NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



This Rat may be recognised in the following 

 ways : 



(1) A single black stripe down the centre of the 

 back. 



(2) Tail longer than the head and body. 



(3) Fifth finger quite rudimentary, and furnished 

 with a flat nail. 



Genus : Pelomys 



Rat-like animals with short, rounded heads, and 

 somewhat coarse, bristly fur ; the fifth finger of the 

 fore-limb is short and rudimentary ; the tail is long, 

 scaly and rat-like ; skull with compressed palate ; 

 upper incisors grooved ; molars low and broad, 

 with a triple row of tubercles in upper jaw, and a 

 double row in the lower jaw. Soles with five pads. 



The grooving of the incisors and the shortness of 

 the fifth finger at once separate this genus from Mus, 

 which it otherwise closely resembles (Sclater). 



Species of this genus occur in India and Africa. 



THE SWAMP RAT 



(Pelomys fallax) 

 Golunda fallax of Sclater. 



THE Swamp Rat, also known as the Bush Rat, in- 

 habits Rhodesia, and northwards to Tropical Africa. 

 As its name implies, it frequents marshy lands, and 

 the banks of streams and ponds. 

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