BROWN RAT. 99 



and the combined length of head and body is eight or nine 

 inches, whilst the thicker, scaly-ringed tail is only equal to, or 

 less than, the length of the body alone. His head is pro- 

 portionately shorter, with blunter muzzle, much smaller ears 

 and more prominent though smaller eyes. The fur on the 

 upper parts is grey-brown with a tawny tinge, and dirty white 

 on the under parts. The ears, feet, and tail are flesh-coloured. 

 It sometimes occurs with black or blackish fur, and is then 

 frequently mistaken for the Black Rat ; but the relative length 



Skeleton and Molars of Brown Kat. 



of tail to body is a superficial character by which they can 

 be separated at once. There is a black race of this species on 

 the east coast of Ireland to which some authors have given the 

 distinctive name of Epimys hibernicus. It appears to have 

 extended its range from Ireland to the Hebrides. In one form 

 or other the Brown Rat has extended to nearly every part of 

 the British Islands and their islets. 



The Brown Rat becomes a parent at the age of six months, 

 and produces four or five litters in a year. Ordinarily these 

 consist of from four to ten blind, deaf, and naked young ; but 

 much larger litters are on record, the highest of which we have 



