no NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Evotomys proteus Bangs Variable red-backed mouse 



1897 Evotomys proteus Bangs, Proc. biolog. soc. Washington. 13 May 

 1897. 11 : 137. (Hamilton inlet, Labrador) 



Ears large, projecting conspicuously above fur, back varying from slate color 

 and dark sepia to dull yelloivish and bright chestnut^ usually sharply marked off 

 from gray of sides; tail much more than twice as long as hind foot. Total length, 

 160 (6^); tail vertebrae^ 50 (2); hind foot, 21(ii). (pr6teus; Lat., a many formed 

 sea god) 



The variable red-backed mouse has been taken in the stunted spruce 

 forest at Hamilton inlet, Labrador, only. 



Evotomys gapperi (Vigors) Common red-backed mouse 



Ears large, projecting conspicuously above fur; color of hack sharply defined 

 from that of sides, tail about twice as long as hind foot, (gapperi; name 

 from that of Dr Gapper) 



The common red-backed mouse occurs in the forests ofthe boreal zone 

 and cooler parts of the transition zone throughout the greater part of 

 the northern United States and southern Canada. It is divisible into 

 six or more well marked geographic races, two of which are found within 

 our limits. In the northern part of its range brown individuals (E. 

 fuscodorsalis Allen) are of frequent occurrence. 



SUBSPECIES OF EVOTOMYS GAPPERI 



Back bright chestnut sprinkled with black hairs. E. gapperi gapperi 

 Back dull rusty rufous without sprinkling of black 



hairs E. gapperi ochraceus 



Evotomys gapperi gapperi (Vigors) Eastern red-backed mouse 



1830Arvicola gapperi Vigors, Zool. jour. 5:204. (Region between York 



and Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada) 

 1891 Evotomys gapperi Merriam, North American fauna. 30 July 1891. 



no. 5, p. 119. 

 1897 Evotomys gapperi Bailey, Proc. biolog. soc. Washington. 13 May 



1897. 11: 122. 



Back bright chestnut, sprinkled with blackish hairs ; sides bright huffy ochra- 

 ceous; belly gray washed with pale buff. Total length, 140 (5i) ; tail verte- 

 brae, 40 (1t^) ; hind foot, 18 (f), (gapperi; name from that of Dr Gapper) 



The eastern red-backed mouse is abundant in the forests of the boreal 

 zone and cooler parts of the transition zone from Quebec to Pennsyl- 

 vania and from the Atlantic coast to Dakota. 



