MAMMALIA, : 125 
much concealed by the broad fleshy body. The palms of the fore-feet are naked, and 
have five little callous tubercles, of which one is common to the two middle toes, one to each 
of the other two toes, and two lie in contact with each other at the posterior part of the palm; 
one of the latter two is larger than any of the others, and supports the rudiment of a thumb, 
consisting of a small papilla, protected by a minute and rather obtuse entire nail. The two 
middle toes spring together from the extremity of the palm, and are nearly equal to each 
other in length. The inner toe arises higher up, and is next to the middle ones in length. The 
outer toe is opposite to the inner one, but is still shorter. All the toes are covered above 
with short adpressed hairs, some of which project beyond the claws. The claws are 
slender, pointed, very slightly arched, and have a lanceolate-shaped groove underneath. 
The feet are the only part of the fore-extremities which project beyond the fur of the body. 
The hind-feet have a pretty long and rather slender tarsus, clothed with short adpressed 
hairs. They have four toes similarly arranged with those of the fore-feet, but of greater length ; 
and an inner toe or thumb of the same form with the outer one, but situated further back. 
The hind-feet are longer than the fore-ones, and part of the leg projects beyond the fur of 
the body. 
Colour of all the upper parts, including the sides of the head, a hair-brown, or what is 
termed mouse-colour, without spots or mottling ; there is no reddish spot on the cheek or face, 
but there is a very slight reddish-brown tinge on the hairs about the ears. The under parts, 
including the chin and part of the neck, are light-gray. The brown of the sides and gray of 
the belly mingle without any well defined line of junction. The fur is fine and long, and 
when blown aside appears over the whole body of a dark bluish or blackish gray, the colours 
proper to the back and belly being confined to the tips of the hair. The tail is of the colour 
of the back above and of the belly underneath. 
DIMENSIONS, 
: Inches. Lines. 
Length ofheadand body . +, : ° 3 6 
® 5 tail . A . 5 ° 5 B 1 1 
>> head alone VTS Tie eae a ae 2 3 
Many of these mice were killed at Carlton-house in the beginning of March, 
when the preceding description was drawn up. I should have hesitated in 
describing this animal as specifically distinct from the common meadow-mouse of 
Europe, had it not already received a distinct name. 
