On the Harvest-Mice of the Palcearctic Region. 3il 



Strongylura cyUndrica, G. 0. Sars (101, 105). — Norway. 



Anarthura sitnpJex, G. 0. Sars (]01, 105). — Norway, West France 

 {A. DoUfus, 26). 



Mesotanais dubius, A. Dollfns (25). — Azores. 



Neotanais Edwardsi, A. Dollfus (27). — Bay of Biscay. 



Tanaella laigmcillata, Nor. & Stebb. (8G).— Lat. 49° 7' N., long. 

 10° 57' W., which is a little south of the British Area as 

 defined by me. 



XLVII. — Xote on the Harvest-Mice of the Palcearctic Region. 

 By G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton. 



Very little is known of the variations in colour, size, or 

 proportions of the harvest-mice of different parts of the 

 Palgearctic Region. It could, however, hardly be doubted 

 that some such variations exist in an animal which is distri- 

 buted over so "wide an extent of country, occurring as it 

 does from Great Britain to the coast of China. Accordingly 

 we find that specimens in the British Museum collection from 

 North-western Fokien, Western Hungary, and England are 

 readily distinguishable from each other, and it is plain that 

 each of these series represents a distinct local race or sub- 

 species. 



As regards nomenclature, the harvest-mouse was first 

 described by Pallas, who, in 1779, gave to it the name of 

 Mus vn'mitusj but did not localize his type. As, however, he 

 alludes to Siberian specimens as differing from those of 

 which he writes under the heading of M. minutus, it seems 

 clear that this name must be used for the harvest-mice of 

 Continental Europe, and that all other names given to 

 European harvest-mice (except, as shown below, that of 

 M. messorius for the harvest-mouse of Great Britain) must 

 rank as synonyms of it until it can be shown that more than 

 one form of haivest-mouse exists in Continental Europe. 



The name messorius of Kerr must stand for the British 

 form, while M. pygmceus of Milne-Edwards, from Eastern 

 Asia, is another subspecies. Lastly, I propose the name of 

 nssuricus for the Northern Siberian form, of which the 

 British Museum possesses a specimen from Ussuri in the 

 Coast Province of Eastern Siberia (no. 91. 6. 29. 1). 



The following are the forms which may at present be 

 distinguished. Tliey may be conveniently regarded as sub- 

 species of Mus minutus. 



