284 THE MADAGASCAR RAT. -' 



' long, but of a different form from that of the 

 ' fquinel ; and all the hair, both on the body 

 * and tail, is very foft.' 



MADAGASCAR RAT. 



IN the figure is rcprefented a fmall animal 

 from Madagafcar, which was drawn alive^ when 

 in the poffeiiion of the Countefs of Marfan. It 

 appeared to make a nearer approach to the fpe- 

 cies of the palm-fquirrel than to that of the rat ; 

 for I was aiTured that it frequented the palm- 

 trees. I have not been able to procure farther 

 information concerning this animal. It may be 

 remarked, however, that, as its claws did not 

 projed, it feemed to conftitute a fpecies very dif- 

 ferent from that of the rat, and to approach 

 nearer to the palm-fquirrel. To this animal may 

 be referred the rat on the fouth-wefl: coaft of 

 Madagafcar, mentioned by the Dutch voyagers ; 

 for they tell us, that thele rats live in the palm- , 

 trees, and eat the dates ; that their body is long, 

 th^ir muzzle (harp, their legs ihort, and their 

 tail long and fpotted *. Thefe charafters cor- 

 rcfpond fo well with thofe repiefcnted in the 

 figure of our Madagafcar rat, as to induce us 



to 



* Recueil des voyages qui ont fervi a IVtabliiTcment tie la 

 Compagnie des Indes Oiientales, torn. i. p. 413- 



