PART III. 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. General Notices. 



DESCRIPTION of a Rattery invented by the late Mr. Robert Paul of Starston, 

 Norfolk. — My clear Sir, You were pleased to express yourself so well 

 satisfied with a recent notice of an article by me on Ratcatching (see 

 Country Times, No. 18.), that I am willing to hope a more detailed account 

 of the plan therein alluded to may not be unacceptable to you. I shall 

 endeavour to illustrate my meaning by appropriate sketches ; which, though 

 not so satisfactory as I could wish (having been merely given from me- 

 mory), will, I trust, enable you the better to understand my description. 



This " Rattery" was, as I have elsewhere stated, invented by my late 

 excellent friend Robert Paul of Starston, in Norfolk. He bestowed much 

 labour and time to bring it to perfection ; and, though living in a situation 

 peculiarly favourable for encouraging the breed of rats, used to boast that 

 he had completely subdued them. In fact, I have heard him say that he 

 offered a reward to any one who would bring rats on his premises ; and 

 that having marked and turned off one particular pair, he betted a wager 

 that he should soon catch them both ; which, in the course of a very few 

 days, he did. He selected, as the site of his rattery, some outhouse where 

 rats were known to frequent, and which he could lock up, and keep sacred 

 to his own devices and operations. Here he fixed his trap, the construc- 

 tion of which will be best understood by referring to the accompanying 

 sketches, (figs. Ill, 112.) This spot he endeavoured to make as inviting 

 and comfortable to the animals as possible; for which purpose he placed 

 faggots, loose wood, and even straw, with an occasional wheat sheaf, on 

 and about the trap. His plan was, to render the trough (/) a complete 

 thoroughfare ; for which purpose the trap or falling bottom (g) was, for 

 several days, secured by a pin, and the end (m) used as a feeding place. 

 After the rats had got accustomed to the spot, and passed the bridge with 

 confidence, he took out the pin which secured it, and every rat that 

 attempted to pass thereafter was taken prisoner. I should here observe, 

 that great care is necessary in the construction of this part of the trap. 

 It is not enough that the floor give way under the rat, and be merely 

 brought back into its place again by the balance weight at the end of the 

 bridge Qi). One rat might be accidentally so caught, but you would not 

 catch a second. They are, as is well known, remarkably cunning and sus- 

 picious in their dispositions ; and are in the habit of trying the bridge with 

 their forefeet, in order to ascertain its soundness, previously to adventuring 

 the weight of their bodies thereon.* It is obvious, therefore, that unless 

 the bridge is sufficiently fastened to enable the rat to make this trial, the 



* The same precaution is said to be used by elephants in regard to tem- 

 porary bridges over which they have to pass. They will sound them with 

 then- trunks as far as they can reach; and if, in their judgments, they are 

 not sufficiently secure, it is perfectly nseless to try to get them over. 



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