280 ZOOLOGY. 



the Himalaya and Indo-Chinese countries. It burrows 

 in meadows or grassy glades in valleys, throwing up 

 little heaps of earth like molehills at the entrances to 

 its burrows. It appears to live entirely under the earth ; 

 and although I several times saw the heaps caused by 

 its excavations, I only obtained specimens of the animal 

 on the borders of Lake Ashangi, where they abounded 

 on the broad grassy plain in which the camp stood. 



The burrows are very extensive, and the galleries 

 intricate and much curved. In one which I dug out, 

 there was a larger chamber in the centre about six 

 inches below the surface, well lined with dried roots 

 of grass ; from this, burrows led in aU directions, usually 

 not more than two or three inches below the surface of 

 the ground, but occasionally rather deeper. 



I twice obtained living specimens, one of which I kept 

 for some days, feeding it on roots of grass, which it ate 

 freely, and which I have no doubt are its natural food. 

 In this also there is a close resemblance to Rhizomys, 

 which lives on roots of bamboos. 



Bathyergus splendens is a sluggish animal, with 

 evidently imperfect sight, and, despite its formidable 

 teeth, it was not difficult to capture, when its under- 

 ground retreat was cut off. The fur is beautifully fine 

 and soft. 



The following dimensions are from a specimen in 

 spirit : — 



in. 



Length of head and. body 10 



„ of tail ... 3 



„ from ear to nose r7 



