CRICETUS MIGRATORIUS. — CRICETUS PHjEUS. 107 



Cricetus migratorius. 



Cricetus migratorius, Desm. Mamm. Sp. 500. 

 Cricetus accedula, Pallas, Zoog. Boss. As. 



Description. — Muzzle thick, fleshy, blunt; incisors long; 

 ears naked, oval, rounded at the end, somewhat sloped or 

 lobed on the outer border. Body thick and short; tail 

 cylindrical, but scantily furnished with hair ; upper parts 

 of the body ash-grey, darker on the dorsal line ; under 

 parts and the extremities white. 



Length of head and body, 3 inches 11 lines ; head, 1 inch 

 3 lines; ears, 5 lines; tail, 8 lines. — F. M. 



Habits the same as those of the preceding species, except- 

 ing that it occasionally migrates. Inhabits sandy marshes 

 in the district of Orenberg, between the Volga and Jaik, 

 where it is rather rare (Pallas). 



Cricetus phaeus. 



Cricetus phteus, Desm. Mamm. Sp. 502. 



Description. — Fur brownish ash on the back, lighter on 

 the sides, and quite white beneath, on the throat, belly, 

 and inside of the legs ; on the back are numerous black 

 hairs, longer than the rest ; forehead and muzzle grey ; 

 round the mouth the fur is white ; tail velvety, brown 

 above and white beneath, and on the sides, muzzle, and 

 neck very short ; nose naked ; ears very wide, not lobed or 

 cut in, almost naked; whiskers longer than the head, 

 whitish at their roots, and black for the remainder of their 

 length. 



Length of head and body, 3 inches 5 lines ; head, 1 inch 

 2 lines; ears, 6£ lines; tail, with the hairs, 9 lines. 

 — F. M. 



Feeds principally on grain ; resorts in winter to barns 

 and store-houses, where it is very mischievous. Pallas is 



