MAMMALIA. 23? 



BANDICOOT RAT. 



The bandicoot rat is abundant, and its nocturnal depre- 

 dations in our fowl-houses are very frequent. It bur- 

 row* in the earth, and rarely appears in the interior of a 

 duelling house. 



Mus bandicota, Bechstein, 



giganteus, Hardwicke. 



malabaricus t Shaw. 



pcrchal, Shaw. 



Icria, Buchan. Ham. MS. 



nemorivagus, Hodgson, 



cg^go&ii e39C3JG0J. OjWSjB" 



BROWN RAT. 



This species usually makes its home in the roofs of 

 houses, and is one of the greatest pests in the country. 

 They will eat into teak drawers, boxes, book-cases, and 

 will try their teeth on almost any thing. 

 Mus rufescens, Gray. 



" jlavescens, Elliot. 



" rufus, Elliot. 



(goSotSg.. e33. oj^-i 



WATER RAT. 



There is a water rat in the jungles which appears to 

 have the habits of the European water rat ; but Mr 

 Blyth writes me that he doubts our having a species of 

 Ar cicala. 



FIELD MOUSE. 



The Karens describe a field mouse with the same 

 habits as the field mouse of Europe. According to Karen 

 astronomy, the north star is a mouse, creeping into the 

 proboscis of the elephant, as they call the constellation of 

 the Great Bear. 



The mouse of our English Bible was probably the jer- 

 boa, an animal with the habits of our bamboo rat, and 

 like that eaten by the inhabitants of the country where it 

 is found. 



