| OCR Text |
Show G3G MR. R. SWINHOE ON CHINESE MAMMALS. [JllllC 23, hairs on the back and rump broadly tipped with black, Underparts dingy, tinged with ochreous. Moustache-hairs long, fine, and dark. Identified by Dr. Peters. This Rat is found in country villages and outplaces about Amoy, and would seem to be an earlier introduction than the M. decumanus, from the face of which it has probably retired. The latter is the only species one sees in the town. It is difficult now to discover what were the House-rats of China before the introduction of the three last-named species. In villages and country towns, where the latter have not established a footing, Country-rats, which often scale trees, are found entering houses and running about the streets. In Formosa, where the Commercial Rats are not so widely extended, several species of these Country-rats occur ; but in China I have as yet only noticed the M. rufescens. 60. Mus COXINGA. (Spinous Country-rat.) Mus coxinga, Swinhoe (errore coninga), P. Z. S. 1864, pp. 185, 382. Most numerous in the north of Formosa, less so in the southwest. I have not heard of it in China. Does not appear to enter large towns, but is found abundant in villages of the interior, to which the bigger Rats have not reached. 61. Mus RUFESCENS, Gray. (Chestnut Country-rat.) Mus flavescens, Elliot. This species was determined by Dr. J. E. Gray from specimens I brought home in 1862. It used to occur in the gardens at Amoy, and I have several times seen it running up and down trees in the daytime. I jotted down the following note on a specimen I shot at Amoy on the 17th May 1859:-Length of body 4*3 ; tail 3*S; head 1*5 ; ear *7, large and oval. Fur short and soft, with a few long soft hairs interspersed. Moustache formed of long, delicate, black and white hairs. Upper parts pale reddish brown, ochreous about the head; underparts whitish; all the under-fur slaty grey. Tail scaled as usual, and set with many short pointed setae. This Rat is found also in many parts of India. I have not noticed it in Formosa. 62. Mus CANNA, sp. nov. (Silken Country-rat.) Mus ?, Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 382. no. 26. cT . Length 5*5 ; tail 5*25 ; ear bare, *6 high, oblong, rounded at tip. Hind foot from tarsal joint 1*4. Hair short, soft, and mouselike. Front teeth narrow and slender, with orange surface. Upper parts and legs brown, tinged with light chestnut, more conspicuous on the head and along the sides; underparts dingy ochreous; tail light brown, nearly naked, with minute inconspicuous setae. Underfur light slaty. It resembles the immature of M. indicus, but has smaller feet, and a soft silky pelage. A Rat affecting villages in the country near Tamsuy, Formosa, and ascending trees. |
