EATS AND MICE 



AS 



ENEMIES OE MANKIND 



Plates 1 and 2 and text-figure 1 (p. 37), will afford a better 

 idea of the general outward appearance of the species in question 

 than would be obtained by reading any detailed description. 



The two species of rat met with in Britain may be distinguished 

 as follows : — 



1. Rattus rattus. The Black Eat, House Eat, or Ship 

 Bat (Plate 1). 



Size smaller ; general build elegant and slender ; muzzle sharp. 



Ears large, almost naked and translucent, reaching or covering 

 the eyes when pressed forwards. 



Tail slender, at least as long as, and often considerably longer 

 than, the combined length of the head and body. 



Pads of soles of feet relatively large. 



Fur soft, but usually intermixed in adults with many slender 

 grooved bristles, which impart a somewhat harsh quality and 

 bristling appearance to the coat as a whole. 



Teats : the females normally have ten mammae, two pairs on the 

 chest, three pairs towards the groin ; in some races an additional 

 pair, making twelve in all, is present upon the chest. 



Weight of adults rarely more than 8 ounces, usually less. 



Measurements of two adults, in millimetres : — 



Head and Hind-foot, Ear, 



Body. Tail. without claws. from base. 



1. RATS. Genus RATTUS. 



188 

 214 



224 

 252 



38-6 



38 



26 

 25-5 



