RATS AND MICE 223 



large Dormouse, having most beautiful thick, soft, plushlike fur, 

 and a remarkably fat tail from which it has acquired its name. This, 

 as is well known by animal students, helps the little beast to store 

 up fat in time of need, in the same way as the Camel with its hump, 

 the Fat-Rumped Sheep, Dormouse, Bear and other animals which 

 need not be detailed. 



SPINY MICE. ^^ The Spiny Mice are represented in our illustra- 

 tions by the Cairo Spiny Mouse (Fig. 174). There are two genera; 

 in the first we find the Malabar Spiny Mouse, which is an inhabitant 

 of Southern India, and in the second there are several species 

 characterized by the possession of thick, rigid, grooved spines on 

 the hinder portion of the back in place of hair. They have been 

 compared to small Hedgehogs, and it is to the genus containing 

 the Hedgehogs that the Cairo Spiny Mouse belongs. These animals 

 are dwellers in the desert, and range "from Syria to Eastern Africa, 

 as far south as Mozambique, while a single example of one of the 

 species has been found in Sind." 



The Malabar Spiny Mouse resembles the Common Dormouse 

 in both appearance and habits, being arboreal. The teeth are the 

 distinguishing features, as well as the thickly haired tail. The 

 pointed ears and broad flat spines which are intermixed with the 

 hair on the upper parts are also worthy of note. The colour above is 

 reddish-brown, and white underneath. It attains a length of about 

 four and a half inches, the short tail being half an inch more. 



It is a tree-loving species, and makes a suitable hollow in which 

 to build its nest of moss and leaves. 



The Striped Mice (Fig. 175) are at once identified by the stripe 

 which runs along the top part of the back, whilst there are few boys 

 who have not at some time or other kept Fancy Mice, as shown in 

 Fig. 176. 



Frank Buckland, in his own inimitable way, refers to the presence 

 of Rats and Mice at the London Zoo, and attention may be drawn to 

 this interesting habit of both animals, for to the observant visitor 

 the Mice at any rate are sure to arrest attention, and their bravado 

 in feeding within striking distance of a Lion or an Eagle has always 

 struck me as very remarkable, and is apparently an apt illustration 

 of the old adage that "familiarity breeds contempt." 



Buckland writes that "as a curious way in which animals always 

 find out the place best adapted for their habitation, I may adduce 

 the fact that at the Zoological Gardens, although the Rats swarm 



