38 



P. fuscescenti-cinereus, subtus dilutior : pileo et yutture fitives- 

 centibus: campteriis clare castaneis : alis caudaąue intus nigri- 

 canti-brunneis : rostro et pedibus nigris : tectricibus subalaribus 

 albis. 



Long. totą 4-2, alse 2-1, caudse 1*9. 



Hab. Texas (Laivrence). 



Note. — Since writing the above, I have been enabled through Mr. 

 Gould's kindness to coinpare Psultria flaviceps witb the type of the 

 genus, Psaltria exilis, from Java. It certainly offers a inorc pointed 

 beak and wing not so rounded as the latter bird, and raay be cou- 

 sidered as rather aberrant in form. Any naturahst, therefore, who 

 is unwiinng to class it with true Psaltria may use for it the generic 

 term Psaltriimrus, that name having been bestowed b)' Prince Bona- 

 parte (Conipt. Rend. Ac. Sc. Par. xxxi. p. 478) on Psaltria mela- 

 notis (Sandbach), with which species this bird agrees in every 

 respect. 



2. On a peculiar Variety of Mus Musctuhjs. 

 By John S. Gaskoin, F. L. S. 



(Mammalia, PI. XLI.) 



Mus MuscuLUS. Var. Mus nudo-plicatns. 



I have thus designated this strange and novel form of the genus 

 Mus, to give the more importance to the singularity. 



In the spring of 1854 a labourer in the employ of Mr. \Vebster, a 

 tenant on the Taplow-court estate, observed several little white crea- 

 tures running about a stravv-rick in the wood at the back of the lodge 

 near Taplow paper-mills, Maidenhead Bridge, and succeeded in 

 securing two of them ; — the following day, on moving some of the 

 straw in search of more, he disturbed two others, which he also cap- 

 tured; and disposed of the four to Boud, the Maidenhead Bridge boat- 

 mau, for five shilliugs. Two died during the first night, probably from 

 the rough usage they received when taken ; there reniained, to use 

 Bond's expressiou, but " the old buck and a doe big with kit." In 

 seven days she brought forth five young ones ; and the next day 

 removed from the uest two that were dead ; the remainder were 

 reared. One of the existing five was aftervvards lošt or killed. 

 These little aiiimals were readily recognized as a form of uiouse, but 

 of so extraordinary a conformation in their external structure as to 

 attract the curiosity of the immediate neighbourhood, and obtained 

 the not inappropriate name of the rhinoceros mice. The surmise 

 of the people on the spot is, that they had escaped from one of the 

 numerous barges which are constantly arriviug at the paper-mills 

 laden with rags, &c., principally of foreign importation. Bond 

 having possessed them four months, offered them for sale to the Zoo- 

 logical Society of Loudon, and the purchase beiug declined, I bought 

 them, lest so singular a form in natūrai history should be lošt to 

 science and pass into oblivion ; and it is to prevcnt this, that I now 



