THE MOUSE TRIBE. 



119 



the size of an ordinary mouse, which, while possessing teeth like those of the 

 Australian water-rat, has unwebbed toes and the external form and skull of a 

 mouse. It is, therefore, of interest as serving to connect its aquatic cousin with 

 the more typical members of the family. 



THE MALABAR SPINY-MOUSE. 

 Genus Platacanthomys. 



The pretty little murine known as the Malabar spiny-mouse (Platacanthomys 

 lasiurus), from elevations of about two thousand feet in the hills of Southern 

 India, is interesting as being one of the few members of the family which assume 

 a dormouse-like appearance and have arboreal habits. It represents a subfamily by 

 itself, characterised by the crowns of the molar teeth when worn showing oblique 

 and nearly parallel bands of enamel, and by the long tail being thickly haired. 

 This little mouse has long pointed ears ; and a number of broad flat spines mingled 

 with the hair of the upper-parts. In colour it is reddish brown above, and white 

 beneath ; the length of the head and body being 4 J inches, and that of the tail, 

 with the hair at the end, half an inch more. This mouse lives in large trees, in 

 which it hollows out small cavities that it fills with leaves and moss. It is stated 

 to feed on jack-fruit and the pods of the pepper-tree. 



THE GERBILS. 

 Genus Gerbillus. 



The elegant little Rodents commonly known as gerbils constitute the typical 

 representatives of a third subfamily, and are easily recognised by their elongated 

 hind-limbs, long and hairy tails, and their general jerboa-like appearance and 

 habits. Indeed, they might be mistaken at first sight for 

 members of the latter group ; but a close examination will show 

 that they differ externally by their longer muzzles, smaller eyes, 

 and the presence of five functional toes to the hind-feet. They 

 are further distinguished by their molar teeth being divided 

 into transverse laminae, of which there are three in the first, two 

 in the second, and one in the third tooth of each side. The upper 



.. , , , -,-,-, ,-i LOWER JAW AND TEETH 



incisor teeth are narrow and grooved ; and the bullse ot the QF GERBIL> 



auditory region of the skull are generally very large. The 

 true gerbils, of which there are more than half a hundred species, inhabit Asia and 

 Africa ; but there are some allied genera confined to the latter continent. 



One of the best known species is the Indian gerbil (Gerbillus indicus), which 

 is about the size of a rat, with moderate-sized rounded ears, and the fur light 

 brownish rufous above, and white beneath. With its large, bright eyes, and long 

 tufted tail, this gerbil (like its cousins) is one of the most graceful of the smaller 

 Rodents. In common with the other species, it inhabits open sandy plains, where 

 it lives in companies, constructing extensive burrows approached by numerous 



