As a neighbour was lately ploughing in a dry chalky field, far 

 removed from any water, he turned out a water-rat, that was 

 curiously laid up in a retreat artificially formed of grass and leaves. 



At one end of the burrow lay above a gallon of potatoes regularly 

 stowed, on which it was to have supported itself for the winter. 



But the difficulty with me is how this rat came to fix its winter 

 station at such a distance from the water. 



Was it determined in its choice of that place by the mere accident 

 of finding the potatoes which were planted there ; or is it the con- 

 stant practice of the aquatic rat to forsake the neighbourhood of the 

 water in the colder months ? G. W. 



A Rafs Larder 



RATS are not very particular either as to where they 

 live, or what they eat. 



They are at home nearly everywhere, by water, in 

 burrows far from water, in ships and in buildings and 

 eat nearly anything animal and vegetable, eggs, 

 birds, young rabbits, and a vast amount of grain. 



Finding life so easy, it is small wonder that rats 

 increase and multiply. We have seen a ferret turn out 

 a family of twelve young ones from a hole in a bank. 



The mother rat always makes a snug nursery for her 

 young, softly and warmly lined, perhaps with wool, or 

 feathers. In about a week the young rats, which are 

 born naked and blind, are covered with hair, and in 

 about a fortnight their eyes open. At five weeks old 

 they can shift for themselves in the world : and when 

 about six months old it is quite possible that they will 

 become parents themselves. 



A full-grown pair of rats will have young several 

 times in a year. 



195 



