Distribution of Mus rattus

Abstract

I AM able to-day to complete my note in NATURE, vol. xx. P. 29, as to the exact habitat of the black rat in Thuringia. Prof. Liebe, of Gera kindly wrote to me that it occurs in East Thuringia and the Voigtland in single elevated side-valleys of the rivers Weisse Elster and Roda, as well as in single lurking-places of the Frankenwald. Here it occurs in isolated forest-houses, in the valleys, in whole partly large villages, for instanace, St. Gangloff. In this place for a long time past Mus rattus and M. decumanus have occurred together among each other, not one above the other, on different floors, as might be supposed, though rattus now and then rather prefers the upper floors and the latter does not appear to be decreasing in number. In ihose villages about three specimens of rattus are always killed for one specimen of decumanus, the latter, apparently, being less numerous.