MUS ALEXANDRINUS. 99 



black, lower dark ash-colour ; feet and tail dusky. Va- 

 rieties occur in white, brown, and black, with white 

 spots. 



Length of head and body, 7 inches 4 lines ; head, 1 inch 

 10 lines ; ears, 11 lines ; tail, 7 inches 11 lines. 



It has become very rare in the British Islands, and un- 

 common in most parts of Europe, having been expelled by 

 the Brown Eat. Said, by De Selys Longchamps, to be 

 unknown in Tuscany and South Italy, where it is re- 

 placed by the Mus Alexandrinus. Is still to be found on some 

 of the small islands on the North-west coast of France. 



Mus Alexandrinus. 



Mus Alexandrinus, Desm. Mamm. Sp. 475 ; De Selys, Micromm. 

 Mus tectorum, Savi, Buon. Faun. Ital. 

 Bat d'Alexandrie, De Selys, I. c. 



Description. — Tail longer than the body by nearly one- 

 fourth, with from 220 to 240 clearly defined rings, and 

 furnished with short stiff hairs far apart ; head somewhat 

 elongate ; muzzle rather sharp, flat above ; lower jaw much 

 shorter than the upper ; ears very large, almost oval, broad ; 

 the long hairs of the back are stiff, almost of a uniform 

 thickness throughout their length ; feet almost naked, 

 flesh-coloured. In colour resembles the M. decumanus ; 

 in size, shape, and habits, it is closely allied to M. Battus, 

 from which it appears to be chiefly distinguished by the 

 colour of the fur and by the length of its tail. White, 

 cream-coloured, and black varieties are not uncommon. 



Length of head and body, 6 inches ; tail, 8£ inches. 



Inhabits Tuscany, the Papal States, and Southern Italy, 

 and is the only rat of the Island of Sardinia. In France, 

 it is given by M. Crespon, ' Faune Meridionale,' as com- 

 mon near Nismes, and in Provence by Gervais. Was 

 first observed by M. Geoffroy St. Hilaire in Egypt, whence 



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