EURYOTIS IRRORATUS.
nearly of equal length, the two others much shorter ; the two middle ones of
the fore-feet equal, the inner one shorter, hut slightly longer than the outermost.
The hairy covering generally moderately dense, strongly recumbent,
slightly rigid, and longest on the back and sides of the body. The incisor
teeth of both jaws, each with a strong longitudinal groove on its anterior surface,
the grooves nearest to the outer edges. For further details relative to
the teeth and viscera, see the letter-press for PI. XXV.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines. Inches. Lines
Length from the point of the nose to Length of the fore-legs ................ 21
the tip of the tail................ 11 6 hind-legs........ ........ 2 5
of the tail................................. 3 5 tarsus of hind-legs .. ... 1 2}
Distance from the nose to the eye .... 0 Height when standing.................. 2 8
eye to the ear....... 0 « i s.
The colours of the female are similar to those of the male.
This is the species which the collector, who commences his labours near Cape Town, will
first acquire. It ranges more to the southward than either of the others, and is even found in
marshy spots close to Cape Point. In such situations it is usually seen near the roots of
bushes or clumps o f rushes, and to the densest parts of these it flies for concealment when its
fears are excited. On the other hand, if hunted or more than usually alarmed, it seeks safety
by entering the subterranean burrows with which it is always provided, and which exist beneath
the vegetation in which it generally secretes itself. These burrows are commonly short and
tortuous, and in them the female generally forms her nest and produces her young.
The roots of rushes and other vegetable products appear to constitute the principal food of
this animal, at least such may be inferred from the character of the substances with which the
stomachs of those were filled which I examined. In some, however, something like portions
of insects were also discovered.
The colour o f this species is much darker than that of the other two species which inhabit
South Africa, and by that peculiarity it may be readily recognised. In addition to that diagnostic
character, others, more important and less liable to vary, are furnished by the cranium
and teeth, as will, be seen, in detail, by reference to Plate X X Y . and its letter-press. The
existence in this species of a longitudinal groove in each of the incisor teeth of the lower jaw
serves to distinguish it from E . unisulcatus, Cuvier, in which they are plain, and the breadth
and depth of the grooves, besides their being more remote from the outer edges of the teeth,
indicate a specific difference between E . irroratus and E . Brantsii. In the former the grooves
are very delicate, particularly in the lower incisors, and close to the external edges o f the teeth ;
in the latter they are strongly developed in all, but more especially in those of the lower jaw.