Part 94 (1/2)

HABITAT.--Burmah and the Malayan peninsula; also Tipperah.

DESCRIPTION.--To be distinguished from the two preceding species by the greater number of longitudinal rows of scales, _M. pentadactyla_ having from eleven to thirteen, _M. aurita_ from fifteen to eighteen, and _M. Javanica_ nineteen. Taking the number of scales in the longitudinal mesial line from the nose to the tip of the tail in _M.

pentadactyla_, it is forty-two; in _aurita_ forty-eight to fifty-six; in _Javanica_ as high as sixty-four; on the tail the scales are: _M. pentadactyla_, fourteen; _M. aurita_ sixteen to twenty; _M. Javanica_ thirty.

I am indebted to Dr. Anderson's 'Zoological and Anatomical Researches' for the following summary of characteristics:--

”_M. pentadactyla_ by its less heavy body; by its tail, which is broad at the base, tapering gradually to a point, and equalling the length of the head and trunk; by its large light olive-brown scales, of which there are only from eleven to thirteen longitudinal rows on the trunk, and a mesial line of fourteen on the tail; and by its powerful fore-claws, the centre one of which is somewhat more than twice as long as the corresponding claw of the hinder extremity. _M. aurita_ is distinguished from _M. pentadactyla_ by its less heavy body; by its rather shorter tail, which has less basal breadth than _M.

pentadactyla_; by its smaller and darker brown, almost black scales in the adult, which are more numerous, there being from fifteen to eighteen longitudinal rows on the trunk, seventeen rows being the normal number, and sixteen to twenty caudal plates in the mesial line; and by its strong fore-claws, the middle one of which is not quite twice as long as the corresponding claw on the hind foot.

”_M. Javanica_ is recognised by its body being longer and more attenuated than in the two foregoing species; by its narrower and more tapered tail; by its longer and more foliaceous or darker olive-brown scales, of which there are nineteen longitudinal rows on the trunk, and as many as thirty along the mesial line of the tail; and by the claws of the fore-feet being not nearly so long as in _M.

aurita_, and being but little in excess of the claws of the hind-feet.”

APPENDIX A.

FAMILY MYOXIDAE--THE DORMICE.

These small rodents approximate more to the squirrels than the true mice; but they differ from all others intestinally by the absence of a caec.u.m. They have four rooted molars in each upper and lower jaw, the first of each set being smaller than the other three, the crowns being composed of transverse ridges of enamel. In form they are somewhat squirrel-like, with short fore-limbs, and hairy, though not bushy, tails. The thumb is rudimentary, with a small, flat nail; hind-feet with five toes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Dent.i.tion of Dormouse (magnified).]

The common English dormouse is a most charming little animal, and a great pet with children. I have had several, and possess a pair now which are very tame. They are elegant little creatures, about three inches long, with tails two and a-half inches; soft deep fur of a pale reddish-tawny above, pale yellowish-fawn below, and white on the chest. The eyes are large, l.u.s.trous, and jet-black. The tails of some are slightly tufted at the end. They are quite free from the objectionable smell of mice. In their habits they are nocturnal, sleeping all day and becoming very lively at night. I feed mine on nuts, and give them a slice of apple every evening; no water to drink, unless succulent fruits are not to be had, and then sparingly. The dormouse in its wild state lives on fruits, seeds, nuts and buds.

In cold countries it hibernates, previous to which it becomes very fat. It makes for itself a little globular nest of twigs, gra.s.s, and moss, pine-needles, and leaves, in which it pa.s.ses the winter in a torpid state. ”The dormouse lives in small societies in thickets and hedgerows, where it is as active in its way amongst the bushes and undergrowth as its cousin the squirrel upon the larger trees. Among the small twigs and branches of the shrubs and small trees the dormice climb with wonderful adroitness, often, indeed, hanging by their hind feet from a twig, in order to reach and operate on a fruit or a nut which is otherwise inaccessible, and running along the lower surface of a branch with the activity and certainty of a monkey”

(_Dallas_). This little animal is supposed to breed twice in the year--in spring and autumn. It is doubtful whether we have any true _Myoxidae_ in India, unless _Mus gliroides_ should turn out to be a _Myoxus_. The following is mentioned in Blanford's 'Eastern Persia': _Myoxus pictus_--new species, I think; I regret I have not the book by me at present--also _Myoxus dryas_, of which I find a pencil note in my papers. Mouse-red on the back, white belly with a rufous band between; white forehead; a black stripe from the nose to the ears, pa.s.sing through the eye.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Myoxus_.]

APPENDIX B.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Osteology of the Skull of Platanista Gangetica, section 257_. A. Side view. B. Upper view. C. Back tooth. D. Front tooth.]

The above ill.u.s.tration was by accident omitted from the text.

APPENDIX C.

NOTES ON SOME OF THE FOREGOING SPECIES.

_The Slow Loris_, No 28.--This creature sometimes a.s.sumes the erect posture, though in general it creeps. The following ill.u.s.tration shows an att.i.tude observed and sketched by Captain Tickell, as the animal was about to seize a c.o.c.kroach. When it had approached within ten or twelve inches, it drew its hind feet gradually forward until almost under its chest; it then cautiously and slowly raised itself up into a standing position, balancing itself awkwardly with its uplifted arms; and then, to his astonishment, flung itself, not upon the insect, which was off ”like an arrow from a Tartar's bow,” but on the spot which it had, half a second before, tenanted.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Slow Loris and a c.o.c.kroach.]

_Trade Statistics of Fur-skins_, Mustelidae.--The Philadelphia _Times_, in an article on furs, says that the best sealskins come from the antarctic waters, princ.i.p.ally from the Shetland Islands.