NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



This genus contains over 200 species, and is, 

 in consequence, the largest in the entire mammalian 

 class. 



THE BROWN RAT 



Also known as the Norway Rat ; Barn Rat ; 

 Sewer Rat 



(Rattus norvegicus) ' 



The original home of this Rat, which is such a 

 curse to man, was Western China. From these 

 regions it migrated all over Asia and Europe, and 

 was eventually carried throughout the civilised 

 world by means of trading ships. In about the 

 year 1727 immense swarms of Brown Rats crossed 

 the river Volga from Central Asia and swarmed 

 over Europe, reaching its western shores and getting 

 a footing in the British Isles about the year 1730. 

 In South Africa it is common in all the towns and 

 most of the villages, and has even found its way to 

 isolated farms out on the arid Karoo, transported 

 there in merchandise. 



The Brown Rat is the largest and strongest of its 

 family, and has already in most parts of the civilised 

 world exterminated its weaker rival the Black Rat. 

 Of all the mammal class of animals the Brown Rat 

 is the greatest curse to the human race. Ever 

 since it has appeared amongst us we have fought it, 

 and have summoned the death-dealing vegetable 

 and mineral drugs of the chemist to our aid, and 



no 



