434 



MAMMALIA. 



them in their dental system, but are specially organised with a 

 view to a subterranean existence. 



These animals are armed with stout claws, with which they dig 

 out runs through loose soils, cutting in two, with their powerful 

 incisors, the roots which obstruct their path. Their habits of life 

 are, in short, almost exactly the same as those of the Moles, of 

 which we shall speak when treating of the insectivorous animals. 

 They are heavy in shape, with a thick-set body, and a short tail, 

 or sometimes no tail at all ; their head is large, with a flattened 

 skull, slightly developed external ears, and very small eyes. In 

 the Blind Mole-Rat, indeed, the latter organs are entirely want- 

 ing ; or if they exist at all, they can be of no use for purposes of 

 vision, being almost imjDcrceptible, and entirely covered by skin. 



Fig. 188.— M'jle-rat [Spalax ti/pluus). 



The Mole-Rats feed on seeds and roots. They are natives of 

 the east of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They have been divided 

 into several genera, the principal ones being the Spalax, the 

 African Mole-Rat, and the Rhyzomys. 



The Mole-Rat (Fig. 188) is the type of the whole group. It has 

 a very long and angular- shaped head, which it actually uses as a 

 kind of wedge in burrowing. It is devoid of tail, and'differs but 

 little in size from the Black Rat. It is described by Bufibn 

 imder the name of Zemni. It is found in Asia Minor, Southern 

 Russia, Hungarj^, and even Greece. 



The Coast-Rats or Sand-Moles are natives of Africa. They 



