

1875.] Rats and Mice. 39 



96. Mus bakdicota (J. 174). 

 Mus bandicota, Bechstein. Myae-kywet (Mason). 



This species I give on the authority of Mason, which I accept the more 

 readily as it is known to occur in Siam and the Malayan peninsula and 

 islands ; also in Formosa, where Mr. Swinhoe thinks that it was probably 

 introduced when the Dutch were in possession, a.d. 1630.* 



*97. M. DECUMAHUS (J. 176). 

 Mus decunianus, Pallas, Glires, 91. 



The common Brown Eat. I observed this pest to be very numerous 

 and troublesome at Akyab, but saw no traces of it at Eangoon or Maulmein, 

 nor further southward; but wherever there is European shipping, it will 

 sooner or later find its way and establish itself permanently. 



*98. M. BOBUSTTTLirS. 



Mus robustulus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxviii. p. 294 ; Theobald, P. A. S. B. 1866, p. 240 ; 

 M. berdmorei? Blyth, J. A. S a B. xx. p. 173 ; M* rufescens, Gray, var. ? 



Common Eat of Eangoon and Maulmein, also of Mergui. Eequires to 

 be critically examined in the fresh state. 



Under the heading of " "White-bellied Eat," Mason remarks that " the 

 Eats are scarcely second to the Termites for the mischief they perpetrate. 

 They burrow in the gardens and destroy the sweet potatoes; they make 

 their nests in the roofs by day and visit our houses and larders by night. 

 They will eat into teak drawers, boxes, and book-cases, and can go up and 

 down anything but glass. In the province of Tonghoo they sometimes 

 appear in immense numbers before harvest and devour the paddy like locusts. 

 In both 1857 and 1858 the Karens on the mountains west of the city lost all 

 their crops from this pest ; and it is said that they are equally destructive 

 occasionally in the eastern districts, but have not appeared for several years. 

 The natives say it is the same Eat as the one that frequents houses." 



Again, he remarks that Mr. Cross, when on the Tenasserim river a few 

 months ago (in 1858?), wrote — "The people, in common with all who grow 

 the hill paddy, over an extent of country more than fifty miles square, are 

 suffering a famine of rice. This is occasioned by swarms of Eats, which 

 devoured the paddy, or rather cut down the stalks, just as the ears began 

 to fill. The Eats twice visited some parts of this territory during the season, 



m 



* P. Z. S. 1870, p. 635. 



