SECRETARY'S REPORT. 179 



Length of fore-foot, | to ^ an inch. 

 Length of hind-foot, 1 J to If inches. 



Sub-Family — MuRiNyE. 

 Characteristics. — Incisors compressed laterally ; molars, six or eight 

 in each jaw, rooted, the anterior largest, the posterior smallest ; ante- 

 orbital foramen a deep narrow slit, widening above ; palate mostly on 

 one plane ; descending ranus of lower jaw with the angles not situated 

 above the plane of the crowns of the molars. (Baird.) 



Genus: Mus. — (Linnseus.) 

 Characteristics. — Head large ; ears moderately large, nearly naked ; 

 molars tuberculated, six in each jaw; eyes small; cheek pouches wanting; 

 body robust, covered with thick fur, with long hairs extending beyond ; 

 limbs short ; fore-feet four-toed, sometimes with a tubercle supplying the 

 place of the thumb, sometimes with a claw ; hind-feet five-toed ; all the 

 toes furnished with sharp, strong claws ; tail nearly as long, or quite as 

 long as the head and body, covered with short scales, between which 

 spring short, stiff hairs. 



Mus decumanus, (Pallas.) — Norway Rat, Brown Rat. 



The habits of this common species are too well known to need any 

 description here ; it was undoubtedly introduced into this country from 

 Europe, it being precisely similar to the Norway rat of that continent. 

 It is a strong, ferocious animal, and, when cornered, will fight savagely. 

 It is completely acclimated here, living in the woods, fields and dwellings. 

 It is a nuisance to the farmer, doing great mischief in the grain-fields 

 and corn-houses, and often kills young chickens, ducks and turkies, and 

 is a great lover of eggs. This animal is very prolific, having seven or 

 eight at a htter twice or three times a year. 



Description. — Head long, and pointed to the nose; ears large, rounded, 

 and nearly naked ; whiskers long, brown, and whitish ; body robust ; 

 limbs strong ; feet broad, naked beneath. Color : above and on the sides 

 the fur is cinereous at its base, then reddish-brown, and tipped with 

 brown or black ; there are numerous black hairs growing in and extend- 

 ing beyond the fur ; beneath the body the fur is gray at its base, lighter, 

 sometimes white at the tip ; tail about as long as the body, with short, 

 sparse hairs growing from between the scales, with which it is covered. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length of head, 1^ to 2 inches. 

 Length of head and body, 6 to 9 inches. 

 Length of tail, 5i to 7 inches. 

 Length of hind-foot, 1 ^ to 1 1 inches. 

 Length of fore-foot, § to 1 inch. 



