THE CANADA POUCHED RAT. 
t) 05 
The burrow was probably sunk lower wherever it crossed a path, because the sense of 
hearing in this animal is so extremely acute, that it would be much annoyed by the continual 
sound of human footsteps immediately over its head. 
Although it spends the greater part of its existence beneath the earth, it is frequently 
seen above the surface of the ground, as it resorts to the open air for the purpose of basking 
in the sun, or procuring leaves which have been brightened and vivified by the rays of the 
sun, as a change from the roots on which it chiefly depends for subsistence. When it revisits 
the regions of upper day, it emerges from the earth in some hitherto unbroken spot, pushing 
the soil upwards and causing a kind of miniature earthquake before it makes its appearance. 
Presently the head and shoulders of the animal emerge from the lump of earth, and shaking 
the loose mould from its fur, it draws itself entirely out of its burrow. It then runs forward 
for a yard or two, searching for food, nibbling off the green blades with its teeth, and stowing 
them into its cheek-pouches with the aid of its fore-paws. When it has filled the pouches, it 
runs back to the hole through which it had issued, and vanishes immediately from sight. 
Should it be alarmed while out of its tunnel, it plunges precipitately into its stronghold, 
and drives an entirely new burrow in another direction, not venturing to entrust itself to that 
through which it had passed before it was alarmed. 
The long and sharp incisor teeth are formidable weapons, and can be used with great 
effect upon an adversary. It is a sufficiently savage creature, and when captured or annoyed, 
bites fiercely in every direction, and squeals with rage. In captivity it is always employing 
these teeth upon every object that it can reach, and has even been detected in the act 
of endeavoring to cut its way through the wooden planks of the room in which it was 
placed. Two of these animals once contrived to get into a pair of boots belonging to their 
owner, and not choosing to take the trouble of returning by the same aperture through which 
they had entered, they cut a large hole in the toes, and so made their exit. They seemed to 
have a special liking for leather, as they afterwards gnawed to pieces the leathern straps 
which were dangling from a portmanteau that lay in the same room. 
On the surface of the ground the Canada Pouched Rat is rather slow and clumsy in its 
movements, as its legs are short and ill-fitted for such locomotion. So short indeed are its 
limbs, that if it be laid on its back, it has great difficulty in regaining its feet, but flounders 
about in almost total helplessness until it can seize a blade of grass, a twig, or similar object, 
by means of which it can draw itself into its normal attitude. In its tunnel, however, it 
proceeds with considerable activity, going faster than a man can walk, and being capable of 
running backwards or forwards with equal speed and ease. 
The nest of the Mulo is not placed in one of the ordinary tunnels, but in a burrow dug 
specially for the purpose. It is about eight inches in diameter, globular in shape, and is 
made of dried herbage externally, and softly lined with hair plucked from the body of the 
female, and other appropriate substances. From the nest radiate a number of small galleries, 
which are again connected with smaller branch passages, and seem to conduct the animal to 
its feeding-grounds. It was formerly imagined that the Mulo was in the habit of filling its 
pouches with the excavated earth, and of emptying them at the mouth of burrows. This 
assertion is now disputed, for it is clearly ascertained that the creature only uses its cheek- 
pouches for the conveyance of its food. A little earth may perchance be imbedded together 
with the nuts and leaves, but the mistake has evidently arisen from the conduct of the natives, 
who, when they procure a skin of the Mulo, are accustomed to stuff the pouches with dry 
earth, for the purpose of preserving them in their distended form. 
The animal is found in many parts of Northern America, and has a very wide range. 
The Bay Bamboo Rat is one representative of the genus Rhizomys, of which there 
are several species. 
This animal is a native of Nepal, Malacca, and China, and is very injurious to the bam- 
boos, on the roots of which it feeds. In size it equals a rather small rabbit, and in color it is 
of a uniform ruddy brown, slightly paler on the throat and abdomen. The long incisor teeth 
are faced with bright red enamel, which gives them a rather conspicuous appearance ; the tail 
