408 MURID.T3. 



a form with unusually short hiud feet. Like most widely diffused 

 forms, this species is very variable. 



Habits. This rat is found both on the ground, where it burrows, 

 and in trees, where it builds nests amongst the branches. In the 

 Laccadive Islands and other places it inhabits the crowns of cocoa- 

 nut palms, and is said never to descend to the ground, but to live 

 on the nuts and to do great damage by biting them off when unripe. 

 It is common in houses everywhere, often living in the roofs. It 

 feeds chiefly on fruit, grain, and vegetables, but is more or less 

 omnivorous, though less carnivorous than M. decumanus. The 

 young, which are produced several times in the year, are usually 7 

 to 9 in number and-ai*e born with the eyes closed. 



273. Mus concolor. The little Burmese Hat. 



Mus coucolor, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxviii, p. 295 (1859), xxxii, pp. 73, 

 344; id. Cat. p. 116; id. Mam. Birds Burma, p. 40; Anderson, 

 Fauna Meryui Arcliip. i, p. 341 ; W. Sclater, P. Z. S. 1890, p. 526. 



Fur harsh, chiefly composed on the back of flattened hairs or tine 

 spines. Tail longer than the head and body. Ears reaching the 

 eye when laid forward. Hindmost metatarsal pad elougate. 

 Mammae 8 : 2 pairs pectoral, 2 inguinal. Skull similar to that of 

 M. ratttis in shape though much smaller ; third upper molar about 

 half the size of the second. 



Colour above brown, slightly rufescent, lower parts paler brown ; 

 basal half of the dorsal hair grey, which passes gradually into 

 brown, the tips being dark brown (probably black in fresh skins), 

 fur of lower parts grey at the base. Tail brown throughout. 



Dimensions of an adult male in spirit : head and body 4 inches, 

 tail 4-35, ear from crown 0-45, hind foot 0-92 ; in another 4-5, 5-25, 

 0-55, and 1 ; in an adult female 4-1, 4-85, O55, and O85 ; extreme 

 length of skull 1-1. 



Distribution. Hitherto only recorded from Pegu and Tenasserim 

 (Thayet Myo, Schvve (ryeng, the neighbourhood of Moulmein, 

 Mergui and the Mergui Archipelago), but probably found also in 

 Malacca. 



A house-rat, inhabiting wooden buildings, and especially the 

 thatch. This species is a small rat rather than a large mouse, and 

 is structurally a miniature of Mus rattus. 



274. Mus decumanus. Tlie brown Sat. 



Mus decumanus, Pallas, Glires, p. 91 (1779) ; Elliot, Mad. Jour. L. 

 S. x, p. 212 ; Keluart, Prod. p. 59 ; Blyth, J. A. S. B. xx, p. 167, 

 xxxii, p. 335 ; id. Cat. p. 113 ; id. Mam. Birds Surma, p. 39 ; 

 Jerdon Mam. p. 195; Thomas, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 532. 

 Mus decumanoides, Hodgson, J. A. S. B. x, p. 915 (no description). 

 Mus brunneus, Hodgson, A. M. N. H. xv, p. 266 (1845). 

 Chuha, Ghar-ka-cJmha, II.; Demsa-imlur, Beng.; Kutt-elli, Tarn. 

 Manei-ilei, Can. ; Gaval-Miyo, Cing. ; Ki/mcJ;, Burmese. 



