318 Miscellaneous. 



wing-coverts and scapulars having the upper vanes deep black, mar- 

 gined and lined with rufous, the lower vanes grayish freckled, and 

 blotched with black, while the shafts are dull whitish. 



Tertiaries on their upper vanes with broad fulvous margins ; feet 

 and legs pale ; bill black ; irides chocolate-brown. 



Length 8 inches, wing 5 inches, tail 2 inches, tarsus 1 ^ths, 



74 

 ridge of bill y^o^ths, from angle of mouth ^ths. 



This appears to be an undescribed species of that group of quails 

 which so much resemble our common O. virginianus . The present 

 however is readily distinguished from that species by its much longer 

 biU and very short tail, as well as its general markings, particularly 

 beneath ; the breast and sides being of a plain fawn-colour, or pale 

 rufous. The only specimen from which I describe was brought from 

 Jalapa, Mexico, by Mr. Pease. It does not appear to be quite adult, 

 and the markings about the head and throat may be somewhat dif- 

 ferent in the old bird ; still however its characters are sufficiently 

 marked. Judging from descrijjtion, it must very nearly resemble 

 the O. pectoralis of Gould ; but besides the difference of markings, 

 he makes no mention of that species having a crest. The length of 

 the bird, as well as of the wing, is in this also just one inch gi-eater, 

 which would hardly be the case in a young bird. — Proceedings of 

 the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. iv. p. 77. 



Descriptions of two new Californian Quadrupeds. 

 By William Gambel, M.D. 



Dipodomys agilis. Colour above yellowish brown, mixed with 

 dusky ; beneath pure white, extending half-way up the sides. Head 

 elongated, tapering from the ears to a sharp point. Ears nearly 

 round, sparsely hairy. Eyes large, dark brown. A large pouch on 

 each side of the head, opening externally on the cheeks. Both hind- 

 and fore-feet with four toes and the rudiment of a fifth. The hind- 

 legs very long and strong. Tail very long, slender, covered with 

 hair, and ending in a pencillated tuft. 



Length IQi inches, including the tail, which is 6^ inches. 



{,^ f 2 incisors. 



PP^''- 'i 8 molars. 

 , ^ 1 f 2 incisors. 



10 lower. < o 1 

 \ 8 molars. 



In the upper jaw the incisors are divided by a longitudinal furrow. 



This beautiful Jerboa- like animal is an abundant inhabitant of the 

 vineyards and cultivated fields of the Pueblo de los Angeles, Upper 

 California. 



Like the other pouched animals, it forms extensive burrows, tra- 

 versing the fields in different directions, and is only dislodged 

 during the process of irrigation. They leap with surprising agility, 

 sometimes the distance of ten feet or more at a spring, and are dif- 

 ficult to capture. 



Mus californicus. Dark gray, lighter about the head and shoul- 

 ders, above tinged with light brown, on the sides almost fulvous. 



