210 
TOWNSEND S ARVICOLA. 
Inches. Lines. 
Fore-feet to point of nails, - 
Heel to point of nail, - 
Breadth of ear, - 
9 
1 
HABITS. 
The late Mr. Townsend, who captured this animal under an old log on 
the banks of the Columbia river, gave us no account of its habits. We 
should judge from its form, its conspicuous ears, and its general resem- 
blance to the cotton rat of Carolina ( Sigmodon hispidum), that it possesses 
many of its characteristics. It was found in the woods, but we imagine 
that it exists on the edges of the open country skirting the forests, feeding- 
on roots, grasses, and seeds, nestling under logs and brushwood, and 
having, like the rest of the genus, four or five young at a birth. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
The specimen here described was obtained on the 21st of July, 1835, by 
Mr. Townsend, on the shores of the Columbia river. It no doubt is 
widely distributed on the western side of the Rocky Mountains, and 
replaces the Wilson’s Meadow-Mouse of our northern Atlantic States. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
We find it exceedingly difficult to ascertain characters to designate the 
various species of Arvicolas in our country ; they resemble each other in 
many particulars, and especially in colour. We can however find no 
description which answers to this species in Richardson or any other 
author. 
