[page] 15

February 14th, 1837.

William Brown Scott. Esq., in the Chair.

A letter was read from M. Julien Desjardins, a corresponding member of the Zoological Society, dated from the Mauritius, 15th July, 1836. The letter was accompanied by two copies of a memoir on the late Charles Telfair, Esq., President and Founder of the Natural History Society of that island. The memoir was written by M. Desjardins.

A letter dated Capetown, July 5th, 1836, from the Rev. James Adamson, a corresponding member, was read; the letter acknowledged the receipt of the printed Proceedings and Transactions of the Society, with thanks from the South African Literary and Scientific Institution.

A letter was also read from C. R. Read, Esq., a corresponding member, dated Singapore, September 2nd, 1836, announcing a present of 56 skins of birds, and the skin of an alligator of large size, which have been received.

At the request of the Chairman, Mr. Waterhouse brought under the notice of the Meeting numerous species of the genus Mus, forming part of the collection presented to this Society by Charles Darwin, Esq., a Corresponding Member. The specimens placed on the table had been collected at various parts of the Southern Coast of South America, viz. Coquimbo, Valparaiso, Port Desire, Maldonado, Bahia Blanca, &c.

Most of these numerous species were considered by Mr. Waterhouse as hitherto undescribed, and drawings were exhibited by him illustrative of the modifications observable in their dentition.

The specific characters of the species above referred to are as follows:

MUS TUMIDUS. M. brunneus, nigro lavatus, rostro and apicem, labiis, mento, gulâ, pectore, abdomineque albis, naso suprà nigrescente; mystacibus atris; capite magno; auribus mediocribus rotundatis, pilis nigris et griseis intermixtis, vestitis; corpore crasso; caudá capite corporeque breviore, pilis nigricantibus, subtùs albescentibus prope basin, vestitâ artubus pedibusque grisescentibus; vellere longo, molli; pilis dorsi ochraceo annulatis apicibus nigris; pilis laterum apicibus fuscescenti-griseis; pilis omnibus and basin plumbeis; unguibus longis.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caudæ basin ….	6	9
—— caudæ ……………	5	4
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi	0	9
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	1	8
—— tarsi digitorumque ………	1	6
—— auris ……………	0	7

Hab. Maldonado.

No. L. and LI.—PROCEEDINGS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

[page] 16

MUS. NASUTUS. M. suprà obscurè flavescenti-fuscus, ad latera fulvescens; subtùs obscurè fulvo tinctus: pedibus pilis obscurè fuscis tectis; unguibus longis; auribus mediocribus; caudâ corpore breviore, suprà fuscâ, subtùs sordidè albâ: rhinario producto: vellere longo et molli.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri usque ad caudæ basin	5	2
—— caudæ ……………	2	8
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi..	0	7¾
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	1	3
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	1	0½
—— auris ……………	0	5

Hab. Maldonado.

MUS OBSCURUS. M. suprà fusco-nigrescens, subtus flavescens; pedibus obscurè fuscis; unguibus longiusculis; auribus mediocribus; caudâ corpore breviore, supra nigrescente, subtus sordidè albâ vellere mediocri, molli.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri usque ad caudæ basin	5	3
—— cusdæ ……………	2	7
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi..	0	6
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	1	2½
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	0	11½
—— auris ……………	0	4

Hab. Maldonado.

MUS LONGIPILIS. M suprà obscurè griseus, flavo lavatus; subtus griseus; pedibus fascis, unguibus longiusculis, auribus mediocribus; caudâ corpore breviore, suprà nigrescente, subtùs fuscescente; rhinario sub-producto: vellere longissimo, molli.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri usque ad caudæ basin	5	4
—— caudæ ……………	3	1
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi..	0	6½
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	1	2
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	1	0½
—— auris ……………	0	6½

Hab. Coquimbo.

MUS OLIVACEUS. M. corpore suprà subolivaceo, subtùs cinerescente; auribus rnediocribus, rotundatis, pilis parvulis fusces-centibus obsitis; caudâ corpore breviore, pilosâ, pilosâ at squamas ostendente, suprà fuscâ subtùs albescente; pedibus pilis fuscescentibus tectis.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri usque ad caudæ basin	5	1
—— caudæ ……………	2	8
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi.	0	6
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	1	2
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	0	11
—— auris ……………	0	5
Latitudo auris ……………	0	5½

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Hujus speciei pili corporis omnes longi sunt, laxi, mollesque, plumbeo colore, sed in dorso ad apicem flavescente; abdomine, albescentes; pili longiores dorsales apicem versus nigricantes, cinerascentes desinunt: mystaces pilos tanues ostendunt cinereo colore, sed ad basin nigrescentes.

Hab. Valparaiso.

MUS MICROPUS. M. suprà cinerascenti-fuscus flavo lavatus; subtùs obscurè flavo tinctus; pedibus pilis sordidè albis tectis, antipedibus parvulis; auribus mediocribus; caudâ, quoad longitudinem, corpus ferè æquante, supra fuscâ subtùs sordidè albâ.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri usque ad caudæ basin	6	0
—— caudæ ……………	3	8
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi..	0	7
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	1	4
—— tarsi digitorumque	1	0¾
—— auris ……………	0	6

Hab. Santa Cruz.

MUS BRACHIOTIS. M. suprà obscurè fuscus, subtùs obscurè griseo tinctus; pedibus griseo-fuscis; auribus parvulis; caudâ, quoad longitudinem, corpus ferè æquante: vellere longo et molli.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri usque ad caudæ basin	4	9
—— caudæ ……………	2	8
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi..	0	6¼
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	1	2
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	0	11
—— auris ……………	0	3

Hab. in insulâ parvulâ apud Midship Bay, Chonos Archipelago.

MUS XANTHORHINUS. M. suprà griseus, subtùs albus, rhinario flavo; auribus parvulis, intùs pilis flavis obsitis; mystacibus longis, canis, ad basin nigrescentibus: caudâ corpore breviore, suprà fuscâ, ad latera flavescente, subtùs sordidè albâ pedibus anticis tarsisque flavis, digitis albis: vellere longo, molli.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caudæ basin	4	0
—— caudæ ……………	2	0
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi..	0	5
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	1	5 2/3
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	0	9
—— auris ……………	0	3 3/4

Statura mure musculo paulò major.

Hab. Santa Cruz.

MUS CANESCENS. M. suprà canescens, subùs albus, pallidè flavo lavatus; oculis flavido cinctis; auribus parvulis, pilis pallidè flavis et plumbeis obsitis; mystacibus mediocribus, canis, ad basin nigricantibus; caudâ vix corpore breviore, suprà fusco-nigrâ,

[page] 18

subtùs sordide albâ pedibus canescentibus; vellere mediocri, molli, suprà pilis pallidè et sordidè flavis, nonnullis cinerascentibus intermixtis.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caudæ basin ….	3	4
—— caudæ ……………	2	10
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi..	0	5½
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	0	11¼
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	0	9
—— auris ……………	0	3¾

Staturâ muri musculo appropinquat.

Hab. Port Desire.

MUS ARENICOLA. M. suprà fuscus, cinerascenti-albus, pallidè flavo tinctus;, auribus mediocribus rotundatis, pilis flavis fuscisque obsitis: caudâ quod ad longitudinem pertinet corpus æquante, pilis subvestitâ, squamisque apparentibus, suprà fuscâ, infrà albescente; pedibus obscurè albis. Vellere longo, molli; pilis ad bases plumbeis, illis capitis, dorsi, laterumque apicem versus sordidè flavo et fusco-nigrescente variegatis; mento, gulâ, pectore, abdomineque, pilis ad apicem flavo-albidis; mystacibus plenis, brevibus tenerrimis ad basin fuscescentibus, ad apicem grisescenti-albis.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri usque ad caudæ basin	4	3
—— caudæ ……………	2	9
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi ..	0	5¾
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	1	0
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	0	10
—— auris ……………	0	4½

Hab. Maldonado.

MUS BIMACULATUS. M. vellere pallidè ochraceo, pilis nigricantibus adsperso, his ad latera rarioribus; rostri lateribus, notâ magnâ pone aurem utramque, corporeque subtùs niveis: mystacibus albis, ad basin nigrescentibus; auribus majusculis, pilis flavis atque albis intermixtis obsitis: caudâ, quoad longitudinem, corpus ferè æquante, carneâ, pilis albis brevissimis obsitâ artubus albis; pedibus pilis albis sparsim tectis; tarsis ad calcem pilis argenteo-candidis obsitis.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caudæ basin ….	3	1
—— caudæ ……………	1	11
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi.	0	4½
—— ab apice rostri ad auris basin ….	0	8¾
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	0	8
—— auris ……………	0	4½

Hæc species mure musculo minor; auribus paululùm grandioribus ratione ad totam magnitudinem habitâ pili gulæ, pectoris abdominisque albi sunt usque ad radices.

Hab. Maldonado.

[page] 19

MUS ELEGANS. M. suprà flavus, vellere pilis fuscescentibus adsperso, his ad latera et prope oculos, rarioribus: pilis pone aurem utramque, labiis, corpore subtùs, pedibusque niveis: auribus magnis, intù pilis flavis, externè, ad partem anteriorem fuscis obsitis: mystacibus nigrescentibus, ad apicem albescentibus; caudâ capite corporeque paulo longiore, pilis albis, suprà fuscescentibus, obsitâ: tarsis longis, ad calcem pilis tectis.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caudæ basin ….	3	7
—— caudæ ……………	3	9
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi.	0	6
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	1	0
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	0	10
auris ……………	0	6

Hæc species staturâ muri musculo appropinquat. Vellus in gulâ usque ad radicem album, in abdomine pallidè cinereum ad basin.

Hab. Bahia Blanca.

MUS GRACILIPES. M. suprà fuscus flavo-lavatus; hoc colore apud latera et in artubus lætiore; pilis pone aurem utramque, labiis, corporeque subtùs, albis: pedibus parvulis, gracilibus, carneis, supra et ad calcem pilis albis tectis: caudà gracili, carneâ, pilis albis instructâ auribus majusculis, pilis flavescentibus obsitis: vellere mediocri et molli, pilis omnibus ad basin plumbeis: mystacibus nigrescentibus ad apicem albescentibus; nonnullis omninò albis.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caudæ basin ….	2	10
—— caudæ ……………	1	7
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi.	0	4 1/3
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	0	8¼
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	0	6½
—— auris ……………	0	4¼

Hab. Bahia Blanca.

MUS FLAVESCENS. M. suprà colore cinnamomeo, lateribus capitis, corporisque, æque ac pectore, auratis; gulâ abdomineque flavescenti-albis: pedibus albis: auribus mediocribus rotundatis, pilis flavis obsitis; illis ad marginem superiorem extrinsecùs intensè fuscis; caudâ corpore capiteque longiore, gracili, suprà fuscâ, subtùs sordidè albâ.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri usque ad caudæ basin	3	9
—— caudæ ……………	4	1½
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi.	0	5½
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	1	0
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	1	0
—— auris ……………	0	4½

Hab. Maldonado.

MUS BREVIROSTRIS. M. supra fuscus fulvo lavatus; ad latera flavescens, subtùs sordidè ochraceus; auribus magnis, pilis indi-

[page] 20

stinctè obsitis, illis internis auratis; caudâ capitem corpusque ferè æquante, pilis parcè tectâ suprà obscurè fuscâ, subtùs pallidè fuscâ pedibus fuscescentibus,digitis albicantibus; mystacibus fusco-nigris: vellere brevi, molli; capite parvulo, brevi.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caudæ basin ..	3	2
—— caudæ ……………	2	9
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi.	0	3¼
—— ab apice rostri ad basin auris ….	0	7
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	0	9
—— auris ……………	0	4¾

Hæc species muri musculo appropinquat; differt attamen capite minore, (ratione ad magnitudinem habitâ,) rostro breviore, tarsisque longioribus.

Hab. Maldonado.

MUS MAURUS. M. pilis subrigidis, suprà purpurascenti-nigris, subtùs fusco-plumbeis; capite fusco-nigro, rostro fusco; auribus parvulis sordidè albis, pilis minutissimis pallidè fuscis obsitis: caudâ corpus ferè æquante, nigrâ pilis sparsè vestitâ pedibus fuscis; mystacibus fusco-nigris, ad apicem grisescentibus.

	unc.	lin.
Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caudæ basin ..	11	3
—— caudæ ……………	7	6
—— ab apice rostri ad marginem oculi.	1	0
—— ob apice rostri ad basin auris	2	2
—— tarsi digitorumque …………	1	8
—— auris ……………	0	6¼

Hæc species colore muri ratto appropinquat, at purpurascentifusco tincta. Quoad staturam murem decumanum pergrandem æquat; vellus quoad texturam ferè est ut in mure decumano; et ad basin plumbeum; pilis albis in dorso lateribusque intersparsis.

Hab. Maldonado.

"Though in the foregoing description I have retained the generic title Mus, I have here to state that the above species naturally divide themselves into several subordinate groups, the characters of which are sufficiently evident, not only between themselves, but also between each group end that to which the term Mus ought, I conceive, to be restricted, and of which our common mouse (Mus musculus) may be regarded as the type. To these groups I shall here assign subgeneric titles, and at the same time point out their chief distinguishing characters without entering into any minute details respecting them, as I shall shortly have an opportunity of illustrating my views by means of drawings both of the teeth and of the animals, without which it is impossible to convey a clear idea of the subject."

Subgenus 1. SCAPTEROMYS*.

Molars with enamel deeply indented in the crown. In the front molar of the lower jaw the enamel is indented twice on the outer

* Scapteromys, from σκαπτηζ, a digger, and Mυς.

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margin and three times on the inner; in the second molar the enamel is indented once on the outer margin and twice on the inner; and in the last molar once on the outer, and twice on the inner. Fur long and soft. Tail moderate, well clothed with hair. Claws long, but slightly curved and formed for burrowing. Fore-feet moderately large. Thumb furnished with a distinct claw. Ears moderate, well clothed with hairs.

Species Mus (Scapteromys) tumidus.

Subgenus 2. OXYMYCTERUS*.

Molars with the folds of enamel penetrating deeply into the body of the tooth. Front molar of the lower jaw with three indentations on the inner side and two on the outer; second molar with two on the outer side and the same number on the inner; the last molar with one indentation of the enamel on each side. Fur long and soft. Claws long, but slightly curved, and formed for burrowing. A distinct claw on the thumb. Tail short, moderately furnished with hair. Nose much elongated and pointed.

Species Mus (Oxymycterus) nasutus.

Subgenus 3. ABROTHRIX^†.

Folds of enamel penetrating deeply into the sides of the molars. The front molar of the lower jaw has three folds of enamel on the inner side and two on the outer; the second molar has two on the inner side and one on the outer; and the last molar has one on each side. Fur long and soft. Tail short, well furnished with hair. Thumb with a short rounded nail. Ears well furnished with hair.

Type Mus (Abrothrix)	longipilis.
Species 2 Mus (Ab.)	obscurus.
—— 3 ———	olivaceus.
—— 4 ———	micropus.
—— 5 ———	brachyotis.
—— 6 ———	xanthorhinus.
—— 7 ———	canescens.
—— 8 ———	arenicola.

In general appearance these animals resemble Arvicolæ

Subgenus 4. CALOMYS^‡.

Fur moderate, soft. Tarsus almost entirely clothed beneath with hair. Front molar with three indentations of enamel on the inner side and two on the outer; second molar with two on the inner and two on the outer ; and the last molar with one on each side.

Type Mus (Calomys)	bimaculatus.
Species 2 Mus (Cal.)	elegans.
—— 3 ———	gracilipes.

Mus maurus and M. brevirostris I regard as belonging to the restricted genus Mus. In Mus flavescens the dentition differs slightly from that of the ordinary mice.

* Oxymycterus, from Oξυς, sharp, and Mυκτηζ, nose.

† Abrothrix, from 'Aβζος, soft or delicate, and θζιξ, hair.

‡ Calomys, from Kαλος beautiful, and Mυς

[page] 22

Mr. Gould exhibited, in continuation, the Fissirostral Birds of Mr. Darwin's collection, recently presented to the Society, and characterized from among them the following new species:

CAPRIMULGUS BIFASCIATUS. Cap. nigro, fusco, et fulvescente ornatus; caudâ albo bifasciatâ, fasciâ terminali lato: primâ angustâ primariis nigrescentibus fasciâ angustâ albâ ad medium: alis spuriis maculâ albâ notatis; gutture lunulâ albâ; secondariis tectricibusque alarum maculâ fulvescente ad apicem; crisso pallidè rufescente; rostro pedibusque fuscis.

Long. tot. unc., 9¾; alæ, 6½ caudæ, 5; tarsi, ¾.

CAPRIMULGUS PARVULUS. Cap. intensè fuscus, guttis minutis cinereis ornatus; vittâ rufâ cervicem cingente; gutture scapularibusque ad marginem, secondariis ad apicem stramineis; pectore et abdomine lineis fuscis transversis; primariis nigrescentibus, tribus fasciis inæqualibus pallidè rufescentibus; caudâ fasciis pallidè fulvescentibus et fuscis ornatâ.

Long. tot. unc., 7½ alæ, 5; caudæ 4; tarsi, 5/8.

HIRUNDO FRONTALIS. Hir. vertice plumis auricularibus dorso et lunulâ pectorali nitidè cæruleo viridescentibus, notâ albâ super nares, gulâ corporeque subtus albicantibus, crisso niveo, alis caudâque fuscis viridi tinctis, rostro nigro, pedibus intensè fuscis.

Long. tot 4¾ unc. alæ, 4¾ caudæ 2; tarsi, ½.

Hab. Montevideo.

HIRUNDO CONCOLOR. Hir. nitidè cærulescenti niger.

Long. tot. 5¾ unc. alæ, 5; caudæ, 2¾ tarsi, ½.

Hab. in insulis Galapagorum.

HALCYON ERYTHRORHYNCHUS. Halc. vertice plumis auricularibus, et nuchâ fuscescenti-cinereis, gulâ pectore et abdomine medio albis, lateribus abdomine imo crissoque castaneis, alis humerisque nigris secondariis and marginem dorso medio tectricibusque caudæ metalicè viridibus, cæruleo tinctis, caudâ cæruleâ superne, subtus fuscâ, rostro pedibusque rubris.

Long. tot. 7¾ unc.; rost., 2; alæ, 3¾ caudæ, 2½; tarsi, ½.

Hab. in insulâ St. Jago.