ORDER OF RODENTIA. 
483 
would appear that they are also found on the Indian slopes of the 
Himalayas. 
The Pteromys (Winged Rats, from irrcpov, wing, rat) are 
much larger than the preceding. They are proper to Southern 
Asia and the Indian Archipelago. The best-known species is the 
Taguan (Fig. 208). 
The Anomalures (Fig. 209) were not known to naturalists until 
1840, when Mr. Fraser brought one from Fernando-Po. They 
inhabit the West Coast of Africa. One of their most singular 
characteristics consists in the presence, at the inferior base of the 
i'ig. 208. -Taguan (Pteromys petuurista) . 
tail, of thick scales dove-tailed into one another, the use of which 
appears to be to furnish a point of support when they climb 
vertically along the trees. 
Genus Tamia . — The Tamias greatly resemble the true Squirrels ; 
but they have a shorter tail, and are provided with cheek- 
pouches. Their life is not exclusively spent in trees, they run 
very actively on the ground ; and, instead of building on trees, 
they excavate burrows, in which they accumulate the provisions 
transferred from their cheek-pouches. They live on fruit and 
grain. These animals are to be found in Africa, India, and 
North America. The principal species are the Burrowing 
Squirrel of Senegal, the Palm Squirrel of the Indian continent, 
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