EuTLAXD. — On the Ncv Zealand BusJi-rat. 



307 



worker or a fertile queen is determined by the food given. 

 (2.) Is the preponderance of males due to a separation of the 

 sexes through these animals having to extend their range in 

 quest of food? To these questions further oliscrvation can 

 alone furnish replies. 



Note by Pkofessok Hutton. 

 Measurements. — The Maori rat is smaller tluui either of 

 the other two rats found in New Zealand, and the female is 

 rather smaller than the male. The following are measure- 

 ments of three individuals of each sex, given in inches : — 



The difference is thus seen to depend on the length of the 

 tail, which is shorter in the female than in the male. 



The other dimensions are : Length of head, 1-oin. ; breadth 

 of head between the eax'S, 0-6in. ; length of ear, 0-6hi. ; breadth, 

 0-4oin. ; length from nose to ear, l-3in. ; length of hind foot 

 lin., of fore foot 0-5in., inclusive of claws. All tlie toes have 

 claws. 



Colours. — In colour they nuich resemble the common 

 brown rat. l^lie upper surface of the head and body is brown, 

 finely mottled with dark-grey. This is due to the hairs, some 

 of which are nearly black, but most are dark-gre}' at the base, 

 broadly tipped with reddish-brown. The sides of the body 

 are lighter, and all the under-parts, including the chin and 

 feet, are dirty-white. The fur is slate-blue. The tail is scaly 

 and sparsely covered with short hairs, which are black on the 

 upper surface and grey on the lower. Ears rather large and 

 rounded at the tip, yellowish-brown, with minute grey hairs on 

 both surfaces. Hairs of moustache, most black, some white ; 

 length, l-75in. Upper hicisors orange, lower yellow. Legs 

 and feet yellow-, with short white hairs ; the hind feet with 

 small tufts at the end, projecting over the nails. 



In 1884 Mr. Eutland sent me four heads of this rat. Two 

 are coloured as described above, but the other two are lighter 

 in colour and redder. One has brownish-red hairs on the 

 cheeks only, the rest being reddish-brown ; but the other is 

 entirely brownish-red, quite foxy in colour over the upper 

 surface of the head and neck. This may be a distinct species. 



