MURIDA.—ARVICOLIN AS—CUNICULUS TORQUATUS. 247 
gatus, plerumque striga nigra spinal, et interdum torque nuchali pallida; subtus 
ex albido ferrugineus; hyemali ex toto niveus. Long. tot. 4-6 poll., capitis 14, 
caude nude 4, caude comate 1, mantis cum ungue longissimo 3, unguis longis- 
simi hyemalis 4, pedis %. 
Has.—Arctic America, Greenland, and corresponding latitudes in the 
Old World. 
With the form, &c., typical of the genus as above fully described. 
Summer.—TVaking an average specimen, the upper parts present an inti- 
mate dapple of chestnut or rusty-red, black, gray, and luteous, producing a 
variegation known as “watered”. On the fore back and shoulders, the rufous 
color prevails; on the lower back, rump, and haunches, the black and gray 
grizzle predominates. In general, there is a pretty distinct black line along 
the middle of the back from the muzzle to the tail; but this, though usually 
recognizable even when not sharp, is often dissipated in the general variega- 
tion of the upper parts. Very often, there is a recognizable grayish-white or 
luteous-white collar across the nape, rendered a little more evident by being 
bordered both before and behind by rufous more intense than elsewhere. But 
this collar is frequently obscure or altogether indistinguishable. When thus 
not recognizable, an incomplete rufous band is still frequently present, arising 
from the imperfect confluence across the occiput of two rufous spots that 
mark the situation of the ears. Underneath, the ground-color is grayish-plum- 
beous, as usual; next to this comes a grayish-white, and over this is washed 
a strong shade of rusty or rufous. The chin and throat are the grayest or 
palest; next usually comes the lower belly, where the rusty wash is uniformly 
laid on; then the breast and epigastrium are more heavily rusty or rufous. 
The feet and tail appear to be uniformly white or whitish at all seasons. 
Even in summer, all the feet are always densely clothed, the entire palms and 
soles being furry like a rabbit’s, and on top the long hairs reaching beyond 
(sometimes half an inch beyond) the ends of the claws. 
Independently of the regular seasonal changes, the particular hue of the 
upper parts varies in a way that defies description. Taking, however, two 
extremes, of rich dark coloring and pale blended shades, we find that in the 
former case the upper parts are dappled with uniform deep mahogany color 
and glossy black, these then speckled all over with nearly pure white, the 
spinal stripe intense black; and the under parts are correspondingly sharp. In 
the other extreme, there is no such sharp hue, the animal above being a nearly 
