THE MOLE RATS 1319 



from Syria to Eastern Africa as far south as Mozambique, while a single example 

 of one of the species has been found in Sind. 



The sandy deserts of Australia are inhabited by certain elegant 

 Jerboa Rats re p reS entatives of the present group distinguished by their elongated 

 hind-limbs, long ears and tail, and general jerboa-like appearance. Indeed, these 

 jerboa rats (Hapalotis) seem to take the place of the true jerboas in the regions they 

 inhabit. 



_. . A peculiar species from Tasmania, known as Ljchtenstein's rat 

 Lichtenstem s 



Rat (Mastacomys) , differs from ordinary rats in the great width of the 



molar teeth, and also by the circumstance that the female has but four 

 teats. It somewhat resembles the water vole in size and form, although the body is 

 clothed with longer and softer hair. 



THE MOLE RATS 

 Family SPALACID^& 



The strange-looking creature shown in the illustration on p. 1320 is the typical 

 representative of a small family of Old- World Rodents, all of which are adapted for 

 a purely subterranean mole-like life. Except for their large and projecting incisor 

 teeth, which at once proclaim them members of the Rodent order, the mole rats 

 have a general mole-like appearance, their eyes and external ears being small or 

 rudimentary, the limbs short and provided with large and powerful claws, and the 

 tail usually short or practically wanting, while the body is cylindrical and not 

 marked off from the head by any distinct neck. Their molar teeth are furnished 

 with roots, and have re-entering folds of enamel on their crowns, and premolars 

 may or may not be present. It may be remarked here that the assumption of mole- 

 like habits and a more or less mole-like bodily form is common to several groups of 

 smaller Mammals. Thus, among the Insectivores, we have the true moles and the 

 Cape golden mole; while in the Rodents we find mole-like forms in the mole voles in 

 the present family, and also in the South- American tucutuco, belonging to the family 

 Octodontida , described in the next chapter. The marsupial mole of Australia presents 

 us with an example of the pouched Mammals, having a similar form and mode of life. 



t M 1 ^ e reat mo ^ e rat (Spalax typhlus), which is the only representa- 



Rat tive of its genus, is characterized by the absence of premolar teeth, 



by the minute eyes being completely covered with skin, and the rudi- 



mental wart-like ears. The fur is soft, and so arranged as to be reversible, by which 



means the movements of the animal in its burrow are much facilitated. The general 



color is yellowish brown tinged with ashy gray above, and ashy gray, mingled with 



spots and flecks of white, beneath. This species inhabits Southeastern Europe, 



whence it extends eastward to Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia, and also occurs in 



Lower Egypt. 



The great mole-rat constructs tunnels very much resembling those 



ilclDl tS 



of the mole, their course being marked by heaps of earth thrown out 

 at intervals. But while the mole constructs its lengthy burrows for the sake of 



