USEFUL RAT. 85 



through the Passumah district of Sumatra, Sir Stamford 

 Raffles found the cocoa-nut trees of deserted villages destroyed 

 by the Malayan bears. 



In his description of the animals of Sumatra, this distin- 

 guished philosopher observes, " The Malayan bear deserves 

 to be ranked as a distinct species from the common bear, and 

 from that of the continent of India. The most striking dif- 

 ference is in the comparative shortness of its hair, and the 

 fineness and glossiness of its fur ; in which particular it ap- 

 pears to resemble the American bear. 



" When taken young they become very tame. One lived for 

 two years in my possession. He was brought up in the 

 nursery with the children j and when admitted to table, as 

 was frequently the case, gave a proof of his taste by refusing 

 to eat any fruit but mangosteens, or to drink any wine but 

 champaign. The only time I ever knew him out of humour 

 was on an occasion when no champaign was forthcoming. 

 It was naturally of a playful and affectionate disposition, and 

 it was never found necessary to chain or chastise him. It 

 was usual for this bear, the cat, the dog, and a small blue 

 mountain bird, or lory, of New Holland, to mess together 

 and eat out of the same dish. His favourite playfellow was 

 the dog, whose teasing and worrying was always borne and 

 returned with the utmost good humour and playfulness. As 

 he grew up he became a very powerful animal ; and in his 

 rambles in the garden he would lay hold of the largest 

 plantains, the stems of which he could scarcely embrace, and 

 tear them up by the roots." — Linn, Trans, xiii. p. 255. 



USEFUL RAT. 



On the farm of Lyonthoin, near Falkirk, there is a remark- 

 able instance not only of docility but usefulness in a rat. 

 It first devoured the mice caught in traps, and was after- 

 wards seen to catch them as they ventured from their holes, 

 till at length the whole house was cleared of these vermin, 

 except, as is believed, a single one. It has frequently been 

 seen in pursuit of this solitary mouse, and the little fugitive, 

 which takes refuge behind the ingle, has a part of its fur 

 singed off. From the service it renders, the family kindly 

 protect the rat, and it runs about and gambols among them 

 on the floor, without the least uneasiness. 



