310 MURID-E. 



even to exist there. Its astonishing fecundity, its omni- 

 vorous habits, the secrecy of its retreats, and the ingenious 

 devices to which it has recourse, either to retain its 

 existing place of abode, or to migrate to a more favour- 

 able situation, all conduce to keep up its almost over- 

 whelming numbers. It digs with great facility and 

 vigour, making its way with rapidity beneath the floors 

 of our houses, between the stones and bricks of walls, 

 and often excavating the foundations of a dwelling to a 

 dangerous extent. There are many instances of their 

 fatally undermining the most solid mason-work, or bur- 

 rowing through dams which had for ages served to confine 

 the waters of rivers and canals. The most remarkable 

 instance, however, which we have met with of the extent 

 of their subterranean ravages, their multitudinous num- 

 bers, and their almost incredible consumption of food, 

 is contained in the following narration : — 



It is not very long since an official report was made to 

 the French Government, with reference to a " proposition 

 made for the removal of the Horse slaughter-house at 

 Monfaucon to a greater distance from Paris ; when one 

 of the chief obstacles urged against such a removal, was 

 the fear entertained of the dangerous consequences that 

 might result to the neighbourhood from suddenly depriv- 

 ing these voracious vermin of their accustomed suste- 

 nance, The report goes on to state that the carcases of 

 the Horses killed in the course of a day (and sometimes 

 these amounted to thirty-five) are found the next morn- 

 ing picked bare to the bone. Dusaussois has, however, 

 made a still more conclusive experiment. A part of his 

 establishment is enclosed by solid walls, at the foot of 

 which are several holes made for the ingress and egress of 

 the Rats. Into this enclosure he put the carcases of two 

 or three Horses ; and, towards the middle of the night, 



