SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 



Another hamster which was a new discovery 

 has already been mentioned. The Httle sand 

 hamster {Phodopus bedfordice), whose home is in 

 the sand of the Ordos, is one of the most beautiful 

 Httle creatures imaginable. It makes an excellent 

 pet, being absolutely fearless of man, even when 

 just caught. Amongst themselves these little 

 creatures are terrible fighters. Originally placed 

 in the genus Cricetulus, it was subsequently placed 

 by Mr. Miller in a new genus of its own, called 

 Phodopus, owing to the coalescence of the lobes on 

 the sole of the foot into one ball. 



Microtus Johannes, a hill inhabiting vole from 

 Western Shansi, was another new species, as also 

 was Microtus (Caryomys) inez, another small vole 

 from the same locality. 



Of the two species of molerat (Myospalax 

 cansus and M. font anus), the latter from Xing-wu 

 Fu was first identified as 31. fontanieri, but has 

 since been described as a new species. The other 

 species found in Shensi and the Ordos seems to be 

 identical with Lj^on's Kansu variety. 



The Ordos jerboa (Dipus sowerhyi) was also a 

 new discovery on the expedition, it being entirely 

 different from anything of the kind hitherto 

 found in Eastern Asia. Its nearest ally in these 

 parts is the allactaga {Allactaga mongolica), a 

 single specimen of which was secured at Ning- 

 wu Fu. 



The Shensi and Ordos hare {Lepus su;inhoei 



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