CANADA RAT. 
69 
Canada rat. 
This, which is a species but lately discovered, 
seems to be the most remarkable of all the 
pouched rats, for the proportionable size of the 
receptacles. It is a native of Canada, and the in- 
dividual here figured, was taken by some Indians, 
in the year 1798, and afterwards presented the lady 
of Governor Prescot. It is about the size of a 
brown Norway rat, and is of a pale greyish brown 
colour, rather lighter beneath ; the length to the 
tail is about nine inches ; and that of the tail, 
which is but slightly covered with hair, about two 
inches ; the legs are short ; the fore feet strong, 
and well adapted for burrowing in the ground, 
having five claws, of which the three middle ones 
are very large and long ; the interior much smaller, 
and the exterior very small, with a large tubercle, or 
elbow beneath it. The claws on the hind feet are 
comparatively very small, but the two middle arc 
larger than the rest, and the interior one is scarce 
visible ; the teeth are extremely strong, particularly 
the lower pair, which are much longer than the 
upper ; the ears are very small. The manners of 
this species are at present unknown ; but it may 
be concluded, it lays in a stock of provision, either 
for autumnal, or winter food. The pouches of the 
individual specimen, above described, when first 
brought to Governor Prescot, were filled with a 
kind of earthy substance ; it is therefore not im- 
probable that the Indians who caught the animal, 
might have stuffed them thus, in order to preserve 
them in their utmost extent. 
