32 On an American Wandering Mouse. 



and a very long tail. The general colour was that 

 of the House-Mouse. 



These animals had never been seen before, nor 

 have they (so far as I can learn) been seen, since the 

 period which I have mentioned. The species is, in 

 all probability, a new one, or unnoticed by the sys- 

 tematic naturalists. It appears to be somewhat simi- 

 lar to the Wandering Rat of Pennant (the Mus vagus 

 of Pallas), which " inhabits the whole Tartarian de- 

 sert (in Asia) ; and, at certain times, wanders about 

 in great flocks, and migrating from place to place 

 during night. Observed as high as lat. 57°, about 

 the Irtish, and between the Oby and Jenesei, in birch 

 woods." " Is called by the Tartars, Dshickis-sitskan, 

 or gregarious mouse*.'''' 



Several other species of Asiatic murine animals 

 are observed to migrate, in great troops. Such are 

 the Mus agrarius, Mus oeconomus, Mus Lemmus, 

 Mus Lagurus, Mus socialis, &.c. 



A further account of the American animal will be 

 very acceptable to 



The Editor. 



• History of Quadrupeds. Vol. ii. p. 188. 



