150 FAUNA AMERICANA. 



Char. Essent. Reddish-gray above; whitisli 

 beneath ; tail a little shorter than the body. 



Dimensions. Total length, four inches two 

 lines; of the head, one inch two lines; of the 

 trunk of the tail, three inches six lines. 



Description. Larger than the JMouse^ or the 

 Campagnol ; less than the Black rat ; head larger 

 and longer than that of the mouse ; eyes larger 

 and more projecting; ears longer and broader; 

 legs longer. The upper surface and sides of the 

 head and neck, superior parts of the body, and 

 external surface of the fore feet, covered with fine 

 short hair, of a fawn colour, tinged with black, 

 each hair cinereus the greater part of its length, 

 then fawn colour, then black at the extremity ; 

 side of the snout and inferior surface of the head 

 and body, as well as the interior of the feet whit- 

 ish, tinged with blackish or cinereus, where the 

 hair is longest ; on the breast, a yellowish spot, 

 with a blackish tinge ; tail brownish above, whit- 

 ish beneath. 



Habit. Living in woods and neighbouring 

 fields ; burrows in the ground and amasses provi- 

 sions, which consist chiefly of grain ; female pro- 

 ducing more than once annually, and several at a 

 birth. 



Inhabit all Europe and United States ; several 

 varieties found in tlie vicinity of Philadelphia. 



Two other species oi Miis are noticed by Rafi- 

 nesque as inhabiting the United States. 



