106 



Subterranean or Groiind-Rats, resembling Moles 

 in Habit and Maimer of Life. 



COAST RAT. 



Mus Maritimus. M. hrachyurus, dentibus primoribus superiori' 

 bm sulcatis, auriculis nullis, pedibus pentadactylis, corpore supra 

 albido Jlavescente mixto, ad latera et subtus ex albo cinereo. 

 Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p, 140. 



Pale yellowish-brown Rat^ whitish beneath, with very large and 

 long naked teeth, pentadactyle feet, no external ears, and short 

 tail. 



La Grande Taupe du Cap. Buff', suppl. 6. p. 255, pL 38. 

 African Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2.p. 21^. 



Of all the subterraneous species this is the 

 largest yet discovered, being of the size of a rab- 

 bet, and measuring a foot from nose to tail, which 

 is about two inches long, flattish, and covered 

 with long bristly hair horizontally disposed on 

 each side. The colour of the animal is a cine- 

 reous brown, paler beneath : the head is large, 

 the nose black, the end somewhat flattened and 

 wrinkled : the eyes very small and hid in the fur: 

 there is no appearance of external ears, the fora- 

 mina alone being discoverable : the front-teeth 

 are very large ; the upper pair are the third of an 

 inch long, and are furrowed lengthways ; the 

 lower pair are an inch and quarter long, and na- 

 ked, or naturally exposed to view, the lip not 

 closing over them : these lower teeth it has the 

 power of separating or divaricating at pleasure, 

 in the manner of the Kanguroo ; on the fore-feet 



