, and labelled Mus 

 campestris, from New Jersey. The specimens were preserved in alcohol, and 

 therefore scarcely fit to be described ; there was, however, enough to show that 

 they were different from any hitherto described animal. 



5. Hesp. sonoriensis. Supra saturate cinereus fuscescente-cano leviter inter- 

 mixtus, subtus albescens. Capite elongato, auribus magnis. Cauda modica. 



Hab. In provincia Sonorae. 



Hair above dark cinereous or slate color, slightly mixed with brownish grey, 

 more thickly on the head, nose, and behind the ears, and with grey on the sides; 

 beneath whitish, except on the throat, which is mixed slate-color and whitish. 

 Head elongated, pointed ; ears large, oval, hairy both within and without, and 

 with a distinct narrow grey margin. Feet covered with short, whitish brown 

 hair. Tail moderate, above dark brown, beneath paler. 



Length in. 3*3; head 1'2 ; ears '4; fore leg ! ; hind leg 1'8 ; tail l-D. 



Resembles in some degree the H. leucopus. Collected by the Boundary Com- 

 mission, under Major Graham. 



These are all the species of this genus of which I have specimens at present. 

 Messrs. Audubon and Bachman describe in addition, H. humilis, H. aureolus, H. 

 caroliniensis and H. mlchiganensis under the genus Mus. With all of these, ex- 

 cept the last, I was well acquainted forty years ago. 



I cannot omit saying something here of an animal described by Dr. Dekay in 

 the Zoology of the State of New York, vol. i. p. 31, under the name of Mus 

 Americanus. This is certainly a Hesperomys, or a species of one of the allied 

 genera, and not a Mus rattus, as Dr. Bachman supposes. It is some years ago 

 since it was found in the city of New York, and handed to me for examination 

 by Mr. John G. BeJl. I took the following notes of it at the time, and had it 

 passed to Dr. Dekay, who was then engaged in writing the Zoology of the State. 



The animal was above and beneath of a uniform dark plumbeous black in- 

 clining to dusky ; head rather blunt ; eyes prominent ; ears oval, blunt, externally 

 naked, internally sparsely hairy. Feet small, covered with short shining hair ; 

 toes white. Tail short ; terete, annulosely scaly. 



Length of head and body 9-3 ; tail 5*6 ; head 2*4 ; ears '75 ; width -45. 



Reithrodon Lecontei. Supra rufo, fusco et nigrante mixtus, subtus albidus ; 

 naribus carunculatis, labris tumidis. Auribus magnis. 



Hab. In Georgia. Mus Le Contii Bachman, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc, vol. viii. 

 p. 307. 



Hair plumbeous, above tipt with rufous, dark brown and dusky, the latter color 

 prevailing more on the back. Forehead much arched; eyes large; lips tumid; 

 nostrils each furnished beneath with a small caruncle pointing downwards; ears 

 oval, large, hairy both within and without. Feet very pale flesh color, covered 

 with short cinereous brown hairs. Tail long, nearly naked, above brown, be- 

 neath paler. 



Length in. 2-5 ; head '8 ; ears -2^ fore leg -5 ; hind leg '8 ; tail 2 inches. 



