SAND MOLES 



with a fresh quantity of soil and begins to push it up. 

 When it is well up, the head of the animal will be 

 above the level of the ground, and a charge of shot 

 fired into the moving soil will usually be effective 

 in killing the animal. Bright moonlight nights are 

 the best times for this operation. 



These mole-like rodent animals are grouped under 

 two genera, and the genus to which the various 

 species belong, may at once be determined as follows : 



Genus : Bathyergus 

 SAND MOLES 



Toes of the fore-feet with long and strong claws, the 

 claw on the second toe being considerably longer 

 than the rest. On the hind-feet the claw on the 

 third toe is the longest. Upper incisor teeth 

 grooved. 



Genus : Georychus 

 BLESMOLS AND MOLE RATS 



The animals under this genus are smaller in size than 

 those of the preceding genus, but closely resemble 

 them externally. They differ chiefly as follows : 



(i) The claws of both fore- and hind-feet are small. 

 The claws of the second and third toes of both fore- 

 and hind-feet are the longest. 



(2) Upper incisor teeth ungrooved. 



157 



