m\\\ 



MUBID^— SIGMODONTES— nESPEROMYS PALD8TKIS. 



117 



Journal (vol. xxxi), bestowing on it the name of il/«s palustrit, making use 

 of the head of our specimen for an examination of the teeth." 



Thus it appears that Harhm's species was based, in part at least, upon 

 the very same specimen tliut atlerward became the type of Arvkola oryzi- 

 vora, Aud. & Bach. The latter authors, naturally disliking Harlan's pre- 

 emption of their species, re-appropriated it to themselves in this wise : — They 

 took it for an Arvicolu, and reasoned thot "as the name 'Aivicola pnlunfris' 

 is preoccupied (Harlan,* Fauna, p. 13G) we are favored with an opportunity 

 • * of restoring it to its true genus under the name [ori/zivora] given by 

 its legitimate describer." How such excellent naturalists as Audul)on and 

 Uachman could have been betrayed into such a blunder as to consider Onjzo- 

 mys on Arvkola, we cannot imagine ; but they were just as wide of the mark 

 when they placed Hesperomys sonoriensis, LeC, and "campestris", LeC, and 

 "texana", Woodh., all under Arvkola; and when they described the Texan 

 Sigmodon as Arvkola texiana. To be sure, it was vexatious that Harlan 

 should have anticipated them in such a summary way; but for this oflen- 

 recurring accident there is no help that we can see ; ond, at any rate, the 

 genus Arvkola proved an inconveniently small loop-hole in this case. 



Tablb TiWI.—ileMuremnU of ItreKlg apednuiu of Hesperomys palcstris. 



■■';; '^v, 



* lUa Dumber U conipleiiieiited by auckllng young from Not. 9998 to 10018, IncluaiTe, 

 * HiirUii's Anlcola palmlrii i§ = A. riparint, Ord. 



