Notes on some Small Rodents found in North America. 421 



holes in the ground, but pass their lives among the loose stones. 

 Who can fail to observe the evidence of Divine care and fore- 

 thought displayed in clothing this tiny defenceless creature in 

 a garb exactly resembling the grey lichen- covered fragments 

 amongst which he is destined to pass his life ? So closely 

 does he approximate in appearance to an angular piece of rock 

 when he sits up, that unless he moves it is almost impossible 

 to see hinx, and the cry or whistle is so deceptive that I often 

 imagined it far distant when the animal was close to me. 



The species described and figured by Sir John Richardson, 

 F.B.A., plate 19, Lepus (Lagomys) princeps, I first saw at 

 Ohilakweyuk Lake, and next on the trail leading from Fort 

 Hope on the Fraser River to Fort Oolville on the Columbia. 

 They were in a narrow gorge among loose stones. This was 

 about the same date as on the year preceding I had seen 

 Lagomys minimus making its nest; but here not a trace of 

 nest could I see, nor any evidence of an attempt to make one. 

 I soon after returned again by the same trail, the snow having 

 now fallen to the depth of about six inches, completely covering 

 up the rocks and stones, all the little animals had disap- 

 peared ; and although I searched most carefully, there was not a 

 hole or track in the snow to show they had ever left their 

 quarters. It was quite impossible a nest could have been 

 made in the interim ; hence I feel perfectly sure they hybernate 

 without a nest ; whereas Lagomys minimus, living at a much 

 greater altitude, makes a nest to sleep through the winter in. 



Lagomys minimus (Lord), sp. nov. 

 Sp. char, differs from Lepus (Lagomys) princeps of Sir J.Rich- 

 ardson, F.B.A., 1 p. 227, plate 19, in being much smaller. 

 Predominant colour of back dark grey, tinged faintly with 

 umber-yellow, more vivid about the shoulders, gradually shad- 

 ing off from the sides to dirty white ; feet white, washed over 

 with yellowish-brown; ears large, black inside, the outer rounded 

 margin edged with white ; eye veiy small and intensely black ; 

 whiskers long and composed of about an equal number of black 

 and white hairs ; no visible tail. Measurement, head and body, 

 6 J inches ; head, 2 inches ; nose to auditory opening, 1\ inch ; 

 height of ear from behind, 1 inch. 



The skull differs in being generally smaller, the nasal bones 

 are broader and shorter and rounded at their posterior articula- 

 tion, instead of being deeply notched as in Lagomys princeps, 

 distance from anterior molars to incisors much less. 



I scarcely know a more beautiful illustration of adaptation 

 than that of fitting these two species to their destined locali- 

 ties, implanting instincts amounting almost to reason. The 

 one, living on the cold barren summit of the mountain, makes 

 a warm nest to pass away the winter in, warmth being an 



