274 ANIMALS AT WORK AND PLA Y 



a few inches below the soil, perhaps deep ploughing 

 or a heavy roller would have a good result. 



'RALPH PAYNE-GALLWEY.' 



The account referred to runs as follows : 



'The Humber Conservancy Commissioners have 

 not yet solved the difficult problem of how to rid 

 Reed's Island of the plague of rats that now infest 

 it, nor are they the most ready means, the flood- 

 ing of the island having failed likely to do so in 

 a hurry. What a few year ago was a splendid 

 pasture land, and sustained thousands of sheep in 

 its rich verdure, is now the home of myriads of 

 rats. It is burrowed from end to end, and so 

 densely populated is this habitat of the rodent 

 that it is said that it is almost impossible to put your 

 foot down without standing upon a rat hole. It is 

 only about a year ago that the rats got the upper 

 hand, and the commissioners have of late been very 

 much exercised as to the eviction of their unwelcome 

 tenants. It was decided to cut openings in the banks 

 which surround the island, and thus let in the 

 Humber waters at spring tide, with a view to 

 drowning master rat and his numerous family. The 

 openings having been made at considerable expense, 

 the water was let in a week ago last night, but not 



