MOLE-SHAPED POUCHED RAT. 
45 
The specimen from which our figures were made was presented to the 
Zoological Society by Mr. Leadbeater, who obtained it from Hudson’s 
Bay. It also served Dr. Richardson for his description : he was inclined 
to identify it with a small animal inhabiting the banks of the Saskatche- 
wan, which throws up little mounds in the form of mole hills, but generally 
rather larger ; he, however, could not procure any specimens. 
As an evidence that this animal never feeds upon worms, he mentions 
the fact that none exist in high northern latitudes. A gentleman who had 
for forty years superintended the cultivation of considerable pieces of 
ground on the banks of the Saskatchewan, informed him that during the 
whole of that period he never saw an earthworm turned up. All the 
species of Pseudostoma , as far as our knowledge goes, feed on bulbs, roots, 
and grasses. 
The pouches serve as sacks, in which after filling them with food they 
carry it to their nests in their subterranean retreats, where they deposit 
considerable quantities, which evidently serve them as supplies throughout 
the winter. 
We are under the impression that none of the species of this genus 
become perfectly dormant in winter, as we have observed in Georgia a 
few fresh hillocks thrown up by the Southern nouched-rat after each warm 
day in that season. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
As before stated, this species was obtained at Hudson’s Bay, and is 
supposed by Richardson to exist on the Saskatchewan, thus giving it a 
considerable western range, should there not indeed prove to be a different 
species, which is, however, rather urobable. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
Until very recently there has been much confusion among writers in 
regard to the organization of the family of pouched-rats, which appear to 
be exclusively confined to the American continent — some supposing that 
the natural position of the pouch was that of a sac hanging suspended on 
each side of the throat, with the opening within the mouth. 
Dor the probable origin of this error we refer our readers to the first 
volume of this work, p. 338, where we gave some remarks on the Pseudo- 
i stoma bursarius, and this genus generally. 
