198 MUEINiB. 



myself, on both occasions lying dead on a path in the forest country of 

 Bustar in 1857.* 



Mr. Blyth places this field-rat among the field-mice, but, if it does not 

 belong to the true rats, it appears to me related to the Mus meltada group, 

 and M. plurimammis may be somewhat allied. Another similar rat is 

 described in the same place as Mus morungensis, Hodgson. " Haiy 

 covering of the body above minutely striated with black and rufous hairs 

 nearly equally mixed, giving the animal a blackish rufous aspect ; abdo- 

 men and extremities paler, rufescent gray. Body proportionally robust 

 and stout ; head large and thick, and muzzle short and abrupt ; ears large 

 and rounded ; tail cylindrical, gradually tapering to the point and de- 

 licately annulated, equal in length to body and head ; fur above soft, hairs 

 longer than in M. plurimammis. Length, head and body 4i inches ; tail 

 4|. From the Nepal Terai and adjacent plains." 



Next come a group of rats with the tail usually fully as long, or longer 

 than the head and body. Some of these have quite arboreal habits, build- 

 ing nests among the branches of trees, among the rafters of houses, &c., 

 and not burrowing in the ground. 



179. Mus brunneus. 



Hodgson, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 1845. — M. nemoralis, Blyth, J. A. 

 8. XX. — Cat. 114. — M. cequicaudalis, Hodgson? 



The Tebe-rat. 



Descr. — Above reddish-brown, or rusty-brown, with a few long bristles 

 intermixed ; beneath dull whitish, or pale rusty with a hoary tinge, or pale 

 grayish-brown ; tail as long, or a little longer than the head and body ; 

 feet pale fleshy ; ears rather long, and head somewhat lengthened. 



Length of one, head and body 9^ ; tail 9 : another measured 8^ inches ; 

 tail the same : and another 8^ inches, tail 9^. 



Some have the upper parts dark brown, with only a slight rufescent 

 tinge. 



This rat appears to be found throughout India and Ceylon, not habi- 

 tually Kving in holes, but coming into houses at night ; and, as Blyth 



• These were unfortunately lost during the Mutiny with many other Taluablo specimens from the 

 some district. 



