30 Bachman^s Observations 



flattened on the inner surface. The hind feet are compara- 

 tively smal], naked on the under surface, and nearly so above. 

 The nails are slender, and moderately arched. The tail is 

 short, round, nearly naked, sparingly sprinkled with short 

 hairs. 



Color. The nails are a horn-color. The snout, in the 

 living animal, is of a light flesh-color ; chin, feet, and tail, 

 being the naked portions of the body, are nearly white. The 

 hair, which is about five lines in length, and very soft, smooth 

 and lustrous, is for three -fourths of its length dark plumbeous, 

 tipt on the outer surface with light brown, giving the whole 

 animal, above and beneath, a dark brown appearance, varying 

 under different lights, with black, silvery, and purple re- 

 flections. 



Dimensions. Measurement of a specimen in the flesh. 



Length from snout to root of tail, - 4 inches, 7 lines. 



do. of tail, - - - - - "9 



Breadth of palm, - ... 6 



Length of do. to end of nail, - - - 9 



Heel to extremity of nail, - - - 6 



Geographical Distribution. I have received specimens of 

 this animal from nearly all the States of the Union, East of 

 the Mississippi. It abounds in South Carolina and Georgia, 

 and is common in the Middle States. I have obtained it in 

 Mississippi and Florida ; it exists also in Canada and the 

 New England States. In restoring to this species the specific 

 name of its first describer, I have adhered to a rule which it 

 is necessary to adopt in order to prevent the repetition of 

 synonyms. The name '' aquaticiis,^^ certainly does not 

 apply to the habits of the animal, but that of Canadensis j in 

 reference to its locality, is equally unfortunate, as it is far 

 more common in the Southern States than in Canada. I 

 have attached the name of the original describer of the spe- 

 cies, although it has been removed to another genus ; believ- 

 ing that the first describer is entitled to this credit, in prefer- 

 ence to him who has merely placed it under another genus. 

 Were this rule adhered to, in all cases, some check might be 

 put on the art of system-making, now carried to such an 



