AECTOMTS HEMAOHAIANTJS. 183 



were Bomnolent by day, active at night, and did not hybernate in Nepal. 

 They were fed on grain and fruit, and would chatter a good deal over 

 their meals, but in general were silent. They slept rolled np into a ball, 

 were tame and gentle usually, but sometimes bit and scrs^hcd like rabbits, 

 uttering a similar cry. 



The marmot of the Alps and Pyrennees, Arctomys marmota, is the best 

 known of the group ; and there are others in Northern Asia, and many in 

 North America, of which the so-called Prairie dog, A. ludovicianus, is one 

 of the most remarkable. The genus Spennophilus differ from Arctomys in 

 having a longer tail, and possessing cheek-pouches. One species is found 

 in Europe, and others in Central Asia and North America. 



The next family comprises all the remaining rodents with tolerably 

 perfect clavicles, and sub-quadrate lower jaw. They are usually divided 

 into several distinct families, but were all included, of late, by Waterhouse* 

 and others in one group, Muridce. Blyth classes them in the families 

 MyoxidcB, Dipodidce, Muridw, ArvicoUdes and JBathyergidce ; only two of 

 which have representatives in India, viz., the Muridce, and Arvicolidce, 

 which will be here considered as sub-families. 



Fam. Muridw. 



Incisors compressed or rounded ; molars 3 or 4 on each side ; fore-feet 

 usually with 4 toes ; hind-feet with 5. Tail very various. 



Two of the groups comprising this family are somewhat related to the 

 squirrels, and may be said to form the transition between them and the 

 rats. One of these is the Dormice, Myoxidce, Auct. These have 4 molars 

 on each side, the crown divided by closely folded lines of enamel, and the 

 lower incisors pointed. They are pretty little animals with soft fur, 

 hairy and tufted tail, and live on trees. They are remarkable as being 

 the only rodents that do not possess a ccecum. Blyth classed a peculiar 

 rodent from south India in this family, but this location has not been 

 upheld by late writers. 



The Jerboas, Dipodida or Jerhoidae, Auct., have teeth similar to the 

 true MuriruB, but with an occasional small tooth in front of the upper 

 molar. Their hind limbs are much lengthened, and the metatarsus of the 

 three middle toes is formed of a single bone. The fore-feet have each 5 

 toes. The tail is long and tufted. Some, in which the hind-feet have 5 



- ridf Sclater, South American Mammals. Quarterly Journal of Science. 



