86 OS THE GENTS MUSCAR DIM'S. [Feb. 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, lie 

 best regarded as subspecies : — 



(1) Muscardinus ayellanarics xYPJCTs (Linnaeus), Svst. Nat. 

 ed. x. p. 62 (1758). 

 Myoxus muscardinus, Schreber, 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 Hind Greatest Greatest 



and Tail. „ 1 Ear. length, breadth 



u r a toot. b , 



body. at base n\ 



zygoma. 

 946.6.12. J. Forest of Guines. Pas i 



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



Thomas). 26th May, 1894 J 



1)4.6.6.13. $ (suckling). To. do., j 



20th May, 181)4 ; taken from nest I 77 74 1&4 ... 23'5 13 



with 5 blind and naked young... J 

 Three, Manonville, France (Mods. ) 



Lamont), taken from the nest, 



18th Oct. 1895, of which the 



dimensions of one are _ 



cf. Moutauban, Haute -Savoie, 900* 



met. (A. Robert), 22nd ~Sov. 1899. 

 <J. Lucinges, Haute-Savoie. 1100 



met. (A. Robert), 7th Dec. 1899. 

 99.1.9.16. J. "Oberwald bei Gros' 



Hennersdorf, ' Stats Oberlausitz, 



Saxony, 400 metres (W. Baer), 



24th April, 1898 . 



70 68 15 10 



67 





11 



23-5 



12-5 



61 



15 



11 



24 



12-5 



65 15 11-2 



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

 23 x 12-5 mm. The largest skull J haye 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. atellaxarius anglicus, subsp. nov. 



Type. No. 99.] 1.27.6 of Brit. Mus. Coll. (for particulars see 

 below). 



