THE SMALL POUCHED RAT 



land. It resembles the Pouched Rat (Saccostomus 

 campestris) with the exception that its fur is lighter, 

 with a sandy tint, instead of slaty-brown. 



It feeds largely on the seeds of the wild acacia 

 (kameel-thorn) trees. 



THE SMALL POUCHED RAT 



{Saccostomus fuscus) 



This Pouched Rat has been recorded from Inham- 

 bane in Southern Mozambique. It is smaller than 

 the previously mentioned Pouched Rats, averaging 

 3 to 3^ inches in size from the nose to the root of 

 the tail, instead of 5 inches as in the others. It also 

 differs in the following ways : 



(i) The nose is more sharply pointed. 



(2) The ears are more thickly covered with hairs. 



(3) Under parts are grey, and the claws of the 

 feet are black. 



Genus : Acomys 



The Mice of this genus are small, with the hinder 

 parts of the back covered with flattened, grooved, 

 stiff spines (Sclater)* Most of the species in this 

 genus inhabit Africa and the drier south-western 

 parts of Asia. One species is recorded from Celebes. 



There are two species of Spiny Mice recorded 

 from South Africa, viz. the Spiny Mouse {Acomys 

 subsfinosus), which is stated to occur in the Cape 



