Musical Ratcatcher. 105 



drawing as possible. It is a multivalve shell, hollow at each 

 end, and has the commencement of another attached to it; 

 all round the edge, as may be seen in the drawing, are parts 

 of some bivalve shells firmly attached to it. 

 Clajpham Common, Jan, 14. 1836. 



Art. XI. Short Communications, 

 Mammiferous Animals and Birds. — The Musical Rat- 

 catcher. — Many quadrupeds, as well as serpents, &c, are so 

 extremely fond of music, that their ferocity becomes in a 

 great measure subdued, and they fall an easy prey to the 

 sportsman. The following anecdote is given me by my son, 

 who is just returned from Calcutta, and who has repeatedly 

 witnessed the following successful mode of capturing rats on 

 ship-board. As soon as evening commenced, the ship's 

 steward baited his traps, and placed them near the rats' 

 holes ; then took his flute, and played some lively airs : the 

 rats w T ere attracted by the music*, and came into the traps, 

 quite unconscious of that danger which, without any allure- 

 ment, instinct taught them to avoid. In this simple manner, 

 from fifteen to twenty rats have been captured in about three 

 hours f ; a number which would have required three or four 

 weeks to capture by bait only : hence, 



'* Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast." 

 I wonder whether English rats are as fond of music as the 

 rats of India? If so, it would be worth while for many a 

 farmer to learn the flute or violin, the expense of which might 

 soon be saved in grain, — W, H, White. Old Kent Road, 

 London, Nov. 2. 1835. 



Combat between a Hen and. a Rat. — A few days ago, a 

 singular combat was witnessed in the yard of Mr. George 

 Johnson, razor-manufacturer, between a hen and a large rat. 

 The rat approached the place where the hen was brooding 

 her chickens, as it appeared, to take a share of some grain 

 with which they had been fed ; when the hen attacked it. The 

 rat stood on the defensive, and fought for five minutes, but 

 was killed by its antagonist. The hen was severely bitten in 

 the engagement, but is recovered. (From the Sheffield Inde- 

 pendent, July 1835.) [Contributed to this Magazine by Mr. 

 White, with the preceding.] 



* I have myself repeatedly seen mice come from their holes, and listen 

 attentively to the playing of a flute or violin ; but retire as soon as the 

 music ceased. 



•f- This feat obtained for the ship's steward the appellation at the head 

 of this anecdote. 



Vol. IX. — No. bS. i 



