182 Habits of a domesticated Wliite Rat, 



jections urged against it, and bring it out of the furnace like 

 gold seven times purified ; or, on the other hand (and we 

 think this the most probable supposition), manifest to the 

 world, that, although bearing the deceptive title of iS natural," 

 it is the most fanciful and theoretical, our end will be alike 

 answered. 



Bewsey House, Warrington, Feb. 19. 1836. 



Art. IV. Notes on the Habits of a domesticated White Rat, and a 

 Terrier Dog {Flora), that lived in Harmony together. By Samuel 

 Moss, Esq., Cheltenham. 



Early in the year 1822, a white rat was caught in the 

 kennel, or the stables, belonging to Colonel Berkeley, the 

 present Lord Segrave, situate adjoining to where Pittville 

 Parade now stands. It was considered a great curiosity, and 

 was exhibited as such. Having expressed a good deal of 

 interest about it, and another being caught soon afterwards, 

 it was brought to me. It was full grown, but, I apprehend, 

 had been hurt by the trap, as it died in about three weeks, 

 and proved to be with young. I think it had five or six. 



About the autumn of the same year, another white rat was 

 caught, and brought to me. It was about three parts grown, 

 and exceedingly savage ; and, when allowed to go at large in 

 my sitting-room, flew at me with great ferocity. I put it into 

 a squirrel cage, with a turnabout wheel, and for two or three 

 days kept it on short allowance, and gave it no food but what 

 it took out of my hands. At first it snapped at the food, and 

 endeavoured to bite my fingers through the wires, but very 

 soon came out of its box on my approach, and evidently knew 

 my voice. 



By this time it began to feel the security of the box, and 

 would not come out unless forced to do so. When I put my 

 hand into the box to take it out, it bit me severely, and did so 

 two or three times afterwards ; but, finding I took no notice of 

 its attacks, and that it was always treated with kindness by me, 

 it soon ceased to exhibit signs of anger, and lay perfectly 

 passive when I opened the lid of the box to look at it. 



As I had no family, and sat the greater part of my time 

 alone, occupied in reading or writing, I often turned it out of 

 the box, and it soon became familiar, on finding that I did 

 not interfere with it (for I carefully avoided letting it know 

 that it was watched), and would come to and cross over my 

 feet with impunity to pick up crumbs, &c, which I purposely 



