I62 RATS AND PLAGUE. 
formed 72 per cent, Gunomys (Nesokia) species 21 per cent and 
Mus decumanus only 7 per cent of the total brought to them. 
In India the former formed 15 per cent of the total, Nesokza 
species 48 per cent and Mus decumanus 37 per cent. In 
Calcutta the latter was most numerous in the European quarter: 
in Rangoon it chiefly came from the river-side buildings. So 
far as investigations have been carried on the house rats of 
Rangoon and those of other Burmese towns are the same. 
Noteworthy is the record for the first-time from Burmah 
of a bandicoot-rat that has recently been separated from the 
Indian form Gunomys bengalensis, and described, from Penang 
specimens under the name of Gunomys varius. The two species 
overlap in Rangoon where they have been captured in the ratio 
of three to two. 
The conclusions of the Bombay Plague Commission are 
quoted. ‘‘ With regard to the epizootic amongst rats the follow- 
ing conclusions may be formulated :— 
(1) Mus decumanus and Mus rattus are equally suscept- 
ible to plague. 
(2) The incidence of plague is twice as great on the 
decumanus population as on the vattus population. 
(5) The rattus epizootic is directly attributable to the 
decumanus epizootic’ and it is pointed out that the first and 
second statement are reconciled and explained by the fact that 
Mus decumanus on an average harbours twice as many fleas as 
Mus rattus and we are further warned that in ports where 
Mus decumanus is firmly established extra danger is always to 
be looked for from communication between ship and shore since 
it is the commonest of sea-going rats. 
Captain Lloyd has been eriticised but it is to be said that, 
in spite of faulty grasp of the subject on its zoological side, . 
when he ceases to treat and touch on “ sports ’ ” and the non- 
urban division of the Murinae his report is most intone and 
interesting. 
So far as the Malay Peninsula is Eonoeeel with the 
spread of plague epidemics the local animals we must consider 
in the connection are primarily : i 
Jour. Straits Branch 
