226 



MONOGRAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. 



Tablb liVll.—ifeamremeitla of tixly-eight apedment 0/ AnvicoLA (Pitymvs) pinetorum — Coutinned. 



iJ I 



i * 



ARVICOLA (PITYMYS) QUASIATER, Coues. 



..^rt'ioola (Pt(i/in^<) pinetorum var. guatiafer, C0UE8, Ptoc. Aond. Nnt. 8ci. Pliiln. Ii374, 191, 



Chars. — Arvicola imaginem A. pinetorum reddens, vellere curto, denxo, 

 sericeo, e fusco nigricante, auriculis modicis, sparse pilosis, rotundatis, vellere 

 longiusculis, antitrago exiguo; manu dimidium pedis, caudd brevissimd vix 

 pedibus longiore. Long, trunci 4.33, caudce 0.70, manus 0.33, pedis 0.66. 



Habitat. — Mexico. Xalapa {De Oca). Tuxparigo {Sumichrast). 



In general form and appearance, this animal somewhat recalls A. pineto- 

 rum, particularly the larger darker styles of the latter, formerly called 

 "scalopsoides", and we judge that it will he found to fall under Pitymys, from 

 the circumstance of its sharing many peculiarities of external form ; but this 

 we cannot affirm without an examination of the skull and teeth, which we are 

 unable to make without an unjustifiable mutilation of the two beautifully pre- 

 pared skins before us. But although it is thus, by its mole-like aspect, allied 

 to pinetorum, it is not sufficiently similar to that species to be confounded 

 with it ; and it does not bear the slightest resemblance to any other North 

 American species we know of At first glance, the animal looks quite black ; 

 but on closer view this color is seen to be lightened by an auburn shade, 

 owing to a uniform and intimate mixture of dusky-chestnut hairs with the 

 black ones. There are no markings anywhere; the general color changes 

 insensibly on the sides into blackish-ash on the under parts, lightly silvered 

 over with hoary. The tail is like the back above, and indistinctly paler under- 

 neath. The fur is very short, fine, and close, and of so rich a silky lustre 

 that, in some lights, it gives an appreciable purplish coppery iridescence. 

 The body is very stout and compact, and all the members are small. The 

 tail is much shorter than the head, and baiely longer than the hind foot. The 



