WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



body of a mouse into his sleeping box, and as 

 rats in a wild state are by no means averse to 

 flesh, eating carrion greedily, slaying young 

 ducks, chickens, and even frogs and toads, I 

 think if he had had the chance he would 

 probably have eaten it. However, I did not 

 give him the chance to try mouse meat, but 

 took it too away. 



As time went on and another family came to 

 take the cat's attention, she did not bother 

 so much about Whiskers, but she never forgot 

 him, was always on friendly terms, and often 

 paid him a visit. He would rush to meet her 

 most excitedly, and it was indeed a strange 

 sight to see that big rat sniffing noses with the 

 tabby-and-white cat. Once when Samuel was 

 loose in the sitting-room another cat was 

 accidentally let into the room. The rat, 

 thinking it was his foster-mother, ran to meet 

 her. At which the cat with a startled spit 

 stepped back. On came Whiskers, the cat's 

 fur rose, her tail fluffed out, for a moment she 

 hissed and spit, then her nerve failed altogether, 

 and she bolted for all she was worth ! Fancy 

 a rat which instead of running away from you 

 came straight at you ! It was too much for 

 her, and she was not seen for some time after. 

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