This mouse is considerably larger than _Mus Musculus_, and the great
length and density of its fur, causes it to appear much stouter in its
proportions; its colouring is darker, the tips of the hairs being much
more narrowly annulated with yellow than in that species. The very small
size of the ears will serve to distinguish the present animal from its
congeners—_Mus longipilis_, _M. Renggeri_, _M. arenicola_, &c.
The molar teeth of the upper jaw are figured in Plate 34. fig. 8, _a_;
and fig. 8, _b_, represents the middle and last molars of the lower jaw.
“Inhabited a very small island, covered with thick forest, in the
central part of the Chonos Archipelago.”—D.
A mouse obtained on the islets adjoining the east coast of Chiloe (where
Mr. Darwin says it was common) differs from the above in being a little
smaller, the tail is rather longer, and the ears are a trifle larger. In
the feet, claws, colouring and character of the fur it agrees, and
likewise in the pale colour and slenderness of the incisors. Its
dimensions are as follows:—
In. Lines.
Length from nose to root of tail 4 0
of tail 3 0
of tarsus (claws included) 0 10
from nose to ear 0 10½
of ear 0 4
I have not the means of satisfying myself whether this be a distinct
species or not; but I think it is not.
“The nature of the country where this specimen was procured is nearly
the same as in that part of the Chonos Archipelago, 150 miles to the
south, where the first was obtained.” D.
14. MUS RENGGERI.
PLATE XV.—Fig. 1.
Mus olivaceus, _Waterh._, Proceedings of the Zoological Society of
London, for February 1838, p. 16.
_M. corpore suprà subolivaceo, subtùs cinerescente; auribus
mediocribus, rotundatis, pills parvulis fuscescentibus obsitis;
caudâ corpore breviore, pilosâ, suprà fuscâ subtùs albescente;
pedibus pilis fuscescentibus tectis._
DESCRIPTION.—Fur moderate; ears moderate; tail shorter than the body;
general colour gray washed with yellow; under parts grayish white.
On the upper parts and sides of the head and body the hairs are
gray, broadly annulated with yellow near the apex, and dusky at
the apex; the mixture producing a yellowish gray tint, approaching
somewhat towards olive:—the hairs on the under parts of the body
and throat are deep gray at the base, and white at the apex; the
hairs of the feet are brownish-white. The tail is tolerably well
clothed with hairs; those on the upper surface are brown, and
those on the under are dirty white. The ears are well clothed,
both externally and internally, with hairs of the same colour as
those on the upper parts of the body. The hairs of the moustaches
are for the most part whitish, and black at the base. The upper
incisors are pale yellow, and the lower incisors are yellowish
white.
In. Lines.
Length from nose to the root of tail 5 1
of tail 2 8
from nose to base of ears 1 2
of tarsus (claws included) 0 11
of ear. 0 5