Abstract
RECORDS of the melanic form of Rattus norvegicus from various parts of the British Isles have been published since Thompson1 in 1837 first described it as a new species under the name of Mus hibernicus. There is very little information about the frequency of melanism at any time in the wild population, and it is therefore impossible to draw an accurate picture of changes taking place in the status of the two forms in recent years. The matter is of interest from an evolutionary aspect, and also from the point of view of rodent control, where, since it is necessary to distinguish between colonies of the black rat, R. rattus, and those of the brown rat, R. norvegicus, it is desirable to know of the existence and status of melanism in the latter species.
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References
Thompson, W., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 5, 52 (1837).
Hewer, H. R., "Records of the Bureau of Animal Population Surveys in London".
Information provided by the Ministry of Food.
Information provided by G. A. Webber, rodent officer, City of London Corporation.
Claremont, C. L., letter to Charles Elton.
Barrett-Hamilton, E. G. H., "A History of British Mammals" (London, 1916), 2, 613.
Millais, J. G., "The Mammals of Great Britain and Ireland" (1905), 2, 220.
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WATSON, J. The Melanic Form of Rattus norvegicus in London. Nature 154, 334–335 (1944). https://doi.org/10.1038/154334b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/154334b0
