DOMESTIC SCAVENGERS. 243 



fearlessly about the streets and fish-markets, and builds its 

 nests on the top of almost every pillar in the ruined cities 

 of the East. 



We must conclude this brief account of the principal 

 scavenger birds by mentioning that the domestic Duck 

 is as greedy a consumer of filth as any vulture, and 

 does not shrink even from devouring her own deceased 

 kindred when opportunity offers. Much the same may 

 also be said of the Pig, which will eat garbage, and 

 even carrion of any kind, and is therefore too often con- 

 verted into a domestic scavenger by unthinking people, who 

 put tainted meat, decaying vegetables, sour food, and 

 refuse of all kinds into that often terrible receptacle, the 

 pig-tub, and then expect their pig to convert its evil- 

 smelling contents into wholesome, or at least eatable arid 

 saleable pork for them. 



Rats are in general miscellaneous feeders, and, when 

 pressed by hunger, will eat almost anything ; but the Nor- 

 way Rat, as it is called, which has nearly exterminated the 

 old English black rat, frequents the premises of bone- 

 boilers and knackers, as well as the sewers. Originally a 

 native of India or Persia, it seems to have moved on into 

 European Russia, whence it has been carried by merchant 

 ships all over the world, and wherever it has been intro- 

 duced has speedily ousted the native rats. The Black Rat 

 lives chiefly in the ceilings and wainscots of houses, &c., 

 does not affect such low places as pig-sties and cellars, 

 and is but rarely found in the sewers, where the Norway rat 

 swarms. 



The rat, though one of the most despised and tor- 



