MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 479 



These specimens bear a strong resemblance to some specimens in the 

 National Collection from near Aden ; however they agree with the descrip- 

 tion of the type of nanus taken at Gwadar, Baluchistan, so probably the 

 species extends from Aden to Kathiawar. 



'* These small Gerbils were dug out of the soft sand on the river bank. 

 The adult female was found in a burrow of simple construction, a single and 

 nearly straight run going to a depth of 2 feet and a second leading to the 

 surface again, the whole being abo\it 6 feet in length ; one entrance was 

 half closed, the other quite filled in with sand, but whether this was 

 intentional or not I cannot say. Nos. 2560, 2661, 2662 were found in a 

 burrow with 3 entrances, two of which were filled in with sand, the third 

 left open. The runs in this burrow branched occasionally into blind ways 

 and there were several small accumulations of fine chopped grass. These 

 gerbils are wonderfully agile when on the surface, getting along in short 

 and rapid bounds. Very prominent in life are the four white spots, one 

 behind each ear and above each eye. Those gerbils are exceedingly 

 difficult to find, there being little or no indication of their existence." 

 — C. A. C. 



Meriones hukbiak^, Jerd. 



The Indian Desert Gerbil. 



(Synonymy in No. 3.) 



6 c5' cJ ; 10 2 $ . Juna Bowli, Dhrangadhra. 

 4 c? c? • Muli, Muli State. 

 2 c? (5 ; 4 $ $ . Moti Mojiti. 

 2 cJ c? ; 1 ? • Sadla, Bajana. 



{See also Report No. 3.) 



"As anticipated, Meriones hurrince is moderately abundant in Dhranga- 

 dhra, the distinctive burrows with small heaps of sand just outside the 

 numerous entrances being met with in colonies at frequent intervals. 



This is a most difficult rat to trap, for he refuses almost any bait and is 

 very cautious about treading on concealed traps, but as he can be shot at 

 any time during the day, it is not worthwhile spending time over traps ; 

 digging out can also be resorted to, though this is sometimes a long job, 

 owing to the large area which is occupied by the numerous runs of a single 

 burrow. 



In the burrows I examined very little similarity in the plan was notice- 

 able, except that nearly every run terminates with an opening on the 

 surface ; I found no nests but occasionally small collections of chopped 

 grass which might have been for food. The runs are generally not more 

 than a few inches to a foot below the surface. I watched some of these 

 rats chasing each other near their burrows and the speed with which they 

 get over the ground is remarkable. 



In Muli it did not appear to be plentiful, their workings were to be found 

 everywhere in the neighbourhood of the river, but the majority of the 

 burrows were undoubtedly uninhabited, which in my experience is unusual. 

 Very common in Bajana, always in sand and very light soil, frequently 

 seen abroad in the early morning, rarely at midday." — C. A. 0. 



Gkypomys glbadowi, Murray. 

 The sand-coloured Rat. 



1886. Mus c/leadoioi, Murray, P. Z. S., p. 809. 

 1891. Mus gleadoivi, Blanford, Mammalia No. 291, p. 420 

 30 c? cJ ; 34 2 $ . 3 in al. Rajkot, Kathiawar. 



