712 RODENTIA 



Holland. — Lisse, near Leiden, 4 (Leiden ; cotj'pes of arcnicola de 

 S61ys-Longchamps) ; Texel Island, 1. 



Sub-Genus CHIONOMYS Miller. 



1857. Paludicola Blasius, Saugethiere Deutschlands, p. 334 (part). Not of 



Wagler, 1830. 

 1867. Praticola Fatio, Las Campagnols du Bassin du L6man, p. 34 (part). 



Not of Swainson, 1837. 

 1896. Microtus MiUer, North American Fauna, No. 12, p. 62, July 23, 1896 



(part). 

 1908. CJiionomys Miller, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., Sth ser., i, p. 97, 



January, 1908. 



Type species. — Arvicola niralis IMartins. 



GeogyapMcal distrihution. — Mediterranean region from the 

 Pyrenees to the Caucasus and Asia Minor, mostly in or near 

 mountains. 



Characters. — In general like the sub-genus Microtus, but third 

 upper molar with only two re-entrant angles on each side, as in 

 Arvicola and some forms of Pitijmijs ; skull with broad, rather 

 flat, smooth brain-case, and wide interorbital region, the temporal 

 ridges low and inconspicuous ; posterior termination of palate 

 essentially as in true Microtus, but with elements usually leas 

 well-defined. 



lie marks. — The sub genus Chiononujs is a very natural group, 

 whose characters, while for the most part agreeing with those 

 of true Microtus, show a distinct tendency toward Arvicola and 

 Pitymys. Seven forms are now known, all but two of which 

 occur in Europe. One of these inhabits the lowdands of southern 

 France, but all of the others are characteristic mountain animals. 

 The general appearance of the members of this group is highly 

 characteristic as compared with that of the other European 

 species of Microtus. They are medium-sized, rather long-tailed 

 voles with a peculiar slaty greyish general colour, and full, soft 

 fur, the tail often mostly or entirely whitish. 



