HATS. 87 



various writers on the subject, to show how common these rodents 

 were at times. 



Taylor White states that on the west coast of the South Island 

 tlu-y came in vast crowds, climbed trees, tent poles and ropes, and 

 ate everything. On the shores of Lake Wakatipu they lived under 

 the dead leaves of the wild-spaniard or spear-grass (Aciphylla 

 <l>irrosa and A. Colensoi). 



Rutland records how, in 1856, the district of Collingwood, on 

 the western side of Blind Bay, was visited by a swarrn, and in 

 1863 he was informed of a swarm on the Shot over, Otago. I have 

 heard of this one also. Old miners used to tell how they were 



FIG. 12. THE BLACK RAT. 



nearly eaten out of provisions by an invasion of rats. Repeated 

 swarms occurred in Picton in 1872, 1878, 1880, 1884, and 1888. 

 Rutland says, " These rat-swarms invariably take place in spring. 

 A few of the animals appear in August ; they increase in numbers 

 till November, when all disappear again gradually as they came. 

 While in a locality dead rats are seen lying about in all directions 

 on roads, in gardens, and elsewhere. Very few have any marks 

 of violence on their bodies; nor have they died of hunger, since, 

 on examination, they are generally found fat. In 1884, in Picton, 

 forty-seven dead rats were found lying together under the floor of 

 the sitting-room in one house. In another thirty-seven were found 

 dead under the kitchen. The whole town was pervaded with the 



