THE SOMALI FIBROUS RAT 

 Arvicanthis somalioas, Thos. 



Somali name, fir 



Description. — The general colour above is light brown with 

 a considerable sprinkling of black hairs, giving the fur a dark 

 streaky appearance. The underfur above is shiny black, and on 

 the belly slate colour. The terminal portions of the hair on the 

 belly are white, giving a silver-grey appearance in that part. The 

 ears are small, round and sparsely covered with hair. The tail is 

 covered with dark hairs above and white below. Hands and feet 

 are thinly covered with short light brown hairs. Throughout the 

 coat long black hairs with pale brown terminal portions are 

 distributed, giving the whole a shaggy appearance. 



Measurements of a male and female specimen, taken in the 

 flesh, were : 



<? ? 



Head and body . , . 120 mm. no mm. 



Tail 94 ,. 84 „ 



Hindfoot 25 „ 21 „ 



Ear 15 ,. 14 » 



Distribution. — Common throughout Somaliland in suitable 

 localities. 



Habits. — Fibrous rats are invariably found near old-standing 

 camps. Throughout the day they can be seen running in and out 

 of the thorn zarebas, under which they have their runs and nests 

 in the thick undergrowth. They are very common, and will 

 devour anything. I have never caught them at night, so presume 

 they only feed during the daytime. At daybreak I have caught 

 as many as three at one time in the small " break-back " trap. 



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