60 QUADRUPEDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



1. Arvicola hirsutus. 



Color of the head and body above, tawny brown, beneath, ash- 

 gray ; tail less than half the length of the body, thinly covered 

 with hair. 



Description. Fur beneath bluish-black, the extremities of most 

 of the hairs are reddish, and hence give it somewhat of a tawny or 

 reddish appearance ; these are intermixed with a few which are 

 entirely black ; the color of the fur upon the belly the same as 

 above, though the hairs are light, or ash-gray ; the nose is obtuse, 

 and surrounded by numerous dark-brown mystachial bristles ; in- 

 cisors yellow ; fore feet short ; the three middle nails of the pos- 

 terior feet, and the two middle ones of the anterior, longest, and 

 nearly of equal length ; external ears rather large, and partly 

 concealed in the fur, broad at base, and rounded ; tail obscurely 

 ringed and tapering. 



Dimensions. 



in. t'tlis. 



Whole length, 6 5 



Tail, 1 7£ 



Observations. The Meadow Mouse makes its burrows in banks 

 of soft earth, under stones and stone heaps, from which there are 

 well-trod paths diverging in all directions. It is a vegetable 

 feeder, and subsists on seeds, grains, nuts, &c. It is injurious 

 by feeding upon the roots of vegetables, and in hay ricks, by 

 cutting up the dried hay into mere fragments, and rendering it 

 entirely unfit for the use of cattle. It has a great many enemies, 

 but, notwithstanding, by its excessive multiplication, it is scarcely 

 diminished in numbers. 



This species seems to be more uniformly colored than others 

 of this genus, the lighter color beneath being confined to a com- 

 paratively small portion of the belly, and is never white. 



2. Arvicola albo-rufescens. Nobis. 



Specific characters. Fur entirely white ; hairs at the extremi- 

 ties pale yellowish-brown ; white beneath ; upon the belly and 

 chin paler than above. 



