MUS DECUMANUS. 195 



dered distinct from Nesokia indica vel kok. Blyth describes M. anda- 

 manensis as " ears much as in Decumanus ; fur a shade darker on the 

 back, paler on the sides, and dull white below ; the long piles distin- 

 guished by their flattened spinous character. Length 8 inches; tail 

 the same." This would appear to differ from Hodgson's species chiefly 

 in the shorter tail. 



The black rat of Europe has been occasionally found in various parts 

 of India, chiefly in large towns near the coast, where it has probably 

 been introduced by shipping. Blyth notices a brown variety obtained 

 at Calcutta, which, however, he subsequently referred to another species. 

 Elliot notices it as occurring rarely, and Kelaart obtained in Trinco- 

 malee only. 



If my suggestion hold good as to M. andamanensis being the same as 

 Hodgson's M. rattoides, it will probably be found extending from the 

 Malayan peninsula through Burmah to the south-east Himalayas. 



176. Mus decumanus. 



PALLAS, Glires, 91. BLYTH, Cat. p. 113. ELLIOT, Cat. 33. M. nor- 

 veyicusj BUFFON. M. deeumanoides, HODGSON? Ghur-ka-chuhd y H. 

 Demsa indur, Beiig. Manei ilei t Can. 



THE BROWN RAT. 



Descr. Above dusky cinereous-brown, with a tinge of yellow, the 

 shorter hairs being slaty at the base, with a yellow tip, and the longer ones 

 dusky-blackish, beneath dirty pale-ashy ; ears as broad as long, rounded ; 

 tail naked and scaly. 



Length of one, head and body 8 inches ; tail 6 ; ears Jths : of another, 

 head and body 10 J inches ; tail 8J. 



Blyth remarks that " Calcutta specimens are undistinguishable from 

 British," and the same may be said of specimens from other parts of the 

 country. It is yet a doubtful point from what country this pest has 

 spread itself over the greater part of the world. Mr. F. Buckland remarks 

 " that it is now agreed by most naturalists that it is a native of India 

 and Persia ; that it spread onwards into European Russia, and was 

 thence transferred by merchant ships to England and elsewhere." On 

 this Blyth observes : " If an indigenous inhabitant of India, it would 

 undoubtedly be more generally diffused over this, if not also the neigh- 



o 2 



