Handle with EXTREME CARE This volume is B GENERAL ZOOLOGY SYSTEMATIC CMlTUIUL, HISTORY GEORGE SHAW. M.D. E R. WITH PJLATES front the first Authorities and most select specimens //'/ / HEATH. /// s- s //ff // ('// ) / y •*" \ \[ M A ]L I A London Printe d for G. Ke arsley, Fie et Street 18 Ol. GENERAL ZOOLOGY. VOLUME II. PART I. MAMMALIA. LONDON. PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITE-FRIARS. 1801. GENERAL ZOOLOGY. VOL. Ill, or the next Volume, which will be pub- lished with all convenient expedition, will contain the WHOLE OF THE AMPHIBIA ; and av'//, oj course, comprise the Tortoise, Frog, Lizard, and Serpent Tribes. CONTENTS VOL. II.— PART I. ARCTOMYS GENUS 114 CASTOR GENUS . JO Alagtaga . • 185 DlPUS GENUS '74 Aguti . . 25 Dormouse, common 167 fit T^l Acouchy 27 J >- saulted, and can thus sometimes wound pretty smartly with his spines, and this is said to be par- ticularly the case with a small species found in North America, and known by the name of the Urson, or Canada Porcupine. Dr. Patrick Brown, in his Natural History of Jamaica, speaking of the common Porcupine, which, he savs, is sometimes brought into that V O island from the coast of Guinea in the African ships, observes, that " the force and mechanism with which this animal darts its long thorns at its enemy, when it is enraged, is really admirable : nor are the infinitely small sets these are beset with less remarkable, by which they stick in the flesh with more obstinacy than a simple body of the same form would do. These little sets are 6 COMMON PORCUPINE. are very observable to the touch ; for, on holding a thorn in your hands, and endeavouring to pull equally with both, you will find the thickest end to glide with much more ease through your fin- gers than the other. " The Porcupine feeds principally on roots, fruits, barks, and other vegetable substances : it inhabits holes or subterraneous retreats, which it is said to form into several compartments or divisions, leav- ing only a single hole or entrance. It sleeps much by day, and makes its excursions for food during the night. The female produces two young at a birth, and these, if taken early, are said to be easily tamed. The Porcupine admits of considerable variety as to the length and proportion of the quills in different specimens and from different countries : the long crested bristles on the back of the head, in particular, are much more conspicuous in some than in others. JZ3- PREHENSILE PORCUPINE , futlyhd »c ft Martin'. Pltrt SlrrfL ' 7 PREHENSILE PORCUPINE. Hystrix Prehensilis. //. pedibus tetradadylis, cauda dongata prehensili seniinuda. Lin. Sy*t. Nat. p. 76. Short-spined Porcupine, with tetradactylous feet, and long half- naked prehensile tail. Hystrix cauda longissima tenui, medietate extrema aculeorum experte. Briss. Qua dr. p. 129. Le Coendou a longue queue. Buff, suppl. 7. p. 305. j^. /8. BrasiUan porcupine. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 124. THIS is an American species, and is found in many of the hotter parts of that continent ; par- ticularly in Brasil, where it inhabits woods, and climbs trees; clinging occasionally to the branches by its tail, in the manner of some of the Opos- sums and Monkies. It is said to feed not only on fruits of various kinds/ but also on birds. It sleeps during the greater part of the day, con- cealing itself in the hollows of trees, or beneath O J their roots. Its voice, according to Marcgrave, resembles the grunting of a pig. Its general length is about a foot, and the tail about eighteen inches. The whole animal, except on the belly and insides of the limbs, is covered with short, strong, and very sharp spines, of which the long- est measure three inches, and are white, barred towards the points with black. The colour of the hair with which the under parts are covered is a dusky brown. The head is small ; the HOSQ extremely blunt ; and the teeth very large and strong : the ears short, moderately large, and round- ed : the feet have four toes each, with strong claws, and a tubercle in place of a fifth toe : the tail is covered with spines for about a third part of its length ; the remainder being nearly naked, and strongly prehensile. In the Leverian Museum is a very fine specimen of this animal. MEXICAN PORCUPINE. Hystrix Mexicana. H. pedibus tetradactylis, cauda mediocri. Short-spined Porcupine, with tetradactylous feet, and tail of mo- derate length. Hystrix Novae Hispaniae. H. aculeis apparentibus, cauda breii, et crassa. Briss. Quadr. 127. Le Coendou. Buff. 12 p. 418. pJ. 54. Mexican Porcupine. Pennant Quadr. z.p.i2,$. THE Mexican Porcupine, which is placed as a variety of the Hystrix prehensilis in the Gmeli- nian edition of the Systema Naturae, seems to be justly considered by Mr. Pennant as a distinct species. It is as large, according to Hernaiides, as a middle-sized dog, and is of a dusky brown colour, with very long bristles intermixed with the fur : the spines, with which the upper parts are covered, are about three inches long, slender, and varied with white and yellow, and are not very apparent through the hairs, except on the tail, which is much thicker and shorter in pro- portion than in the Brasilian Porcupine, and, like that, is naked, or without spines from the middle to the end. This animal inhabits the hilly parts of Mexictf, residing in woods, and feeding, 224 IRTOE BRTUSH-TAILEB PORCUPINE. idol Jan*, i? Lyndon Pubtoh'd br & Kcarjit*. fleet JO-ret. IRIDESCENT PORCUPINE. like the former, on fruits, &c. It is said to be easily tamed. The Indians apply the quills to the forehead in cases. of headach : they are said to adhere till they are filled with blood, and then to fall off; thus relieving the complaint in a most efficacious manner. Buffon seems to have con- sidered this species as the same with the Hystrix prehensilis. It is said .to have a strong and dis- agreeable odour. The female produces two young at a birth, in the hollows of trees. IRIDESCENT PORCUPINE. Hystrix .Macroura. H. pcdibus penfadactyhs, cauda longissona, acukis claratis. Lin.'Syiit. Xat. p. 77. Short-spined Porcupine, with pentadactylous feet, and very long tail, tufted at the extremity with clavated bristles. Hystrix Orientalis. H. cauda longissima, acutei-s undique obsita, in ejctremo paniculata. Briss. QuaJr. 131. Porcus aculeatus sylvestris, &c. Stb. i. p. 84. pi. 52. The rice-tailed Porcupine. Long-tailed Porcupine. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 1:3. THE iridescent Porcupine is an animal of a very extraordinary appearance. It is of a very thick form, and is coated with short, stiff, needle- like bristles, or small spines, which, according to the different directions of the light, exhibit changeable colours, appearing either of a gilded green, or of a reddish tinge. The head is thick and short ; the snout blunt ; the eyes large ; the ears rather small, rounded, and smooth within ; the whiskers long, and the upper lip divided like 10 IRIDESCENT PORCUPINE. that of a hare : the feet, according to Seba, are all furnished with five toes, of which the exterior is shortest : the claws are thick and strong : the tail is very long, and covered with short spiny hair, like that on the body, except at the extre- mity, which is tufted with a thick brush of quills of an extraordinary form, consisting each of a long slender stem, swelling out at intervals into knots resembling grains of rice, and tipped with a similar knot : this tufted extremity of the tail is of a silvery white colour, and the quills which compose it are of different lengths. It inhabits the islands of the Indian Archipelago, and resides in woods. It appears to have been first described by Seba, whose elegant figure has been generally copied by succeeding writers. If we except the gilded or Cape Mole, it seems to be almost the only quadruped yet known with changeable-co- loured hair. Seba informs us that his figure of this animal was taken from a very fine and per- fect specimen in the Museum of Mr. Vincent of Harlem, he having only a specimen of the tail in his own collection. He adds, that the species is mentioned by Bontius ; and that others of good credit affirm that they have seen it in the Indian islands; and that in its gall-bladder is found a calculus which is esteemed equal in virtue to- that of the Malacca Porcupine (Malacca Hedge- hog), and is called by the Portuguese, Piedra de uerco.. 11 BRUSH-TAILED PORCUP1VE. Hystrix Fasciculata. H. palmis tctradactylis, plantis pctadacty- lisj cauda mediftcri apice sdis complanatisjasciculato. Porcupine with tetradactylous fore-feet, pentadactylous hind- feet, and tail terminated by a tuft of flattened bristles. Le Pore-epic de Malaca. Bitjf. suppL 7. p. 303. pi. 77. THIS animal, which is described and figured in the 7th supplemental volume of the Count de Buffon's History of Quadrupeds, is a native of Malacca. It differs, according to that author, from the Common Porcupine in several particu- lars, and especially in the form and length of its tail, which is naked, scaly, about a third of the length of the body, and terminated by a tuft of long flat hairs, or rather small white laminae, resembling strips of parchment. The body mea- sures fifteen or sixteen inches, and is consequently less than that of the European Porcupine ; the head also is longer in proportion, and the snout, which is covered with a black skin, is furnished with whiskers of five or six inches in length : the eyes are small and black : the ears smooth, round, and naked : there are four toes, united by a com- mon membrane, on the fore feet, with only a tubercle in place of a fifth toe : the hind feet have five toes, united in a similar manner by a mem- brane somewhat smaller than that of the- fore feet : the legs are covered with blackish hair : the flanks and upper parts of the body are whiti-h, and covered with spines shorter than those of the 12 BRUSH-TAILED PORCUPINE. Common Porcupine, and of a peculiar shape, being a little flattened, and channeled with a longitudinal furrow ; they are white at the point, and black in the middle, and many of them are black above and white below ; and from this mixture results a varying cast of black and white over the whole body of the animal. This species, like others of its genus (which Nature seems to have provided with defensive weapons only), possesses a kind of instinctive fierceness : when approached it stamps with its feet, and appears to inflate itself, raising and shaking its quills. It sleeps much by day, and is active only by night. It eats in a sitting pos- ture ; holding apples and other fruits between its paws, peeling them with its teeth : it is particularly pleased with stone fruits, and especially with apri- cots : it will also eat melons, and is never observed to drink. The above description was drawn up from two of these animals in a living state, at Paris, in the year 1777. J25 13 CANADA PORCUPINE. Hystrix Dorsata. H. palmis tetradactylis, plant is pentadactylis, dvrso prcrcipue spinoso, cauda subabbreriata. Short-spined Porcupine, with very long fur, tetradactylous fore- feet, pentadactylous hind- feet, spiny back, and shortish tail. Hystrix Hudsonis. H. aculeis sub pilis occidtis, cauda brevi 391- Jonst. Quadr. 162. Le Cochon D'Inde. Buff. 8. p. i. pL i. Restless Cavy. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 89. THIS species, from the beauty and variety of its colours and the neatness of its appearance, must have early attracted the attention of those Euro- peans who first visited South America ; even the wild or native specimens, being variegated with black, white, reddish, or yellow, in the same manner as those which are so frequently reared in Europe. This little animal is very easily rendered tame, but is seldom observed to shew any very lively attachment to its benefactors ; and is not di- stinguished by any remarkable degree of docility : it is, however, cleanly, harmless, and of a timid disposition. In a state of confinement it breeds almost every two months ; and often produces a v. ii. p. i. 18 VARIEGATED CAW. very numerous offspring at a birth*. The young very soon acquire the necessary degree of strength and perfection of their species, though they con- tinue to grow till seven or eight months. They, therefore, require but for a short time the atten- tion of the parent, and even in the space of twelve hours can run about with as much agility as the full-grown animals. Since the female is furnished with only two teats, and yet produces a numerous offspring, it might at rirst appear as if Nature hud but ill provided or proportioned the power of nourishment for the young ; this, however, is by no means the case, since the young, in a few hours after birth, are capable of eating various vegetable substances, and consequently require but very little assistance on the part of the mo- ther. In their native regions of South America they are chiefly found in Brasil. They willingly feed on a great variety of vegetable substances, and may be successfully reared on parsley, cab- bage, sowthistles, &c. and if permitted to range in a garden, will readily support themselves, with- out any assistance. In winter they may be fed with bread, carrots, grain of various kinds, &c. They drink but very little, and, after eating, ex- hibit the appearance of rumination, in the same * From four to ten or twelve. According to the Count de Bui- fon, a single pair might produce 1000 in one year, since they pro- duce at least every two months ; go with young only three week< ; and have been known to bring forth young when only two month* old. VARIEGATED CAVY. j<> manner as the Hare. They are very tender ani- mals, and susceptible of cold, and should there- fore be provided with warm receptacles to retire into in bad weather. If fed too long on very succulent food, as cabbage, sowthistle, .Sec. thev »/ receive injury by it, and should be relieved by allowing them more solid food, as bread, grain, £c. They have often been used as an article of food, and are in some place considered as a deli- cacy. In their habits they are extremely neat, and may be frequently observed in the act of smoothing and dressing their fur, somewhat in the manner of a Cat. In their quarrels they not only bite but kick each other, like horses, with their hind feet. It is observed, that the male and female seldom sleep at the same time ; but seem alternately to watch each other ; the one sleeping while the other is feeding, &c. Their general voice is a sort of grunting ^queak, and sometimes a shriller or sharper cry. SPOTTED CAW. CaviaPaca. C. caudata,pedibuspentadactylis, latenbusjlai'cscente- lintatis. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p. 120. Tailed Cavy, with pentadactylous feet, and sides marked by rows of yellowish white spots. Mus Paca. M. cauda abbrei'iata, pedibus pentadactylis, latcribus Jla-ccscente-lincati-s. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 81. Paca. Buff". 10. p. 269. pi. 34. and Suppl. 3. p. 203. pi. 35. Spotted Cavy. Pennant Quadr. p. 120. Tins is a large species, measuring near two feet in lengh. It is found in Guiana, Brasil, and other parts of South America ; inhabiting holes formed under ground, and principally near the banks of rivers. It is of a thick, clumsy form, somewhat resembling that of a pig ; for which reason it has been sometimes called the Hog- Rabbet. The head is round ; the muzzle short and black ; the upper jaw longer than the lower ; the lip divided like that of a hare; the nostrils large ; the whiskers long ; the eyes large and pro- minent, and of a brown colour ; the ears short, moderately large, round, and naked ; the neck thick ; the body very plump, larger behind than before, and covered with coarse, short, thinly- scattered hair of a dusky colour, deepest on the back : the throat, breast, insides of the limbs, and belly, are of a dingy white ; and on each side the body run five rows of roundish, slightly angular spots, situated pretty near each other : the legs are short ; and the feet have five toes, four of which are armed with strong and sharp SPOTTUD CAPYBARA. CAPYBARA. 21 claws ; that on the fifth toe being very small : the tail is scarce visible, being a mere small coni- cal projection of scarce half an inch in length. The Spotted Cavy is a nocturnal animal,, residing in a solitary manner in his hole during almost the whole day. In a domestic state it readily feeds on almost any kind of vegetable diet, and is par- ticularly fond of sugar and fruits. It is much esteemed as an article of food by the South Ame- ricans. It is subject to some variety in point of colour, and has been sometimes seen quite white. Its general length, when full-grown, is about two feet. The female is said to produce but one young at a birth, CAPYBARA. Cavia Capybara. C. ecaudata, plantis tridactytis palmatu. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 123. Tailless Cavy, with tridactyle pal mated hind-feet. Sus Hydrochaeris. 5. plantis tridactylis, cauda nulla. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 103. Cabiai. Buff. 12. p. 384. pi. 49. Thick-nosed Tapir. Pennant Synops. p. 83. Capybara. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 88. THE characters of this animal are somewhat ambiguous, and it was formerly considered by Linnaeus as a species of Hog, and was accordingly placed in that genus in the 12th edition of the Systema Naturae, under the name of Sits Hydro- chceris. Mr. Pennant, in his Synopsis ofQuadru- 22 CAPYBARA. peels, placed it with the Tapir, though in his His- tory of Quadrupeds he has stationed it among the rest of the Cavies. Dr. Pallas seems to have first ascertained its true situation in systematic arrangement, and has described it by the name of Cavia Capybara, the latter word being its Brasil- ian or native name. The Capybara grows to the size of a hog of two years old, and is said to have been sometimes found of the weight of 100 pounds. It inhabits various parts of South America, though said to be more common in Brasil than in other regions. It feeds not only on various vegetables, and par- ticularly on sugar canes, but also (contrary to the nature of most of the Glires) on fish ; for which purpose, it frequents rivers, swimming with the same facility as the Otter, and, like that animal, dragging its prey out of the water, and eating it on the bank. These excursions in quest of prey are made principally during the night. The Ca- pybara is, in general, considered as of a gentle disposition, and is readily tamed and made fami- liar : the female produces but one young at a birth. These animals are said to go in pairs, and are naturally shy and timid. Their voice re- sembles the braying of an ass. The Capybara runs but indifferently, on account of the length of its feet, and, therefore, commonly makes its escape by plunging into the water, and swimming to a great distance ; and for this reason it is but seldom seen at any great distance from the banks of rivers. CAPYBARA. 23 A living specimen, in a half-grown state, was seen by the Count de Buffon, which had been brought into France from America. It was of a gentle disposition, and was fed with bread, milk, fruit, Uj-h*d iv G £jzar*ley fleet MUSK RAT. 45 Sarrazin *, at that time king's Physician at Que- bec. It is from the above description that the Count cle BufTbn has drawn up the major part of his own account, and indeed it does not appear possible to add any thing material to what Mons. Sarrazin has delivered. This animal is of the size of a small rabbet, and is extremely common in Canada. Its head is short, like that of a water-rat ; the eyes large ; the ears very short, rounded, and covered internally as well as externally with hair. It has, like the rest of this tribe, four very strong cutting teeth, of which those in the lower jaw are near an inch long ; those in the upper somewhat shorter: the fur on the whole body is soft and glossy, and beneath is a fine fur, or thick down, as in the Beaver : the toes on all the feet are simple, or without membranes, and are covered with hair : the tail is nearly as long as the body, and is of the same form with that of the Sorex mos- chatus or Musk Shrew, being laterally compressed ; it is nearly naked, and covered with small scales intermixed with scattered hairs. The general co- lour of the animal is a reddish brown ; of the tail ash colour. In its general appearance this ani- mal greatly resembles the Beaver, except in size, and in the form of its tail. It has also similar in- stincts and dispositions ; living in a social state in the wintei", in curiously-constructed huts or ca- * Sarrazin was also an excellent botanist, and the remarkable genus Sarracenia was instituted in honour of him by Tournefort, to whom he had sent specimens from Canada. 46 MUSK KAT. bins, built near the edge of some lake or river. These huts are about two feet and a half or three feet in diameter, plastered with great neatness in the inside, and covered externally with a kind of basket-work, of rushes, &c. interlaced toge- ther so as to form a compact and secure guard, impermeable by water. During the winter these receptacles are generally covered by several feet of snow, and the animals reside in them without being incommoded by it, several families com- monly inhabiting each cabin. It is added that the insides of the receptacles are furnished with a series of steps, to prevent them from being in^ jured by inundations. These animals do not lay up a stock of provisions like the Beaver, but form subterraneous passages beneath and round their cabins, to give themselves an opportunity of pro- curing occasional supplies of roots, herbage, £c. According to Mons. Sarrazin the animal is parti- cularly calculated by Nature for its subterraneous habits ; having a great muscular force in its skin, which enables it to contract its body occasionally into a small volume : it has also a great suppleness in the false ribs, which easily admit of contrac- tion, so that it is enabled to pass through holes impervious to much smaller animals than itself. During the summer these creatures wander about in pairs, feeding voraciously on herbs and roots. Their odour, which resembles that of musk, is so strong as to be perceived at a consi- derable distance ; and the skin, when taken from the body, still retains the scent : this musky odour MUSK RAT. 4? is owing to a whitish fluid deposited in certain glands situated near the origin of the tail. It has been supposed that the Calamus aromaticus, or sweet flag (Acorus Calamus. Lin. ), which these animals select as a favourite food, may contribute to their fragrant smell. They walk and run in an awkward manner, like the Beaver, and they cannot swim so readily as that animal, their feet being unfurnished with webs. Their voice is said to resemble a groan. The females produce their young towards the beginning of summer, and have five or six at a time ; and these, if taken early, are easily tamed, and become very spor- tive ; and it is remarkable that the tail, which in the full-grown animal is as long as the body, is at that period very short. The fur of this species is greatly esteemed as a commercial article, resembling that of the Beaver. Linnaeus in the twelfth edition of the Systema Naturae ranked the animal under the genus Cas- tor ; and Mr. Pennant has followed his example. Mr. Schreber, however, considers it as belonging in strict propriety to the present genus. COYPU HAT. Mas Coypus. M. cauda mediocri subcompressa pilosa, plantis palmatu. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p. 125. Brown Rat, with slightly compressed hairy tail of middling length, and webbed hind feet. Mus Coypus. Molina Hist. Chil.p. 255. Coypu Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 177. THE first describer of this animal was Molina, who informs us that it is an inhabitant of the waters of Chili ; that it has the general appear- ance of an Otter, being of the same size and co- lour ; but that in its teeth it agrees with the rat tribe: the feet are each furnished with five toes ; those of the hind feet being connected by a web : the ears are rounded, the nose longish and covered with whiskers, and the tail thick and flattish on the sides. This animal lives occasionally on land as well as water ; sometimes frequenting houses, and is easily tamed. The female produces five or six young at a birth. 49 With round naked Tails. Mus Pilorides. M. cauda langivscula squamata truncato-obtusa, corpore albido. Li». Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 126. Whitish Rat, with longish, scaly, obtusely- truncated tail. 0. Castor cauda lineari tereti. Broun Jam. p. 484. '? Piloris. Bujf. lo.p. 2. THIS species is found in India and the Indian islands, and in size nearly equals the Guinea-Pig. Its colour is whitish, with a cast of grey-ferru- ginous on the back, and of cinereous on the ab- domen : the tail is longish, nearly naked, scaly, and obtuse at the extremity. A variety of this animal is found in the American islands, which seems to differ from the above in bein«- of a darker C7 colour on the back, and in having a much shorter tail. Perhaps it may be a distinct species, but the history of both seems at present not suffi- ciently clear to enable us to determine this point. v. ii. P. i. 50 CARACO RAT. Mus Caraco. M. cauda longa squamosa dbtitsiuscula, corpore griseo, plantu subsemipalmatis Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 126. Grey Rat, with long, scaly, somewhat obtuse tail, and slightly semipalmated hind feet. Mus Caraco. Pall. glir. p.qi.n. 39. p. 33$. t. 23. American Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 180. THE Caraco, first described by Dr. Pallas, so extremely resembles the brown or Norway rat, that at first sight it might be mistaken for that animal ; but on an accurate survey, it will be found that the head is rather longer and sharper in proportion ; the upper jaw much longer than the lower, and the lip very much divided : the teeth are not so strong as in the Norway rat, and the tail is considerably shorter. This species abounds in the eastern parts of Siberia, frequent- ing the banks of rivers, and swimming very readily, so that it may be considered as in a man- ner amphibious. Dr. Pallas supposes this species to have migrated from the southern parts of China. The length of the Caraco is six inches, and of the tail four and a half or rather more. Its colour is similar to that of the brown or Nor- way rat. Mr. Pennant supposes his American Rat to be the same species with the Caraco. It inhabits North America, and in size, colour, &c. seems to agree with it. Mr. Pennant describes it from a specimen in the Leverian Museum. i3o NORWAY RAT. Mus Decumanus. AT. cauda longissima squamata, corpore setoso griseo subtus albido. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 127. Grey stiff-haired Rat, with very long scaly tail, and body whitish beneath. Surmulot. BirJF. 8. p. 2o6.pl. 27. Brown Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 1/8. Norway Rat. Brit. Zod. p. 102. THIS domestic species, which is now become the common rat of our own island, and is popu- larly known by the name of the Norway Rat, is supposed to be a native of India and Persia, from which countries it has been imported into Eu- rope. In England it seems to have made a na- tional conquest over the black rat, which is now become rare in comparison. The brown rat is larger than the black rat, measuring nine inches from the nose to the tail, which is of the same length, and marked into about two hundred rings or circular spaces : the colour of the animal is a pale tawny grey, whitish beneath : the fore feet have four toes, with a claw in place of a fifth. It is a bold and voracious animal, and commits great havoc in granaries, &c. Sometimes it takes up its residence in the banks of waters, and swims occasionally with almost as much facility as the water rat, or Mux amphiblus. In its gene- ral manner of life it agrees with the black rat ; and not only devours grain and fruits, but preys on poultry, rabbets, and various other animals. It is a very prolific species, and produces from ten 52 BLACK RAT. to twelve or fourteen, or even sometimes eighteen . o young at a time *. When closely pursued it will sometimes turn upon its adversary, and bite with great severity. It seems to have made its first ap- pearance in England about seventy years ago, and is still much less frequent in France and some other parts of the continent than the black rat. In France, according to Buffon, it was first observed at Chantilly, Marly-la- Ville, and Versailles, where it committed great ravages. This author affirms that it breeds three times a year. BLACK RAT. Mus Rattus. M. cauda longissima squamosa, corpore atro subtu* canescente. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p. 127. Blackish Rat, ash-coloured beneath, with very long scaly tail. Mus domesticus major. Gesn. Quadr. p. 731. Aldr. dig. P-4'5- Rat. Buf. 8. p. 2-j8.pl. 36. Black Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 1/6. THIS species, like the former, though now so common in most parts of Europe, is supposed to have been originally introduced from India and Persia. Its general length, from nose to tail, is seven inches, and of the tail eight inches : the co- lour of the head and whole upper part of the body is a dark iron or blackish grey : the belly is of a dull ash-colour : the legs are dusky, and * Pennant Brit. Zool. BLACK RAT. 53 very slightly covered with hair : the fore feet, as in the brown rat, have only four toes, with a small claw in place of a fifth : the tail is nearly naked, coated with a scaly skin, and marked into nume- rous divisions or rings. Like the former species this animal breeds frequently, and commonly brings about six or seven young at a time. Sometimes they increase so fast as to overstock the place of their abode, in which case they fight and devour each other. It is said that this is the reason why these animals, after being: extremely troublesome, ZJ v sometimes disappear suddenly. Various are the methods made use of for the expulsion of rats from the places they frequent ; among which none is more singular than that mentioned by Gesner, who tells us he had been informed that if a rat be caught and a bell tied round its neck, and then set at liberty, it will drive away the rest wherever it goes. This expedient appears to be occasion- ally practised in modern times with success*. Its * A gentleman travelling through Mecklenburgh about thirty years ago, was witness to the following curious circumstance in the post-house in New Stargard. After dinner the landlord placed on the floor a large dish of soup, and gave a loud whistle. Immediately there came into the room a Mastiff, a fine Angora Cat, an old Raven, and a remarkably large Rat, with a bell about its neck. The four animals went to the dish, and without dis- turbing each other, fed together ; after which the Dog, Cat, and Rat, lay before the fire, while the raven hopped about the room. The landlord, after accounting for the familiarity which existed among the animals, informed his guest that the Rat was the most useful of the four, for the noise he made had completely freed the house from the rats and mice with which it was before infested. 54 BANDICOTE RAT. greatest natural enemy is the weesel, which pur- sues it into all its recesses, and destroys it. A very small variety of this species, not much larger than a mouse, is said by Dr. Pallas to be found about the deserts in the lower parts of the Volga. Like many other quadrupeds, the rat is sometimes seen per- fectly white, in which case it has red eyes. The white rat, however, as we are assured by Mr. Schreber, does not always produce young ones of a similar colour ; so that such varieties can hardly be considered as permanent This is proved from an observation of Professor Herman, who having 7 O kept a pregnant white rat for some time, found that the young ones were of the usual colour of their species. The Rat is supposed to be a native of North America, as well as of Europe, but it is said that South America was entirely free from it, till it was imported there in ships from Europe, in the year 1554. BANDICOTE RAT. Mus Malabaricus. M. griseus, auriculis rotundatis nudis, digitis plantarum exterioribus brevioribus. Grey Rat, with naked rounded ears, and the two exterior toes of the hind feet shorter than the rest. THIS is a very large species, being at least equal, if not superior, to a rabbet in size. In its shape and general appearance it seems most to resemble the Norway rat. Its colour is a pale PERCHAL RAT. 55 cinereous brown ; the ears thin, nearly bare, and rounded ; the snout rather long ; the fore feet shaped like those of the Norway rat, with four toes, and a claw in place of a fifth : the hind feet have five toes, of which the two exterior are con- siderably shorter than the rest : the tail is above eleven inches in length. This species is said to be very common about the coasts of the Malabar country. At Pondicherry it is frequent, infest- ing houses like the brown rat. Its voice is said to resemble the grunting of a pig. PERCHAL RAT. Mus Perchal. M.fusco-ferntgineus, subtus c'wereus, pedibus pos- terioribus majoribus. Ferruginous brown Rat, with the hind legs larger than the fore. Le Rat Perchal. Buff, suppl. 7. p. 2j6.pl. 69. This species is a native of India, and in its ge- neral appearance resembles the Norway rat, but is of a longer shape, with a thicker and shorter tail in proportion. It is of a deep subferruginous brown above, and of a greyish cast beneath : the hind legs are larger than the fore : the ears naked and rounded, and the nose rather blunt. This Rat is said to be very numerous about Pondi- cherry, infesting houses in the same manner as the rats of Europe. It seems to have been first described by Mons. Sonnerat, and is evidently allied to the Bandicote rat. Both species are said to be occasionally eaten by the natives. COMMON MOUSE. Mus Musculus. M. cauda clongata subnuda, pa/mis tctradacti/- Us, plantis pentadactylis, pollicemutico. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 81. Brown Mouse, ash-coloured beneath, with tetradactylous fore- feet, pentadactylous hind-feet, and long nearly naked tail. Sonris. Buff. 7. p. 309. pi. 39. and Suppl. 3. p. 181. pi. 30. Common Mouse. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 184. THE manners and appearance of this little ani- mal are so universally known, that it seems al- most unnecessary to particularise it by a formal description. It is a general inhabitant of almost every part of the old continent, but it is doubtful whether it be originally a native of America, though now sufficiently common in many parts of the new world, as well as in many of its scattered islands. The Mouse, though wild and extremely timid, is not of a ferocious disposition, but may be easily tamed, and soon after it has been taken, will be- gin to feed without fear, in the immediate pre- sence of its captors. The white variety is fre- quently kept in a tame state, and receives an additional beauty from the bright red colour of its eyes ; a particularity which generally accom- panies the white varieties, not only of this tribe, but of many other quadrupeds. The Mouse is a prolific animal: the experi- ment of Aristotle is well known, and often quoted. He placed a pregnant mouse in a vessel of grain, and after a short space, found in it no less than £ COMMON MOUSE. 57 the number of 120, all which, he concluded, were the descendants of the mouse he had inclosed. The fur of the Mouse is remarkably soft and elegant, and the structure of the hair in this ani- mal, as well as in the rat, and probably of many others of this genus, is singularly curious ; each hair, when microscopically examined, appearing internally divided into a kind of transverse par- titions, as if by the continuation of a spiral fibre; a structure very different from that of the hair of most other animals, and of which the particular nature seems not very distinctly understood. Derham, in his Physico-Theology, conceives that this mechanism of a spiral fibre may serve for the (t gentle evacuation of some humour out of the body," and adds, that "perhaps the hair serves as well for the insensible perspiration of hairy animals as to fence against cold and wet." Whatever be the real nature or use of the above structure, its appearance cannot fail to excite astonishment in those who take the pains of exa- mining it with a good microscope. In the an- nexed plate are introduced some figures of the hairs of a Mouse, highly magnified, in order to give a clear idea of this curious appearance. In Aldrovandus, who relates the circumstance from Gesner, we meet with a direction for chana:- o ing, as it were, a mouse into a cat, by making it the incessant persecutor and enemy of the rest of its species. This is to be effected by placing several mice together in a vessel, without food ; when, after a certain space, they will be so stimu- 58 WOOD MOUSE. lated by hunger as to destroy each other: the surviving animal being then liberated, will, ac- cording to this author, become the most destruc- tive enemy of his own tribe, and will kill every one he meets. Another singular and most cruel experiment is quoted by Aldrovandus from Mi- zaldus, who tells us, that if two or three mice are shut up in an earthen pot, and placed over a fire, the shrill cries which they utter will attract the mice in the other parts of the house, and cause them to precipitate themselves into the fire. Whatever truth there may be in this experiment, it is certain that, on the shrill cry of distress ut- tered by one of these animals kept with several others in a cage, the rest will frequently attack and destroy it. WOOD MOUSE. Mus Sylvaticus. M . cauda longa squamosa, corpore griseo-lutes- cente subtus latertbusque abruptc albo. JJn. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p~. 129. Yellowish-brown Mouse, with long naked tail, and body white beneath, the colours being abruptly separated on the sides. Field Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 184. Brit. Zool. i. p. 105. Mulot. Buff", j.p. 325. pi. 41. THIS animal chiefly frequents dry and elevated grounds, and is found in woods and fields in great plenty. It appears to be common in all the tem- perate parts of Europe, and even in Russia. It sometimes varies in size, individuals being occa- • WOOD MOUSE. 5p sionally met with which exceed the rest in mag- nitude, though differing in no other respect. Its general length is about four inches and a half from nose to tail, and the tail, which is slightly covered with hair, measures four inches. The colour of the animal is a yellowish brown above and whitish beneath ; the colours being pretty distinctly marked or separated : the eyes are full and black, and the snout rather blunt. These animals retire into holes among brushwood, and under the trunks of trees, where they amass great quantities of acorns, nuts, and beech-mast. Ac- cording to Buffon, a whole bushel has sometimes been found in a single hole. These holes are about a foot or more under ground, and are often divided into two apartments, the one for living in along with their vounsr, the other for a magazine O v at. Gmd.p. 152. Pall, glir.p. So. Black ish-brown Rat, ash-coloured beneath, with ears scarce pro- jecting from the fur, subtetradactyle fore-feet, and tail about half the length of the body. Mus cauda elongata pilwa, plantis palmatis. Lin. Syst. JNaf. p. 82. Mus agrestis major. Gesit. Quadr. p. 733. Le Rat d'eau. Biif. 7. p. 36S.pl. 45. "Water Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 182. THE Water Rat is a general inhabitant of the temperate, and even the colder parts of Europe and Asia, and occurs also in North America ; fre- 74 WATER RAT. quenting rivers and stagnant waters, and form- ing its burrows in the banks. It is of a thicker and shorter form than many others of this genus, and has somewhat of the shape of a beaver. Mr. Ray, following an error of Willoughly, describes it as having the fore feet webbed ; and Linmuus, in his Systema Natunu, characterizes it from that very circumstance, but acknowledges that he had not himself examined the animal. In reality, however, there is no such appearance in the feet of the Water Rat, and the notion seems to have been hastily adopted from observing the facility with which it swims and dives. The general O length of the Water Rat is about seven inches, and the tail about five. Its colour is blackish ferruginous above, and deep cinereous beneath : the nose is thick and blunt; the eyes small; the ears rounded and hid in the fur. In colour it appears to vary in different regions, being some- times nearly black, and sometimes paler than usual. It also varies as to size, and the varieties have been mistakenly considered as distinct spe- cies. This animal never frequents houses, but confines itself to the banks of waters, and is sup- posed to live on fish, frogs, &c. and probably on various roots and other vegetable substances. Dr. Pallas, however, is unwilling to admit that it preys at all upon fish, though reported so to do by the Count de Uuffon and others. At some seasons of the year it is observed to have a musky scent. The female produces her .young in April, and generally brings about five or six at a time. SCHERMAX RAT. 73 The measures of this species, as given by Mr. Schreber, are as follow, viz. from nose to tail six inches and a half; and of the tail three inches. The figure engraved in Count de Button's Natural History is excellent, and is copied in the present publication. SCHERMAX RAT. Mus Scherman. J/. cauda mtdiocri subpil(tsa, corpore supra fusco, subtu* c'mereo, pfJibus pan is, auncuHs -ccllere braioribus. Deep-brown Rat, cinereous beneath, with slightly hair}- tail of moderate length, small feet, and ears shorter than the fur. Scherman Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 182. THIS species is said to be common about the neighbourhood of Strasburg, and appears to have been first described by Mr. Hermann, who in the year 1776 communicated a specimen to Count de Buffon. The length of the animal from nose to tail is six inches : of the tail about two inches and three quarters : the head is rather short ; the snout thick ; the eyes small, and the ears almost as short as those of a mole, and concealed beneath the fur. The general colour of the fur is a blackish brown, mixed with grey tawny ; the hair being blackish at the root, and tawny towards the tip : the edges of the mouth are bordered with short white hairs, and the whiskers are black : the under parts of the body are of a mouse grey ; the legs, which are short, are covered with dusky hair, as are also the feet, which are verv small : the tail is 7 6 LEMMING RAT. hairy, but not so well covered as that of the water rat. This animal resides in watery places and about gardens at Strasburgh, and is said to be very destructive to the plants in cultivated grounds. It swims and dives extremely well, and also burrows occasionally under ground. LEMMING HAT. Mus Lemmus. M. brachyurus, auriciilis -cdlcre brecioribus, pol- mis p entadactylis, corporefuko nigro alboque •carlo, t,ubtus albo. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gniel. p. 136. Short- tailed Rat, with ears shorter than the fur,, pentadactylous fore-feet, and body white beneath, variegated above with black, white, and fulvous. Mus cauda abbreciata, pedibus pcntadactylis, corpore fuko nigro- rario. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 80. Lemmus. Gesn. Quadr. p. 731. Bestiula Leem dicta. Aldr. dig. p. 436. Joust, p. 168. Leming. Buff. 13. p. 314. Lemmus. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 198. THE wonderful migrations of this species have long rendered it celebrated in the annals of na- o tural history : it is remarkable, however, that no accurate figure of it was published till Dr. Pallas caused it to be engraved in his excellent work on the Glires. The first describer of the Lemming seems to have been Olaus Magnus, from whom several of the older naturalists have copied their accounts. Af- terwards Wormius gave a more particular descrip- tion ; since which, Ricaut, in the Philosophical 235 LEMMING RAT. 77 Transactions, Linnasus, in the Acta Holmiensia, and Dr. Pallas, in his publication before men- tioned, have still farther elucidated its history and manners. The Lemming differs in size and colour accord- ing to the regions it inhabits : those which are found in Norway being almost as large as a water rat, while those of Lapland and Siberia are scarce larger than a field mouse ; the Xorvegian measur- ing more than five inches from nose to tail, while those of Lapland and Siberia scarce exceed three. The colour of the Norway kind is an elegant va- riegation of black and tawny on the upper parts, disposed in patches and clouded markings : the sides of the head and the under parts of the body being white ; the legs and tail greyish. In the Lapland kind the colour is chiefly a tawny brown above, with some indistinct dusky variegations ; and beneath of a dull white : the claws are also smaller than in the Xorvegian animal. The head of the Lemming is large, short, thick, and well furred ; the snout very obtuse ; the ears very small, rounded, and hid in the fur; the eyes small ; the neck short and broad ; the body thick ; and the limbs short and stout, especially the fore legs: the fore-feet are broad, furnished with five toes, which have strong, compressed, and somewhat crooked claws, of which the three middle ones are longer than the rest : on the hind-feet are also five toes, with smaller claws than those of the fore-feet : the tail is very short, thick, cylm- 78 LEMMING RAT. clric, obtuse, and covered with strong hairs, dis- posed like those of a pencil at the tip. The natural or general residence of the Lem- ming is in the Alpine or mountainous parts of Lapland and Norway, from which tracts, at par- ticular but uncertain periods, it descends into the plains below, in immense troops, and by its incre- dible numbers becomes a temporary scourge to the country ; devouring the grain and herbage, and committing devastations equal to those caused by an army of locusts. These migrations of the Lemming seldom happen oftener than once in ten years, and in some districts still less frequently, and are supposed to arise from an unusual multi- plication of the animals in the mountainous parts they inhabit, together with a defect of food ; and, perhaps, a kind of instinctive prescience of unfa- vourable seasons ; and it is observable that their chief migrations are made in the autumn of such years as are followed by a very severe winter. The inclination, or instinctive faculty which in- duces them, with one consent, to assemble from a whole region, collect themselves into an army, and descend from the mountains into the neighbour- ing plains, in the form of a firm phalanx, moving on in a strait line, resolutely surmounting every obstacle, and undismayed by every danger, cannot be contemplated without astonishment. AH who have written on the subject agree that they pro- ceed in a direct course, so that the ground along which they have passed appears at a distance as LEMMING RAT. 79 if it had been ploughed ; the grass being devoured to the very roots, in numerous stripes, or parallel paths, of one or two spans broad, and at the dis- tance of some ells from each other. This army of mice moves chiefly by night, or early in the morn- ing, devouring the herbage as it passes, in such a manner that the surface appears a.s if burnt Xo obstacles which they happen to meet in their way have any effect in altering their route ; neither fires, nor deep ravines, nor torrents, nor marshes, or lakes : they proceed obstinately in a strait line ; and hence it happens that many thousands perish in the waters, and are found dead by the shores. If a rick of hay or corn occurs in their passage, they eat through it ; but if rocks intervene, which they cannot pass, they go round, and then re- sume their former strait direction. If disturbed or pursued while swimming over a lake, and their phalanx separated by oars or poles, they will net recede, but keep swimming directly on, and soon get into regular order again ; and have even been sometimes known to endeavour to board or pass over a vessel. On their passage over land, if at- tacked by men, they will raise themselves up, ut- tering a kind of barking sound, and fly at the legs of their invaders, and will fasten so fiercely at the end of a stick, as to suffer themselves to be swung about before they will quit their hold ; and are with great difficulty put to flight. It is said that an intestine war sometimes takes place in these armies during their migrations, and that the animals thus destroy each other. 80 LEMMING RAT. The major part, however, of these hosts is de- stroyed by various enemies, and particularly by owls, hawks, and weesels, exclusive of the num- bers which perish in the waters ; so that but a small number survive to return, which they are some- times observed to do, to their native mountains. In their general manner of life they are not observed to be of a social disposition, but to re- side in a kind of scattered manner, in holes be- neath the surface, without laying up any regular provision, like some other animals of this tribe. They are supposed to breed several times in a year, and to produce five or six at once. It has been observed that the females have sometimes brought forth during their migrations, and have been seen carrying some in their mouths, and others on their backs. In some parts of Lapland they are eaten, and are said to resemble squirrels in taste. It was once believed that these animals fell from the clouds at particular seasons, and some have affirmed that they have seen a Lemming in its descent ; but an accident of this kind is easily accounted for, on the supposition of a Lemming escaping now and then from the claws of some bird which had seized it, and thus falling to the ground ; a circumstance which is said not unfre- quently to take place Avhen the animals are seized by crows, gulls, &c. J36 81 MEADOW MOUSE. Mus Arvalis. M. cauda vnciali, auriculis velkreprominuUs, pal- ms subtetradactylis, corpore fusco. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 134. Pall. Glir. p. 74. No. 19. Dusky-ferruginous short-tailed Rat, deep ash-coloured beneath, with ears longer than the fur, and subtetradactylous fore-feet. Mus gregarius. Lin. Syst. Nat. ed. 12. p. 8j. Short- tailed Field Mouse. Brit. Zool. No. 3 1. Meadow Mouse. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 205. Le Campagnol. Buff. 7. p. 369. pi. 47. THIS species, which is very common in our own island, is readily distinguished from the rest of the British species by the shortness of its tail ; measuring, according to Mr. Pennant, six inches from nose to tail; the tail being only an inch and half long. The colour of the animal is dusky fer- ruginous above, and deep ash-coloured beneath. It is a general inhabitant of Europe, and even extends to Siberia. It is also found in equal plenty in many parts of North America. In its manners it resembles the Mus syhaticus or long- tailed Field Mouse ; but is more commonly found in moist rather than dry situations. It makes its nest in meadows, and produces a litter of about eight at a time. Its favourite food is corn, which it amasses during harvest-time. It is frequently found in com-ricks and barns, and often in com- pany with the harvest mouse (M. minutus ?) as well as with the long-tailed field mouse (M. syl- vaticus). I know not how to reconcile the dif- ference between the measures attributed to this V. IT. P. I. 6 82 MEADOW MOUSE. species by the Count de Buffon and Mr. Pennant; the former fixing its length at three inches, and the latter at six. It probably varies much in different climates, and accordingly the Count de Buffon tells us, that he had seen some which mea- sured four inches and three lines from nose to tail. He also records a specimen, taken in the park of Versailles, which was entirely of a black- ish ash-colour, and which had a tail of greater length than usual. Perhaps this dark-coloured variety may be the same with the Mm (agrestis) cauda abbreviata, corpore nigro-fusco, abdomine cinerascente, described by Linnaeus, in the 2d edi- tion of his Fauna Sitecica. Mr. Pennant has recorded a remarkable in- stance of attachment in the Meadow Mouse to its young. One which had been seduced into an iron trap by placing its brood in it, was so intent on fostering them as to appear quite insensible to its own state of captivity. 83 COLLARED MOUSE. Mus Torquatus. M. brachyurus, auribus i~eUere bretioribus, pal' mis pentadactylis, corpore ferrugineo -vario, torque interrvpta albida, linea spinali nigra. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 136. Pall. Glir. p. 206. Short-tailed ferruginous Mouse, with dusky variegations, ears shorter than the fur, pentadactyle fore-feet, interrupted white collar, and black spinal stripe. Ringed Mouse. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 201. Ix shape and general appearance this species is much allied to the Lemming, but differs in the disposition of its colours, as well as in size ; being smaller than the Siberian and Lapland varieties of that animal. It is a native of those parts of Si- beria which border on the river Oby, where it is more common than the Lemming, and makes oc- casional migrations, which are said to happen in the same year with those of the Lemming. The size of this species is that of a large meadow mouse : its colour on the upper parts is an ele- gant ferruginous, variegated with numerous small dusky undulations ; and round the neck is a white collar, while the forehead and top of the head are dusky, which colour curves- down beyond the cheeks on each side, so as to form a dusky collar next to the white one : the cheeks are white, as is also the belly : the breast and sides are tinged with light orange-colour : the tail is extremely short, and is brown, tipped with white hairs. This species is said to feed chiefly on the rein- deer lichen (Lichen rangiferinus) and the vivipa- 84 HARE-TAILED MOUSE. rous Bistort (Polygonum viviparum), the roots of which are often found in its holes or burrows, which are formed with several passages which it digs under the turfy soil. HARE-TAILED MOUSE. Mus Lagurus. M. bracJiyurus, auriculis vellere brevoribw, pal- mis subtetradactylis corpore cinereo, linca longitudindi nigra, Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmd. p. 135. Pall. Glir. p. 218. Short-tailed cinereous Mouse, white beneath, with ears shorter than the fur, subtetradactylous fore-feet, and black dorsal line. Hare-tailed Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 202. THIS species, which is also of the migratory kind, is considerably smaller than the Lemming, but of nearly similar shape, and of a fine pale brown above, with blackish hairs intermixed, and has a black dorsal line or stripe running from the nose to the tail, which is extremely short and villose, so as to resemble the scut of a hare in miniature : the throat, belly, and feet, are white. This little animal delights in dry, sandy plains of the harder kind, where it can form its burrows : it feeds chiefly on the roots of the dwarf Iris (Iris pumila), as well as on grain and several other plants and seeds, even such as are bitter, as the Pontic and sea Wormwood. It is an animal of a fierce disposition, and makes a considerable re- sistance when taken. The length of this species is between three and four inches. It inhabits- Si- beria^ and particularly the parts above the Yaik, (ECONOMIC RAT. 85 Irtish, and Jenesei, It is an animal that sleeps much ; rolling itself up like the marmot, and sometimes migrates, in great troops, from one part of the country to another. (ECONOMIC RAT. Mus CEconomus. M. cauda subsesquiunciali , auricitlis nudis in vellere molli latentibus, palmis subtetradactylis, corpore fusco. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p. 134. Pall. Glir. p. 79. No. 15. Short-tailed tawny Rat, whitish beneath, with naked ears con- cealed by the fur, and subtetradactyle fore-feet. CEconomic Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 194. THE (Economic Rat, so named from its provi- dent disposition and the skill with which it col- lects its provisions, is a native of Siberia, inhabit- ing that country in vast abundance, and even ex- tending: as far as Kamtschatka. Its curious his- o tory has been given with great exactness by Dr. Pallas, who informs us that these little animals make their burrows with \vonderful skill immedi- ately below the surface in soft turfy soils, forming a chamber, of a flattish arched form, of a small height, and about a foot in diameter, to which they sometimes add as many as thirty small pipes or entrances, and near the chamber they frequently form other caverns, in which they deposit their winter stores; these are said to consist of various kinds of plants, even of some species which are poisonous to mankind. They gather them in summer, harvest them with great care, and even 86 (ECONOMIC RAT. sometimes bring them out of their cells in order to give them a more thorough drying in the sun. The chief labour rests on the females ; the males during the summer wandering about in a solitary state, inhabiting some old nests occasionally, and living during that period on berries, without touching the hoards, which are reserved for win- ter, when the male and female reside together in the same nest. They are said to breed several times in the year, the female producing two or three young at a time. The migrations of this little species are not less extraordinary than those of the Lemming, and take place at uncertain periods. Dr. Pallas ima- gines that the migrations of those inhabiting Kamtschatka may arise from some sensations of internal fire in that volcanic country, or from a prescience of some unusual and bad season. Whatever be the cause, the fact is certain : at such periods they gather together, during the spring season, in surprising numbers, except the few that reside about villages, where they can pick up some subsistence ; and this makes it probable that their migrations, like those of the Lemming, are rather owing to want of food. The mighty host pro- ceeds in a direct course westward, occasionally swimming with the utmost intrepidity over rivers, lakes, and even arms of the sea. During these perilous adventures, some are drowned, and others destroyed by water-fowl, fish, &c. : those which escape rest a while to bask, dry their fur, and re- fresh themselves, and then again set out on their (ECONOMIC RAT. 87 migration. It is said that the inhabitants of O Kamtschatka, when they happen to find them in this fatigued situation, treat them with the ut- most tenderness, and endeavour by every possible method to refresh and restore them to life and vigour. Indeed none of the smaller animals are so much esteemed by the Kamtschadales as these; since to their labours they owe many a delicious repast ; robbing their hoards in autumn, and leaving there some kind of provision in return, accompanied by some ridiculous presents by way of amends for the theft. As soon as the migrat- ing host of these animals has crossed the river Penschim, at the head of the gulph of that name, it turns southward, and reaches the rivers Ju- doma and Ochot about the middle of July : the space thus traversed appears astonishing, on con- sulting the map of the country. The flocks, dur- ing this time, are so numerous that an observer has waited two hours to see them all pass. Their return into Kamtschatka is in October, and is attended with the utmost festivity and welcome on the part of the natives, who consider their ar- rival as a sure prognostic of a successful chase and fishery ; and they are said equally to lament their migrations, which are usually succeeded by rainy and tempestuous weather. This curious species is generally of a tawny co- lour, darker on the back, and lighter or more ap- proaching to an ash-coloured whiteness beneath : its usual length is about four inches and a quarter, and the tail one inch : its limbs are strong ; its 88 (ECONOMIC RAT. eyes small, its ears naked, very short and round, and almost hid beneath the fur of the head. This animal is also supposed to be an inhabi- tant of Iceland ; at least a species which must be greatly allied to it is found in that country, and is said to be particularly plentiful in the wood of Husafels. In that country, where berries are but thinly dispersed, the little animals are obliged to cross rivers to make their distant foraging excur- sions ; and in their return are obliged to repass the stream ; their manner of performing which is thus related by Mr. Olaffen, from the accounts of others, communicated to himself: " The party, consisting of from six to ten, se- lect a flat piece of dried cow-dung, on which they place the berries they have collected, in a heap, on the middle ; and then, by their united force, drawing it to the water's edge, launch it, and embark, placing themselves round the heap, with their heads joined over it, and their backs to the water, their tails pendent in the stream, and serv- ing the purpose of rudders. " Var. * Mus Glareolus. Schreber, p. 679. pi. 190. B. THIS, from Mr. Schreber's figure, appears to be about the size of a common mouse, and of an uniform pale ferruginous colour, whitish beneath : the head seems very large, and without any visi- sible distinction of neck ; the body tapering from GARLIC MOUSE. 89 the sTioulders : the limbs small and slender, and the tail about an inch long : the eyes very small ; the ears entirely hid in the fur, and the nose ra- ther inclining to a sharp form. It was observed by Mr. O. F. Miiller, in the year 1777, in the island of Laland, among some sea lyme-grass (Elymus arenarius), growing on the sand near the shore. Nothing particular is known of its manners, and it remains doubtful whether it be a distinct species or a variety of the oeconoinic mouse. GARLIC MOUSE. Mus Alliarius. M. cauda unciali, auribus majuscutis subpilosis, corpore cinereo svbtus albido. Lm.Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 133. Pall. Glir. p. 252. Cinereous Mouse, whitish beneath, with rather large slightly hair)- ears, and tail about an inch in length. Garlic Mouse. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 197. THE Garlic Mouse was first described by Dr. Pallas, who informs us that it is a native of Si- beria, where it is chiefly found about the Jenesei and Lena, and is frequent in the subterraneous magazines of bulbous roots, especially the Alliinn angulatum, or angular garlic, formed by the Si- berian peasants. It is very nearly allied to the meadow mouse, but the ears are larger, and the body is of a cinereous colour above, and whitish beneath ; it measures somewhat more than four inches from nose to tail, and the tail about an 90 RED MOUSE. inch and half; the tail is also marked along the top with a dusky line, the remainder being white. . RED MOUSE. Mus Rutilus. M. cauda unciali, auriculis vellere longioribus, palmis subtctradactylis, corpore supra fulvo subtus cano. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p. 133. Pall. Glir.p. 246. Fulvous Mouse, ash-coloured beneath, with tail about an inch long, ears longer than the fur, and subtetradactyle fore-feet. Red Mouse. Pennant Quadr. 2, p. 196. THE length of this species is not quite four inches, and the tail is somewhat more than one inch long, and very hairy : the nose and face are bristly, the ears very small, but longer than the fur; bare, but edged at the tips with reddish hairs. The colour of the animal on the upper parts is a pleasant tawny red ; the sides tinged with light yellowish-grey, and the under parts are whitish. It is a native of Siberia, and is found from the Oby eastward to Kamtschatka, in woods and mountains ; and also within the arctic circle. It sometimes frequents houses and gra- naries ; and is often found under logs of wood, trunks of trees, &c. It is said to wander about during the whole winter; seemingly unaffected by the severity of the season. A variety somewhat smaller has been found about Casan, having a longer and thinner tail. It is also said to have been discovered in the neighbourhood of Got- tingen. WOOLLY MOUSE. Mus Laniger. M. cauda mediocri, palmis tetradactylis, plantis pentadactylis, corpore cinereo lanato. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmd. p. 134. Molin. Hist. Chil. p. 267. Ash-coloured Woolly Mouse, with tetradactyle fore-feet, penta- dactyle hind-feet, and tail of middling length. Woolly Rat. Pennant Qiutdr. 2. p. 196. The Woolly Mouse is a South American spe- cies, and is a native of Chili, where it resides in subterraneous retreats, in a gregarious manner, and feeds on various kinds of roots. It breeds twice a year, bringing five or six at a time. It is said to be an animal of a very mild and gentle disposition, very easily tamed, and often render- ed domestic. The ancient Peruvians are said to have manufactured various valuable articles from its fur, which is of a woolly nature, long, and of exquisite fineness. This species is of a cinereous colour, and measures about six inches : the ears are very small ; the nose short, and the tail of middling length. BAIKAL MOUSE. Mus gregalis. M. cauda sesquiunciali, auricnlis vtllcrc lottgioribus, palmis subtdradactylis, corpore cincrascente. Lin. Syst, Nat. Gmel p. 133. Pall. Glir.p. 238. Grey Mouse, with ears shorter than the fur, subtetradactyle fore- feet, and tail about an inch and half long. Baikal Rat. Pennant Quadr. ^. p. 204. THIS species is a native of Siberia, and forms its nest beneath turfy ground, with several minute entrances. It is supposed to feed chiefly on the roots of the Lillum pompouium, and Allium tenuis- simum, which it collects for its winter provision. The male and female, together with the young of one year's age, reside in the same retreat. This species is not observed to migrate. It varies in size, and the males are in general much smaller than the females. The usual length seems to be about four inches, and the tail about an inch and half; but some of the males do not exceed three inches from nose to tail. 93 SOCIAL MOUSE. MIM Social is. 3f. cavda semiunciati, auriculis orliadatis breris- *WNW, palmis svbtetradactyiis, carport pattido subtus cdbo. Lin, Sysf. Xat. Gmsl. p. 135. Pall. Gfer. p. 705. Pale-grey Mouse, white beneath, with very short ixrarrdetf ears, subtetradactyle fore-feet, and tail of half an inch in length. Social Rat. Pennant Quadr. %.p. aoj. The Social Mouse is a native of the Caspian deserts between the Volga and the Yaik, and the country of Hircania. It lives in low sandy situa- tions, in large societies ; the ground in many places being covered with the little hillocs formed by the earth cast out in forming the burrows, which are said to be about a span deep, with eight or more passages. The animals are always observed to live in pairs, or with a family; they are fond of tulip-roots, which form a principal ar- ticle of their food. They appear chiefly in the spring, when they are very numerous, but are rarely seen in autumn, and are supposed either to migrate in autumn or to conceal themselves among the bushes, &c. and in the winter to shel- ter themselves in hay-ricks. The head in this species is thick, and the nose blunt ; the whiskers white ; the ears oval and naked ; the limbs short and strong, and the tail slender. The upper parts are of a light grey, and the under, white. .94 HUDSON S BAY MOUSE. Mus Hudsonius. M. brachyurus, auricutis nuUis, plant is pcnta- dactylis, vitta dorsali ex luteo fuscescente, pectore et abdomine albis. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmd. p. 137. Pall. Glir.p. 209. Short-tailed earless ash-coloured Mouse, white beneath, with yellowish brown dorsal stripe, and pentadactyle hind-feet. Hudson's Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 201. THE length of this species is about five inches, and the colour a pale cinereous, tinged with tawny, and marked with a brownish dorsal stripe : the fur is long and very soft ; the limbs short and strong ; the tail very short, and terminated by bristly hairs : the female is smaller than the male, which is also distinguished by the superior size and strength of the two middle claws of the fore- feet, which are not only very thick and stout, but are bifid at their extremities. This species is de- scribed by Dr. Pallas from some skins which were received from Labrador. Its particular history and manners seem to be unknown. J37 95 With Cheek-pouches for the temporary Reception of their Food. HAMSTER RAT. Mus Cricetus. M. buccis sacculiferis, corpore subtvs aterrimo, cicatriculis lumbaribus detonsis. Lin. Syst. Nat. G-md.p. 137. Pall. Glir.p.Sj. Reddish-brown pouched Rat, with three white spots on each side, and deep black abdomen. Mus cauda mediocri, auriculis rotundatis, corpore sitbtus nigro, la- teribus rufesccittibus, maculis tribus albis. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 82. Hamster. Buff. 13. p. iif.pl. 14. and Suppl. 3. p. 183. Hamfter Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 206. OF the pouched rats the Hamster is the most remarkable, and indeed is the only European spe- cies provided with those peculiar receptacles, which are situated on each side the mouth, and when empty are so far contracted as not to ap- pear externally, but when filled resemble a pair of tumid bladders, having a smooth veiny surface ; concealed, however, under the fur or skin of the cheeks *, which bulge out extremely in this state. They are so large as to hold the quantity of a quarter of a pint, English measure. The general size of the Hamster is nearly that of a brown or Norway rat, but it is of a much * In the figure of these parts engraved in Buffon's Natural His- tory, Vol. XIII. pi. 16, they are represented as situated under the skin of the cheeks, which has been divided in order to display them ; and in Daubenton's accurate description they are expressly said to be covered by the common integuments. 96 HAMSTER RAT. thicker form, and has a short tail. Its colour is a pale reddish brown above, and black beneath. The muzzle is whitish, the cheeks reddish, and on each side the body are three moderately large oval white spots, of which those on the shoulders are the largest : the ears are moderately large and rounded, and the tail almost bare, and about three inches long : on the fore-feet are four toes, with a claw in place of a fifth ; and on the hind- feet are five toes. Sometimes the Hamster varies in colour, being found either black with a white muzzle, or of a pale yellowish white. The male is always much larger than the female. On each side the lower part of the back is an almost bare spot, covered only with very short clown. The Hamster inhabits Siberia and the south of Russia. It is also found in Poland, as well as in many parts of Germany. They are very destruc- tive in some districts, devouring great quantities of grain, which they carry off in their cheek- pouches, and deposit in their holes in order to de- vour during the autumn. The habitations which they dig, to the depth of three or four feet, con- sist of more or fewer apartments, according to the age of the animal : a young Hamster makes them hardly a foot deep; an old one sinks them to the depth of four or five feet, and the whole diameter of the residence, taking in all its habita- tions, is sometimes eight or ten feet. The prin- cipal chamber is lined with dried grass, and serves for a lodging ; the others are destined for the preservation of provisions, of which he amasses HAMSTER RAT. 97 a great quantity during the autumn. Each hole has two apertures ; the one descending obliquely, and the other in a perpendicular direction, and it is through this latter that the animal goes in and out. The holes of the females, who never reside with the males, are somewhat different in their arrangement, and have more numerous passages. The female breeds two or three times a year, pro- ducing five or six, and sometimes as many as sixteen or eighteen *. The growth of the young is rapid, and they are soon able to provide for themselves. The Hamster feeds on all kinds of herbs and roots, as well as on grain, and even occasionally on the smaller animals. " In harvest time (savs \ «/ Mr. Allamand) he makes his excursions for pro- vision, and carries every article he can find into his granary. To facilitate the transportation of his food, Nature has provided him with two pouches in the inside of each cheek. On the outside these pouches are membranous, smooth, and shining, and in the inside are a great many glands, which continually secrete a certain fluid, to preserve their flexibility, and to enable them to resist any accidents which may be occasion- ed by the roughness or sharpness of particular grains." On the approach of winter the Hamster retires into his subterraneous abode, the entry of which he shuts up with great care ; and thus remaining * Allamand's Buffon. v. ii. P. i. 7 98 HAMSTER RAT. in a state of tranquillity, feeds on his collected provision till the frost becomes severe ; at which period he falls into a profound slumber, which soon grows into a confirmed torpidity, so that the animal continues rolled up, with all its limbs inflexible, its body perfectly cold, and without the least appearance of life. In this state it may even be opened ; when the heart is seen alternately contracting and dilating, but with a motion so slow as to be scarce perceptible, not exceeding fifteen pulsations in a minute, though in the wak- ing state of the animal it beats a hundred and fifty pulsations in the same time. It is added, that the fat of the creature has the appearance of being coagulated, that its intestines do not exhi- bit the smallest symptoms of irritability on the application of the strongest stimulants, and the electric shock may be passed through it without effect. This lethargy of the Hamster has been generally ascribed to the effect of cold alone ; but late observations have proved, that unless at a certain depth beneath the surface, so as to be be- yond the access of the external air, the animal does not fall into its state of torpidity, and that the severest cold on the surface does not affect it. On the contrary, when dug up out of its burrow, and exposed to the air, it infallibly awakes in a few hours. The waking of the Hamster is a gradual operation : he first loses the rigidity of his limbs, then makes profound inspirations, at long intervals ; after this he begins to move his limbs, opens his mouth, and utters a sort of un- HAMSTER RAT. 99 pleasant rattling sound. After continuing these operations for some time, he at length opens his eyes, and endeavours to rise, hut reels al.out tor some time, as if in a state of intoxication, till at length, after resting a small space, lie } enectiy recovers his usual powers. This transition • torpidity to activity requires more or less time, according to the temperature of the air, and o circumstances. When exposed to a cold air he is sometimes two hours in waking; but in a wainier air the change is effected in half the time. The manners of the Hamster are generally represented as far from pleasing. No society ap- pears to exist among these animals. They are naturally very fierce, and make a desperate de- fence when attacked ; they also pursue and stroy every animal which they are capable of con- quering, not excepting even the weaker indi- viduals of their own species. They are said to be particularly fond of the seeds of liquorice, and to abound in the districts where that plant is culti- vated. According to Mr. Suitzer, they abound to such a degree in Gotha, that in one year 1 1,56'4, in another 54,429, ar.d in a third 80, 139 of their skins were delivered in the Hotel de Ville of that capital, where the Hamster is proscribed on account of the devastations it commits among the corn. 100 CANADA BAT. Mus Bursarius. M. cinereus, cauda tereti brcvi subnuda, genis saccatis, unguibus palm arum maximis fossoriis. Ash-coloured Rat, with short nearly naked tail, pouched cheeks, and the claws of the fore-feet very large, and formed for bur- rowing in the ground. Mus Bursarius. Lin. Trans, vol. $.p. zzj.pl. 8. THIS, which is a species but lately discovered, seems to be the most remarkable of all the pouched rats for the proportional size of the receptacles. It is a native of Canada, and the individual here figured was taken by some Indians in the year 1798, and afterwards presented to the lady of Governor Prescot. It is about the size of a brown or Norway rat, and is of a pale greyish-brown colour, rather lighter beneath : the length to the tail is about nine inches, and that of the tail, which is but slightly covered with hair, about two inches : the legs are short ; the fore-feet strong, and well adapted for burrowing in the ground, having five claws, of which the three middle ones are very large and long ; the interior much smaller, and the exterior very small, with a large tubercle or elbow beneath it. The claws on the hind-feet are comparatively very small, but the two middle are larger than the rest, and the inferior one is scarce visible : the teeth are ex- tremely strong, particularly the lower pair, which are much longer' than the upper : the ears are very small. This species is described in the 5th 133 YAIK RAT. 101 volume of the Transactions of the Linnasan So- ciety, but I must observe, that, by some oversight in the conduct of the figure there given, the claws on the fore-feet are represented as only three in number, and are somewhat too long, weak, and curved. The engraving in the present plate is a more faithful representation, and is accompanied by an outline of the head, in its natural size, as viewed in front, in order to shew the teeth and cheek-pouches. The manners of this species are at present unknown ; but it may be concluded that it lays in a stock of provisions, either for autumnal or winter food. The pouches of the individual specimen above described, when first brought to Governor Prescot, were filled with a kind of earthy substance : it is, therefore, not im- probable that the Indians who caught the animal might have stuffed them thus, in order to pre- serve them in their utmost extent. YAIK RAT. Mus Accedula. M. buccis sacculifetis, auriculis siieuatis, corpora griseo subtus albido. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmd. p. 137. Pall. Glir. p. 257. Yellowish-grey Rat, whitish beneath, with pouched cheeks arkt sinuated ears. Yaik Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 210. THIS species is a native of Siberia, and particu- larly of the deserts about the Yaik. It is much smaller than the Hamster, measuring only four 102 SAND RAT. inches ; and the tail about three quarters of an inch : the upper parts of the body are of a cine- reous yellow mixed with brown, and the under parts whitish : the face also is whitish : the snout is blunt, the ears moderately large, the eyes full, and the body short and thick. On the fore-feet are four toes, and on the hind-feet five, all fur- nished with claws of moderate strength. This animal is said to make its excursions for food chiefly by night, confining itself during the great- est part of the day to its burrow. SAND KAT. Mus Arenarius. M. buccis sacculiferis, corpore cinereo lateribus subtusque albo, cauda pedibusyue albis. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 139. Pall. Glir. p. 26$. Cinereous pouched Rat, with the feet, sides of the body, abdo- men, and tail, white. Sand Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. an. THE Sand Rat is about four inches in length, with a tail about one inch or rather more : the head is longish and the snout sharp ; the cheek- pouches large, the ears large and oval, and the eyes rather small : the colour of the upper part of the body is hoary or cinereous, and of the under pure white; the tail is also white. It is an inhabitant of the sandy plains of Baraba, near the Siberian river Irtish, where it forms deep burrows, at the bottom of which is a nest com- ASTRACAX MOUSE. 103 posed of the sea lyme-grass and other plants. It is said to he chiefly a nocturnal animal, and of a fierce, untameable disposition. ASTRACAX MOUSE. Mus Phaeus. M. buccis sacculiferis, cor pore caudaqucfusco-cine- ra-scentibus subtus albis. Lin. Syst. Xat. Gmel. p. 138. Ash-brown pouched Rat, white beneath. Zarizyn Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 211. THIS species measures about three inches and a half in length, exclusive of the tail, which is about three quarters of an inch long : the forehead is elevated ; the edges of the eyelids black ; the ears naked and oval ; the colour of the animal on the upper parts is pale cinereous or hoary, with a dusky streak along the back : the sides are whit- ish ; and the circumference of the mouth, under side of the body, and the extremities of the limbs, milk white. It is an inhabitant of the desert of Astracan, and particularly about Zarizyn, where it is occasionally taken in the winter season in. places about stables and out-houses. Is is also found about the Persian villages in the Hyrcanian mountains, and seems to have been first distinctly described by Dr. Pallas. 104 SONG All RAT. Mus Songarus. M. buccis sacculiferis, dorsQ cinereo, tinea spinali nigra, lateribus albo fuscoque variis, venire albo. ion. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 138. Pall. Glir.p. 261. Cinereous pouched Rat, white beneath, with black spinal line and the sides patched with white. Songar Rat. Pennant Quadr. a. p. 212. THE Songar Rat is a native of Siberia, where, like others of this tribe, it forms its burrows in dry sandy places. Its length is about three inches, and its tail scarce more than a quarter of an inch. It is an animal of a thick shape, with a large head, blunt nose, small eyes, and large oval ears, which are but very slightly covered with hair. Its colour on the upper parts is pale grey, with a black dorsal line, and the sides marked with some large white spots or patches which are con- fluent in some parts, and in others bounded with brown : the under parts and legs are white. This elegant species appears to have been first disco- vered by Dr. Pallas, who observes, that it makes a nearer approach to the Hamster in its form, and in the disposition of its colours, than the rest of this tribe : Dr. Pallas, in one of the nests, which was formed of dried herbs, found seven young, which were still blind : these he preserved, and they soon grew perfectly tame, and would feed from his hand, lap milk, and, when placed on a table, shewed no desire to escape : they were kept in a box, with sand, in which they delighted to bur- row. They frequently eat in a sitting posture, \ BARABA RAT. 105 like a squirrel ; and washed their faces with their paws : they generally wandered about during the day, and slept all night rolled up : their voice re- sembled that of a bat. BARABA RAT. Mus Furunculus. M. buccis sacculiferis, corpore svpra grisea, striga dorsali nigra, subtus albido. Lin. Svst. Nat, Gmel. p. 139. Pall. p. 273. Yellowish-grey pouched Rat, whitish beneath, with black dorsal streak. Baraba Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 213. THIS species, which inhabits the sandy plain of Baraba, towards the river Ob, is about the same length with the preceding, but the tail is much longer, measuring near an inch : the snout is of a sharper form, and the body more slender. It is of a yellowish grey colour above, and white beneath : along the back, from the neck almost to the tail, runs a black stripe. Nothing parti- cular is known of its way of life, the specimens from which Dr. Pallas drew up his description, having been taken running about the plain, and their skins brought to him in a dried state. 106 Subterranean or Ground-Rats, resembling Moles in Habit and Manner of Li/e. COAST RAT. Mus Maritimus. M. brachyurus^ dentibus primoribus superiori- bus sulcatis, auriculis nullis, pedibm pcntadactylis, corpore supra albido jlavescente mixto, ad later a et sub tits ex albo rinereo. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 140. Pale yellowish-brown Rat, whitish beneath, with very large and long naked teeth, pentadactyle feet, no external ears, and short tail. La Grande Taupe du Cap. Buff, suppl. 6. p. 2$$. pi. 38. African Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 217. OF all the subterraneous species this is the largest yet discovered, being of the size of a rab- bet, and measuring a foot from nose to tail, which is about two inches long, flattish, and covered with long bristly hair horizontally disposed on each side. The colour of the animal is a cine- reous brown, paler beneath : the head is large, the nose black, the end somewhat flattened and wrinkled : the eyes very small and hid in the fur: there is no appearance of external ears, the fora- mina alone being discoverable : the front-teeth are very large ; the upper pair are the third of an inch long, and are furrowed lengthways ; the lower pair are an inch and quarter long, and na- ked, or naturally exposed to view, the lip not closing; over them : these lower teeth it has the o power of separating or divaricating at pleasure, in the manner of the Kanguroo : on the fore-feet COAST RAT. 107 are five toes, of which the interior is the longest; the claws very long and sharp ; that on the thumb being shorter than the rest : the hind-feet, which are very long, large, and naked, have also five toes, with much shorter and weaker claws than those of the fore-feet : the hair on the sides of the feet is very strong and bristly. This large species is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and is there known by the name of the Sand Mole, being chiefly found in the neighbourhood of the shores, and never in the interior parts of the country. It renders the ground, in the places it frequents, so hollow, by flinging up the earth in forming its burrows, as to be highly inconvenient to travel- lers ; breaking every .six or seven minutes under the horses" feet, and letting them in up to the shoulders. It is supposed to feed principally on the bulbous Lcue and Anthcly~iE. From the fre- quency of this species about the Cape, it is sup- posed to be an animal of a prolific nature. 108 BLIND RAT. Mus Typhlus. M. ecuudatus, palmis pentadactylis, incisoribus supra infraqiic latis, oculis auriculisque nullis. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 141. Pall. Glir.p. 76. Short-tailed rufous-brown Rat, dusky beneath, with pentadac- tyle fore-feet, broad front-teeth, and without eyes or exter- nal ears. Spalax major. Erxl. mamm.p. 337. Blind Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 214. NEXT to the sand rat, above described, this is perhaps the largest and most remarkable of its tribe ; measuring between seven and eight inches in length, and being entirely destitute both of eyes and tail : the defect of the former is a very singular circumstance, and the animal perhaps affords the only instance of a truly blind or eye- less quadruped. In the mole, the eyes, however small and deeply seated, are yet perfect in their kind, and though not calculated for acute vision, still enable the animal to avoid the danger of ex- posure ; but in the quadruped now under consi- deration, there are merely a pair of subcutaneous rudiments of eyes, smaller than poppy-seeds, and covered with a real skin. It is probable, how- ever, that even these minute organs are sufficient to give an obscure perception of light, and to enable the animal to consult its safety by gene- rally continuing beneath the surface. The exter- nal ears are also wanting, and the foramina lead- ing to the internal organs are very small, entirely hid by the fur, and situated at a great distance 241 ~ BLIND RAT. 109 backward. There is scarce any distinction be- tween the head and neck, and the whole form of the animal, like that of the mole, is calculated for a subterraneous life ; the body being cylindric, the limbs very short, and the feet and claws, though small and weak in comparison with those of moles, yet calculated for digging or burrowing in the ground. The colour of the animal is a greyish brown ; the fur, which is very thick, soft, and downy, being dusky toward the roots, and greyish toward the tips : the head is lighter, and the abdomen darker than the other parts : the lower lip is also whitish, and sometimes a white mark extends along the forehead : the front- teeth are very large, and are naturally bare or exserted : the lower pair being much longer than the upper. This singular species is a native of the southern parts of Russia, where it burrows to a great extent beneath the surface, forming se- veral lateral passages, by which it may pass in quest of roots, re- tained their original tinge. The furs of the northern squirrels, in their grey or winter state, are extremely fine and soft, and are known to the furriers by the name of Petit-Gris ; by which title according to the Count de BurFon, those belonging to the Grey Squirrel of America, or following species., are also called. COMMON SQUIRREL. a bright reddish brown, except on the breast and belly, which are nearly white : these colours are brightest in summer, and on the approach of winter change to a greyer or browner tinge : the eyes are large, black, and lively : the ears upright, and ornamented with long tufts or pencils of hair of a richer colour than that of the body : the legs are short and muscular; the toes strong and divided to their origin; the claws strong and sharp; so that the animal can readily climb the smoothest trees : on the fore-feet are only four toes, with a claw in the place of a thumb or inner toe : on the hind-feet are five toes : the tail is co- vered with very long hair, so disposed as to turn towards each side. In the spring these animals seem peculiarly active, pursuing each other among the trees, and exerting various efforts of agility. During the warm summer nights they may be also observed in a similar exercise. They seem, as Buffbn observes, to dread the heat of the sun, for during the day they remain com- monly in their nests, making their principal ex- cursions by night. Their habitation is so con- trived as to be perfectly clean,, warm, and impe- netrable by rain, and is composed of moss, dried leaves, &c. and situated between the fork of two branches : it has only a small aperture near the top, which is of a conical form, so as to throw off the rain. The young are generally three or four in number, and are produced about the middle of summer, or sometimes earlier.. 136 COMMON SQUIRREL. The Squirrel feeds on the buds and young shoots of trees, and is said to be particularly fond of those of the fir and pine : it also collects great quantities of nuts, which it deposits in the hollows of trees for its winter food, together with beech-mast, acorns, £c. Dr. Pallas also assures us, that those of Si- beria collect various kinds of fungi for this pur- pose. In a state of captivity, nuts form its prin- cipal food, but it will also eat a great variety of fruits and other vegetable substances, and is de- lighted with sugar and various sweets. In some parts of Siberia the Squirrel is found entirely white, with red eyes. About lake Baikal it is often entirely black, or black with the belly white : and in some parts of Europe, and particu- larly in our own country, it is occasionally found with the tail milk-white, and all the other parts of the usual colour. The Squirrel is an animal which in a state of na- ture can seldom have occasion to visit the water for the purpose of drinking, like other quadru- peds, and can obtain a sufficient supply of dew and rain from the leaves and the hollows of trees. It has even been supposed to have a dread of water ; and it is affirmed by Gesner, from Glaus Magnus, and others, that when it wishes to pass a river or lake, in order to reach the trees that lie beyond, instead of swimming, it gets on a piece of bark, or other convenient substance, and elevating its tail to catch the wind, is thus transported to the oppo- site side. Some writers have affirmed that the 147 BLACK GREY GREY SQUIRREL. 137 Lapland Squirrels sail over the lakes of that coun- try in large parties, each mounted on his piece of bark, and fanning the air with his tail to promote the progress of his vessel. These tales, which do not appear very probable, must rest on the faith of their recorders. GREY SQUIRREL. Sciurus Cinereus. S. cinerevs, reatrc albo, auriculis imberb&ut. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 147. Ash-coloured Squirrel, white beneath, with beardless ears. Sciurus Virginianus cinereus, &c. Ruj. Quadr. 215. Grey Squirrel. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 144. Catesb. Cdrot, a. p. 74. pi. 74. Le Petit-Gris. Buf. 10. p. 1 16. pi. 25. THIS species is confined to North America, in many parts of which it is extremely common, and in its general form, as well as in its way of life, resembles the European Squirrel. It is a large and elegant animal, being of the size of a half- grown rabbet, and measuring about twelve inches to the tail : different individuals, however, vary somewhat in point of size. The whole animal is of an elegant pale grey, with the insides of the limbs and the under parts of the body white : the ears and tail are sometimes tinged with black, and a yellowish cast prevails in some particular speci- mens. This animal is said to be found in Cana- da, Pensylvania, Virginia, and other American districts ; though, according to Mr. Pennant, it scarce extends farther north than New England. 138 GREY SQUIRREL. Mr. Pennant also allows that it is a native of South as well as North America. In the latter it is in some years so extremely numerous as to do incredible damage to plantations, especially those of maiz or Indian corn ; for which reason it is one of the proscribed animals among the colon- ists. A reward of no less than three pence per head having been sometimes given for every one killed; and this, says Mr. Pennant, "proved such an encouragement, as to set all the idle people in the province in pursuit of them. Pensylvania alone paid, from January, 1749, to January, 1750, no less a sum than 80001. of their cur- rency ; but, on complaint being made to the de- puties, that their treasuries were exhausted by these rewards, they were reduced to one half. " " How improved," adds Mr. Pennant, •" must the state of the Americans be, in thirty-five years, to wage an expensive and successful war against its parent country, which before could not bear the charges of clearing the provinces from the ravages of these insignificant animals !" This species resides principally among trees, in the hollows of which it makes its nest, with straw, moss, £c. feeding on acorns, fir-cones, maiz, &c. as well as on fruits of various kinds. It is said to amass great quantities of provision for winter, which it deposits in holes which it prepares be- neath the roots of trees, &c. It is a difficult ani- mal to kill ; changing its place on the trees with such expedition, as generally to elude the shot of the quickest marksman. It is said to be easily BLACK SQUIRREL. 139 tamed, and in that state will readily associate with other domestic animals. BLACK SQUIRREL. Sciurus Niger. S. nigtr, auriculis imberbibus. Lm.3ytt.Nat. Chnel. p. 147. Black Squirrel, with beardless ears. Black Squirrel. Catesb. Card. 2. p. "J3.pl. 73- Pennant Quadr. z. p. 145- THIS is so much allied to the preceding, that it might be considered as a variety rather than a distinct species, were we not assured that it never associates with the grey squirrel ; from which it also differs in having a somewhat shorter tail. It is entirely of a shining coal-black colour, except that the muzzle and the tip of the tail are some- times white : specimens have also" been seen with a white ring round the neck. In its manners it perfectly resembles the grey squirrel, inhabiting similar places, and committing equal depreda- tions. Va r. ? CAT SQUIRREL. THIS is said to be equal in size to the grey squirrel, but to have a coarse fur, mixed with dingy white and black ; the throat, insides of the legs, and thighs, black ; the .tail much shorter 140 HUDSON'S BAV SQUIRREL. than in other squirrels, and of a dull yellow mixed with black. It is a native of Virginia, and was described by Mr. Pennant from a speci- men in the collection of Mr. Knaphan. The figure given by Mr. Schreber, in his work on qua- drupeds has every appearance of a mere variety of the grey squirrel ; the tail being of similar length, and differing only in having a ferrugi- nous cast. Perhaps the tail in the specimen de- scribed by Mr. Pennant might have been acci- dentally mutilated. HUDSON S BAY SQUIRREL. Sciurus Hudsonius. S. auricuKs imherbitnis, dorso glanco, "centre cinereo, caiida brttsiore ex rufescente glanca nigro marginata. lAn. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p 147. Iron-grey Squirrel dashed with ferruginous, whitish beneath, with dusky side-stripe, and lanceolated tail edged with blackish. Hudson's Bay Squirrel. Pennant Quadr. 2. p, 147. THE Hudson's Bay Squirrel is a native of the colder parts of North America, and more parti- cularly of the region from whence it takes its name. It resides in the pine-forests of that coun- try, and feeds chiefly on the cones. It is smaller than the common European squirrel, and the tail is neither so long in proportion, nor so full of hair. The colour of the upper parts is palish iron-grey, with a cast of ferruginous down the back, and of the under parts whitish or pale ash- CAROLINA SQUIRREL. 141 colour; the colours being pretty distinctly separat- ed down the sides by a dusky line : the beginning of the tail is ferruginous, gradually sinking into iron-grey, and is of a narrow lanceolate form, with a sharp termination. This species is said not to alter its colour during the whole year. In winter it keeps in its nest, and makes its appear- ance on the return of the warm season. Var. ? CAROLINA SQUIRREL. THIS, though stationed as a distinct species by Mr. Schreber, is considered by Mr. Pennant as a variety only of the preceding. Its size is the same, but the disposition of the colours different : the head, back, and sides, being grey, white, and ferruginous, intermixed ; the belly white, and the colour divided from that of the sides by a rust- coioured line : the lower part of the legs is red ; the tail brown, mixed with black, and edged with white. It is found in Carolina. 142 PERSIAN SQUIRREL. Sciurus Persicus. 5. obscurus, lateribus albisf subtus flaws, az/ri- culis imberbibus, cauda ex atro cincrca annvlo albo. lAn. Syst Nat. Gmel. p. 148. Dusky Squirrel, yellow beneath with white sides, beardless ears and blackish-grey tail with a white band. IN its general appearance and way of life this is said to resemble the common squirrel, but dif- fers in colour, and in having plain or untufted ears : the upper parts are dusky, with the parts about the eyes black ; the throat, breast, and belly, yellow, and the sides white : the tail black- ish-grey, marked beneath, about the middle, with a white band ; the feet reddish. It is an inhabi- tant of the mountainous parts of Persia. FAIR SQUIRREL. Sciurus Flavus. S. aurkulis subrotundis, pedibus pentadactylis, corpore luteo. Yellow Squirrel, with roundish ears and pentadactyle feet. Fair Squirrel. Pennant Qvadr. a. p. 148. THIS small species is said by Linnseus to be half the size of a common squirrel, and of a yel- low colour, with the hairs tipped with white : the thumb of the fore-feet consists of little more than a very small claw. It is, according to Linnseus, an inhabitant of Carthagena in America, but it has likewise been supposed a native of India, and BRASILIA^ SQUIRREL. 143 is an animal not very distinctly known. Mr. Schreber seems to entertain some doubt whether it properly belongs to this genus. BRASILIAX SQUIRREL. Sciurus . 3- Mexican Squirrel. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 149. THIS animal is known only from the figures and description of Seba. It is considerably smaller than a common squirrel, and is of a mouse-colour, with seven white lines or streaks on the back, extending to some distance down the tail. The female has five streaks only. Seba's figure of the male represents it with the tail, as f if furcated at the end into four parts, and in the description this remarkable circumstance is com- memorated; but as the tail of the female exhi- bits no such appearance, we may conclude that the individual above mentioned was marked by some singular lusus nature?. Seba also figures another, of a plain colour, but which seems either the same species or greatly allied to it. v. ii. p. i. 10 145 BARBARY SQUIRREL. Sciurus Getulus. S.fuscus, striis quatuor albidis longitudinalibw, Lin. Syst, Nat. Gmel.p. 150. Brown Squirrel, with four longitudinal white stripes. Sciurus Getulus. Aldr. dig. 405. Gem. Qiiadr. 112. Le Barbaresque. BitjF. 10. p. i26.pl. 27. Barbarian Squirrel. Edw. p. 198. White-striped Squirrel. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 150. THIS species is of the size of a common squirrel, and of a reddish brown colour, with the legs somewhat paler, and the belly white : the body is marked on each side with longitudinal white stripes, and the tail is barred or shaded with al- ternate dark and light stripes : the ears are plain or without tufts, and are whitish, as are likewise the orbits of the eyes. It is a native of Barbary. PALM SQUIRREL. Sciurus Palmarum. S. svbgriseus, striis tribvs Jl cauda albo nigroque lineata. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gtnel. p. 149. Brown Squirrel, pale beneath, marked above with three longitu- dinal yellowish stripes, and the tail with blackish ones. Mustela Africana. Clus. exot.p. 112. Le Palmiste. Buff. lo.p. iz6.pl. 26. Palm Squirrel. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 149. The Palm Squirrel is somewhat larger than a common squirrel*, and is very nearly allied to * The measures given by Daubenton of the specimen described by BufFon, were from the young animal, and consequently fall short of the proper size. 148 GIXGI SQUIRREL, 147 the preceding species ; but is of a deeper colour, and is marked by five stripes instead of four. The head and upper parts are of a very dark ferru- ginous brown, palest on the limbs ; the throat, breasc, and belly, are pale yellow ; on the back is an obscure pale yellow stripe, and on each side the body are two of a similar colour, of which the lower are far less distinctly marked than the upper : the tail is of a dull or dingy yellow, barred or rather striped iu a longitudinal direction with blackish bands. In some specimens the two lowest side-stripes are scarce distinctly perceptible ; so that the species is more securely described in its specific character, by particularizing three stripes only. This animal is an inhabitant of the hotter parts of Asia and Africa, frequenting palm-trees, and in its liveliness and general habits much re- sembles the common European squirrel. GIXGI SQUIRREL. Sciurus Ginginianus. S. grlseits, fascia utrinque longifudinali alba, cauda nigricante. Grey-brown Squirrel, with a longitudinal white stripe on each side, and blackish tail. Sciurus Dschinschicus. S. testaceus, fasciis liiferaK&us orbitisquc albis, cauda nigra. Lin. Sysf. Nat. Gmel. p. 151. THIS species is described by Sonnerat, who in- forms us that it is rather larger than the Euro- pean squirrel, and of a brownish grey colour, lighter on the belly, legs, and feet : on each side CHILIAN SQUIRREL. the belly is a white band, reaching from the shoulders to the thighs ; the eyes are also encir- cled with white, and the tail is black, with whit- ish hairs intermixed. It is an inhabitant of Gingi in the East Indies. VAR.? Plantane Squirrel. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 151. THIS, says Mr. Pennant, much resembles the common squirrel, but is lighter coloured, and has a yellow line extending along the sides from leg to leg. It is common in Java and Prince's Island, and is called by the Malayee, Ba-djing : it lives much on plantanes ; is very shy ; retreats at the sight of mankind, and clatters over the leaves of the plantanes with vast noise. It is also common on the tamarind trees. CHILIAN SQUIRREL. Sciurus Degus. S. fusco-jlavescens, linea hwnerali nigra. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p. 152. Molin. Chil. p. 269. Yellowish-brown Squirrel, with a black stripe on each shoulder. THIS species is mentioned by Molina in his Natural History of Chili. It is somewhat larger than a black rat, and is of a yellowish brown co- lour, with a black stripe on each shoulder : the iiose is sharp, the ears rounded, and the tail ilocky towards the tip, and of the same colour the body. It is a gregarious animal, and STRIPED SQUIRREL. H9 inhabits holes in shrubby places, feeding on roots and fruits, of which it collects a magazine for food. STRIPED SQUIRREL. Sciurus Striatus. S.fusco-Jicrcescens, striis qumque longitudinali- bus nigricantibus. Yellowish-brown Squirrel, with five longitudinal blackish stripes. Sciurus Jla^us, strus qu'mque fuscis longitudatalibus. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 87. Ground Squirrel. Catenb. Car. 2. pi. 75. IMTKS. Car. p. 124. Edv.pl. 181. L'Ecureuil Suisse. Buff. to. p. 126. ph 28. Striped Dormouse. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 157. THE Striped Squirrel is a native of the northern regions of Asia, and of several of the colder parts of North America : it has also been found, though very rarely, in some parts of Europe, and differs from the major part of the squirrel tribe in its manner of life, which rather resembles that of the dormouse, being chiefly passed in subterraneous retreats or burrows, the apartments of which are filled with various stores of acorns, nuts, grain, &c. collected for winter use. It also resembles some of the nuirine tribe, in being provided with cheek-pouches, for the temporary reception of food : a particularity not to be found in any other species of squirrel Its general Length is about- five inches and a half, and of the tail rather more. Its colour on the upper parts is a reddish brown, and on the under white : down the ridge of the 150 STRIPED SQUIRREL. back runs a black streak ; and on each side the body are two others, the included space between each being of a pale yellow tinge : the tail is marked with annuli or circular spaces, like that of a mouse, but the fur spreads slightly on the sides, as in the rest of the squirrels, though in a much less conspicuous manner ; and the tips of the hairs, being blackish, give the appearance, when the tail is spread, of three lines or streaks through its whole length. These animals are, according to the observa- tions of Dr. Pallas, extremely common in Siberia, inhabiting the maple and birch woods of that country, and generally forming their nests or bur- rows near the root of some tree : they are never known to ascend trees in the manner of other squirrels, unless suddenly surprised or pursued, when they climb with great expedition, and con- ceal themselves among the branches : they collect their stores during the autumnal season, and on the setting in of winter conceal themselves in their burrows, the entrances of which they stop; and pass the greatest part of the rigorous season in sleep, and in feeding on their collected stores ; but if, by an unusual continuance. of severe wea- ther, their provisions happen to fail, they then sally out in quest of fresh supplies, and occasion- ally make their way into granaries, and even into houses. In the choice of their food they are re- markably nice, and have been observed, after fill- ing their pouches with rye, to fling it out on meeting with wheat, and replace it with the su- tSfr.Jan.l'.7.Loiifh>n rufiU/}i',i h- ffjfeanlfi'. Fttrt .tirrf COMMON FLYING SQUIRREL. 151 perior grain. They are of a wild nature, and are by no means easily reconciled to a state of capti- vity ; continuing timid, and shewing no symptoms of attachment to their owners. They are taken merely on account of their skins, which, though forming but a slight or ordinary fur, have a very pleasing appearance when properly disposed, and are said to be chiefly sold to the Chinese. It has been doubted whether those found in America be really of the same species with the European or Asiatic kind ; but the differences are by no means such as to justify a specific distinction ; consist- ing merely in a very trifling variation of size and colours. Flying Squirrels. COMMON FLYING SQUIRREL. Sciurus Volans. S. canus, subtus olbus, hypochondrus dilatatis, cauda rot un data. Pale-grey Squirrel, white beneath, with the side-skin dilated into a flying membrane. Sciurus hypochondrus prolixis rolitans, cauda rotvndata. Lin. Syst. I\'at. Gnicl. p. 154. Sciurus volans. Klein, act. angl. 1733. Mus Ponticus, Sec. Gesn. Quadr. 743. European Flying Squirrel. Pennant Quadr. p. 155. THIS highly elegant animal is the only Flying Squirrel yet discovered in Europe, where it is ex- tremely rare, being found chiefly in the most northern regions, as in Finland, Lapland, &c. It 152 COMMON FLYING also occurs in some districts of Poland. In many parts of Asia it is far more common, and abounds in the birch and pine woods of Siberia in particu- lar. It appears to have been confounded by au- thors with the Virginian Flying Squirrel (S. Volu- cella), but is a totally distinct species. Its colour on the upper parts is an elegant pale or whitish grey, and on the under parts milk-white. Its ge- neral size is inferior to that of a common squirrel, measuring about six inches* and a quarter to the tail, which is shorter than the body, thickly fur- red, of a slightly flattened form, and rounded at the extremity. It is to Dr. Pallas that we owe the history of this animal's manners ; little more being known to preceding naturalists than its ge- neral form and manner of flight, or rather spring- ing, which is performed by means of an expansile furry membrane, reaching from the fore-feet to the hind. In order the better to manage this part, the thumb of the fore-feet is stretched out to a considerable length within the membrane, so O * as to appear in the skeleton like a long bony pro- cess on each of the fore-feet. The Flying Squirrel generally resides in the hollows of trees towards the upper part ; preparing its nest of the finer mosses. It is a solitary animal, and is only seen in pairs during the breeding season. It rarely makes its * The specimen in the Leverian Museum measures about seven inches to the tail, which is about four inches long. There appears to be some mistake in the measures given of this species in Mr. Pennant's History of Quadrupeds, where it is said to measure four inches and a quarter from nose to tail, and the tail five inches. COMMON FLYING SQUIRREL. appearance by day, emerging only at the com- mencement of twilight, when it may be seen climbing about the trees, and darting with great velocity from one to the other. The colour of its upper part so much resembles that of the pale silvery bark of the birch-trees which it frequents, that it is by no means easy to distinguish it, while engaged in climbing about during its even- ing1 exercise. It feeds chiefly on the voung O •• « c' shoots, buds, and catkins of the birch, as well as on those of the pine, &.c. In winter it continues in its nest; coming out only in mild weather ; but does not become torpid during that season. This animal readily springs to the distance of twenty fathoms or more, and by this motion con- veys itself from the top of one tree to the middle part of that to which it directs it flight, which is always slightly downwards. It very rarely de- scends to the surface, and, when taken, and placed on the ground, runs or springs somewhat awkwardly, with its tail elevated, and as soon as it gains a tree, instantly begins to climb it with great activity, sometimes elevating, and some- times depressing its tail. If thrown from the top of a tree, it immediately spreads it membranes, and, balancing itself, endeavours to direct its motion by the assistance of the tail. The young are produced about the beginning or before the middle of May, and are two, three, and some- times four, in number : they are at first blind, and nearly void of hair ; and the parent fosters them by covering them with her flying-membrane ; 154 COMMON FLYING SQUIRREL. leaving her nest only at the approach of evening, and carefully concealing the young with the moss of the nest. The young begin to acquire their fur at six days old ; and at the same time the front teeth are visible : they continue blind, how- ever, for the space of about thirteen days. These animals are very difficultly supported in a state of confinement, and, from want of proper food, &c. are rarely preserved for any consider- able length of time. In their manner of sitting and feeding, as well as in the action of washing their face with their paws, &c. they resemble the common squirrel. Their colour continues the same through the whole year. The tail, which in the full-grown animal is broad and very full of hair, is in the young of a round or cylindric form. Their voice resembles that of a mouse. The fur of this species, though soft and beautiful, is but little esteemed, on account of the slightness of the skin, and its want of durability. J5O YIRG1NIAX SQVIRKKL t ,'V./,rvu£>// Publljh'd fo {r.J&andrv , Ffa'/ ,f//v*V . 155 VIRGINIAN FLYING SQUIRREL. Sciurus Volucella. S. fuscus, subttts albldo-JhrcesceHS, hypochoar driis dilaiatis, cauda lanceolata. Brown Squirrel, yellowish-white beneath, with the side-skin dilated with a flying membrane. Sdurus hypochondriis extensis toHtans, cattda dongata tiflosa, Da. St/st. Nat. Gmel. p. 153. Mus volans. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 75. Sciurus Americanus volans. Raj. Quack-. 215. Le Polatouche. Buff. 10. pi. 21. Flying Squirrel. Catesb. Car. 2. pi. 76. Edx.pl. 191. Pen- nant Quadr. ^.p. 153. \ THIS species is much smaller than the preced- ing, from which it also differs in. colour, being of ail elegant brown or subferruginous mouse- colour above, and yellowish white beneath : the edges of the flying-membrane are of a darker or blacker tinge than the rest of the fur, contrast- ing with the white border of the under part : a few dusky undulations also take place .about the back and shoulders : the tail is of a -similar colour to the body, and of a flattened bhape, or with the hair spreading towards each side, and the extre- mity somewhat sharpened : the eyes are large, and the ears rather short, almost naked, and slightly rounded. Its general length is five inches to the tail, which measures about tour inches. It is a native of the temperate parts of North Ame- rica, and has been found also in some of the southern parts of the American continent. It is an animal of great beauty, and is frequently kept 156 VIRGINIAN FLYING SQUIRREL. in a state of captivity, being readily tamed, feed- ing on various fruits, nuts, almonds, walnuts, &c. &c. and shewing a considerable degree of attach- ment to its possessor. Mr. Schreber assures us, that he saw one, which, on being held for some time in the hand of a stranger, would spring the length of a large room to the person to whom it had been most accustomed. It is naturally of a gregarious disposition, in which particular it dif- fers widely from the preceding species, and may be seen, according to Mr. Catesby, flying, to the number of ten or twelve together, from tree to tree. Like the former species, it is chiefly a noc- turnal animal, lying concealed during the day, and commencing its activity in the evening. It prepares its nest in the hollows of trees, with leaves, moss, &c. and it is said that several often inhabit the same nest, sometimes as many as twelve. These animals reside constantly on the upper parts of trees, and never willingly quit them for the ground. They are said to be capable of swim- ming, in case of necessity ; during which exercise they do not spread their membrane, but swim in the manner of other quadrupeds, and, after leav- ing the water, can exert their power of flight as readily as before. They are said to produce three or four young at a time. 157 SEVERN RIVER FLYING SQUIRREL. Sdurus Sabrinus. S. -cditans, sitpra ex rubicundo fuscus, subtvs ex flavescente albidus, caitda rillo&a planiuscula. Ferruginous-brown Flying Squirrel, yellowrish white beneath, with slightly flattbh villose tail. Sciurus Hudsonius. Lin. Syst. Xat. GmeL p. 153. Greater Flying Squirrel. Phil. Trans, ro/. 62. p. 379. Severn River Squirrel. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. ijj. THIS is said to be at least equal in size to a common English squirrel, and is of a ferruginous ash-colour on the upper parts, and yellowish- white beneath : the flying-skin is disposed from leg to leg, as in the common flying squirrel, and the fur on the whole body is long and full : the tail also is well haired, but has less of the tlat ap- pearance than that of the European flying squir- rel. It is found in the southern parts of Hudson's Bay, in the forests bordering on Secern river in James's Bay, and seems to have been first de- scribed by Dr. Forster in the Philosophical Trans- actions. I have given this species a new trivial, in order to avoid the repetition of the title Hud- sonius, which takes place, through oversight, in the Gmelinian edition of the Systema Nature. 158 HOODED FLYIXG SQUIRREL. Sciurus Sagitta ? ' S. Jtypochandriis prolixis volitans, cauda plano- pinnata lanctolata. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 88. Ferruginous-brown Flying Squirrel, pale ferruginous beneath, with the flying-membrane commencing on each side the head. Sciurus Virginianus volans. Seb. mus. i. p. 72. t. 44. f. 3. Sciurus cute a capite ad caudam relaxata tolan-s. lin. Syst. Nat. ed. 2. p. 46. Hooded Squirrel. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 155. Das Kappen Eichhorn. Sc/ireb. p. 822. THIS, which appears to have been cpnfounded by some authors with the Taguan or Great Flying Squirrel, is described by Linnaeus, in the Systema Natures, where it is said to be of the size of a common squirrel, and of a dark ferruginous-brown above, and pale-ferruginous beneath : the tail is described as of the flatly-pinnated form, or with the hairs spreading towards each side, and the flying membrane is said to be extended from the head to the fore-feet, which is not the case in any species yet known, except in one described by Seba, and which has been named by Mr. Pennant the Hooded Squirrel. I am, therefore, strongly inclined to believe, that the animal described and figured by Seba is in reality the Sciurus Sagitta of Linnseus. Seba describes the animal as rufous above and pale yellow-cinereous beneath, with feet resem- bling hands, and furnished with sharp crooked claws ; the flying membrane commencing at the head, stretching along the neck, meeting under 151 HOODED FLYTNG SQUIRREL, GKrarslevFltet Stottt L HOODED FLYING SQUIRREL. 159 the throat, and thence extending to the fore and hind feet, and continued up the latter to the ori- gin of the tail, which is rather long, and well covered with hair, so disposed as to spread on each side. He adds, that three specimens were in the cabinet of Mr. Vincent, one of which he was permitted to copy for his publication. His figure is about the size of a common squirrel, and is accurately represented, on a reduced scale, in the present work. The only particular which appears to contradict the supposition above mentioned is the anomalous appearance of the teeth in the figure given by Seba, which do not resemble those of other squirrels, but rather those of the order Ferce. It is proba- ble, however, since no mention is made of any such particular in the description, that this cir- cumstance mav have been merelv owing to inat- *f v O tention on the part of the artist, and to that inac- curacy in minute particulars so common at the period of Seba's publication. On the other hand, supposing the teeth to be accurately represented in Seba's figure, it is but just to allow that it may be really a distinct spe- cies, or may even form a separate genus, as dis- tinct from that of Sciurus as the Colugo is from that of Lemur. It is a native of Java, according to Linnaeus, but Seba (perhaps erroneously) calls it a Virgin- ian Squirrel. 160 TAGUAN. Sciurus Pctaurista. 5. hypochondriis prolixis volitans, supra sa- turatissime ex castaneo, subtus dilute ferrugineus, nel supra niger subtus canus, cauda corpore longiore, villosissima, terete nigri- cantc, media ferruginea. Un. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p. 155. Pall. Miscell. Zool. p. 54. t. 6. Chesnut-coloured Squirrel (sometimes blackish), pale ferrugi- nous beneath (sometimes whitish), with very long, round, ta- pering, villose tail, and side-skin dilated into a flying mem- brane. Taguan, ou Grand Ecureuil Volant. Buff". Suppl. 3. p. i^o. pi. 21. and 7. p. 265. pi. 67. Sailing Squirrel. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. i$2. THE Taguan is by far the largest of all the fly ing squirrels, measuring eighteen * inches to the tail, which is nearly of similar length, and instead of the flattened or spreading appearance exhibited in most of the squirrels, is of a cylindric form, or like that of a cat : the head is rounded, rather small in proportion, and somewhat flattened on the top : the muzzle blunt, the ears very small and without tufts, the limbs stout, the fore-feet armed with four claws, and the hinder with five : the colour on all the upper parts is chesnut, brighter or darker in different individuals, and having commonly a hoary or greyish cast on the back and shoulders : the limbs and the sides of the fly ing-membrane are darker than the other parts, * In the 3d supplemental volume of Buffon we have an ac- count of a skin which measured twenty-three inches from nose to tail. 152 :25>C- -'"•"*•"" -£^--o? , 1 ^^& — — ^T*; •• . • 753 TAGUAN. 161 and the tail is still deeper or more inclining to black : the breast and all the under parts are yel- lowish white, sometimes inclining to ferruginous. The disposition of the flying-membrane is similar to that of the common flying squirrel : it is ex- tremely thin towards the middle, and gradually thickens as it approaches the limbs and border, where the dark colour of its upper part is con- trasted with that of the white edge or verge. The Taguan is a native of India and the In- dian isles, residing in woods, and springing to a vast distance from tree to tree. It is said to be more frequent in Java than in other parts. The difference of colour in different specimens, some being dusky above and whitish beneath, others ferruginous above and yellowish beneath, may be owing perhaps to the difference between the male and female. It may be added, that a strong general simi- larity takes place between this animal and the Petaurine Opossum (Didelphis Petaurus), which, in all probability, is also a native of many of the Indian isles, as well as of New Holland, and may have been sometimes confounded by travellers with the Taguan. v. ii. p. i. 11 162 MYOXUS. DORMOUSE. Generic Character. Denies Primores duo : supe- riores cuneati : inferiores compressi. JMoIares utrinque quatuor. Mystaces longae. Cauda villosa, teres, versus apicem crassior. Pedes aequalis longitudinis, anteriores tetradactyli. Front-teeth two : the upper cuneated : the lower com- pressed. Grinders four in each jaw. Vibrissa long. Tail cylindric, villose, thick- er towards the end. Legs of equal length : fore- feet tetradactylous. FAT DORMOUSE. Myoxus Glis. M. canus, subtus albidus. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 155. Grey Dormouse, whitish beneath. Sciurus Glis. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 87. Mus Glis. Pall. Glir. p. 88. Glis. Plin. Hist. Nat. lib. 8. c. tf. Gesn. Quadr, 619. Aldr. dig. 407. Le Loir. Buff. 8. p. 158. pi. 24. Fat Dormouse. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 158. JL JrllS species, the Glis of Pliny and the old naturalists, is a native of France and the South of Europe. It also occurs in Russia, Austria, &c. residing on trees, and leaping from bough to bough in the manner of a squirrel, though with a COMMON DORMOVSE 1S4 FAT FAT DORMOUSE. 163 less degree of agility. It feeds on nuts, acorns, fruit, £c. and during great part of the winter remains torpid in its nest, which is prepared in the hol- lows of trees, with dried leaves, moss. &c. Dur- ing its state of torpidity it is said to grow very fat, contrary to the nature of most of the hyber- nating or sleeping animals ; which are observed, on their first emerging from that state, to be far leaner than befire its commencement. It is pro- B bable, h .Lt this animal awakes at inter- vals, and i - in the use of its collected stores of provision ; and the epigram of Martial must consequently be received with a proper de- gree of allowance for the popular belief of the an- cients on the subject. Tota mihi dormitur hiems; et pinguior illo Tempore sum quo me nil nisi somnus alit. Nurs'd by a long hibernal sleep, I fatten by repose : Nor food the nourishment can give Which abstinence bestows. It is but just to observe, that the Count de Buf- fon has very properly exposed the absurdity of the ancient notion ; and has observed that the animal occasionally wakes, and makes use of its stock of provision. The truth is, that it is at all times fat, and appears as much so in spring as in au- tumn. By the ancient Romans it was numbered among the articles of luxury, and was fattened in proper receptacles, called Gliraria. The size of this elegant species is not very far 16*4 GARDEN DORMOUSE. short of that of a squirrel, measuring from nose to tail near six inches, and the tail four and a half. It is an animal of a much thicker form in proportion than a squirrel, and is of an elegant ash-colour, white on the under parts and insides of the limbs : the tail is very villose or furry, and of a slightly spreading form, like that of a squir- rel : the eyes are large and black ; the ears thin, rounded, and very slightly haired. Sometimes the upper parts of the body have a slight dusky and sometimes a ferruginous tiir^e. Its gene- ral manners resemble those of a squirrel ; but it is not easily tamed. The young are produced about the middle of summer, and are four or five in number. GARDEN DORMOUSE. Myoxus Nitela. M. rvfus, subtus ex albo cinereus, macula nigra circa oculos et pone auriculas. lAn. Syst. Nat. GmeL p. 156. Schrcb. saeugth. p. 833. t. 226. Rufous Dormouse, greyish-white beneath, with a black mark about the eyes and behind the ears. Mus quercinus. M. cauda elongata pilosa, macula nigra sub oculis. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. i$6. Mus Nitedula. Pall. Glir. p. 88. Mus avellanarum. Gesn. Quadr. 833. Aldr. dig. 439. Le Lerot. Rvff. 8. p. 181. pi 2$. Greater Dormouse, or Sleeper. Ray Quadr. 219. Garden Dormouse. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 159. THE Garden Dormouse is a native of the tem- perate and warmer regions of Europe and Asia, J55 "WOOD DOKMOVSE, GARDEN DORMOUSE. 165 and is commonly found in gardens, feeding on various kinds of fruit ; particularly peaches and apricots. It makes its nest, like the rest of this genus, in the hollows of trees, and sometimes in those of walls, or even in the ground about the roots of trees, &c. collecting, for this purpose, dried leaves, grass, mosses, &c. In autumn it collects a quantity of nuts, mast, &c. and depo- sits it in its hole ; and during the greatest part of the winter remains in a state of torpidity, awak- ing only at distant intervals. Its general length is about four inches and a half, and the tail ra- ther less. It is of an elegant rufous or ferruginous colour above, and yellowish white beneath : the eyes are imbedded in a large black patch or spot, which extends to some distance beyond each eaix the tail is somewhat wider towards the end, and sharpens at the extremity, and is marked on that part by a longitudinal black stripe, having the edges white. These animals produce their young about the middle of summer, which are about five or six in number, and are said to be of very quick growth. 16(5 WOOD DORMOUSE. Myoxus Dryas. M. ea, griseo rufus, subtus sordide albu$t linea nigra recta utrinque per oculos ad auriculas ducta. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 156. Schreb. saeugth.p. 831. t. 225. B. Greyish-rufous Dormouse, whitish beneath, with a strait black stripe across the eyes to the ears. THIS species is much allied to the preceding, hut has a less sharpened visage, and a much shorter tail ; and its general proportions bear a greater resemblance to those of the fat dormouse. Its length to the tail is about four inches, and the tail, about three inches. Its colour on the upper parts and tail is greyish ferruginous, and of the under parts yellowish white : the patch or black mark on each side the head is much narrower than in the preceding species, and extends only to the ears : the tail is very furry, the hair spreading as in that of a squirrel. It is said to be a native of Russia, Georgia, &c. inhabiting woods, &c. 167 COMMON DORMOUSE. Myoxus Muscardinus. M. rufus, gula albicante, plantarum pol- licibus muticis. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel, p. 156. Rufous Dormouse, with whitish throat, and the thumbs of th,e hind-feet without claws. Mus avellanarius. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 83. Mus avellanarum minor. Aldr. dig. 439. Jonst. Quadr. 1 68. Dormouse or Sleeper. Ray fyn. Quadr. 220. Le Muscardin. Bvff. 8. p. 193. pL 26. Dormouse. Brit. Zool. i. p. 95. Hist. Quadr. 2. p. 161. Ed-ie. pi. 266. THE size of this animal is nearly equal to that of a mouse, but it is of a more plump or rounded form, and the nose is more obtuse in proportion : the eyes are large, black, and prominent ; the ears broad, thin, and semi-transparent : the fore- feet have four toes, and the hind-feet five, but the interior of these latter are destitute of nails : the tail is about two inches and a half long, and closely covered on all sides with hair, which is rather longer towards the tip than on the other parts : the head, back, sides, belly, and tail, are of a tawny red colour ; the throat white : the fur is remarkably soft, and the whole animal has a considerable degree of elegance in its appearance. It sometimes happens that the colour is rather brown than reddish. Dormice, says Mr. Pennant, inhabit woods or very thick hedges; forming their nests in the hollows of some low tree, or near the bottom of a close shrub. As they want much of the spright- 168 COMMON DORMOUSE. liness of the squirrel, they never aspire to the tops of trees, or attempt to bound from spray to spray. Like the squirrel, they form little magazines of nuts, &c. for their winter provision, and take their food in the same upright posture. The consumption of their hoard during the rigour of winter is but small, for they sleep most part of the time, retiring into their holes on the ap- proach of winter, and, rolling themselves up, lie torpid during the greatest part of the gloomy sea- son. Sometimes they experience a short revival in a warm sunny day ; when they take a little- food, and then relapse into their former state. These animals seldom appear far from their re- treats, or in any exposed situations ; for which reason they seem less common in this country than they really are. They make their nest of grass, moss, and dead leaves. According to the Count de Buflfon it consists of interwoven herbs, and is six inches in diameter, open only above, and is situated between the branches of hazel and brushwood. The number of young is generally three or four. Id 6 G 1TE IR.JLI K G ILTE T liai Jan? i London PiLblithed b\ G J[tarv2ev. Fltt 169 GILT-TAILED DORMOUSE. Myoxus Chrysurus. M. purpureo-ferrugineus, stria capitis longi- tudmali caudacque medietate postica luttii. Purplish brown Dormouse, with the hind part of the tail and longitudinal stripe on the head gold-yellow. Le Lerot a queue doree. Bujf. Suppl. 7. p. 283. pi. 72. Hystrix chrysurus. Schreb. saeugth. svppl. Gilt-tailed Dormouse. Pennant Qwac/r. 2. p. 162. THIS singular species, though considered by its first describer, Mr. Allamand, as well as by Mr. Pennant in his History of Quadrupeds, as a species of Dormouse, is allied in perhaps an equal degree to the Porcupines, among which it is placed by Mr. Schreber. It is supposed to be a native of Suri- nam, and is remarkable for the beauty of its co- lours ; being of a fine purplish brown above, ra- ther paler beneath ; the tail is brown at its base, black for half its length, and the remainder of a bright gold-yellow, and on the top of the head is a longitudinal stripe, of that colour. The head is large in proportion to the body; the eyes small; the ears moderately large, short, and rounded ; the upper lip divided ; the front teeth white and short ; those of the lower jaw being the largest : on each side the nose are long vibrissse or whisk- ers ; the legs are short ; the feet divided into four toes, with weak crooked claws ; and in place of the thumb a small tubercle. On the hind part of the head, and along the back, are scattered seve- ral haii-s much longer than the rest, and of a very different form and substance, being tlat, stiff, and 170 GILT-TAILED DORMOUS?;. rough to the touch : they seem to arise from small transparent sheaths, and their conformation is highly singular, each hair, or rather quill, being cylindric and very small near the body, growing flat towards the middle part, where it is half a line broad ; and thence gradually diminishing to a very fine point : along the middle runs a chan- nel or gutter, which if examined with a glass, ap- pears yellow, while the sides, which are elevated, are of a brown colour, and thus a sort of double reflexion of light takes place, causing the pur- plish tinge above mentioned : these singular hairs or quills become gradually smaller as they ap- proach the sides of the body, and quite disappear towards the abdomen. It seems to be an animal formed for climbing trees, and from the descrip- tion given above it will appear that Mr. Schre- ber's opinion is just, and that it should in reality be considered, notwithstanding it diminutive size, as a species of Porcupine. Its length, from nose to tail, is five inches, and of the tail six inches and nine lines. 171 GUERLIXGUET. Myoxus Guerlingus. M.ferrugineussubtusjlcKO'rufescens, cauda longa subdepressa atttnuata. Ferruginous Dormouse, yellowish-rufous beneath, with long, subdepressed, tapering tail. Le Grand Guerlinguet. Eitff. Suppl. y.p. 261. pi. 65. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 162. THIS animal is described in the 7th supple- mental volume of the Count de Buffon's Natural History, and is said to be of the size of a squirrel, but of a longer form, and of the colour men- tioned in the specific character accompanying the present article. It is a native of Guiana, and re- sides on trees in the manner of a squirrel; feeding on fruits, &c. Its general residence is on palm trees. Its teeth resemble those of squirrels, and it has the same method of elevating its tail, which is longer than the body, and obscurely annulated with numerous alternate brown and yellowish bands, the tip itself being black. This animal measures between seven and eight inches to the tail, which is of equal length. Far. ? SMALL GUERLIXGUET. Le Petit Guerliguet. Buff*, suppl. 7. p. i6s.pl. 66. THIS, which is supposed by the author to be a variety of the preceding, resembles it in almost every particular except size, measuring only four 172 AFRICAN DORMOUSE. inches and three lines from nose to tail, which is but three inches and three lines in length. The colour of this kind is also less brown than the for- mer, and has a cast of cinereous olive-colour on the upper parts, It may be doubted whether it does not constitute a distinct species from the former; but the full history of these animals does not yet appear to be clearly understood. Mr. Pennant places them in the genus Dormouse ; and at present we cannot do better than follow the example of that judicious author, who is em- phatically termed by Dr. Pallas Primus post im~ mortalem Rajum Angfarum solidus Zoologus. The Guerlinguets are said to be easily tamed, and to produce two young at a birth, which they bring forth in the hollows of trees. AFRICAN DORMOUSE. Myoxus Africanus. M. griseus subtm albidus, I'mea svpercifiari & laterali albidis, cauda medio nigra, ungidbus palmarutn longissimis. Ferruginous-grey Dormouse, whitish beneath, with a white superciliary and lateral line, tail black in the middle, and claws on the fore-feet very long. Earless Dormouse. Pennant Quadr. a. p. 161. THIS species was communicated to Mr. Pen- nant by Sir Joseph Banks, and is said to be found about the mountains of Sneeburgh, above 800 miles above the Cape of Good Hope. Its size is that of a squirrel, but its shape much broader and AFRICAN DORMOUSE. 173 flatter: its colour on the upper parts pale ferru- ginous; on the under whitish: above each eye is a white line, and on each side the body an- other : the head is flat ; the nose obtuse ; the eyes full and black ; the whiskers long ; the upper lip bifid ; the auricles scarce apparent ; the toes long and distinct ; the knob on the fore-feet large, and the claws very long : the tail black in the middle, and hoary on each side. Whether it be really a species of Dormouse may perhaps be doubted. 174 DIPUS. JERBOA. Generic Character. Denies Primores utrinque duo. Pedes anteriores brevissimi ; posteriores longissimi. Clavicula perfectae. Front -teeth two above and below. Fore-legs very short; hind-legs very long. Clavicles in the skeleton. COMMON JERBOA. Dipus Sagitta. D. cauda longissima, apice subpennata nigro- albaf pedibus posticis longissimis tridactylis. Pall. Glir. p. 87. and p. 306. Mus. Pale-brown Jerboa, white beneath, with extremely long tridac- tyle hind feet, and very long tail with fubpennated black- and-white tip. Egyptian Jerboa. Pennant Quadjr. 2. p. 164. Edw.pl. a 19. HIS is the species which seems to have been known to the ancients under the name of /*u? 7 COMMON" JERBOA. 175 of the rump runs an obscure dusky band, which is probably not a permanent character, since it appears to be more or less distinct in different individuals. The head is short; the ears thin, broad, upright, and rounded : the eyes large, round, and dark coloured: the fore legs about an inch long, with five toes to each foot, the inner toe very small, but furnished with a sharp crooked claw, like the rest : the hind legs are extremely long, thin, sparingly covered with short hair, and very much resemble those of a bird : the hind feet have three toes each, the middle of which is somewhat longer than the rest, and all are furnished with sharp and strong claws : there is also a very small spur or back toe, with its corresponding claw ; but this spur or back toe is so small, that it seems to have been generally over- looked by the describers of the animal ; and it is highly remarkable, that neither Edwards nor Pennant, who both examined this species in a living state, nor even Dr. Pallas, whose accuracy in description is extreme, and who examined a great number of specimens, make the least men- tion of this part ; nor does any vestige of it ap- pear in the figure given by Dr. Pallas of the skeleton. We must, therefore, suppose either that the animal varies in this respect, or that it may perhaps constitute a sexual distinction, and may consequently be found only on some individuals. It may also occur in those which inhabit Barbary, Egypt, and Arabia; but not in those which are found in the sandy deserts between the Tanais 176* COMMON JERBOA. and the Volga, where Dr. Pallas examined his specimens ; for this animal, like the Alagtaga or next described species, appears to inhabit very distant and dissimilar regions, occurring not only in many parts of Africa, but in the eastern parts of Siberia, £c. £c. It also appears from the ob^ servations of Dr. Pallas, that the two species, viz. the Common Jerboa and the Alagtaga, never inhabit the same spots, or intermix, but keep per- fectly distinct or separate from each other. The usual length of the common Jerboa, from nose to tail, is about seven inches and a quarter : the tail is about ten inches long, of a form rather inclining to square than cylindric, and of the same colour with the body, but terminated by an elegant, flattish, oval tuft of black hair, with a white tip. On each side the nose are situated several very long hairs or whiskers, as is usual in most animals of this tribe : the cutting-teeth are sharp and strong, and resemble those of a rat. In its attitudes and manner of progression this animal resembles a bird ; generally standing, like the Kangaroo, on its hind feet, and leaping with much celerity, and to a great distance : but some- times it sets its fore feet to the ground for a mo- ment or two, and then recovers its former atti- tude. It principally uses the fore legs in feeding; pulling to its mouth the ears of corn, and various other vegetable substances on which it feeds. It o inhabits subterraneous holes, which it either pre- pares itself, or finds ready excavated, in the dry, stony, and sandy deserts in which it resides. COMMON JERBOA. 1?7 During the day it commonly remains in its hole ; coming out at night for food and exercise. On the approach of cold it is said to grow torpid for some time, reviving on the change of weather. •" O O This animal has frequently been brought into Europe, and in a state of confinement has been known to burrow almost through a brick wall. It has been well figured by Edwards, who did not observe any appearance of a spur or back toe. It is possible, however, that from its minuteness it might have escaped his attention. The measurements of this species arc differ- ently given by authors, and it appears clearly to vary somewhat in size in different countries ; •/ those of Siberia, described by Dr. Pallas, being smaller than those of Africa ; and, after all, it is not impossible that they may in reality be distinct, though so neady resembling each other as to make the distinction very difficult : in Dr. Pallas's specimens a white transverse band runs across the upper part of the thighs, whereas in that of Ed- wards a black or dusky band passes across the lower part of the back, without any appearance of the white one It is difficult to determine whe- ther the kind described and figured bv Mr. Bruce o * should be considered as a variety of the present species or of the Alagtaga ; since it agrees with the Common Jerboa, in having the black dorsal band or crescent, while, on the contrary, in the number of its toes on the hind-feet it seems to differ from, both ; the author expressly declaring v. ii. p. i. 12 178 COMMON JERBOA. that there are four toes forwards, exclusive of a very short one or spur behind. Mons. Sonnini, in his Egyptian travels, assures us, that he never was able to find any difference either in the form or colour of the Egyptian Jer- boa. Mons. Sonnini considers the Jerboa as con- stituting a link between quadrupeds and birds. In this idea he is by no means singular ; the same sentiment naturally suggesting itself to the mind of every philosophical observer. Mons. Sonnini adds, that though the transition from quadrupeds to birds has not yet been investigated, we have nevertheless reason to consider the connexion as existing. We have the beginning of it in the Jerboa, and the last link of it in the Bat. We have every reason to believe, that the series of grada- tions will develope itself in proportion as good observers shall carry their researches into coun- tries the natural history of which is still unex- plored *. M. Sonnini describes the Egyptian Jerboa as follows : " Its size is nearly equal to that of a large rat : its head is broad, large in proportion to the body, the upper part flat, and of a light fawn-colour, striped with black : the upper jaw projects beyond the lower : they are both provided with two in- cisores ; the upper ones broad, square, flat, and * The Platypus or Duck-Bill, from New Holland, is a striking instance of the truth of this remark. COMMON* JERBOA. 179 divided lengthwise by a groove in the middle ; the lower ones longer, convex externally, pointed at their extremity, and bent inwards : the muzzle is short, wide, and obtuse ; a number of stiff hairs grow out on each side, and form long whiskers : the nose is white, bare, and cartilaginous: the iris of its large and projecting eye is brown : the ears long, large, and covered with hair, so short that they appear naked except on very close inspec- tion : externally they are white in the lower part, and grey upwards : the middle, as well as the sides of the head, is of a very light fawn-colour, mixed with "rev and black : they entirely sur- O */ v * round the meat us auditorius for about a third of their length, so that they exactly resemble the larger end of a cone : this conformation must en- crease the animal's faculty of hearing, and is par- ticularly well calculated to defend the inner part of the orq;an from the extraneous substances that O might lodge there : the body is short ; well pro- vided with long, soft, silky hair : that which co- vers the back and sides is of an ash-colour through- o out almost the whole of its length, and of a light fawn-colour where it approaches the points, which are black ; but as the ash-coloured part is not visible, it may be said that the fur is fawn-colour- ed, with blackish zigzag stripes : these tints, which are somewhat dusky, form an agreeable contrast with the fine white of the belly : the fore-legs are so short that they scarcely extend beyond the hair : they are white, and have rive toes ; the inner one of which is short, rounded at 180 COMMON JERBOA. the end, and has no nail : the four other toes, the second outer one of which is the longest, are long, and armed with great hooked nails : the heel is very high, and the middle of the foot is naked and of a flesh-colour. These fore-feet are of no use to the animal in walking, but serve him only to lay hold of his food, and to carry it to his mouth, as also to dig his subterraneous abode. The hind legs are covered with long hair, fawn- coloured and white : its long feet are almost en- tirely bare, especially on the outside, which must necessarily be the case ; since the animal, whether in motion or at rest, constantly leans on that part. These feet, so exceedingly long, have each three toes ; the middle one something longer than the other two : they are all provided with nails, which are short, but broad and obtuse : they have also at the heel a kind of spur, or rather a very small rudiment of a fourth toe, which gives the Jerboa of Egypt some resemblance to the Alagtaga of Tartary described by Gmelin in the Petersburg!! Transactions, and which part probably escaped Hasselquist, as well as many others. The toes and the heel are furnished below with long grey hairs tinged with yellow, except that at the origin of the toes, which is of a blackish cast : the nails, both of the fore and hind feet, are of a dirty white. According to Hasselquist the tail of the Jerboa is three times the length of the body ; I never found it, however, much more than half that length : it scarcely exceeds the circumference of a goose-quill, but is of a quadrangular and not COMMON JERBOA. 181 a round shape : it is of a deeper grey above than below, and is furnished with short hair as far as the extremity, which ends in a tuft of long silky hair, half black and half grey." The following is, according to Mons. Sonnini, the average size of the Egyptian Jerboa : it was taken from female specimens, because they hap- pened first to be met with, but M. Sonnini as- sures us, that the difference of size between the sexes is but very slight. ie Length of the body, from the tip of the nose to the origin of the tail, five inches six lines. " That of the head, measured in a strait line from the tip of the nose to the nape of the neck, one inch eight lines. " Breadth of the muzzle at its extremity, four- lines. That of the opening of the mouth, mea- sured from one angle of the jaw to the other, three lines and a half. The upper jaw projects beyond the under three lines and a quarter. " Length of the upper teeth, two lines : of the under, three. " Distance between the nostrils, one line : be- tween the tip of the nose and the anterior angle of the eye, ten lines. Between the posterior angle of the eye to the ear, two lines and a half. Between the two angles of the eye, five lines. Distance be- tween the anterior angles of the eyes, measured in a strait line, one inch and half a line. " Length of the ears, one. inch and six lines: breadth of the ears at bottom, five lines. Distance between the ears, nine lines. 182 COMMON' JERBOA. " Length of the tail, eight inches six lines : thickness of the tail, at its origin, two lines. t( Total length of the fore-legs, one inch seven lines : that of the great toe, one line and a half ; of the second, including the nail, three lines. lf Total length of the hind-legs, six inches and two lines : that of the middle toe, including the nail, ten lines : that of the spur, one line." lt The females have eight nipples, the position of which is remarkable : they are situated more externally than in other quadrupeds : the first pair is beyond the bend of the shoulders ; and the last is rather under the thigh than under the belly : the two other pairs, being on the same line, are consequently placed rather under the flanks than Under the body. " The Jerboa appears to be a prolific animal ; for it is exceedingly numerous in Arabia, Nubia, Egypt, and Barbary. During my stay in, or ra- ther during my excursions in Egypt, I opened several Jerboas. My principal aim was to ascer- tain that they had only one stomach, and con- sequently could not possess the power of rumin- ating. This was an answer to one of the ques- tions that Michaelis, professor at Gottingen, had addressed to the travellers sent to the East by the king of Denmark, viz. Whether the Jerboa was a ruminating animal ? A question arising from the same mistake which had occasioned the con- founding the Jerboa with the Daman hrael, or Saphan of the Hebrews. " The sand and ruins that surround modern COMMON JERBOA. 183 Alexandria are much frequented by the Jerboas. They live in society, and in burrows, which they dig with their teeth and nails. I have even been told, that they sometimes make their way through the soft stone which is under the stratum of sand. Though not absolutely wild, they are very shy, and upon the least noise, or the sight of any ob- ject, retire precipitately to their holes. They can only be killed by surprise. The Arabs con- trive to take them alive, by stopping up all the avenues to their burrows except one, by which they force them to come out. I never ate any : their flesh indeed is said to be not very palatable, though it is not despised by the Egyptians. Their skin, covered with soft and shining hair, is used as a common fur. " In Egypt I kept six of these animals for some time in a large iron cage : the very first night they entirely gnawed through the upright and cross pieces of wood, and I was obliged to have the inside of the cage lined with tin. They ate rice, walnuts, and all kinds of fruit. They delighted in being in the sun ; and when taken into the shade, huddled together, and seemed to suffer from the privation of heat. It has been said that the Jerboas sleep by day, and never in the night ; but, for my part, I observed quite the contrary. In a state of liberty they are found round their subterraneous habitations in open day, and those which I kept were never more lively nor awake than in the heat of the sun. Although they have a great deal of agility in their motions, they 184 COMMON JERBOA. seem to be of a mild and tranquil disposition. Mine suffered themselves to be touched without difficulty ; and there was neither noise nor quarrel among them, even when taking their food. At the same time they testified neither joy, fear, nor gratitude : their gentleness was neither amiable nor interesting : it appeared to be the effect of cold and complete indifference, bordering on stu- pidity. Three of these animals died successively, before my departure from Alexandria. I lost two others during a somewhat stormy passage to the isle of Rhodes, when the last, owing to the negligence of the person to whose care it was committed, got out of its cage and disappeared. I had a strict search made for it, when the vessel was unloaded, but without effect : it had, no doubt, been killed by the cats." Mons. Sonnini seems inclined to think that the Alagtaga or Tartarian Jerboa described by Gmelin in the Petersburgh Transactions, is no other than the Egyptian Jerboa, notwithstanding its different residence. J5S 1R5 ALAGTAGA. Dipus Jaculus. D. cauda longissima apice pfttnata nigro-atba, pedibus posticis maximis pentadactylis. Pall. Glir.p. 87. and 275. Mvs. Pale-brown Jerboa, white beneath, with extremely long penta- dactyle hind-feet, and very long tail with subpennated black- and-white tip. Siberian Jerboa. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 166. Alagtaga. Bnf. 13.7). 141. Schreb. saevgtk. p. 842. Ix its general appearance this species perfectly resembles the common or Egyptian Jerboa, but is considerably larger, though there appear to be permanent varieties or races which are, on the contrary, much smaller than the common species. It is principally distinguished by the remarkable character of the hind feet, each of which has a pair of very conspicuous spurs or additional toes, situated at some distance above the front toes, and furnished with sharp claws. In the Leverian Museum is a very fine speci- men of this animal, which has .been figured in Mr. Pennant's History of Quadrupeds. The co- lour of the Siberian Jerboa or Alagtaga is nearly the same as that of the Earptian ; but there is no Ov I appearance of the dusky band across the lower part of the back, or any transverse undulations ; the whole upper parts being of a pale yellowish fawn-colour, and the under parts white. Its length is about eight inches, and the tail ten. It is found, according to Dr. Pallas, from the Cas- pian sea to the river Irtish, but is no where very ALAGTAGA. frequent. It inhabits dry, sandy, and gravelly soils. Of this species there are two supposed varieties, agreeing in form with the above mentioned, but differing in size, and in some degree in colour ; but the differences are not such as to justify our considering them as specifically distinct. The first of these varieties is the Middle Siberian Jer- boa, which is of the size of a rat, and has the thighs crossed by a white line; and a whitish zone or circle surrounds the nose. It is found in the eastern deserts of Siberia and Tartary, beyond the lake Baikal. It also occurs in Barbary and Syria, and extends, according to Dr. Pallas, even as far as India. The other variety is called by Mr. Pennant the Pygmy Siberian Jerboa. It agrees in form with the other, but has no white circle round the nose, and has a smaller tuft to the tail, the end of which is just tipped with white. In size it is far inferior to the middle va- riety. It is said to inhabit the same places with the large or first described kind. All these agree O O in their manners, burrowing in hard, clayey ground, not only in high and dry spots, but even in low and salt places ; digging their holes with great celerity with their fore feet and teeth ; thus forming oblique and winding burrows, of some yards in length, and ending in a large hole or receptacle by way of nest, in which are deposited the herbs, &c. on which they feed. They are said to wander about chiefly by night. They sleep rolled up, with the head between the thighs: ALAGTAGA. 187 they are extremely nimble, and on the approach of danger spring forward so swiftly, that a man well mounted can scarcely overtake them. They are said to be particularly fond of the roots of tulips, and some other bulbous-rooted plants. They are supposed to sleep during the winter in the manner of Dormice. The large, or middle variety of this species ap- pears to be figured by Aldrovandus, under the title of Ciiniculus Indicus Utias diet us. It is possible that Mr. Brace's description may refer to the same animal, since he expressly af- firms, that the hind feet have four toes besides a spur. His figure, however, does not represent this particular distinctly, and is besides marked across the lower part of the back by the dusky band or crescent, which generally appears on the Common Jerboa. Mr. Bruce tells us, that tliere is little variety in the animal, either in size or colour ; but that towards Aleppo they have broader noses than the African ones ; that their bodies are thicker, and their colour lighter. " The Arabs of the kingdom of Tripoli (says Mr. Bruce) make very good diversion with the Jerboa, in training their greyhounds, which they employ to hunt the Gazel or Antelope, after in- structinsr him to turn himself bv hunting this * animal. The Prince of Tunis, son of Sidi Younis, and grandson of Ali Bey, who had been strangled by the Algerines when that capital was taken, being then an exile at Algiers, made me a present 188 CAPE JERBOA. of a small greyhound, which often gave us excel- lent sport. It may perhaps be imagined that a chace between these two creatures could not be long : yet I have often seen, in a large inclosure, or court-yard, the greyhound employ a quarter of an hour before he could master his nimble ad- versary : the small size of the creature assisted him much ; and had not the greyhound been a practised one, and made use of his feet as well as his teeth, he might have killed two Antelopes in the time he could have killed one Jerboa." I must not omit to add, that Mr. Bruce cannot allow the Jerboa to be the Saphan of the sacred writings. CAPE JERBOA. Dipus Cafer. D. spadiceus, subttts subdnercus, palmis pentadec- tylis, plantis tctradactylis, cauda •villosissima apice nigra. Ferruginous Jerboa, pale ash-coloured beneath, with pentadac- tyle 'fore-feet, tetradactyle hind-feet, and very villose tail tipped with black. Jerboa Capensis. Mill. dm. phys. p. 62. t. 31. Grand Gerbo. Buff". Suppl. 6. p. 260. pi. 43. Cape Jerboa. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 170. THIS is by far the largest of all the Jerboas, and is a native of the mountainous country to the north of the Cape of Good Hope. Its length from nose to tail is one foot two inches ; of the tail near fifteen inches. The head is broad ; the muzzle somewhat sharp ; and the upper jaw longer 159 CAPE JERBOA , \mnltv.ritrt Strtrt. CAPE JERBOA. than the lower. The general colour of the ani- mal is a pale ferruginous above, and pale ash- colour beneath. The nose is black and bare to some little distance up the front : the ears large : the whiskers long and black : the tail is of the same colour with the body for about half its length ; the remainder blackish, and extremely villous or full of hair. It is an animal of great strength and activity, and will spring to the distance of twenty or thirty feet at once. "\Vhen eating, it sits upright in the manner of a squirrel. It bur- rows in the ground, like the smaller kind of Jer- boas, with great ease and expedition ; having very strong and long claws, five in number, on the fore feet : those on the hind feet are rather short, and are four in number. This animal is among the late accessions to Na- tural History. It seems to have been first figured in the miscellaneous plates of Mr. Millar. A figure also occurs in the sixth supplemental vo- lume of the Count de Button's History of Qua- drupeds. It is called by the Dutch colonists, at the Cape, by the name of Sprin gen Haas or Jump- ing Hare. 190 TORRID JERBOA. Dipus Meridianus. D. palmis subtetradactylis, plantis pentadac- tylis, cauda concolore. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 159. Yellowish-brown Jerboa, white beneath, with subtetradactyle fore-feet, pentadactyle hind-feet, and tapering tail of the same colour with the body. Mus longipes. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 84. Pall. Gfir. p. 88. Torrid Jerboa. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 171. THIS species, according to Dr. Pallas, was first figured by Seba, whose specimen appears to have been not fully grown. Specimens were brought to Dr. Pallas in the year 1770, which were taken on the borders of the sandy desert of Naryn, in 46| north latitude. The burrows or passages Avhich they had formed in the dry soil, had a triple entrance, and were about an ell deep in the ground. The size of this species is between that of a rat and a field-mouse ; and notwithstanding the great length of the hind legs, it does not leap, like the rest of the Jerboas, but runs in the manner of the rat tribe ; and it seems to be on this account that Mr. Pennant has ranked it un- der his division of Jerboid Fiats, rather than among the true Jerboas. The length from nose to tail is rather more than four inches ; and of the tail rather more than three : the nose is blunt ; the mouth placed far beneath ; the upper lip bifid ; the ears large and rounded ; the fore legs short, with four toes, and a tubercle in place of a thumb : the hind legs long and naked : the toes long and slender ; the exterior one shorter than 160 - TAMARISK JERBOA. the rest. The colour of the animal is brown above, and white beneath ; the colours separated along the sides by a yellowish line. TAMARISK JERBOA. Dipus Tamaricinus. D. palmis subietradactylis, pluntis peiita- dactylis, cauda obsolete anuulata. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmd. p. 159. Yellowish-brown Jerboa, white beneath, with subtetradactyle fore-feet, pentadactyle hind-feet, and * tapering tail obscurely annulated with brown. Mus tamaricinus. Pall. Glir. p. 88. t. 19. Tamarisk Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 175. THIS species, which was first discovered by Dr. Pallas, is about the size of the brown rat. It is an inhabitant of the most southern parts of the Caspian deserts, and probably of the warmer parts of Asia. It delights in low grounds and salt marshes, and burrows under the roots of the tamarisk-bushes. Each burrow has two entrances, and is very deep. The animal comes out by night to feed, and makes its principal repast on *ucculent maritime plants, as the Salsola, &c. which in the salt deserts it inhabits are very plen- tiful. The head of this species is oblong; the whiskers large ; the nose blunt ; and the nostrils covered by a flap : the eyes large ; the ears large, oval, and naked : the space round the nose and eyes, and beyond the ears, white : the sides of the head and neck cinereous : the back and sides yellowish grey : the tips of the hairs brown : the 192 breast and belly white : the tail ash-coloured, and annulated more than half way from the base with rings of brown : the hind legs are long in propor- tion to the fore legs ; and the feet are longitudin- ally black beneath : on the fore feet is a warty tu- bercle in place of the thumb. The length from nose to tail is about six inches ; the tail not quite so long. CANADIAN JERBOA. Dipus Canadensis. D. fusco-Jlavescens, sitbtus albidus, palmh tetradactylis, plantis pentadactylis, cauda longa subnuda murina. Yellowish-brown Jerboa, whitish beneath, with the fore-feet tetradactylous, the hind-feet pentadactylous ; the tail long and mouse-like. Dipus palmis tetradactylis, plantis pentadactylis, cauda annulata vndiqite setosa. Jumping Moufe of Canada. Lin. Trans, 4. p. iff, pi. 8. Canada Rat. Pennant Quadr. a. p. 172. THIS minute species, which is figured on the annexed plate in its natural size, and represented both in its active and torpid state, is a native of Canada, and appears to have been first discovered by General Davies, who had an opportunity of examining it during his residence at Quebec, and who has described it in the fourth volume of the Transactions of the Linnaean Society. *• The description is as follows : " As I conceive there are very few persons, however conversant with natural history, who may have seen or known that there was an ani~ CANADIAN JERBOA. 193 mal existing, in the coldest parts of Canada, of the same genus with the Jerboa, hitherto con- fined to the warmer climates of Africa, I take the liberty of laying before this society the following observations, accompanied by a drawing of an animal of that kind, procured by myself, in the neighbourhood of Quebec, during my last resi- dence in that country. The specimens from which I made the drawing are now in my collec- tion. With respect to the food, or mode of feed- ing, of this animal, I have it not in my power to speak with any degree of certainty, as I could by no means procure any kind of sustenance that I could induce it to eat ; therefore, when caught, it only lived a day and a half. The first I was so fortunate to catch was taken in a large field near the falls of Montmorenci, and by its having strayed too far from the skirts of the wood allowed myself, assisted by three other gentlemen, to sur- round it, and after an hour's hard chace, to get it unhurt, though not before it was thoroughly fa- tigued, which might in a great measure accele- rate its death. During the time the animal re- mained in its usual vigour, its agility was incre- dible for so small a creature. It always took progressive leaps of from three to four, and some- times of five yards, although seldom above twelve or fourteen inches from the surface of the grass ; but I have frequently observed others in shrubby places, and in the woods, among plants, where they chiefly reside, leap considerably higher. When found in such places it is impossible to take them,, v. ii. P. i. 13 194 CANADIAN JERBOA. from their wonderful agility, and their evading all pursuit by bounding into the thickest part of the cover they can find. With respect to the figure given of it in its dormant state, I have to observe, that the specimen was found by some workmen, in digging the foundation for a sum- mer-house in a gentleman's garden, about two miles from Quebec, in the latter end of May, 1787. It was discovered enclosed in a ball of clay, about the size of a cricket- ball, nearly an inch in thickness, perfectly smooth within, and about 20 inches under ground. The man who first discovered it, not knowing what it was, struck the ball with his spade, by which means it was broken to pieces, or the ball would have been presented to me. The drawing will perfectly shew how the animal is laid during its dormant state. How long it had been under ground, it is impossible to say ; but as I never could observe these animals in any parts of the country after the beginning of September, I conceive they lay themselves up some time in that month, or be- ginning of October, when the frost becomes sharp ; nor did I ever see them again before the last week in May, or beginning of June. From their being enveloped in balls of clay, without any appearance of food, I conceive they sleep during the winter, and remain for that term with- out sustenance. As soon as I conveyed this spe- cimen to my house, I deposited it, as it was, in a small chip box, in some cotton, waiting with great anxiety for its waking; but that not taking CANADIAN JERBOA. 195 place at the season they generally appear, I kept it until I found it begin to smell : I then stuffed it, and preserved it in its torpid position. I am led to believe its not recovering from that state, arose from the heat of my room during the time it was in the box, a fire having been constantly burning in the stove, and which in all probability was too great for its respiration." This animal, in the last edition of Mr. Pen- nant's History of Quadrupeds, is referred to the genus Mus, and is described under the name of the Canada Rat. 196 LEPUS. HARE. Generic Character. Denies Primores utrinque duo; superiores duplicati, intcrioribus minoribus. Front-teeth two both above and below: the upper pair duplicate; two small inte- rior ones standing behind the exterior. HIS genus, when considered with anatomical exactness, exhibits particularities of structure, de- viating somewhat from that of the Glires, and making an indistinct approach to the Pecora or Ruminants, It has even been supposed that the common hare actually ruminates ; an opinion owing not only to the peculiar motions of the mouth, which present an obscure appearance of rumination, but to the structure of the stomach, which is marked as it were into two regions by a particular fold or ridge. Other singularities rela- tive to internal formation may be met with in the works of comparative anatomists. RABBET, HAKE ,lk,,.Jan'.iJ*>nJ,nIIyii',t h- (rJAmltf _••• 197 COMMON HARE. Lepus Timldus. L. cauda abbreciata, auricidis apkc nigris, Cff- pite longioribus. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 160. Subferruginous-brown short-tailed Hare, with ears longer than the head, and tipped with black. Lepus. Gesn. Quadr. 69. Aldr. dig. 247. Raj. Quadr. 204. Le Lievre. Biff. 6. p. 246. pi. 38. Common Hare. Pennant Quadr, 2. p. 98. THE Hare is an animal so familiarly known as to supersede the necessity of any very minute de- scription. It is a native not only of even- part of Europe, but of almost every part of the old conti- nent. It may perhaps be doubted whether it be an aboriginal native of any part of America. The favourite residence of the Hare is in rich and somewhat dry and flat grounds, and it is rarely discovered in very hilly or mountainous situations. It feeds principally by night, and re- mains concealed during the day in its form, be- neath some bush, or slight shelter. The swiftness of this animal is proverbial, and on account of the conformation of its legs, the hinder of which are longer than the fore, it is observed to run to most advantage on slightly ascending ground. The general length of the Hare is about tv;o feet ; the colour a subferruginous grey, with the chin and belly white, the throat and breast ferru- ginous, and the tips of the ears blackish : the tail is black above, and white below : the feet are co- vered beneath as well as above with fur; the in- 198 COMMON HARE. side of the mouth is also coated with short hair : the upper lip is divided ; the eyes are large, yel- lowish-brown, and are said to be constantly open even during sleep. The hare is a very prolific animal, generally producing three or four young at a time, and breeding several times in a year. The young re- quire the assistance of the parent but for a short time, and in about three weeks are able to provide for themselves : they do not remove to any great distance from each other, but continue in the same neighbourhood for a considerable time. The Hare feeds on various vegetables, but is observed to prefer those of a milky and succulent quality. It also occasionally feeds on the bark of trees, as well as on the young shoots of various shrubs, &c. The nature of the soil in which the Hare re- sides and feeds, is observed to influence in a con- siderable degree the colour and constitution of the animal. Those which feed in elevated situa- tions are larger and darker than those which re- side in the plains. The Hare is an animal proverbially timid, and flies, if disturbed when feeding, by the slightest alarm ; but when seated in its form, will allow itself to be approached so near as to be reached by a stick ; seeming to be fascinated as it were by fear, and instead of endeavouring to fly, con- tinues to squat immoveable, with its eyes fixed on its enemy. It is necessary, however, in order to conduct this manoeuvre, to approach in a gradual and circling manner. COMMON HARE. 199 The Hare, though so nearly allied to the Rab- bet as to make the general descriptive distinction not very, easy, is yet of different habits and pro- pensities, and never associates with the latter ani- mal. If taken very young, the Hare may be successfully tamed, and in that state shews a con- siderable degree of attachment to its benefactors, though it continues shy to those whose presence it has not been accustomed to. Mr. White, in his History of Selboume, relates an instance which happened in that village, of a young leveret suckled and nursed by a Cat, which received it very early under her protection, and continued to guard it with maternal solicitude till it was grown to a considerable size. Mous. Sonnini, in his notes to Buffon's Natural History, assures us that he himself kept a tame Hare, which used gene- rally to repose itself by the fire in winter between two large Angora cats, and was also on terms of equal friendship with a hound. In this state of domesticity the hare, like other quadrupeds, is subject to a prolongation of the teeth, which ex- ceed their proper bounds, unless the animal be furnished with some hard substances on which to exercise them at intervals. This extraordinary prolongation of the teeth, as Dr. Pallas has justly observed, furnishes an irrefragable argument against Mr. Hunter's doctrine with respect to the growth of these organs. A most singular variety of this animal is some- times found, which is furnished with rough and slightly branched horns, bearing a considerable 200 COMMON HARE. resemblance to those of a roebuck. This particu- larity, as strange as it is uncommon, seems to im- ply a kind of indistinct approach in this animal to the order Pecora. Accounts of horned hares may be found, not only in the writings of Gesner and Aldrovandus, but of many other naturalists, and there seems to be no reason for doubting the reality of the phenomenon. Dr. Grew, in his Mu- sceum Regalis Societatis, mentions a pair of these horns, which were at that time in the collection of the Royal Society, and Mr. Schreber has lately figured a pair in his work on quadrupeds. The Hare is a short-lived animal, and is sup- posed rarely to exceed the term of seven or eight years. Its voice, which is scarce ever heard but in the distress of sudden surprise, is a cry not much unlike that of an infant. The Hare is preyed upon by foxes, wolves, eagles, hawks, kites, &c. &c. which, together with the more de- structive pursuits of mankind, contribute to thin the number of these animals, which from their prolific nature would otherwise multiply to the most extravagant degree ; since, according to Buifon, in some districts appropriated to the plea- sures of the chace, not less than four or five hun- dred have been destroyed in a single day ! It may be proper to add, that in very severe win- ters, and especially in those of the more northern regions, the hare becomes entirely white, in which state it is liable to be mistaken for the following species. 201 VARYING HARE. Lepus Variabilis. L. caitda attrrtriata, excepto auricuhrum ca- pite breciontm apice nigro hyeme totus aJbus. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p. 161. Tawny-grey short-tailed Hare (white in winter), with ears shorter than the head, and tipped with black. Varying Hare. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 100. Lepus variabilis. Pall. Glir. p. I. THIS species is an inhabitant of the loftiest al- pine tracts in the northern regions of the globe ; occurring in Norway, Lapland, Russia, Siberia, and Kamtschatka ; and in our own island on the Alps of Scotland. The same species is also found to extend to America, appearing in some parts of Canada. In its general appearance it bears an extreme re- semblance to the common hare, but is of smaller * size, and has shorter ears and more slender legs. Its colour in summer is a tawny grey, in winter entirely white ; except the tips of the ears, which are black : the soles of the feet are also black, but are very thickly covered with a yellowish fur. This animal is observed to confine itself altop-e- O ther to elevated situations, and never to descend into the plains, or to mix with the common haret- The change of colour commences in the month * Dr. Pallas, on the contrary, represents it as larger than the common hare : it, therefore, appears to vary in size in different countries j and the Scottish variety is smaller than the Russian and Siberian. f Yet, according to Dr. Pallas, a Hybrid variety is sometimes eridently produced between this species and the common hare. AMERICAN HARE. of September, and the grey or summer coat re- appears in April ; but in the very severe climate of Siberia it continues white all the year round. It has been sometimes found entirely coal- black ; a variety which is also known to take place occasionally in the common hare. The varying hare sometimes migrates in order to ob- tain food in severe seasons. Troops of five or six hundred have been seen to quit in this manner the frozen hills of Siberia, and to descend into the plains and woody districts, from which they again return in spring to the mountains. AMERICAN HARE. Lcpus Americanus. L. cauda abbreviata, pedibus posticis corpora dimidio longioribus, auricularum caudceque apicibus nigris. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmd.p. 162. Tawny-grey short-tailed Hare, white beneath, with the hind legs longer than the body, and the ears and tail tipped with grey. American Hare. Forst. Phil. Trans, vol. 62. p. 376. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. ica. Catesb. app. 27. THIS animal is not much superior in size to a rabbet; measuring about eighteen inches. Its colour nearly resembles that of the common hare, to which it seems much allied ; but the fore legs are shorter, and the hind ones longer in propor- tion. The belly is white ; the tail black above and white beneath; the ears tipped with grey, and the legs of a pale ferruginous colour. It is said to inhabit all parts of North America ; and BAIKAL HARE. 203 in the more temperate regions retains its colour all the year round, but in the colder parts becomes white in winter, when the fur grows extremely long and silvery ; the edges of the ears alone retaining their former colour. It is said to be extremely common at Hudson's Bay, where it is considered as a highly useful article of food. It breeds once or twice a year, producing from five to seven at a time. It is not of a migratory nature, but always continues to haunt the same places, taking occa- sional refuge under the roots of trees, or in the hollows near their roots. BAIKAL HARE. Lepus Tolai. L. cauda abbreciata, auricularum marginc summo nigro. Liu, Syst. Nat. GmeL p. 162. Pall. Glir. p. 17. *.4./a. Pale-brown short-tailed Hare, with the upper edges of the ears black. Tolai. Buff. i$.p. 138. Baikal Hare. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 104. THIS is a somewhat larger species than the common hare, which it pretty much resembles as to colour and general appearance, but has a longer and smaller head, with a thicker nose in propor- tion : the tail is longer in proportion than in the rabbet, and shorter than in the common hare, and is black above and white below : the end of the nose and the eyes are bordered with whitish hair, and the upper edges of the ears are black. 204 RABBET. the throat * and under parts are white, and the feet yellowish. This animal is an inhabitant of open hilly places in Dauria and Mongolia, and is said to extend as far as Tibet. In the colour of its flesh it agrees with the rabbet, but differs both from that animal and the hare in its manners ; neither burrowing in the ground, like the former, nor running far when pursued, like the latter ; but instantly taking refuge in the holes of rocks. It is called by the Mongols by the name of Tolai. The fur is said to be very indifferent, and of no esteem as a commercial article. RABBET. Lepus Cuniculus. L. cauda dbbreciata subconcolore, auriculis ajrice atrls, cniribus posticis trunco brevioribus. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmef. p. 163. Short-tailed brown Hare, with the tips of the ears black, and the hind legs shorter than the body. Cuniculus. Plin. Gesn. Aldr. llaj. Le Lapin. Euff. 6. p. 303. pi. 50, fyc. Rabbet. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 103. THE Rabbet bears a very strong general re- semblance to the Hare, but is considerably smaller, and its fore feet are furnished with sharper and longer claws in proportion ; thus enabling it to burrow in the ground, and to form convenient re- treats, in which it conceals itself by day, and, like * Mr. Erxleben describes it with the throat black. RABBET. £05 the hare, comes out chiefly by night and during the early part of the morning to feed. Its colour, in the wild state, is a dusky brown, paler or whit- ish on the under parts, and the tail is black above and white below. In a domestic state the animal varies into black, black-and-white, silver-grey, perfectly white, &c. &c. The Rabbet is a native of most of the tem- perate and warmer parts of the old continent, but is not found in the northern regions, and is not originally a native of Britain, but was introduced from other countries. Its general residence is in dry, chalky, or gravelly soils, in which it can conveniently burrow. It is so prolific an animal that it has been known to breed seven times in a year, and to produce no less than eight young each time. It is, therefore, not surprising that in some countries it has been considered as a kind of calamity, and that various arts of extirpation have been practised against it. The difference between the Rabbet and the Hare, though known from daily habit and in- spection, is yet by no means easily described in words ; and it is a curious fact, that the attempts at a specific character by Linnsus, in the earlier editions of the Systema Nature, are remarkable for their want of precision. In the second edi- tion of that, work he thus distinguishes the Rab- bet : Lepus cauda abrupta, pupil/is rubris. Hare nith abrupt tail, and red pupils. Red eyes are, however, only seen occasionally in domestic rab- bets of a perfectly white colour. In the twelfth 206 RABBET. edition of the Systema Naturae he attempts to distinguish the Rabbet thus : L. cauda abbreviata, auriculis denudatis. Hare with abbreviated tail, and naked ears. But, as Mr. Barrington, whose remarks on this subject may be found in the Phi- losophical Transactions, has well observed, this latter distinction will be found equally to fail. The criterion proposed by Mr. Barrington is the proportional length of the hind legs compared with those of the hare ; for " if the hind legs of an European Hare are measured from the upper- most joint to the toe, the number of inches will turn out to be just half the length of the back from the rump to the mouth, the tail not being included. The hind legs of the Rabbet being measured in the same manner, and compared with the back, are not much more than one third." Mr. B. adds, that the fore legs of the Rabbet are also shorter than those of the hare. Mr. Barrington's criterion, as the reader will ob- serve by turning to the specific character, has been adopted by modern naturalists. The strange variety, or rather, if such really existed, distinct species, figured in Mr. Pennant's Synopsis, and repeated in his History of Quadru- peds, under the title of the Hooded Rabbet, and taken from a drawing by Edwards, in the British Museum, appears such an outrageous violation of probability as to justify our supposing it, with Dr. Pallas, to be in reality no other than an Angora Rabbet, in the state in which it sometimes ap- pears when casting its fur, which, as Daubenton RABBET. 207 has observed, becomes clotted and tangled here and there, as in a specimen figured in Buffon, where a mass of the fur hangs down on one side in such a manner as to resemble an additional leg. Edwards's drawing above mentioned is called, in the memorandum annexed to it, A Rabbet from 3foscoi'y, and is described as follows : " This Rabbit is about the bigness of our largest tame Rabbits in England. It has a double skin all over the back, so that it can roll itself up in a round form, putting its head under the upper skin, and its feet into a pouch under the throat. It has also a flap of thick wool which it places its feet upon when it sits. It has a small hole in the skin on the back, which srives liorht o o to the eye when the head is under the skin. It was shewn to the Royal Society of London in the year 1736, and acknowledged to be natural:" In the same volume of drawings is a figure of o o the skin itself, which is evidently no other than the ragged spoil of some long-haired Rabbet ; the head and feet in the preceding figure (which re- presents the animal in its supposed complete state) being evidently added by Edwards and coloured brown, like those of a common Rabbet, though the enveloping skin itself is white. 208 BRASILIAN HARE. Lepus Brasiliensis. L. auritus, collari albo, cauda nulla. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p, 164. Pall. Glir.p. 30. Tailless brown Hare, white beneath, with a white collar round the neck. Cuniculus Brasiliensis Tapeti. Marcgr. bras. 223. Brasilian Hare. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 107. THE Brasilian Hare is nearly of the same size as the common hare : it is also similar in colour, but of a somewhat darker cast : the chin and under parts are white ; the face reddish, and a white ring surrounds the neck ; the ears are very large ; the eyes black ; and the tail is entirely wanting. This animal is said to inhabit the woods of Brasil, and is esteemed as an article of food. The white ring round the neck is not found to be an universal character, but is sometimes wanting. Its native name among the Brasilians is Tapeti, and among the Mexicans Citli. 209 CAPE HARE. Lepus Capensls. L. cauda longitudine capitis, pcdibus rubris. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmtl. p. 164. Brown Hare, with reddish legs, and tail the length of the head. Cape Hare. Pennant Quadr. l.p, 105. THE Cape Hare is about the size of a Rabbet, and is a native of the northern parts above the Cape of Good Hope. Its colour on the upper parts is similar to that of a common Hare, but the cheeks and sides are cinereous, and the under parts and legs ferruginous : the tail is bushy, of a pale ferruginous colour, and carried in an up- right direction : the ears are long, broad in the middle, naked, and rose-coloured on the outside and covered with short ash-coloured hair within. It is called about the Cape by the name of Moun- tain Hare, inhabiting only rocky mountainous re- gions, and running, when disturbed, into the fissures of the rocks. VISCACCIA. Lepus Viscaccia. L. cauda dongata setosa. Lin. Syst. Nat. GmeL p. 160. Brownish Hare, with long bristly tail. Vischacha. Nieremb. Hist. Nat. p. 161. Viscaccia. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 106. THIS species is said to have the general appear- ance of a Rabbet, but has a long bushy and v. TI. P. i. 14 510 ALPINE HARE. bristly tail, like that of a fox, which the animal also resembles in colour : the fur on all parts, ex- cept the tail, is soft, and is used by the Peruvians in the manufacture of hats : it was also used by the ancient Peruvians for the fabric of garments, worn only by persons of distinction. In its man- ners this animal resembles the rabbet, burrowing under ground, and forming a double mansion, in the upper of which it deposits its provisions, and sleeps in the other. It appears chiefly by night, and is said to defend itself when attacked by striking with its tail. ALPINE HARE. Lepus Alpinus. L. ecaudatus rufescens, aunculis rotundatis plantisquefuscls. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 165. Pall. Glir. p.4$.t. 2. Tailless ferruginous Hare, with rounded ears, and brownish feet. Alpine Hare. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 107. THIS is a very different species from the Alpine Hare described by Mr. Pennant in the British Zoology, which is no other than the Varying Hare. The Alpine Hare is a far smaller animal, scarce exceeding a Guinea-Pig (Cavia Cobaya) in size, and measuring only nine inches in length. Its colour is a bright ferruginous grey, paler beneath : the head is long, and the ears short, broad, and rounded. It appears to have been first described by Dr. Pallas, who informs us that it is a native of the Altaic mountains, and extends to the Lake 163 ALPINE HARE. 211 Baikal, and even to Kamtschatka, inhabiting rough, woody tracts amidst rocks and cataracts, and forming burrows beneath the rocks, or inha- biting the natural fissures, and dwelling some- times singly, and sometimes two or three toge- ther. They are also said to be occasionally found in the hollows of large trees, which have been thrown down by the violence of storms in those lofty regions. In general they confine themselves to their holes in bright weather, coining out only in the evening and during the night ; but in dull weather are frequently seen in the day-time, run- ning about among the rocks, and frequently ut- tering a sort of whistle or chirping sound, not unlike that of a sparrow. In their manners they greatly resemble some of the Marmots or Ham- sters, preparing, during the autumn, a plentiful assortment of the finest herbs and grasses, which they collect in company, and after drying with great care in the sun, dispose into heaps of very considerable size, for their winter support, and which may always be distinguished, even through the deep snow, having the appearance of so many hay-ricks in miniature, and being often several feet in height and breadth. These little ricks, raised by their industrious labours, are often found of great service to the adventurous hunters of Sables, whose horses would perish for want, were it not for the supplies which they thus occa- sionally discover. The Alpine Hare varies in size according to the different regions in which it OGOTONA HARE. is found, being largest about the Altaic moan-*' tains, and smaller about Lake Baikal, &c. OGOTONA HARE. Lepus Ogotona. L. ecaudatus griseo-pallidus, auriculis ovalibus subacutis concohribus. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 166. Pall. • Glir.p. $9.t.3. Tailless pale-brown Hare, with oval subacute ears of the same colour. Ogotona Hare. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 109. THIS animal, says Dr. Pallas, is called by the Mongolians by the name of Ogotona, and is an inhabitant of rocky mountains, or sandy plains, burrowing under the soil, or concealing itself un- der heaps of stones, and forming a soft nest at no great depth from the surface. It wanders about chiefly by night, and sometimes appears by day, especially in cloudy weather. In autumn it col- lects, heaps of various vegetables for its Avinter food, in the same manner as the Alpine hare, be- fore described, disposing them into neat hemi- spherical heaps of about afoot in diameter. These heaps are prepared in the month of September, and are entirely consumed by the end of winter. . The Ogotona Hare is about six inches or somer what more in length, and is of a pale brown co- lour above, and white beneath: on the nose is >a yellowish spot, and the outsides of the limbs CALLING HARE. and space about the rump is of the same colour. It is entirely destitute of a tail. CALLING HARE. Lepus Pusillus. L. ecaudatus, fusco griseoque mixtus, auricufa subtrianguli-s, albo marginatis. Lin, Sy-st. Nat. GmeL p. 164. Pall. Glir.p. si.t. i. Tailless grey-brown Hare, with subtriangular ears edged with white. Calling Hare. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. in. Ix its form this species extremely resembles the Ogotona hare, but is smaller, measuring near six inches, but weighing only from three ounces and a quarter to four and half, and in winter two and a half. The head is somewhat longer than is usual in this genus, and thickly covered with fur even to the tip of the nose : the ears are large and round- ed ; the legs very short ; the feet furred beneath ; and the fur on the whole animal is very soft, long, smooth, and of a brownish lead-colour, with the hairs tipped with black : on the sides of the body a yellowish tinge prevails. It is an inhabitant of the south-east parts of Russia, and about all the ridge of hills spreading southward from the Ural- lian chain ; as well as about the Irtish, and the west part of the Altaic chain. It is an animal of a solitary disposition, and is very rarely to be seen, even in places it most frequents. It commonly chuses its residence in some dry gentle declivity, where the turf is firm and covered with bushes, 214 CALLING HARE. and is therefore mostly found on the western side of hills, where it forms an obliquely descending bur- row, the entrance of which is scarcely more than two inches in diameter. The animal generally betrays its place of residence by its voice, which is heard after sunset and early in the morning, and much resembles that of a quail ; and is re- peated at intervals, three, or four, or six times : it is heard to a surprising distance, considering the small size of the animal, and that there is nothing peculiar in the structure of its organs which can account for so powerful a tone. In cloudy wea- ther this note is heard by day as well as by night, and is commonly mistaken by the country people for that of some bird. These little animals grow tame almost as soon as caught, and in the course of a clay become quite familiar; being of an extremely gentle disposition : they sleep but little, and that with open eyes, like the common hare : they generally sit with body drawn up, as in the figure, but when sleeping, they stretch themselves out with their belly on the ground and their ears pressed close to the head. The animal, when sitting in its general or contracted form, just fills the hol- low of the hand. Its pace is a kind of leaping motion, but not very quick ; nor does it run well, on account of the shortness of the legs. o It may be fed during a state of captivity, on the leaves of various shrubs and plants. It pro- duces five or six young, which are at first of a blackish colour, and blind and naked; but on MINUTE HARE. 215 the eighth day begin to be furred, to see, and to creep about. This species is not observed to undergo any change of colour during the winter. MINUTE HARE. Lcpus Minimus. L. cauda abbrrciata, auric i/fo pifosis coitcotori- bus, Lin. Syst. Nat. GmeLp. 163. Short-tailed brown long-nosed Hare, with small, hairy, pointed cars. Cuy Hare. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 106. THIS is by far the smallest of the whole genus, scarce exceeding the meadow mouse (Mus ar- ralis) in size. It is a native of Chili, where it is said to be much esteemed as a delicate food, and is often kept in a domestic state. The body is of a conoid shape, the ears small, pointed, and co- vered with hair : the nose long ; the tail so short as to be scarce visible. This animal varies in colour (at least when in a domestic state), being either brown, white, or spotted. It pro- duces about six or eight young at a time, and is said to breed almost every month. No figure of this animal appears to have yet been given, nor is its description by Molina and others quite so full and circumstantial as might be wished. It is said to be called in Chili by the name of Cuy. 216 HYRAX. HYRAX. Generic Character. Denies Primores superiores duo, lati, distantes. Inferiores quatuor, contigui, lato-plani, bis crenati. Molares magni, ubique qua- tuor. Palma digltis quatuor. Plants digitis tribus. Cauda nulla. C/avicu/a nulbe. Front-teeth in the upper jaw two, broad, s omewhat dis- tant. In the lower jaw four, broad, flat, twice crenated. Grinders large, four on each side in both jaws. Fore-feet with four toes. Hind-feet with three toes. Tail none. Clavicles none. HE genus Hyrax is distinguished from all the rest of the Glires by the remarkable circumstance of having four teeth in the lower jaw instead of two : these lower teeth are also of a different structure from the upper, being broad, short, and crenated or denticulated at the top : the upper teeth in this genus are also less sharp or pointed than in the rest of the Glires. In other particu- lars the genus Hyrax seems most nearly allied to that of Cavia. SYRIAN ' Jan* if London. PubUj-hid ty dKearflty. Fleet £17 CAPE HYRAX. Hyrax Capensis. H. palmarum wiguibm planis, plantarum vrrico subuldto. Lin. Syst, Xaf. Gmel. p. 166. Grey-brown Hyrax, paler beneath, with flat nails on the fore feet, and a single sharp curved claw on the hind feet. Cavia Capensis. Pall. misc. 34. t. 3. spicil. 2. p. 22. t. 2. Marmotte du Gap de Bonne Esperance. Buff. Suppl. 3 . p. 177. pi. 29. Cape Cavy. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 96. THIS is an animal of which the natural history and manners have but lately been well under- stood. It is a native of mountainous situations about the Cape of Good Hope ; residing in the hollows of rocks, and leaping with great agility about the prominences of the irregular regions it frequents, though its general or walking pace is not remarkably quick. Its size is nearly that of a rabbet, and in colour it much resembles that animal, but is whitish beneath. It is of a thick form, with short limbs, of which the hinder are longer than the fore, and is perfectly destitute of a tail. The head is rather small ; the nose di- vided by a furrow ; the ears short and rounded ; the eyes large and black ; the fore feet divided into four lobes or toes of a soft or pulpy nature, and furnished with flattish, rounded nails : the hind feet are of similar structure, but have only three lobes, of which the interior is furnished with a sharp crooked claw, while the others have nails similar to those on the fore feet. 218 CAPE HYRAX. This animal is said to be known at the Cape by the name of rock badger, but Mr. Allamand ob- serves, that this is an improper name, since the structure of its feet evidently shews that it has no power of digging or burrowing. It is a diurnal animal, and by night retires into the cavities of rocks, &c. The first figure of this species, published by Dr. Pallas in his Spicikgia Zoologica, and from thence copied into the third supplemental volume of the Count de Buffon's Natural History, was executed from a very indiiferent drawing, and exhibits the animal beyond measure gross and corpulent. More expressive representations have since been given, and from one of these the figure in the present work is copied. This animal appears to be easily tamed, and in that state is observed to be remarkably cleanly, and of a lively and active disposition ; leaping al- most as readily and with as much security as a cat. This is contrary to the character given of the animal from the specimen represented by Dr. Pallas and others; but the individual then de- scribed appears to have lost a part of its natural habits from the confinement in which it was kept, and the manner in which it was fed ; and conse- quently misled the describers of the day into a wrong idea of its nature and manners ; and this, among many other instances, may serve to shew how little dependence is to be placed on descrip- tions drawn up from an individual specimen, transported from its native country into a widely SYRIAN HYRAX. 219 different climate, and having no power of exert- ing with freedom its natural habits and propen- sities. The Cape Hyrax feeds on vegetables only, and is said to prepare a kind of nest or bed of dried leaves, grasses, &c. in the cavities in which it resides. Its voice is a shrill repeated squeak. SYRIAN" HYRAX. Hyrax Syriacus. H. plantis tridactylis, vnguibus omnibus sub- OEqualibus. Schreb. saeughth.p.^2^. Rufous-grey Hyrax, white beneath, with tridactyle feet and nearly equal claws. Ashkoko. Bruce Trav. append, p. 139. pi. 23. Bristly Cavy. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 92. THIS species seems to have been first clearly and fully described by Mr. Bruce, in the appendix to his celebrated Abyssinian Travels. If the de- scription appears in some parts rather too minute, let it be considered, that Mr. B. was treating of an animal almost unknown to European naturalists, and which, in consequence, seemed to demand a peculiar degree of exactness. " This curious animal," says Mr. Bruce, " is found in Ethiopia, in the caverns of the rocks, or under the great stones in the Mountain of the Sun, behind the queen's palace at Koscam. It is also frequent in the deep caverns in the rock in many other parts of Abyssinia. It does not bur- row, or make holes, as the rat and rabbet, Nature 220 SYRIAN HYRAX. having interdicted him this practice by furnishing him with feet, the toes of which are perfectly round, and of a soft, pulpy, tender substance ; the fleshy parts of the toes project beyond the nails, which are rather broad than sharp, much similar to a man's nails ill grown, and these ap- pear rather given him for the defence of his soft toes, than for any active use in digging, to which they are by no means adapted. " His hind foot is long and narrow, divided with two deep wrinkles, or clefts, in the middle, drawn across the centre, on each side of which the flesh rises with considerable protuberancy, and it is terminated by three claws ; the middle one is the longest. The fore foot has four toes, three disposed in the same proportion as the hind foot; the fourth, the largest of the whole, is placed lower down on the side of the foot, so that the top of it arrives no farther than the bottom of the toe next to it. The sole of the foot is divided in the centre by deep clefts, like the other, and this cleft reaches down to the heel, which it nearly divides. The whole of the fore foot is very thick, fleshy, and soft, and of a deep black colour, altogether void of hair, though the back or upper part of it is thick-covered like the rest of its body, down to where the toes divide, there the hair ends, so that these long toes very much resemble the fingers of a man. " In the place of holes, it seems to delight in less close, or more airy places, in the mouths of caves, or clefts in the rock, or where one pro* SYRIAN HYRAX. 221 jectingy and being open before, affords a long- retreat under it, without fear that this can ever be removed by the strength or operations of man. The Ashkoko are gregarious, and frequently se- veral dozens of them sit upon the great stones at the mouth of caves, and warm themselves in the sun, or even come out and enjoy the freshness of the summer evening. They do not stand upright upon their feet, but seem to steal along as in fear, their belly being nearly close to the ground, ad- vancing a few steps at a time, and then pausing. They have something very mild, feeble, and timid, in their deportment ; are gentle and easily tamed, though, when roughly handled at the first, they bite very severely. " This animal is found plentifully on Mount Libanus. I have seen him also among the rocks at the Pharan Promontorium, or Cape Mahomet, which divides the Elanitic from the Heroopolitic Gulf, or Gulf of Suez. In all places they seem to be the same ; if there is any difference it is in favour of the size and fatness which those in the Mountain of the Sun seem to enjoy, above the others. What is his food I cannot determine with any degree of certainty. When in my possession, he ate bread and milk, and seemed to be rather a moderate than voracious feeder. I suppose he lives on grain, fruit, and roots. He seemed too timid and backward in his own nature to feed upon living food, or catch it by hunting. " The total length of this animal, as he sits, from the point of his uose to the extremity of his SYRIAN HYRAX. body is seventeen inches and a quarter. The length of his snout, from the extremity of the nose to the occiput, is three inches and three eighths. His upper jaw is longer than his under; his nose stretches half an inch beyond his chin. The aperture of the mouth, when he keeps it close, in profile, is little more than an inch. The circumference of his snout around both his jaws is three inches and three eighths ; and round his head, just above his ears, eight inches and five eighths : the circumference of his neck is eight inches and a half, and its length one inch and a half. He seems more willing to turn his body altogether than his neck alone. The cir- cumference of his body, measured behind his fore legs, is nine inches and three quarters, and that of his body, where greatest, eleven inches and three eighths : the length of his fore leg and toe is three inches and a half. The length of his hind thigh is three inches and one eighth, and the length of his hind leg to the toe taken toge- ther, is two feet two inches : the length of the fore foot is one inch and three eighths ; the length of the middle toe six lines, and its breadth six lines also. The distance between the point of the nose and the first corner of the eye is one inch and five eighths ; and the length of his eye, from one angle to the other, four lines. The diiference from the fore angle of his eye to the root of his ear is one inch and three lines, and the opening of his eye two lines and a half. His upper lip is covered with a pencil of strong hairs SYKIAN HYRAX. 223 for inustachoes, the length of which are three inches and five eighths, and those of his eye- brows two inches and two eighths. He has no tail, and gives at first sight the idea of a rat, ra- ther than of any other creature. His colour is a grey mixed with a reddish brown, perfectly like the wild or warren rabbet. His belly is white, from the point of the lower jaw, to where his tail would begin, if that he had one. All over his body he has scattered hairs, strong and polished like his mustachoes ; these are for the most part two inches and a quarter in length. His ears are round, not pointed. He makes no noise that ever I heard, but certainly chews the cud *. To discover this was the principal reason of my keep- ing him alive : those with whom he is acquainted he follows with great assiduity. The arrival of any living creature, even of a bird, makes him seek for a hiding-place ; and I shut him up in a cage with a small chicken, after omitting to feed him a whole day : the next morning the chicken was unhurt, though the Ashkoko came to me with great signs of having suffered with hunger. I likewise made a second experiment, by inclosing two smaller birds with him for the space of several weeks : neither were these hurt, though both of them fed, without impediment, of the meat that was thrown into his cage, and the smallest of * This particular seems very doubtful, and may probably be owing to the peculiar motions of the mouth, resembling those of the hare, which has also been supposed by some to ruminate. 224- SYRIAN HYRAX. these, a titmouse, seemed to be advancing in a sort of familiarity with him, though I never saw it venture to perch upon him : yet it would eat frequently, and, at the same time, of the food upon which the Ashkoko was feeding; and in this consisted chiefly the familiarity I speak of, for the Ashkoko himself never shewed any altera- tion of behaviour upon the presence of the bird, but treated it with a kind of absolute indifference. The cage indeed was large, and the birds having a perch to sit upon in the upper part of it, they did not annoy one another. " In Amhara this animal is called Ashkoko, which I apprehend is derived from the singularity of those long herinaceous hairs, which, like small thorns, grow about his back, and which in Am- hara are called Ashok. In Arabia and Syria he is called Israel's Sheep, or Gannim Israel, for what reason I know not, unless it is chiefly from his frequenting the rocks of Horeb and Sinai, where the children of Israel made their forty years' peregrination ; perhaps this name obtains only among the Arabians. I apprehend he is known by that of Saphan in the Hebrew, and is the ani- mal erroneously called by our translators Cuni- culus, the rabbet or coney. " 225 HUDSON S BAY HTRAX. Hyrax Hudsonius. H. cinereo-fuscvs pills apice albidis, palmis plantisque tetradactylis. Cinereous-brown Hyrax, with the hair whitish at the tips, and four toes on all the feet. Tailless Marmot. Pennant Quadr. a. p. 137. THIS was first described by Mr. Pennant, and is in the Leverian Museum. Its colour is a cine- reous brown, with the ends of the hairs white. It is a native of Hudson's Bay. Its size is nearly that of a common Marmot : the two upper teeth are moderately large, and shaped like those of the Cape Hyrax : the four lower are very strong, rather long than broad, and are very abruptly truncated, without any appearance of denticula- tions : the feet are tetradactylous ; of a similar form to those of the Cape Hyrax, but have rounded claws on all the toes. Nothing particu- lar is known of the manners or natural history of this species. V. H, P. I. 15 226 To be added to the Genus Cavia.—Page 16. PATAGONIAN CAVY. Cavia Patachonica. C. subecaudata griseo-fermginea, subtus al- bida, macula femorali utrinque alba, uropygio nigro. Ferruginous-grey Cavy, whitish beneath, with extremely short naked tail, large white patch on each thigh, and black rump. Patagonian Cavy. Pennant Quadr. 2,. p. 91. Hare. Narborougfis Voy. to Magell.p. 33. THIS remarkable species, of which a fine speci- men occurs in the Leverian Museum, is a native of Patagonia, where it is said to be by no means uncommon. In size it considerably exceeds a flare, and, according to Mr. Pennant, has been sometimes found to weigh more than twenty-six pounds. Its colour on the upper parts resembles that of a Hare ; but the under parts are whitish, the breast and sides tinged with ferruginous : on each thigh is a large oval white patch, and the rump or region round the tail is black : the ears are long, rather broad, and sharp-pointed. On each side the nose is a tuft of short soft hair, ex- clusive of the long vibrissae or whiskers. The legs are long ; the claws long, strait, sharp, and black : they are four in number on the fore feet, and three on the hind. The tail is extremely short, as in the Aguti, being a mere naked stump or process. This animal is said to be an excellent article of food, the flesh being very white and delicate. It is called by SirJohn Narborough, who seems to have been its first discoverer, by the title of a Hare. PATA G D^IAK , />rv* LfivrianMuffum. . fcv a faavit ». Fleet University of Toronto Library DO NOT REMOVE THE POCKET Acme Library Card Pocket LOWE-MARTIN CO. LIMITED