Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

XII. ON TWO LITTLE-KNOWN RATS FROM
WESTERN JAVA.
By H. C. Robinson, C.M.Z.S.
Owing to the fact that the work of Mr. Shortridge, the
only modern collector of mammals in Java (vide P.Z.S. 1909
U 1
. PP- 37 1 ' et se( F>) xvas mainly confined to the lowlands and
to cultivated districts, but little trapping having apparently
been carried out in heavy jungle our know ledge of the murine
fauna of Java, with the exception of the forms parasitic on
man is almost entirely derived from scattered notices by
Dr. Jentink in the " Notes of the Leyden Museum," while his
descriptions being generally founded on ancient and imperfect
specimens and not conforming to modern standards, render it
somewhat difficult to identify the species intended by him.
During a recent visit to Java I succeeded in the course of
a month's stay on the Gedeh Volcano in the l'reanger Regen-
; a height of from 4,500 to 8,000 feet, in trapping several
hundred rats, belonging to seven species, all of which, with the
exception of a series of A', concolor obtained in the immediate
vicinity of native houses were secured in primaeval jungle.
Four of these species will be described in the forthcoming
paper on the Mammals of our Korinchi Expedition,
being closely allied to new forms from Sumatra.
The remaining two species have already been described
bv Jentink but I think it well to redescribe them here in view
of the paucity and age of his material.
Rattus lepturus (Jent.).
Mm lepturus, Jentink, Notes Leyden Mus. ii. p. 17 (1879).
(" Java " ex Temminck M.SS. |
Form slender, tail very much longer than head and body.
Pelage very long, soft and woolly, entirely devoid of spines.
Ear very large, rounded. Skull with small but globose bullae.
Tooth row exceptionally long, the teeth large.
Fur composed of two elements only, viz.. long and very
fine piles most abundant on the rump, extending almost to
the nape but practically absent on the sides and the ordinary
underfur, which is very long and soft, sooty grey at the base
and fulvescent buff at the tip, the flanks, and sides of the neck
brighter, cinnamomeous buff. Top of the head and perioculai
line speckle of wood-brown, buff and bla< k with grey
bases, hands and feet greyish white with brown median
streak: vibrissa- black, n few white at the base. Underparts
pure creamy white to the base of the fur. No buff g<
median stripe on the belly. Tail very finely ringed, slighth
Sept., 1917.