4662 Tur ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1875. 
of what a sea elephant is like. Why will our countrymen obstinately 
refuse to take the trifling amount of trouble necessary for the 
killing, the preparation, and the packing of this and allied marine 
mammals? Again, why, when an Expedition is about to start, do 
not those in authority give stringent orders for the capture of the 
mammals that are known to exist in a given locality? Even from 
a commercial point of view the acquisition of these animals might 
be advantageously undertaken ; as a brisk competition would ensue 
among all the museums for their possession, if perfect skeletons, in 
good condition, were to be brought home. 
JoHn WILLIS CLARK. 
PS.— As a rule, when “sea lion” is spoken of in the old 
voyages to the Pacific and South Atlantic, what we term “sea 
elephant” is meant—a true seal; while our sea lion—an Otaria— 
is spoken of as a “ seal.”—J. IV. C. 
Ee 
Rat killing its own Species.—I witnessed the following occurrence on 
the 4th of August :—I was in the garden, and hearing a rustling noise in 
the hedge, four yards from where I stood, I looked in that direction. A large 
full-grown rat (Mus decumanus) was pursuing a small one. The chase was 
but brief from the time I first perceived it, for by means of a dexterous turn 
round a root the old rat overhauled the young one, and, greatly to my sur- 
prise, seized it. The young one squealed lustily. At first I imagined it 
might be play, or perhaps the young one had proceeded beyond bounds, 
and was seized by its parent, after the manner of cats or ferrets, to bring it 
back; but no—the young one was soon on its back kicking, and as the 
supposed parent was about to remove it I made a noise. The old rat ran 
away, leaving behind the lifeless body of a young male rat, which weighed 
about one ounce and three-quarters, and was eight inches and three- 
quarters in length. Its neck was pierced through, and blood oozed from both 
ears. The whole performance did not last twelve seconds. On the 21st of 
January, 1867, I saw a rat hopping along with another almost as large as 
itself in its mouth. On advancing the dead rat was dropped, and I found it 
to be weakly-looking and thin, but warm. The snow was in large drifts at 
the time, and we had severe weather. Rats caught in snap-traps by the 
legs will be set upon by others, killed and demolished, all but the skin; 
and one of the first things a sensible rat does when caught by one of its 
legs is to twist and gnaw off its own limb to get free. This I have watched 
them do over and over again. In 1867 the rat may have been driven to 
kill its fellow through hunger, but what the object of to-day’s performance 
