J66 FAUNA AMERICANA. 



mal resembles the Arctomys missourleusis, except 

 in colour, size and markings. 



Teeth. Molars five above and four below, 

 crowns rather concave, borders slightly tubercu- 

 lous, roots long and distinct from each other ; 

 superior incisors rather small, cuneiform, plane 

 on the anterior surface, and of a yellow colour; 

 inferior incisors proportionably long, nearly cylin- 

 drical at base, chisel shaped at top, separate and 

 divergent. Furnished with large cheek pouches 

 lined with hair both internally and externally. 



Habit. According to Mr. Say, (who observed 

 this animal when descending the Arkansa,) they 

 burrow in the earth, and do not voluntarily climb 

 trees. They inhabit an extensive portion of North 

 America, extending at least from the more north- 

 ern lakes to the Arkansa river, and most probably 

 in that direction into Mexico, and westward to the 

 Rocky Mountains. They were not uncommon in 

 the vicinity of Engineer Cantonment. According 

 to Sabine, they inhabit also the northern parts of 

 Canada. 



Mr. Nuttall long since obtained specimens of 

 this species near the Mandan village on the Mis- 

 souri, and in the year 1814 he presented skins of 

 it to several of his scientific friends in London. 

 He states that he has seen tippets worn by the 

 Indians of the Upper Missouri, which were made 

 of the skins of this elegant species, sewn together 



