1318 THE RODENTS 



The only other species of the genus Mus that can be noticed here 

 Other Species **_!. 1 i_ 1 t 



are two, one of which is remarkable for its coloration, and the other 



on account of its habits. The Barbary striped mouse (M. barbarus] is the most 

 strikingly colored member of the group, the ground color of the fur of the upper 

 parts being a yellowish brown, upon which are a number of longitudinal blackish- 

 brown stripes, the under parts being pure white. This mouse inhabits Northern 

 and Central Africa, being especially common in the Atlas mountains, and also occurs 

 in the desert regions of the interior as far as Kordofan. There appears to be nothing 

 worthy of special note in its habits. 



The Australian brown-footed rat (M. fuscipes) is remarkable as being nearly or 

 quite as aquatic in its habits as the water vole. 



THE BANDICOOT RATS 

 Genus Nesocia 



The bandicoot rats of Southern Asia differ from ordinary rats in the much 

 greater width of their incisor and molar teeth, and also by the tubercles on the 

 crowns of the latter being so completely connected as to form transverse ridges. 

 Members of the genus extend from Palestine to Formosa, and from Ceylon to Cen- 

 tral Asia; but they are most abundant in India and the adjacent regions. The 

 great Indian bandicoot rat (Nesocia bandicota) is the largest member of the sub- 

 family, measuring from twelve to fifteen inches from the tip of the snout to the root 

 of the tail, and weighing between two and one-half and three pounds. It is com- 

 mon in cultivated districts and near human dwellings in most parts of India, 

 although unknown in Lower Bengal. It is a burrower, like other species of the 

 same genus, some of which turn up mounds of earth like mole hills. When dis- 

 turbed, this rat utters grunts like a pig; but it has far less pluck than the brown 

 rat, and makes but a poor fight against a dog. 



OTHER GENERA 



There are about eleven other genera belonging to this family, of which a few 

 of the more interesting may be briefly noticed. 



The bush rats (Golunda] are represented by one Indian and one 



African species, and are distinguished by the presence of a groove on 



the front of the upper incisor teeth. The length of the head and body in the Indian 



species (G. ellioti) is about four and one-half inches, and that of the tail half an 



inch less. 



The spiny mice (Acomys) , of which there are several species of the 



approximate size of the house mouse, are peculiar in having the hinder 



portion of the back covered with thick, rigid, grooved spines in lieu of hair, and 



thus look almost like minute hedgehogs. They are desert-loving creatures, ranging 



