Al 
THE KIND OF RAT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE. 
One branch of the enquiry was directed towards the determination 
of the species of rat causing the а of the sugar canes. А 
eo number of the animals were trapped and caught by the coolies 
the two estates. The result of an examination of them was that 
h 
large series of skins was made, this question can ultimately be settled 
when they have been examined Mid e compared with the types. 
In the meantime they may be differentiated as: А, а а having the 
underparts white, probably Mus jalorensis; B, a rat having the 
underparts yellowish- и; and О, a rat having the эйе нана brown, 
this latter rat was on а previous occasion identified by Mr. Oldfield 
Thomas as Mus rattus. 
Variety A is a field rat, for in only one case was an individual 
caught in a house, and that was the Sugar Mill, an p building. 
This is the p which does the damage to the sugar can 
Varieties B and C were caught either in the houses or in the cane 
fields immediately adjoining the houses. All the specimens came from 
Nova Scotia; out of over sixty captured on Rubana there was not a 
single example of either B or C. "These rats have probably been 
introduc»d from the town, С being the common house rat of Perak. 
А yi afa rge rat is reported to be erect met sic on fes 
estates, but this animal appears to be quite No 
caught, either in the houses or fields. 
HABITS OF THE RATS. 
The habits of the field rat A are much like those of other rats. It 
lives in the fields in burrows made in the ground, also beneath roots 
of tree stumps and logs of timber. It retires to these holes in the day- 
time and comes out at night to feed. It пине: nests of grass and 
leaves in these burrows and brings up its yo them. One litter 
brought in numbered eight and another six, but doubtless these 
numbers are often exceeded, 
It is the ian to burn off the fields after each crop of canes is 
harvested, but I was informed that this does not kill the rats, who 
only burrow down a little deeper into the earth and thus escape the 
effects of the fire. They can swim well and so are able to cross the 
canals with which the estates are intersected. In fact, when chased 
they usually take to the water if there is any near. 
From the above, it will be apparent that the rats are permane 
inhabitants of the cane fields. It is also easy to see that when a few 
get into a field, as they have four or more litters per year of from six 
to a dozen each, it does not take long for it to be stocked with these 
destructive little rodents. 
In — cea i pe of the a and are very active at night. 
They get together a of heap to sleep. Ten or more will 
all lie one on the top d 62: СЕЕ and if шу two are put їп а cage 
