212 
SHARP-NOSED ARVICOLA. 
Inches. Lines. 
Tail, 1 6 
Heel to point of nail, - 6 
For the sake of convenient comparison we give the dimensions of the 
largest of six specimens of Arvicola Pennsylvania : 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of head and body, 4 2 
Head, 1 4 
Tail, 1 0 
Heel to point of longest nail, 11 
HABITS. 
We have found this species breeding in the vicinity of Wilson’s Meadow- 
Mouse, although never nearer than a few hundred yards from the latter, 
and we have sometimes observed their nests in summer on large hillocks 
of sedge-grass ( carex ) growing in marshy localities, and surrounded by 
water ; they do not occupy these exposed situations, however, in winter, 
but are found on more elevated knolls, under the roots of old trees or 
shrubs. They produce four or five young at a birth, and certainly breed 
twice, if not oftener, during the season. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
The specimen which we have described was obtained by Dr. Brewer, 
near Boston. We received another from J. W. Audubon, who procured 
it at the falls of Niagara ; we have also frequently found it in the northern 
parts of New York, where the Arvicola Pennsylvanica likewise exists ; and 
we recently observed specimens near Detroit in Michigan. It appears, 
however, not to be found as far to the south as Wilson’s Meadow-Mouse, 
as we have not succeeded in tracing it to the southern counties of Penn- 
sylvania, where we have sought to obtain it. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
We are not certain that this species may not have been indicated, 
although not accurately, by Raffinesque in the American Monthly Maga- 
zine, under the name of Lemmus noveboracensis. His descriptions, how- 
ever, in every department of natural history, are so short, vague, and 
imperfect, that it is impossible to identify his species with any degree of 
certainty ; they have created such confusion in the nomenclature that 
