MUS ASSIMILUS, Gould.
Allied Rat.
Mus assimilis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxv. p. 241.
Moor-deet, Aborigines of King George's Sound.
The Allied Rat is somewhat numerous in New South Wales. The two specimens from which the characters of the species were taken for the "Proceedings of the Zoological Society," above quoted, were procured by the late Mr. Strange on the banks of the Clarence. I have three other specimens collected by Mr. Gilbert at King George's Sound, which differ only in being about a fifth smaller in all their admeasurements: it is just possible that it will hereafter be found that these latter animals are distinct from the former, but at present I regard them as identical, and if such be the case, the range of the species extends along the whole southern seaboard of the continent from east to west.
The Mus assimilis is about the same size as the Mus decumanus of Europe, and has a very similar aspect; its hair, however, is more soft and silky, and its incisor teeth very long and narrow.
Face, all the upper surface and sides light brown, very finely pencilled with black; under surface greyish buff; the base of the fur all over the body dark slaty grey; whiskers black; tail nearly destitute of hairs; all the feet clothed with very fine silvery-white hairs, giving those organs a very delicate appearance.
| inches. | |
| Length from the nose to the base of the tail | 7¼ |
| „ of the tail | 6 |
| „ „ fore-arm | 1 |
| „ „ tarsus and toes | 1¼ |
The figures are of the natural size.
