3-28 HISTORY OF 



stroy almost the whole species, and to possess itself of their re- 

 treats. 



But it was not against the black rat alone that its rapacity 

 was directed ; all other aninnals of inferior strength shared the 

 same misfortunes. The contest with the black rat was of short 

 continuance. As it was unable to contend, and had no holes to 

 fly to for retreat, but where its voracious enemy could pursue, 

 the whole race was soon extinguished. The frog also was an 

 animal equally incapable of combat or defence. It had been 

 designedly introduced into the kingdom of Ireland some years 

 before the Norway rat ; and it was seen to multiply amazingly. 

 The inhabitants were pleased with the propagation of a harmless 

 animal, that served to rid their fields of insects ; and even the 

 prejudices of the people were in its favour, as they supposed 

 that the frog contributed to render their waters more wholesome. 

 But the Norway rat soon put a stop to their increase ; as these 

 animals were of an amphibious nature, they pursued the frog to 

 its lakes, and took it even in its own natural element. I am, 

 therefore, assured, that the frog is once more almost extinct in 

 that kingdom ; and that the Norway rat, having no more ene- 

 mies left there to destroy, is grown less numerous also. 



We are not likely, therefore, to gain by the destruction of oui 

 old domestics, since they are replaced by such mischievous suc- 

 cessors. The Norway rat has the same disposition to injure us, 

 with much greater power of mischief. It burrows in the banks 

 of rivers, ponds, and ditches ; and is every year known to do in- 

 credible damage to those mounds that are raised to conduct 

 streams, or to prevent rivers from overflowing. In these holes, 

 which it forms pretty near the edge of the water, it chiefly re- 

 sides during the summer, where it lives upon small animals, tish, 

 and corn. At the approach of winter, it comes nearer the farm- 

 houses, burrows in their corn, eats much, and damages still more 

 than it consumes. But nothing that can be eaten seems to es- 

 cape its voracity. It destroys rabbits, poultry, and all kinds of 

 game ; and, like the pole-cat, kills much more than it can carry 

 away. It swims with great ease, dives with great celerity, and 

 easily thins the fishpond. In short, scarcely any of the feebler 

 animals escape its rapacity, except the mouse, which shelters it- 

 self in its little hole, where the Norway rat is too big to follow. 

 These animals frequently produce from ten to fifteen at a 



