RATS AND MICE. 227 



Bats and There are more than 300 varieties of rats and 

 Mice. mice, and they are found almost everywhere. 

 The rat is an irrepressible stowaway, and following toothsome 

 cargoes on board ship has made his way nearly all over the 

 world. This may be said, in a less degree, of the mouse. 

 The better known varieties of rats are the Brown Rat, .the 

 Black Rat, the Water Rat, the Beaver Rat, the Musk Rat, 

 the Lemming, the Pouched Rat, &c., &c. The principal 

 varieties of the mouse are, the House Mouse, the Fieldmouse, 

 the Harvest Mouse, the African Mouse and the Dormouse. 

 The Bat The brown rat is the species common in 

 Family. England, and best known throughout the world. 

 It is said to have travelled from Persia to England less than 

 two hundred years ago and to have spread from thence to 

 other countries visited by English ships. It measures about 

 nine inches, and is of a light brown colour. It multiplies 

 very fast and once colonised is very difficult of extermination. 

 It is larger and stronger than the black rat which it found 

 in England when it came and which it has almost entirely 

 destroyed and replaced. The brown rat is often mistaken 

 for the water rat as it will take to the water on occasion 

 and is often found in ditches and watery places. The water 

 rat is common to central and northern Europe and is well 

 known in England and Scotland. It differs little from the 

 brown rat in appearance, and inhabits the banks of rivers 

 and ponds. The black rat is of a deep iron grey, or nearly 

 black. It is about seven inches long and in other respects 

 bears a close resemblance to the brown rat. The beaver 

 rat is a native of America and measures about fourteen 

 inches exclusive of tail. It resembles the beaver in form, is 

 fond of the water and swims well. At the approach of winter 

 it builds itself little dome-topped houses, in which it hibernates 

 in families. In the spring its flesh is good eating, but later 

 it acquires a musk-like flavour which is disagreeable. It is 

 easily tamed when young. The Muskovy musk rat is about 



