Sec. IC] WILD AND TAME ANIMALS OF THE FARM. 253 



located on the prairie, in ISSl, about 15 miles from neighbors, aud 40 miles 

 out from what has since grown to be the city of Chicago, there was not a 

 rat to seen or heard of. For several years we were exempt from this pest. 

 There came abundance of shipping to Chicago, aud with it al>undance of 

 rats, and they soon spread over the whole land, multiplying and devastating. 

 Now they are great pests in the barns and slacks of prairie farmers. 



Our common breed is called " Norway rats," from the supposition that they 

 originated in that country. British naturalists, however, assert that they 

 were introduced into the Eritish Islands from India. If they are tropical 

 animals, all we have to say is, that they easity adapt themselves to a rigor- 

 ous climate, where they multi}>ly at a most i)rolilic rate. "What we are yet 

 to do with them is a problem not easily solved. All the receipts to euro the 

 nuisance are only preventive, not eradicative. 



2SI. Rat AntidotCSi — A correspondent of the Gardener^s Monthli/ says: 

 '' I tried the eftect of introducing into the entrance of their numerous holes, 

 runs, or hiding-places, small portions of chloride of lime, or bleaching pow- 

 der, wrapjicd in calico, and stuffed into the entrance holes, and thrown loose 

 liy spoonfuls into the drain from the house. This drove the rats away for a 

 twelvemonth, when they returned to it. They were again treated in the same 

 manner, with like cfl'ect. The cure was most complete. I presume it was 

 the chlorine gas, which did not agree with their olfactories."' 



Another correspondent writes: "Some four or five years since, my cellar 

 became musty, to overcome which my wife sjjrinklod a solution of copperas 

 (pretty strong) over the bottom. Since that time we have seen no sign of 

 rata about theliouso, notwithstanding there have been plenty of them about 

 the barn and other buildings on the premises." 



Arsenic is considered, by some who have tried it, a tailure, when used for 

 the purpose of clearing i)remises of rats, because they are too cunning to 

 partake of it after witnessing the death of two or three of the family. It is 

 ctfectual, if the vermin will take the bait. 



Strychnine we consider far i)referable, and although so much more costly, 

 it requires but a few cents' worth to do the work ot death upon a hundred 

 lats. It is also the very best thing to use upon a troublesome dog or cat 

 that comes prowling about your i>remises. One grain for a dose is sutHcicnt. 

 We have killed numerous wolves by inserting one grain of strychnine in the 

 center of a piece of fresh meat, just large enough for a mouthful for a wolf. 

 As rats do not bolt their food, it is a little more diflicult to get them to take 

 strvchnine, it is so intensely bitter. If it is mi.xed wltii corn-meal, and a few 

 drops of oil of anise are added, it will attract the rats. 



7\irrinij anJ fi.alh,rln(j rats, and then letting them run, has been jmicticed, 

 to give the tribe a hint tiiat it would be well for them to leave. One rather 

 smart individual, not having tar, used spirits of turpentine. lie was going 

 to drive the rats out nf his house cellar. He was entirely successful; for 

 when he let the rat h)ose in his kitchen, with a " Siioo !"" to it to go down the 

 cellar stairs, it took the kitchen firo in its course, aud then a pile of flax that 



