2 



surface, scarcely bcconiing lightev on the throut and lovrer javr. 

 The rnargin of the upper lip, the cheeks, and a patch under each 

 ear, are of the sarae colour with the under surface. Of the viou- 

 staches, which are short, some of the hairs are yeliowi»h, while the 

 greater numbėr are blueish black. The legs are of the colour of 

 the upper surface of the body, which beconies deeper on the feet. 

 The vvhole of the silky hairs exhibit that varying somewhat nietallic 

 gloss which is coramon to most aquatic Mammalia. 



The naked muzzle is of moderato size. The claws are short, 

 those of the hinder toes being somewhat flattened, vvhile the ante- 

 rlor claws are corapressed but not acute. " The eyes," Mr. Cu- 

 niing States, "are smaila their colour dark-blue." 



" The totai length is 2 feet 4 inches ; from the nose to the root 

 of the tail, 1 foot 7 inches; girth at the belly, 9į inches." 



Its habits, according to Mr. Cuming's observations, agree with 

 those of the European Otter ; and it is equally capable of domesti- 

 cation. 



Mus LONGiCAUDATUS. Mus cūucla longissimu : siipra pallide 

 Jiilvus nigrescente varius ; hifrh et ad pedes albescens. 



Hab. in arbores Chiliae, nidum e foliis graminura construens. 



The most striking peculiarity of this Mouse is the extreme length 

 of its tail, which approaches nearly to double that of the body ; 

 the length of the head and body, taken in a straight line, being 3 

 inches, \vhile that of the tail is 3į. 



The fur is soft, smooth, and well furnished. The hairs are deep 

 ashy grey at their base : those of the upper surface are fawn-co- 

 loured or pale rufous towards their points, the e.vtreme tip being 

 freąuently black ; those of the under surface are tipped with white 

 slightly tinged with fawn. 



The face is covered with short hairs of mingled fawn and black : 

 the lips are nearly vvhite ; the moustaches extremely long, black at 

 their base and silvery at the tip. The ears are rounded and of 

 moderate size : their lobe is well covered on the inside with short 

 hairs of the colour of those of the face, and on the outside is spa- 

 ringly furnished with very short whitish hairs which are scarcely 

 discernible on the blackish skin. The colour of the back is mixed 

 favvn and black; the black disappears on the sides, which are almost 

 pūrely fawn-coloured, as are also the front of the fore-legs and the 

 outside of the hinder legs. The tail is scaly, and furnished with 

 numerous very short bristly hairs, which are brownish above and 

 nearly \vhite beneath. The hairs of the upper surface of the tarsi 

 are short, and of a very pale favvn approaching to white ; those of 

 the toes still more white ; and the lengthened bristlts covering the 

 clavvs almost silvery. 



The length of the head is 1 inch and 2 lines ; of the ears, 5 lines; 

 breadth of the ears, 5 lines ; length of the anterior limbs, 9 lines ; 

 of the posterior limbs, 1 inch and 6 lines ; of the anienor tarstis and 

 toes, 5 lines ; of the posterior farsus and toes, 1 inch and 2 lines ; 

 and of the moustaches, 1 inch and 6 lines. 



