RODENTI A ARVICOLINAE ARVICOLA. 55 1 



I have had several skins of Arvicola exhibited to me as belonging to A. nasuta, principally 

 on account of the sharpness of the nose. This, however, has proved to result from a neglect to 

 replace the muscle of the head in stuffing ; in none has there been any approach to the short 

 ness of the hind feet described. In hundreds of specimens in alcohol, examined from Massachu 

 setts, Vermont, and New York, I have seen nothing of the kind. 



ARVICOLA OCHROGASTER, Wagner. North-America. 



JInicola ochrogaster, WAGNER, Suppl. Schreb. Ill, 1843, 592. 

 SCHINZ, Synopsis, 11,1845,247. 



This species, supposed to have come from America, is of a mixed yellowish brown and black ; beneath light ochry yellow, more 

 rusty towards the sides. The middle of the throat is whitish. Tail dark brown above, ochry yellow beneath, the two colors 

 sharply defined. Length of the larger of two specimens along the curve of the back, 4 50 inches ; in a straight line, 3.94 ; tail 

 vertebrae, 1.08 ; with the hairs, 1.25. 



I have never seen nor heard of any authentic American Arvicola of an ochry yellow beneath. 

 ARVICOLA ONEIDA, Dekay. New York. 



Jlrvicola oneida, DEKAY, N. Y. Zool. I, 1842, 88 ; pi. xxv, fig. 1. 



Ears nearly hidden in the fur. Above, brown or dark mouse color, with a slight mixture of tawny. (In the diagnosis, amber 

 brown should probably read umber brown.) Beneath, light blue gray. Feet brownish black. Length of head and body, 3.20 ; 

 tail, 1 25 ; fore legs, .40 ; hind legs, .70 (feet?). Fur about .20 long. 



This species, as described by Dekay, presents few appreciable characteristics to distinguish it 

 from young specimens belonging to the type of riparia. Audubon and Bachman are, I suspect, 

 in error in referring their A. fulvus to this animal, probably belonging to Hypudaeus gapperi. 



ARVICOLA RICHARDSONII, Dekay. Kocky Mountains of British America. 



Arvicola riparius, (On.D) RICH. F. B. A. I, 1829, 120. 

 Arvicola richardsonii, DEKAY, N. Y. Zool. I, 1842, 91. 



AUD. & BACH. N. Am. Quad. IH, 1853, 163 ; plate cxxxv. 



Ears somewhat concealed by the fur ; tail about the length of the head ; thumb armed with a nail ; hind claws longest ; 

 incisors very large. Fur on the back about .66 of an inch, not very fine. Color above, dull dusky dark brown ; the 

 shade nearly uniform. Beneath, blush gray ; margin of upper lip, chin, and feet, dull white. Tail, dark brown above 

 whitish beneath : these colors separated by an even line. Head and body, 7 inches ; tail, 2. 



This species appear to be well characterized and distinct from A. riparia. By a curious 

 coincidence the same name was given to it by Dekay and by Audubon & Bachman, the latter 

 authors not aware of what the former had done in the case. 



ARVICOLA RUBRICATUS, Kichardson. Behring's Straits. 



Arvicola rubricatus, RICHARDSON, Zool. of Blossom, 1839, 7. 

 WAGNER, Suppl. Schreb. Ill, 1843, 594. 

 AUD. & BACH. N. Am. Quad. HI. 1854, 297. 



Size, a little greater than the common mouse. Slate color on the back ; belly, ash-colored ; sides, nearly scarlet ; tail, 

 rather short. 



This species, were the colors of back and sides transposed, might be reasonably referred to 

 the Kamtschatkan Hypudaeus rutilus. The well defined areas of dorsal and lateral colors 

 distinguish it from Arvicola occidentalis of Peale, or A. rujidorsum of Baird. 



