THE STRIPED RAT 



It feeds upon a variety of vegetable substances, 

 bark, roots, seeds and berries. It will also eat snails, 

 insects, bird's eggs and nestling birds with avidity. 



I kept a number of these Striped Rats in a cage 

 at the Port Elizabeth Museum but, although they 

 were abundantly fed, the stronger preyed upon the 

 weaker. Three or four would suddenly act in con- 

 cert, and attack one which they seemed to have 

 specially singled out. When it was slain a struggle 

 would occur for a share of the body. 



I captured a pair in a nest in an old wide-mouthed 

 preserve jar which was lying amongst some town 

 rubbish. I placed the pair with the nest in a cage. 

 The female rebuilt the nest in a dark corner, and 

 added some cotton wool to it which I provided ; 

 and in a week's time a litter of nine, tiny blind babies 

 were born. The mother succeeded in rearing them 

 all, the other parent not interfering in any way. 



This was in the month of November. The young 

 rats were handled freely and grew up quite tame. 



The Field Rat may be seen abroad in search of 

 food both by day and by night. They love to bask 

 in the warm sunshine, but on the slightest cause for 

 alarm they dart with great rapidity into the nearest 

 cover. 



When seized, the Striped Rat bites viciously, and 

 emits a series of curious metallic chirps, which are 

 in reality a succession of terrified shrieks. 



These rats swarm in the forest known as the 

 "Dene," near Port Elizabeth. This is due to 

 141 



