GERBILLUS INDICUS, 185 



THE INDIAN JERBOA-RAT. 



Descr. Above light fulvous-brown, or bright fawn-colour, somewhat 

 paler on the sides, beneath white ; eyebrow whitish j whiskers long, 

 black j tail blackish towards the tip, which is clad with a tuft of long 

 blackish hairs ; ears large, almost nude. The hairs of the back are 

 light plumbeous at the base, with fulvous tips, with some thin black 

 hairs intermixed, most conspicuous on the sides and cheeks. 



Length, head and body 7 inches ; tail 8 \ ; ear |ths. Another mea- 

 sured, head and body 7 inches ; tail 8 T ^ j ear T %ths ; fore-foot T %ths ; 

 hind-foot 2 ; weight 6} oz. 



The Jerboa-rat is very abundant in most parts of India, frequenting 

 the bare uncultivated plains and sandy downs, where it forms extensive 

 burrows ; occasionally near the roots of shrubs or bushes, but very gene- 

 rally in the bare plain. " The entrances," says Mr. W. Elliot, " which 

 are numerous, are small, from which the passage descends with a rapid 

 slope for 2 or 3 feet, then runs along horizontally, and sends off branches 

 in different directions. These galleries generally terminate in chambers 

 from half a foot to a foot in width, containing a bed of dried grass. Some- 

 times one chamber communicates with another, furnished in like manner, 

 whilst others appear to be deserted, and the entrances closed with clay. 

 The centre chamber in one burrow was very large, which the Wuddurs 

 attributed to its being the common apartment, and said that the females 

 occupied the smaller ones with their young. They do not hoard their 

 food, but issue from their burrows every evening, and run and hop 

 about, sitting on their hind-legs to look round, making astonishing 

 leaps, and on the slightest alarm flying into their holes." 



This rat eats grain, various seeds, but chiefly roots and grass. It is 

 the common prey of foxes, owls, and snakes. The female brings forth 

 numerous young ones, usually 8 to 12, occasionally it is said as many as 

 16 to 20. It is certainly the most elegant and graceful of its family, 

 and well deserves the name of the antelope-rat, equally from its colour, 

 activity, and fine, full, gazelle-like eyes. 



It is found over all India and Ceylon, but not in general at high 

 elevations. Blyth states that it also occurs in Afghanistan. 



171. Gerbillus erythrourus. 



GRAY, Ann. Mag, Nat. Hist. 1842 1 New species ? 



