54 



BANDICOTE RAT. 



greatest natural enemy is the weesel^ which pur- 

 sues it into all its recesses^ and destroys it. A very 

 small variety of this species, not much larger than 

 a mouse, is said by Dr. Pallas to be found about the 

 deserts in the lower parts of the Volga. Like many 

 other quadrupeds, the rat is sometimes seen per- 

 fectly white, in which case it has red eyes. The 

 white rat, however, as we are assured by Mr. 

 Schreber, does not always produce young ones of 

 a similar colour ; so that such varieties can hardly 

 be considered as permanent. This is proved from 

 an observation of Professor Herman, who having 

 kept a pregnant white rat for some time, found 

 that the young ones were of the usual colour of 

 their species. 



The Rat is supposed to be a native of North 

 America, as well as of Europe, but it is said that 

 South America was entirely free from it, till it 

 was imported there in ships from Europe, in the 

 year 1554. 



BANDICOTE RAT. 



Mus Malabaricus. M. griseus, auriculis rotundatis nudis, digitis 



plantarum exteriorihm hreviorihiis. 

 Grey Rat, with naked rounded ears^ and the two exterior toes 



of the hind feet shorter than the rest. 



This is a very large species, being at least 

 equal, if not superior, to a rabbet in size. In its 

 shape and general appearance it seems most to 

 resemble the Norway rat. Its colour is a pale 



