RODENTIA MURINAE NEOTOMA M1CROPUS. 



493 



thin ; the antitragus low ; the two surfaces with scattered rather short hairs, except inside near 

 the meatus, where it is naked. The fur is moderately soft, about like that of N. floridana. 

 The tail is quite short, not as long as the body, exclusive of the head; it is clothed with short 

 stiff appressed hairs, which obscure without concealing the scaly annuli ; they are rather more 

 sparse than in N. floridana. The feet are small ; the first finger very rudimentary, with a 

 closely applied nail ; the third and fourth about equal and longest ; the second but little 

 shorter ; the fifth claw not reaching to the base of the fourth. The claws are all short, high, 

 and much curved ; the palms are naked. On the hind foot the central three toes are longest ; 

 first claw falling a little short of the base of the second ; the fifth reaching to about the base of 

 the fourth ; all the claws are stout and much curved, larger than those on the fore feet. The 

 soles are naked, with only a few scattered short hairs, more numerous apparently than in N. 

 floridana, especially towards the heel. 



The upper parts are of a grayish lead color, finely lined with dark brown ; the sides of the 

 body and limbs similar, but paler. There is an occasional tinge of faint yellowish brown, 

 especially along the shoulders and flanks. Beneath, with the feet, white. Above, the hairs are 

 dark plumbeous at base, assuming a still darker tinge towards the tip, which is either bluish 

 gray, as described, or dark brown, nearly black. On the sides the tips become lighter. Beneath, 

 the hairs are plumbeous at base on the middle of the belly, anteriorly they are uniform white. 

 The tail is dusky above, grayish white beneath. 



Measurements. 



Skins much distorted. 



As already stated, this species bears a close resemblance to N. floridana, from which, however, 

 it exhibits considerable differences both in the skin and skull. Comparing specimens of as 

 nearly similar character as possible, the present species is found to have a shorter tail, rather less 

 hairy ; rather larger ears, and decidedly smaller feet and hands. In N. jloridana, the third and 

 fourth fingers are longest, and project considerably beyond the second and fifth, the claws of which 



