BRITISH MAMMALS 



presence of one in a corn stack or granary would be a 

 sure means of keeping the Rats in check. The same 

 thing holds good with regard to Owls, which not only 

 prey upon birds, large insects and other creatures, but 

 also take inmiense toll of Frogs, Rats, Mice, Voles and 

 Shrews. 



The Brown Rat is the successful rival of its black re- 

 lative in size, attaining a length of about sixteen and a 

 half inches, including the tail. Its ears are less pro- 

 minent, the head and tail are both shorter, and the fur 

 is greyish-brown on the upper parts, with whitish under- 

 neath. 



It seems that this present-day pest was first introduced 

 into Britain about the year 1700, when it was probably 

 a stowaway on some vessel which reached our shores. 

 It was a later arrival than the Black Rat, but it has long 

 since ousted the latter from its former strongholds, and 

 is now widely distributed all over the country. Although 

 a rodent, or gnawing animal, its diet is of a varied nature, 

 and hardly anything comes amiss to it. It is a good 

 swimmer, and because it frequents the seashore and 

 fresh water, it is often a target for the Heron, whose 

 bayonet-Uke bill is all-sufficient to despatch the four- 

 footed beast without much trouble. It is an enemy of 

 the poultry-keeper, as it is very fond of eggs, which it 

 cleverly contrives to carry away to a safe retreat by 

 rolling them along the ground. 



When cornered, the Rat is no mean adversary, 



and in the trenches and dug-outs during the Great 

 68 



