90 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 
THE YELLOW-CHEEKED MEADOW-MOUSE. 
ARVICOLA XANTHOGNATHUS. 
PLATE XXIII. FIG. 2.—(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Arvicola xanthognathus. Lxracu, Zool. Miscell. Vol. 1, p. 60, pl. 26. 
Campagnol aux joues fauves. DEsM. Mammalogie, p. 282. 
The Meadow-mouse. Gopman, Am. Nat. Hist. Vol. 2, p. 65. 
Yellow-cheeked Meadow-mouse. Ricu. F. B. A. Vol. 1, p. 122. 
Characteristics. Reddish brown above, greyish beneath; cheeks fulvous. Tail not as long 
as the head. .Length 8 to 10 inches. 
Description. Body robust, cylindrical. Ears half an inch high in the largest individuals, 
rounded, sparsely hairy within, well furred externally... Whiskers numerous, longer than the 
head. -Muzzle somewhat blunt. Fore legs covered with. short adpressed hairs, a few extend- 
ing beyond the nails; four toes, and a vestige of thumb with a nail; the other nails are 
slightly curved and feeble. Hind feet fiye-toed, the three middle subequal. Tail slender, 
slightly less at the tip, covered with numerous adpressed hairs, concealing the scales, and forming 
a point 0+2 beyond the tip. Incisors above short, rounded in front. In the upper jaw the 
posterior molar largest ; below, the largest is the anterior molar. Fur long and soft. 
Color. Above, reddish brown, intermixed with uniformly black hairs ; beneath, bluish ash. 
Sides of the cheeks reddish, more-or less distinct. Upper part of the feet and tail dark 
reddish brown, ashen grey or whitish beneath. 
Length of head and body, SSE ear aee ae 7°0. 
Ditto of taila2 =. 2 Bad 2 a eee eee ee LOBE 
This Meadow-mouse is found in various parts of the State. It varies much in size; and 
Godman, who assigns five inches for its length, probably described from a young individual. 
It burrows in banks, and produces seven or eight at a litter. Its geographical range is exten- 
sive. It occurs in the Western States, and extends to the Arctic regions. 
(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 
A. pensylvanicus, Ord. (Ricwarpson, p. 124. -Witson, Om. Vol. 6, pl. 50.) Brown above, beneath 
nearly white; snout obtuse. A blunt hairy tail, half the length of the body. Length 4—5 inches. 
A. borealis, (RicuaArpson, Zool. Mag. 1828.) Above chesnut mixed with black, grey beneath; a 
strong thumb nail; ears concealed in the head. Tail as long as the head. Length 53 inches. 
Arctic Regions. ; 
A. noveboracensis. (Ricuarpson, p. 126.) Above dark brown, beneath dark grey; nose acute, slen- 
der; ears slightly beyond the fur. Tail scaly, sparsely hairy, more than half the length of the 
head. Length 6 inches. . Rocky Mountains. 
