RODENTfA. 125 



latter by one-fourth, and differs from it also by its reddish-brown 

 hair.* 



These two large species appear to have originated in the East, and 

 have been transported in ships, together with the mouse, to all parts 

 of the globe. 



Eastern Tartary and China have a Rat equal to the Surmulot. 



M. caraco, Pallas, Glir. XXIII ; Schreb. clxxvii. (The Caraco 

 Rat). Of a light colour ; tail a little shorter than the preceding, 

 and the jaws stronger. 



There is another in India, one-fourth larger than the Brown Rat, 

 the Rat perchal, Buff. Supp. VII. Ixix, which is of a reddish brown. 

 There is a large one in the Indian Archipelago, the 



M. setifer, Horsf. Jav. Of a blackish brown. These last two 

 species are set with rough bristles, which extend beyond the hairs. 



One of the largest and most mischievous rats known is the 



M. pilorides, Pall, and Gm. (The Musk-Rat of the Antilles). 

 Fifteen inches in length, without the tail, which is" still longer than 

 the body ; hair coarse, of a deep black above, and whitish beneath, j" 



Fewer species have been observed of the size of the mouse. 



M. cahirinus, Geoff,, Descr. de I'Eg. Mammif. (The Cairo 

 Mouse). Spines on the back, in place of hairs; it is noticed by 

 Aristotle. 



There is scarcely known in France more than one species which 

 lives remote from houses — the M. sylvaticus. (The long-tailed 

 Field-Mouse). The Mulot of Buff. VII, xli, which is hardly larger 

 than the mouse, and is distinguished from it by its red fur. It does 

 much injury to trees, and sometimes penetrates into gardens. 



It seems, however, that in some of the provinces there is a smaller 

 and grey species, which has also been observed in England, (^M. 

 messorius, Shaw, Vol. II. Part 1, Frontisp.), and a third still more 

 diminutive — the Dwarf Field-Mouse, (M. pumilus, Fr. Cuv. Mam- 

 mif). It remains for me to observe, that there are still numerous 

 discoveries to be 'made in our country respecting the species of these 

 very diminutive quadrupeds. J 



* It appears to belong to Persia, where it lives in burrows. It was not till 1727, 

 that, after an earthquake, it arrived at Astracan, by swimming across the Volga. 



f Pallas and Gmelin erroneously describe it as being entirely white. The earlier 

 historians of the colonies attribute to it the above colours, which are precisely such 

 as we have seen on the animal. 



X To this division, most probably, belong the M. agrarius, M. minutus, M. sorici- 

 nus, M. vagus, M. betulinus, M. striatus, M. barbants, Schreb. 



Here, also, should come the enormous 3fus giganteus, Hardw. Linn. Trans. VII. 

 xxviii. 



There should be likewise added the Radiated Rat of the Cape, M. pumilio, Sparm. 

 the M. cijanus, the Grey- Blue Rat of North America, Molina, and several other spe- 

 cies, some of which are not even mentioned by authors, and others which are de- 

 scribed with too little reference to other species. This is the reason why most of the 

 rats of Azzara cannot be properly classed until they are re-examined. The same ob- 

 servation applies to a great many of the Rodentia of M. Rafinesque. Their descrip- 

 tions are too short to be of any use. 



