THE PEST OF RATS 9 



that as he was returning to his home by moon- 

 light he heard a general rustling in the field 

 near by, and soon a vast army of rats crossed 

 the road in front of him, all going in one direc- 

 tion. The mass stretched away as far as could 

 be seen in the dim light. These animals re- 

 mained on the farms and in the villages of 

 the surrounding country, and during the winter 

 and summer of 1904 were a veritable plague. 

 A local newspaper stated that between March 20 

 and April 20, 1904, Mr. F. U. Montgomery of 

 Preemption, Mercer county, killed 3,435 rats 

 on his farm." 



This enormous multiplication is due to the 

 animal's adaptability to climate, its omnivo- 

 rousness, its habit of burrowing, its strength 

 and cunning in withstanding and outwitting 

 enemies, and, most of all, to its astonishing 

 fecundity, especially where food is abundant. 



This rat breeds in the temperate parts of this 

 country from three to five times a year, the 

 female bringing forth each time from 6 to 20 

 young. Mr. Lantz concludes from such data 

 as are available that in the vicinity of Wash- 



