10S GILT-TAILED DORMOUSE. 
along each side,, and another above each eye. Its 
belly and feet are of a dirty white ; its tail is black 
in the middle., and hoary on the sides ; its toes are 
long and distinct, with very long claws. There 
is a large knob on the fore feet. The hind legs 
are black behind, and naked. 
It is a creature of the size of a common squirrel ; 
but much broader and flatter. It inhabits the 
mountains, about eight hundred miles above the 
Cape of Good Hope. It never climbs trees ; it 
burrows; feeds on bulbous roots; and is particu- 
larly fond of potatoes. It often walks on its hind 
feet, and often lies* flat on its belly, is very tame, 
and never offers to bite. It frequently flirts up 
with its tail. It makes a warm nest, and forms a 
round hole in it, in which it lodges. It sometimes 
keeps close in this retreat for three entire days 
together. 
Gilt-tailed dormouse. 
This singular species, though considered by its 
first describer, Mr. Allatnand, as well as by Mr. 
Pennant in his History of Quadrupeds, as a species 
of dormouse, is allied in perhaps an equal degree 
of the porcupines, among which it is placed by 
Mr. Schreber. It is supposed to be a native of 
Surinam, and is remarkable for the beauty of its 
colours, being of a fine purplish brown above, 
rather paler beneath ; the tail is brown at its base, 
black for half its length, and the remainder of a 
bright gold-yellow, and on the top of the head, is 
a longitudinal stripe, of that colour. The head is 
large in proportion to the body, the eyes small, the 
eats moderately large, short, and rounded ; the 
upper lip divided ; the front teeth white and short, 
those of the lower jaw being the largest ; on each 
side the nose are long vibrissas, or whiskers ; the 
