38 



CLASS M A M M A L I A. 



ORDER RODE NT I A. 



of them, but not all, lay up store of winter provisions, in burrows which 

 they construct a slight distance below the surface of the ground. They 

 multiply with great facility, and some of them live in the woods and fields, 

 whilst others follow the steps of man, and colonize every part of the globe 

 in which he settles, becoming one of his greatest pests : their increase on 

 shipboard is often to such an extent that it becomes necessary to unload the 

 vessel completely in order that these troublesome companions may be put 

 to flight, or destroyed by starvation, which is the only remedy for their 

 total removal. 



The Slack Hat (M. Rattus), represented on Plate 12, measures seven 

 inches in length ; the tail rather more. It is carnivorous ; makes its nest 

 in a hole near the chimney, and lines it with wool, bits of cloth or straw ; 

 is very courageous, and during ratting time often fights fiercely with its 

 fellows. This was formerly the most common European species, but has 

 given way to the Brown Rat, which exterminates it wherever they meet. 

 It was introduced into South America about 1544, during the viceroyalty 

 of Blasco Nunez, and is now a great nuisance throughout that continent. 



The Bandieote Mat (M. Giganteus) is the largest species of the whole 

 genus, the body including the head twelve inches, and the tail of equal 

 length : body thick and arched, so that it has the appearance of a young 

 Pig. It is found on the Malabar and Coromandel coast, in the Mysore, and 

 in Bengal, between Calcutta and Hardwar, and is eaten by the poorer 

 natives. 



The Brown Rat (M. Decumanus) is about nine inches long, the tail of same 

 length. It is originally native of India and Persia, whence it was intro- 

 duced into England about the year 1730: in France it did not make its 

 appearance till twenty years after, but since that time it has spread in 

 every direction, and has been imported even into America. It is said that 

 they have great aversion to the smell of Rabbits and Guinea-pigs, which 

 are sometimes kept for the purpose of driving them away. Both in England 

 and France they are now exceedingly common. 



There are also the Javan Rat, the Indian Rat, the Alexandrian Rat, the 

 Velvet or Martinique Rat, the Caraco Rat, and the Brazilian Rat : also 

 the Perchal Rat and the Cairo Rat. 



The Gammon Mouse (M. Musculus) is an elegant though destructive little 

 animal : it is too well known to require description ; the length of its body 

 is about three inches and a half, and the tail of nearly equal length ; it is 

 covered with a sleek soft coat of hair. Several varieties of this species are 

 found, a very common one of which are the White Mice with red eyes, 

 which are merely albinoes ; others are yellowish, some light grey, some 

 deep black, and others spotted with white. They increase rapidly, the 

 female producing five or six young several times during the year. Nothing 

 seems to come amiss to them ; animal or farinaceous food, books, leather, 

 and even linen, are continually subjected to the destructive attacks of such 

 as live in houses, whilst those which inhabit the woods feed on roots and 

 wild fruit. They do not become torpid by cold, and are found as well in the 

 frozen regions of Iceland as in the warm climate of Egypt. This species 

 was the Mas of the ancients. 



The Field Mouse (M. Sylvaticus) is larger than the preceding, the body 

 measuring above four inches, and the tail three and a half. They never 

 frequent houses, but are found in woods, fields, and gardens, where they 

 burrow and lay up great store of winter food, nuts, acorns, corn, &c., the 

 scent of which attracts pigs, which do considerable mischief in their endea- 

 vours to rifle these magazines. Field Mice are very destructive to corn, 

 and especially to beans which have been just sown, and hence in some parts 

 of England they are called Bean Mice. 



The other species are the American Field Mouse, about four inches in 

 length ; the Corn Mouse, or Shitnik of the Russians ; the Wandering Mouse 

 and the Beech. Mouse, both of Tartary; the Dwarf Mouse, of Strasburg ; 

 the Oriental Mouse, and the Barbary Mouse : also the Short-tailed Mouse, 

 which burrows a little distance from villages, and the Harvest Mouse, found 

 in Hampshire and other parts of England. The Frugiwrous Mouse, the 

 Little Mouse, the Square-tailed Mouse, and the Lineated Mouse. 



DIPUS Jerboa. Like the Kangaroo, the animals comprised in this genus 



spring forwards instead of walking, a motion which is prevented by the 

 shortness of the front extremities. Each fore foot has five toes ; whilst in 

 those of the hind feet, that portion of the metatarsus, or bones which sup- 

 port the toes, to which the three middle toes are attached, consists of a 

 single piece like the metatarsal bones of birds. In some species there are 

 also upon the sides of the hind feet little toes. These animals live in bur- 

 rows, and during winter become torpid. 



The Arrow Jerboa (D. Sagitta) is about the size of a Rat, and inhabits 

 the northern parts of Africa. 



The Egyptian and Siberian Jerboa (D. Jaculus) is larger than the pre- 

 ceding ; the body is covered with long hair, ash-coloured at the bottom, 

 and pale tawny at the ends. It inhabits Egypt, Barbary, Palestine, and the 

 sandy tracts between the Don and Volga. The Arabs call it the Lamb of 

 the Israelites ; and it is believed to be the Coney of the Holy Scriptures, 

 and the Mouse of Isaiah (ch. Ixvi. 17). (Plate 12.) 



PEDETES Jumping Hare. At present there is known but a single spe- 

 cies of this genus, the P. Capensis. It measures from the muzzle to the 

 root of the tail sixteen inches, and the tail itself seventeen inches ; the fur 

 is light tawny. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and called by 

 the natives Berg-haas or Spring-haas (the Mountain or Bounding Hare). 

 (Plate 13.) It sleeps during the day, and only moves out in twilight or 

 in the night. When asleep, it separates its knees, puts its head down be- 

 tween its hind legs, and covers its ears and eyes with the fore feet. It is 

 extremely timid, and on the slightest noise quickly buries itself. 



ARCTOMYS Marmot. The Marmots are about the size of our common 

 Rabbit (Lepus Cuniculus) ; they are short-limbed, having four toes, with a 

 very small thumb on the anterior, and five on the posterior extremities ; 

 have a short villous tail, the head large and flat, some species having ears, 

 others none ; the snout short and pointed, with a bilobed lip. They feed 

 on roots and grain, occasionally also on insects ; living in burrows carefully 

 lined with moss, the entrance of which they stop up with hay during the 

 winter, at which time they become torpid, and do not come out again till 

 March ; they litter early in the summer, bringing forth three or four young. 

 They live in large societies, and in fine weather may be seen sporting about, 

 and sitting upon their hind feet ; during which time a sentinel is set, who, 

 at the approach of danger, gives a shrill whistle, and they quickly disperse. 

 They are easily tamed, and may be taught a number of tricks. 

 Plate 13 has a picture of the Alpine Marmot (A. Marmotta). 

 The Bobac Marmot of Russia, the Earless Marmot of Bohemia, the Mary- 

 land Marmot, the Quebec Marmot, the Mauline Marmot, and the Hoary 

 Marmot belong also to this genus. 



FIBER Musk Beaver. About the size of a Rabbit ; lives upon acorns ; 

 and is a native of Canada. 



MERIONES Hereen. They nearly resemble the animals of the genus 

 Dipus. The Bay Hereen are very numerous on the plains of Hindustan, 

 in dry stations, and at a distance from any water ; very destructive to the 

 grain, of which they lay up stores in their neighbouring burrows. 



The Tamarisk Hereen, and the Egyptian Hereen, with a few others, be- 

 long to this genus. 



MYOPOTAMUS Coypu. The single' species (M. Bonariensis) of which 

 this genus consists very much resembles, in its general character, the 

 Beavers ; it however differs remarkably in the conical form of the tail : it is 

 found throughout the greater part of South America. 



ONDATRA Musquash. One species of Musquash (0. Zibethicus) is 

 fourteen inches in length, and its tail is eight and a half; its fur, which re- 

 sembles that of the Beaver, is of a dark umber-brown. The Musquash, 

 particularly the male, in the spring time, has a strong musky smell ; it is 

 however eaten by the Indians, and prized by them when fat ; it somewhat 

 resembles flabby pork. According to Richardson, this animal is not found 

 lower than latitude 30', and he has found them as high as 69, near the 

 mouth of the Mackenzie River. They prefer small grassy lakes, swamps, 

 or the grassy borders of flowing streams where the bottom is muddy ; and 

 they feed chiefly on vegetable substances. They produce three litters in 

 the course of the summer, each consisting of from three to seven young. 



