298 THE GRAY RAT. 



whelmingly the most abundant of all our larger 

 mammals ? These facts, together with such data 

 as are forthcoming, serve to show that the rat peril 

 is by no means a journalistic dream serve further 

 to suggest that the era of nature's unfailing remedy, 

 disease, with all its ghastly possibilities, must be 

 drawing near at hand, unless man steps in and by 

 systematic and widespread destruction diverts the 

 ordinary course which nature would adopt in re- 

 ducing the gray rat's numbers. 



To return to the rat population on the borders 

 of Loch Ken. Early in May a distinct runway 

 began to appear, winding up from the water's edge 

 to some outbuildings at the back of the house. 

 At first it was only just definable as it passed in 

 and out among the bracken-beds ; but in two or 

 three days it became deeply trodden, and as clearly 

 defined as a human footpath, the earth being 

 stained by the passage of numerous muddy paws. 

 It could now be traced along the water's edge for 

 fully a hundred yards away from the house ; Avhile 

 from the outbuildings other runways could be 

 discerned, the one which was most distinct, and 

 evidently the recognised highway, passing straight 

 from the outbuildings along the side of the house, 

 crossing the kitchen-garden, and then on to the 

 loch again. It thereby cut off the headland on 

 which the house stood, the rats evidently con- 

 sidering it unnecessary to make the detour along 

 the water's edge. 



At other points by the loch -margin similar 

 pathways could be found every here and there, 

 being as a rule most distinct at the points at which 

 the rats could save a needless circuit by making 

 use of them. 



There is no doubt whatever that a constant 



