TIIK IvMCKI'MKI.I) MOl'SK. 



The species was described from New Jersey and (extends south along 

 the Athmtie coast, being rephiced in Fh)ri(la and Texas by ck)sely 

 reUited forms. According to Evermann and Butk^r the species was 

 recorded from Hamilton County, Ohio, hy Langdon. in 1876. I 

 have not been able to verify this record. 



Mr. E. J. Chansler. of Bicknell, has written me as follows: 

 "There is a kind of water rat found about ponds and streams. It 

 is perha[)s smaUer than the house rat, has short front legs and long 

 hind ones. Tlie hind feet look to be somewhat webl)ed. Color light 

 gray with dark refiectious. Our l)oys caught some last winter while 

 trapping for mink and muskrat along Flat Creek. They have 

 usually been found among water lilies or about drift along Flat 

 Creek." 



INIr. Chansler does not attempt to identify this animal farther 

 than to call it a "water rat," but the description he has given 

 applies fairly well to the rice-field mouse. I consider him too good 

 a naturalist to confuse young muskrats or house rats with this ani- 

 mal, and his statement that they have been taken in winter would 

 also indicate that they were not young animals. In the absence of 

 specimens I can not give a positive record for the species, and in- 

 deed there are no known facts concerning its distribution, other 

 than those given above, which would lead us to expect it in the 

 State. I\Ir. Chansler states that none of the rats have been seen for 

 several years and he thinks they may have disappeared since the 

 draining of Montour's and other ponds. 



Genus Neotoma Say and Ord. 



Neotoma Say and Ord, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., Vol. 4, pi 

 • 2, p. 345, 1825. 



The rats of this genus are generally about the size of the house 

 rat, but they have tails less scaly, the fur is softer and denser, the 

 eyes and ears are large and the molar teeth have the enamel folded 

 into loops and triangles much like those of the voles {Microtus) . 



NEOTOMA PENNSYLVANICA Stone. 

 ALLEGHENY WOOD RAT. 



Neotoma pennsylvanica Stone, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., p. 16, 

 1893. 



Neotoma floridaiia Evermann and Butler, Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci. 



for 1893. p. 13.9, 1894. 

 Description. — Size of the house rat; eyes and ears large; tail 

 thickly covered with long, soft hairs. The color is slaty black 

 [41] 



