208 MirniN^. 



bank. When the animal is inside the entrance is closed with small peb- 

 bles, a quantity of which are collected outside by which its retreat may 

 always be known. The burrow leads to a chamber in which is collected 

 a bed of small pebbles on which it sits, the thick close hair of the belly 

 protecting it from the cold and asperity of such a seat. Its food appears 

 to be vegetable. In its habits it is monogamous and nocturnal. 



In one earth which I opened, and which did not seem to have been 

 originally constructed by the animal, I found two pairs ; one of which 

 were adults, the other young ones about three parts grown. The mouth 

 of the earth was very large and completely blocked up with small stones ; 

 the passage gradually widened into a large cavity from the roof of which 

 some other passages appeared to proceed, but there was only one com- 

 munication with the surface, viz., the entrance. The old pair were seated 

 on a bed of pebbles, near which, on a higher level, was another collection of 

 stones, probably intended for a drier retreat. The young ones were in one 

 of the passages, likewise furnished with a heap of small stones." 



I have often opened the burrows of this rat, and can confirm Mr. Elliot's 

 account. The Yanadees of Nellore state that one variety uses small sticks 

 to sit on instead of Stones, and give it a distinct appellation, but I did not 

 notice any difference in the few specimens they brought me, though it is 

 possible that they might have been of the next species. 



195. Leggada spinulosa. 



Blyth, J. A. S. XXIII. 734.— Cat. p. 121. 

 The DtrsKY Spiny-mouse. 



Descr. — Nearly affined to the last, but of a dark dusky color above, 

 with fulvous tips to the softer fur ; below, and all the feet dull whitish, 

 Upper rodential tusks orange, the lower white. 



Whiskers long and fine, the posterior and longer of these black for the 

 basal half or more, the rest white. 



Length of adult, head and body 3| inches ; tail 3 ; foot |ths. 



This species was originally described by Blyth from specimens sent from 

 the Punjab, and specimens were afterwards received from south Malabar, 

 " quite similar, unless rather larger, and there is little difference in the 

 color of the upper and lower tusks." 



