26 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 



no household is safe into which rats may wan- 

 der and leave the seeds of disease brought from 

 the gutter. 



In view of these facts it would seem impor- 

 tant that every man should attempt to free his 

 property of these undesirable tenants, which, 

 so far as we can see, make no return whatever 

 for the damage and depredation of which they 

 are guilty. 



Methods of suppression. It is perhaps too 

 late to get rid of the rat altogether, but it is 

 not too late to subdue him and prevent a great 

 part, of the evils that follow his presence. 

 How shall it be done? 



First, try to destroy or drive away those rats 

 you have. Seek out their holes, runways and 

 lodging-places, clean them out and stop them 

 up so far as you are able. The cunning of 

 the rascals is great and they will shift their 

 quarters or invent new means of access and 

 ways of attack with discouraging ingenuity 

 and persistence, which you must endeavor to 

 match. Untiring watchfulness and work will 

 win. 



Trapping, if intelligently pursued, will cap- 



