PROCEEDINGS 



GENERAL MEETINGS FOR SCIENTIFIC BUSINESS 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



PAPERS. 



14. Report on Methods oE Rat Destruction. By E. G. 

 BouLENGER, F.Z.S., Curator of Reptiles, Zoolooical 

 Society of London. With an Introduction by 

 P. Chalmers Mitchell, C.B.E., F.R.S., LL.D., D.Sc, 

 Secretary to the Society. 



[Received September 6, 1919 : Read October 21, 1919.] 



I. Introductiox. 



The destruction of Rats had a direct interest for the Zoological 

 Society, as the abundant supply of food and shelter in the 

 Zoological Gardens not only maintained a large indigenous 

 population, but attracted rats fi'om all the neighboui'hood. In 

 the beginning of 1919, the Council were of the opinion that it 

 would be of interest to visitors, and of educational value, to 

 arrange an Exhibition in the Gardens illustrating the natural 

 liistory of Rats and Mice found in this country, the dainage that 

 they do to food, property and health, and the chief devices 

 employed for their destruction. It was also decided to associate 

 with the Exhibition an enquiiy into the efficacy of these device?.!, 

 with the object of recommending methods that Avere proved to ne 

 simple and practical. As the scheme appeared to be of public 

 utility, it was agreed to seek advice and co-operation from the 

 Boai'd of Agriculture and Fisheries, and from the Local Govern- 

 ment Board, as these Government Departments were known to 

 be taking an active interest in what had become a national 

 problem. The Board of Agriculture had already collected much 



Pkoc. Zool. Soc— 1919, ^^o. XVII. 17 



