138 THE RAT 



attention it requires. It is not a new thing, and has been used 

 with great success for many years (American Agriculturist). 



The RAT-GUARD (Fig. 86, K) is a simple method of keeping rats 

 away from anything that is hung up, and is made as follows : 

 " Procure the bottoms of some fruit-cans by melting the solder 

 which holds them upon a hot stove. Bore holes in the centre of 

 the discs, and string a few of them upon the cord, wire, or rope 

 upon which the articles are hung. When a rat or mouse attempts 

 to pass upon the rope by climbing over the tin discs, they turn and 

 throw the animal upon the floor. This plan will be found, very 

 effective " (American Agriculturist}. 



FIG. 87. EXTERMINATOR TUNNEL RAT TRAP. 

 (Supplied by Messrs. WM. BURGESS & Co., Malvern Wells.) 



But the thing is to capture and destroy the rats. This may be 

 effected by the ordinary spring or Common Rat Trap either with 

 round or square jaws, but this catches by the leg and is hardly safe 

 to use where there are cats, dogs, poultry, or winged game. The 

 Exterminator Tunnel Rat Trap (Fig. 87) is particularly suitable 

 for setting in buildings and their adjuncts, as it will not catch ver- 

 min by the leg, the hook for the bait being inside the trap, and 

 directly the vermin touches the treadle, the trap is let off and the 

 animal is caught round the body or the head ; and there being two 

 steel spikes inside at the top of the trap the vermin is instantly 

 killed. The trap may be baited with a herring head for the rat, 

 or with a recently dead chick for stoats and weasels. Of course, the 



