ft3. YORKSHIRE. 381 



While the number is great, alnioO: any 

 kind of trap may be ufcd, provided it be 

 properly baited : for taking a remaining 

 artful few, a common-lhaped round fleel- 

 trap, adapted to the fize of the moufe, has 

 been found to be the moil effed:ual, 



2. Rats. This animal, equally artful and 

 mifchievous, is difficult to be taken by ftra- 

 tagem. In farm-homefteads iituated near wa- 

 ter, it is become almoft impoffible to keep 

 down their numbers. In every country they 

 are a growing evil, not only in Rural Econo- 

 my, but in manufadiure and in domeflic life. 

 Should their numbers continue to increafc 

 with the fame rapidity they have done fmcc 

 the prefent breed got footing in the ifland, 

 they will in no great lengrh of time become 

 a ferious calamity. They are perhaps 7X 

 prefent an object of national attention. A 

 limple and certain method of deHroying 

 them would indifputably be a public good 

 of no fmall magnitude ; and the nation's 

 purfe might be worfe employed than in giv- 

 ing a reward for fo defirable a difcover\ . 

 Some years ago the French govcrnmeiU 

 offered a premium for a fpeedy and efieclual 



method 



