APPENDIX B 477 



Dipodillus harwoodi (Naivasha Pygmy Gerbille). Common around Naivasha, also 

 in Sotik. A small form, quarter the size of the above; about as big as a house 

 mouse. Same habits as above, but apparently only one burrow to each animal; 

 much more plentiful. The burrows in the Sotik were in hard ground and went 

 straight down. Round Naivasha the ground was soft and dry, and most of the 

 burrows entered it diagonally. 



Otomys irroratus Iropicalis (Veldt Rat). Generally throughout B. E. A. but always 

 in moist places, never on dry plains. Abundant on top of Aberdares, and ten 

 thousand feet up on slopes of Kenia. Always in open grass. Make very defi- 

 nite trails which they cut with their teeth through the grass. Feed on the grass 

 which they cut into lengths just as our meadow mice mirotus do. Largely 

 diurnal, but also run about at night. The gravid females examined had in each 

 of them two embryos only. Live in burrows, in which they place nests of fine 

 grass six inches in diameter. 



Dendromys nigrofrons (Black-fronted Tree Mouse). On Athi Plains and on the Sotik. 

 Size of our harvest mouse. Do not go into forest, but dwell in bush country 

 and thin timber along streams. Nocturnal; not abundant. Live in covered 

 nests in bushes; nests made of long wiry grass, not lined, and very small, less 

 than three inches in diameter. They are globular, and entered by a hole in one 

 side, as with our marsh wrens. Only one mouse to a nest, as far as we saw; 

 Heller caught two in their nests. The nests were in thorn-bushes only about 

 a foot and a half from the ground; once or twice these mice were found in 

 what were apparently abandoned weaver-birds' nests. If frightened, one would 

 drop out of its nest to the ground and run off; but if Heller waited quietly for 

 ten minutes the mouse would come back, climb up the twigs of the bush, and 

 re-enter the nest. It never stayed away long, seeming to need the nest for pro- 

 tection. 



Dendromys insignis. Although belonging to the genus of tree mice this large dend- 

 romys lives on the ground, seemingly builds no nest, and is most often found 

 in the runways of the Otomys. 



Lophuromys aquilus (Harsh-furred Mouse). Common in Rift Valley, on the top 

 of the Aberdares, and in the Kenia forest. Go up to timber line, but are not 

 found in the deep forest, save above the edges of the stream. Very fond of brush. 

 Do not go out on the grassy plains. Usually, but not strictly, nocturnal; and in 

 the cold, foggy uplands, as on the Aberdares, become diurnal. 



(Leggada) Mus gratus (Pygmy Harvest Mouse). As small as our smallest harvest 

 mouse. A grass mouse, usually entirely away from bushes and trees. Usually 

 taken in the runways of the larger species. Occasionally come into tents. Noc- 

 turnal. Found generally throughout East Africa, but nowhere as abundant as 

 many other species. 



Epimys hindei (Masai Bush Rat). Trapped on the Kapiti and Athi Plains. About 

 the size of the Southern wood rat of California; almost the size of the wood rat 

 of the Eastern States. Is a ground-loving species, fond of bushes; in habits like 

 the Mus panya; but less widely distributed, and entering houses less freely. 



Epimys peromyscus Heller (n. s.) African White-footed Mouse. Externally strik- 

 ingly like our white-footed mouse. Found in thick forest, along the edges of 

 the Rift Valley and on Mount Kenia. Near our elephant camp Heller failed 

 to trap any white-footed mice in the open glades, even when the glades were 

 of small size, but caught them easily if the traps were set only a few yards 





