THE GREAT IUT. 



demonstrations in taking a view of the Rat 

 kind. * 



THE GREAT lAT 



is an animal well known in England/' althougb sup- 

 posed to have come originally from Norway. From 

 .whatever country it came, or by whatever means it 

 was introduced, it has been found impossible to expel 

 this formidable invader. Before the arrival of this 

 troublesome stranger this country was infected with 

 the black rat, which was much less injurious than ils 

 rival; but the species is now almost extinct, being 

 nearly extirpated by the Norway Rat, which is much 

 superior in strength, Voraciousness and ferocity. The 

 latter which is now universally diiuised throughout 

 the country, is about nine inches -long, of a grey co- 

 lour, and the. throat and belly of a dirty white : its tail 

 is as long as its body, and nearly destitute of hair. 



Though small, weak, and contemptible in its ap- 

 pearance, it is a more formidable enemy to mankind 

 than those that possess the greatest strength. No art 

 t.v.n ''oanteruct its various powers of annoyance, and 

 force is ineffectually opposed to an adversary possess- 

 ing sweh a variety of moans to battle Us c -Dirts* 



The rat is a bold imU fierce animal ; Us bite i* Von, 

 and the wound it inflicts puinfui and diincu.lt to heal. 

 Its rapacity has no bounds, for it preys on every crea- 

 ture which it is able to subdue, and does incalculable 

 mischief among grain and fruits. It refuses scarcely 

 any article of food, and few places are secure from 

 its depredations. 



A numerous host of enemies combine for the de- 

 struction of this noxious quadruped. Several kinds 

 of dogs pursue rats with eagerness and kill them, al- 

 though none will eat their flesh. The cat is also one 

 of their formidable adversaries; but the weazel is 

 their most determined enemy, and hunts them with 

 unceasing avidity. The ferret is also employed in 

 the same business: and mankind have employed the 

 various means of traps and poison in order to destroy 

 these troublesome intruders; but no method hitherto 

 discovered has been able to effect their extirpation. 



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