HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 423 



ascertain ; but it appears to be effected in some 

 peculiar mode of eating out the contents. 



Besides the numbers that perish in these un- 

 natural conflicts, they have many fierce and in- 

 veterate enemies, that take every occasion to 

 destroy them. Several kinds of Dogs pursue them 

 with great alacrity, and eagerly kill them, though 

 they invariably refuse to eat their flesh: the Cat is 

 also a very formidable enemy, but generally finds 

 greater difficulty in the contest: the Rat makes a 

 vigorous resistance, and sometimes effects its escape. 

 The Weasel is the most determined enemy of the 

 Rat kind; it hunts them with unceasing avidity, 

 pursues them into their holes, where it soon kills 

 them, and sucks their blood: and in particular 

 situations, the Ferret is a still more deadly adver- 

 sary. Mankind have likewise contrived various 

 methods of destroying these bold intruders. For 

 that purpose traps are often found ineffectual; such 

 being their extreme sagacity, that when any are 

 drawn into the snare, the others by that means 

 learn to avoid the dangerous allurement, notwith- 

 standing the utmost caution may have been used to 

 conceal the design. The surest method of killing 

 them is by poison : nux vomica, ground, and mixed 

 with oatmeal, with a small proportion of oil of 

 rhodium and musk, has been found from experience 

 to be very effectual. 



