CHAP. XXIII.] 



SOME OTHER ANIMALS. 



21 S 



fencing is described by Clouston in the Agricultural Journal of India 



nril IQI.V 

 On the other hand the curious Pangolin, or Seal) A.nl 

 (Manis crassicaudata), found sparingly throughout the Plains I 

 rarely seen, is beneficial as I itirely on in icipally 



on termites whose mounds it with its powerful claws and 



then thrusts in its long toni 



Squirrels of man j species occur in Southern India, thi 



the common Striped Squirrel (Funambulus palmarumi, whose 

 diurnal habits and partiality tor the neighbourhood of human 

 dwellings render- it one "t tin mosl familiar of all Indian animals. 

 The food of most squirrels consists ol buds, fruit, seeds and insects, 

 and they an- usuall) of neutral or slightly beneficial value to the 

 agriculturist. Occasionally, however, squirrels may attack fruit, 

 such as mangoes, and do considerable damage. In such casi 



fficult to cheek unless they can hi- shot, as their powers ol 

 climbing make it difficult to isolate the trees. In the rase of valu- 

 able fruit, bagging or netting may be tried. 





ii rbille [Tatera ind 

 Rats and mice of numerous kinds are sometin -t the 



most serious pests with which the agriculturist has to contend. In 

 namalai and Travancore Hills, and perhaps in the Nilgiris, 

 the Malabar Spiny Mouse (Platacanthomys lasiurus) is said by Blan- 

 ford to damage pepper, breadfruit, and jakfruit The Indian 

 Gerbille (Tatera indica) is common almost everywhere', burrowing in 

 bund- and in the ground, and only venturing out by night. It is a 

 gentle-mannered and pretty little animal, reddish-brown above and 



