NORTHERN MEADOW-MOUSE. 
135 
COLOUR. 
Hair on the upper parts blackish-gray from the roots to the tips, some 
of which are yellowish or chesnut brown, and some black ; the black 
tipped hairs are the longest, and are equally distributed amongst the 
others, giving the body a dark reddish-brown colour. There is a rufous 
patch under the ears. On the under part, and on the chin and lips, the 
colour is lead-gray, and the hairs arc shorter than on the back and sides ; 
tail, brown above and grayish beneath ; hairs on the feet, ochreous yellow ; 
claws, white. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Length of head and body, - 
“ tail, 
“ head, 
Height of ear, 
Breadth of ear, 
Length of fore feet to end of middle claw, - 
Hind feet, including heel and claw, - 
Fur on the back, 
Inches. Lines. 
- 4 6 
- 1 
- 1 3 
4 
3 
4i 
n 
10 
HABITS. 
We have little to say in regard to the present species. Bichardson 
states that its habits are very similar to those of A. xanthognatha, and in 
our article on that species we have given an account of the general habits 
of the Arvicolas (at p. 18 of the present volume), to which we refer our 
readers. 
The northern Arvicolm do not appear to become dormant from the effect 
of cold, but during the long Arctic winter dig galleries under the deep 
snows, in which they are enabled to search for seeds, grasses, or roots 
suited to their wants. We have ascertained by an examination of the 
bodies of several, more southern species of Arvicolas, possessing similar 
habits, that so far from suffering in winter and becoming lean, they are 
usually in good case, and sometimes quite fat, during that season. 
The length of the fur on the back of the present species (ten twelfths of 
an inch) is somewhat remarkable for so small an animal. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
This species was found in numbers at Great Bear Lake, living in the 
vicinitv of Arvicola xanthognatha. We have not been able to ascertain the 
