270 
ARVICOLA EDAX . — L e Conte. 
California Meadow Mouse. 
PLATE C L I V.— Fig. 2. 
A. Brevis et robustus, supra spadiceo et nigro permixtus. Auribus 
extra pilos extan tibus. Cauda mediocri, supra nigra, subtus cinerea. 
CHARACTERS. 
Body short and thick ; above , brown mixed with black ; ears not concealea 
by the hair J tail moderate length , black above, beneath grey. 
SYNONYME. 
Arvicola edax. — Le Conte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phil., Oct. 1853, p. 405. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Head short and blunt ; ears round, not entirely concealed under the 
fur, hairy within and without, anti tragus large and semicircular ; feet 
covered with short, shining grey hair ; thumb tubercle, with a short, very 
blunt nail ; tail of moderate length, hairy above. 
COLOUR. 
Hair plumbeous black above and on the sides, tipped with shining 
brown mixed with black ; beneath tipped with grey ; feet grey ; tail 
dusky above, grey beneath, with a slight brownish tinge. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. 
Length (including the tail) 5.5 
“ of head 1.4 
“ “ ears -5 
<: “ fore leg -------- 1.3 
“ “ hind leg 1*5 
“ “ tail 1-5 
