GERBILLUS MERIDIANUS. SPALAX. HI 



Genus GERBILLUS. 



Teeth. — Incisors, | ; molars, -|^ ; the first molar in 

 each jaw with three tubercles, the second with two, and 

 the third with one ; ears moderately long, rounded at the 

 extremities ; fore-feet short, with four toes, and a rudi- 

 mentary thumb ; liind-feet long, or very long, with five 

 toes ; tail loiig, covered mth hair. 



Gerbillus meridianus. 



Gerbillus meridianus, Desm. Mamm. Sp. 514. 

 Dipvs meridianus, Pallas, Zoog. Ross. As. 



Desckiption. — Body rather large behind ; head oblong ; 

 muzzle somewhat long ; ears large, oval, downy ; whiskers 

 very long ; incisor teeth yellow, the upper ones with a 

 longitudinal furrow ; hind-feet prolonged, large, suited for 

 leaping ; tail about as long as the body, strong, cylindrical, 

 covered with hair, tufted at the tip. Fiu' above dirty 

 rufous, mixed with grey ; beneath pure white, except a 

 longitudinal Hue of red-brown on the belly. 



Length of head and body, 4 inches 2 lines ; head, 1 inch 

 6-|- lines ; ears, 6^ lines ; tail, without the hairs, 3 inches 

 1 line.— F. M. 



BuiTows in the earth ; feeds on nuts and seeds. 



Inhabits the sandy desei-ts near the Caspian Sea, between 

 the Yolga and Jaik, and, according to Pallas, is peculiar 

 to that region. 



Genus SPALAX. 



Teeth. — Incisors, |; molars, fEf- Body prolonged, 

 cylindrical ; eyes very minute, or (in one species) wanting 

 (according to Pallas, but said by Desmarest to exist beneath 

 the skin). 



