RAT, SLOTH. 81 



THE RAT. 



THIS is amongst the most pernicious of all the 

 smaller quadrupeds, nor can all the art of man exterminate 

 the race. Not only our food, our drink, our clothes, and 

 our furniture are a prey to it ; but it makes dreadful havoc 

 among young poultry, rabbits, and game. It can pene- 

 trate the hardest wood and the most solid mortar; and no 

 care or ingenuity can wholly exempt us from its depreda- 

 tions. Yet the cat, the weasel, and the dog, unite them- 

 selves with the human race in thinning its numbers ; it 

 finds means, however, to elude their united efforts, and 

 still remains a most formidable annoyer. Its bite is not 

 only severe but dangerous : and its resolution, reinforced 

 by its disgusting appearance, renders it not only the object 

 of aversion, but of terror to many. The harmless Mouse 

 pleases more than it alarms by its intrusions ; but there 

 are few who do not feel a sort of antipathy to a rat, and 

 even shun it as they would shun a snake. 



The water-rat, which is a different species from the 

 domestic, chiefly subsists on frogs, small fish, roots, and 

 insects, and itself becomes sometimes the prey of the 

 pike. 



THE SLOTH, 



Of all animals, is the most sluggish and inactive ; and if 

 we were to judge from outward appearance, would seem the 

 most helpless and wretched. All its motions seem to be 

 the effect of the most painful exertion, which hunger alone 

 is capable of exciting. 



It lives chiefly in trees ; and having ascended one, with 

 infinite labour and difficulty, it remains there till it has en- 

 tirely stripped it of all its verdure, sparing neither fruit, 

 blossom, nor leaf; after which it is said to devour even the 

 bark. Being unable to descend, it throws itself on the 

 ground, and continues at the bottom of the tree lill hunger 

 again compels it to renew its toils in search of subsistence. 



Its motions are accompanied with a most piteous and 

 lamentable cry, which terrifies even beasts of prey, and 

 proves its best defence. 



