THE GRAY RAT. 299 



stream of rats was coming and going by these 

 runways ; and that their numbers were great was 

 clearly indicated by the much-worn condition of 

 the tracks. That new-comers were forever passing 

 was proved by the fact that a trap set on one of 

 the tracks would yield regular results throughout 

 the season, whereas resident rats soon become 

 acquainted with any such peril located on their 

 immediate range, and when one or two have been 

 caught, the whole rat community eschews the spot. 



But though many were coming and going the 

 whole of the time, two huge rats, a buck and a 

 doe, settled upon the property. Probably they 

 were mated, but they did not live together. To 

 me they were an endless nuisance, as I was at the 

 time conducting various experiments with electric 

 photography, and every night, if the release-plate 

 were baited, one or both of these beasts would 

 spring the release, flare the flash-lamp, and leave 

 their sinister impressions on the plate. They seemed 

 not to mind in the least the blinding flash, for they 

 would return night after night in the face of it. 



The passage of this constant stream of rats, 

 together with the fact that only two remained 

 resident, bears out what has been said with regard 

 to the distribution of these beasts and their habit 

 of following in one another's tracks. 



Late in the summer it was decided to remove 

 a chicken-coop that stood on the grass plot near 

 the house. Immediately the coop was lifted a 

 huge rat bounded from beneath it the buck 

 of the two residents. Fortunately a small Skye 

 terrier was present, and at once closed with the 

 monster, the two keeping up a running fight till 

 some alders were gained, into which the rat climbed 

 with the agility of a squirrel. 



