CHAPTER VI 



THE RAT, A REPRESENTATIVE MAMMAL 



This animal is regarded with disdain usually because of the dam- 

 age and destruction it does, but it is a very valuable mammal for 

 study because of its availability and convenient size. Its structures 

 and metabolic activities are similar to those of the larger mammals 

 including the human being. The most common example in this 

 country is the brown or Norway rat, of which the white or albino 

 is ordinarily a variety. 



The classification of the brown rat in the animal kingdom may 

 well be summarized at this point. It of course belongs to the phylum 

 Chordata, subphylum Vertehrata, class Mmyimalia, subclass Eutheria, 

 order Rodentia, family Muridae, genus Rattus, and species norvegicus. 

 The scientific name therefore is Rattus norvegicus. Its albino variety 

 is Rattus norvegicus alhinus. The black rat, which is less abundant, 

 is named Rattus rattus. Another rat which is very common in some 

 localities of the southern United States is the long-tailed Rattus 

 alexandrinus. The home of the brown rat is thought to have been 

 in Northern Asia originally. In the wild form the color is brown 

 above and gray beneath, but many color varieties have developed 

 to include gray, yellow, and albino. The most conspicuous charac- 

 teristic distinguishing the brown (Norway) rat from the black rat 

 or the roof rat is the shorter tail of the former. Its tail is shorter 

 than the body while in the other two the tail is as long as the body 

 or longer. 



Habitat and Habits 



The rat is secretive in its abode, living most commonly in wood- 

 piles, trash, stacks of hay or straw^; under the floors, and in the walls 

 of buildings, attics, and basements. Nests are built of available 

 material such as cloth, paper, shavings, twine, grass, and fibers. A 

 warm temperate climate where there is an abundance of available 

 food and nest-building material furnishes the ideal habitat. Rats 

 are largely nocturnal in their habits and quite shy in their activities. 

 They are capable of gnawing their way through wooden partitions 

 and even lead sewer pipes. Rats are capable of an independent life, 

 but they flourish when associated with the haunts of man because 



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