456 Short Communicatiotis : — 



secluded habits, and expose themselves, even in the middle of 

 the day, to public view ; so much so, indeed, that, after several 

 days of drought last summer, on the first drops of rain falling 

 from a slight shower, a whole colony of rats emerged from 

 under the eaves of an outhouse, and almost filled an open 

 wooden gutter which ran the whole length of that side of the 

 building. There they remained, old and young, only occa- 

 sionally retreating, but immediately again advancing, in the 

 presence of several persons, myself amongst others, assembled 

 to witness so singular a troop ; and there did they remain till 

 a gun was loaded, and fired amongst them, by which four or 

 five were killed on the spot, and many others, doubtless, 

 severely wounded.* But to return to the leaden pipe; some 

 repairs being necessary, a bricklayer was employed to open 

 the brickwork surrounding the pipe, when he found that the 

 mortar had been already removed, and a passage effected by 

 rats to the side of the pipe, which, it might have been sup- 

 posed, would completely check their progress. Great, how- 

 ever, was his surprise, when, on laying bare the pipe, he found 

 it entirely laid open to the extent of about 4 in. in length, and 

 considerably more than half the solid circumference of lead 

 actually removed. Not a doubt could exist as to the cause ; 

 for on the surface of the edges of the opening were continuous 

 marks of rats' teeth, deeply impressed, with as much uniformity 

 and regularity as if indented by a carpenter's file. How long 

 the rats, or more probably the rat (for, in so confined a space, 

 I think, it would have been difficult for more than one to have 

 gnawed and nibbled at a time), had been occupied at this 

 tough job, it is not possible to determine ; but the effects were 

 such as to convey a very fearful impression of what might be 

 effected by these animals in the work of destruction ; and, at 

 all events, how little resistance the thickest and most solid 

 planks would make to their united and persevering efforts. I 

 send a sketch of the piece of leaden pipe sawed off" by the 

 plumber, and now in my possession. — E. S., F,L*S.: 



[The drawing corresponds with the description, which does 

 not need illustration.! j 



* [Upon the thatched roofs of buildings in the country, unfurnished with 

 eaves' troughs, they may be- seen, after showers, in the daytime, lapping 

 the drops of water which hang at the ends of the reeds or straw of the 

 roof; and are not rarely shot while thus intent on slaking their thirst.] 



f [Mr. Bree has, in a communication in the Gardener's Magazine^ 

 vii., 235., described the attacks of some species of mice upon his holly 

 bushes; and those of rats upon his " young oaks in a plantation near a 

 brook and small pond. They [the rats] gnaw the tree off just below the 

 ground; sometimes nearly as level as if it had been cut with a saw. 

 Young trees nearly as thick as my wrist have been served in this way ; and 

 I have been quite astonished how the rats could cut them through so com- 



