NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



ducing from five to a dozen at a birth. They 

 begin breeding when about half-grown, and at this 

 time produce as many as eight in a Htter. The 

 young when nineteen days old begin to feed. At 

 twenty-two days they leave the nest and eat and 

 drink the same as the adults, the mother refusing 

 to suckle them. In another three weeks the mother 

 brings forth a second litter. These albino Rats 

 will not attempt to rear their young when several 

 are confined together. The moment the young 

 are interfered with by the others, they are 

 eaten up, the mother herself partaking of the 

 feast. It is necessary when breeding these rats 

 to confine each pregnant female in a cage by 

 herself, and to provide a cosy, dark nesting box, 

 and materials in the way of soft hay, cotton, wool, 

 bits of rags, etc., for her to build her nest with. 

 Sometimes, apparently without cause, the mother 

 will devour her entire family. At other times she 

 will eat one every now and then, until but one, 

 two or three remain. Sometimes she will scratch 

 the youngsters out of the nest and allow them to 

 perish with cold and hunger. However, as a 

 general rule, the mother rat takes the greatest care 

 of her young family, and will fight fiercely in their 

 defence. 



The White or albino Rat when gently handled 

 soon becomes tame and will not attempt to bite. 

 It likes to be fondled, and will cling about one's 

 person for hours, or make itself quite at home in 



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