406 Zoological Society. 



they average about an inch in length ; on this part they have a rusty 

 hue, but on the remaining portions they are black. On the upper 

 parts of the body the shorter hairs are of a yellowish brown colour, 

 but the longer interspersed hairs being numerous, and of a black 

 colour, give a deep general tint to these parts. The under parts of 

 the body are of a rusty yellow colour, tinted with brownish on the 

 neck and chest, and having a more decided rust-colour on the abdo- 

 men. 



The skull approaches that of Mus giganteus in general form, but 

 is rather narrower and longer ; the palatal portion is broader, and the 

 incisive foramina are shorter, terminating posteriorly, about one- 

 eighth of an inch anterior to the foremost molars ; whilst in M. gi- 

 ganteus these foramina terminate in a line with the front molars, or 

 rather behind that line ; the nasal bones are longer and rather nar- 

 rower, and the occipital portion of the cranium is decidedly smaller. 

 The principal dimensions, taken from the skeleton, are as follow : — 



in. lin. 

 Length from tip of nasal bones to end of sacral vertebrae 10 4 



Length of tail 13 



Length of tarsus and claws 2 8^ 



Length of skull 2 , 6§ 



Width of ditto 1 3| 



Length of nasal bones 1 0J 



Distance between incisors and molars of the upper jaw . 9£ 



Width between molars 3| 



Length of incisive foramina 5 



Width of occiput 8 



Mus delicatulus. Mus suprd pallide fusco-flavus ; corpore ad 

 latera flavescente, subtus albo ; caudd mediocri supra fused, subtus 

 ad basin albescenti ; auribus parvulis ; pedibus gracilibus, albis. 



unc. lin. 

 Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caudae basin. ... 25 



cauda 2 2 



tarsi digitorumque 8 



ab apice rostri ad basin auris .... 8 



auris 3 J 



In colouring the present species greatly resembles the Mus syl- 

 vaticus of Europe, but it is a trifle paler ; its size is less than that of 

 the common mouse (Mus musculus, Auct.). The fur is soft and 

 short ; that on the upper parts of the body is of a pale yellow-brown 

 colour. The sides of the body are of a delicate yellow tint, and the 

 lower parts of the sides of the muzzle, the chin, throat, and whole 

 under parts, as well as the feet, are pure white ; along the mesial 

 line of the abdomen and on the throat the hairs are of an uniform 

 colour to the base. The feet are slender, and the ears are rather 

 small. The tail is slender, and nearly equal in length to the head 

 and body. 



Two specimens exhibiting the above characters were exhibited by 

 Mr. Gould. 



