83 



COLLARED MOUSE. 



Mus Torquatus. M. hrachyurus, auribvs lellere brevioribus, pal' 



mis pentadactylisj corpore ferrugineo vario, torque interrvpta 

 ■ albida, linea spinali nigra, Lin, Syst. Nat. G?nel, p. 136. 



Pall. Glir. p. 206, 

 Short-tailed ferruginous Mouse, with dusky variegations, ears 



shorter than the fur, pentadactyle fore-feet, interrupted white 



collar, and black spinal stripe. 

 Ringed Mouse. Feimant Quadr, 2. p. 201. 



In shape and general appearance this species is 

 much allied to the Lemming, but diifers in the 

 disposition of its colours, as well as in size ; being 

 smaller than the Siberian and Lapland varieties of 

 that animal. It is a native of those parts of Si- 

 beria which border on the river Oby, where it is 

 more common than the Lemming, and makes oc- 

 casional migrations, which are said to happen in 

 the same year with those of the Lemming. The 

 size of this species is that of a large meadow 

 mouse : its colour on the upper parts is an ele- 

 gant ferruginous, variegated with numerous small 

 dusky undulations ; and round the neck is a white 

 collar, while the forehead and top of the head are 

 dusky, which colour curves down beyond the 

 cheeks on each side^ so as to form a dusky collar 

 next to the white one : the cheeks are white, as is 

 also the belly : the breast and sides are tinged 

 with light orange-colour: the tail is extremely 

 short, and is brown, tipped with white hairs. 

 This ^ecies is said to feed chiefly on the rein- 

 deer lichen (Lichen rangiferinus) and the vivipa- 



