FLORIDA RAT. 33 



black hair ; the black predominating on the ridge of the back and head, 

 forming an indistinct dorsal line of dark brown, gradually fading away 

 into the brownish-yellow colour of the cheeks and sides ; border of the 

 abdomen and throat, buff; whiskers, white and black ; feet white ; vmder 

 surface of body, white, tinged with cream colour. 



In a very young specimen, the colour is dark brown on the upper sur- 

 face, and plumbeous beneath ; differing so much from the adult, that the 

 unpractised observer might easily be led to regard it as a new species. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Adult Male. 



From nose to root of tail 8 inches. 



Length of tail 5i do. 



From fore-claws to hind-claws, when stretched . 13t do. 



From nose to end of ears ..... 2i do. 

 Weight 71 ounces. Weight of an old Female, 8 ounces. 



Young Male. 



From nose to root of tail ..... 5y inches. 



From fore-claws to hind-claws, when stretched . 8-J do. 



From nose to end of ear ..... 2f do. 



Length of tail 4^ do. 



The specimens from which we drew the figures we have given on our 

 plate, which represents this species in various ages and attitudes, on the 

 branch of a pine tree, were obtained in South Carolina, and were pre- 

 served alive for several weeks, in cages having wire fronts. They made 

 no attempt to gna^v their 'vvay out. On a previous occasion we preserved 

 an old female with three young, (which latter were born in the cage, a 

 few days after the mother had been captured,) for nearly a year ; by 

 which time the young had attained the size of the adult. We fed them 

 on corn, potatoes, rice, and bread ; as well as apples and other fruit. 

 They seemed very fond of corn flour, (Indian meal,) and for several 

 months subsisted on the acorns of the live oak, {Quercus virens.) 



They became very gentle, especially one of them which was in a se- 

 parate cage. It was our custom at dark to release it from confinement, 

 upon ■which it would run around the room in circles, mount the table we 

 were in the habit of writing at, and always make efforts to open a parti- 

 cular drawer, in which we kept some of its choicest food. 



6 



