1896.] GBNBllA OP nODENTS. 1023 



X. Bathyergidse. 



109. Bath/ergus, 111. 



Prodr. Syst, Mamm, p. 86 (1811). 

 ] 10. Georyclius, 111. 



Prodr. Syst. Mainm. p. 87 (1811). 



111. Myoscalops, Thos. 



P. Z. S. 1890, p. 448. IHelioplioUus, Pefc. 

 MB. Ak. Berl. 1846, p. 243.] 



112. Heierocephalus, Riipp. 



Mils. Scnckenb. iii. p. 99 (1842). 



XI. DipodidsB. 



A. Sminthin^. 



113. Sminthus, Keys. & Bias. 



Wirb. Europ. p. 38 (1840). 



B. ZAPODINiB ', 



114. Zapus, Cones. 



Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. ser. 2, no. 5, p. 253 

 (1873). 



C. DiFODIN/E. 



115. Dijpus, Gmel. 



S. N. i. p. 157 (1788). 



116. Allactaqa, E. Cuv. 



P.Z.8. 18.36, p. 141. 



1 17. Platycercomys, Brandt. 



Bull. Ac. Petersb. 1844, p. 209. 



118. EucJioreutes, W. Scl. 



P. Z. S. 1890, p. 610. 



' The erection of the ZMpodinm into a family has been advocated by 

 Dr. Coues (Men. Ara. Kod. p. 461, 1877), and, as a consequence, the giving to 

 the DipodincB and Pedetince similar rank. Not only does this seem as unnecessary 

 03 it is inconvenient.but the characters of Sminthus, remgm7.eA as a Dipodid only 

 since Dr. Coues wrote, appear to make the correctness of Alston's view more 

 evident than ever. For witli typical Dipodine teeth, it possesses an absolutely 

 Zapodine skull, combined with a more Murine form than even Zapus. More- 

 over, the recent discovery of Zapus in the Old World (Poussargues, Bull. Mus. 

 d'Hist. Nat. 1896, p. 1) removes the geographical isolation which may have 

 influenced Dr. Coues in the conclusion he came to. The three subfamilies here 

 recognized are no doubt well defined from each other, but if in any general 

 raising of rank all round, such as many people (Americans especially) are fond 

 of, these subfamilies are again made into families.it will have to be on some better 

 ground than the untenable view adopted by Dr. Coues, that Zapus is ae nearly 

 allied to the Muridto as it is to the Jerboas. Pcdeies, on the other hand, as 

 appears below, should certainly be removed from the family, its differences 

 from all the Dipodida; being infinitely greater than any of theirs from each 

 other. 



Pkoo. Zool. Soo.— 1896, No. LXVI. 66 



