346 WILSON'S MEADOW-MOUSE. 



shorter, and the body is more ferruginous on the upper surface than in 

 our species. 



In the last work published on American quadrupeds, the wi-iter en- 

 deavours to show that this species, (which he has named A. hirsutus,) 

 differs from A. Pennsylvanica. The following remarks are made at p. 

 87 : — " Upon the suggestion that it might possibly be the Pennsylvanicus 

 of Ord and Harlan, it was shown to both those gentlemen, who pro- 

 nounced it to be totally distinct." To this we would observe, without 

 the slightest design of undervaluing the scientific attainments of the 

 respectable naturalists here referred to, that it was taxing their memo- 

 ries rather too much, to expect them, after the lapse of fifteen or twenty 

 years, during which time their minds had been directed to other pur- 

 suits, to be as well qualified to decide on a species as they were when 

 they first described it, (with all the specimens before them,) and when 

 the whole subject was fresh in their minds. In regard to Dr. Harlan, 

 he candidly wrote in answer to our inquiries respecting this and several 

 other species, that having been long engaged in other investigations, 

 and never having preserved specimens, he could not rely on his present 

 judgment with any degree of accuracy. His description, moreover, being 

 contained in two and a half lines, cannot be depended on, and is equally 

 applicable to a considerable number of species. In regard to referring 

 subjects, requiring such minute investigation, to the memory, when the 

 period at which the specimens were examined has long passed, we have 

 in mind the reply of Johnson, the great philologist, to an inquiry for infor- 

 mation in regard to the derivation of a word, and of Newton, when asked 

 for a solution of some knotty point in the higher branches of science : 

 the former referred the inquirer to his " Dictionary," — the latter, to his 

 " Principia." The description of Mr. Ord is full and accurate, and by 

 this we are quite willing to abide. We, moreover, are perfectly satis- 

 fied that when that gentleman has an opportunity of comparing speci- 

 mens of the several species found in the vicinity of Philadelphia with 

 his own descriptions, he will refer the species described and figured as 

 A. hirsutus to his A. Pennsylvanica. 



The arvicola Albo-rufescens of Emmons is evidently a variety of this 

 species. We obtained a specimen from a nest in the northern part of 

 New York, which answered in every particular to his description. From 

 the same nest two others were taken, with white rings round their 

 necks, and three marked like the common Arvicola Pennsylvanica, 

 differing in no respect from Arvicola hirsutus. 



