WYMAN — PENOBSCOT FIELD MOUSE 
163 
in New York; one in West Virginia; one in North Carolina; and (three 
topotypes) in Pennsylvania.^ 
The subspecific characters given in the description are: ^^One of the 
largest of the Microtus pennsylvanicus group. Tail very long, ears 
prominent, bullae very large and globular, palatine foramina markedly 
broad and bottle shaped, coloration as in M. p. perinsylvanicus, except 
perhaps slightly darker.’^ I shall take up these characters one by one. 
SIZE 
The description gives the total length of the new subspecies as rang- 
ing from 176 to 198 mm., and that of M. pennsylvcmicus from 167 to 
171 mm. (taking these measurements from Elliotts Mammals of 
North America^^). Although this is the average range of the length 
of the meadow mouse it is not uncommon to find specimens measuring 
from 170 to 200 mm. Of the measurements of the specimens examined, 
11.3 per cent of the whole number were between 190 and 200 mm., 
20 per cent were between 180 and 190 mm., and 28.8 per cent were 
between 170 and 180 mm. The remaining 40 per cent were below 
170 mm. Two specimens from Massachusetts and one from Raleigh, 
North Carolina, were over 200 mm. in length. The total lengths of 
the eight specimens of M, p. shattucki, taken from Howe’s measure- 
ments, were 138.4 mm, (2), 165.1 mm. (2), 168.1 mm., 187.5 mm., 
190.5 mm. (type), and 201.5 mm. With the exception of two specimens 
these measurements are well within the average range for pennsyl- 
vanicus, Meadow mice from the islands off the New England coast 
are large as a rule. The series from Grand Manan, New Brunswick, 
which I examined were at the upper limit for the size of the species. 
EAKS 
It is difficult to tell much about the ears of dried skins, owing to their 
shrunken condition. Those of the skins of M, p, shattucki did not 
appear to be any different from those of skins of meadow mice from a 
great variety of localities. Five of the specimens were collected in July, 
one in August, and one in September. In summer pelage the ears of 
meadow mice are usually conspicuous above the fur, so this fact may 
account for the statement that the ears are prominent. Such a char- 
2 1 am indebted to Prof. Manton Copeland of Bowdoin College for suggesting 
the comparison and to Dr. Glover M. Allen of Harvard University for the loan 
of skins and skulls. 
