88 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



with our species, except in the very variable and ill-defined character of pencils of hairs on 

 the tail. Richardson appears to doubt whether Pennant was not mistaken in the length of 

 the tail. He quotes Buffon with a doubt, but he also refers to a specimen in the Leverian 

 Museum, from which he probably drew his description. It is very closely allied to the pen- 

 sylvanicus of Ord, as described by Richardson. 



The popular name of Beaver Rat or Beaver Mouse, is derived from the abundance and 

 fineness of its fur. I am unacquainted with its habits, except that it appears to be nocturnal, 

 and quite gentle. It feeds on various grains and shrubs. It is occasionally eaten, and is said 

 to be delicate food. It occurs in various parts of the State, and I have received specimens 

 also from Connecticut. 



THE ONEIDA MEADOW-MOUSE. 



ArVICOLA ONEIDA. 



PLATE XXV. FIG. 1.— (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Characteristics. Amber brown above, dark cinereous grey beneath. A triangular thumb 

 claw. Hind feet very long. Length 3-4 inches. 



Description. Body moderately robust, and covered with a fine soft fur about 0*2 in length. 

 Ears placed very far back, membranous, and nearly hidden in the fur. Eyes moderate and 

 black. Muzzle pointed, bifid, truncated, and covered with short rigid hairs. Nostrils lateral. 

 Whiskers slender, black, not as long as the head ; numerous black setae over the eyes. Upper 

 lip fringed with short, recurved, rigid hairs. Feet very small and slender, not formed for 

 digging, covered with short adpressed hairs ; the nails covered with long hairs. Fore feet 

 with four slender, separated toes, furnished with short nails, broad at the base, very acute, 

 compressed and channelled beneath ; thumb small, and furnished with a short triangular nail. 

 Hind feet nearly twice the length of the fore feet, the fur concealing more than two-thirds of 

 the tibia ; five-toed, the toes somewhat longer, and the nails slightly stouter, but broadly chan- 

 nelled beneath, and not so much incurved as those on the fore feet ; inner toe shortest, the 

 three next subequal, the outer longer than the inner toe. Tail slender, subequal throughout, 

 sparsely covered with rigid adpressed hairs ; the articulations not concealed, and slightly pen- 

 cilled at the tip. Upper incisors very short. 



Color. Above brovra or dark mouse-color, with a slight intermixture of tawny. At the base 

 the fur is dark slate, and on the upper part of the head and body, and on the sides, with tawny 

 tips ; mixed with these are longer and uniformly black hairs. Incisors yellow. Muzzle and 

 chin ashen gray. Beneath, the fur is light slate at the base, grey at the tips, from whence 

 results a general light blue grey beneath. Feet with short, stiff, uniform brownish black 

 hairs. Nails light horn marked with brown. 



Total length, 4- 5. Length of fore legs, 0-4. 



Length of tail, 1-3. Ditto of hind legs, 0-7. 



Ditto of head and body, . . 3*2. 



