^2 



Records of the Indian Museum. 



[Vol. Ill, 



15 



10 



u 



_!_L 



125 



J L 



170 



ZOS Z20 



Fig. 7. — Diagram showing the length-frequency of 48 Mus rattus from 

 cherri (Lafrenais). 



Telli- 



Tci. I — 



This includes two specimens which resemble one another 

 very closely, but can be distinguished from the others at a glance. 

 In both, the general tone of the upper surface is black, becoming 

 dark brown on the sides and somewhat suddenly fawn-coloured 

 below. The nose, ears and tail are black. The measurements 



are — 



156 

 125 



206 

 172 



28 

 28 



15 



18 



The smaller specimen is certainly immature. In both, the tail 

 is remarkably long. It is most likeh' that these two rats were 

 caught in the same house and formed part of the same family group. 

 This assumption explains their resemblance to one another, and 

 the wide difference from the others which thev exhibit. 



Tci. 2 — 



Includes eight specimens of the common reddish brown type of 

 Mus rattus in which the ventral surface is dark, each hair being 

 slate-grey with a reddish or yellowish fawn-coloured tip. 



Tci. 3— 



This includes the remaining thirty-eight rats. These cannot be 

 distinguished from those of the former group by an inspection of 

 the upper surfaces of the specimens. They can, however, be dis- 

 tinguished because the throat, breast and abdomen of all of them 

 are covered with pure white fur. Unlike the white-bellied rats 

 of some other districts such as Amritsar, vSimla, Rangoon and 

 Calcutta, none of them show a median coloured stripe on the breast. 

 In some the fur of the lower surface is light lemon-yellow rather 



