50 



CARACO RAT. 



Mus Caraco. M. cauda longa squamosa dbtitsiuscula, corpore 

 griseo, plantu subsemipalmatis Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 126. 



Grey Rat, with long, scaly, somewhat obtuse tail, and slightly 

 semipalmated hind feet. 



Mus Caraco. Pall. glir. p.qi.n. 39. p. 33$. t. 23. 



American Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 180. 



THE Caraco, first described by Dr. Pallas, so 

 extremely resembles the brown or Norway rat, 

 that at first sight it might be mistaken for that 

 animal ; but on an accurate survey, it will be 

 found that the head is rather longer and sharper 

 in proportion ; the upper jaw much longer than 

 the lower, and the lip very much divided : the 

 teeth are not so strong as in the Norway rat, and 

 the tail is considerably shorter. This species 

 abounds in the eastern parts of Siberia, frequent- 

 ing the banks of rivers, and swimming very 

 readily, so that it may be considered as in a man- 

 ner amphibious. Dr. Pallas supposes this species 

 to have migrated from the southern parts of 

 China. The length of the Caraco is six inches, 

 and of the tail four and a half or rather more. 

 Its colour is similar to that of the brown or Nor- 

 way rat. 



Mr. Pennant supposes his American Rat to be 

 the same species with the Caraco. It inhabits 

 North America, and in size, colour, &c. seems to 

 agree with it. Mr. Pennant describes it from a 

 specimen in the Leverian Museum. 



