PESTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD. 71 



13. The " flush - boxes " were opened, and the rat, 

 with an end of the string attached to his body, was put 

 into the pipe. He scampered away at a racing pace, drag- 

 ging the twine after him, until he reached the middle of 

 the length of pipe, and there stopped. The ferret was 

 then put in, and off went the rat again, until he sprang 

 clear out of the next flush-box. One half of the work 

 was done, and the same operation was commenced with 

 the next length of pipe, but the rat stopped short a few 

 yards in the pipe, and boldly awaited the approach of the 

 ferret. A sharp combat began, and it was feared that one 

 or both the animals would die in the pipe. But, after 

 sundry jerks of the string, the combatants separated ; the 

 ferret returned to his master, and the rat made for the 

 extremity, carrying the string through in safety. 



14. Rats are often tamed, and make pretty household 

 pets. They are clean, playful, and, when well fed, harm- 

 less. In Belgium, not long since, a troop of rats were 

 trained to perform a play. They were dressed in the garb 

 of men and women, walked on their hind-legs, and went 

 through with great exactness the ordinary stage actions. 

 On one point, however, they were like the cat who had 

 been changed to a young lady, but forgot her own char- 

 acter the moment a mouse appeared. When, in the course 

 of the play, food was introduced, they forgot their parts, 

 the audience, and the manager, and, dropping on all-fours, 

 they fell to with all the native voracity of their race. 

 The performance concluded by their hanging in triumph 

 their enemy the cat, and dancing around her body. 



15. Many are the expedients to get rid of rats. Holes 

 are smeared with tar, which rats can not abide. Singed 

 rats are set at liberty and sent to drive away the others by 

 their scent. A tiny bell is placed on the neck of a rat, 

 and he thereafter in vain tries to associate with his race ; 



