Descriptions of East Asiatic Mammals 271 
siderable geographical variation. Flower writes that the food 
consists of unhusked rice, yams, and pumpkins, and that the 
animal is aggressive when surprised. 
The Small Bamboo Rat, C. b. minor from southern Siam, 
is dark brown beneath, the muzzle and around the eye whitish. 
,The length of head and body is 6% inches, tail 1% inches. 
Other races include C. b. lonnbergi from eastern Siam, C. b. 
plumbescens from the northern Shan States, c. b. castaneus 
from Arakan in southeastern Burma, and C. b. pater from Mt, 
Popa in the dry belt of Burma. 
THE RATS AND MICE (FAMILY MVRIDM) 
Rats are so generally regarded as low forms of animal life fit 
only to be struck down with clubs or dosed with poison, that 
many people will be surprised to learn of the value of the very 
large number of wild species of Rats for studies on evolution 
and distribution. The study of similarities and differences be- 
tween the many members of the Rat family may be compared 
to the work lavished upon their hobby by the devotees of stamp- 
collecting. The slight variations in color, shape of feet and ears, 
the bones of the skull, and tiny distinctions in the teeth corre- 
spond in interest to differences of perforation, watermark, and 
"secret marks" in postage stamps. 
The usual low regard for Rats is exemplified by the following 
story : A scientist studying the animals of mountainous country 
had been hospitably entertained by an American gold-miner. 
It is frequently the custom for scientists to name new discov- 
eries after persons, as a signal of special esteem, but the gesture 
is sometimes misunderstood. This scientist published the de- 
scription of a new kind of Field Mouse and named the animal 
for the miner. When the miner came back to civilization from 
the mountains, he was asked, "How did you get along with 
Dr. ?" "A great fellow, and a swell poker player," the 
