SMALL DEER-OUR RODENTS 137 
had been accomplished after the whole had been 
taken. A cruel foe to young water-fowl is the rat ; 
a far more formidable one than any not familiar with 
his ways could imagine. I have seen him stalk the 
birds through the herbage like a cat would ; whether 
his quarry is in the water or out it matters not to so 
accomplished a swimmer and diver. 
If there happens to be a kennel of sporting dogs 
kept near their country haunts, all the rats for miles 
round will congregate there to share the food of the 
dogs. Their impudence is amazing ; they seem to fear 
neither ferrets, terriers, nor traps, and the cry is ' still 
they come.' Heartily cursed by all, they thrive more 
and more. 
The rat certainly provides sport for boys and 
men ; it is curious how if the former are seen making 
for certain localities, with terriers at heel, men are sure 
to follow ; and when the fun grows warm all are boys 
together. At the war cry ' A rat ! A rat ! ' both men 
and boys become as excited as if their lives depended 
on their killing the long-tailed freebooters. 
But this is getting altered like everything else, and 
in some places rat-hunting is not now viewed with 
any favour. Formerly, amateur ratcatchers were re- 
ceived with open arms ; now they are regarded some- 
what suspiciously. A farmer told two of my free 
