248 THE NORWAY OR BROWN RAT. 



of vegetables. Many of the animals, however, are 

 omnivorous, and devour, with avidity, almost every 

 kind of substance, animal or vegetable, that lies in 

 their way. They are, in general, well adapted for 

 climbing trees, rocks, or walls; and some of them 

 are able to swim with great agility. 



All the species are prolific. The females have 

 from eight to twelve teats; and generally produce, 

 (more than once in the year,) from six to fourteen 

 young ones at a litter. 



THE NORWAY OR BROWN RAT*. 



ALTHOUGH this Rat is popularly known by the 

 name of Norway Rat, it is, in fact, a native of 

 Persia and India, from whence it was originally 

 introduced into Europe. It first appeared in Eng- 

 land in the beginning of the last century ; and it 

 did not reach the neighbourhood of Paris till 

 towards the year 1750. Professor Pallas assures 

 us, that these Rats, now very common in all parts 

 of Russia and Siberia, were not at all known at 

 Ja'ik, in 1766. It was in the summer of that year, 



* Mus decumanus. Linnctus. Le Surmulot. Buffon. 

 For the description of this Rat see the Synopsis, p. 40, No. 24. 



which 



