21 6 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



the Brown species from many of its former haunts. Elsewhere it is 

 widely distributed over the greater part of Europe, and is also found 

 in many other parts of the world, whither it has been carried in 

 vessels. Its introduction to the New World dates from about 1554. 



The Black Rat varies a great deal, and in consequence of this 

 we find a number of varieties known by such names as the Alexan- 

 drine Rat, which is distinguished by the softer reddish or greyish 

 fur and the white under-parts ; the Tree Rat from India, Ceylon and 

 Burma, which resembles the last-named excepting that it is smaller ; 

 the Hill Rat from Nipal and Sikhim, which has a shorter tail ; and 

 the Andamanese Rat, which has, curious to relate, a number of 

 spines among its fur. 



The habits of the Black Rat mostly resemble those of its Brown 

 relative, but we learn that some of the varieties found in other 

 countries exhibit different characteristics, one kind found in India 

 being said to be entirely arboreal, living among the cocoa-nut palms 

 and never coming to the ground. Records show that when it was 

 a prolific species in England, the Black Rat perpetrated considerable 

 harm and was a pest to the farmer. Its fecundity is equal to that of 

 the Brown Rat, and its disappearance is due simply to the presence 

 of a keener and more formidable rival who kills and eats it whenever 

 opportunity offers. There seems little doubt that although also 

 known as the Old English Rat, this species was introduced from the 

 East, and is not indigenous to Britain. It measures about seven 

 inches, with a tail as long as, if not longer than, the body. It is 

 deep iron-grey or almost black above, the under-parts being lighter; 

 it has dirty, pale flesh-coloured feet, and the hind-feet are so formed 

 that they can be turned round. By this means the claws are set in 

 an opposite direction and the rodent can walk on an upright surface, 

 or come down the same head first. 



Attention need only be drawn to Figs. 167 and 168, showing a 

 tame Black-and-White Rat and a White Rat respectively. These 

 make nice pets for children, as they do not seem to exhibit any savage 

 tendency like their wild relations ; but similar to the Black Rat when 

 kept in captivity, they have a nasty habit of eating their own young 

 ones just when they are becoming interesting. What is the reason of 

 this extraordinary habit among some kinds of animals, such as Rats, 

 Dogs, Pigs, Rabbits and others? 



CANE EAT. — The Cane Rat (Fig. 169) is an African animal which 

 belongs to a genus different from that of the species already 

 described. It is a large animal, measuring some twenty-one inches 



