86 OX THE GEM'S MUSCAEDIXUS. [TVb. 6, 



animals are duller they are also usually more deeply coloured, 

 and in this respect the Dormouse is melanochroic, and may, I 

 think, be regarded as no exception to the general rule. I suspect 

 that, when our knowledge of the distribution of colour amongst 

 animals is greater, we shall find that this subspecies is only 

 another instance of the influence of climate upon mammals, or, 

 if it is preferred to regard the matter from a different standpoint, 

 of the adaptation of animal coloration to suit prevailing climatic 

 conditions. 



The following forms are recognizable ; they may, I think, be 

 best regarded as subspecies : — 



(1) MlTSCABDINUS AVELLANARIUS TTPICUS (Lillllffilis), Svst. Nat. 



ed. x. p. 62 (1758). 

 Myoxus riinscardhms, Scbreber, Saiigthiere, iv. p. 835 (1792). 

 Typical locality. Upsala, Sweden. 



Distinguishing characteristics. Upperside tawny yellow, not 

 rufous or orange; the underside light buff, no distinct line of 

 demarcation between colours of upper and under surface : a 

 moderately distinct white breast. Tail long and slender. 



Dimensions of specimens (in millim.). 



Skull. 



Head jj. , Greatest Greatest 



and Tail. „ Ear. length, breadth 



body. at base of 



zygoma. 



94.6.6.12. cJ. Forest of Guines, Pas i 



de Calais, alt, 80 met, (Oldfield L 72 71 16-2 ... 22-5 13 



Thomas), 26th May, 1894 J 



94.6.6.13. $ (suckling). To. do., ) 



20th May, 1894; taken from nest I 77 74 164 ... 285 13 



with 5 blind and naked young... J 

 Three, Manonville. France (Mons. \ 



Lamont), taken from the nest, I ,.„ RQ ., . 



18th Oct.. 1895, of which the [ ' U ** JO JU 



dimensions of one are J 



cJ. Montauban, Haute Savoie, 900 



met. (A. Robert), 22nd Nov. 1899. 75 67 ... 11 23-5 12-5 



<3\ Lucinges, Haute-Savoie, 1100 



met, (A. Robert), 7thDec, 1899. 78 61 15 11 24 125 



99.1.9.16. J. "Obeiwald bei Gros' 



Hennersdorf, ' Stiits Obprlausitz, 



Saxony, 400 metres (W. Baer), 



24th April, 1898 



74 65 15 11-2 



The dimensions of the Hungarian skulls range from 22-5 to 

 23 x 12-5 mm. The largest skull J have seen, next to that of the 

 type of M. a. anglicus, is that of the type of M. a. pulcher, which 

 reaches 24 x 12-5 mm. 



(2) M. AYELLAJfAHIUS ANGLICUS, Subsp. nOV. 



Type. No. 99.11.27.6 of Brit. Mus. Coll. (for particulars see 

 below). 



