MURIDAE RECORDED FROM VICTORIA 
63 
now protected by law, and it cannot be too strongly urged that 
some similar action be taken in regard to this typically Aus- 
tralian rodent. Suggestions have been made that the animal 
might be farmed on a commercial basis as is the Musk Rat in 
America; it is an omnivorous feeder so that a food supply 
should be comparatively simple, it is reasonably hardy, and 
when in good condition it produces four young at a birth. 
Furthermore, selective breeding should improve the quality 
and value of the pelts. This would seem to be the only way to 
maintain a supply, for sooner or later the wild animals must 
be trapped out. 
The following list of Victorian rats contains all species 
which have been recorded from the State. Ridg way’s system 
for names of colours is used ( Colour Standards and Nomencla- 
ture ). 
Family MURIDAE Gray 1821. 
Rat-like rodents, none with more than three cheek-teeth in 
each half of each jaw. Australian members are divided into 
two sub-families. 
Sub-family HYDROMYINAE. 
Rats having only two cheek-teeth in each half of each jaw. 
There are two genera, both confined to Australasia, one of 
which is found in Victoria. 
Genus HVDROMY r S Geoff roy 1805. 
This genus contains the Australian Water Rats. Large, 
heavily-built, semi-aquatic animals with partially-webbed 
toes ; they frequent banks of rivers, creeks, and lagoons. 
Hydromys chrysogaster Geoffroy 1805. 
Hydromys chrysogaster Geoffroy, Ann. Mus. d’Hist. Nat., vi, p. 90, 
1805; Gould, Mamm. Aust., iii, pi. xxiv, 1863; Collet, Zool. Jahrb., 
p. 841, 1887; Thomas, P.Z.S., p. 247, pi. xxix, fig. 7, 1889; Ogilby, 
Aust. Mus. Cat., No. i 6, Aust. Mamm., p. 101, 1892; Wood Jones, 
Mamm. Sth. Aust., iii, p. 290, 1925. 
Hydromys leucogaster Geoffroy, Ann. Mus. d’Hist. Nat., vi, p. 90, 1805 ; 
Gould, Mamm. Aust., iii, pi. xxvi, 1863; Thomas, P.Z.S., p. 790, 
1908. 
Hydromys jidvogaster Jourdan, Comptes Rendus Acad. Sci. Paris, v, 
p. 523, 1837. 
Hydromys julvoventer Jourdan, Ann. Sci. Nat., (2) viii, p. 372, 1837; 
Thomas and Dolman, P.Z.S., p. 790, 1908. 
