200 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



of split grass blades, and round in shape. This little Mouse is a famous climber, 

 and its tail is to a considerable extent prehensile ; a cornfield is its forest, where 

 it disports itself like a miniature Monkey. Although not an abundant species, 

 it is found all across the northern parts of the Old World. 



THE HOUSE-RAT 



(Mus rattus) 



I THINK it desirable to avoid the name "Black Rat" or "Old English Rat" for 

 this species; for it is believed to be a ship-borne immigrant into Britain, although 

 a far older one than the Grey or Sewer-Rat, and in India, where it is undoubtedly 

 a native, it is usually brown. It is a smaller animal than the Sewer-Rat, with a 

 more delicate form, larger ears, and longer tail ; and in habits it is less fierce and 

 carnivorous, and much more of a climber, affecting the upper parts of houses, and 

 in some cases, as in the Laccadive Islands, living in trees. This is one of the Rats 

 which has been mainly instrumental in propagating the terrible " Plague," which 

 is a Rat-disease, and conveyed to man by the agency of the Rat-fleas, which often 

 bite human beings. Naturally, a Rat which is found about rooms is particularly 

 apt to communicate the disease to man, so that the almost complete extirpation 

 of this Rat in Britain by the other common species, more objectionable in itself 

 as this is, has been a great benefit. 



THE SEWER-RAT 



(Jlfus decumanus) 



THIS is the ordinary Rat found in our country nowadays, and widely distributed 

 over the world wherever ships and wheeled vehicles give it an opportunity to 

 travel as a stowaway. Although its natural colour is greyish-brown, it is often black, 

 so that, judging by colour, it is easily confused with the true raltus. It is much 

 more of a burrowing and aquatic animal than that species, and takes to a water- 

 side life quite readily, being a faster swimmer than the Water- Vole, if not, perhaps, 

 so enduring. Its original home appears to be Western China ; at any rate we 

 know it was an immigrant from the East, and its progress is pretty well known ; 

 hordes of these Rats swam the Volga in 1727, on their westward journey, and a 

 few years afterwards they first appeared in England. It is a most destructive 

 and dangerous creature, not only damaging human property by its gnawing and 

 burrowing, by eating corn and other provisions, and killing young game and 

 poultry, but occasionally attacking children and even adults, who have been killed 

 by swarms of these vermin. Yet it appears to be the ancestor of the tame Rats 

 so often kept as pets, and its intelligence and courage compel admiration, although 

 its extermination, like that of its rival, would be a benefit to the world at large. 



