INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 



The literature on Oriental rats is scattered in many scientific 

 periodicals and other publications more or less inaccessible to the 

 ordinary man, be he naturalist or doctor, who desires information 

 regarding these important animals. Partly for this reason, and 

 partly because the lust for the creation of new species burns so 

 strong in the breasts of myologists, it is no longer possible for even 

 a trained observer to feel confidence in this own identification of 

 examples of many of the more obscure forms, without a prolonged 

 preliminary study of the question. Although some obscurity still 

 exists — and can only be dispelled by an examination of a large 

 number of specimens from a large number of places — as regards 

 even the common species found closely associated with man in 

 India, the identification of these is even now in most cases more 

 difficult than it need be. With a view, therefore, both of faci- 

 litating the diagnosis of the house-rats of India and of obtaining 

 material for a more comprehensive study, it was suggested to the 

 Government of India through the Board of Scientific Advice, that 

 some co-ordination should be brought about among those working 

 on rats, in connection with plague or otherwise, in different parts of 

 India. As Government agreed that this was advisable and that 

 the first steps should be taken by the Natural History Section of 

 the Indian Museum, the present pamphlet was prepared. Its 

 issue has been rendered possible by the energy of Dr. W. C. 

 Hossack, who has recently devoted considerable time and 

 patience to the study of Indian house-rats. Those who desire 

 fuller information on the subject are referred to the more detailed 

 account by the same author of the species occurring in Calcutta ; 

 this will be issued shortly by the Trustees in the first volume of 

 the "Memoirs of the Indian Museum." 



It is greatly to be hoped that those who are interested either 

 in zoology or sanitary and medical science and have the oppor- 

 tunity, will assist the Indian Museum in the survey of the 

 Indian rats which it proposes to commence, both by forwarding 



