MICE AND RATS. 1 95 



exhibits much liveliness in all its actions; is remarkably 

 cleanly, taking care to remove whatever may happen to adhere 

 to its fur, feet, or head; and, although occasionally quarrel- 

 some, it, for the most part, lives a peaceful life in its own com- 

 munity. In affectionate concern for its young, it is not sur- 

 passed by any other animal, and were it not an unwelcome 

 guest in our dwellings and stores, but confined itself to the woods 

 and pastures, we should place it among the most interesting 

 of our native quadrupeds. Its voracity, however, and the 

 ravages which it makes among our corn and provisions, and 

 its prolificacy, render it injurious and therefore hateful ; at 

 least, such it was when it abounded in the country, but in 

 Britain its existence is, to appearance, nearly ended." 



VI. THE BROWN RAT. MUS DECUMANUS. 



Mus decumanus, Pallas, Glires, p. 91 (1779); Bell, British 



Quadrupeds, 2nd ed. p. 308 (1874). 

 Mus hibernicus, Thompson, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 52; 



Eagle Clarke and Barrett-Hamilton, Zoologist, ser. 3 vol. 



XV. p. 1 (1891). 



Characters. — Somewhat larger than the last, from which it 

 differs by the shorter head and more obtuse muzzle, smaller 

 ears, and relatively shorter tail, of which the length is less 

 than that of the head and body. General colour greyish- 

 brown above, and whitish beneath. Length of head and body, 

 about 9 inches ; of tail, 7 J^ inches. 



A Rat, of which the typical specimen measured 7j^ inches 

 from the muzzle to the root of the tail, was described in 1837 

 from Ireland by Thompson, under the name of M. hibernicus^ 

 and had black fur on the upper-parts, with a white patch on the 

 chest. By its describer it was regarded as nearly allied to the 

 Black Rat, of which Bell was disposed to regard it merely as a 



o 2 



