Part 69 (1/2)

FAMILY SPALACIDAE.

The members of this family are characterised by very large incisors; some have premolars, as in _Bathyergus_ and two other genera, but not in the _Spalacinae_, of which our bamboo-rat (_Rhizomys_) is the representative in India. ”The grinding teeth are rooted, not tuberculate, but with re-entering enamel folds; infra-orbital opening moderate or small, with no perpendicular plate; occipital plane high, often sloped boldly forward; palate narrow; form cylindrical; eye and ear-conch very small, sometimes rudimentary; limbs short and stout; claws large; tail short or absent” (_Alston_, 'P. Z. S.' 1876, p. 86). There are two subfamilies--_Spalacinae_ and _Bathyerginae_.

_GENUS RHIZOMYS--THE BAMBOO-RAT_.

”Form robust; eyes very small; ears very short, naked; pollex rudimentary; tail rather short, partially haired; skull broad; occipital plane only slightly sloped forward; infra-orbital opening small, sub-triangular; upper incisors arched forward; no premolar; upper molars with one deep internal and two or more external enamel-folds; the lower molars reversed.”--_Alston_.

NO. 396. RHIZOMYS BADIUS.

_The Chestnut Bamboo-Rat_ (_Jerdon's No. 201_).

NATIVE NAME.--Known to the Chingpaws or Kakhyens as the _Yewcron_.--_Anderson_.

HABITAT.--The Sikim and Nepal Terai; Burmah; Arakan; Kakhyen Hills.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Rhizomys badius_.]

DESCRIPTION.--Fine fur, of a grey or slaty grey for two-thirds of the basal portion, the remaining upper third being from a deep to a bright chestnut. ”Most intense on the head, and dullest on the rump”

(_Anderson_). ”Below dark ashy grey” (_Jerdon_). ”The fur of the under-parts in these Eastern examples of the species” (referring to those from the Kakhyen hills) ”is paler and more reddish than chestnut, whereas in some Nepal animals it inclines even to slaty grey, washed with reddish. The area immediately around the muzzle and the chin is pale brownish, with a tinge of greyish, and the teeth are brilliant reddish, the nose, ears, feet, and tail being pale flesh-coloured” (_Anderson_, 'Anat. and Zool. Res.' p. 329).

SIZE.--Head and body, 7 inches; tail, about 2-1/2 inches.

Jerdon says of this species that ”it eats the roots of bamboos and other trees, constructing burrows under the roots. It is said to be very bold, and easily taken.” ”In Burmah it constructs its burrows amongst a rank and tall jungle gra.s.s, on the roots of which it is said to live” (_Anderson_). Blyth, who writes of the Burmese form, says: ”it is barely separable from _R. badius_, from which it seems to differ only in its much brighter colouring.”

NO. 397. RHIZOMYS ERYTHROGENYS.

_The Red-cheeked Bamboo-Rat_.

HABITAT.--Burmah; the Salween hill tracts; Tena.s.serim.

DESCRIPTION.--Upper parts dark iron grey; almost black on the top of the head; the upper lip, chin and upper part of the throat are white, also the chest and belly, which are however more or less tinged with grey and reddish; the lower portion of the throat is dark grey; the sides of the head and cheeks are bright golden red; the feet are spa.r.s.ely clad and leaden coloured, except the toes of the hind feet, which are fleshy white; tail rather thick at the base, quite naked, not scaly, and of a leaden hue; claws rather broad, and moderately strong.

SIZE (of the living female).--Head and body, 14-3/4 inches; tail, 5.35 inches.

Dr. Anderson, from whose work I have taken the above description, and who was the first to describe and name this animal, says that a female was recently received in the Zoological Gardens from Mr.

A. H. Hildebrand.

NO. 398. RHIZOMYS PRUINOSUS.

_The h.o.a.ry Bamboo-Rat_.

HABITAT.--a.s.sam; very common about Cherrapoonjee; Burmah; Kakhyen hills east of Bhamo.

DESCRIPTION.--Brown above, grizzled with white; the base of the fur being slaty grey, tipped with brown, and intermixed with longer hairs, terminating in white bands; underneath much the same, only the white-tipped hairs are shorter and less numerous; whiskers dark brown; the head is generally more grey; ears, nose, feet and tail of a dusky flesh tint; tail one-third of the body.

SIZE.--Head and-body, about 11 to 13 inches; tail, 3 to 4 inches.

NO. 399. RHIZOMYS MINOR.