On European Dormice. 423 



of the animal presents to the eye a mixture of silver-grey and 

 black, in which the former colour predominates, whereas in 

 Lepus kabylicus the mixture is one of cinnamon and black, 

 the black predominating. 



The type was presented by Dr. Drewitt to the Cambridge 

 Museum, the authorities of which have been gaol enough to 

 cede it in exchange to the British Museum, where it is 

 now no. 98. 10. 14. 1. 



LI 1 1. — Note on the European Dormice of the Genera Mus- 

 cardinus and Glis. By G. E. H. BARRETT- HAMILTON. 



The British Museum of Natural History has recently received 

 a small collection of North-Italian mammals, purchased from 

 Cav. Sigismundo Brogi, of Siena, and presented to the 

 Museum by Dr. Edward Hamilton. 



The dormice of the genera Glis and Muscardinus included 

 in this collection are of very great interest and represent two 

 very distinct and hitherto unnoticed species, for permission to 

 describe which I am indebted to the kindness of the Museum 

 authorities. 



The following is a description of the two new species. 

 The first, a Muscardinus, is a most beautifully coloured little 

 animal. I propose to call it 



Muscardinus pulcher, sp. n. 



The general coloration is rich chestnut, but the species is 

 larger and finer than the average M. avellanarius of France 

 or England, all the colours being far more vivid than in the 

 latter species, and the tail more bushy. The colour of 

 the upper surface of the body and of the anal region is rich 

 chestnut, the colour being deepest and richest on the back and 

 tail and paler on the flanks. The underside is white, stained 

 with cream-colour, purer on the breast and upper neck, and 

 there is a sharp line of demarcation between the colours of 

 the upper and under sides. This line of demarcation passes 

 along the cheeks just above the upper lip to just below each 

 eye, where the cream-colour is interrupted on each side by a 

 weak band of chestnut passing from under each eye to the 

 inner surface of the fore legs, and cutting off a patch of the 

 cream-colour just in front of each ear. Oil the remainder of 



