6io THE BAY BAMBEE RAT. 



hold, and drives an entirely new burrow in another direction, not venturing to entrust 

 itself to that through which it had passed before it was alarmed. 



The long and sharp incisor teeth are formidable weapons, and can be used with great 

 effect upon an adversary. It is a sufficiently savage creature, and when captured or 

 annoyed, bites fiercely in every direction, and squeals with rage. In captivity it is 

 always employing these teeth upon every object that it can reach, and has even been 

 detected in the act of endeavoring to cut its way through the wooden planks of the 

 room in which it was placed. Two of these animals once contrived to get into a pair 

 of boots belonging to their owner, and not choosing to take the trouble of returning by 

 the same aperture through which they had entered, they cut a large hole in the toes, 

 and so made their exit. They seemed to have a special liking for leather, as they 

 afterwards gnawed to pieces the leathern straps which were dangling from a portman- 

 teau that lay in the same room. 



On the surface of the ground the Canada Pouched Rat is rather slow and clumsy 

 in its movements, as its legs are short and ill fitted for such locomotion. So short in- 

 deed are its limbs, that if it be laid on its back, it has great difficulty in regaining its 

 feet, but flounders about in almost total helplessness until it can seize a blade of grass, a 

 twig, or similar object, by means of which it can draw itself into its normal attitude. In 

 its tunnel, however, it proceeds with considerable activity, going faster than a man can 

 walk, and being capable of running backwards or forwards with equal speed and ease. 



The nest of the Mulo is not placed in one of the ordinary tunnels, but in a burrow 

 dug especially for the purpose. It is about eight inches in diameter, globular in shape, 

 and is made of dried herbage externally, and softly lined with hair plucked from the 

 body of the female, and other appropriate substances. From the nest radiate a number 

 of small galleries, which are again connected with smaller branch passages, and seem 

 to conduct the animal to its feeding-grounds. It was formerly imagined that the Mulo 

 was in the habit of filling its pouches with the excavated earth, and of emptying them 

 at the mouth of burrows. This assertion is now disputed, for it is clearly ascertained 

 that the creature only uses its cheek-pouches for the conveyance of its food. A little 

 earth may perchance be imbedded together with the nuts and leaves, but the mistake 

 has evidently arisen from the conduct of the natives, who, when they procure a skin of 

 the Mulo, are accustomed to stuff the pouches with dry earth for the purpose of preserv- 

 ing them in their distended form. 



The animal is found in many parts of Northern America, and has a very wide 

 range. 



The BAY BAMBOO RAT is one representative of the genus Rhfzomys, of which there 

 are several species. 



This animal is a native of Nepal, Malacca, and China, and is very injurious to the 

 bamboos, on the roots of which it feeds. In size it equals a rather small rabbit, and in 

 color it is of a uniform ruddy brown, slightly paler on the throat and abdomen. The 

 long incisor teeth are faced with bright red enamel, which gives them a rather con- 

 spicuous appearance ; the tail is short and marked, and the claws are rather small. 

 The head is of a peculiar form, which will be better understood from the engraving than 

 by description alone. 



THERE are several other genera belonging to this curious family, among which may 

 be noticed the genus Ctenomys, containing the TUCUTUCO, a native of Magellan Straits. 

 This is also a burrowing animal, and the peculiar name by which it is known has been 

 given to it on account of the curious cry which it utters as it is engaged in its subter- 

 ranean labors, and which is said to resemble the word " Tucutiico." 



ON taking a retrospective view of the rodent animals, the reader will not fail to 

 observe the frequency with which they reproduce some idea which is more fully mani- 

 fested in other orders of the animal kingdom. The destructive idea is not more strongly 

 developed in the lion than in the rat, which will attack and kill animals of much greater 

 strength and bulk than itself. It is a truly bloodthirsty being, and will kill many a 



