1909.] R. E. L1.0YD : The Races of Indian Rats. 79 



Rng. 8 A— 



A few days after the capture of these ten melanotic Gun- 

 omys, a man brought in three somewhat similar rats from another 

 part of the town. These were also pure black specimens of G. 

 bengalensis , but they were different from the others in that the 

 muzzle, and to some extent the ears, were scantily pigmented. 

 These parts were consequentl}^ of a livid pinkish colour, and gave 

 to their possessors an appearance remarkably different from the 

 others, the noses and ears of which were very deeply pigmented. 

 It was not possible to trace their exact habitat ; being somewhat 

 decomposed they were not kept. 



It seems likely that these two melanotic varieties had arisen 

 quite independently of one another, although in the same town. 



Upper Burma. 



The rats of Upper Burma resemble the rats of Rangoon so far 

 as has been ascertained. The common dark-bellied Mus rattus 

 of India is not common in Burma. In place of it we find the small 

 Mus concolor and a white-bellied race of Mus rattus the members 

 of which, in Rangoon and perhaps throughout Burma, are on the 

 average smaller and have shorter tails than Mus rattus of the Indian 

 Peninsula. 



Myitkyina (Bhamo). 



We have received, through Dr. L. Fink, a number of specimens 

 from Kamaung, Mogaung, Mankin and Myitkyina. The first 

 specimen sent was a typical Mus decumanus. It has been stated 

 that China is probably the home of this wandering species : since 

 Bhamo is close to the borders of China, other specimens were 

 awaited with interest; when received they were found to consist of 

 twenty typical Mus concolor, one other immature Mus decumanus, 

 two white-bellied Mtis rattus, and one dark-bellied Mus rattus of 

 normal size. The progenitors of the M. decumanus probably 

 arrived by the steamboats which ply between Rangoon and Bhamo. 

 The examples of Mus concolor are indistinguishable from those of 

 Rangoon ; some of them have white-tipped tails ; of four specimens 

 from Kamaung, sent b}^ Captain Gandoin, two show this peculiar 

 character. 



Mr.Heffermanhassenttwo Mus concolor from Lower Chindwin; 

 these measure 122 and 131 mm. in length; one of them has a white- 

 tipped tail. This character seems specially common among Mus 

 concolor in Upper Burma. It has been previously mentioned that 

 it occurs sporadically and more rarely in India among the genera 

 Mus, Gunomys and Bandicota. 



Captain Gandoin has sent a white-bellied Mus rattus from 

 Yamethin; it measures 150, 200, 26, 20. We have also received a 

 large number of measurements from Mandalay, but in the absence 

 of specimens little can be said in regard to them ; it is probable that 

 Gunomys varius occurs there, and that Mus concolor is common. 



