442 



MAMJIALIA. 



"We shall now state the principal species of the genus, beginning 

 with those of Europe. 



In the first place, we have the Black Rat, and Brown, or 

 I^orway, Eat. 



The Black Eat (Fig. 178) is about eight inches long, the tail 

 not included. It is originally from Asia Minor, and is ceasing to 

 be an inhabitant of Euroj)e, for it is gradually retiring before the 

 Brown Eat, the largest, the most malicious, and the most vora- 

 cious of all the family, and which wages a war of extermination 

 upon the Black Rat. Thus it is that in England the Black Eat 

 has become excessivelj'' rare. Fr. Cuvier, in opposition to general 



i ^ 1 J — h T , Ul Aul \ J J: at I ty d L t J 



belief, states that these two varieties of Eats live together on the 

 best of terms wherever there is plenty of food. 



The Brown Eat (Fig. 179) did not exist in Europe until the 

 middle of the eighteenth century, and appears to have been 

 brought in ships from India. Some Brown Eats attain eleven 

 inches in length, and are able to defend themselves against a 

 Cat. They have taken the place of the Black Eat in almost 

 all our large cities. 



The Wood-Mouse makes its abode in woods ; during the winter, 

 it takes refuge in corn-ricks, and sometimes it even frequents 

 dwellings. Its length varies from four to five inches. 



The Common Mouse is slightly larger than the Field-Mouse • 



