G L I R E S. 



37 



tail, one inch; head, from the nose to the ear, two and three-tenths 

 inches ; to the eye, one and four-tenths of an inch ; whiskers, three 

 and a half inches; longest claw (fore foot), six-tenths of an inch; 

 thumb, including the nail, three-tenths of an inch ; nail, two-tenths of 

 an inch; hind foot (almost plantigrade), two and two-tenths inches; 

 middle toe, nine-tenths of an inch. Male." 



" The specimens were obtained at Nisqually, Puget Sound, Oregon, 

 where it is quite a common animal, and their skins much prized by 

 the Indians for making robes, used in the place of blankets. The 

 occipital portion of the skull is remarkable in form, from its great 

 breadth and flatness." 



Dr. Pickering also mentions this animal as frequent at Puget Sound, 

 and known to the inhabitants as the " Rat des Bois." 



OEANITJM OF APLODONTIA LBPORINA. 



8. Family MURID^.— The Mice and Rats. 

 1. Genus MUS, Linn. Sjst. Nat. I, p. 79 (1766). 



1. Mus DECUMANUS, Pollcis. — The Norway Rat. 



Mus decumanus, Pall. Nov. Sp. Quad. Glirium, p. 91 (1766). 



The occurrence of the common Rat in the islands of the Pacific 

 Ocean, and at various other localities, is noted by the naturalists of 

 the Expedition. It appears, in fact, to have followed the course of 

 commercial enterprise and voyages of discovery throughout the world, 



10 



