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U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



at the same time by him are palpably wilful fabrications, either of his own or of some one 

 imposing upon his credulity, the Musculus leucopus is sufficiently applicable to be retained. 



Judging from the color and the extreme shortness of tail, I am inclined to believe that Rich 

 ardson's species is the Hesperomys sonoriensis, var. nebrascensis . 



The Mus noveboracensis of Selys is an excellent description of the present species. 



The Hesperomys maniculalus of Wagner is based on specimens from Labrador, which appear 

 to be the same as those from Halifax. Should these not be the same with //. leucopus, from 

 Middleboro' and elsewhere, then the name will be retained ; otherwise it must be reduced to a 

 synonym. His comparisons were made chiefly with Richardson's description of what I consider 

 to be a different species ; and besides this, one strong point of distinction was supposed to be 

 the hairy heels of the new species, those of H. leucopus being erroneously supposed by him to 

 In- naked. 



The American wandering mouse of Barton refers probably either to this species or to the 

 H. myoides. The Mus leucopus of Thompson is a good description of H. myoides, his original 

 specimen and type being now No. 833 of the Smithsonian collection. 



List of specimens. 



1 These measure menu, as of all in the column, 895-827, were taken before skinning. The same specimen after being skinned measured to root of 

 tail 4. 30; tail, 3.00; hind foot, .84. 



