2 A SHORT NOTE ON THE INDIAN RATS. 



experience, and accordingly they will not be considered in this 

 paper. The subject of body measurements will be gone into fully., 

 as fresh measurements made by the man on the spot are the only 

 ones that are of any use, owing to the very great tendency to 

 shrinking and distortion in preserved specimens. Coloration will 

 also be dealt with, as this again is better noted in the fresh speci- 

 men, as dried skins are apt to change in colour and minute points 

 of difference to become obscured in spirit specimens. The pre- 

 servation of specimens in spirit and other media, the preparation 

 of dried skins and skulls, the proper labelling and noting of 

 specimens, will also be gone into, and finally a short description 

 will be given of the rats which, so far as is known at present, are 

 probably of practical importance as propagators of plague. 



BODY MEASUREMENTS. 



The most important measurements are only four in number — 



(1) Length of head and body. 



(2) Length of tail. 



(3) Length of hind foot. 



(4) Length of ear. 



They are most accurately taken by sliding callipers, but quite 

 useful results can be obtained by means of a measuring tape, 

 particularly a steel tape, or a pair of compasses and a measuring 

 rule or tape. The measurements should be recorded in centi- 

 metres and millimetres, and for the convenience of those who 

 have only an English scale to work from, a table is given at the 

 end of this paper for the ready conversion of English into metric 

 measurements. The length of the head and body is taken from 

 the tip of the nose, excluding hairs, to the centre of the vent. 

 The body should be straightened out, particularly if rigor mortis 

 is present, and if a tape is used care must be taken that the tape 

 is straightened and not allowed to follow the curves of the body. 

 The length of the tail is taken from the centre of the vent to the 

 tip of the tail, excluding hair. The length of the hind foot is 

 taken from the point of the heel to the tip of the longest toe, 

 excluding the claw ; the foot must of course be straightened. Any 

 abnormality in the pads of the foot, normally five in the forefoot 

 and six in the hind foot in the common species, should be noted. 

 The length of the ear should be taken from the lowest point of 

 the external orifice to the tip, excluding hair. 



PREPARATION OF SKINS. 



If fresh measurements have been taken, dried skins and skulls 

 are the most valuable material and are very easily packed and 

 sent to their destination ; skins without measurements are of very 

 little use, as they get stretched out of all proportion. No time 

 should be lost in skinning, as putrefaction in India may come on 

 an hour or two after death. The only parts likely to cause trouble 



