82 
MURIDAE RECORDED FROM VICTORIA 
Teeth. — Compared with native Victorian species the molar teeth are small. 
Incisors robust. 
Dimensions of Skin (from flesh). — Head and body, 217 mm.; tail, 180 
mm. ; hind foot, 37 mm. ; ear, 18 mm. 
Dimensions of Skull. — Greatest length, 46 mm. ; basal length, 43 mm. ; 
greatest breadth, 25 5 mm.; nasals, 17 X 4 5 mm.; interorbital breadth, 6 5 
mm.; palate length, 25 5 mm. ; breadth inside M 2 , 5 5 mm. ; breadth outside 
M 2 , 10 mm. ; palatal foramina, 8 mm. ; diastema, 14 mm. ; upper molars, 
6' 8 mm. 
Type Locality. — Northern Europe. 
In Victoria tlie Brown Rat is more or less confined to towns 
and human habitation. It is essentially a burrower, or lives 
underground in drains or sewers. Omnivorous in diet, it 
prefers animal food, and is a particular pest in hide ware- 
houses, where it does much damage. 
Rattus rattus Linnaeus 1758. 
The Black Rat is more lightly built than the last species, it 
has a longer tail, and its fur is not so coarse. 
General colour varies from slaty-grey to black on the back, the ventral 
surface being scarcely lighter. The animal has a slender appearance, with 
a long head and pointed muzzle. Ear thin and membraneous, when laid 
forward almost covers the eye. Tail long and tapering; considerably longer 
than head and body. Manus and pes dark in colour, on the underside as well 
as above. 
Skull. — Less massive in appearance than that of the Brown Rat. The 
braincase is wider, and the supraorbital ridges are not parallel but bowed 
outwards. The length of the parietals is not as great as the width of the 
interparietals. 
Teeth. — Size approximately as in the last species. 
Dimensions of Skin (from flesh). — Head and body, 189 mm.; tail, 261 
mm. ; hind foot, 36 mm. ; ear, 24 mm. 
Dimensions of Skull. — Greatest length, 45-5 mm.; basal length, 41 mm.; 
greatest breadth, 22 mm. ; nasals, 16 X 4 5 mm. ; interorbital breadth, 7 mm. ; 
palate length, 24 8 mm.; breadth inside M 2 , 4 5 mm.; breadth outside M 2 , 
9 mm.; palatal foramina, 8 mm. ; diastema, 12 5 mm.; upper molars, 6 5 mm. 
Type Locality. — Northern Europe. 
Rattus rattus alexandrinus Geoffroy 1803. 
General form as in typical species, but colour varies from greyish-brown to 
speckled ochraceous-buff above, contrasted with greyish-white to cream on 
the ventral surface. Ear and tail similar to Black Rat. Manus and pes 
brown to buff, usually conforming to the general colouration of the animal. 
Skull, Teeth and Dimensions. — As in typical form. 
Type Locality. — Southern Europe. 
