A SHORT NOTE ON THE INDIAN RATS. 9 



brown, and distinctly attenuated at the tip. A glance at the foot 

 will settle the question if there is any doubt, for it is relatively 

 small, is not flesh coloured and the pads are characteristic. Instead 

 of being large and prominent and as a rule heart-shaped as is 

 found in the black and brown rat, the pads tend to be small and 

 circular ; that nearest the heel on the outside is small indeed, not 

 infrequently it is wanting altogether, so that the usual six pads 

 are represented by five. Occasionally the medium pads may be 

 heart-shaped ; in such the rudimentary condition or complete 

 absence of the sixth pad will give the clue to identification. Though 

 originally a burrowing field-rat which stores grain in its 

 complicated burrows, in Calcutta it is found infesting stables, 

 grainshops, and such-like places ; it is capable of piercing even 

 cement and brick. The mamma? are numerous, the most common 

 formula being f or £. Its distribution is very wide, as it is found 

 over the greater part of the Indian Peninsula from the base of the 

 Himalayas to Cape Comorin, and from Lower Sind to Cachar and 

 Assam ; it is more common in damp alluvial tracts bub ascends to 

 the top of the Nilgiris and other hills. It is found also in Ceylon 

 and the valley of Kashmir, and apparently throughout Burma to 

 the Mergui Archipelago. This is the most important plague rat 

 in Calcutta ; in both this city and in Dacca it accounts for about 

 half of the total rat population. 



4. NESOKIA BANDICOTA— THE BANDICOOT RAT. 



Its excessive size makes it difficult to make any mistake as to 

 the identity of this rat. It has occasionally been confused with 

 very large specimens of the brown rat, but its extremely large, 

 blackish feet, with foot pads as in the mole rat, should at once 

 distinguish it. It has the same colour, the same bristly coat, 

 and savage demeanour as the latter. Its head is different from 

 that of the brown rat, as is shown in the sketches, being narrow 

 and deep-muzzled like that of a greyhound. So far as is known, 

 it is not generally liable to be attacked by plague. It is found 

 all over the Peninsula of India and Ceylon. It is said not to be 

 found in Sind or the Punjab, though common in Rajputana, 

 the N.-W. Provinces and Bengal. The form found in Bengal is 

 a smaller northern variety (nemcrivagus) which is found also in 

 Burma and the Eastern Himalayas ; the southern form is larger 

 and runs up to 30 cm. — 37-5 cm. in length with a tail of 27-5 

 to 32*5 cm. and a hind foot of 6'25 cm. It is a burrowing, 

 grain-storing rat. 



5 NESOKIA HARDWICKII— THE SHORT-TAILED 

 MOLE RAT. 



The main reason for including this rat is that it has been 

 sent for identification from Bihar in connection with plague 

 operations. It is so purely a field-rat that it is doubtful whether 

 it is of any importance. It has very large feet and a very broad, 



