FAUNA AMERICANA. 149 



tors, their manners resemble those of the common 

 rat. 



Inhabit France, Germany, England, &c. 



We are inclined to believe this species indi- 

 genous to the United States, where they were 

 very numerous about fifty years ago, though they 

 have become very rare on the Atlantic coast since 

 the arrival of the JVonvay rat, (Mas decumanus, 

 Pall.) and are found at the present time, (though 

 rarely) in the western states, having like the abo- 

 riginal Indians, receded before their European in- 

 vaders. We are credibly informed by an eye wit- 

 ness of the fact, that the J^orivegian rat did not 

 make its appearance in the United States any 

 length of time previous to the year 1775. 



The JSTorway rat, it appears, Avas originally a 

 native of Persia, or of India, and was unknown in 

 England previous to 1730, or in France before 

 1750. According to Pallas, it made its first ap- 

 pearance in Siberia and Russia about the year 

 1766. 



The Mus miisculus, (Linn.) Common mouse, 

 is most probably not indigenous, though like the 

 preceding species, it inhabits all climates. 



Species. 

 2. Mus sylvaticus, Linn. Erxleb. Bodd. Schreb. 

 tab. 180. Mus agrestis major, Gesn. Mus do- 

 mesticus medius, Rai. Mus campestris major, 

 Briss. Regn. Anim. p. 171. No. 4. Mulot, BufF. 

 hist. nat. t. 7. pi. 41. Field mouse. 



