328 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1S84. 



toe is shorter than the third, and the third than the fourth. In N~eofiber 

 the third is the longest, followed by the second and fourth. 



In external appearance the Florida muskrat somewhat resembles 

 Arvicola amphibias, but it is easily distinguished by its larger head and 

 feet, longer and less hairy tail, and heavier body. The muzzle is en- 

 tirely hairy, except the small nasal pads. The eyes are noticeably 

 nearer to the ears than to the nose. The ears are not entirely hidden 

 by the surrounding fur< The fore and hind feet are pilous above and 

 naked below. The palms bear four tubercles, as in Fiber zibethicus. 

 They are black, except the two large posterior tubercles and the base 

 of the thumb. The narrow soles are smooth, black, and quinqui-tuber- 

 culate. The posterointernal tubercle is large and oval in outline. The 

 remaining four are situated in the intervals between the axils of the five 

 toes. They are all equally small. The toes when flexed do not lie 

 across the sole, as in Fiber ; the fringe of the toes and sole does not ex- 

 tend noticeably below the plane of their lower surface. 



The tail is perfectly terete, and so sparsely clothed with hairs that the 

 scales are distinctly visible. 



In general color the Florida muskrat does not differ greatly from 

 Arvicola amphibius, but the hair is more like that of Fiber. On the up- 

 per surfaces it is plainly of two sorts. The under-fur is soft and crenu- 

 late, not glossy, and lead-colored, except at the terminal fifth. Mingled 

 with it are numerous stiff, shining hairs, about a half longer, some being 

 dark at the tips and others golden. The dark- tipped hairs prevail on 

 the back, but are outnumbered on the sides by the lighter ones. These 

 long, glossy hairs are sufficiently numerous to give the back a decided 

 sheen, but not such as is seen in winter specimens of Fiber. The fringe 

 overhanging the lips is composed of opaque white hairs, but the short 

 hairs on the margin of the lip are dark. The whiskers are dark at the 

 base and lighter at the extremity. None are long enough to reach the 

 ears. The ear-conch is clothed externally and internally with short fur 

 like the under fur of the body. In the median line of the back, just 

 above the insertion of the tail, both the under fur and hair are very 

 long, forming a sort of mane or crest. The hairs of the tail are dark 

 and about one-fourth inch in length ; the terminal pencil is very small. 



The fur of the under surfaces is short, and at the extremity its color 

 is very light fawn. The extremity of the under jaw alone is darker. 

 The lower two- thirds of the under- fur is lead colored, the extremity 

 fawn -colored. The stiffer hairs are darker and nearly twice as long. On 

 the exterior of the fore feet the fur is like that of the sides, internally 

 like that of the belly. The long hairs extend down the leg and there 

 is a distinct tuft at the heel. The color of the appressed hair of the 

 feet is that of the stiff hairs of the sides. On the hind feet and legs the 

 color of the hair is the same, but there are fewer long hairs on the legs. 

 The color of the claws is light. 



