G L I R E S. 



43 



as either of the species described by that very accomphshed mammalo- 

 gist, Major John Le Conte, or other American naturalists. 



All the specimens of the Expedition are unfortunately in spirits ; 

 immersion in which for nearly twenty years has, very probably, so mate- 

 rially injured the colors, that at present we do not deem it expedient to 

 undertake an extended or minute comparison, for which, moreover, 

 we have not the necessary collections nor experience in this depart- 

 ment of Zoology. Examination of specimens of the animals of this 

 group, from Western North America, will amply repay the naturalist. 



The following, by Mr. Peale, is the only notice we find on record by 

 the naturalists of the Expedition : 



" This species of mouse was met with in considerable numbers on 

 the west coast of America, from Puget's Sound in the north, to the 

 Bay of San Francisco, in California, south. It probably inhabits the 

 country much further in each direction." 



3. Genus DRYMOMYS, Tschudi, Fauna Peruana, Mamm. p. 178 (1845). 



1. Drymomys parvulus, Tschudi. 



Drymomys parvnliis, TscH. Faun. Per. p. 178 (1845). 



Mus peruvianus, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Mamm. p. 51 (1st ed. 1848).* 



Tsch. Faun. Per. Mamm. pi. 13, Fig. 1. 



Several specimens from Peru present no characters other than as 

 stated by Tschudi, but vary considerably in size. This animal appears 

 to form a distinct genus or subgenus, as above designated, though, in 

 general appearance, much resembling other animals of its family. 



Mr. Peale alludes to the present animal as follows : 



* "Upper parts yellowish -brown, inclining to tawny on the sides; feet, throat, and 

 under parts of the body, white ; tail long, slender, pale flesh-color, with a brown line 

 on the upper surface ; eyes small, black ; ears large, round, and naked ; a small tuft 

 of white fur behind the ears, which is invisible when they are thrown back. The poste- 

 rior extremity of the body small ; the tail long and slender ; presenting as a whole a 

 peculiar contour. 



"Length of the head and body, two and three-tenths inches; tail, three and one- 

 tenth inches; head, nine-tenths of an inch; ear, half an inch; forearm, half an inch; 

 foot, three-tenths of an inch ; tibia, eight-tenths of an inch ; hind-foot, seven-tenths 

 of an inch." (Peale, as above.) 



