1889-90-] Rats and the Balance of Nature. 327 



that they are practically extinct in this country, except in the 

 places referred to. The brown rat was the principal factor in 

 exterminating his less powerful cousins, numerous instances 

 being recorded of his killing and devouring them. Having 

 got rid of the black rats, the brown ones have multiplied to 

 an alarming extent — so much so that, as already remarked, the 

 columns of our newspapers have recently been deluged with 

 articles, letters, and paragraphs, treating the rat pest as a 

 modern plague. The notion that the brown rat came to 

 Britain from Norway is of course a fiction, as it was known 

 in our own country long before it was seen in Norway. An- 

 other notion, that it came with the House of Hanover, is 

 equally ridiculous, though this was a long-standing taunt and 

 reproach with the Jacobites. 



The fecundity of rats is amazing. Commencing to breed at 

 between three and four months, old rats produce from four to 

 sixteen young ones at a litter. In fourteen days they open 

 their eyes, and soon after become exceedingly active and 

 playful. At six weeks' old they are compelled to feud for 

 themselves, being supplanted by another brood. In open 

 winters, and in places where their food-supplies are easily 

 acquired, they are found to breed almost the entire year. 

 I have heard it -stated that, by a wise provision of Nature, there 

 are a great many more males than females. The same remark 

 I have heard applied to deer, foxes, and other animals, but 

 neither comports with my experience, as I have found males 

 and females in about equal proportion, and I think the rapid 

 increase of rats amply corroborates my observations. This is 

 a theory I cannot accept, as it is contrary to my experience. 



Most animals have some one to speak or write in their 

 behalf. Hawks, owls, stoats, weasels, and cats have recently 

 had their virtues extolled in the columns of our leading 

 journals, but in all circumstances no animal has so few to say 

 anything in its defence as the rat. Man, their relentless enemy, 

 utilises every expedient which human ingenuity can devise to 

 keep them down ; and even with the counteracting forces of 

 nature, rats hold their own against their numerous enemies 

 combined. It is therefore not to be wondered at that they 

 are cunning ; and the most superficial observer must have 

 noticed the knowing and wide - awake appearance which 



