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Show COUES ON GEOMYS AND THOMOMYS - G. HISPIDUS. the roots of the hairs. The whiskers are numerous, but short; the longest not equaling the head. There are other lengthened bristles over the eyes, on the cheeks, and elsewhere; but they are not readily discovered amidst the coarse hispid hair of the parts. There is no occasion to enlarge upon general characters of the muffle, feet, &c., shared by other species. In the best-prepared specimens, the large orifice of the external ear is seen to be nearly surrounded by a small but unmistakable flap. It is characteristic of all the other species of Geomys I know of, those with soft hair, to have plumbeous-colored fur at base, pointed with the particular brown, fulvous, or other shade which determines their appearance to the eye. The case is different with G. hispidus, in which the pelage is uni-color from base to tip; and the color, too, is peculiar. It is a dark mahogany-brown, or rather a chocolate, or cafe sans lait color, a little lighter or darker according to age or season, or fortuitously, but in any event uniform over all the upper parts and sides. Underneath the color is the same, but paler and dilute-like cafe au lait; sometimes quite smoky gray, or muddy brown. The under parts, however, frequently show patches of white here and there; these are altogether indeterminate, being as irregular in size, shape, number, and position as the similar white patches on the under side of a mink (Putorius vison). It is probable, also, that plumbago-colored individuals occur, as happens to the other species; but I have seen none such. The naked parts appear to have been reddish or flesh-colored; the claws are an indefinite horn-color; the incisors are faced with the usual rodent-red; color of eyes not stated on labels, but probably black. The size of the species can only be approximately estimated from the dried skins; but it is evidently the largest species of those here treated, somewhat exceeding G. mexicanus. Well-prepared skins average about 11 inches in length, with a girth of some 9 inches. The tail, from the extreme base, is less than 3 inches; its naked part hardly over 2. Sole of foot about If; palm, including longest claw, less than this. Nose to eye, nearly 1J, A ruler inserted in the pouch measures off about 2J inches from the bottom of the sac to the snout. The opening of the sac is about 1^ inches long. In a female, killed during lactation apparently, I find, after diligent search, 31 COL |
