4« 



SOUTH-WESTERN ASIA 



The picas, so numerous in northern and central Asia, are represented in the 

 south-west by the Afghan pica (Ochotona or Lagomys rufescens), which is not 

 found below 5000 or 6000 feet, and lives in colonies in rocky clefts or burrows of 

 its own making, which it leaves at mornings and evenings in order to feed. It 

 measures about 7 inches in length. 



Of the jerboas, a group unknown in Europe, there are several 

 forms in south-western Asia. Foremost among these is the five-toed 

 Afghan species (Alactaga indica), which inhabits south-eastern Persia, Afghanistan, 

 and northern Baluchistan. This rodent, which is rufous above and white below, 

 has a length of almost 3i inches and a tail double as long. It dwells in great 

 numbers on the stony plains of Afghanistan, where it burrows deep holes in the 

 ground, and hops about with astonishing agility. Leading a nocturnal life, it 

 hibernates from October to April. In habits it is much the same as the better- 

 known alagdaga, or Kirghiz jerboa, of Persia, and the steppes of south-eastern 

 Kussia, the Caspian area, and central Asia. The three-toed jerboas are also repre- 

 sented in south-western Asia, although the best-known species, the Egyptian 

 jerboa (Di]jus jacwlus), which inhabits northern Arabia, has its principal area in 

 the north of Africa. 



The south-western Asiatic portion of the Mediterranean region 

 Mole-Rat. . r te 



forms approximately the centre of a semicircular area extending from 



south-eastern Europe to lower Egypt which is the habitat of the mole-rats, as 



typified by the great Spalax typhlus. This extraordinary rodent has rudimentary 



ears, and the small eyes completely covered with skin. The fur is as soft as the 



mole's, and the hairs may be directed either forward or backward with equal ease, 



thereby facilitating the movements of the animal along its subterranean passages. 



In colour it is yellowish brown with an ashy grey hue above, and is ashy grey 



with white spots and streaks below. From the moles it differs widely, not only in 



structure, but by the circumstance that it subsists solely on vegetable food, although 



it resembles those animals in the form and construction of its burrows. 



Porcu ines. Although the porcupines are represented in Asia as well as in 



Africa, the species found in south-western Asia, whose area extends 

 to the Caspian and Black Sea, does not appear to be satisfactorily determined. 

 The porcupine of south-western Asia was formerly identified with the species 

 indigenous to southern Europe and North Africa, but is really much more like the 

 Indian porcupine (Hystrix leucura), of which the south-western Asiatic form is 

 regarded merely as a local variety. 



Jungie-cat Passing on to the cat tribe, among the beasts-of-prey, it is not yet 



definitely known how far the European wild cat extends into south- 

 western Asia, although it appears to be represented by a local race in the Altai. 

 In a large portion of the area under consideration that species is, however, replaced 

 by one of the races of the jungle-cat (Felis chaus), which is one of the commonest 

 wild cats in British India. The habitat of the jungle-cat extends from Burma 

 to the Caucasus and north-eastern Africa, while in India the species is 

 found from the Himalaya to Cape Comorin, and from the sea-level to a 

 height of over 7000 feet. It also inhabits Ceylon and perhaps the Andaman 

 Islands; and although frequenting primeval forest as well as the plains, is 



