/// /. c \.\.\DA PO UCffSD ft AT. 



burrow wa- probabh -uuk lower whcn-vcr it crossed ft path, because the sense of 

 hearing in this animal 'IK .!. that it would be much annoyed by the ...utinual 



-oiiud <>f human footsteps immediately over its head. 



Although it -]- nd- the greater part of its existence beneath the earth, it is frequently 

 seen alxive th.' -ui face of the ground, as it resorts to the open air for the pur]KNie of basking 

 in the sun. or procurim: leave- which have Ut-n brightened and vivified by the mysof the 

 sun. :ts a change from the roots on which it chiefly depends for subsistence. When it re\i-its 

 the regions of upper day. it emerges from the earth in some hitherto unbroken spot, pushinc 

 the soil upwards and causing a kind of miniature earthquake lie fore it makes its appearance. 

 Presently the head and shoulders of the animal emerge from the lump of earth, and -hakim; 

 the loose mould from its fur, it draws itseK entirely out of its burrow. It then runs forward 

 for a vard r two. searching for f<xxl, nibbling off the green blades with its teeth, and stowing 

 th.-m into its cheek-]xiuches with the aid of its fore JKIWS. When it has tilled the ]Muches. it 

 runs back t<> the hole thn.uirh which it hud issued, and vanishes immediately from sight. 



Should it be alarmed while out of its tunnel, it plunges precipitately into its stronghold, 

 and dihe- an entirely new burrow in another direction, not venturing to entrust itself to tliat 

 through which it hod passed before it was alarmed. 



The long and -harp incisor teeth an- formidable wca|>ons. and can lie us-d with great 

 effect ujKin an adversary. It is a sufficiently savage creature, and when captured or annoyed, 

 bites fiercely in every direction, and squeals with rage. In captivity it is always employing 

 these teeth upon every object that it can reach, and has even been detected in the act 

 of endeavoring to cut its way through the wooden plunks of the room in which it was 

 placed. Two of these animals once contrived to get into a pair of boots belonging to their 

 ow n.-r, and not choosing to take the trouble of returning by the same aperture through which 

 they had entered, they cut a large hole in the toes, and so made their exit. They seemed to 

 have a sjTial liking for leather, as they afterwards gnawed to pieces the leathern straps 

 which were dangling from a portmanteau that lay in the same room. 



On the surface of the ground the Canada Pouched Rat is rather slow and clumsy in its 

 movements, as its legs are short and ill-fitted for such locomotion. So short indeed an- it- 

 limb-, that if it be hud on its back, it has great difficulty in regaining its feet, but flounder- 

 about in almost total helplessness until it can seize a blade of grass, a twig, or similar object, 

 by m.an- ..f which it can draw itself into its normal attitude. In its tunnel, however, it 

 proceeds with considerable activity, going faster than a man can walk, and being cabbie of 

 running Iwckwards or forwards with equal speed and ease. 



The nest of the Mulo is not placed in one of the ordinary tunnels, but in a burrow dug 

 specially for the purpose. It is about eight inches in diameter, globular in -ha]--, and is 

 made of dried herbage externally, and softJy lined with hair plucked from the body of the 

 female, and other appropriate substances. From the nest radiate a number of small galleries, 

 which are again connected with smaller branch passages, and seem to conduct the animal to 

 its feeding-grounds. It was formerly imagined that the Mulo was in the habit of filling its 

 pouches with the excavated earth, and of emptying them at the mouth of burrows. This 

 assertion is now disputed, for it is clearly ascertained that the creature only uses its cheek - 

 pouches for the conveyance of its food. A little earth may perchance be imbedded together 

 with the nuts and leaves, but the mistake lias evidently arisen from the conduct of the native*. 

 who, when they procure a skin of the Mulo, are accustomed to stuff the pouches with dry 

 earth, for the purpose of preserving them in their distended form. 



The animal is found in many parts of Northern America, and has a very wide range. 



THE BAT BAMBOO RAT is one representative of the genus Rhizorays, of which there 

 are several species. 



This animal is a native of Nepal, Malacca, and China, and is very injurious to the bam 

 boos, on the roots of which it feeds. In size it equals a nn her -mall rabbit, and in color it is 

 of a uniform ruddy brown, slightly paler on the throat and abdomen. The long in. i-.r t.-eth 

 are faced with bright red enamel, which gives them a rather conspicuous appearance ; the tail 



