RATS AND MICE 215 



it commits is overlooked — is the dissemination of disease, for, during 

 the years 1906-08, it is computed that in India alone the ravages 

 of this animal by spreading the deadly plague resulted in the deaths 

 of considerably more than five million people ! Disease is very 

 prevalent among the Brown Rat, and when some of the food par- 

 taken of and the haunts frequented are borne in mind the reasons 

 do not appear far to seek. The animal is infested with fleas, and 

 these detestable parasites, having sucked the blood of a plague- 

 stricken Rat, leave the dead body when there is no longer any blood 

 to suck, and thereafter perchance alight upon a human being, to 

 whom the fleas convey the plague bacillus. 



In spite of all this we are told that in China this Brown Rat is 

 fed up for the purpose of food. It then turns the scale at seven or 

 eight pounds, and is not unlike a small sucking-pig ! Buckland 

 refers to these Rats which are used by the Chinese for food, and 

 says that he saw "a dried Rat bought in the market of a Chinese 

 town. It had been split down the centre, powdered with some white 

 substance, and pressed under some heavy weight, as was evident 

 from its shape, its appearance being very much like that of the 

 common English haddock. These John Chinaman buys, soaks in 

 water, and then dresses ' more suo ' — boils, roasts, or fries." 



This animal is also a cannibal, for it will invariably prey upon a 

 fellow Rat that is in trouble, and when hard put to it for a food 

 supply the strong take advantage of the weak, and we have an apt 

 example of the survival of the fittest. 



Whenever it can do so, the Brown Rat will make good its escape 

 from mankind, but if cornered it may prove an awkward customer 

 to deal with, and a farmer in my own county relates an interesting 

 incident which occurred to him, and which shows that when in a 

 massed company of several individuals this fecund rodent possesses 

 considerable courage and daring. The farmer referred to states that 

 he was crossing a common when he came across a battalion of about 

 one hundred Rats. Although he endeavoured to ward off their 

 attention, the detestable beasts surrounded him, some running up 

 his body to the shoulder and biting severely, "especially upon his 

 hands." Other instances are forthcoming of fatal combats with this 

 animal pest, although, true enough, savage attacks made upon man- 

 kind are few and far between. 



BLACK RAT.— The Black Rat (Fig. 166) is still found in a few 

 parts of England, but has been exterminated by its formidable rival 



