52 BLACK RAT. 



to twelve or fourteen, or even sometimes eighteen . 



o 



young at a time *. When closely pursued it will 

 sometimes turn upon its adversary, and bite with 

 great severity. It seems to have made its first ap- 

 pearance in England about seventy years ago, and 

 is still much less frequent in France and some other 

 parts of the continent than the black rat. In 

 France, according to Buffon, it was first observed 

 at Chantilly, Marly-la- Ville, and Versailles, where 

 it committed great ravages. This author affirms 

 that it breeds three times a year. 



BLACK RAT. 



Mus Rattus. M. cauda longissima squamosa, corpore atro subtu* 



canescente. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p. 127. 

 Blackish Rat, ash-coloured beneath, with very long scaly tail. 

 Mus domesticus major. Gesn. Quadr. p. 731. Aldr. dig. 



P-4'5- 

 Rat. Buf. 8. p. 2-j8.pl. 36. 



Black Rat. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 1/6. 



THIS species, like the former, though now so 

 common in most parts of Europe, is supposed to 

 have been originally introduced from India and 

 Persia. Its general length, from nose to tail, is 

 seven inches, and of the tail eight inches : the co- 

 lour of the head and whole upper part of the 

 body is a dark iron or blackish grey : the belly is 

 of a dull ash-colour : the legs are dusky, and 



* Pennant Brit. Zool. 



