1909.] 



R. B. L1.0YD : The Races of Indian Rats. 



65 



The following table shows that white-bellied rats are common 

 in Southern India, and that they occur sporadically : — 



In considering these figures attention must be paid to the 

 relative situation of the places. White-bellied rats only were 

 obtained at Travancore ; dark-bellied rats at Cochin ; both kinds 

 at Tellicherri, the former being in excess ; both at Mangalore, the 

 latter being in excess. 



Burma. 



Rangoon. 



In February of this 3-ear the writer was deputed by the 

 Trustees of the Indian Museum to examine the rats of Rangoon. 

 Owing to the large reward offered by the Municipal authorities of 

 that city, a daily average of about 4,000 rats was then being 

 received at the collecting stations. It was therefore possible 

 within a week to become generally acquainted with the rat popula- 

 tion of Rangoon. 



The rats were being brought in from a wide area, from rice 

 barns and riverside warehouses, from dwelling-houses, shops and 

 stables in the heart of the city, and detached villages on the 

 outskirts. 



The greater number of rats received were brought in dead by 

 the people of the town. Accurate information regarding the place 

 of capture of rats so brought could rarely be obtained. A con- 

 siderable number, however, were trapped by men in the service of 

 the Municipality. These rats were brought to the collecting stations 

 alive in traps which were labelled with the address of the house 

 or shop from which they had been taken. 



Certain features of Rangoon city must be briefly considered, 

 for, as will be seen later, they have an interest bearing on the 



