184 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. | May, 1906. 
external is very small, and in 2 per cent. of specimens is 
wanting. The feet and nose are not flesh-coloured but 
rather purplish, Thefur is very thin, bristly and harsh, 
and in drowned specimens the half-naked bristly, pig- 
like appearance is marked. When caged N. bengulensis 
bristles, spits and gnashes its teeth. Molars instead of 
tubercles show transverse lamine. Burrowing, stable 
and grain-shop rat.--Mammae, 4 pectoral, 4 inguinal, 
but very variable. 
(4) Nesokia nemorivagus (Lesser Bandicoot).—An extremely 
large and heavy-bodied rat. It may be confused with 
very large specimens of M. decwmanus, but has a deep, 
the back are very long piles 5-7 cm., long. The 
feet are black and very large, with pads as in N. bengal- 
ensis. The tailis nearly equal to the head and body and 
is uniformly dark, more finely ringed than in M, decu- 
ma t has the same savage demeanour when ¢ag 
as N. bengalensis. Molars with transverse lamine” ii 
a burrowing, grain-storing rat, but is captured in houses. 
It is as well here to mention Orocidura cerulea, the Grey 
Musk Shrew, commonly known as the musk rat. This is not a rat 
nder Mus a'ex«ndrinus I include all rats in Caleutta of the 
rattus type. specimens certainly include M. rufescens, bu 
I have still got to work them ont. They show an extreme range of 
variation in colour from almost black with dark belly to pale cinna 
mon or brown with white belly, but as every gradation is shown — 
I am at present inclined to think they are all the one rat. ; 
experiments will be required to settle the problem.! 
n this paper all I aim at is to give a rough idea of the rats of 
Calcutta, and the external characteristics by which they may rf 
_ 1 Since this was written I have secured two specimens which were ene : 
and one which was almost quite white though the eyes were black, examp!es — 
of partial melanism »nd albinism respectively. I have almost completed mY — 
examination of rattus series, and find that no distinction can be a 
een rufescens and alerandrinus, as they intergrade completely: 
specimens which agree with the description of rufescens are i 
young specimens of alezandrinus. May 16th, 19U6. 
