340 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HWT. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVII. 



The long tail and small size should distinguish this species from the 

 next. This rat is a tree loving species and is frequently seen passing from 

 date tree to date tree by the fronds. 



Buxton found it common in houses at Aniara. 



Hinton has dealt with the Rattus group recently in the Journal of the 

 B. N. H. S. of Dec. 20, J918, No. XVIII. Although many species and 

 sub-species of the house rats have been separated under different names 

 from time to time, in many cases he has been unable to distinguish them 

 specifically. 



As instances occur of the black rat being brown and the brown rat being- 

 black, I have asked Hinton to identify the rattus specimens from Mesopo- 

 tamia and he has placed them in the two species given — that is Rattus rattus 

 and Rattus norvegicus. 



This rat originally came from India and spread westwards. In Mesopo- 

 tamia it should be more or less in its original form. It was first taken to 

 England by the Crusaders and also scattered about the world by shipping. 

 Considerable changes of colour and habits have since taken place. 



30. Rattus xokveuicus, Berkenhout. 



1769. Mus norvegicus, J. Berkenhout, Outlines Nat. Hist. Gt. Bri- 

 tain and Ireland. 1, p. 5. 

 Brown Kat. 



■2S 2 $ Busra May, 8-5-18 to 26-5-18. 



12 „ Whitehead, 4-5-18. 



16 „ Jenkins, 26-5-18. 



1? „ No name, 5-5-18. 



1$ „ Collins, 13-5-18. 



The large rat with tail shorter than length of head andbodj^. 

 This rat originated from S. Eussia in the region between the Caspian 

 and Lake Baikal. It has spread like Rattus rattus by means of shipping, 

 to all parts of the world and likewise dark and light forms have been 

 evolved by change of environment. 



It is interesting to note that no specimens were obtained higher than 

 Busra. 



.'il. Nesokia buxtoxi, Thos. 



1919. Nesolia buxtoni, Thomas, J. B. N.H.S., Vol. XXVI, No. 2, p, 422. 

 Buxton's Mole Kat. 



16 Amara Buxton, 24-4-18. 



4:6 ■ „ „ 31-3-18 to 30-9-18. 



3 c? Kurna „ 17-5-18 to 17-7-18. 



3 6 Lake Akkar, 



Kuf, Baghdad Pitman, 27-7-17 to 18-8-17. 

 1 Sheikh Saad, Ingoldby, 18-3-17. 



■2 6 12 . ,n Cox-Cheesman, 26-2-17 to 19-3-17. 



15 Nasariyeh Indian Museum (Hodgart) Janu- 



ary 1918. 

 The four skins from Sheikh Saad diji'er from the rest in the quality of 

 the fur which lacks the inter-mixture of black stift' hairs and the coats are 

 therefore softer in textui-o. 



These mole rats somewhat resemble the English water vole in general 

 appearance. 



They may be recognised by the rather short tail, almost hairless, and 

 the enormous length of the rodent teeth. Their hair is soft, golden brown 

 on the back with long black hairs of coarser texture inter-mingled. The 

 under parts are grey white. 



