The Daintiness of the Rat 425 



selection, which probably rests on the fundamental principle, 

 the right of might. 



In a fertile country like that of Liguria the rats, which are 

 obliged to remain fore le muri, are no doubt able to pick up a 

 subsistence during the winter, but they cannot afford to be so 

 dainty as those that are able or privileged to occupy the gardens. 

 In any case, I suppose, it may be taken to be true that a hungry 

 ill not hesitate to eat a healthy brother rat if he can waylay 

 him or overcome him in combat. It is not improbable that 



is the natural winter food of many tribes of rats which 

 inhabit countries where food has its seasons of plenty and 

 scarcity. The shortage thus produced in the winter is quickly 

 made up by the splendid fruitfulness of the mother rats when 

 the food season returns, and the population, over the year, 

 need show no diminution; indeed, there is nothing to prevent 

 it showing an increase. In nature there are accumulators of 

 all kinds. 



We have seen, on the evidence of the fruit trees of the 

 garden, that the rats occupying it must live in that state of 

 luxury in which the sensation of real hunger is not felt. How 

 in tliev keep such a garden of Eden to themselves? 



t the common oranges remain as a reserve to the end 

 of the season shows that overcrowding is effectively prevented. 



have seen that the lemon and the mandarin are preferred 

 1>Y tht- rats actually occupying the ^,u<l-n. .md apparently 

 indifferently, because the two fruits are consumed pan />./ 

 As it is contrary to the animal nature for the strong to give 



to the weak, we may fe< th.it there is no rel 



-ion to eith* r t he lemon or the mandarin as there is to the 

 common orange, or one of them would be consumed 1>< 



All these facts go to show that the occup\ must be 



a very well-organised body, and must be directed by that degree 

 of intelligen< teaches it, not only to drive and keep 



tigers, but also rigorously to keep d<> AM numbers 



to the p he basis of experience, expect 



to pa th \\int ,it being reduced to 



ig common oranges. 



