RATS 227 



BLACK EAT (Mus rattus). 

 Plate XXIV. Fig. 2. 



Any species of true rat may be best described as a large 

 mouse with its powers of destruction developed out of 

 all proportion to its size. The Black Rat, or Old English 

 Rat as it is called, is often stated to be indigenous to 

 Britain, but there is little doubt that the animal was 

 introduced into Europe from the East. It is now com- 

 paratively scarce in this country, but on the Continent it is 

 still widely dispersed. 



The Black Rat is about seven inches long, with a tail 

 as long or even longer. Its upper parts, in colour, are 

 deep iron-grey, bordering upon black ; the under parts are 

 lighter. The feet, dirty pale flesh-colour and practically 

 destitute of hair, differ in one important particular from 

 those of the mouse. The hind feet can be turned right 

 round, and with the claws thus at the back the animal can 

 walk up a rough wall or fence, or come down it head- 

 foremost. Like most of the genus, it holds its food in its 

 fore paws. 



BROWN RAT (Mus decumanus). 

 Coloured Plate XIV. Fig. i. 



The Brown Rat is often called the Norwegian Rat, under 

 the mistaken idea that the animal was imported into this 

 country from Norway. It is really a native of China, that 

 in the short space of two cen- 

 turies has not only spread 

 across the whole of the Eastern 

 Hemisphere, but by means of 

 shipping has been carried into 

 every part of the world. It is SKULL OF THE 



authentic that in the year 1727 



immense swarms of Brown Rats swam across the Volga to 

 make their homes in Eastern Europe, and twenty years 

 later the rodent usurper was established in England. But 

 the outstanding feature of the Western invasion by the 



