392 DIPODID^E. 



262. Alactaga indica. The Afghan Jerboa. 



Alactaga indica, Gray, A. M. N. H. x, p. 262 (1842) ; Button, 

 J. A. S. B. xv, p. 137 ; Blanford, Eastern Persia, ii, p. 77 ; Sclater, 

 P. Z. S. 1880, p. 538. 



Alactaga bactriana, Blyth, Cat. p. 110. 

 Ehani, in Afghanistan. 



The first and fifth toes of the hind foot are subequal, about 0-8 

 inch short of the middle toe, second and fourth toes 0-15 short. 

 Toe-pads transversely grooved. Ears very long, exceeding the fore 

 leg in length. Fur soft. Tail twice the length of the head and 

 body. 



Colour above fawn or light rufescent brown, sometimes mixed with 

 black, becoming paler and more rufous on the sides ; lower parts 

 white, and a white band across the outside of each thigh, a black spot 

 sometimes behind and inside the thigh just below the white band. 

 Basal two-thirds or more of hair on the back ashy, light or dark, 

 tips of hairs sometimes black. Tail light brown, the tuft of long 

 hair at the end blackish brown except the tip, which is white. 



Dimensions of a male : head and body 3 - 6 inches, tail without 

 terminal hair 7, with terminal tuft 7'6, ear from crown of head 

 1'7, hind foot and tarsus 2-2 ; basal length of skull 1, zygomatic 

 breadth O85. 



Distribution. Afghanistan, South-eastern Persia, and Northern 

 Baluchistan. Not uncommon on the plains south of Quetta at an 

 elevation of about 6000 feet. 



Habits. According to Hutton this jerboa is abundant in the 

 stony plains of Afghanistan, burrowing deeply. When unearthed 

 it bounds away with surprising agility on its hind legs. It is 

 thoroughly nocturnal, sleeping soundly all day. It retires to its 

 burrow in October and remains dormant till the following April. 

 It is easily tamed. Major Money, who sent a living specimen to 

 the Zoological Gardens, London, observed that this jerboa appeared 

 not to require water in its natural state, though it drank in cap- 

 tivity. It fed on green wheat, rice, lucerne or maize, raw potatoes, 

 gram or other grain, and dry biscuit. 



The name given to this jerboa by Gray is very objectionable, as 

 the species cannot be said to occur in India. Bly th's name bactriana 

 is scarcely better. From the nearly allied A. acontion, Pallas, the 

 present species is distinguished by its proportionally longer ears 

 and tail. 



Several other species of Alactaga and of Dipus, the latter having 

 grooved incisors and only three toes on each hind foot, occur in 

 Central Asia. 



