THE SINGLE-STRIPED RAT 



dorsalis calidior) have only one black stripe on the 

 back, and the fifth finger is quite rudimentary and 

 provided with a flat nail. 



The common typical Striped Rat {Rhabdomys 

 pumilio typicus) is a rather thick-set little creature, 

 w^ith large black eyes encircled with a whitish ring ; 

 pointed nose ; round, prominent ears, covered on 

 the inner side with short rufous hairs. 



The fur of the back is short and crisp, greyish- 

 brown in colour, shot with rusty red, which is most 

 pronounced on the hindquarters. The chief dis- 

 tinguishing mark is the presence of four black stripes 

 which run from behind the ears to the root of the 

 tail. Average length of head and body, 5 inches ; 

 tail slightly shorter. 



THE SINGLE-STRIPED RAT 



{Lemniscomys dorsalis) 



This Rat is distinguished at a glance from the preced- 

 ing species by the presence of a single black stripe 

 running down the centre of the back from the neck 

 to the root of the tail. 



It is met with in the northern parts of the Cape 

 Province. North of the Orange River it is common. 

 From these parts it extends northwards through 

 Rhodesia to Tropical Africa. 



It is known to the Mashonas as the Chewanga- 

 ranga. ^ 



143 



