228 F. Stoliczka — Mammals and Birds inhabiting Kachli. [No. 3, 
mon enough, and some very much resemble in structure and colour the 
wild dog ( Cuon rutilans), but I have not heard of the occurrence of this 
latter in a wild state. 
Both the Indian and the desert fox, Vulpes bengalensis and leucopus, the 
latter generally called the silver-tailed fox, occur ; the former I have shot only 
in the north-eastern districts, hut the latter appears to he more generally 
distributed, though not very common. 
Rodentia. 
The homely Sciurus palmarum is the only species of squirrels to be met 
with, both about habitations and in the Kundu jungles. 
The ground is claimed by the desert Jerboa-rat, which Jerdon identified 
with (No. 171) Gerbillus* erythrourus, Gray.f I do not think that 
there is any other animal equally common throughout Kachh, as is this rat ; 
it does of course not frequent stony and hilly ground, but is most abundant 
in the sandy districts between bushes, as well as between fields and on grassy 
plains ; its barrows sometimes extent over hundreds of square feet without 
interruption. The size and colour of Kachh specimens perfectly tallies with 
Jerdon’s description. Near habitations it usually comes out only in the 
morning and evening to feed, but far away from them it is to be seen out of 
its hole at all hours of the day. As a rule, it feeds, I believe, on roots of 
various herbaceous plants, and more rarely on seeds. 
I hardly need to mention the occurrence of the brown rat (Mus decu- 
manus) and of the common Indian mouse (M. urlanws). 
Hystrix leucura is the common porcupine of the country ; it is usually 
found on higher undulating desert ground, thinly covered with jungle, or 
on more elevated plateaus where brushwood occurs. 
Lepus rujicaudatus is very abundant throughout Kachh. There is, (at 
least in younger specimens) a conspicuous white band from the nostril 
through the eye ; the ears are lined internally with dull white, and externally 
towards the tips with blackish brown or black ; the tail has in the young 
only a slight rufous tinge above. 
Ungulata. 
JSqwus onager, the wild ass, is entirely confined to the most uninhabita- 
ble and desert parts of the country near the Rann, or the Bann itself with its 
small islands. I have seen it on two or three occasions in crossing the Bann, 
but an approach to it even within half a mile was out of question. 
Sus indiews is generally distributed, and fine sport may be had in suit- 
able, temporarily swampy, localities, mostly near the Bann. Occasionally, 
* MoBfc naturalists accept for the Africo-Asiatic species the name Menones. 
t Comp. Jerdon, Mamm. Appendix, p. III. 
