BLUE RAT. 71 



The other species is called by Seba, Mus Mexi- 

 canus maculatus, and appears by its figure, pi. 45, 

 fig. 5, of that author, to be about the size of a 

 common mouse, and of the same general propor- 

 tions ; and is of a white colour, with a broad fer- 

 ruginous band in front, passing beyond the eyes 

 on each side ; and on each side the body is also 

 a large oblong patch of a similar colour : the tail 

 seems naked. This Mr. Pennant calls the MexU 

 can Mouse. 



There is still another white species figured by 

 Seba, and termed Gils sen AIus Avellanarum Ameri- 

 canus albus. It appears to be about the size of a 

 very small rat, and has the habit of a Sorex or 

 Shrew, the snout being very long and sharp, with 

 numerous strong vibrissas ; the tail very slightly 

 haired. It is figured on pi. 31 of Seba. 



JVith hairy Tails, in general either of middling 

 length, or short, 



BLUE RAT. 



' Mus Cyanus. M. cauda mediocn suhpilosa, palmis tetradacti/Usy 

 plantis pentadactylis, corpore ccerideo, suhtm albido. Lin. Syst, 

 Nat, Gmel. p. 1^2. Molina Chil. p. 266. 

 Blue Ratj whitish beneath, with tetradactylous fore-feet, penta- 

 dactylous hind-feet, and slightly hairy tail of middling length. 

 Sky-coloured Rat. Fennant Quadr. 2. p. 183. 



This is a species described by Molina in his 

 History of Chili, of which country it is a native, 

 and is about the size of the wood rat ( M, Sylmti- 



