THE GRAY RAT. 307 



or at least impede, the return of others. Ferrets 

 and terriers probably afford the best method of 

 getting rid of the rats in the first place, though 

 in some cases they can be dislodged by pouring 

 water into their holes. This method is obviously 

 of no use where the rats are able to escape the 

 water by climbing inside the walls. When it is 

 practised, a piece of wire-netting should be placed 

 over the hole into which the water is poured, to 

 prevent the rats from escaping by that way, the 

 terriers being kept in readiness at the adjoining 

 holes. Immediately the work is completed, all 

 holes in the masonry should be mortared up, slats 

 of tin nailed over gnawed doors and other damaged 

 woodwork, and holes in the ground thoroughly 

 made up ; otherwise new rats will immediately take 

 the place of those that have been killed.* 



Steel traps are not sufficiently wholesale in their 

 effects to warrant general recommendation ; though 

 it is a good plan to keep three or four always set 

 in obscure corners, as their presence tends to make 

 the place unpopular among the rats. They are 

 also useful about chicken-runs, &c., and when set 

 should not be baited. Rabbit-traps are far prefer- 

 able to the small steel rat-traps, as they generally 

 kill the rat outright ; and the trap should not be 

 handled before being set. A clean steel trap has 

 practically no scent, but an old one should be 

 smoked or smeared with oil bacon fat is excellent 

 before it is set. When it is being set it is best 

 to erect a pen by placing two boards on edge, 

 the trap being laid between them. 



A most efficacious plan for wholesale extermina- 

 tion is to select a chamber which can be rendered 



* Holes filled with broken glass and tar are permanently abandoned. 

 H. M. B. 



