NOT THE KIORE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2589, 5 June 1923, Page 2

NOT THE KIORE.

Last week a local resident caught a couple of dark slate-coloured rats, of a smaller species than the grey rat. It was thought that the might possibly be the native rat or kiore. The specimens were sent to Professor Kirk, of Victoria College, Wellington and his reply is as follows :

“I think there is no doubt that the rats are specimens of the black rat, ‘Mus rattus.' Buller’s description of the kiore Maori, however (Trans. N.Z.1., 111, p. 1.) corresponds pretty closely with your specimens, except. that he says ears, feet and tail dark brown, and that he makes the hind feet and whiskers much longer than in yours.

“The black rat is very variable in •size and in colour. It is often spoken of as the British rat, though it seems to have come from Eastern Asia and to have established itself in Europe, becoming very numerous, but finally almost disappearing before the brown rat ‘Mus decumanus,’ often called the Norway rat. Some twenty years ago great hordes of rats appeared in parts of Nelson aud Marlborough districts. These were often spoken of as Native rats; but those that I saw were like those you have sent, except that they were somewhat larger.”