GIANT RAT 



97 



described. Sclater records a pair in the South Africa 

 Museum obtained by the late Captain H. F. Francis at 

 Inhambane on the Mozambique coast. 



The Zoo possesses two living examples received from 

 Miss Olive and Master J. Stevens of Stonehenge Estate, 



FIG. 29. Giant Rat. 



Louis Trichardt, Northern Transvaal, which brings the 

 animal well within the Union of South Africa. 



The sub-species is not yet clear and may even be new 

 to science. 



In captivity it eats much the same food as other 

 rodents, and sleeps through the best part of the day, 

 becoming active toward sundown. These examples 

 measure, head and body, 15 inches; tail, 16^ inches. 

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