RAT KIND. 179 



care to attack it, nor to feed upon it when killed. 

 The cat is a more prudent hunter than the dog, 

 and will not be at the pains to take or combat 

 with an enemy that is not likely to repay her 

 time and danger. Some cats, however, will pur- 

 sue and take the rat, though often not without 

 an obstinate resistance. If hungry, the cat will 

 sometimes eat the head ; but, in general, she is 

 merely content with her victory. 



A foe much more dangerous to these vermin is 

 the weasel. This animal pursues them with avi- 

 dity ; and being pretty nearly of their own size, 

 follows them into their holes, where a desperate 

 combat ensues. The strength of each is pretty 

 near equal ; but the arms are very different. The 

 rat, furnished with four long tusks at the extre- 

 mity of its jaw, rather snaps than bites ; but the 

 weasel, where it once fastens, holds, and conti- 

 nuing also to suck the blood at the same time, 

 weakens its antagonist, and always obtains the 

 victory. Mankind have contrived several other 

 methods of destroying these noxious intruders 

 ferrets, traps, and particularly poison ; but of all 

 other poisons, I am told that the nux vomica, 

 ground and mixed with meal, is the most certain, 

 as it is the least dangerous. 



To this species I will subjoin as a variety, the 

 Black Rat, mentioned above, greatly resembling 

 the former in figure, but very distinct in nature, 

 as appears from their mutual antipathy. This 

 animal was formerly as mischievous as it was 

 common ; but at present it is almost utterly ex- 

 tirpated by the great rat, one malady often ex- 



