Rats — Real and Unreal 



In the city the Rat is not so well known, because 

 the creature can there secure an abundance of cover 

 denied it in the open country. Yet it is somewhat 

 peculiar that Rats, while extremely shy and wary of 

 noises in the country, will form colonies about ware- 

 houses or other buildings in the city, and seem quite 

 unconcerned by the incessant bustle of commerce and 

 the general commotion incidental to city life. Once a 

 Rat settles about a city building, it does so practically 

 for life. Not so in the country. In rural parts it is a 

 migratory animal, and moves with the seasons. The 

 gamekeeper may select a secluded spot to hatch and 

 rear his pheasants, and be satisfied in his own mind that 

 no vermin are likely to disturb his broody hens. In 

 his rounds, however, he discovers an egg rolled out 

 upon the grass, and questions whether the hen had 

 carried it out accidentally under her wing. On 

 removing the hen he finds half the clutch gone. 

 Investigations prove that a Rat has been the thief, and 

 it is truly wonderful how the animal can carry off eggs 

 long distances without leaving a chip upon the shell. 

 Rats are very partial to eggs of every kind, and once a 

 Rat locates itself near a sitting fowl, it is almost a 

 certainty it will pillage every egg, or, later, devour 

 every chicken as it is hatched. While fond of eggs 

 and chickens, these creatures seem to be extremely so 

 of young ducks. I have seen a whole brood of duck- 

 lings carried off, one by one, within the space of half an 

 hour, and the fluffy mites' remains afterwards dragged 



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