52 WHAT'S IN A NAME 1 



ceived a little animal passing swiftly by us, and stealthily glid- 

 ing into its burrow. We remarked that it was also found in 

 the auberge, or inn, and that it fed upon Alpine plants. At 

 the first glance, its resemblance to the common mouse led 

 us to think that this inconvenient guest had followed man 

 into his abode on the Faulhorn, as it had formerly crossed the 

 seas on board ship. But a more attentive examination showed 

 me that, far from being a mouse, it was a species of vole, 

 which had hitherto escaped the researches of naturalists. I 

 designated it by the name of the snow-vole, Arvicola nivalis" 



It was the same animal which M. Hugi had discovered 

 nine years before. The ice was broken, and names, both 

 generic and specific, afterwards fell like hail on the body of 

 our poor little rodent Some would have had it called 



Hypudseus alpinus. Hypudseus nivicola. 



Hypudseus petrophilus. Hypudseus Hugei. 



Others, and fewer in number, preferred the designation of 

 " White-tailed Vole," 



Arvicola leucurus. 

 Others again, " the Lebrun vole," 



Arvicola Lebrunii. 



Which of all these names shall prevail? We cannot say, 

 and it matters very little to us. Perhaps the nomenclators 

 may in time agree among themselves upon the appellation of 

 the genus. However this may be, we know and it is an im- 

 portant fact that a mammal exists at altitudes where men 

 could not live, and that he is found in the Alps, above even 



