NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Although few specimens have been obtained, yet 

 this Gerbille, apparently, is rather widespread in 

 South Africa, for it is recorded from Namaqualand, 

 South-West Africa, Kalahari, Griqualand West, 

 and the neighbourhood of Kimberley. There is 

 a specimen in the Port Elizabeth Museum from 

 Ripon in Somerset East, and another from Per- 

 severance in the Division of Uitenhage. The 

 specimens obtained from Ripon and Perseverance 

 were from the open grassy veld. The Namaqua- 

 land Gerbille forms burrows in sandy soil, usually 

 in the grassy flats, or localities sparsely covered 

 with Karoo bush ; and also in the bush-veld. They 

 live in small families, and the burrows are usually in 

 little clumps of three or four. These rodents feed 

 upon seeds, berries, tender plants, bark, roots ; and 

 like others of the mouse tribe, they prey at times 

 on insects. The Namaqualand Gerbille can be 

 recognised from all others of its kind in the following 

 ways : 



(i) Tail fleshy and shorter than the body, being 

 about 3 inches long. 



(2) Head large and with triangular appearance. 

 Body short, stout, and about 4 inches in length. 



(3) Incisors whitish, narrow, and only slightly 

 grooved. 



(4) Head broad, and the back part or tympanic 

 bulla very much enlarged. Sole of foot with one 

 large pad. Molar teeth transversely laminated. 



(5) Upper parts, including head, tawny-brown ; 



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