INSTINCT OF THE BROWN RAT. 555 



During this temporary migration, the female Rats make their snug and comfortable 

 nest in any sheltered spot ; and before the autumnal season has fairly commenced add 

 a considerable number of new members to the Rat family. It is a wonderfully prolific 

 animal, beginning to breed at four months of age, and having three broods in the 

 year, each brood being from eight to twelve or fourteen in number. When the autumn 

 has set in, the emigrants return to their old quarters, marvellously increased in number. 



The female Rat is a most affectionate mother, braving all dangers in defence of her 

 young, and dashing boldly at any real or fancied foe who may happen to alarm her 

 maternal sympathies. Unfortunately for her peace of mind, the paternal Rat is far 

 from partaking of these tender affections, and if he condescends to pay a visit to his 

 young family, only does so with the intention of eating them. Should the mother be 

 at home, she shows such a defiant front, that he is fain to decamp from the cradle of 

 his offspring, but if she should perchance happen to be absent from her charge, the 

 result is tragical indeed. 



Rats are very cleanly animals, always washing themselves after every meal, and dis- 

 playing the greatest assiduity in making their toilet. They also exhibit considerable 

 delicacy of palate wherever they find a sufficiency of provisions, although they are in 

 no way nice in their diet when pressed by hunger. If, for example, a party of Rats 

 discover an entrance into a butcher's storehouse, they are sure to attack the best 

 meat, utterly disdaining the neck, the shin, or other coarse pieces. 



There is one peculiarity in the structure of the Rat which is worthy of notice. 

 These animals are able not only to ascend a perpendicular tree or wall by the aid of 

 their sharp, hooked claws, but also to descend head foremost with perfect ease. In 

 order to enable them to perform this feat, their hind legs are so made that the feet can 

 be turned outwards, and the claws hitched upon any convenient projections. 



However unpromising a subject the Rat may appear, it has often been tamed, and 

 is a very much more educatable animal than could be supposed. It will obey its 

 master's commands with promptitude, and has been known to learn very curious tricks. 



For further information on this subject the reader is referred to a work published 

 by Messrs. Routledge and Co., entitled " The Rat," by James Rodwell, in which may 

 be found an elaborate account of the animal and its habits, together with much curious 

 and original information. 



There is a well-known proverb that Rats always desert a falling house ; in which 

 aphorism there is really much truth. One curious example thereof I here offer to the 

 reader. 



On page 204 may be seen an account of a cat which had, by some mysterious in- 

 tuition, migrated from a mill in which she had long lived, and to which she was greatly 

 attached, and which was burned to the ground in a few hours after she had taken her 

 departure. Pussy, it seems, was not the only animal which had been thus forewarned of 

 impending danger, for the Rats also took alarm, and were actually seen upon their journey 

 from their late habitation. They were about one hundred in number, and, starting from 

 the mill some two hours before the fire broke out, proceeded in a compact body towards 

 four stacks belonging to the landlord of the Commercial Inn, and there took up their abode. 



A similar account of Rat prescience has been narrated to me by a spectator of the 

 scene. 



When H. M. S. Leander was brought into harbor after her voyage, in the year 1803, 

 she was so infested with Rats that a wholesale destruction of these four-footed pests 

 was rendered absolutely necessary, not only for the comfort of the crew, but for the 

 very safety of the vessel. The entire contents of the ship were therefore landed on the 

 wharf, a number of chafing-pans filled with lighted brimstone were placed between decks, 

 and the hatches being battened down, the animals were soon stifled by the suffocating 

 vapors. As soon as the preparation for this wholesale destruction commenced, the Rats 

 took alarm, and endeavored to make their way on shore by traversing the " warps," or 

 ropes by which the vessel was made fast to the shore. Sentinels were accordingly 

 placed by the warps, and furnished with sticks, so that as soon as a Rat came running 

 along the ropes, it was speedily checked by a sharp blow, which struck it from its foot- 

 hold, and knocked it dead or dying into the water, where it soon perished. 



