Polynesian rat, page 2 
B. Collection of specimens 
1. A minimum of 50 animals will be collected each month and 
carefully autopsied. These monthly samples will provide 
information on reproductive status, ecto and endoparasites, 
food habits, molt pattern and cycle, growth and develop¬ 
ment, osteology, and taxonomy. 
2. Specimens will be saved as complete skeletons and flat 
skins in most cases, with a certain portion being made 
into round skins (animals are so extremely fat that they 
cannot be satisfactorily degreased in the field). In 
addition ecto and endoparasites, eyes, stomach contents, 
and reproductive tracts will be saved, A representative 
collection of alcoholic specimens will be taken. Tissue 
samples will be preserved for histological study. 
C. Laboratory colony 
1. A small laboratory colony has been set up on Kure and 
stocked with sexually mature animals in hopes of obtain¬ 
ing information on gestation period and growth and devel¬ 
opment of the young. Wild caught pregnant females will 
also be added to the colony if not taken in the live trap 
3.X* Get m 
2 . Careful notes will be kept on the growth and development 
of any young produced, and known age specimens will be 
collected. 
3» Captive animals will be used for studies on body temper¬ 
ature and temperature regulation and lability. Also 
swimming ability and ability to withstand long exposure 
to open sea conditions in an attempt to shed some light 
on how the population originally arrived on this island. 
4. Captive animals will be used to test preferences for 
natural foods occurring on the island. 
5. If at all possible the principal investigator should like 
to secure the necessary permits to bring a small lab 
colony back to Washington, to be kept in his own home, 
in order to continue experiments on growth and development. 
NOTE: If the project is approved by my doctoral chairman I 
should like the study to be considered as a doctoral 
dissertation. 
