1244 



THE RODENTS 



THE SPINY SQUIRREL 

 Genus Xerus 



In addition to being the home of a considerable number of true squirrels, 

 Africa is the sole habitat of a group of squirrels constituting a distinct genus of the 

 family. The typical representatives of these Ethiopian spiny squirrels are char- 

 acterized by their coarse and spiny hair, the small size or total absence of the 

 external conchs of the ears, and the comparative straightness of the long claws. 

 According to the new classification, certain other Ethiopian species, formerly 

 included among the true squirrels, may, however, find a place in this genus, 

 which will be best characterized by the skull and molar teeth. As regards the 

 skull, this is distinguished by its elongate form, which is especially shown in the 



THE ABYSSINIAN SPINY SQUIRREL. 



(One-fourth natural size.) 



frontal bones, and the extreme shortness of the (postorbital) processes forming the 

 hinder border of the upper sockets of the eyes. The molar teeth, in place of the 

 low-crowned, basin-shaped form characterizing those of the true squirrels, have 

 somewhat taller crowns, with more or less well-marked transverse plates, thus ap- 

 proximating to the corresponding teeth of the porcupines, and evidently indicating 

 a specialized type. 



The genus now includes a very large number of species, ranging 

 Distribution r A , . . , . . , . . 



d H b't " om Abyssinia to the Cape; its typical representatives differing from 



the true squirrels in being entirely terrestrial, taking refuge either in 

 clefts and holes among rocks, or in the burrows excavated by themselves. The 

 Abyssinian spiny squirrel (Xerus rutilus] , which is the species represented in our 

 illustration, is of a uniform yellowish-red color, with distinct conchs to the ears; its 

 size being comparable to that of the English squirrel, but rather larger. Mr. Blan- 



