422 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



colour, mixed with tawny and ash ; the throat and 

 belly are- of a dirty white, inclining to grey; its feet 

 are naked, and of a pale flesh colour ; the tail is as 

 long as the body, covered with minute dusky scales, 

 thinly interspersed with short hairs. 



In summer, it frequents the banks of rivers, 

 ponds, and ditches, where it lives on frogs, fishes, 

 and small animals. But its rapacity is not confined 

 entirely to these : it destroys Rabbits, poultry, 

 young Pigeons, &c. : it infests the granary, the 

 barn, and the storehouse ; does infinite mischief 

 among corn and fruit of all kinds ; and not con- 

 tent with satisfying its hunger, frequently carries 

 off large quantities to its hiding-place. 



It is a bold and fierce little animal, and when 

 closely pursued, will turn and fasten on its assail- 

 ant. Its bite is keen, and the wound it inflicts 

 is painful, and difficult to heal, owing to the form 

 of its teeth, which are long, sharp, and of an 

 irregular form. 



The Rat is amazingly prolific, usually producing 

 from twelve to eighteen at one time. Their num- 

 bers would soon increase beyond all power of re- 

 straint, were it not for an insatiable appetite, that 

 impels them to destroy and devour each other. The 

 weaker always fall a prey to the stronger ; and the 

 large male Rat, which usually lives by itself, is 

 dreaded by those of its own species as their most 

 formidable enemy. 



It is a singular fact in the history of these ani- 

 mals, that the skins of such of them as have been 

 devoured in their holes, have frequently been found 

 curiously turned inside out ; every part being com- 

 pletely inverted, even to the ends of the toes. How 

 the operation is performed, it would be difficult to 



