318 Miscellaneous. 
wing-coverts and scapulars having the upper vanes deep black, mar- 
gined and lined with rufous, the lower vanes grayish freckled, and 
blotched with black, while the shafts are dull whitish. 
Tertiaries on their upper vanes with broad fulvous margins ; feet 
and legs pale; bill black; irides chocolate-brown. 
Length 8 inches, wing 5 inches, tail 2 inches, tarsus 1 ,3,ths, 
ridge of bill ,®,ths, from angle of mouth eths. 
This appears to be an undescribed species of that group of quails 
which so much resemble our common O. virginianus. 'The present 
however is readily distinguished from that species by its much longer 
bill and very short tail, as well as its general markings, particularly 
beneath ; the breast and sides being of a plain fawn-colour, or pale 
rufous. The only specimen from which I describe was brought from 
Jalapa, Mexico, by Mr. Pease. It does not appear to be quite adult, 
and the markings about the head and throat may be somewhat dif- 
ferent in the old bird; still however its characters are sufficiently 
marked. Judging from description, it must very nearly resemble 
the O. pectoralis of Gould; but besides the difference of markings, 
he makes no mention of that species having a crest. The length of 
the bird, as well as of the wing, is in this also just one inch greater, 
which would hardly be the case in a young bird.—Proceedings of 
the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. iv. p. 77. 
Descriptions of two new Californian Quadrupeds. 
By Wixiu1am Gamset, M.D. 
Dipodomys agilis. Colour above yellowish brown, mixed with 
dusky ; beneath pure white, extending half-way up the sides. Head 
elongated, tapering from the ears to a sharp point. Ears nearly 
round, sparsely hairy. Eyes large, dark brown. A large pouch on 
each side of the head, opening externally on the cheeks. Both hind- 
and fore-feet with four toes and the rudiment of a fifth. The hind- 
legs very long and strong. ‘Tail very long, slender, covered with 
hair, and ending in a pencillated tuft. 
Length 101 inches, including the tail, which is 6} inches. 
2 incisors. 
10 upper. pam, 
2 incisors. 
8 molars. 
In the upper jaw the incisors are divided by a longitudinal furrow. 
This beautiful Jerboa-like animal is an abundant inhabitant of the 
vineyards and cultivated fields of the Pueblo de los Angeles, Upper 
California. 
Like the other pouched animals, it forms extensive burrows, tra- 
versing the fields in different directions, and is only dislodged 
during the process of irrigation. They leap with surprising agility, 
sometimes the distance of ten feet or more at a spring, and are dif- 
ficult to capture. | 
Mus californicus. Dark gray, lighter about the head and shoul- 
ders, above tinged with light brown, on the sides almost fulvous, 
Dental system: 20 
10 lower. 
