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Show COUES ON GEOMYS AND THOMOMYS - G. BURSARIUS. 225 excepting the first one, are longer than their respective digits ; they are much compressed, single-edged underneath, curved, and acute. Their tips are regularly graduated in position with decreasing disparity from 3d to 1st; 3d-4th- 2d-5th-lst; the 3d being much the largest, the 1st a mere stump. The back of the hand is clothed with rather bristly hairs, which fall as a fringe over the sides of the hand, and of the individual digits as well. As usual in cases of excessive growths of any kind, these great claws oi the hand vary a good deal in size and shape, according to the age and vigor of r,he animal-in other words, according to the degree of use to which they are put. The hind foot is not remarkable, having an ordinary marine character. The sole is perfectly naked, like the palm, and devoid of special pads or tubercles; the skin being everywhere smooth. The toes are short; the claws still shorter, weak, excavated underneath (like a badger's), little curved, and rather acute. The 3d is longest; then come 2d-4th-lst-5th; the digit of the latter being a mere stump, and that of the 1st too short to carry the tip of its claw opposite the base of the 4th. The tail has an unfinished, or rather neglected, appearance, as if it were of no particular use. It is remarkable, however, for appearing to spring from a peculiar conical backward prolongation of rump, so that it is difficult to determine its true base. This enlarged basal portion is clothed like the rest of the body. From its apex, the tail continues with a shorter and more scanty furring. The tail is rather thick (in comparison with allied rodents) and somewhat quadrangular, the flattening of the under side being especially noticeable; it tapers gradually to an obtuse tip. It is perhaps rather unusually variable in length, averaging in its scant-haired portion about one-third of the length of head and body. The conical prolongation of the body above mentioned is that portion which protrudes beyond the ischia, which may be plainly felt on either side; and on its under side appear the orifices of the digestive and genito-urinary systems, in close juxtaposition, and both directly at the base of the tail proper. In the rutting-season, however, the topography of the parts is changed, owing to the great distention of the perinseum from the turgid organs within. In the female, there are three pairs of teats-two inguinal, near together along the inside of the thighs; and another pair, pectoral, at a 29 COL |
