62 HARE-TAILED RAT, AND SOCIAL MOUSE. 
the males do not exceed three inches, from nose to 
taih 
Hare-tailed rat. 
This species has a long head, and a blunt nose ; 
lips rough and swelling out ; and ears short, round, 
and flat. Its tail is the shortest of any of the genus, 
scarce appearing out of the hair ; its fur is very 
soft and full, ash mixed with dusky, with a dark 
line along its back ; its body is between three and 
four inches long. It inhabits the country about 
the Yaik, the Irtish, and the Jcnesey. They 
love a firm, dry soil ; burrow, and make two 
entrances, the one oblique, the other perpepdi- 
cular. 
The males fight for the females, and devour 
each other. They are very salacious. When in 
heat, they emit a musky smell. They bring 
six at a time. Like the marmots, they are slow 
in their motions, and sleep rolled up like them. 
They are very fond of the dwarf iris ; but feed 
on all sorts of seeds. They also migrate in great 
troops ; and the Tartars call them the rambling 
mouse. 
Social mouse. 
Tiie social mouse has a thick head ; a blunt 
nose ; naked oval ears ; short strong limbs ; and 
a slender tail. The upper part of the body is of 
a light grey, palest on the sides ; the shoulders 
and belly are white ; the body is above three 
inches ; the tail one and a half. It inhabits the 
Caspian desert, and the country of Hyrcania. 
They live in low, sandy, grassy places, in great 
societies. Their burrows are about a span deep. 
