AMERICAN, AND WATER RAT. 45 
they are so bold as to attack the inhabitants when 
asleep, who hold them in the utmost detestation* 
and will not even kill them, lest they should be 
polluted by the touch. They will not even eat 
the bread-fruit these animals should happen to run 
over. 
These also are supposed to be Indian or Persian 
animals. 
American rat. 
This species is larger than the black, but less 
than the brown rat. Its upper jaw is much longer 
than the lower ; its head is long ; its nose narrow 
and pointed ; its ears large and naked ; its whisk- 
ers are fine, but long ; its tail is naked, and like 
that of the black rat, but not so long ; its colour 
is a deep br^^m, inclining on the belly to ash. 
It burrows in the banks of rivers, and is sup- 
posed to extend from the lake Baikal to Chi- 
na, where it is very noxious. It bears a very 
striking resemblance to the common brown rat. 
It is supposed by Dr. Pallas to have migrated from 
the southern provinces of China, and also to in- 
habit North America. 
Water rat. ! 
The water rat, the mus amphibius of Linnaeus, 
has a thick blunt nose ; ears hid in its fur ; small 
eyes, and yellow teeth ; it has five toes on each 
foot ; the inner toe of the fore foot very small, 
and the first joint very flexible ; its head and body 
are covered with long hair, black, mixed with 
ferruginous ; its belly is of an iron grey ; its tail 
is covered with short black hair ; its lip is whit- 
ish ; its body measures seven inches ; its tail five: 
it bears some resemblance to the beaver ; th@ 
