specimens which were placed in a jar some three feet deep jumped out without 
touching the sides. When asleep, they lie on their sides for the better 
accommodation of their long hind legs. If proceeding slowly, they hop rabbit- 
fashion on all four feet. It is only when progressing at some speed that they 
use their hind legs alone. Whemhopping, one foot precedes the other, instead 
of both being kept together. Many of the specimens caught were torpid, but 
they soon became active in a warm room. Their bodies were loaded with 
thick layers of fat. 
Some molerats belonging to the Shensi species, Myospalax cansus, were 
brought in (Plate 48). This rodent is an extremely interesting animal: it 
combines, as the name suggests, the attributes of the mole and the rat. The 
different species vary in size, the present one being roughly about seven inches 
long, not including the tail. In appearance the molerat also bears some 
resemblance to the American pocket gopher. It is covered with a soft, grey 
fur. The fore feet are large, being armed with powerful claws for burrowing. 
The tail is short, and, like the feet, of a pink colour. Both are naked, except 
for a few stray hairs. The head is flattened above and resembles a spade in 
shape; it is used for shovelling loose earth, when the powerful muscles of the 
neck are brought into play with great effect. The eyes are small and almost 
hidden, whilst the ear is little more than a small round hole. The jaws are 
armed with thick and powerful incisor teeth, which suggest that the animal 
feeds on roots. The molerat seldom comes above ground, but that it does so 
occasionally may be gathered from the fact that I have found its remains in 
owl pellets. The Chinese peasants declare that by watching the mouth of a 
molerat’s burrow they can foretell the weather. The burrows, they say, are 
left open when fine weather may be expected, and closed before the advent of 
rain. 
A single mole (Scaptochirus gilliesei) was bought from a native. This mole 
resembles the Peking species, but is much smaller. At that time it 
was unknown to science, but it was described from a specimen from south 
Shensi by Mr. Thomas, before my specimen could be identified as belonging 
to a new species. 
Two skins of a new and interesting polecat (Vormela negans) were secured. 
Resembling the common polecat in shape, this species is characterised by a 
peculiarly marked and brightly coloured pelt. The face is black and white, 
whilst the throat, legs and belly are of a shiny black. The nape of the neck 
is of a pale cream colour, which becomes a bright yellow on the back shading 
into a rich orange on the sides, and towards the base of the tail. From the 
84 
