THE MOUSE TRIBE. 119g 
the size of an ordinary mouse, which, while possessing teeth like those of the 
Australian water-rat, has unwebbed toes and the external form and skull of a 
mouse. It is, therefore, of interest as serving to connect its aquatic cousin with 
the more typical members of the family. 
THE MALABAR SpIny-Movuse. 
Genus Platacanthomys. 
The pretty little murine known as the Malabar spiny-mouse (Platacanthomys 
lasiwrus), from elevations of about two thousand feet in the hills of Southern 
India, is interesting as being one of the few members of the family which assume 
a dormouse-like appearance and have arboreal habits. It represents a subfamily by 
itself, characterised by the crowns of the molar teeth when worn showing oblique 
and nearly parallel bands of enamel, and by the long tail being thickly haired. 
This little mouse has long pointed ears; and a number of broad flat spines mingled 
with the hair of the upper-parts. In colour it is reddish brown above, and white 
beneath ; the length of the head and body being 44 inches, and that of the tail, 
with the hair at the end, half an inch more. This mouse lives in large trees, in 
which it hollows out small cavities that it fills with leaves and moss. It is stated 
to feed on jack-fruit and the pods of the pepper-tree. 
THE GERBILS. 
Genus Gerbillus. 
The elegant little Rodents commonly known as gerbils constitute the typical 
representatives of a third subfamily, and are easily recognised by their elongated 
hind-limbs, long and hairy tails, and their general jerboa-like appearance and 
habits. Indeed, they might be mistaken at first sight for 
members of the latter group; but a close examination will show 
that they differ externally by their longer muzzles, smaller eyes, 
and the presence of five functional toes to the hind-feet. They 
are further distinguished by their molar teeth being divided 
into transverse lamine, of which there are three in the first, two 
in the second, and one in the third tooth of each side. The upper 
incisor teeth are narrow and grooved; and the bullw of the 
auditory region of the skull are generally very large. The 
true gerbils, of which there are more than half a hundred species, inhabit Asia and 
Africa; but there are some allied genera confined to the latter continent. 
One of the best known species is the Indian gerbil (Gerbillus indicus), which 
is about the size of a rat, with moderate-sized rounded ears, and the fur light 
brownish rufous above, and white beneath. With its large, bright eyes, and long 
tufted tail, this gerbil (like its cousins) is one of the most graceful of the smaller 
Rodents. In common with the other species, it inhabits open sandy plains, where 
it lives in companies, constructing extensive burrows approached by numerous 

LOWER JAW AND TEETH 
OF GERBIL. 
