COUES ON GEOMYS AND THOMOMYS G. HISPIDUS. 241 
the roots of the hairs. The whiskers are numerous, but short ; the longest 
not equaling the head. There are other lengthened bristles over the eyes, 
on the cheeks, and elsewhere; but they are not readily discovered amidst the 
coarse hispid hair of the parts. 
There is no occasion to enlarge upon general characters of the muffle, 
feet, &c., shared by other species.-^ In the best-prepared specimens, the large 
orifice of the external ear is p seen to be nearly surrounded by a small but 
unmistakable flap. 
It is characteristic of all the other species of Geomys I know of, those 
with soft hair, to have plumbeous-colored fur at base, pointed with the par 
ticular brown, fulvous, or other shade which determines their appearance to 
the eye. The case is different with G. hispidus, in which the pelage is uni- 
color from base to tip ; and the color, too, is peculiar. It is a dark mahog- 
any'-brown, or rather a chocolate, or cafe sans lait color, a little lighter or 
darker according to age or season, or fortuitously, but in any event uniform 
over all the upper parts and sides. Underneath the color is the same, but 
paler and dilute like cafe au lait; sometimes quite smoky gray, or muddy 
brown. The under parts, however, frequently show patches of white here 
and there; these are altogether indeterminate, being as irregular in size, 
shape, number, and position as the similar white patches on the under side of 
a mink (Putorius vison). It is probable, also, that plumbago-colored individ 
uals occur, as happens to the other species; but I have seen none such. The 
naked parts appear to have been reddish or flesh-colored; the claws are an 
indefinite horn-color; the incisors are faced with the usual rodent-red; color 
of eyes not stated on labels, but probably black. 
The size of the species can only be approximately estimated from the 
dried skins ; but it is evidently the largest species of those here treated, some 
what exceeding G. mexicanus. Well-prepared skins average about 11 inches 
in length, with a girth of some 9 inches. The tail, from the extreme base, is 
less than 3 inches; its naked part hardly over 2. Sole of foot about If; palm, 
including longest claw, less than this. Nose to eye, nearly 1J. A ruler 
inserted in the pouch measures off about 2J inches from the bottom of the 
sac to the snout. The opening of the sac is about 1J inches long. 
In a female, killed during lactation apparently, I find, after diligent search, 
31 COL 
