408 Ml-RID-K. 



a form with unuwually short hind feet. Like most widely dii^iised 

 forms, this species is very variable. 



Habits. This rat is found both on the ground, where it burrows, 

 and in trees, where it builds nests amongst the branches. In the 

 Laccadive Islands and other places it inhabits the crowns of cocoa- 

 nut palms, and is said never to descend to the ground, but to Uve 

 on the nuts and to do great damage by biting them off when unripe. 

 It is common in houses everywhere, oft^n living in the roofs. It 

 feeds chiefly on fruit, grain, and vegetables, but is more or less 

 omnivorous, though less carnivorous than M. decumanus. The 

 young, which are produced several times in the year, ai^e usually 7 

 to 9 in number and are born with the eyes closed. 



273. Mus COncolor. The little Burmese Rat, 



Mas conculor, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxviii, p. 295 (1859), xxxii, pp. 7-j, 

 344: id. Cat. p. 116; id. Mam. Birds Burma, -p. 40; Andersoji, 

 Fauna Mcrgui Archip. i, p. 341 ; W. Sclater, P. Z. S. 1890, p. 520. 



Fur harsii, chiefly composed on the back of flattened hairs or flne 

 spines. Tail longer than the head and body. Ears reaching the 

 eye when laid forward. Hindmost metatarsal pad elongate. 

 Mamma) 8 : 2 pairs pectoral, 2 inguinal. Skull similar to that of 

 21. rattus in shape though much smaller ; third upper molar about 

 half the size of the second. 



Colour above brown, slightly rufeseent, lower parts paler brown ; 

 basal half of the dorsal hair grey, which passes gradually into 

 brown, the tips being dark brown (probably black in fresh skins), 

 fur of lower parts grey at the base. Tail brown throughout. 



DimeHsions of an adult male in spirit : head and body 4 inches, 

 tail 4-35, ear from crown 0-45, hind foot 0-92 ; in another 4-5, 5-25, 

 0-55, and 1 ; in an adult female 4-1, 4-85, 0-55, and 0*85 ; extreme 

 length of skull 1-1. 



Distrihation. Hitherto only recorded from Pegu and Tenasserim 

 (Thayet Myo, Schwe (xyeug, the neighbourhood of Moulmein, 

 Mergui and the Mergui Archipelago), but probably found also in 

 Malacca. 



A house-rat, inhabiting wooden buildings, and especially the 

 thatch. This species is a small rat rather than a large mouse, and 

 is structurally a miniature of Mus rattas. 



274. Mus decumanus. llie brown Rat. 



Mus decumanus, Pallas, Glires, p. 91 (1779) ; Elliot, Mad. Jour. L. 

 S. X, p. 212 ; Kelaart, Prod. p. 59 ; Blyth, J. A. S. B. xx, p. 167, 

 xxxii, p. 335; id. Cat. p. 113; id. Mam. Birds Burma, p. 39; 

 Jerdon Mam. p. 195; Thomas, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 532. 

 ^lus decuinnnoides, Hodyson, ./. A. S. B. x, p. 915 (no description ). 

 :Mus Lrunueus, ILodyson, A. M. N. II. xv, p. 206 (1845). 

 Chuha, Ghar-ka-chnha, II. : Di'msa-indur, Beug. ; Kut6-elli, Tarn. 

 Manei-ilei, Can.; Gaval-Mii/o, Cing. ; Kymcl;, Burmese. 



