238 



THE BLACK RAT. 



Mus Rattus LINN. 



PLATE XXIII. 



Greyish-black above ', blackish-grey beneath; ears about 

 half the length of the head; tail rather longer than the 

 head and body. 



Mus Rattus. Linn. Syst. Nat. I. 83 ; Desmar. Mammal. 300 , 

 Jenyns, Brit. Vert. Anim. 32; Bell, Brit. Quadr. 311. 



THE Black Rat, which was formerly very abundant 

 in Britain, is now extremely rare, insomuch that 

 specimens for examination cannot be procured with- 

 out much difficulty. The Rev. Mr Gordon, mini- 

 ster of Birnie, some years ago sent me several 

 individuals alive, which were caught in Elgin, 

 where, however, the species is much less frequently 

 met with than the Brown Rat. In Keith, which is 

 at a greater distance from the coast, it is not 

 very uncommon ; and in other inland towns and 

 villages in Scotland, it is still to be procured. In 

 Edinburgh it appears to be completely extirpated, 



