MUUID.E. 



with M. burtarita. The tame loologist allude* to the Georgia Hamster 

 at belonging to the tame genus, without giving any further account 

 of iu characters than merely quoting Dr. Harton's remark of iu being 

 unly half the size of the Missouri one. His account of the dentition 

 of the Missouri Oauffre, observes Sir John Kichanlson in conclusion, 

 correspond*, aa far a* it goes, pretty closely with that of the Columbia 

 Otomyi Dr. Harlan and Dr. Godinan refer the Georgia, Canada, and 

 Missouri animals to one species. (' Fauna Boreali-Auu-ricana.') 



The following is the dental formula of Geomyt given by Sir John 

 Richardson : 



Incisors, _; Canines, -- ; Grinders, - - _ 



0-0' 



44 



20, 



and below is given the skull and teeth of the genus from the same 

 authority. 



claws of the fore feet very large and formed for burrowing." (Nut 

 burtarlut, 'Linn. Trans.,' vol. v. p. - JJ7. pi. 8.) 



" This, which is a species but laU-ly discovered, seems to be the 

 most remarkable of all the pouched rats for the proportional size of 

 the receptacles. It is a native of Canada, and the individual here 

 | figured was taken by some Indians in the year 1798, and afterwards 

 | presented to the lady of Governor Prescot. It is about the size of a 

 | brown or Norway rat, and is of a pale grayish-brown colour, rather 

 lighter beneath : the length to the tail is about nine inches, and that 

 of the tail, which is but slightly covered with hairs, about two inches: 

 the legs are short ; the fore feet strong, and well adapted for burrowing 

 in the ground, having five claws, of which the three middle ones are very 

 large and long ; the interior much smaller, and the exterior very small, 

 with a large tubercle or elbow beneath it. The claws on the hind feet 

 are comparatively very small, but the two middle are larger than the real , 

 and the interior one ia scarcely visible ; the teeth are extremely strong, 

 particularly the lower pair, which are much longer than theiij<<> r: 

 the ears are very small This species is described in the 5th vol. of 

 the ' Trans, of Linn. Soc,,' but I must observe, that, by some over- 

 sight in the conduct of the figure there given, the claws on the fore 

 feet are represented as only three in number, and are somewhat too 

 long, weak, and curved ; the engraving in the present plate is a more 

 faithful representation, and is accompanied by an outline of the head, 

 in its natural size, as viewed in front, in order to show the teeth and 

 cheek-pouches. The manors of this species are at present unknown, 

 but it may be concluded that it lays in a stock of provisions, < itlicr 

 for autumnal or winter food. The pouches of the individual specimen 

 above described, when first brought to Governor Prescot, were filled 

 with a kind of earthy substance ; it is therefore not improbable that 

 the Indians who caught the animal might have stuffed them thus, iu 

 order to preserve them in their utmost extent." 



Skull and Teeth of Geomyt. Kichardnon. 



1, 2, 3, nknll, natural aicc ; 4, lower jaw, natural size; 5, palate and upper 

 teeth, magnified ; 6, firt upper grinder, magnified. 



The dental formula of M. F. Cuvier's genus Saccon,y is : 



Incisors, f ; Molars, 1 - = 20 ; 

 -* 4^~*4 



and the following cut is token from bU figure of the deutitioa. 



At 



Twin of Samm]/t, enlarged. P. Curler. 



The following is Dr. Shaw's description of Mtu buriarivi .- "Ash- 

 coloured rat, with rtiort nearly naked tail, pouched cheeks, and the 



J/fU buriariia. 



In Sir John Richardson's dtomyt Douglarii the length of the head 

 and body was 6 inches 6 lines; and that of the tail (vertebnc) 2 inches 

 10 lines. Cheek-pouches large, much resembling the thumb of a lady's 

 glove in form and size, and banging down by the sides of the head. 

 The specimen was a female, and was taken in her nest with three 

 young ones, near the mouth of the Columbia, by Mr. Douglas. \Vh, u 

 it came into the hands of Sir John Richardson the fur had mostly 

 fallen off, but the specimen was in other respects perfect, and what 

 was wanting to the description was supplied from Douglas's notes. 

 The state of ossification of tlio skull showed th<' animal to bo an old 

 one. Douglas informed Sir John Richardson that the outside of the 

 pouches was cold to the touch, even when the animal was olive, and 

 that on the inside they were lined with small orbicular iml 

 glands, more numerous near the opening into the mouth. Wl, 

 the pouches hod an oblong form, and when empty they were corru- 

 gated or retracted to one-third of their length ; but, it is added, they 

 are never inverted so as to produce the hood-like form of the pouch 

 of a Diplatloma. When iu the act of emptying its pouches the animal 

 sits on its hams like a marmot or squirrel, and squeezes bis sacks 

 against the breast with his chin and fore paws. (' Fauna Boreali- 

 Americana.') 



Sir John ltichardnon xtates that these little sand-rats are numerous 

 in the neighbourhood of Fort Vancouver, whore they inhabit the 

 declivities of low hills, and burrow in the sandy soil. They feed on 



