ROOT-RA TS—JUMPING-HARES 



133 



Root-Rats. 



The allied family of Spalacidxx, as typified by the great 

 blind mole-rat (Spalax typhlus) of eastern Europe, south-western 

 Asia, and Egypt, has Ethiopian representatives in the root- rats of the genus 

 Tachyoryctes, which were long included in the same genus as the bamboo-rats 

 {Rhizornys) of south-eastern Asia. Several kinds of these Ethiopian root-rats 

 have been described, such as R. macrocephalus of Abyssinia, R, splehdens, 

 ranging from Abyssinia to German East Africa, and the East African R. 

 annectans. 



"Very characteristic of South Africa is the so-called spring-haas, 



umping- ares. ^ j um ping-hare (Pedetes coffer), which, with a second rather smaller 



species, alone represents the family Pedetidte, of which the nearest affinities appear 



JUMPING-HARE. 



to be with the porcupines, or Hystricidce. Of a size approaching that of an 

 ordinary hare, this remarkable rodent is characterised by the great length of the 

 hind-limbs and tail, the large ears and eyes, the presence of four hind-toes, and the 

 rootless, ever-growing cheek-teeth, of which there are four pairs in each jaw. In 

 colour the moderately long and soft fur is bright rufous above and white beneath, 

 with some black on the face and at the tip of the tail, which is thickly haired 

 throughout its length. The head and tail measure about 2 feet and the tail is 

 21 inches in length. The range of the jumping-hare extends from the Cape 

 westwards into Angola, and on the opposite side of the continent to German 

 East Africa. These rodents are found alike on the mountains and the plains, 

 and in their mode of life are much like jerboas, being entirely nocturnal, and 

 constructing complicated burrows in which several families dwell together. 

 While feeding they go on all fours, but, when travelling, they leap like 



