ANIMALS. .5.JI 



vciy distinct in nature, as appears tVoin their mutual aiitipathj. 

 This animal was formerly as mischievous as it was common ; 

 but at present it is almost utterly extirpated by the great rat, 

 one malady often expelling another. It is become so scarce, 

 tliat I do not remember ever to have seen one. It is said to be 

 possessed of all the voracious and unnatural appetites of the 

 iormer : though, as it is less, they may probably be less noxious. 

 Its length is about seven inches ; and the tail is near eight inches 

 long. The colour of the body is of a deep iron gray, bordering 

 upon black, except the belly, which is of a dirty cinereous hue. 

 They have propagated in America in great numbers, being ori- 

 ginally introduced from Europe ; and as they seem to keep their 

 ground wherever they get footing, they are now become the most 

 noxious animals in that part of the world. 



To this also we may subjoin the black water-eat, about tiic 

 same size with the latter, with a larger head, a blunter nose, less 

 eyes, and shorter ears, and the tip of its tail a little white. It 

 was supposed by Ray to be web-footed; but this has been 

 found to be a mistake, its toes pretty much resembling those of 

 its kind. It never frequents houses ; but is usually found on 

 the banks of rivers, ditches, and ponds, where it burrows and 

 breeds. It feeds on fish, frogs, and insects ; and in some coun- 

 tries it is eaten on fasting days.' 



THE MOUSE. 



An animal equally mischievous, and equally well known with 

 the former, is the mouse. Timid, cautious, and active, ail its 

 dispositions are similar to those of the rat, except with fewer 



1 Dr S)iavv, in his general zoology, informs ils, tliat a gentleman travelling 

 through Mo<-kl('nburg about thirty years ago, was witness to the following 

 tiirious circumstance in the post-house at New Stargard. After dinner tlm 

 /audlord placed on the floor a large di.-.h of soup, and gave a loud wliistle. 

 Immediately then came into the njom a mastiff, a fine Angora cat, an oid 

 raven, and a remarkalily large rat with a hell about its neck, llie four ani. 

 mals went to the dish, and, without disturbing each otlier, fed together; 

 after which the dog, cat, and rat, lay before the fire, while tlie raven hopiiej 

 about the room. The landlord, after accounting fur the familiarity whicli 

 existed among the animals, informed his guest that the rat was the most 

 useful of the four; for the noise he made had completely freed the house 

 ficun the rats and mice witli ^vliich it «as before infested. 



