140 | 
pugnacious, and when given room, moves by sudden springs, holding 
high its long tail. | 
Sub-GENus Oryzomys Baird. 
< Mus sp., Harlan, Am. Journ. Sci., 1837. 
< Hesperomys sp., Wagner, Suppl. Schreb., 1848. 
< Arvicola sp., Aud. & Bach., Q. N. A., iii, 1853. 
= Oryzomys, Baird, M. N. A., 1857, 458. 
Sub-generec Characters.—“ Superior margin of orbit with a prominen 
sharp edge or bead, anteorbital foramen nearly circular above and con- 
tinued below as ‘a narrow slit. Maxillary plate forming outer wall of 
foramen not produced anteriorly into a pointed process (cf. Stgmodon). 
Posterior border of palate produced behind last molars, a deep pit inter- 
vening on either side; post-palatal notch narrow, with parallel sides, and. 
nearly straight, transverse, anterior border. Hind legs short, but feet 
very long and large (much as in Fiver), with obliquely-set long toes, 
densely pilous above, but soles perfectly naked, granular, with one long, 
narrow, postero-internal tubercle (as in Mus), and five small ones. Lat- 
eral toes very unequal in length, the fifth reaching to the penultimate 
joint of the fourth (cf. Stemodon); all the toes bave a slight but evident 
basal webbing. Fore feet small, not half as long as hinder, pilous above; 
palms perfectly naked. Ears small, little overtopping the fur, hirsute 
both sides, with a fluffy tuft on the concavity. Nasal pads more notice- 
able than in other sections. Tail long, about equalling head and body, 
scant-haired, especially above where the dermal scales as well as the ver- 
tebral annuli are visible. Fur glossy, but coarse from the number of 
bristly hairs. Whiskers sparse and short, exceeding, however, those of 
Stgmodon, though falling short of those of Hesperomys proper. Exceeding 
in size any other known’North American species of Hesperomys, and with 
the general appearance of Sigmodon or even Mus.” (Coues.) , 
HespERoMYys (ORYZOMys) PALUSTRIS (Harl.) Wagner. 
RICE-FIELD MOUSE. : 
1837. Mus palustris, Harlan, Am. Journ. Sci., xxxi, 1837, 386 (New Jer- 
sey). 
1843. Hesperomys palustris, Wagner, Suppl. Schreb., i111, 1843, 548.—Le 
Conte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., vi, 1853, 410.—Allen, Bull. 
Mus. Comp. Zodl., 11, 1870, 182 (Florida). 
1853. <Arvicola oryzivora, Aud. & Bach., Qy N. A., iii, 1853, 214, pl. 144, 
fig. 3. 
1857. Hesperomys (Oryzomys) palustris, Baird, M. N. A., 1857, 482 (Georgia 
and South Carolina).—Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1874, 
184; Mon. N. A. Rodentia, 1877, 118. 
