Vol. II, No. 5.]. Note on the Rats of Calcutta. 183 
[N.S.] 
24, Preliminary Note on the Rats of Calcutta.—By W.C. Hossack, 
M.D., District Medical Officer, Calcutta. 
The important part which, according to most authorities, the 
parasites of the rat play in the propagation of plague, has rendered 
it a matter 
and their relative frequence. Thanks to rewards for the destruc- 
tion of rats, it has been possible to obtain a very large amount of 
material, and, by working on large series, to collect valuable inform- 
ation 
indicated here. There are three species of rat commonly found in 
Calcutta, and a fourth, though quite rare, is very striking from its 
very large size, viz., the Lesser or Northern India Bandicoot. 
Key tro Rats or Catcurta. 
A. Long-tailed species . (tail 115-130 per cent. of length of head 
and body). 
and pointed, Slender body, feet long, slender an 
dark, head long and pointed. Median pads of hind foot 
cordiform and the external one generally showing a 
small extra tubercle. The tailis uniformly dark. This 
is a house rat; it corresponds to the Black Rat of Eu- 
rope.—Mammae, 2 pectoral, 3 inguinal. 
B. Short or Medium Tailed. 
(2) Mus decnmanus.—The Brown Rat of Kurope. Heavy- 
bodied, large rat with heavy tail, the length of which 
is 90 per cent. of length of head and body. The tail 
, though longer hairs are present. M. decu- 
pit when caged. The 
Eyes small and ears round and 
sh rt.—Mammae, 3 pectoral, 3 inguinal 
oO 
pointed at the end. Pads 
roximo- 
