134 THIRSTY ANIMALS 



It is believed that rabbits can exist in this climate 

 without a permanent water-supply. Where they are 

 kept in enclosed warrens without water this must be 

 accepted as a fact. The writer has only seen one such 

 warren, and in this there are always plenty of drinking- 

 troughs for the young pheasants in summer, though in 

 winter the rabbits can only find rain-water and dew. 

 Those in this warren are very poor and small. Tame 

 rabbits are commonly kept without water, but they 

 may be seen licking the bars of their hutch after a 

 shower, and drink eagerly when they have the chance. 

 Most other rodents, including rats, are thirsty creatures. 

 The only animals living in very dry places which seem 

 able to do entirely without drink are snakes and reptiles. 

 In the cold desert of shifting sand in Kashgar there 

 are no reptiles, and not even a fly. But the Afghan 

 Boundary Commission found swarms of lizards and a 

 new and venomous species of adder in astonishing 

 numbers in the awful desert of hot shifting sand at 

 the corner where Persia, Baluchistan, and Afghanistan 

 meet. We must note one exception, the giraffe, which, 

 Mr. Bryden believes, exists for three-quarters of the 

 year in the North Kalahari without water. But this 

 cannot be proved until the desert has been explored, 

 and the total absence of water confirmed. There is 

 known to be water beneath the surface ; and if the 

 giraffe does live waterless, he must imbibe his liquid 



