BLUE RAT. 71 



The other species is called by Seba, Mus JMe.ii- 

 canus maculatus, and appears by its figure, pi. 45, 

 fig. 5, of that author, to be about the size of a 

 common mouse, and of the same general propor- 

 tions ; and is of a white colour, with a broad fer- 

 ruginous band in front, passing beyond the eyes 

 on each side ; and on each side the body is also 

 a large oblong patch of a similar colour : the tail 

 seems naked. This Mr. Pennant calls the J/e.n- 

 can JMouxe. 



There is still another white species figured by 

 Seba, and termed Gils $eu J///.y Avellanarum Ameri- 

 canus albus. It appears to be about the size of a 

 very small rat, and has the habit of a Sorex or 

 Shrew, the snout being very long and sharp, with 

 numerous strong vibrissie ; the tail very slightly 

 haired. It is figured on pi. 31 of Seba. 



With hairy Tails, in general cither of middling 

 length, or short. 



BLUE RAT. 



Mus Cyanus. 3/. cauda mediocri subpilosa, palmis tetradactyStj 

 plantis pentadactylis, corpore cceruleo, subtus albido. Lin. Syst. 

 Xat. GmcL p. 132. 3/o/wa Chil. p. 266. 



Blue Ratj whitish beneath, with tetradactylous fore-feet, penta- 

 dactylous hind-feet, and slightly hairy tail of middling length. 



Sky-coloured Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 183. 



THIS is a species described by Molina in his 

 History of Chili, of which country it is a native, 

 and is about the size of the wood rat (M. Sykati- 



