196 MUJBINiE. 



the Trans-Baikalian region of east Asia has at least as good a claim to the 

 discredit of originating the abominable brown rat as any other," Again, 

 " whatever the extremes of temperature and climate M. decumanus con- 

 trives to find itself a home, and to increase and multiply about human 

 abodes and granaries, to the serious detriment of not quite all-subduing 

 man." 



I have found the brown rat throughout great part of India, more abun- 

 dant near large towns, as it appears to be particularly a parasite on man 

 and his belongings. It is most omnivorous in its propensities, and parti- 

 cularly carnivorous, destroying pigeons, chickens, &c., &c., and showing 

 great ingenuity sometimes in reaching the cages of tame birds, &c. It 

 also destroys a vast number of bird's eggs. Sykes states that it migrates 

 .sometimes in thousands, destroying the crops in its progress.* I never 

 heard of similar migrations in other parts of India. Blyth states that 

 though it is common at Akyab, it is not found at Eangoon or Moulmein, 

 or at Mergui. 



One or two other rats, with tails shorter than the head and body, are 

 recorded by Hodgson. 



177. Mus plurimammis. 



Hodgson, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 1855., p. 112. 



The Nepal-eat. 



Descr. — Color above brown with a rufescent shade ; fur soft, consisting 

 of brown and rufous hairs intermixed in equal proportions, forming an 

 uniform upper surface ; a rather obscure band extending from the gape 

 over the cheek, terminating under the ears ; and the abdomen and adjoin- 

 ing parts rufous-gray. Head proportionally short, muzzle abrupt, ears 

 moderate. Tail equal in length to the body, tapering to a sharp point, 

 minutely annulated. Length of head 2\ inches ; body 5^ ; tail the same." 

 " The distinguishing character," says Horsfleld, " according to Mi-. Hodg- 

 son rests on the number of teats exceeding that of other species ; but the 

 number is not stated. From the Nepal Terai and adjacent plains. 



Blyth in his M8S. notes before referred to, writes, " good species, 

 specimen in British Museum. Fur uniform, with a few longer piles." 



• PorliapB thiB refers to the ravages of Golunda mellada, q, y. 



