MYOXUS. 295 



markings, and a tuft at the end of its tail : size about 

 that of a rat. I have seen them close to the village 

 of St. Martin Vesubia, and they have been brought 

 to me shot ; but I have not succeeded in obtaining 

 one alive, though I have offered a good price. 



In the work by Ve"rany, on the Zoology of the 

 department, Myoxus Nitela is not included, though 

 the two other species are given. I have therefore 

 reason to believe that the presence of this little rodent 

 has not before been noticed in this district. 



The third species, Myoxus Gils (Fig. 1 02), abounds 

 in the chestnut trees of the Vesubia valley. Some 

 specimens, which were sent to the Regent's Park 

 Zoological Garden, were labelled " Myoxus Dryas," if 

 I remember rightly. 



The body of this little animal is about six inches 

 long ; the tail also measures six inches, and is furry 

 from base to tip, so that it is able to cover itself up 

 when it goes to sleep. The fur on the underside of 

 the body and legs is white. The animal is nocturnal : 

 towards evening you sue them appearing on the chest- 

 nut trees or under the eaves of barns. A friend asked 

 me where to look for them. I advised him to search 

 in his attic, and there he found a nest full of young 

 ones : these are now in the Zoo. 



Farther down the Vesubia valley there are larger 

 Loirs, with a tinge of red in the fur. Possibly this 

 may be the true Myoxus Glis. In this case our 

 smaller, darker ones must be either a variety or a 

 fourth species. 



If you try to catch a Myoxus, or introduce your 

 hand into the hole where he lives, he bites fiercely, 

 and the bite is very painful. But if taken young, they 



