MICE AND RATS. 1 95 



ixhibits much liveliness in all its actions; is remarkably 

 ;leanly, taking care to remove whatever may happen to adhere 

 o its fur, feet, or head; and, although occasionally quarrel- 

 ome, it, for the most part, lives a peaceful life in its own com- 

 nunity. In affectionate concern for its young, it is not sur- 

 )assed by any other animal, and were it not an unwelcome 

 juest in our dwellings and stores, but confined itself to the woods 

 ind pastures, we should place it among the most interesting 

 )f our native quadrupeds. Its voracity, however, and the 

 avages which it makes among our corn and provisions, and 

 ts prolificacy, render it injurious and therefore hateful ; at 

 east, such it was when it abounded in the country, but in 

 Britain its existence is, to appearance, nearly ended." 



VI. THE BROWN RAT. MUS DECUMANUS. 



Mus decumaiius^ Pallas, Glires, p. 91 (1779); Bell, British 



Quadrupeds, 2nd ed. p. 308 (1874). 

 Mus hibernicus^ Thompson, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 52; 



Eagle Clarke and Barrett-Hamilton, Zoologist, ser. 3 vol. 



XV. p. I (1891). 



Characters. — Somewhat larger than the last, from which it 

 iiffers by the shorter head and more obtuse muzzle, smaller 

 ^ars, and relatively shorter tail, of which the length is less 

 ;han that of the head and body. General colour greyish- 

 orown above, and whitish beneath. Length of head and body, 

 ibout 9 inches ; of tail, 7 ^ inches. 



A Rat, of which the typical specimen measured 7^ inches 

 rem the muzzle to the root of the tail, was described in 1837 

 rom Ireland by Thompson, under the name of AI. hibeniicus^ 

 aid had black fur on the upper-parts, with a white patch on the 

 hest. By its descrlber it was regarded as nearly allied to the 

 31ack Rat, of which Bell was disposed to regard it merely as a 



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