THE GROUND SQUIRREL 

 Xerus rutilus dabagalla, Heugl. 



Somali name, Dabagalleh 



Description. — The general colour varies somewhat, according 

 to the locality in which it is found, from a dull rufous brown to 

 a bright rufous or tawny. In the maritime region they are very 

 much duller and paler than in the interior, so much so that 

 Mr. Thomas has given the one found in the Ogaden country 

 subspecific rank. In the latter specimen the feet are rufous instead 

 of whitish as in the present species. The tail is characteristic — it 

 is flat in appearance with long hairs projecting from each side 

 of it, arranged rather like a feather ; it is rufous above and whitish 

 below, while the hairs are annulated black or brown and white. 

 The eyes are large and the ear merely consists of a narrow slit 

 externally. Above and below the eye is a white patch, and also 

 at the base of the ear. 



Measurements of adult specimens from the maritime plain 

 and Odweina, about lOO miles south of Berbera : 



Locality Odweina Maritime plain 



Head and body . . . 237 mm. 230 mm. 



Tail 159 „ 165 „ 



Hindfoot . . . • 5© „ 54 » 



Distribution. — Everywhere except on stony ground. It is 

 very common in most parts of the country where the soil is soft 

 and it is able to burrow. 



Habits. — The burrows are usually made at the bases of the 

 low-lying stunted acacias or in long-standing zarebas. The 

 dabagalleh seldom strays far from its burrow, and in certain places 



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