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Show 1900.] MUS SYLVATICUS AND ITS ALLIES. 403 specimen collected at Oporto, Portugal, by Mr. James Searle, on December 12tb, 1896; but too much must not be inferred from a single specimen, which may possibly indicate the existence of 31us s. celticus in the west of Portugal, or may be only an accidental variety. Blasius, however, kuew of the occurrence of dark Field-mice in the higher mountains of Europe '. This single specimen from Oporto, whatever it may be, is certainly very unlike the ordinary Portuguese Field-mice. A remarkable fact is the occurrence of this mouse on the same island (Lewis) as the very distinct M. s. hebridensis, which is one of the larger forms of Field-mice. I am informed by Mr. de Winton that the latter keeps to its own part of the island, and that probably the two do not intermingle. It is curious that while a big and little form of Mus sylvaticus occur here side by side, each finds a different method of fitting itself for the damp dull climate of the west. It is interesting to find that the Field-mice of the centre aud east of Irelaud are normal, and, as far as I can make out, show neither any darkening of the colour of the upper surface nor any diminution of size. Among these normal Irish mice must be included specimens from Ballaghmoon, Co. Carlow (Mr. J. G. Symes), from Cashel, Co. Tipperary, and from the neighbourhood of Arthurstown, Co. Wexford, together with those in the Dublin Museum from Cos. Dublin, Wicklow, and Louth. 3. MUS SYLVATICUS HEBlilDENSIS. Mus hebridensis, W . E. de Winton, Zoologist, Oct. 1895, p. 369. Mus sylvaticus hebridensis, W . E. de Winton, Zoologist, Nov. 1895, p. 426. Type. No. 95.10.25.1 (British Museum Collection), from Barra, Outer Hebrides ( W . E. de Winton). Distinguishing Characteristics. Besembles Mus sglvaticus intermedins in general form and colour, but is larger (about equal to 31. s. wintoni), and has proportionately smaller ears, larger hind feet (especially stout in males), shorter and thicker tail, and generally stouter build. The colour of the upperside is more uniform aud less bright than in 31. s. intermedins ; that of the underside is " generally dusky or sandy, with no distinct line between the upper and under parts " (de Winton); that of the tail is almost uniformly " brownish grey." Skull large : total length of that of the type specimen 27 m m. Distribution. The islands of Lewis and Barra in the Outer Hebrides. General Remarks. This island-form was first obtained by Mr. J. Steele Elliott; but to Mr. de Winton is due the credit of having written the first published notice2 of so interesting an addition to the British fauna. 1 Saugethiere Deutsch. p. 324 (1857). 2 Ann. Scott. Nat. Hist., Jan. 1895, p. 53. |
