BOOK VI. 



ANIMALS 



OP 



THE RAT, HEDGEHOG, ETC. KINDS. 



CHAP. I. 



THE RAT KIND.' 



Were it necessary to distinguish animals of the rat kind 

 fiom all others, we might describe them as having two large 

 cutting teeth, like the hare kind, in each jaw ; as covered with 

 hair ; and as not ruminating. These distinctions might serve to 

 guide us, had we not too near an acquaintance with this noxious 

 race to be mistaken in their kind. Their numbers, their mi- 

 nuteness, their vicinity, their vast multiplication, all sufficiently 

 contiibute to press them upon our observation, and remind us 

 of their existence. Indeed, if we look through the different 

 ranks of animals, from the largest to the smallest, from the 

 great elephant to the diminutive mouse, vvy shall find that we 

 suffer greater injuries from the contemptible meanness of the 

 one, than the formidable invasions of the other. Against the ele- 

 phant, the rhinoceros, or the lion, we can oppose united strengtli, 

 and by art make up the deficiencies of natural power : these we 

 have driven into their native solitudes, and obliged to continue 

 at a distance, in the most inconvenient regions and unhealtliful 

 climates. But it is otherwise with the little teasing race I am 

 now describing : no force can be exerted against their unresist- 

 ing timidity ; no arts can diminish their amazing propagation : 



1 Those have the upper front teeth wedg-e-shapedj three grinders on each 

 Bide in each jaw, though sometimes only two, and have perfect collar bonei 

 lu Turton's Liime forty-six species are described, besides varietiea. 



n. ■ 2 E 



