26 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 
no household is safe into which rats may wan- 
der and leave the seeds of disease brought from 
the gutter. . 
In view of these facts it would seem impor- 
tant that every man should attempt to free his 
property of these undesirable tenants, which, 
so far as we can see, make no return whatever 
for the damage and depredation of which they 
are guilty. 
Methods of suppression. It is perhaps too 
late to get rid of the rat altogether, but it is 
not too late to subdue him and prevent a great 
part of the evils that follow his presence. 
How shall it be done? 
First, try to destroy or drive away those rats 
you have. Seek out their holes, runways and 
lodging-places, clean them out and stop them 
up so far as you are able. The cunning of 
the rascals is great and they will shift their 
quarters or invent new means of access and 
ways of attack with discouraging ingenuity 
and persistence, which you must endeavor to 
match. Untiring watchfulness and work will 
win. 
Trapping, if intelligently pursued, will cap- 
