THE BLACK RAT 5907 
1667); “Mus domesticus major, sive Rattus, the Rat” in Ray (Syz. 
Quadr., 217, 1683), Sibbald (Sco¢., 12, 1684), and Pennant (777. Zool., 
ed. ii., 97, 1768); “Mus rattus domesticus” of Klein (Quadr. disp., 57, 
1751); and “Mus (Rattus) cauda longissitma, obscure cinereus,’ in 
Brisson (Quadr., 168, n. 1, 1762) and Gronovius (Zooph., 4, n. 18). 
“Mus rattus” of Albertus Magnus (de Anzm., lib. xxii. 182, circa 
1250) has been shown by de l’Isle to have been a dormouse (Léomys 
quercinus). 
The synonymy is that of the species and typical sub-species. It is 
perhaps to be regretted that in this case we are forced to regard as the 
typical form something which is apparently no better than an undesired 
product of domestication. 
The history, origin, and status of this sub-species have been 
discussed above under the species (see headings Hzstory, Distribution, 
and Geographical variation). 
Distribution :—Primarily the whole of temperate western and 
central Europe, from Ireland eastwards, and from central France 
and northern Italy northwards to central Sweden. Throughout this 
region its numbers have greatly diminished since the introduction of 
E. norvegicus, and over great tracts it has become quite extinct. 
In Norway the original stock survived recently only at Kongsberg, 
but it is now dying out or else is extinct there. Although formerly 
common it was probably never so numerous in that country as 
norvegicus subsequently became. As a reintroduction a colony has 
established itself in the Oslo Havn at Christiania, and from time to 
time the animal, as in other countries, makes a transitory appearance 
in the various seaports. All Norwegian specimens belong to the 
present sub-species. In Sweden it survives in decreasing numbers 
from Skane northwards to the centre of the country. In Denmark, 
though practically ousted by the Brown Rat in the course of the 
nineteenth century, it is still found occasionally, possibly as a re- 
introduction, in Copenhagen (Winge). 
In Germany it was abundant about 1835; Blasius describes it as 
keeping entire towns to itself, and then, as the Brown Rat advanced, 
its domain dwindled to districts, streets, and, finally, individual 
houses. Dead specimens could often then be seen in the gutters of 
Berlin, and about ten years earlier, in those of Rhineland towns. 
By 1857 the species had become rare, and by 1879 very rare (Meyer, 
Nature, 8th and 29th May 1879). In Miinsterland it is said, however, 
to have occurred commonly in 1883, in places where only the Brown 
Rat was found before, and in Greitz it appeared to be increasing at the 
expense of that species (P. Magnus, Sz¢z.-b. nat. Hreunde, Berlin, 1883, 
47); but possibly there is confusion with Azbernzcus here. 
In France and northern Italy it is now uncommon. Gadeau de 
