1909.] 



R. E. IvLOYi) : The Races of Indian Rats 



45 



especially as regards the bristles and spines. They are included in 

 one group because they show no white fur on the abdomen although 

 some are lighter below than others. 



Alh. 2— 



Includes twelve rats differing from the others in being white 

 below. These do not show the coloured stripe in the mid-line of 

 the breast which is often present in white-bellied rats. In one 

 of them although the ventral fur appears pure white, each of the 

 component hairs is light grey at the base ; in the others every hair 

 is white in its whole length. 



Alh. 3— I 



Includes one albino specimen ; it is of a pale straw-colour rather 

 than pure white. The ears, nose and feet are devoid of pigment. 



Cawnpore. 



Captain H. Fulton has sent the measurements and stuffed 

 skins of thirty-one specimens of M^is rattus. The lengths of these are 

 displayed in the diagram, text-fig. 5, which shows that rats of about 



10 





f 



170 195 



Fig. 5. — Diagram showing the length -frequency of 29 Mus rattus from Cawn- 

 pore (Fi;ilton). 



170 mm. are clearl}' in the majorit^^ This collection has been 

 made with particular care, and does not include any specimens of 

 doubtful maturity. The diagrammatic representation of these 

 measurements is therefore of special interest. In regard to pro- 

 portions there seems little difference between the rats of Cawnpore 

 and of Calcutta. The average tail-length among the group is a 

 little over 120 % of the length of the head and body. The collection 

 falls naturally into three groups according to colour. 



Cnp. I — 



The eye can distinguish two of them from the others at 

 a distance of fifty yards owing to their black colour. On close 

 inspection it is seen that they do not entirely resemble one another. 

 In one specimen, a male measuring 145, 188 (br.), 31, 32, the back 

 is covered with hairs most of which are dark slate-grey in the lower 

 two-thirds of their length, and black in the upper third. Intermingled 



