EHIZOMYS. 439 



zygomatic breadth 1'45. Some skulls appear smaller, one appa- 

 rently adult measures 1-75 by 1-3. 



Distribution. The base of the Eastern Himalayas in Nepal, 

 Sikhim, and Bhutan ; Assam, Manipur, and throughout Burma, 

 also north of Burma in the hill-ranges near Bhamo, and in Siam. 



Habits. This animal lives in burrows made by itself, sometimes, 

 it is said, under roots of trees, elsewhere, as observed by Anderson, 

 in high rank grass.. It leaves its burrow in the evening and feeds 

 on various vegetables, especially young shoots of grasses and cereals, 

 and probably of bamboo. It is also said to feed largely on roots ; 

 indeed, Hodgson's view, from observations on a living animal, was 

 that these were the principal object of its burrows. It burrows 

 rapidly, using its powerful teeth as well as its claws in the process. 

 Above ground the pace of Rhizomys is slow ; the animal appears 

 fearless, so much so that wild individuals are said to allow them- 

 selves to be captured without resisting, though ready enough to 

 turn upon an assailant. 



This and other species are eaten by many of the Burmese 

 hill tribes. 



313. Rliizomys pruiuosus. The hoary Bamboo-Rat. 



Rhizomys pruinosus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xx, p. 519 ; id. Cat. p. 122j 

 id. Mam. Birds Burma, p. 41 ; Anderson, An. Zool. Res. p. 325, 

 pis. xiii, xvi. 



Fur soft and thick, concealing the small ears. Foot-pads covered 

 with tubercles. 



Colour dark brown throughout, with a hoary or grizzled appear- 

 ance owing to scattered whitish hairs, which are shorter, finer, and 

 closer together on the lower surface, giving a somewhat silvery 

 tone. Basal half of dorsal fur dark ashy, paler on the head. In 

 old females the sides of the head, muzzle, and chin are pale brown. 



Dimensions of a large male : head and body 13 inches, tail 4, 

 hind foot from heel 2'2. In a smaller individual, a female, the 

 corresponding measurements are 10*75, 3-75, and 1*95. Basal 

 length of a skull 2-6, zygomatic breadth 2. 



Distribution. Khasi and other hills south of Assam, extending to 

 the Kakhyen hills north of Upper Burma and to Karennee. There 

 is also in the British Museum a skull from Cambodia and another 

 from Swatow, China. 



Habits. So far as known, similar to those of R. badius. The 

 female produces three or four at a birth. 



314. Rhizomys sumatrensis. The large Bamboo-Rat. 

 Mus sumatrensis, Raffles, Tr. Linn. Soc. xiii, p. 258 (1822). 

 Rhizomvs sumatrensis, Gray, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 95 ; Cantor, J. A. S. B. 



xv, p. 255 ; Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxviii, p. 294 ; id. Cat. p 122 ; id. 

 Mam. Birds Burma, p. 41 ; Anderson, An. Zool Res. p. 322. 

 Rhizomya cinereus, McClelland, Calc. Jour. N. H. 11, p. 46ft; Blytk, 

 J. A. S. B. x, p. 920. 



