Mus. 325 
bird-lime which he uses. It is spread on a board, and will retain any 
rat that puts even one foot on it. An albino variety is common, and is 
sold for pets. Rats are partial to certain scents, and some are conse- 
quently used by trappers. In Cooley’s ‘Cyclopedia’ the following 
receipts are given :— 
1. Powdered cantharides steeped in French brandy. It is said that 
rats are so fond of this that if a little be rubbed on the hands they may 
be handled with impunity. 
2. Powdered assafcetida 8 grains, oil of rhodium 2 drams, oil of 
aniseed 1 dram, oil of lavender $ dram. Mix by agitation. 
3. Oil of aniseed § ounce, tincture assafcetida + ounce. 
4. Oil of aniseed 4 ounce, nitrous acid 2 to 3 drops, musk (tritu- 
rated with a little sugar) 1 grain. 
These scents are not only rubbed on traps, but a few drops are mixed 
with the various rat poisons, of which perhaps the most efficacious is 
phosphorous paste: 
No. 334. Mus ANDAMANENSIS. 
The Andaman Rat. 
Hapitrat.—The Andaman and Nicobar islands. 
DeEscripTion.—A little darker onthe back than Jus decumanus, 
paler on the sides, and dull white below. ‘‘ The long piles are at once 
distinguished by their flattened spinous character, which is also slightly 
the case in JZ. rattus, though much less conspicuously than in the 
present species. It would appear to be a burrower in the ground” 
(Byth). Ears round as in the brown rat. 
SizE.—Head and body, about 8 inches ; tail the same. 
No. 335. MuS ROBUSTULUS. 
The Burmese Common Rat. 
Hasitat.—British Burmah. 
DeEscripTion.—Dark-brown above, under-parts whitish, stoutly formed, 
with tail not quite so long as head and body ; feet conspicuously white. 
S1ze.—Head and body, about 6 inches ; tail, a little shorter. 
Mr. Mason remarks of this rat that they are only second to the 
white ants for the mischief they perpetrate. ‘‘ They burrow in the 
gardens, and destroy the sweet potatoes ; they make their nests in the 
roofs by day, and visit our houses and larders by night. They will eat 
into teak drawers, boxes, and book-cases, and can go up and down 
anything but glass. In the province of Tonghoo they sometimes 
appear in immense numbers before harvest, and devour the paddy like 
