“ 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. M u s R e n g g e r i .
P l a t e X V .—Pig. 1 .
Mus olivaceus, Waterh., Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, for February 1838, p. 16.
31. corpore suprà suholivaceo, subtùs cinerescente ; auribus mediocribus, rotmidatis,
pilis qxirvulis fuscescentibus obsitis ; caudâ corpore breviore, pilosa, suprà fuscâ subtùs
albescente; pedibus ¡nlis fuscescentibus tectis.
D e s c r ip t io n .— 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 wliite 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.
Length from nose to the root of tail
of tail . . . .
from nose to base of ears
In. Lines.
Length of tarsus (claws included) . . 0 1 1
of ear . . . . . 0 5
Habitat, Valparaiso (August and September,) Coquimbo (3Iay.)
Subsequent to the description of this species, under the name of 31. olivaceus
in the Zoological Society’s Proceedings, I have imagined that perhaps that name
might mislead as regards the colouring of the animal;—it certainly has a slight
olive hue, but it is not very evident. I have therefore changed the name, and
substituted that of the author of the “ Naturgeschichte der Siiugethiere von Paraguay,”
&c.