una DECTJMANUS. 195 



species to M. indicus, Geoffroy, which he apparently considered distinct 

 from Nesokia indica vel kok. Blyth describes M. andamensis as, " ears 

 much as in Decumanus ; fur a shade darker on the back, paler on the 

 sides, and dull white below ; the long piles distinguished by their flattened 

 spinous character. Length 8 inches ; tail the same." This would appear 

 to differ from Hodgson's species chiefly in the shorter tail. 



The black-rat of Europe has been occasionally found in various parts of 

 India, chiefly in large towns near the coast, where it has probably been 

 introduced by shipping. Blyth notices a brown variety obtained at Cal- 

 cutta, which, however, he subsequently referred to another species. Elliot 

 notices it as occurring rarely, and Kelaart obtained it in Trincomalee 

 only. 



If my suggestion hold good as to M. andamensis being the same as 

 Hodgson's M. rattoides, it will probably be found extending from the 

 Malayan peninsula through Burmah to the south-east Himalayas. 



176. Mus decumanus. 



Pallas, Glires, 91. — Blyth, Cat. p. 113. — Elliot, Cat. 33. — M. 

 norveyims, Buffon. — M. decumanoides, Hodgson? — Ghur-ka-cMhd, H. — 

 Demsa indur, Beng. — Manei ilei, Can. 



The Bbown-rat. 



Descr. — Above dusky cinereous brown with a tinge of yellow, the 

 shorter hairs being slaty at the base with a yellow tip, and the longer ones 

 dusky-blackish ; beneath dirty pale ashy ; ears as broad as long, rounded 

 tail naked and scaly. 



Length of one, head and body 8 inches ; tail 6 ; ears fths : of another 

 head and body, 10| mches ; tail 8^. 



Blyth remarks that " Calcutta specimens are undistinguishable from 

 British," and^the same may be said of specimens from other parts of the 

 country. It is yet a doubtful point from what country this pest has spread 

 itself over the greater part of the world. Mr. F. Buckland remarks " that 

 it is now agreed by most naturalists, that it is a native of India and Persia ; 

 that it spread onwards into European Eussia, and was thence transferred by 

 merchant ships to England and elsewhere." On this Blyth observes : " If 

 an indigenous inhabitant of India, it would undoubtedly be more generally 

 diffused over this, if not also th&^ieighbouring countries. I suspect that 



