' Memorandum as to manners of Rhizomys Badius. 411 



procured for me alive, was caught at Muckwanpoor. It 

 was a mature male, and though just taken wild, was pro- 

 duced out of the sleeve of the bearer, and placed on 

 the table, with as little apprehension of his running away, 

 as there had before existed of his biting his carrier. This 

 man told me, that the species live in small groups in bur- 

 rows, which are usually constructed under the roots of trees 

 or shrubs, and that they may be taken as easily as a domes- 

 tic animal almost, from their extraordinary boldness, or apa- 

 thy of nature. Mine I turned out frequently, and left it 

 abroad for hours. As soon as it was free of its cage, it 

 walked slowly to the root of some bush or tree, and immedi- 

 ately commenced digging. In less than a minute it was 

 under ground, making way principally with its powerful 

 head and jaws, and using the feet less to penetrate unbroken 

 soil than to remove that which had been broken by the 

 snout and teeth. Its burrows were long, but superficial, and 

 possibly the object was as much food as shelter; for roots 

 seemed to be searched for perpetually, and they constitute 

 in fact the chief sustenance of the genus. My animal could 

 not climb at all, and on the ground he was far less active 

 than any of his congeners I know, save the Marmot. He 

 scorned to run, if he could ; and when urged to quicken his 

 pace, would turn to threaten with his formidable incisors, 

 grunting at the same time his displeasure. Most part of the 

 day he slept, rolled into a ball, but resting on his feet, or 

 rather on the hind feet only, for the fore were used more 

 effectually to cover his head, which was tucked under his 

 belly between them. He was fed on sugar-cane, plantains, 

 and cerealia, but liked the first named best. He died from 

 the effects of exposure for a quarter of an hour to the 

 sun in his cage, when the temperature could not have been 

 90° ; and hence must be allowed to be singularly impatient 

 of heat, which is not remarkable with his nocturnal and 

 subterranean habits. 



