Notes on the Feeding Habits of House‐rats in Rangoon, Burma

During a poison campaign against house‐rats, particularly of the species Bandicota bengalensis, Rattus rattus nr. khyensis and R. exulans concolor, a number of incomplete experiments were carried out on feeding habits and the take of poison. The rats showed a reaction to new objects similar to that of R. norvegicus in England. A marked preference was shown for boiled rice over any other available foodstuff. The amount eaten was roughly proportional to the surface area of the rat. Barium carbonate in boiled rice was an acceptable poison bait, and the optimum concentration of poison was in the range 10–20%.