254 Transactions. — Zoology. 



proved by internal examination. The sociable rats living on 

 the Canterbury Plains would perforce require to eat grass 

 and minute plants and their seeds, and may have supple- 

 mented this fare by insects and grasshoppers. 



They were mostly found at considerable distances from 

 any speargrass, the roots of which might otherwise have been 

 eaten. :,: 



Mr. Douglas reports that the native rat is on the increase 

 in Westland, as also is the black rat, but that the Norway rat 

 is becoming scarce. This is a remarkable instance of the 

 revival of a species at one time supposed to be extinct, and a 

 singular reversal of the survival of the fittest, the reason of 

 which, and the watching for future developments, is a study of 

 great interest, worthy the consideration of the best scientists 

 of the present time. 



Besides the two specimens of " kiore maori" forwarded 

 to Napier Museum I sent some half-dozen skins to Professor 

 Hutton, who deposited them in the Christchurch Museum, 

 where they can be seen by those interested in this study. 



1 will conclude this long paper with two anecdotes, which 

 I think refer to M. decumanits. 



When employed bushfelling about a year ago, and working 

 among a clump or collection of trees which were all firmly tied 

 together by the runners of supple-jacks and kiekie, it was neces- 

 sary to go from one tree to the other and cut a deep scarf 

 in each, and so work backward through these trees, which 

 would not fall until the last of their united trunks had been also 

 given the preliminary scarf on the side to which it was desired 

 they should fall. This is one of the most arduous and 

 dangerous duties of the bushman, for the mass of entangle- 

 ment leaves little room for the use of the axe, or for the 

 escape of the worker if he miscalculates the position of his 

 surroundings. When plying the axe beneath a tree which 

 was enveloped in numberless green heads of the climbing 

 kiekie, something fell from above with such force on to my left 

 shoulder that I was somewhat hurt, and thought it was a 

 good thing that the piece of dead bough had not struck me 

 fair, but had glanced off. The thought then came, What size 

 was it ? On looking about I saw a grey rat on the ground 

 partially stunned. Thinking it might be a " kiore maori," I 

 endeavoured to secure it, but, being come to itself again, it 

 quickly made off. 



The second is of a grey rat, supposed part grown, who 

 used to come in the daytime and sit before a window — not of 

 glass, but of calico — as the large blow-flies, attracted by the 

 light, settled on the calico and walked up it. This small rat 



* Maori, " Tara-mea" pointed thing — Aciphylla colensoi. 



