M u s ELEGANS.
Mus elegans, W aterk., Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for Febniary 1837, p. 19.
Eliginodontia typus, F . Cuvier, Annales des Sciences Naturelles for 5Iarcli 1837. Tom. 7. p. 169. PI. 5.
31. suprà Jiavus, vellere pilis fuscescentibus adsperso, his ad latera, et prope oculos
rarioribus ; pilis pone aurem utramque, labiis, corpore subtiis, pedibusque niveis ;
aurihus magnis ; caudâ capite corporeque paulo longiore; tarsis longis subtiis pilis
obsitis.
D e s c r i p t i o n .— Fur very long and soft ; general colour of the upper parts of the
body pale brownish yellow ; the lower portion of the cheeks, and the under
parts of the body pure white : the hairs of the ordinary fur of the back
are gray at the base, pale ochre near the apex, and brown at the apex ; the
longer hairs are brownish. On the sides of the body where the longer hairs
are less numerous, the pale ochre colour prevails ; the hairs on this part as on
the back are deep gray at the base, but at a short distance from the apex
they are white ; nearer the tip shaded into yellow, and at the tip brownish :
the limbs externally are of a pale yellow colour. The hairs of the throat and
chest are pure white to the root, those on the belly are obscurely tinted with
gray at the root. The feet are of a pale flesh-colour, and furnished with
white hairs; the fore feet are of moderate size ; the thumb nail is small and
rounded, and the carpal tubercle is covered with hairs ; the tarsi are long,
and the white hairs extend over the whole of the under parts ; the under
side of the toes, however, are but sparingly furnished. There appears to be
but one large tubercle on the under side of the tarsus, and this, which is
situated near the base of the toes, is thickly covered with silvery-white
hairs. The tail is long, pale brown above, and pale flesh-colour beneath ;
above, it is furnished with minute brown hairs, and on the under side with
white hairs. The ears are rather large, of a pale flesh colour, tolerably
well clothed with hairs, which are of a pale yellow colour on the inner side,
and white on the outer side — excepting on the fore part, where they are
brown. A small tuft of white hairs springs from the base of the ear
posteriorly. The hairs of the moustaches are moderate ; black at the base,
and grayish at the apex.