1839] in the Southern Mahratta Country. 211 



were observed, (and there may have been more,) each covered with 

 loose earth. The deepest part of the burrow near the chamber was 

 about three feet from the surface ; the chamber raised a little above the 

 shaft, which terminated abruptly and was continued from the upper part 

 of the chamber. The chamber itself was lined with roots of grass and 

 bark of the date-tree. The branching galleries, of which there were six, 

 from the principal shaft, appeared iJj have been excavated in search of 

 food. 



A variety found in the red soil is much redder in colour than the com- 

 mon Knku of the black land. 



Another variety is said to frequent the banks of nullahs and to take 

 the water when pursued, but the specimens I have seen differed in no 

 respect from the common kind (of which they appeared to be young in- 

 dividuals), except in size. 



32. — Mas (Gcrbillus) Indicus, Hardw. 



BillaUei Canarese. <>£)^O30(£) 



Yen yelka j of Wuddurg> ^ ^ o ^ 5e)0 ^ 



1 el yelka ) ^ 00 



This species has already keen fully described, and some peculiarities 

 in its cranium have been noticed above. The muzzle appears to be 

 more pointed than stated by General Hardwieke, who characterizes it as 

 " very round," and the colour is always of uniform bright fawn, without 

 any admixture of brown spots, which have never been observed. The 

 incisors are always of a deep yellow colour : the eyes very large and full, 

 the tail longer than the body. 



. A large adult male measured :— length of body 7 inches; of tail 

 8 T X 0 ; of head 2J_ ; of ear ^; of fore foot ^ ; of hind foot 2. Weight 

 6 1 oz. 



They are said to be very prolific, bringing from 16 to 20 at a birth 

 but this seems an exaggeration, and the litter probably seldom exceeds 

 12. It is the common prey of foxes, owls, snakes. Lives in numerous 

 societies, making extensive burrows in the red gravelly soil of the Mul- 

 naad, generally in or near the root of shrubs or bushes. The entrances, 

 which are numerous, are small, from which the passage descends with a 

 rapid slope for 2 or 3 feet, then runs along horizontally, and sends off 

 branches in different directions. These galleries generally terminate in 

 chambers from J a foot to a foot in width, containing a bed of dried 

 grass. Sometimes one chamber communicates with another, furnished 

 in like manner, whilst others appear to be deserted and the entrar^ps 

 closed with clay. The centre chamber in one burrow was very large, 



