9O ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



known Brown Rat, and much smaller," the dimensions of the 

 head and body being about seven inches, whilst the scaly-ringed 

 and almost hairless tail is more than eight inches. The 

 long, pointed snout projects far beyond the short lower jaw ; 

 the whiskers are long and black. Though presenting the 

 appearance denoted by its popular name, the glossy blue-black 

 fur has a good sprinkling of grey on the upper surface, whilst 

 below it is dark grey. The large, thin ears are naked, and 

 about half the length of the head. The feet are pink, with 

 scale-like rings on the underside of the digits and five pads on 

 the sole. The thumb of the fore feet is reduced to a mere 

 tubercle. 



Although the Rats have much to do with garbage and 

 offensive matters, they take the greatest of care to maintain 

 their own cleanliness and a spruce appearance, spending much 

 of their time in cleaning their fur and paws. One of the 

 reasons for regretting the possible extirpation of the Black Rat 

 by his more pushful relative, was, no doubt, his less ferocious 

 ways and well-known milder disposition a trait which is 

 obvious to any one who has handled the domesticated albino, 

 or White Rat, which is generally considered to be of this 

 species. 



Where as in India the Black Rat lives a more out-of-door 

 life, it climbs trees and mostly makes its nest in them. With 

 us the doe collects a good quantity of suitable materials rags, 

 paper, straw, etc. and constructs a roomy nest which she uses 

 for successive broods, which come at short intervals. Seven or 

 eight is the usual number for a litter, and there are five or six 

 broods in a year. 



In the matter of food, both the Rats are omnivorous, and 

 it is, therefore, useless to attempt to give a list of substances 

 acceptable to them. Fish, flesh, fowl, or vegetable, crustacean 

 or mollusc anything that can be digested is eaten by them ; 

 and if all else fails they will eat their own kin. In this matter 



