Papuan Rats

The Archbold Collection

'THE recent Archbold scientific expe- A dition to Western Papua has been described recently as most successful. It took back to New York many new species of birds and mammals.

The expedition is remembered in Papua mostly on account of its rat-catch ing activities. Several well known local bushmen were employed on the work, and they still talk about it as one of the quaintest jobs in their experience.

The expedition took away thousands of dead rats, and the following is one expert’s summary of their value:— “There are definite affinities between

the rodents of Papua and Australia. We found a water-rat belonging to the same genus as that inhabiting Victoria; also mosaic-tailed rats, a group of grass-rats and a new form of jumping rat, related to one found in Queensland and the Northern Territory. There is also the giant rat, Mallomys, which has long and thick, woolly fur. One member of the water-rat group, with soft velvety rufous fawn fur, was at home far from water— its habits are not aquatic.”

Dr. Frances Harding, accompanied by her brother-in-law, Mr. C. Harding, of Ohio, U.S.A., reached Sydney by the Malaita during May after a seven-weeks’ visit to Papua, New Guinea, and the Solomons in the interests of the S.D.A.

Mission.