Some Forms 0/ Mus mu.sculiis, Linn. 163 



animal would aid, in turn, not only in the extermination 

 of the former oppressor, but also the oppressed. Whether 

 the House Mouse is abundant in the Fseroes at the present 

 time I have been unable to ascertain. 



During their visit to the island of Naalsoe in August 

 1903, Messrs Annaudale and Marshall procured five examples 

 (three adults and two young) of a semi-feral mouse, which 

 they kindly placed in my hands for determination. These 

 belong to the Mus muscuhts group, and are remarkable 

 for their great size, indeed, they are veritable giants, 

 being considerably larger than the type, and, I believe, also 

 than of any of its numerous geographical races hitherto 

 described. In addition, they are much brighter in colour, 

 being more rufous on the dorsal surface, and strongly tinged 

 with buff on the ventral parts. Their hair, too, is finer and 

 more silky. The colour character approaches that of Mus 

 miiralis, but is less accentuated, and the Feeroese mouse may 

 be said to be intermediate between the St Kildean and the 

 ordinary forms. The most conspicuous character is certainly 

 that of size ; in regard to which it far exceeds even Mus 

 muralis, itself a form of unusual dimensions. Thus the 

 measurements of the head and body of the Faeroe mouse 

 exceeds that of St Kilda by 13-6 per cent.; the tail by 10 

 per cent.; and the hind foot by no less than 21 per cent. 

 This comparison is based upon the largest specimens (females) 

 from both localities. 



These characteristics, taken in conjunction with their 

 insular habitat, undoubtedly afford peculiarities sufficient to 

 warrant the creation of a new subspecies for these Naalsoe 

 mice, and I propose to bestow upon them the racial name of 

 Mus musculus fceroensis. ' 



Mus MUSCULUS F^ROENSIS, subsp. nOV. 



Distinguishing Characteristics. — Immense size, and in colour 

 intermediate between Mus muralis, Barrett-Hamilton, and 

 Mus musculus, Linn. Upper surface a mixture of rufous and 

 greyish black (the former predominating), the fur being 



