20 
MAMMALS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
Sub-order SIMP LI CIDEIs TA TA . 
Family M U R I D . 
BLACK EAT. M\is rattus, Linn?eus. 
Not mentioned by Potter, and probably long extinct in the counties, despite 
the assertion (see ‘Mid. Nat.,’ 1884, p. 302) of its having been “seen* in some 
old Leicester cellars within the last twenty years.” Rev. Andrew IMatthews, 
who has resided thirty-four years in Leicestershire, has never heard of its 
occurrence, and the late INIr. Widdowson and INIr. Ingram, writing in February, 
1885, were likewise agreed as to its extinction in this county. Indeed, any one 
acquainted with the history of the Black Eat must know how unlikely it is 
to occur, except in ancient seaports. Unfortunately, however, by a gross eiTor, 
a specimen has been recorded as occurring in Leicestershire (see ‘Transactions 
of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society,’ January, 1887, p. 39, and 
also my notes upon the following species). Harley — whom I hasten to quote 
in extenso, that my readers may judge of the style, now happily departed, with 
which he embellished his remarks — wrote : — “ Were I certain of the actual 
indigeneity of the Black Rat, this would be the place to chronicle it ; but as 
I am in the possession of no data to prove its identity with the present existing 
fauna, I omit it very carefully altogether. The species, originally, no doubt, 
did belong to the fauna of the County, but as the private records of none of 
my friends, as for instance. Squire, Retainer, Vassal, Serf, Woodsman, Ranger, 
etc., etc., contain no account of the creature, I have thought it prudent, as I 
have said, to omit its name altogether in the present list of animals.” The 
reader may now judiciously insert as many notes of admiration as the matter 
deserves. 
BROWN RAT. Mits decumanus (Pallas). 
“ Common Rat.” 
Its distribution in the county is unfortunately too general. — A specimen 
presented to the IMuseum on 9th April, 1852, by Police Constable Thomas 
Smith, measured nineteen inches from the nose to the tip of the tail. 
Varieties occasionally occur. ]Mr. H. A. Pajme informs me that a very 
light cream-coloured Eat was killed in IMartinshaw Wood, in 1876, and is now 
in Lady Stamford’s possession. Mr. A. Paget presented to the IMuseum a 
white example, which was captured in his garden in West Street, on 6th 
Nov., 1886. The specimen is a female, and its measurements (in the 
flesh) were : — Extreme length, inclusive of tail, 13|- in. ; length of tail (measured 
underneath) 6| in. ; length of ear jj^in., being ^oin. shorter than that of the 
Black Rat. Varieties such as this must not, however, be confounded with the 
* The italics are mine. 
