180 ANIMALS OF THE 



pelling another. It is become so scarce, that I 

 do not remember ever to have seen one. It is 

 said to be possessed of all the voracious and un- 

 natural appetites of the former ; though, as it 

 is less, they may probably be less noxious. Its 

 length is about seven inches ; and the tail is near 

 eight inches long. The colour of the body is of a 

 deep iron grey, bordering upon black, except the 

 belly, which is of a dirty cinereous hue. They 

 have propagated in America in great numbers, 

 being originally introduced from Europe ; and as 

 they seem to keep their ground wherever they 

 get footing, they are now become the most noxi- 

 ous animals in that part of the world. 



To this also we may subjoin the Black Water 

 Rat, about the same size with the latter, with a 

 larger head, a blunter nose, less eyes, and shorter 

 ears, and the tip of its tail a little white. It was 

 supposed by Ray to be web-footed ; but this has 

 been found to be a mistake, its toes pretty much 

 resembling those of its kind. It never frequents 

 houses, but is usually found on the banks of rivers, 

 ditches, and ponds, where it burrows and breeds. 

 It feeds on fish, frogs, and insects ; and in some 

 countries it is eaten on fasting days. 



THE MOUSE. 



AN animal equally mischievous, and equally well 

 known with the former, is the Mouse. Timid, 

 cautious, and active, all its dispositions are simi- 



