Page:The mammals of Australia Gould vol 3.djvu/73

 Gould.

White-footed Rat.

Mus manicatus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part xxv. p. 242.

Mus manicatus is a remarkable species of Rat, of nearly the same colour and size, and of a similarly delicate structure, as the well-known Black Rat of the British Islands (Mus Rattus), but from which it differs in having the tip of the nose, the front part of the lips, a longitudinal stripe on the breast, and the fore- and hind-feet white, which latter peculiarity suggested the specific appellation of manicatus or "gloved."

The only specimen I have yet seen of this animal was procured at Port Essington, on the north coast of Australia, and was subsequently presented to me by J. B. Turner, Esq.

Head, ears, and all the upper surface black, gradually passing into the deep grey of the under surface; nose, fore part of the lips, stripe down the centre of the throat and chest, fore- and hind-feet white; whiskers deep black; tail denuded of hairs.

The figures are of the natural size.