100 Q^V A D R U P E D S. 



Q F T H E 



RAT KIND. 



OF thefc the mofl mtfchievous is the Great Rat, a new comer, but 

 has taken too fecure poffefFion to be removed ; fometimes called 

 the Rat of Norway, but is unknown beyond the Baltic ; probably came 

 from the Eaft-Indies. 



This animal is in length about nine inches ; its eyes large and black ; 

 colour of the head, and the whole upper part of the body, a light brov/n, 

 mixed with tawny and afh colour; the end of the nofe, the throat and 

 belly, are a dirty white, inclining to grey; the feet and legs almoli 

 bare, of a dirty pale flefti colour ; the tail as long as the body, covered 

 with minute dulky fcales, mixed with a few hairs. It is chiefly in the 

 colour that this animal differs from the Black Rat, or the Common Rat, 

 as it was once called ; but now common no longer. This new invader, 

 in a few years after its arrival, deftroyed almoft the whole fpecies : the 

 frog alfo, which had been introduced in Ireland, has been extirpated 

 by it. 



It burrows in the banks of rivers, ponds, and ditches, and does 

 great damage to mounds raifed to condudt ftreams, or confine rivers ; 

 molefts farm-houfesj burrows in corn, eats much, and damages more ; 

 nothing eatable efcapes its voracity. It deftroys rabbits, poultry, and 

 game; fwims with great eafe, and thins thefilh-pond. 



Produces from fifteen to twenty, three times a year ; happily for us, 

 eat each other. The large male rat generally keeps in a hole by itfelf, 

 dreaded by its own fpecies, as the moft formidable enemy. Dogs and 

 cats, but not without exception, deftroy them, but the weafel molt 

 effeftually. 



The Black Rat is in length about feven inches; the tail, near eight; 

 colour, a deep iron-grey, almoft black, except the belly, which is of a 

 dirty cinereous hue. Over-run America, being introduced from Eu- 

 rope, and are now noxious there. 



The Black Water- Rat is about the fame fize, has a larger head, a 

 blunter nofe, lefs eyes, fliorter ears, and the tip of its tail a little white. 

 Never frequents houfes ; but the banks of rivers, ditches, and ponds, 

 where it burrows j feeds on fifh, frogs, and infedls ; and, in fome coun- 

 tries, is eaten on faft-days. 



THE 



