

MURID^E 463 



externally ; the tail is moderate, and thickly haired ; and the 

 auditory bullae are very small. The first upper molar has three, 

 and the others two laminae. 



Subfamily Dendromyinse. Incisors convex in front ; molars , 

 rooted and tuberculated. Ears hairy ; claws long. Confined to 

 the Ethiopian region. 



Dendromys. 1 A small Rodent, with the habits of a Dormouse, 

 characterised by its grooved incisors, slender form, and long scaly 

 tail, which is sparsely haired. Two other Murines described as 

 Steatomys 2 and Lophuromys 3 are referred to this subfamily. The 

 first is of plump form, with a rather short and thickly haired 

 tail, and grooved incisors. The latter resembles Steatomys in form, 

 but has fine flattened bristles instead of fur, and plain incisors. 



Subfamily Crieetinse. Molars 3, tuberculate and rooted, with 

 the tubercles of the upper ones arranged in two longitudinal rows 

 (Fig. 206, B). This subfamily has an almost 

 cosmopolitan distribution, and appears to include 

 the most generalised members of the family, from 

 which the more specialised Murince have been 

 evolved. 



CricettU.* According to the arrangement pro- 

 posed by Mr. 0. Thomas 5 this genus is taken to 

 include both the Hamsters of the Old World 

 (Cricetus proper) and the white-footed or Vesper 

 Mice (Hesperomys) of the New. Cheek -pouches 

 are frequently present, and may be very large. FIG. 206. Left upper 

 The first molar (Fig. 206, .B) generally has six molars of J/IM (^) and 

 tubercles. The tail may be very short. 



This large and unwieldy genus may be divided into a number of 

 groups or subgenera. The typical group includes the Hamsters of 

 the Old World, characterised by the large size of their cheek-pouches, 

 the walls of which are connected with muscles arising from the 

 lumbar vertebrae. The tail is remarkable for its shortness. The 

 best-known species is C. frumentarius, inhabiting Europe and Northern 

 Asia. The American forms, which range over the whole of that 

 continent, comprise a number of subgenera, of which the following 

 are the most important. Rhipidomys, including Dormouse -like 

 forms with long tails and a dentition like that of the typical 

 group ; Oryzomys, represented by Murine species ; Calomys, with 

 short tail and Hamster-like body ; Vesperimus, with only five tuber- 

 cles on the first molar ; Onychomys, in which the tail is extremely 



1 Andrew Smith, S. African Qiiart. Journ. vol. ii. p. 158 (1834). 

 2 Peters, Reisc n. Mossambiquc, vol. i. p. 162 (1852). 



3 Peters, Monatsber. Ak. Berlin, 1874, p. 234. 



4 Cuvier, Regne Animal, vol. i. p. 198 (1817). 



5 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1888, p. 133. 



