94 SOUTH AFRICAN MAMMALS 



Small Tree Mouse {D. j^fifniUo) is similar in habits to the 

 preceding species. 



Both the above species have been kept in the Pretoria 

 Zoo, where they lived fairly well upon bread and milk, 

 bird seed, gram, &c. There is a third species, the Grey 

 Tree Mouse (Dendromtjs melanot'is), easily distinguish- 

 able from the tirst two by its general greyish tinge. It 

 also possesses a black line down the centre of the back. 

 Length of head and body, 2| inches ; tail nearly 3 inches. 

 It has so far only been recorded from the coastal tract 

 from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and Durban. 



Two genera — Steatonujs, with one species (the short- 

 tailed Fat-mouse), and Melothrix with two species of 

 Mouse Gerbille — need not here concern us further. 



Sub-Family MURIN.^. 

 This sub-family embraces the true rats and mice. 



Genus MUS. 



Muzzle pointed, no cheek pouches. Eyes prominent. 

 Tail more than half the length of the body and covered 

 with scales, and generally also a few bristly hairs. The 

 incisor teeth are not grooved and usually fairly narrow. 

 This is a large genus, but so far only thirteen indigenous 

 South African species are enumerated by Trouessart. To 

 this were added a number recently described by Thomas 

 and Schwann, and others. To this genus belongs the two 

 domestic Pats — Black and the Brown (Mies rattus and 

 M. decumanus) and the House-Mouse (M. musciihcs), both 

 of which have now overrun South Africa. The Black rat 

 has become very common in Pretoria during recent years 

 and together with its brown cousin has become a pest in 

 the Zoo, although constant war is waged on them. 



