84 HARE-TAILED MOUSE. 



rous Bistort (Polygonum viviparum), the roots of 

 which are often found in its holes or burrows, 

 which are formed with several passages which it 

 digs under the turfy soil. 



HARE-TAILED MOUSE. 



Mus Lagurus. M. bracJiyurus, auriculis vellere brevoribw, pal- 

 mis subtetradactylis corpore cinereo, linca longitudindi nigra, 

 Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmd. p. 135. Pall. Glir. p. 218. 



Short-tailed cinereous Mouse, white beneath, with ears shorter 

 than the fur, subtetradactylous fore-feet, and black dorsal line. 



Hare-tailed Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 202. 



THIS species, which is also of the migratory 

 kind, is considerably smaller than the Lemming, 

 but of nearly similar shape, and of a fine pale 

 brown above, with blackish hairs intermixed, and 

 has a black dorsal line or stripe running from the 

 nose to the tail, which is extremely short and 

 villose, so as to resemble the scut of a hare in 

 miniature : the throat, belly, and feet, are white. 

 This little animal delights in dry, sandy plains of 

 the harder kind, where it can form its burrows : 

 it feeds chiefly on the roots of the dwarf Iris 

 (Iris pumila), as well as on grain and several other 

 plants and seeds, even such as are bitter, as the 

 Pontic and sea Wormwood. It is an animal of a 

 fierce disposition, and makes a considerable re- 

 sistance when taken. The length of this species 

 is between three and four inches. It inhabits- Si- 

 beria^ and particularly the parts above the Yaik, 



