624 MURIDAE—EPIMYS 
Occasionally, as reported in the daily press for Midlothian 
and Lincolnshire in 1889, rats become so numerous as to 
constitute a recognised ‘‘ plague.” These increases are parallel 
to those occurring in other rodents, and may have been more 
frequent in former times when the Black Rat held undisputed 
sway in this country. 
Food and other articles are always carried away, if possible, 
to the burrow. A single nest was found to contain three 
towels, two serviettes, five dust cloths, two pairs of linen knicker- 
bockers, six linen handkerchiefs, and one silk handkerchief ; 
near this nest were 14 lbs. of sugar, a pudding, a stalk of 
celery, a beet, carrots, turnips, and potatoes.’ Millais states 
(ii. 224) that 1728 gnawed serviettes were found behind the 
wainscot of a London restaurant. 
A partial migration is performed according to season from 
the open country in summer to the shelter of farms and houses 
in winter ; and similar movements take place where food varies 
with the season. For instance, herring fisheries are said? to 
attract large numbers to the coast every year, the rats returning 
inland on the cessation of the fishery in October. In foreign 
countries very much larger and more irregular movements have 
been noticed.® 
Mr Cocks (zm dt.) relates a remarkable experience in 
Heligoland many years ago. While walking along the cliffs 
he shot a Peregrine Falcon, which fell on the rocks below. 
As soon as the tide permitted he set off, along the shore, to 
retrieve his prize. It was an autumn evening, and “ presently, 
in the complete solitude and silence, I was very much startled 
by a sort of rushing sound, as of countless feet. The next 
moment I began to be passed from behind by a legion of 
rats, numbering at least little short of, and quite likely con- 
siderably over a thousand, who made their habitat at the base 
of the cliff, and came out when the tide fell, looking for food. 
I never saw anything like it before or since. We did not 
interfere with each other, though they perforce had to pass me 
quite close.” 
1 Field, 1oth Jan. 1891, 46; Lantz, of. cit., 29. 
2 Lantz, of. cit, 17. 3 Lantz, /oc. cit. 
